Why even Android anymore?

[dk001]

As I compare Android and iOS, iPhones and Android Phones, I quite happy to see the vast options I have as a consumer. I do not see Android and iOS converging in functionality, foreground nor background. Unless Tim Cook changes the direction, I don't see this ever happening. The recent proposed changes coming to both OS's will change again especially with items like the Grey-Box for iOS and as each delve further into issues like healthcare devices and records.

Vive La Difference!!

 

[nviz22]

If the Pixel 3 copies the iPhone X with hardware ergonomics, offers a notch, and continues on with the standard RAM/battery/screen/processor upgrades, I wouldn't care as long as there is 3D Facial Recognition. Either the Pixel 3 or iPhone X 2017/X2/LCD 6.1" will be my next phone.

 

[dk001]

If the Pixel 3 copies the iPhone X with hardware ergonomics, offers a notch, and continues on with the standard RAM/battery/screen/processor upgrades, I wouldn't care as long as there is 3D Facial Recognition. Either the Pixel 3 or iPhone X 2017/X2/LCD 6.1" will be my next phone.

Good choices!
Be nice to see other such devices from OEM's ...

 

[slitherjef]

I guess I was answering this question:

what is the point of Android anymore?

I should have worded my response differently, what I was trying to convey is that the point of Android is to provide a competitor to iOS/Apple. Without it, well you know what happens if a greedy company had no competition.

What competition? Looks to me there is an lot of android following apple. Remember Samsung got sued for cloning Apple and now the whole of Android is leaning towards using apple and iOS as a template...

In my thinking, a competitor differentiates not imitates. Right now the direction of Android is looking more and more like iOS.

I was not suggesting Android go away I was saying if Android was basically going to try to be a cheap iPhone look a like why wouldn't one get the real deal? Why copy apple at least on the surface level?

I mean if you wanted to take sales away from apple why design a device that looks and functions like an apple on the surface level? This to me seems like an underhanded move to deceive people to buy a lower cost alternative, I mean ("it looks almost the same right? And the price is a few hundred bucks lower! ...wait, why can't I get imessage on this thing? I thought it was an iPhone because it almost looked like one?")

I'm still not sure if I am making sense or getting things out of my head right? Some thoughts may be a little disjointed

I'm not sure if I could actually buy an iPhone myself.

 

[Michael Goff]

Out of curiosity, what makes you believe that?

I had USB C headphones, the supposed better ones at 100$, and they just kept dropping on my Pixel 2 XL. That’s not even getting into the issue that you can buy USB C headphones that don’t work with your phone, even though the U in USB supposedly means universal.

 

[Breaking Good]

Serious question...

With the recent line of android phones and software leaks leaning closer and closer to iPhone doppelgangers, what is the point of Android anymore? If so many manufacturers are doing this trend to look and almost act like an iPhone, why not just get an iPhone?

I've been an Android user since the HTC g1 because I was not an apple user and because Android was what interest me, I liked using it, felt natural.

Nowadays it just seems like I might as well get an iPhone for my next Nexus 6 replacement since it looks as if that is the current trend.

Locked bootloader
Apple like stance on modifications
Useless bloatware
Foreced (almost!) Security Updates (many of which I still see as "just to push something out security
wise")
Your flagship device may get one update (that may or may not work)
Design language starting to look like apple.

If it looks like an apple functions like an apple and taste like an apple, shouldn't you just get an apple?

Not sure if I'm making sense or missing the point? Just pondering out loud I guess.

I guess you don't follow fashion or design trends.

Is it really that surprising that as smartphone manufacturers drive towards the most efficient design based on state-of-the-art technology that many similarities will emerge?

 

[Regime2008]

I had USB C headphones, the supposed better ones at 100$, and they just kept dropping on my Pixel 2 XL. That’s not even getting into the issue that you can buy USB C headphones that don’t work with your phone, even though the U in USB supposedly means universal.

What headphones were these? And by dropping, what do you mean? An incompatible headphone should only happen if you are using an analog adapter on a device that requires a digital adapter. Besides that, Usb Type C is better than lightning cable in all aspects, including audio.

 

[Michael Goff]

They these USB C headphones from Essential. I think they were just called Headphones HD. By dropping I mean that the audio starts going in and out and I have to stop whatever I’m doing to unplug them and plug them in again. No, there are such a thing as incompatible USB C headphones because not everyone implements USB C audio the same way.

As opposed to any pair of lightning headphones, even the free ones you get in the box, working with any iPhone that has a lightning port. But go ahead and tell me how USB C is better for audio. Tell me how it’s better for anything when I’ve never heard of a lightning cable being plugged into a laptop and frying the laptop. And don’t even get me started on the fact that Thunderbolt on a laptop made it impossible to know what accessories you can buy for that because who knows how many PCIE lanes you have.


Oh, here’s an article about USB C headphones
https://www.theverge.com/circuitbre...gle-pixel-2-earbuds-dongle-xiaomi-usb-c-price

 

[dk001]

What competition? Looks to me there is an lot of android following apple. Remember Samsung got sued for cloning Apple and now the whole of Android is leaning towards using apple and iOS as a template...

In my thinking, a competitor differentiates not imitates. Right now the direction of Android is looking more and more like iOS.

I was not suggesting Android go away I was saying if Android was basically going to try to be a cheap iPhone look a like why wouldn't one get the real deal? Why copy apple at least on the surface level?

I mean if you wanted to take sales away from apple why design a device that looks and functions like an apple on the surface level? This to me seems like an underhanded move to deceive people to buy a lower cost alternative, I mean ("it looks almost the same right? And the price is a few hundred bucks lower! ...wait, why can't I get imessage on this thing? I thought it was an iPhone because it almost looked like one?")

I'm still not sure if I am making sense or getting things out of my head right? Some thoughts may be a little disjointed

I'm not sure if I could actually buy an iPhone myself.

I get what you are saying even if I don't totally agree. I think

I'd love to get my hands on a Huawei Mate Pro 20 and test it out.
I really like my Razer and it is nothing like my backup iPhone 7+.

That said, iOS vs. Android - there are some aspects that are aligning but far more that differentiate the two OS's. Then you look at the hardware ... many OEM's are copying and some times improving on Apple's designs. The cheaper stuff is everywhere especially when it comes to many international regions. Cost? Apple over did it IMO however I suspect that will adjust.

No, I am not seeing more copying and less diversity. I am seeing Android coming up to speed on many security / privacy issues that I trusted in iOS for ... at least until the latest grey box episode ...

 

[Regime2008]

They these USB C headphones from Essential. I think they were just called Headphones HD. By dropping I mean that the audio starts going in and out and I have to stop whatever I’m doing to unplug them and plug them in again. No, there are such a thing as incompatible USB C headphones because not everyone implements USB C audio the same way.

As opposed to any pair of lightning headphones, even the free ones you get in the box, working with any iPhone that has a lightning port. But go ahead and tell me how USB C is better for audio. Tell me how it’s better for anything when I’ve never heard of a lightning cable being plugged into a laptop and frying the laptop. And don’t even get me started on the fact that Thunderbolt on a laptop made it impossible to know what accessories you can buy for that because who knows how many PCIE lanes you have.


Oh, here’s an article about USB C headphones
https://www.theverge.com/circuitbre...gle-pixel-2-earbuds-dongle-xiaomi-usb-c-price

Which brings me back to my point about how it is implemented. If you use an analog usb type c adaptor with a device that only allows digital, then it will not work. With the right adaptor, one that is compatible with your phone, you will have no incompatibility issues. USB type C is much more superior than lightning in bandwidth, power delivery up to 100 watts, it's standardized, etc. Usb type C is the future, and even Apple included it as the standard port on their laptops. Pretty sure they would want to have used a lightning to lightning port. But what manufacturers would dump loads of money to please the very small percentage of Mac users to make compatible accessories? Iphones are limited to usb 2.0. So there are numerous advantages that USB type C have over lightning.

 

[TC_GoldRush]

what is the point of Android anymore?

A lot of the Android manufacturers are a joke nowadays, not going to lie. It's really only Samsung Galaxy, Google Pixel, or iPhone. All the others aren't bad, but they aren't really that good either.

 

[TheSkywalker77]

I've been an iPhone user for years and will continue to use iPhones and Macs. It's just easier than Android and Windows imo and I've put so much money into their ecosystem it'd be stupid to switch now.

 

[Michael Goff]

Which brings me back to my point about how it is implemented. If you use an analog usb type c adaptor with a device that only allows digital, then it will not work. With the right adaptor, one that is compatible with your phone, you will have no incompatibility issues. USB type C is much more superior than lightning in bandwidth, power delivery up to 100 watts, it's standardized, etc. Usb type C is the future, and even Apple included it as the standard port on their laptops. Pretty sure they would want to have used a lightning to lightning port. But what manufacturers would dump loads of money to please the very small percentage of Mac users to make compatible accessories? Iphones are limited to usb 2.0. So there are numerous advantages that USB type C have over lightning.

iPhones aren’t limited to USB 2.0. USB C can be limited to USB 2.0 speeds ala one of the OnePlus phones. C actually doesn’t specify any of that, USB 3.1gen 2 does.

And why would you need 100watts on mobile anyway?

 

[Altis]

I've been an iPhone user for years and will continue to use iPhones and Macs. It's just easier than Android and Windows imo and I've put so much money into their ecosystem it'd be stupid to switch now.

That's what companies want -- long-term commitment by making people buy into these "ecosystems."

I'd rather not get tied down to any company/service.

 

[Regime2008]

iPhones aren’t limited to USB 2.0. USB C can be limited to USB 2.0 speeds ala one of the OnePlus phones. C actually doesn’t specify any of that, USB 3.1gen 2 does.

And why would you need 100watts on mobile anyway?

iPhones are in fact limited to usb 2.0 speeds, hence slower transfer speeds when plugged in. Airdrop using Wireless AC speeds cap out at 160mbps. If it supported 3.0, airdrop would be pointless for massive file sizes such as long 4k videos. Not only that but Usb type C can drive higher impedance headphones, which lightning cable may not have sufficient power to be able to drive. Usb Type C can act as an Ethernet or HDMI/DP cable as well. There are several uses that the lightning cable will not be able to hold a candle to the superior usb type C standard.

 

[Michael Goff]

iPhones are in fact limited to usb 2.0 speeds, hence slower transfer speeds when plugged in. Airdrop using Wireless AC speeds cap out at 160mbps. If it supported 3.0, airdrop would be pointless for massive file sizes such as long 4k videos. Not only that but Usb type C can drive higher impedance headphones, which lightning cable may not have sufficient power to be able to drive. Usb Type C can act as an Ethernet or HDMI/DP cable as well. There are several uses that the lightning cable will not be able to hold a candle to the superior usb type C standard.

No, iPhone 8 has USB 3 transfer speeds.

https://www.amazon.com/Philips-M2L-27-Resolution-Headphones/dp/B00V4X6QGY
https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_...Lightning+to+ether,aps,152&crid=2JEJ95ZDW6B28
https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_...ightning+to+hdmi&rh=i:aps,k:lightning+to+hdmi

 

[Regime2008]

No, iPhone 8 has USB 3 transfer speeds.

https://www.amazon.com/Philips-M2L-27-Resolution-Headphones/dp/B00V4X6QGY
https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_c_1_18?url=search-alias=aps&field-keywords=lightning+to+ethernet&sprefix=Lightning+to+ether,aps,152&crid=2JEJ95ZDW6B28
https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias=aps&field-keywords=lightning+to+hdmi&rh=i:aps,k:lightning+to+hdmi

Do they? https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/iphone-8-8p-is-still-usb-2-0.2070573/
And what is up with all the extra clutter and dongles?! So glad the rest of the world doesn't embrace the #DongleLife. So much extra money just to do the same thing as a single usb type c cable, minus all the dongles.

Btw those headphones are only 16ohms. Literally ANYTHING can power those. When i said high impedance, I meant like 600ohm to 800ohm drivers.

 

[Michael Goff]

Do they? https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/iphone-8-8p-is-still-usb-2-0.2070573/
And what is up with all the extra clutter and dongles?! So glad the rest of the world doesn't embrace the #DongleLife. So much extra money just to do the same thing as a single usb type c cable, minus all the dongles.

Btw those headphones are only 16ohms. Literally ANYTHING can power those. When i said high impedance, I meant like 600ohm to 800ohm drivers.

I could be wrong, I thought it had 3.0 speeds. But even if I’m wrong, that’s a problem with Apple not putting in enough connectors and not an inherent issue with lightning itself. I know the iPad Pro has 3.0 speeds. Also, you’re complaining about dongles when you have to use dongles for basically everything with USB C.

Type C can’t plug directly into Ethernet, you have to get an adapter. It can’t plug into HDMI, that’s an adapter. I also can’t seem to find any 800ohm powered by USB C.

 

[Regime2008]

The Ipad Pro is usb 3.0 compliant IIRC, because it has double the amount of pins that the iphone has. It is not a problem with the cable itself, I agree. But it could easily (and cheaply) be implemented for all iphones. Maybe it was gimped on purpose to push airdrop, and to "make everything wireless" agenda.

And I mention dongles, as not everything previously stated, will require a dongle. You can use a usb type c cable as an Ethernet cable (more than likely rare case scenario, nonetheless, but still a possibility). You can also plug a phone into a display to charge the phone, while mirroring the content to the display. I can plug my phone, into my tablet via just a usb type c to type c cable, and charge my phone, or vise versa. There are so many possibilities with Usb type C, that lightning cable, just can't do.

And there probably won't be any non-headphone jack, high impedance headphones for some time, until headphone manufacturers are pushed to go that route. Which may not happen anytime soon, because most fall into the high end category. But let's just say they do exist. Why would lightning be superior for sound to usb type c? Simply put, It wouldn't. Apple doesn't support as many of the audio codecs and bit rates that the rest of the world supports. You can see this in the iphone, apple tv, homepod, etc. Usb type C is standard, while only apple uses lightning. Manufacturers would jump on board to support an open standard platform, than put themselves in a restricted ecosystem.

 

[Michael Goff]

The Ipad Pro is usb 3.0 compliant IIRC, because it has double the amount of pins that the iphone has. It is not a problem with the cable itself, I agree. But it could easily (and cheaply) be implemented for all iphones. Maybe it was gimped on purpose to push airdrop, and to "make everything wireless" agenda.

And I mention dongles, as not everything previously stated, will require a dongle. You can use a usb type c cable as an Ethernet cable (more than likely rare case scenario, nonetheless, but still a possibility). You can also plug a phone into a display to charge the phone, while mirroring the content to the display. I can plug my phone, into my tablet via just a usb type c to type c cable, and charge my phone, or vise versa. There are so many possibilities with Usb type C, that lightning cable, just can't do.

And there probably won't be any non-headphone jack, high impedance headphones for some time, until headphone manufacturers are pushed to go that route. Which may not happen anytime soon, because most fall into the high end category. But let's just say they do exist. Why would lightning be superior for sound to usb type c? Simply put, It wouldn't. Apple doesn't support as many of the audio codecs and bit rates that the rest of the world supports. You can see this in the iphone, apple tv, homepod, etc. Usb type C is standard, while only apple uses lightning. Manufacturers would jump on board to support an open standard platform, than put themselves in a restricted ecosystem.

There is a huge difference to me in “theoretically better” USB C Audio that doesn’t work right now and lightning headphones that DO work right now.

 

[Regime2008]

There is a huge difference to me in “theoretically better” USB C Audio that doesn’t work right now and lightning headphones that DO work right now.

They work with what though? Just the iphone. Not even the Mac? Truthfully, nothing will beat the headphone jack, not usb type c, and definitely not lightning, in this day and age. But technically speaking, usb type c is superior to lightning for the reasons I listed in my previous post. But neither are going to be implemented "mainstream" anytime soon.

 

[Michael Goff]

They work with what though? Just the iphone. Not even the Mac? Truthfully, nothing will beat the headphone jack, not usb type c, and definitely not lightning, in this day and age. But technically speaking, usb type c is superior to lightning for the reasons I listed in my previous post. But neither are going to be implemented "mainstream" anytime soon.

Yes, they do just work with the iPhone. But I can go buy any pair of lightning headphones and I know it will work with my iPhone. I can’t say the same about any random USB C headphones and the Pixel 2XL. And of course neither are going to be mainstream, that’s going to be BT headphones when the headphone jack is removed from the rest of the phones.

 

[LIVEFRMNYC]

What competition? Looks to me there is an lot of android following apple. Remember Samsung got sued for cloning Apple and now the whole of Android is leaning towards using apple and iOS as a template...

In my thinking, a competitor differentiates not imitates. Right now the direction of Android is looking more and more like iOS.

I was not suggesting Android go away I was saying if Android was basically going to try to be a cheap iPhone look a like why wouldn't one get the real deal? Why copy apple at least on the surface level?

I mean if you wanted to take sales away from apple why design a device that looks and functions like an apple on the surface level? This to me seems like an underhanded move to deceive people to buy a lower cost alternative, I mean ("it looks almost the same right? And the price is a few hundred bucks lower! ...wait, why can't I get imessage on this thing? I thought it was an iPhone because it almost looked like one?")

I'm still not sure if I am making sense or getting things out of my head right? Some thoughts may be a little disjointed

I'm not sure if I could actually buy an iPhone myself.

Actually you're viewing things from a short spectrum. The reason Apple made the iPhone X with a notch in the first place is because Apple is following suit of what Android manufacturers have already been doing for years, which is improving the screen to body ratio every year.

The iPhone X would have been just fine without a notch, I personally wish the face of the X was similar to the S8/S9(obviously without the curved display). That would have been perfect. Cause I love the size of the X, but that notch kills it for me since I use landscape plenty.

 

[Regime2008]

Yes, they do just work with the iPhone. But I can go buy any pair of lightning headphones and I know it will work with my iPhone. I can’t say the same about any random USB C headphones and the Pixel 2XL. And of course neither are going to be mainstream, that’s going to be BT headphones when the headphone jack is removed from the rest of the phones.

I mean sure, but there aren't any good headphones with a lightning cable. With the Pixel 2, you just get the right adapter, and you are good to go. It's not anywhere as bad as for example, the TB fiasco with Apple. That is way worse IMO. Point is, Usb type C will still support superior sound at the end of the day.

 

[Michael Goff]

I mean sure, but there aren't any good headphones with a lightning cable. With the Pixel 2, you just get the right adapter, and you are good to go. It's not anywhere as bad as for example, the TB fiasco with Apple. That is way worse IMO. Point is, Usb type C will still support superior sound at the end of the day.

There are no good headphones with lightning? Is that really the absolute statement you want to make? And how can weyou know Type C will support superior sound to lightning when there’s no single example? I mean, you say lightning can’t power high impedance headphones. But why don’t you think they can?