My 30 day iPhone 5 Journey

[LIVEFRMNYC]

You'll probably say things like "changing default browsers or apps" - I challenge you to come up with a FUNCTION. Changing default browsers is not a function - I can still get on the internet plenty fine and easily.

Those are indeed functions. And many find the ability to change default apps and browsers more productive than being limited of choice.

You don't like Samsung doesn't "bend the truth"? Those ridiculous commercials that make everyone who waits in line for the iPhone look like an idiot (the whole mind blown by the headphone jack move - NO ONE's mind was blown). Or how about the whole "2 phones, 1 for work and 1 for personal" thing - Samsung makes it seem like that's some ridiculous, out dated way to think about things. The reality is there are plenty of legit reasons to keep them separate.

I'm not saying Jobs wasn't a master salesman - maybe Apple does hyperbole better than anyone in the smartphone industry, but they are far from the only company to do such things and employ such tactics.

I'll give it to Samsung for bringing back the Stylus on the Note smartphones and tablets. As I remember, Jobs said the Stylus is dead.

Also, Samsung might be on to something with Knox. Your downplaying it even before it's released and there's not much info on it yet.

 

[Mrg02d]

Improving iOS for me would be minimizing steps to do a particular task...

My Jailbroken 4s, along with a few tweaks, absolutely rocks!

A few examples:
1) I can swipe left on the status bar to see what apps are currently running (as opposed to just "there" via cardswitcher+activator).
2)I can swipe right on the status bar to have direct access to my fav contacts (via activator). Makes calling,facetime, and texting so much faster!
3)Many other tweaks save the life of my poor home button. Once it goes, your phone is crap.

Without the Jailbreak, good Lord!

Android 3rd party launchers bring these gestures stock...

I really wish android was as responsive and smooth as iOS. It would really rock Apple then. iOS "feels" more professional than android does, but boy is it outdated!

 

[jrswizzle]

Responses in bold:

Some examples off the top of my head:

-remember my password. I can't believe the world's most advanced operating system requires me to put my password in every... single... time I download something. Security feature, you say? Great. Where can I turn this on/off? (and it was only recently with iOS 6 that the App Store stopped booting you out per every download; a ridiculous annoyance).

Fair enough - though I have a similar annoyance with Android in that it requires you to accept permissions....every....time...you update the app.

-close individual notifications in my notification center.

Hmmm ok, more of a preference thing but I'll give you this. Personally I'd rather be able to simply clear the calendar reminders and if I decide to un-sync my facebook bdays from the calendar they should disappear in the notification center as well.

-queue music tracks or albums.

You've already been given a workaround for this that isn't difficult. I fully expect this in iOS7 as iTunes 11 introduced a more generic queue system

-set MP3s as ringtones/alarms

A variety of apps exist for this - with the ability to do so right from the device. You could also pay for ringtones in iOS (I don't do it either). But its very possible and easy.

-long press for secondary symbols.

Preference.

-share to anything else besides FB/Twitter

Such as? Just because it's not in the initial sharing menu, doesn't mean you can't share the media somewhere.....

-download and save a PDF

Easily done with either iBooks or a vast number of apps like Adobe

-scroll down webpages without continuously flicking and flicking and flicking and flicking.

The rubberband-type scrolling may be annoying to you, but it doesn't take a ton of flicking if you know how to do it. I can get the page to scroll incredibly fast.

-attachments in emails so that I can "share" more than one thing at a time.

You can email multiple things at one time - you just do it through the sharing menu of the app versus the stock email (which will let you email multiple photos or vids but not PDFs or docs - which I agree should change.

There are probably more examples. I'm sure others could come up with some. I'm sure you could think of some yourself if you tried.

Please don't bother going into your typical speel about how "But Couch! You can send attachments... just not in an email. You just have to share it from the app where the attachment is itself." I am fully aware of that. You still can't add attachments to email (other than photos).

Lol oops.....

So wonderful, we've established there are things iOS needs improvement on. And we've done so without making some general statement that Android is vastly superior.....because there are plenty of things Android sucks at such as....

(1) Showing an email - why do I have to see a zoomed in version of my email, with no option to zoom out further. I have to scroll across and up/down to see the entire thing.

(2) Simply saving a photo to the gallery - maybe I've missed this, but the "sharing menu" gives no option to simply save a photo from say dropbox to my gallery - which I suppose is a limit on the app itself.....

(3) Backups - there is no stock option to back up my Nexus 4 in its entirety (including arrangement of home screens and settings) without paying for some app and linking to a computer (which is what Carbon wanted me to do).

(4) Texting over wifi - I get poor reception in my house due to radiant barrier. I'm hoping Babble will solve this when they condense all the messaging apps they have.

Then of course there are the other issues I have such as force closing open apps (swiping an app out of Android's multitasking bar doesn't always close it and I get rogue apps draining my battery), setting a custom wallpaper (it always zooms into the photo too much....I suppose I don't have the right res. photo or something?), and others I
m forgetting.

But I still really like the Nexus 4 - because I understand there will never be a perfect phone. Always room for improvement. And again, this is what I mean when I say talking about needed improvements - we don't have to say one is better than the other to talk about things that need improvement - hell we don't even have to compare the two.

To be honest, I also think you and I are complete opposites - you are very particular and nitpicky - and most of the time, I couldn't care less as long as the damn thing works for what I need to do.

 

[Dave.UK]

You'll probably say things like "changing default browsers or apps" - I challenge you to come up with a FUNCTION. Changing default browsers is not a function - I can still get on the internet plenty fine and easily.

Imagine buying a PC and having to use Internet Explorer for the rest of its life

----------

Responses in bold:
Fair enough - though I have a similar annoyance with Android in that it requires you to accept permissions....every....time...you update the app.

That only happens if a permission has changed or a new permission is needed.

Id say out of all the apps I have on my phone, i'll have to accept a new permission once in a blue moon.

 

[onthecouchagain]

So wonderful, we've established there are things iOS needs improvement on. And we've done so without making some general statement that Android is vastly superior.....because there are plenty of things Android sucks at such as....

Android can do those things I listed.

Android can do more things and more things easier.

It's better. Objectively. Read my response to you in the other thread. I am grateful we can talk respectfully, but you're really failing to understand what I'm trying to do, so this will be the end.

Good luck.

 

[jrswizzle]

Those are indeed functions. And many find the ability to change default apps and browsers more productive than being limited of choice.




I'll give it to Samsung for bringing back the Stylus on the Note smartphones and tablets. As I remember, Jobs said the Stylus is dead.

Also, Samsung might be on to something with Knox. Your downplaying it even before it's released and there's not much info on it yet.

My point being I can still surf the web and do all the same things on Safari that you can do through Chrome. Not in the same way perhaps, but I get the same end result nonetheless. Making someone's preference a "function" is a little much for me....

The Note is still a relatively niche product given its only sold roughly 25 million of both the 1 and 2....

And I said nothing about Knox or security for work.....simply that there are people like me who prefer to keep their work calls/lives separate from personal. Just so happens my office requires an iPhone - I'm not in IT so I don't know or care why. I would have both and Android and an iPhone regardless of which went where.

 

[Vegastouch]

Imagine buying a PC and having to use Internet Explorer for the rest of its life

----------



That only happens if a permission has changed or a new permission is needed.

Id say out of all the apps I have on my phone, i'll have to accept a new permission once in a blue moon.

Ugh, i havent used IE for a long time.

 

[jrswizzle]

Imagine buying a PC and having to use Internet Explorer for the rest of its life

Lol the horror! Fact is, I would still be able to surf the internet, although IE isn't my first choice when given the option. The function of surfing still exists.

That only happens if a permission has changed or a new permission is needed.

Id say out of all the apps I have on my phone, i'll have to accept a new permission once in a blue moon.

I suppose there are a few that update automatically - still I generally have at least one or two apps everytime I'm updating that require it....

The other thing is, maybe I have this set wrong, I only know about updates for apps when the ones that auto update go - then I end up looking in the Play Store and it tells me to manually update these certain ones. Is there not a notification for app updates?

----------

Android can do those things I listed.

Android can do more things and more things easier.

It's better. Objectively. Read my response to you in the other thread. I am grateful we can talk respectfully, but you're really failing to understand what I'm trying to do, so this will be the end.

Good luck.

I love how you completely ignore the other half of my post and all my responses. How I can do most of the things you listed on my iPhone as well - simply differently.

As I've said before, I still find it ridiculous that you would continue to work with such a "sick, dark joke" even given you aren't impressed with the current Android offerings....

I agree - this is done. Have fun "struggling" with your iPhone 5 until you decide on a new Android.

 

[Vegastouch]

Lol the horror! Fact is, I would still be able to surf the internet, although IE isn't my first choice when given the option. The function of surfing still exists.



I suppose there are a few that update automatically - still I generally have at least one or two apps everytime I'm updating that require it....

The other thing is, maybe I have this set wrong, I only know about updates for apps when the ones that auto update go - then I end up looking in the Play Store and it tells me to manually update these certain ones. Is there not a notification for app updates?

Yeah but c-mon....so does driving a car but i bet you arent driving a Kia. And if you are,will you be buying those the rest of your life?

I guess you would if that were the only car available.

The world loves choice because it is a great thing. You can get teh same results many ways but being able to use other ways is nice.

 

[jrswizzle]

Yeah but c-mon....so does driving a car but i bet you arent driving a Kia. And if you are,will you be buying those the rest of your life?

I guess you would if that were the only car available.

The world loves choice because it is a great thing. You can get teh same results many ways but being able to use other ways is nice.

You are changing the discussion. I never said choice was bad. I simply said the iPhone isn't devoid of function without choice (which does exist on iPhone, just not in all the places it does on Android). I can still do the same tasks (quite simply and easily most of the time - there are things about Android that irk me and aren't easy either) on my iPhone 5 as I can on my Nexus 4.

To use your analogy, yes. I get the same function out of a Kia as I would out of a Mercedes. The experience would be different and while you or I would definitely prefer the experience of the Mercedes, experience is inherently a subjective thing.

I was discussing function - that was all.

 

[onthecouchagain]

I posted this in the other thread. It's completely applicable here, too. Hope it helps everyone understand:

The moment someone says "I prefer it this way," the conversation is essentially over.

What can I say? "No, you don't prefer it that way"? Of course I can't say that. That'd be ridiculous.

There's no method of measuring if we're just going to talk about each other's preferences. That conversation can happen, but that doesn't help anyone else but yourself.

But if we begin to talk objectively, we can get somewhere. The trick is to get over the sensitivity of admitting one is objectively better than the other.

Remember: All this is in the hopes of improving iOS. All this is in the hopes of doing good.

 

[Dave.UK]

I suppose there are a few that update automatically - still I generally have at least one or two apps everytime I'm updating that require it....

The other thing is, maybe I have this set wrong, I only know about updates for apps when the ones that auto update go - then I end up looking in the Play Store and it tells me to manually update these certain ones. Is there not a notification for app updates?

Open Google Play, Click on Settings and then tick the first option - "Notifications - Notify me about updates to apps or games that I've downloaded"

 

[knucklehead]

Yeah but c-mon....so does driving a car but i bet you arent driving a Kia. And if you are,will you be buying those the rest of your life?

I guess you would if that were the only car available.

The world loves choice because it is a great thing. You can get teh same results many ways but being able to use other ways is nice.

I agree that being able to change the default browser is something Apple should allow .... but c-mon ... how can folks confuse that with not being able to use other browsers -- there's tons of browsers available in iOS.

 

[jrswizzle]

I posted this in the other thread. It's completely applicable here, too. Hope it helps everyone understand:

The moment someone says "I prefer it this way," the conversation is essentially over.

What can I say? "No, you don't prefer it that way"? Of course I can't say that. That'd be ridiculous.

There's no method of measuring if we're just going to talk about each other's preferences. That conversation can happen, but that doesn't help anyone else but yourself.

But if we begin to talk objectively, we can get somewhere. The trick is to get over the sensitivity of admitting one is objectively better than the other.

Remember: All this is in the hopes of improving iOS. All this is in the hopes of doing good.

And my response is:

Why does it have to be about which is "better"? Why can we not simply look at each platform independently when finding faults and let each person make up their own minds which is "better"? Because like it or not, subjectivity plays a huge role in people's decision making - many times more than objectivity. There is simply no reason to measure them AGAINST one another objectively as its a personal decision. Discussing what Apple can do to improve iOS does NOT require comments about Android - likewise, discussing what Google can do to improve Android does NOT require comments about iOS.

But by all means, continue to ignore me.

----------

Open Google Play, Click on Settings and then tick the first option - "Notifications - Notify me about updates to apps or games that I've downloaded"

Hmm it's checked.....

I'll have to monitor the situation. Maybe I'm just missing it. Thanks anyway!

 

[onthecouchagain]

I love how you completely ignore the other half of my post and all my responses. How I can do most of the things you listed on my iPhone as well - simply differently.

Because your post is still all about subjectivity, and that's not a conversation I'm interested in having. I can nullify all your points by saying one simple thing: "They're not a problem for me."

You see why this gets us no where? Are you beginning to get it?

That's why I don't care to get into the specifics of what bothers me about iOS. I did it only cause you asked for examples. You can just as easily nullify all my points by saying you're not bothered by them.

Then the conversation is over. We don't get to talk beyond our own preferences. Nothing improves. Nothing gets accomplished.

 

[jrswizzle]

Because your post is still all about subjectivity, and that's not a conversation I'm interested in having. I can nullify all your points by saying one simple thing: "They're not a problem for me."

You see why this gets us no where? Are you beginning to get it?

That's why I don't care to get into the specifics of what bothers me about iOS. I did it only cause you asked for examples. You can just as easily nullify all my points by saying you're not bothered by them.

Then the conversation is over. We don't get to talk beyond our own preferences. Nothing improves. Nothing gets accomplished.

Wrong. You say "I can't do X". I say "Yes you can by using Y". That is the end of the story. As I said earlier, I'm simply discussing the function, not whether choice is better or not, not whether the method of doing said function is better or not - simply try to debunk this theory that you can't do things on an iPhone - when the truth is, Yes. You. Can.

If you don't like those ways, that is where the subjectivity comes in and you choose something else. I was staying away from that part of the conversation.

Using my first example.....

I say "I can't text over WiFi on my N4." The reason behind this is the secondary part - the subjective part that makes it an issue for me but not for you, and that is the part I'm keeping away from. But the fact still remains I can't do this function. You can discuss these things, without moving into that second part.

 

[LIVEFRMNYC]

My point being I can still surf the web and do all the same things on Safari that you can do through Chrome. Not in the same way perhaps, but I get the same end result nonetheless. Making someone's preference a "function" is a little much for me.....

Well would you be alright with that on a desktop? I think we all know the answer to that. And as smartphones are become more of personal computers, many feel they should have the same freedoms to get things done to their best efficient way of doing things instead of only a default locked down way.

IMO, choice wins over restriction regardless of whether one chooses to implement those choices into their usage or go with the defaults.

The Note is still a relatively niche product given its only sold roughly 25 million of both the 1 and 2....

The Note 2 has still sold more than the average smartphone and let's not forget how recently it was released.

And I said nothing about Knox or security for work.....simply that there are people like me who prefer to keep their work calls/lives separate from personal. Just so happens my office requires an iPhone - I'm not in IT so I don't know or care why. I would have both and Android and an iPhone regardless of which went where.

You post does refer to Knox. That's what Samsung was referring to.

You don't like Samsung doesn't "bend the truth"? Those ridiculous commercials that make everyone who waits in line for the iPhone look like an idiot (the whole mind blown by the headphone jack move - NO ONE's mind was blown). Or how about the whole "2 phones, 1 for work and 1 for personal" thing - Samsung makes it seem like that's some ridiculous, out dated way to think about things. The reality is there are plenty of legit reasons to keep them separate.

 

[Dmaynard83]

Few things I miss about ios

A universal player to pause anything playing (double tapping on the home button and scrolling to the left brings this up). On my note 2 depending on what's playing I have to go to the app to directly to rewind, fast forward etc.

I also miss being able to use the volume up and down switch on my headphones.

I do notice there is much more troubleshooting on the note 2 and if you plan on rooting it to get rid of all the bs apps and try to get it so that's it's smoother (or smoother than the iphone) it can be a pain in the ass

 

[jrswizzle]

Well would you be alright with that on a desktop? I think we all know the answer to that. And as smartphones are become more of personal computers, many feel they should have the same freedoms to get things done to their best efficient way of doing things instead of only a default locked down way.

IMO, choice wins over restriction regardless of whether one chooses to implement those choices into their usage or go with the defaults.

Again, I'm making no statement that choice isn't good.....I love that my words and topic keep changing....

The Note 2 has still sold more than the average smartphone and let's not forget how recently it was released.

Ok sure, the "average" smartphone.....still don't think it even cracks the top 5 in "smartphones/phablets" sold last year....year old iPhones beat it out.

You post does refer to Knox. That's what Samsung was referring to.

Not specifically - but fine. My reference to the whole "2 phones" thing had nothing to do with security - simply that Samsung painted those who used the two phones as some crazy OCD lady, or some out of touch business guy who finally "got smart" and switched to the GS3.....

I'd rather wade through the hyperbole of Apple's message (because I can make my own decisions) than have Samsung insult my preferences.....

 

[Dave.UK]

I do notice there is much more troubleshooting on the note 2 and if you plan on rooting it to get rid of all the bs apps and try to get it so that's it's smoother (or smoother than the iphone) it can be a pain in the ass

You don't have to root to stop per-installed apps.

Settings > Application Manager

Chose your app from the list and click "Disable". The app will vanish from your app draw and wont run again until you re-enable it.

 

[LIVEFRMNYC]

Again, I'm making no statement that choice isn't good.....I love that my words and topic keep changing....

Sure, when I make a point ....... it's always your words and topic changing.

Ok sure, the "average" smartphone.....still don't think it even cracks the top 5 in "smartphones/phablets" sold last year....year old iPhones beat it out.

For a phone that was released in Sept, it's sales numbers are more than above niche.

Not specifically - but fine. My reference to the whole "2 phones" thing had nothing to do with security - simply that Samsung painted those who used the two phones as some crazy OCD lady, or some out of touch business guy who finally "got smart" and switched to the GS3.....

I'd rather wade through the hyperbole of Apple's message (because I can make my own decisions) than have Samsung insult my preferences.....

And Apple never did they same thing with the keyboard and stylus?

I think you just hate Samsung.

 

[jrswizzle]

Sure, when I make a point ....... it's always your words and topic changing.

Because you did change the topic of my post.....I never once said choice was bad or argued against having the option. All I stated was:

I can do the functions mentioned on my iPhone 5.

That's all.....

For a phone that was released in Sept, it's sales numbers are more than above niche.

I'm not going to argue this. Good for you, you win.

And Apple never did they same thing with the keyboard and stylus?

I think you just hate Samsung.

Honestly, no idea. I do not like Samsung and I've made that clear - but I haven't seen any TV ads belittling Samsung users and mocking their preferences....the closest I've seen are the "Mac vs. PC" ads, and those were more of an "awww, look at this poor guy" not a "haha what an idiot for thinking this way".

Anyways - this was originally about Android not Samsung specifically, sorry I got off topic.

 

[onthecouchagain]

Back to thread topic...

Here's another one from my recent use:

Google Maps (iOS version) > Apple Maps.

1) Apple Maps couldn't find a location I was looking for. Google Maps found it right away.

2) It sucks you can't scroll around the map as you're doing voice navigating without clicking "Overview" then "Resume" if you want to go back. As you're driving, this is a bit cumbersome and slow. Whereas in Google Maps, you can scroll around anytime you want, and only hit the resume button that brings the map back to your current location.

3) Honestly, SIRI can be hard to understand. Her voice is so robotic. The Google Maps navigation voice is far clearer.

4) THis sort of goes without saying, Google Maps' information is so much more dense. Building names, street names, everything is just far "fuller" in Google Maps.

5) I noticed Google Maps gives you alternatives, and options to avoid tolls, highways, etc. I couldn't find this feature in Apple Maps. I could be mistaken? EDIT: My mistake. It does. It's just on the map itself. Cool.

6) I couldn't find a way to scroll to what the next direction was. Google Maps allows you to scroll left/right to see what the next set of directions are. I thought this was possible on Apple Maps, but I couldn't scroll. I could only open a list, and that just isn't as driver-friendly visually speaking.

Ultimately, though, Apple Maps worked for the most part. It only couldn't find one location, which admittedly was obscure (but Google Maps found it). It's good, but it isn't Google Maps good.

 

[Night Spring]

Android can do those things I listed.

Android can do more things and more things easier.

It's better. Objectively. Read my response to you in the other thread. I am grateful we can talk respectfully, but you're really failing to understand what I'm trying to do, so this will be the end.

Good luck.

But "better" is ultimately a subjective judgement. You can, for instance, compare two cars and say one is faster than the other. "Faster" is indeed an objective judgement -- you can measure speed, and people can agree on the correct way to measure speed, and so people can objectively see that car A is faster than car B. Your mistake, however, is thinking that you can get everyone to agree that faster is better. But there's always going to be one person out of ten, or out of hundred, who goes, "I like my cars slower because then it's easier to control." You can reason with this person until your face is blue that faster is better, but he's just going to keep saying. "Maybe for you, but not for me."

Now, it might be true that Android can do more things than iOS. And it might be true that it often takes fewer steps to do the same thing in Android compared to iOS. (Fewer steps is not necessarily easier, because "easier" is another subjective judgement.) That does not necessarily make Android better than iOS FOR EVERYONE. For instance, I hesitate to recommend Android to non-techie people, because I fear having more options would make things more confusing for them. For them, keeping things simple is better than being able to do more things. Now, I may be wrong about Android being more confusing for non-techie people, but the basic principle here is, being able to do more things is not always better. A faster car is not always better. Does that make any sense to you at all?

 

[onthecouchagain]

Does that make any sense to you at all?

Of course.

Please reread what I wrote. It's all there.

Now, it might be true that Android can do more things than iOS. And it might be true that it often takes fewer steps to do the same thing in Android compared to iOS.

It is true. You can objectively say it's the better os. If only you were willing to. Remember, it doesn't matter if it is or isn't the better os for a certain person. That's irrelevant and ultimately means we can't measure anything.