When I think about it, the iPhone isn't a top 10 smartphone

[thehustleman]

I don't need to impose anything. There's nothing I can do if people refuse to admit that iOS is, at this point in time, an inferior operating system compared to Android even if they prefer iOS. There are far and few things that iOS can do better than Android. And if iOS 7 continues its upgrade path that it's been on and if Android continues its upgrade path that it's been on, it'll remain that way, if not grow even more distant.

And there will still be people saying, I still prefer iOS. And that's perfectly okay. I know plenty of older people or non-techy people preferring iOS. More power to them. It's still an inferior operating system compared to Android. Every corner of it reeks of limitations. Even the basic, everyday uses of a smartphone require more steps to do on iOS. I've gone into more detail in other threads, but what's that matter, right? It's all preference.

This
is the most truthful, honest reply I've seen on this site. Great post.

I notice almost all of those phones are 4.7-5.5 inches.

There needs to be an option of quality android phones with good specs and performance in the 4-4.3 inch range.

Until then i think many people would rather use an iPhone. It is fun to mock those "midget phone users", but one size doesn't fit all.

Not everyone buys a SUV to drive.

The Motorola Droid Razr M was just that phone! My wife has it and LOVES it! Only complaint?

You can't remove the battery, luckily so far it's been lasting all day

----------

But why would anyone admit that the system they prefer is the inferior one? We prefer it for a reason (or reasons). Those reasons make it the better OS *for us*. Nobody prefers an inferior system. And yes, I've said "less is more." That means I think less is superior and more is inferior. Understand?

I can admit that the ipad is inferior to the Nexus 10 but I'd prefer an ipad by far.

I can admit that the macbook pro is superior to the macbook air, yet for some purposes I prefer the air.

I can admit the playstation 3 is better than the Xbox 360 but i prefer the Xbox 360

Is it really so hard to do?

 

[onthecouchagain]

I know you and many think the reason Apple gets away with it is because there are a ton of blind followers out there drinking koolaid, but do you want to know why Apple gets away with it and Android doesn't?

It's because of each group's approach. The very nature of Android is OS driven and fragmented. People NEED the options in order to make Android something they can really love and use to the fullest.

On the other hand, Apple works hard at polishing their handsets to fit the needs of a majority of consumers. It's all about apps, leaving the OS to be as efficient and out of the way as possible. Apple provides arguably the best in-app experience (and app ecosystem) which allows them to get away with more.

CS also plays a role in that. As Abizgal said, less headaches on Apple devices, less thinking about tweaking here and there. These things trump the "lack of choices".

But when you are trying to cater to the consumer who doesn't care and just wants the phone to work and do all kinds of things (with 800,000+ apps, there isn't much an iOS device CAN'T do), why would you think those same consumers would want 27 different display sizes?

And "less taps" doesn't NECESSARILY mean easier. I, personally don't care about a dedicated back button. I know you SAY its much easier, but I don't agree. For me, having a back button within an app lets me know I'm going back WITHIN the app. There is only one way to go and I know exactly where that is. If I want to go all the way home, I press the home button.

On Android, that "dedicated back button" can mean back in the app, back to the previous app you were in, back to home etc....and its not consistent.

I could enter an app and press the back button that takes me home. Then enter another app, press the back button and it takes me back a menu/spot within the app. Not all devs code for the dedicated back button the same so you get inconsistent use.

Plus, if you're used to something, even if it takes more "effort" (three taps instead of two, omg), it might be easier for you because its second nature.

I know I feel that way about a great many things in iOS over Android. I have to think about what I'm doing in Android - whereas on my iPhone, its all muscle memory. Granted this is all relative to how much time you spend on each platform....

But given we're on MACrumors, I'd reckon there are a great many of us who are completely used to iOS and feel its easier to use than Android, even though we have to tap a few extra times (which really isn't always the case).

That being said, bring on improvements in iOS 7. Toggles would be great, the new refreshed UI, awesome.

I feel ya about the back button. I'm not saying it's perfect, but I rather have it than not. It's just a more versatile way of navigating through apps and the OS.

I actually dislike the way iOS goes back because it's not always in the same place. Sometimes it's upper left corner, sometimes it's upper right, sometimes it's a "cancel" button at the bottom. And sometimes it's all three in one app depending on what you're doing. I always have to actively "find" the button to go back.

Same thing with Settings. Sometimes it's in the app itself, sometimes I have to go to the iOS Settings. And when I'm in there, I have to "find" the app that I want to configure settings for. Where as on Android, it's a dedicated capacitive button (with Samsung devices) or a dedicated button within the app. I can immediately configure that app's settings right away.

And your example of people being okay with more taps to accomplish the same task is only true because maybe that's all they know. All things equal, I don't know anyone who would prefer to take more steps (be it 1 more step or multiple more steps -- again, look at how many steps it takes to turn on/off private browsing) to do the same thing. Why would you if you knew there were better ways, faster ways, easier ways to do the same thing? Again, just as you would say people who have adapted to more steps are okay because they're used to it, I would say people who adapt themselves to less steps would get used to doing it that way and might even end up preferring it.

Again, not everything is easier on Android, but most things are. It's gotten to the point where Android is [in my opinion] better not just for their extra features and customizations, but it's also better [in my opinion] for most basic smartphone uses.

 

[Hastings101]

When I think about it, i realize I just wasted 30 seconds of my life.

Always skim through the first post before you really read it, you'll know if it's not worth reading and will have wasted less time

 

[Abazigal]

Like you just said, it's all relative to how much time you spend on the platforms. I have the same issue, but with the iPhone. I find it's lack of a back button rather odd, and have to actually think about how I want to navigate around the phone. I find it vexing that I have to open an app for every little thing. For example, if I want to check my calendar and take a look at headlines, I have to open two different apps. Or, if I'm in the middle of browsing the web or reading something, and an email comes in that I want to archive...I have to leave what I am doing to archive it. The same is true with text messages, if one comes in while I'm reading, I have to stop what I'm doing to reply to it. Coming from a platform where I don't necessarily have to do any of those things if I don't want to, I find it vexing that I am forced to do them on iOS.

For me, I personally appreciate my activities on my ios devices being compartmentalized by app. I want to check my email, I just go to my mail app. There, I just focus solely on reading, sorting and replying to my email, with no other functions to distract or confuse me. During this time, nothing else matters. When I am done, I exit to home, then jump to the next app that needs my attention.

I want to browse my favourite forums, I use tapatalk (which has replaced forum browsing on the web). I want to catch up on my news, I jump into flipboard and machash. You get my drift.

Oddly liberating in a sense. I can't quite explain why; I just know I quite like it that way.

 

[Shadow Puppy]

For me, I personally appreciate my activities on my ios devices being compartmentalized by app. I want to check my email, I just go to my mail app. There, I just focus solely on reading, sorting and replying to my email, with no other functions to distract or confuse me. During this time, nothing else matters. When I am done, I exit to home, then jump to the next app that needs my attention.

I want to browse my favourite forums, I use tapatalk (which has replaced forum browsing on the web). I want to catch up on my news, I jump into flipboard and machash. You get my drift.

Oddly liberating in a sense. I can't quite explain why; I just know I quite like it that way.

Honestly, I can understand where you're coming from, and understand that approach. I too am the same way for certain things (just not everything). I do however appreciate having the choice to decide how I want to handle these types of tasks, instead of having one way dictated to me. That's the beauty of Android. I can do it the way you described (which I do for some things), or I can do it a different way. The lack of autonomy is what vexes me.

 

[onthecouchagain]

For me, I personally appreciate my activities on my ios devices being compartmentalized by app. I want to check my email, I just go to my mail app. There, I just focus solely on reading, sorting and replying to my email, with no other functions to distract or confuse me. During this time, nothing else matters. When I am done, I exit to home, then jump to the next app that needs my attention.

I want to browse my favourite forums, I use tapatalk (which has replaced forum browsing on the web). I want to catch up on my news, I jump into flipboard and machash. You get my drift.

Oddly liberating in a sense. I can't quite explain why; I just know I quite like it that way.

I'm not following. You can do this on Android as well...

In fact, I find iOS' notifications horridly intrusive. Yet there's no other way to be notified.

I've said it before, I can't believe Apple software engineers thought it'd be a good idea to have a banner drop down and cover and block a portion of what you're doing be it reading emails or playing games (it's particularly frustrating when you're playing a game that requires intense attention or reaction).

 

[Mr-Kerrse]

I'm not following. I can't believe Apple software engineers thought it'd be a good idea to have a banner drop down and cover and block a portion of what you're doing be it reading emails or playing games (it's particularly frustrating when you're playing a game that requires intense attention or reaction).

You can just turn it off

 

[jrswizzle]

*sigh*

These types of threads get so redundant and repetitive.....

 

[onthecouchagain]

*sigh*

These types of threads get so redundant and repetitive.....

Let's make it simple. I'll even use an example that's a very minute difference:

You say you don't mind three taps versus two because you're accustomed to it.

If iOS could make that action two taps, should they? Could you not then get accustomed to two taps instead of three, eventually growing to prefer and appreciate it requires less to do the same thing? Could you then not argue that two taps is better than three taps, even if someone is used to three taps?

Can you begin to see why there is a conversation to be had regardless of what someone might prefer or be accustomed to?

We were all "accustomed" to not having copy and paste with iOS. We were all "accustomed" to not having a notification center pull down. Up until recently, we all got "accustomed" to not having a dedicated voice navigation integrated into iOS. There are many more examples.

 

[jrswizzle]

Let's make it simple. I'll even use an example that's a very minute difference:

You say you don't mind three taps versus two because you're accustomed to it.

If iOS could make that action two taps, should they?

Sure?

My point is, I don't care enough to throw fits about it. Is having toggles on my HTC One nice? Of course! Especially for the flashlight.

Does it make the phone MUCH more functional and immensely upgrade my user experience.....meh. There are MANY other things I care about more.

My list of preferences and desires isn't a list of 20 equally important things. Like most, there's a ranking - some things are more important than others. The fact that an all metal, beautifully designed, IPS LCD packing, Sense 5 (simple, not bloated, smooth) Android was what's taken my number 1 spot from the iPhone 5 should tell you that toggles don't mean much to me.

Things you value are not valued the same by everyone. Nor is every pro or con equal for everyone. I may be fine trading an extra tap here for an aluminum build. Or using apps as the file system so I can have a smooth overall experience.

I'm done explaining this. These threads are idiotic and circular. If we REALLY want to talk about making iOS better, there are plenty of threads in the iOS 7 section that list NUMEROUS advancements, features and fixes that would all be great to have.

Using the alternatives section to discuss iOS 7 and what we want only makes sense if you want to have such a conversation in the context of what Android does better. Which is completely fine - just don't act like you are some knight of objectivity and just want to have an "honest" conversation, but these iOS blowhards are incapable of speaking honestly.

I prefer to say neither is better and both need improvements. Each platform's improvements can be discussed in a vacuum separate from the other because, to be quite honest, they provide two completely different ideas about how a mobile experience should be.

So to say "Android does this better, so iOS should do it like Android" is asinine. Android and iOS aren't even speaking the same language.

----------

Can you begin to see why there is a conversation to be had regardless of what someone might prefer or be accustomed to?

We were all "accustomed" to not having copy and paste with iOS. We were all "accustomed" to not having a notification center pull down. Up until recently, we all got "accustomed" to not having a dedicated voice navigation integrated into iOS. There are many more examples.

Lol.....I don't know how many times I have to say this....

I'm perfectly fine, capable and WILLING to have a discussion about what needs to, should, or what we want to change in iOS.

I just don't care to do so under the umbrella of these "Android is better" comments. There's no need and those iOS conversations are easily had without bringing Android into it.

 

[onthecouchagain]

Sure?

Thank you. (Again, keep in mind, I'm using a very basic example to simplify it).

Regarding everything else you wrote, fair enough. Again, for the record, I tried to have iOS conversations without heavily comparing Android (some comparisons are inevitable). You know the result and responses I got.

 

[jrswizzle]

Thank you. (Again, keep in mind, I'm using a very basic example to simplify it).

Regarding everything else you wrote, fair enough. Again, for the record, I tried to have iOS conversations without heavily comparing Android (some comparisons are inevitable). You know the result and responses I got.

There was no need to simplify anything. I've said everything in that post already. Maybe I wasn't explaining myself fully.

As for iOS discussion, I think you gave up too easily.....

I've read through many of the pages in the main iOS 7 wants thread. There are all kinds of awesome and out-of-the-box thinking ideas there.

Plenty of opportunity to talk about features and such.

Even if you were to suggest a feature Android has (like toggles, which has been mentioned numerous times), you can easily do so without mentioning Android.

To be honest, you'd likely not want to say "toggles like Android" anyways as that wouldn't match Apple's design aesthetic. Every feature Apple adds will be in keeping with their philosophies both design-wise and software-wise. ANY feature, be it already on Android or otherwise, will likely see a very different implementation if ever given in iOS.

So not only do you piss people off by using comparisons to Android (and saying Android is definitively better), you aren't being realistic anyways. Features are one thing, and their implementation is entirely different.

Selecting text would be one that comes to mind. Both Android and iOS have this feature, however they have vastly different (and in Android's case, infuriating) implementations.

 

[appletoandroid]

For me, I personally appreciate my activities on my ios devices being compartmentalized by app. I want to check my email, I just go to my mail app. There, I just focus solely on reading, sorting and replying to my email, with no other functions to distract or confuse me. During this time, nothing else matters. When I am done, I exit to home, then jump to the next app that needs my attention.

I want to browse my favourite forums, I use tapatalk (which has replaced forum browsing on the web). I want to catch up on my news, I jump into flipboard and machash. You get my drift.

Oddly liberating in a sense. I can't quite explain why; I just know I quite like it that way.

You just don't get it. Android can do all of that and more, which is why it is vastly superior to iOS. Wake up and stop blindly supporting an inferior product. It's always iPhone owners who have to come out to give a reason why they buy inferior products, even in the face of people informing them how much better the alternative is.

 

[matttye]

You just don't get it. Android can do all of that and more, which is why it is vastly superior to iOS. Wake up and stop blindly supporting an inferior product. It's always iPhone owners who have to come out to give a reason why they buy inferior products, even in the face of people informing them how much better the alternative is.

Is your own life so insignificant that you feel the need to force your likes onto others? Not everyone has to like the same toys as you!

 

[Night Spring]

I can admit that the ipad is inferior to the Nexus 10 but I'd prefer an ipad by far.

I can admit that the macbook pro is superior to the macbook air, yet for some purposes I prefer the air.

I can admit the playstation 3 is better than the Xbox 360 but i prefer the Xbox 360

Is it really so hard to do?

Don't know enough about the Nexus 10 to argue with you about that, and I have even less idea about playstation vs Xbox. But as far as MacBook Pro vs Air, well, yes, the Pro is a more powerful machine than the Air. But is it the better machine for my needs? No, if what I need is portability. Plus, I also don't need the extra power of the Pro for the type of work I do on my laptop.

Couch isn't insisting that Android is faster, or has more features, or is more customizable. He is insisting that these characteristics make Android the superior OS. I happen to think that arguments over which OS is superior is silly -- there are too many different elements that go into a complex thing like an OS, that there is no way to quantify each element and add up the total and state that one is better than other. I'm perfectly happy to admit, for instance, that Android is more customizable, and that setting toggles are a great feature to have (it's one of the first jailbreak tweaks I put on whenever I jailbreak an iOS device). Whether or not the Android back button is useful, or two taps are always better than three, are, in my opinion, debatable. But couch comes into a discussion insisting "Two taps are always better than three! Anyone who doesn't agree is in denial, and trying to justify an inferior product!"

So when is three taps better than two? Well, if, in order to reduce the number of taps, all the options have been crammed into a single page, and you have to scroll through a long list of settings toggles to find the one you want, then it might be easier if the settings have been divided into well thought-out subcategories. Going into one more level of menus require an additional tap, but it might actually be easier and faster to find the setting you are looking for.

I'm not saying this is the case for every instance where iOS requires more taps than Android to get something done. I'm just saying that "two taps is better than three" is just not always true. Just as in case of MacBook Pro vs Air, "more power is always better" isn't true. More power is always more power, sure. But more power isn't always better/superior.

 

[aneftp]

Gotta a little laugh when OP included the One X, Razr Maxx HD, Note 1. Seriously?

The camera on the Razr maxx hd is not good. The Note 1 is like a gloried GS2. The One X +? Geeze.

Nexus 4? Camera is a bit worse than a almost 3 year old iPhone 4.

Trust me. I've owned all the lastest phones. Been through Lumia 900/920/8x. Been through Gnex, Nexus 4, S3, Note 2 all in the past 12 months.

Still on fence about GS4. Waiting to see if I can get it cheaper on Craigslist. But I've played with a my co workers. It's really nice. Better than iPhone 5 for sure.

But those other phones. Forget it. OP is smoking something to mess with his mind.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

You just don't get it. Android can do all of that and more, which is why it is vastly superior to iOS. Wake up and stop blindly supporting an inferior product. It's always iPhone owners who have to come out to give a reason why they buy inferior products, even in the face of people informing them how much better the alternative is.

Has it ever crossed your mind that others simply don't share your opinion? Do you seriously think people 'blindly support an inferior product' and buy such products just for the sheer hell of it? Get real, and stop forcing your opinions on others like you are spouting fact. Everyone is entitled to their opinion and not everybody is going to buy the same things as you and have the same viewpoints regarding inferiority. Both OS's have their pro's and con's and appeal to different people. It can't be claimed one is superior to the other because both are so different and have a customer base into the many millions. Judging by you name you have recently gone over to Android and its great you are using something you feel is better. I've recently gone the other way to iOS and feel I have made the best choice for my situation. Nobody forced me to leave Android and I have not done it because I like using inferior products. Horses for courses my friend.

 

[Abazigal]

You just don't get it. Android can do all of that and more, which is why it is vastly superior to iOS. Wake up and stop blindly supporting an inferior product. It's always iPhone owners who have to come out to give a reason why they buy inferior products, even in the face of people informing them how much better the alternative is.

For the moment at least, I don't need a device that does more for the simple fact that the iphone already does everything I need it to do well, and dare I say, even better than how Android does it.

I am using ipad-specific screencasting apps (educreations / showme) to create screencasts for my pupils. I am mirroring my ipad to the classroom projector via airserver running on my macbook. Imessage can be accessed across all my Apple devices. I can annotate on documents easily using notability. Imovie and iphoto allows me to do light editing on my phone. I am creating simple but impressive-looking documents using iworks on my ipad.

Just last week, I helped a colleague share photographs of an excursion to the zoo with her pupils (for a project) using shared photostream (the browser version). The entire process took a minute.

Quite a number of my friends' Samsung phablet phones are already starting to sport unsightly cracks across their screens, barely months after they got their note2. One doesn't even know how he got it.

I for one know I am going meaningful tasks on it, and my friends and colleagues are often amazed and impressed by the tasks I can accomplish on my Apple devices. The very same people using S3s and Note2s running the Android OS you so claim to be superior.

I do not deny there are certain tasks and features which Android likely trumps IOS in (nor do I care, because those features likely don't appeal to me). Let me stress again that I purchased my Apple devices after having done a fair amount of research and convincing myself that they indeed best suited my needs). And they still do. I certainly did not buy my iphone to appear hip or to fit in with any crowd.

Conversely, it is you Android users who seem to have some issue with us, and have to constantly put us down, as if that somehow justifies your choice of OS. It's the same everywhere I go - Cnet, engadget, anadtech...it's virtually impossible to have a decent conversation or sharing of ideas when their replies boil down to "IOS sucks, Apple will go bankrupt soon, *Sticks fingers in ears* LALALALA"

 

[cynics]

Conversely, it is you Android users who seem to have some issue with us, and have to constantly put us down, as if that somehow justifies your choice of OS. It's the same everywhere I go - Cnet, engadget, anadtech...it's virtually impossible to have a decent conversation or sharing of ideas when their replies boil down to "IOS sucks, Apple will go bankrupt soon, *Sticks fingers in ears* LALALALA"

"Certain Android users".

I use both quite often and prefer iOS but only marginally. I don't think the better OS is as black and white as some would have you believe.

There are things I love and hate about either OS.

 

[Abazigal]

"Certain Android users".

I use both quite often and prefer iOS but only marginally. I don't think the better OS is as black and white as some would have you believe.

There are things I love and hate about either OS.

By android users, you know very well who I am referring to.

My friends use Android, and what phones we use is really last thing which would ever drive a wedge between us.

 

[aneftp]

I've owned the original G1 (Android 1.0) all the way to the lastest greatest Androids Note 2, Nexus 4, etc. Still on the fence about the S4.

I've also owned the original iPhone 2007 all the way through the iPhone 5.

I think you guys are missing the big picture with smartphones these days.

The big picture is the smartphone OS's are very mature. The smartphone hardware is very mature. There's very little left to dramatically improve the function. That's why the S4 when it was announced was pretty ho hum.

Same can be said for the next iPhone later this year.

Saying all that, it comes down to personal choices. I can see both sides of every story. Unfortunately both Android and iOS circles may not budge on their opinion.

For example, for years Android fans have argue Apple iPhones are a rip off and they charge too much? Have you seen the MSRP prices for the S4 these days? It's the same $650 as the current iPhone 5. The HTC One isn't cheap either at around $600 but it offer slightly more value with 32GB internal.

iOS fans will argue that the iPhone is so much smoother than Android. But I firmly believe Android's raw power from it's high end smartphones starting in late 2011 more than made up for any "lag" Android experiences. The Nexus 4 and Note 2 I used the past 6 months, especially the Note 2 is every bit as fast as the iPhone 5. In fact, I think the Note 2 is (or was the fastest phone). And it shows. It flys. I am sure the S4 is even faster.

Buy what makes you happy. But what fits your needs. I always have both and Android device and iPhone with me. I get the best of both worlds.

 

[daneoni]

Uh huh. If you want to tell yourself that, by all means go ahead.

 

[Dontazemebro]

Everybody's going to have their preferences but in the grand scheme of things, I don't see why it's so hard for some to accept that one OS is objectively better.

os X - can accomplish said task by doing A and B

os Y- can accomplish said task by doing A, B, C and probably even D

Well both phones can accomplish said task by doing A and B nearly identical but only one can do C and D.

So yes subjectively, it's all about preference but objectively one OS is more mature than the other.

 

[rMBA13]

I was talking with a friend of mine, and I told him there are several phones that are better than the iPhone. Once I started naming some, I realized the iPhone isn't even in the top 10. In no particular order, here are 10 phones I rank ahead of the iPhone.

• Galaxy S4
• Galaxy Note 2
• HTC One
• Nexus 4
• Optimus G Pro
• Optimus G
• Galaxy S3
• Razr Maxx HD
• Galaxy Note
• HTC One X+

Samsung must be careful not to crush Apple. If they did that they will have no one else to copy from and run their business. Samsung belongs to the set of companies that can manufacture godzillion units of anything within a short time, flood the market and wipe out all competition. Innovations and creative products cannot be made every month. It takes years for game changing developments to take place. Apple, Google and many American companies create new avenues and markets. And they let everyone play level on those markets. Companies like Samsung wait for these leaders to create something and move in very quickly to overwhelm and dominate that market. Samsung’s first tablet almost looked like the iPad and was very deceptive. Apple had to go to the court to push them back. Be careful with companies like Samsung. They may give cheaper products. But by encouraging them and celebrating the defeat of true innovators, we are digging the grave for the latter. One does not have to buy Apple products all the time or be loyal to them. But killing Apple off would be the worst mistake. After that you will be stuck with Samsung and similar companies whose innovative efforts are varying size, color, adding more features that may not be necessary until there is no more left to improve. Then it will go the way of the DVD players where a few pennies only could be made and the business died away. Do not celebrate if Samsung beats companies like Apple. Be worried. America’s main strength is true innovation and creation. Everything in the tech world that we take for granted today came from the American companies – Intel, Motorola (what was that again?), IBM, Microsoft, Apple, Google, Xerox, Oracle, you name it. They all competed and truly created something. Companies like Samsung have the government back up to invest massively in manufacturing plants, hire people like ants and work them to turn things around quickly and try selling by trial and error methods. Once creativity is killed, these companies will have nothing to offer other than the same mediocre products. Do not celebrate Samsung’s victory.

 

[Krimsonmyst]

Samsung must be careful not to crush Apple. If they did that they will have no one else to copy from and run their business. Samsung belongs to the set of companies that can manufacture godzillion units of anything within a short time, flood the market and wipe out all competition. Innovations and creative products cannot be made every month. It takes years for game changing developments to take place. Apple, Google and many American companies create new avenues and markets. And they let everyone play level on those markets. Companies like Samsung wait for these leaders to create something and move in very quickly to overwhelm and dominate that market. Samsung’s first tablet almost looked like the iPad and was very deceptive. Apple had to go to the court to push them back. Be careful with companies like Samsung. They may give cheaper products. But by encouraging them and celebrating the defeat of true innovators, we are digging the grave for the latter. One does not have to buy Apple products all the time or be loyal to them. But killing Apple off would be the worst mistake. After that you will be stuck with Samsung and similar companies whose innovative efforts are varying size, color, adding more features that may not be necessary until there is no more left to improve. Then it will go the way of the DVD players where a few pennies only could be made and the business died away. Do not celebrate if Samsung beats companies like Apple. Be worried. America’s main strength is true innovation and creation. Everything in the tech world that we take for granted today came from the American companies – Intel, Motorola (what was that again?), IBM, Microsoft, Apple, Google, Xerox, Oracle, you name it. They all competed and truly created something. Companies like Samsung have the government back up to invest massively in manufacturing plants, hire people like ants and work them to turn things around quickly and try selling by trial and error methods. Once creativity is killed, these companies will have nothing to offer other than the same mediocre products. Do not celebrate Samsung’s victory.

Holy crap man, use the enter key! Walls of text are painful to work through.

Anyway, this whole 'Samsung won't have anything to copy' argument is getting old, and quite frankly is really stupid.

The GS4 (and the Note 2 for that matter) had a lot of features that Samsung has refined to work in a mobile device, that Apple hasn't even hinted at including. Now you COULD (and I'm sure you WILL) argue that these features aren't useful/only a tiny percentage of people will use them - but the point is that they are THERE, and Samsung would have had to invest a great deal of time and money to get them working.