Android or iPhone?

[showkati]

At the end of the day if you have a Mac and are satisfied with Apple products, then you should not hesitate to get the iP4. There is one very important advantage that the iP4 has, which is the ability simply walk into an apple store if your phone is having a problem and walk out with either a solution/fix or a brand new phone. (in most cases its a brand new phone.)

Having something like that in your back pocket is great and a really high selling point.

side note: Android phones are not mac friendly in the slightest. My bluetooth would not connect to it and the only way to sync and back up was to download half-arsed 3rd party apps.

 

[AZREOSpecialist]

My Vibrant can play ogg, wav, mp3, divx, xvid, mkv, h.264, mp4 and others natively at any aspect ratio without needing 3rd party software and without needing to convert the file or drag it into itunes for transfer.

If you would, please explain to me how iPhone "blows it away"

Vibrant? Really? The iPhone 3G looks and behaves better. Oh wait, that iPhone is is two generations old. Glad to see that Samsung is trying to catch up. I'd be pissed too if I had that phone, no wonder you're in an iPhone forum!

 

[AZREOSpecialist]

I can't think of any apple branded apps that there isn't already a superior alternative to on android (mobileme? don't make me laugh).

For all the talk about Android users being more "techy" than iPhone users, the above statement shows a superior level of idiocy. MobileMe is not an "apple branded app", as you say. It is a service. There is no application connected to MobileMe. I have MobileMe service and rely on it daily. I am a busy real estate agent, and with MobileMe I have all of my contacts, bookmarks and calendars synched automatically over the air and without needing to worry about anything. Whether I'm on my desktop computer, iPhone, or iPad, I have consistent contacts, calendars, bookmarks, and email across all devices. And without any cables required! I also get Blackberry-style push email using MobileMe, which has allowed me to dump the Blackberry devices in favor of iPhones which offer much more functionality.

I'm glad you like your Vibrant, although I'm not sure I understand why you are trying so hard to tell everyone how superior your phone is in an iPhone forum. You may get more by posting your remarks in a Vibrant forum. Are there even any?

 

[shandyman]

Yes we can. We have (on the Galaxy S phones anyways) a Amazon icon that goes directly to their music section. Works just like iTunes but i hardly buy music anyways. I got most of mine from my own CD's or from the library.

Dont know why there is arguing going on here. iPhone is a good device, it just isnt customizable as Android even if you jailbreak it. Android is a good system that is rapidly getting even better. Yes this is a Apple forum and some just arent informed enough to know what Android can do and thats ok. iPhone is a good phone and i loved mine and am not going to get rid of it, but i dont use it anymore. IMO Android within a year will be blowing iPhone's OS away. Just what i feel because i only have 2.1 and feel it is right there already.

someone already informed about amazon in the thread after me and i replied to it, so you're just repeating what he said. as i asked, can you get video too like we can? cos thats a great feature we have.

 

[cis4life]

The bottom line is simple.

Both phones are GREAT, it's a preference thing. But I get tired of hearing all about these hardware this and hardware that. Hardware DO NOT make a platform. The iphone is great for ONE and ONE REASON only....

SOFTWARE

Software makes a platform fly or die. Ease of use (the OS) makes the platform fly or die. Apple has done a GREAT job making it's iOS devices easy to use , navigate and a simple joy to work with.

Android, while great, has still a lot to learn about making it user friendly to the COMMON user. The users on this forum are far from COMMON users. We are geeks, and we make up a great 1% of the total population. The other 99% or users and professionals who want a simple to use phone, that has the capability to do computer like task. And while both phones can do this, iOS devices at this time does them better. I know grandparents who use the iPhone. This in itself is HUGE. This is the experience Apple wanted, and achieved.

The honest truth is...
if you like to tinker and like to the customization of your phone, then get an android phone. If you like the ease of use that apple has been known for with their products, and (At the moment) a larger app market, then go with the iPhone. I for one love both platforms, and I develop for both platforms. I know that in the end, it will likely be iPhone and Android ruling the mobile scene. RIM and Windows have had their day and know are simply playing catch up to Apple and Google and in this day in time, playing catch up simply won't fly with users today.

 

[McDrizzy]

Best user interface. Don't take my word on that, google iPhone reviews as far back as the first one.

My digital music is in mp3 or aac, and my videos are encoded in mp4... so I have no need for those other codecs, especially on a mobile device. Anyways, the iPhone has the highest res screen you can get on a phone, much higher than the vibrant. Why would you want to watch an mkv file on your lower res screen? But sure, I understand why you'd need to watch a movie on it while you're waiting for its broken GPS to find your location.

You have a Vibrant... now I understand your bitterness.

Edit: You're so critical on the iPhone yet take one look at this vibrant review and try and convince me that that interface is not ugly and laggy as hell
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g2uXwWZHhXE. The phone is loaded with bloatware even! http://chris.pirillo.com/new-motorola-droid-x-and-samsung-vibrant-full-of-bloatware/

Let's go there... The ANTENNA issue. YES lets go there with this one....

At least with the vibrant, the issue with the GPS is a software one that CAN be fixed.

the ip4 has a HARDWARE issue with its ANTENNA that apparently isnt a problem but yet is fixed with a bumper. So let's get this straight. A problem does not exist, yet there is a fix for a problem that does not exist?

While ALL Vibrants will get the the GPS fix OTA, many ip4 users will continue to have the issue with the antenna bridging. There is no denying it when The Woz himself says there is an issue.

Now with all that crap out of the way, they both have their pros and cons. Many have already been posted. No need for me to go into them now.

 

[DrFillster]

Yes we can. We have (on the Galaxy S phones anyways) a Amazon icon that goes directly to their music section. Works just like iTunes but i hardly buy music anyways. I got most of mine from my own CD's or from the library.

Dont know why there is arguing going on here. iPhone is a good device, it just isnt customizable as Android even if you jailbreak it. Android is a good system that is rapidly getting even better. Yes this is a Apple forum and some just arent informed enough to know what Android can do and thats ok. iPhone is a good phone and i loved mine and am not going to get rid of it, but i dont use it anymore. IMO Android within a year will be blowing iPhone's OS away. Just what i feel because i only have 2.1 and feel it is right there already.

I don't know that the quote above is true. I tried to change the native garrish color scheme for exchange emails. No way to do such an easy thing.

 

[wirelessmacuser]

I would really like to hear it straight from the owners, not just someone who held both phones for a couple of days to write a review.

I own both, the Galaxy S / Captivate and the iPhone 4.

They are both excellent! It's too close to call.

It comes down to an individuals preference. The key is not to get too focused on the little things, or frequent complaints present on the forums for each, as it's important to remember that for every complainer, there are hundreds of happy owners that don't bother to post how much they love their phones.

Stepping back and looking at big picture considerations serves one best. What are you actually going to _use_ in the way of features? What's most important to you?

At the end of the day this is _your_ phone. Therefore, I'd do the research and then think carefully about all that you've learned and choose accordingly.

Finally, remember the return policy. It's your best plan B tool.

Good Luck...

 

[JNGold]

I own both, the Galaxy S / Captivate and the iPhone 4.

Didn't you forget your Droid X?

Ah yes, they're everywhere, the dime a dozen iPhone.

The annoyance that I find most bothersome is the rather diminutive size and small display.

Oh sure it's great for the ladies, but I prefer the more masculine size of my Droid X.

 

[Lamarak]

I tried the samsung captivate for a week. Loved the voice to text features. Almost kept the phone for this alone. But, I use the media to much and I just don't like the hoops you need to go through to get it on your phone. And frankly the quality of the apps where bad in my opinion. And I found touch experience on it not nearly as smooth as the iphone.
I expect my new iphone 4 today, and I guess Im just to spoiled and admittedly too lazy to learn the android system. I do see the huge potential and why people love it. Just was not for me.

 

[editdesoja]

Well there are good and bad on both sides. At least you know when you buy download an application on the Application Store, it is what it says and there is no concern. My old phone is a Nexus and there is more on the Android Market. But the approval process Apple Application has been controversial at times.

 

[maflynn]

At the end of the day if you have a Mac and are satisfied with Apple products, then you should not hesitate to get the iP4.

This is a rather simplistic and myopic response. I think the consumer should define his/her need and see which phone fits those needs. Not whether that they're already a mac user and will just blindly buy the IP4.

There is one very important advantage that the iP4 has, which is the ability simply walk into an apple store if your phone is having a problem and walk out with either a solution/fix or a brand new phone. (in most cases its a brand new phone.)

The same exact thing can be said for verizon, sprint and t-mobile.

side note: Android phones are not mac friendly in the slightest. My bluetooth would not connect to it and the only way to sync and back up was to download half-arsed 3rd party apps.

That's complete BS. My Droid X works very well with my Mac. the major difference between an iPhone and an Android is that you don't need to hook it up to a computer, except to sync your music. It syncs via the "cloud" where as the IP4 needs itunes to its syncing.

 

[shandyman]

That's complete BS. My Droid X works very well with my Mac. the major difference between an iPhone and an Android is that you don't need to hook it up to a computer, except to sync your music. It syncs via the "cloud" where as the IP4 needs itunes to its syncing.

with the exception of OS updates and music, my iPhone syncs everything via the cloud too....

 

[Tarzanman]

with the exception of OS updates and music, my iPhone syncs everything via the cloud too....

Then I'd challenge any iphone user to not use Itunes for a year with their iphone.

iTunes is an integral part of the iPhone experience because Apple specifically designed it that way. Its a form of lock-in and control. Stop backing away from it just because we have pointed out its disadvantages.

As I said before... iphone loses on this point. Accept it and move on.

 

[AZREOSpecialist]

Then I'd challenge any iphone user to not use Itunes for a year with their iphone.

iTunes is an integral part of the iPhone experience because Apple specifically designed it that way. Its a form of lock-in and control. Stop backing away from it just because we have pointed out its disadvantages.

As I said before... iphone loses on this point. Accept it and move on.

... yet you, an Android handset user, persist with these "iPhone loses... accept it and move on" posts in an iPhone forum. Either you can't come to terms with your secret lust for an iPhone or inability to buy one, therefore projecting your own sense of inferiority onto others, or you are just psychologically damaged. Lashing out against that one thing that is inside of you - that one thing that you lust for - is nothing more than a weak attempt at denying the truth that lives inside. This may apply to other areas of your life as well.

I have no need for iTunes beyond the initial activation and occasional OS updates. I haven't needed to use iTunes in over 6 months, and I buy most of my music through the iTunes store on the iPhone 4 so the music is where I want it - on my iPhone. You really should stop posting, you're starting to look ridiculous.

 

[shandyman]

Then I'd challenge any iphone user to not use Itunes for a year with their iphone.

iTunes is an integral part of the iPhone experience because Apple specifically designed it that way. Its a form of lock-in and control. Stop backing away from it just because we have pointed out its disadvantages.

As I said before... iphone loses on this point. Accept it and move on.

it could easily to be done, you just can't accept it. why choose not to use iTunes? when i can back up my iPhone with all my text messages, apps so i can get a replacement and just restore without losing many texts and that readily in place if anything goes wrong, as opposed to having to go thru and re-download them all seperately, logging in to each app again, etc. why choose not to use itunes when i buy videos and music to use on both PC and iPhone? you just can't accept it. so you lose.

 

[Rajani Isa]

To the OP :

I don't see myself leaving iOS, I've invested enough in it (my library in iTunes, iApps, etc) that I don't want to bother with re-getting some of that stuff.

For me, it's been a good ride. And most of the apps I've gotten have been well polished.

#1 consideration for you should probably be this : If you don't get an iPhone, what carrier would you go with? And from that, how does AT&T compare to them with reception where you are?

For me, AT&T has been, at worst, alright. Usually pretty good to me in my area - but that does seem to vary with AT&T and geolocation.

1. Hardware LED indicator that lets me know when I've received an email, text, call, etc.

Some like it, some don't, and that's more of a hardware vs. hardware arguement, although no iOS device will have it, admittedly

Two screws vs a plastic back which is made to be removed and replaced repeatedly. I can go to t-mobile and buy a spare battery and install it without voiding my warranty. uCan't.

My battery life is fine - why would I need to swap it out?

Like all apple software, itunes sucks balls if you don't have a mac. That is a plus in my book. I don't need ANY software to sync media or contacts to my phone.

If iTunes is sucking balls on my pc w/ XP, then I might actually move to a mac, as I think it runs pretty awesome as it is The only thing the phone really needs iTunes for is a) Syncing music, b) backups, c) iOS upgrades. Everything else that I care to sync (contacts, calenders, etc) can sync over the air. And for music, I've enough stuff I like having a media manager in between my phone and my library.
You obviously haven't seen a captivate/vibrant in person. No comparison. Captivate/Vibrant is the nicest screen on any cell phone. There's a reason that all the manufacturers are trying to get the super AMOLED and can't. Drop by the AT&T store and check it out for yourself.

No problem. You were right about the ringtone thing.

I will say one thing - the ringtone thing isn't blatently obvious on the PC version, at least, but it's also not complicated (5 steps, max, IIRC)

Already addressed these issues. Good luck without your itunes, bud. Uncle Steve has you by the short&hairies

Ah, we refute your "iTunes sucks" line, and you find a way to dismiss by bring up a different complaint *rolleyes*

Market apps get checked. They just don't get removed unless someone influential has a serious issue with it. Even then, the app can still be downloaded outside the market. iPhone loses, accept it.

Like that virus app they removed?

 

[shandyman]

I will say one thing - the ringtone thing isn't blatently obvious on the PC version, at least, but it's also not complicated (5 steps, max, IIRC)

well for me it's download ringtone from audiko.net, import it to itunes, sync. so 3 steps max or go into itunes on iPhone, buy it it and it's on my phone, so again 3 steps i bet that's about the same as doing it for any other devices really. but i bet you someone decides they will alter the complaint as they've been proven wrong, so what's the point in explaining...

 

[Tarzanman]

Like that virus app they removed?

Do you mean the one that told the user "This app reads your personal data and connects to the internet"? Even though it was a wallpaper app?

Nothing is fool proof, not even the app store (which I pointed out earlier). Fools will find a way to break your **** every time.

Every Android app displays its permissions before the phone lets you click to install. I'd rather have full control and responsibility over what goes on my phone than having Uncle Steve tell me which apps he likes and dislikes.

 

[tesilential]

Then you're hearing wrong. Buy SD card, put SD card in phone. Even if there were restrictions (which there aren't), it would still be an ability that android has over itunes. iPhone loses on this category, just accept it and move on.


Maybe you missed the part where I said that I don't need any software or a proprietary cable to sync to my phone. Wireless or not, you are screwed without iTunes. iPhone loses on this category, just accept it and move on.


Yes, they test so thoroughly that flashlight apps which are actually tethering apps would have no way of sneaking through the approval process

Hate to break it to you, but a web-app isn't an iphone app. I can make calls/texts from my GV number without having to load a webpage and log in first. There is also no shortage of apps rejected from the app store for political reasons. iPhone loses on this category, just accept it and move on.



Too bad for him. Turnabout is fair play

Once you jailbreak an iPhone you can do practically everything you are bitching about.




In a couple years when my AT&T contract, I will take a good long look at Android, since the hardware should be up to date and the UI experience will probably be pretty damn excellent by then.

For now I enjoy having tons of quality games and apps.

My girlfriend's brother has an Evo, and his best games are Mafia Wars and World War. 2 stupid strategy lame games.


I showed him archetype and he was just like thats freaking halo on a phone.

If you care about games AT ALL go iPhone.

 

[Lamarak]

You might get freedom on Android, but for me, the quality of the apps are very poor. This was a deal breaker for me. Again, only my opinion of what I need from my phone right now. Im sure in time this will change as it grows, and Android will grow and only get better. But until that time, its the Iphone for me.

 

[Vegastouch]

I don't know that the quote above is true. I tried to change the native garrish color scheme for exchange emails. No way to do such an easy thing.

What does that have to do with having an icon to get songs from a website?

 

[Vegastouch]

someone already informed about amazon in the thread after me and i replied to it, so you're just repeating what he said. as i asked, can you get video too like we can? cos thats a great feature we have.

To be honest, i dont know. I would think so but havent even checked it out. I never bought any video's from iTunes either so i wouldnt use it. I get them free at other places if i want one and i have many more formats to choose from which will give me more movies to choose from.
Never interested me to buy a video for a phone for $9.99 and that is a cheap one.

 

[ElCidRo]

Do you mean the one that told the user "This app reads your personal data and connects to the internet"? Even though it was a wallpaper app?

Nothing is fool proof, not even the app store (which I pointed out earlier). Fools will find a way to break your **** every time.

Every Android app displays its permissions before the phone lets you click to install. I'd rather have full control and responsibility over what goes on my phone than having Uncle Steve tell me which apps he likes and dislikes.

Android fanboys are so lame - get a life ffs

 

[aohus]

Android fanboys are so lame - get a life ffs

any person that throws the 'fanboy' term is part of the problem, and that goes for both sides.