Phones Switched to SSGS3: an Apple Girl's perspective (hands on).

[Vegastouch]

There's no guarantee of anything. Period. Nexus may be the Google Phone but they will drop it (remember Nexus One?)...

Android has a flawed history of fragmentation. Remember guys, the vast majority of folks have no idea what a "ROM" is, nor do they want to spend their days hunting one down and messing with it. OFFICIAL updates for Android devices are still lackluster at best (and that's putting it nicely). What's ICS up to now, 8% of devices?

Its around 11% which is what was announced this morning. And it is starting to climb as they are getting them out more rapidly now.

 

[chiefpavvy]

Its around 11% which is what was announced this morning. And it is starting to climb as they are getting them out more rapidly now.

10.9% it was 7.9% last I saw, some time back. So 3% is "starting to climb" after 8 months in the channel? Some rose colored glasses you got there.

 

[Vegastouch]

10.9% it was 7.9% last I saw, some time back. So 3% is "starting to climb" after 8 months in the channel? Some rose colored glasses you got there.

What can i tell you. This morning they said 11%. They arent bragging about it either. They still say it isnt available for too many people but it is climbing faster than it was.

I dont know where your getting this 8 months thing. In anycase, i dont care if you believe me or not. Im telling you what i read this morning.

You, im sure arent looking because afterall, Android sucks as far as you are concerned so why would be be checking?

 

[chiefpavvy]

What can i tell you. This morning they said 11%. They arent bragging about it either. They still say it isnt available for too many people but it is climbing faster than it was.

I dont know where your getting this 8 months thing. In anycase, i dont care if you believe me or not. Im telling you what i read this morning.

You, im sure arent looking because afterall, Android sucks as far as you are concerned so why would be be checking?

I took the figures from this article:

8 Months In, Just 10.9% Of Android Users Running ICS

Wiki cites Android ICS release October 2011, so yeah, 8 months already...

 

[onthecouchagain]

I'm pretty sure the majority of people don't even know what "Ice Cream Sandwich" is or what "Jelly Bean" is, and go about perfectly fine and happy with whatever OS version their phones are on.

Having said that, I'm all for less carrier interference and better support from companies, so fragmentation is a problem, but it's one that is overblown. The whole idea of Android is to be on as many platforms as possible (it's working too). Fragmentation is inevitable when an OS is meant for as many tiered devices as possible with varying degrees of support.

So yes, it's very possible to pick a really terrible and/or poorly supported Android device. This is where research goes a long way because it's also possible to pick a great Android device. If updates are that important to you, the Nexus line is the way to go, despite some growing pains and missteps (I criticized Google for allowing the Verizon Galaxy Nexus debacle to happen; that was a real foul up). The Nexus line are the best guarantee of updates, and now that the Google Play store has come to its own, I foresee the Nexus launches to be better.

It's really not that difficult to understand Android. It's just the nature of the beast, and intentionally so. Those who don't understand Android's model, or dislike it because it's different from Apple's will continue to obfuscate what it's about and use "fragmentation" as a talking point against Android when it has so little to do with the actual experience of the OS itself.

Meanwhile, ICS/JB continue to propel Android ahead at a far greater pace than iOS is moving.

 

[chewietobbacca]

I took the figures from this article:

8 Months In, Just 10.9% Of Android Users Running ICS

Wiki cites Android ICS release October 2011, so yeah, 8 months already...

How many phones run ICS vs. how many Android phones and generations of them were released prior - esp. when you consider how many lower tier phones are still running old Android releases?

I'd say that given how big the Android universe is, it's pretty impressive that they even got to 11% in 8 months given how few phones come stock with ICS (almost exclusively in the high end tier).

 

[mbell1975]

I took the figures from this article:

8 Months In, Just 10.9% Of Android Users Running ICS

Wiki cites Android ICS release October 2011, so yeah, 8 months already...

who cares? Gingerbread still crushes iOS 5 and can do a ton more. Not to mention there are $99 Android phone out there with better hardware than a 4s as they have bigger screens, better batteries and 4G radios.

 

[gladoscc]

SIII literally blows the 4S out of the water. With Jelly bean, it should be incredible.

 

[Technarchy]

SIII literally blows the 4S out of the water. With Jelly bean, it should be incredible.

Let us know when you find out in about 10 months...

 

[ChazUK]

Let us know when you find out in about 10 months...

Once the source code drops, I guarantee I'll have it on my S3 without waiting 10 months.

 

[TinyBFK]

Thanks for a great little review.

I came to the iPhone 4S from a long line of android phones (literally a long line since I'm the only one that uses the upgrades on all five of our lines lol) the last of which was a GNEX. Since getting the iPhone I don't waste as much time tinkering with my phone (flashing ROM's and different mods constantly). Apparently my wife thinks that's a good thing. I do miss the larger screens and the customizations and the hordes of different ROM's that were mine for the taking. But I do not miss the complete lack of official updates every time a new version of android was released and the never ending river of something better every few months. Since I got the iPhone I have saved up 3 upgrades that would have been used already if I was still using android. Of course that's my fault for always wanting the "next best thing".
I will say the SGS3 has my interests peaked though. This review makes me want it a little more even though I'm still disappointed they used a pentile display.

 

[jayenh]

i'd be interested in knowing how data usage is. I gave the S2 a try last year when it was released, in 2 days it ate my 500MB allowance and i switched straight back to the iphone 4 (had other issues with it like the low PPI screen on that phone). I have my iphone set to push for 2 accounts, use a few apps, browse the net a bit... i rarely hit 200mb data total in a month with it (only place i use wifi is at home, work or out and about is all 3g/edge data).

as far as i can tell i had nothing different set up on the S2, something just chewed through my data like a mad man. I'm assuming this isn't normal. tried going off my GF's data (she has the incredible s) but she doesn't use her phone as much and has a habit of leaving data turned off and only switching it on when she needs it which is no good for me.

now that my 4 is out of warranty and struggling with some faulty hardware buttons (home button and sleep/wake are both very intermittent, tried restores, compressed air to clean out dust etc etc) i'm tempted to give android another go, specifically the galaxy nexus, but worried about data usage and how much management it needs.

 

[AFDoc]

A very large number of people like it. Isn't that reason enough to include a low-impact feature that you can disable if you want?

Sure, I personally have no issue with the ability to have it on iPhone, I simply don't see the point. To each his own I say. I trust the apple engineers to give me the best balance of features/battery life and if I feel the need to have a particular feature they don't see fit to include I'll find it in the jailbreak market. I know your comeback will be you shouldn't need to jailbreak to add features. If that's the case there would be no need to root any of my android devices which I of course have done. No phone is the perfect device for all people hence the ability to jailbreak/root.

 

[Wrathwitch]

I would also like to add that I'm not one who always updates my apps. I keep many older versions of my apps instead of updating. If I look at the description of the update and none of the new features really interest me, I don't bother updating. If I'm happy with the existing version of my app and the way it works, I don't bother updating. I only update my apps if I feel there are some issues with the existing version and the new version has bug fixes, or if there are some new features I want. I just don't see the reason to update apps if I am getting little or no perceived benefit and I'm happy with my current version.

I see a lot of people complaining that they have to wait months or even weeks for the next version of Android. I can see if they have an outstanding issue with the device that it can be a problem if you have to wait for a fix. I guess I don't understand this OS version envy that people have. People have a Nexus device and they are unhappy the minute the next Nexus device or OS version gets released or announced. I cannot understand why you can be perfectly happy with your device one day and the moment a new OS version gets announced you feel like your device is a piece of crap. It's not like the announcement suddenly broke your device.

You spout some good wisdom here and I think I will follow in your footsteps.

I was responding to a post from someone complaining about their favorite games not being supported on the S3.

Furthermore, apparently EA Games and Gameloft games don't work:

http://forums.androidcentral.com/sa...gameloft-games-dont-play-nice-us-version.html



http://forum.gameloft.com/index.php/topic,52129.msg150641.html#msg150641



This includes Gameloft's notable Nova 3 (currently my favorite game). I'm sure many of these issues will be fixed, if they haven't already, but it's clear framentation is still a big issue with Android, even on the S3.

You are ABSOLUTELY CORRECT. I am quite disappointed that Order and Chaos doesn't acknowledge my top of the line device. I am also hopeful that they will correct that, but the bottom line is that it is a FACT.

Let us know when you find out in about 10 months...

I had to smile at this!

Thanks for a great little review.

This review makes me want it a little more even though I'm still disappointed they used a pentile display.

TYVM. As far as the pentile display goes I can tell you from my two years of using the retina screen on the iPhone and now my new retina iPad, I CANNOT tell any huge difference. The colours do not look over saturated and I cannot see any pixelation.

Just sayin..

i'd be interested in knowing how data usage is. I gave the S2 a try last year when it was released, in 2 days it ate my 500MB allowance and i switched straight back to the iphone 4 (had other issues with it like the low PPI screen on that phone). I have my iphone set to push for 2 accounts, use a few apps, browse the net a bit... i rarely hit 200mb data total in a month with it (only place i use wifi is at home, work or out and about is all 3g/edge data).

now that my 4 is out of warranty and struggling with some faulty hardware buttons (home button and sleep/wake are both very intermittent, tried restores, compressed air to clean out dust etc etc) i'm tempted to give android another go, specifically the galaxy nexus, but worried about data usage and how much management it needs.

Hmm that is a great question, not sure I can answer it fully for you since the device switches itself to Wifi when I am at home. Using Juice Defender Pro, I have configured these settings that when the device sleeps, so does WiFi.

However, I cannot answer that fully. I know it has a Data useage warning baked in and you can disable it when it reaches that warning. Since the phone is new, I haven't been paying much attention (that and I have 5GB limit). If you send me a PM, perhaps I can keep a better eye on it and let you know after a months time or so.

 

[kevinof]

You must have been watching movies or something. There is no way the phone would use that with normal usage. I have 3 google accounts, facebook, twitter, google+, flipboard, skype and I rarely go over 400mb in a month.

i'd be interested in knowing how data usage is. I gave the S2 a try last year when it was released, in 2 days it ate my 500MB allowance and i switched straight back to the iphone 4 (had other issues with it like the low PPI screen on that phone). I have my iphone set to push for 2 accounts, use a few apps, browse the net a bit... i rarely hit 200mb data total in a month with it (only place i use wifi is at home, work or out and about is all 3g/edge data)..

 

[jayenh]

You must have been watching movies or something. There is no way the phone would use that with normal usage. I have 3 google accounts, facebook, twitter, google+, flipboard, skype and I rarely go over 400mb in a month.

that's the thing, i wasn't doing anything out of the ordinary as far as usage goes. just picking up some emails, sending a few texts which shouldn't use data anyway, and checking a few apps (like pulse). something must have got stuck/crashed/god knows what. all i know is 2 days in to my new contract with that phone and i got text from my carrier warning me that i was close to using up my allowance which put me off. rather than trying to fix the problem i just threw my sim back in the iphone and kept a close eye on data usage for the rest of the month. i did sign in to that samsung all in one messenger thing with an account, maybe that was the culprit? other than that i cant think of a cause, i hardly even got to use or get used to it or even get apps etc that i wanted in those 2 days. tempted to give android another shot now though, i must admit that google now looks amazing, it's exactly the sort of thing our phones should be doing.

 

[kevinof]

None of the apps you mentioned would consume that kind of data. You're talking orders of magnitude lower. Got to have been something else going on.

My son has a 500mb limit on his sg2 (!) and has come close to using it up in the 30 day cycle but that's with lots of youtube. The regular news apps, message apps etc don't consume much data at all.

I have a 2GB data package on my SG3 (previously had the SG2 and the iphone 3) and they are all basically the same in terms of data usage.

that's the thing, i wasn't doing anything out of the ordinary as far as usage goes. just picking up some emails, sending a few texts which shouldn't use data anyway, and checking a few apps (like pulse). something must have got stuck/crashed/god knows what. all i know is 2 days in to my new contract with that phone and i got text from my carrier warning me that i was close to using up my allowance which put me off. rather than trying to fix the problem i just threw my sim back in the iphone and kept a close eye on data usage for the rest of the month. i did sign in to that samsung all in one messenger thing with an account, maybe that was the culprit? other than that i cant think of a cause, i hardly even got to use or get used to it or even get apps etc that i wanted in those 2 days. tempted to give android another shot now though, i must admit that google now looks amazing, it's exactly the sort of thing our phones should be doing.

 

[jayenh]

None of the apps you mentioned would consume that kind of data. You're talking orders of magnitude lower. Got to have been something else going on.

exactly what i thought, but that scare put me off at the time. i didn't want to wait out another month to try the phone again so i just sold it and stuck with the iphone. i think i'll try another android phone, it was obviously some sort of freak occurrence, i just know i'll be a bit wary of data usage and probably find myself checking it religiously.

 

[Wrathwitch]

exactly what i thought, but that scare put me off at the time. i didn't want to wait out another month to try the phone again so i just sold it and stuck with the iphone. i think i'll try another android phone, it was obviously some sort of freak occurrence, i just know i'll be a bit wary of data usage and probably find myself checking it religiously.

For what my 2cents are worth. When you get your new phone IF it's Android. Instead of going whole hog with apps. Customize it a bit you like. Then watch the data useage. One of the mistakes you made was not trying to solve the problem.

Example, my battery issue (what I percieved as one compared to the iPhone4) I could have just said wow what a pos phone and switched back to my iPhone4, but I did some trouble shooting and I think I have it all fixed up. It was a great learning process for getting to know the phone.

There are likely apps that you can download that keep an eye on your usage/data and gives you a summary. Go for one of those! Just for peace of mind.

 

[Stuntman06]

most folks in my demographic do not play the hardcore games that require intensive GPU.

most play casual games a la angry birds, cut the rope, etc.

that being said, most popular gaming apps from iOS exist on Android. It will only get better.

...

It's obvious that some games won't readily work, as there are different SoC's circulating in the Android handset world. The PDK from Google will start to address these issues.

I find that when playing games on a phone, I need a game where I can pause when interrupted by a phone call. Some network games just doesn't fit this criteria as any extended inactivity (because you are on the phone) will kick you out.

 

[mbell1975]

Let us know when you find out in about 10 months...

We will have JB on the S3 long before you have iOS 6 on your iPhone

 

[Zaft]

We will have JB on the S3 long before you have iOS 6 on your iPhone

Want a cookie?

 

[mbell1975]

Want a cookie?

Sure, chocolate chip please.

 

[jayenh]

For what my 2cents are worth. When you get your new phone IF it's Android. Instead of going whole hog with apps. Customize it a bit you like. Then watch the data useage. One of the mistakes you made was not trying to solve the problem.

Example, my battery issue (what I percieved as one compared to the iPhone4) I could have just said wow what a pos phone and switched back to my iPhone4, but I did some trouble shooting and I think I have it all fixed up. It was a great learning process for getting to know the phone.

There are likely apps that you can download that keep an eye on your usage/data and gives you a summary. Go for one of those! Just for peace of mind.

yep, i've ordered a galaxy nexus, round 2 with android. will definitely be doing this, add apps slowly and look for an app or widget that will display my usage so i can see if it is going up faster than it should. the problem i had the first time was that by time i realised the issue i was having i couldnt really spend time trying to fix it, and franky, i wouldnt have trusted it even if i thought it was fixed. i knew the iphone wouldn't eat my remaining limit in 3 hours so i switched to it and never went back. if i had discovered what it was doing sooner i would have troubleshooted it and maybe stayed with that phone. hopefully this time things go as smoothly as they should.

 

[matttye]

10.9% it was 7.9% last I saw, some time back. So 3% is "starting to climb" after 8 months in the channel? Some rose colored glasses you got there.

It's partly to do with chipset makers, not all Google's fault. Apparently Qualcomm doesn't release the source for the drivers in some of the handsets using their chipsets, so manufacturers literally cannot update.

I know it doesn't really matter to the end user whose fault it is, just pointing this out

----------

Let us know when you find out in about 10 months...

There's already a Galaxy S3 port. A couple of things aren't working, but after the early ports it's usually a month or two until they become stable enough to be daily runners.

You obviously didn't use XDA much when you had your Android phones