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kenknotts

macrumors 6502
Sep 23, 2013
276
0
It depends on app .... I could say the contrary for a number of other apps.
I think there is much more trashware in Google Play Store than in App Store.

Agreed. Major apps like Facebook and Instagram are more polished than the Android versions.
 

bozzykid

macrumors 68020
Aug 11, 2009
2,481
535
UI is subject. A lot of people don't get this. I don't like Androids UI at all. I get notifications in real time. Not so much on Android. Timeout wouldn't be useful to me, but hey your not me.

I've used the Android eBay app extensively (just recently went back to iOS) and notifications from the eBay app were absolutely realtime and more configurable.
 

coldjeanzzz

macrumors 6502a
Nov 4, 2012
655
17
The vast majority of apps on both OS look better on iOS imo. It's really disappointing. Developers just seem to put more effort into it or maybe it's just because there is a unified experience across almost all iOS devices so it's easier to follow some design guidelines to make it fit. A lot of Android apps look like crap or run terribly.

Have you ever seen 1password for Android? WOW that app is a travesty. It looks like it was literally tossed together in a day and shoved into the play store. Meanwhile the iOS app has better functionality and design. If there is one thing I hate about Android it's UI design. I would abandon Android in a second if the iPhone had a bigger screen.
 

Savor

Suspended
Jun 18, 2010
3,742
918
Depends sometimes.

Viber is just as good on Android than iOS because of the larger screen.

Talkatone is better on Android now than iOS.

TouchPal Contacts 4.7.1 is better than the default phone/contact app on iOS. You can see a photo next to their names once you open it.

Flipboard is better on Android because of the widget option.

TubeMate has more options than MxTube.

MusicManiac is as good as any mp3 downoader app from iOS because you can move it with a file manager without syncing to iTunes to remove the file, save it on desktop, and then add it back again.

MoboPlayer can actually give you a mini-player on the homescreen or another app you opened and play more video codecs unlike iOS' very limited codec compatibility.

Notes Lite and QuickPic are just as good as iOS' default notes and photos app. You can hide files.

SwiftKey and several swiping-based kb is a better keyboard than iOS' default kb and may have bigger screens to take advantage of it texting one-handed or two. I remember my cousin is employed as a stock counter and he trained himself that he doesnt even need to look at the keyboard to know the words he is typing. Just swiping of his thumb and he can have full comprehensive sentences in less than 10 seconds.

Also iOS users who update their apps are generally stuck at that version. For instance, I use App Backup & Restore. The best version of Sportacular now known as Yahoo! Sports was in the 3.x.x era when it was still called Sportacular. It opened faster and now doesnt have that ugly purple icon that ruins the look of the homescreen. I generally dont like putting it in a folder to hide it.

If you are very OCD of how your homescreen looks, Android is generally better remedying it like hiding ugly icon apps, changing the font size, or whatever.

I admit iOS do generally have more polished apps as a whole. But it needs those apps or jailbreaking to cover up how restrictive iOS really is in the first place. Even ringtone creator apps, there are added steps on iOS.
 

rtomyj

macrumors 6502a
Sep 3, 2012
812
753
I've used the Android eBay app extensively (just recently went back to iOS) and notifications from the eBay app were absolutely realtime and more configurable.

Not for me. They are 1 minute late at best. Of course I do have a tablet and a phone to gauge it.
 

bozzykid

macrumors 68020
Aug 11, 2009
2,481
535
Not for me. They are 1 minute late at best. Of course I do have a tablet and a phone to gauge it.

I've used it on a Nexus 7 and Nexus 4 for 9 months and always got notifications on both the phone and Nexus 7 at the same time.
 

rtomyj

macrumors 6502a
Sep 3, 2012
812
753
I've used it on a Nexus 7 and Nexus 4 for 9 months and always got notifications on both the phone and Nexus 7 at the same time.

Yea not for me. iPhone 5 and Nexus 7. Heck iPod touch 5 and mini are in line with my iPhone.
 

ReallyBigFeet

macrumors 68030
Apr 15, 2010
2,956
133
I'm not a huge gamer but do enjoy card, dice and boardgames, specifically wargames. I'm shocked at how many exist only for iOS and how limited the selection is for Android. It's a wasteland of widgets and replacements for stock apps on the Play store. My son grabbed my Note 3 to download some great games and gave it back 10 mins later, asking to borrow my iPad Mini instead.

IOS clearly wins in gaming dept unless you are revved up about playing 5+ year old has beens via emulators.

Then of course there's the really odd stuff like how Google Voice is better on iOS than it is on Google's own Android, and how Google integrates Voice into Hangouts first on iOS.
 
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mib1800

Suspended
Sep 16, 2012
2,859
1,250
Most mainstream apps (those that most everyone uses - not those obscure ones) are better on Android.

- Dropbox, Box, Drive - clearly better on Android with background upload/sync.
- Facebook - more functional on Android with chat-head and easier sharing of - images/file, background services.
- Most news readers - background refresh + UI is more function with swipe to move betw. articles instead of clicking arrow buttons. Plus widget that shows newsflash.
- Browser apps - zoom at predefined text font size, re-flow text to fit width, setting user agents etc.
- Google apps - all are better because they truly integrate into the OS unlike iOS versions which run in silo.
- Most weather apps - can work in background using your location changes and notify accordingly. Of course with widget, these apps become really useful. Most iOS weather apps are useless as they can't operate in the background.
- Health monitor apps - mostly useless on iOS because you have to open the app for it to work (i.e. no background service). My note 3 can act as a pedometer and record all my exercises behind the scene.
 

Apollo 13

macrumors 6502a
May 29, 2010
679
16
Most mainstream apps (those that most everyone uses - not those obscure ones) are better on Android.

- Dropbox, Box, Drive - clearly better on Android with background upload/sync.
- Facebook - more functional on Android with chat-head and easier sharing of - images/file, background services.
- Most news readers - background refresh + UI is more function with swipe to move betw. articles instead of clicking arrow buttons. Plus widget that shows newsflash.
- Browser apps - zoom at predefined text font size, re-flow text to fit width, setting user agents etc.
- Google apps - all are better because they truly integrate into the OS unlike iOS versions which run in silo.
- Most weather apps - can work in background using your location changes and notify accordingly. Of course with widget, these apps become really useful. Most iOS weather apps are useless as they can't operate in the background.
- Health monitor apps - mostly useless on iOS because you have to open the app for it to work (i.e. no background service). My note 3 can act as a pedometer and record all my exercises behind the scene.

must not touched a ios device in a long time if you think all that is true. This post is dumb.
 

MRU

macrumors Penryn
Aug 23, 2005
25,370
8,952
a better place
Most mainstream apps (those that most everyone uses - not those obscure ones) are better on Android.

- Dropbox, Box, Drive - clearly better on Android with background upload/sync.
- Facebook - more functional on Android with chat-head and easier sharing of - images/file, background services.
- Most news readers - background refresh + UI is more function with swipe to move betw. articles instead of clicking arrow buttons. Plus widget that shows newsflash.
- Browser apps - zoom at predefined text font size, re-flow text to fit width, setting user agents etc.
- Google apps - all are better because they truly integrate into the OS unlike iOS versions which run in silo.
- Most weather apps - can work in background using your location changes and notify accordingly. Of course with widget, these apps become really useful. Most iOS weather apps are useless as they can't operate in the background.
- Health monitor apps - mostly useless on iOS because you have to open the app for it to work (i.e. no background service). My note 3 can act as a pedometer and record all my exercises behind the scene.

IOS 1 was this, as most of this is pretty inaccurate but with some examples above being true.

One which is very wrong however is your health monitor point.


The major health monitor apps like fitbit flex, Nike fuelband and jawbone apps were ALL designed for ios primarily and not a great deal of support for android.

1) Nike fuel is not for android
2) Fitbit works only on couple of Android devices the rest are incompatible including new devices like HTC 1, LG G2.

And I hate to tell you this but if you are using S-health as a pedometer then you have a totally inaccurate and utterly useless app. It is so unreliable and inaccurate at measuring your steps that any read out it gives should be ignored.

AND Yes I have S-health alongside a fitbit Flex and jawbone up and know exactly how inaccurate and garbage it is from first hand experience on both the s4 and Note 3. It looks really pretty sure, but it's utterly inaccurate and therefore useless.

It would often credit you with hundreds if not thousands more steps than you ever take. You only have to have it in your pocket on a windy day and the rustle makes it think you are walking. That's why the best health manager apps use much better wristbands to work out your steps.

If you really want a good pedometer i would recommend the fitbit or jawbone.
 
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mib1800

Suspended
Sep 16, 2012
2,859
1,250
IOS 1 was this, as most of this is pretty inaccurate but with some examples above being true.

One which is very wrong however is your health monitor point.


The major health monitor apps like fitbit flex, Nike fuelband and jawbone apps were ALL designed for ios primarily and not a great deal of support for android.

1) Nike fuel is not for android
2) Fitbit works only on couple of Android devices the rest are incompatible including new devices like HTC 1, LG G2.

And I hate to tell you this but if you are using S-health as a pedometer then you have a totally inaccurate and utterly useless app. It is so unreliable and inaccurate at measuring your steps that any read out it gives should be ignored.

AND Yes I have S-health alongside a fitbit Flex and jawbone up and know exactly how inaccurate and garbage it is from first hand experience on both the s4 and Note 3. It looks really pretty sure, but it's utterly inaccurate and therefore useless.

It would often credit you with hundreds if not thousands more steps than you ever take. You only have to have it in your pocket on a windy day and the rustle makes it think you are walking. That's why the best health manager apps use much better wristbands to work out your steps.

If you really want a good pedometer i would recommend the fitbit or jawbone.

S-health seems pretty good for casual use. Point is you don't need to buy additional gadget.

I just want to track my walking steps throughout the day and not just at workout session. And I don't want to wear additional gadget.

----------

must not touched a ios device in a long time if you think all that is true. This post is dumb.

Maybe you should tell us which points in my post are inaccurate. Your post is dumber since it said nothing useful - total waste of space.
 

LIVEFRMNYC

macrumors G3
Oct 27, 2009
8,878
10,987
I like the Amazon app better on Android. On iOS it just seems like there is too much loading.

Of course Google Voice with works great on both platforms but is more integrated with Android.

TouchDown for my work email exchange is extremely reliable on Android. I always run into hiccups using it on iOS.

I like the default Clock/Alarm app on Android better than on the new iOS7 version. Same with Google Music over iTunes/Music app.

Basically all other apps that I use on both is equal, with the exception of Android allowing more functionality on some.
 

MRU

macrumors Penryn
Aug 23, 2005
25,370
8,952
a better place
S-health seems pretty good for casual use. Point is you don't need to buy additional gadget.

I just want to track my walking steps throughout the day and not just at workout session. And I don't want to wear additional gadget.


If you want accurate measurement of even simplest stroll the S-health pedometer is still sadly wildly inaccurate though.

One of the solutions I mentioned above will give far more accurate result and you don't need to be super active - but they will give you a genuine picture of your daily activity that S-health just can't match unfortunately.

Like I say you can be sat in one place listening to nusic, tapping your foot, and S-health will still credit you as walking.

I like the app and how it looks but the fact it's measurements are so so off means that it becomes moribund using it.
 

mib1800

Suspended
Sep 16, 2012
2,859
1,250
If you want accurate measurement of even simplest stroll the S-health pedometer is still sadly wildly inaccurate though.

One of the solutions I mentioned above will give far more accurate result and you don't need to be super active - but they will give you a genuine picture of your daily activity that S-health just can't match unfortunately.

Like I say you can be sat in one place listening to nusic, tapping your foot, and S-health will still credit you as walking.

I like the app and how it looks but the fact it's measurements are so so off means that it becomes moribund using it.

Then you must be tapping your foot pretty hard for it to register. I bet dedicated pedometer may register wrongly as well.

I have been using S-health for a week and I have not seen anything like the accuracy being a few hundred or a thousand steps out like what you said.

It was pretty accurate in measuring the intensity of the steps as well e.g walking up stairs.
 

MRU

macrumors Penryn
Aug 23, 2005
25,370
8,952
a better place
Then you must be tapping your foot pretty hard for it to register. I bet dedicated pedometer may register wrongly as well.

I have been using S-health for a week and I have not seen anything like the accuracy being a few hundred or a thousand steps out like what you said.

It was pretty accurate in measuring the intensity of the steps as well e.g walking up stairs.

Unless you have a 'proper' tool to measure it against then how would you know it was off !!! ;) It's a case of ignorance is bliss because you think you are walking far more than you actually are with S-health.

I compared results for a fortnight for all my devices S-health, jawbone up and Fitbit Flex. The fitbit flex and jawbone up were always within spitting distance of each other. The s-health pedometer was always off by a wide wide margin.

Just google - you will find it's a common problem with S-health being inaccurate.

If your happy with it that's good for you. But it doesn't change the reality that it is not wholly accurate and therefore NOT the best health manager, as you stated in your first post regarding such. As it stands, any iPhone user using Nike Fuel Band / Jawbone Up / Fitbit Flex is getting far better measurements and accurate health managing software on iOS (and on certain androids with Fitibit and Jawbone).
 

Apollo 13

macrumors 6502a
May 29, 2010
679
16
Most mainstream apps (those that most everyone uses - not those obscure ones) are better on Android.

- Dropbox, Box, Drive - clearly better on Android with background upload/sync.
- Facebook - more functional on Android with chat-head and easier sharing of - images/file, background services.
- Most news readers - background refresh + UI is more function with swipe to move betw. articles instead of clicking arrow buttons. Plus widget that shows newsflash.
- Browser apps - zoom at predefined text font size, re-flow text to fit width, setting user agents etc.
- Google apps - all are better because they truly integrate into the OS unlike iOS versions which run in silo.
- Most weather apps - can work in background using your location changes and notify accordingly. Of course with widget, these apps become really useful. Most iOS weather apps are useless as they can't operate in the background.
- Health monitor apps - mostly useless on iOS because you have to open the app for it to work (i.e. no background service). My note 3 can act as a pedometer and record all my exercises behind the scene.


because all your background stuff is wrong since ios 7. Everything updates in the background and if you want you can also disable it. Every singe thing in your post is just wrong. So yes your post is still dumb and false.
 

robjulo

Suspended
Jul 16, 2010
1,623
3,159
because all your background stuff is wrong since ios 7. Everything updates in the background and if you want you can also disable it. Every singe thing in your post is just wrong. So yes your post is still dumb and false.

Dropbox does not auto upload in the background as it does on Android. With Android, I turned "camera upload" on the first time I used the app and never had to fool with it again. Doesn't work that way with ios because of the background limitations.

Downcast still stops downloading after 10 minutes because of the background limitations.
 

LIVEFRMNYC

macrumors G3
Oct 27, 2009
8,878
10,987
Unless you have a 'proper' tool to measure it against then how would you know it was off !!! ;) It's a case of ignorance is bliss because you think you are walking far more than you actually are with S-health.

Why do you need a proper tool for counting steps against S-health? Counting the steps yourself and seeing if S-health matches or not is good enough.

I gave S-health a try twice, on both a 3 mile run. It seemed pretty accurate with about a error rate of 2+/- steps every 100 steps. I did hold it in my hand the whole run as I don't have a arm strap for my S4. I guess if you put it in a loose pocket, the accuracy rate will not be good.
 

Jibbajabba

macrumors 65816
Aug 13, 2011
1,024
5
I wouldn't necessarily say that some apps are better on Android or IOS, but the advantage are indeed widgets. There are two apps I always use - Cozi / Nationalrail (UK Train app).. On Android you can have a Cozi widget which shoes a few days and updates it automatically - so no need to open the app. With the train app it is even better. You can set home / work station and it shows automatically the next few trains and updates your location using GPS / WIFI so it flips the direction around. On IOS I would need to open the app and use search parameter to get the same info.
 

mib1800

Suspended
Sep 16, 2012
2,859
1,250
because all your background stuff is wrong since ios 7. Everything updates in the background and if you want you can also disable it. Every singe thing in your post is just wrong. So yes your post is still dumb and false.

If you're talking about the "iOS7 background auto activate apps once-in-a-while when you are not using phone" can achieve the same capability as the event/intent-based multi-tasking of Android, then you are making a very dumb assumption.

I havent seen any iOS apps making use of this so-called new ios7 capability to achieve the same level of background processing of Android apps. Maybe you want to enlighten us.
 

Savor

Suspended
Jun 18, 2010
3,742
918
One thing I hated when I had an iPhone was when my photos were rotated too much to the left or right or upside down, I had to go back to the computer and flip the photo and then sync the iPhone again to iTunes to have the photo viewed correctly.

With most Android gallery apps or QuickPic, you can easily have it rotated. More editing options out of the box.
 

jamojamo

macrumors 6502
Feb 12, 2010
387
7
One thing I hated when I had an iPhone was when my photos were rotated too much to the left or right or upside down, I had to go back to the computer and flip the photo and then sync the iPhone again to iTunes to have the photo viewed correctly.

With most Android gallery apps or QuickPic, you can easily have it rotated. More editing options out of the box.

On iOS 7 you can rotate, apply filters, remove red-eye, crop, and enhance pictures etc. on the phone so that gap has been closed.
 
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