Apple Shares Two New Ads Aimed at Encouraging Android Users to Switch to iPhone

[JimmyHook]

Is it really vastly superior?

Unless I'm missing your point, security on iOS vs Android is largely similar (as in, if it were stolen, the thief wouldn't be able to access the phone without some specialist equipment).

As for privacy, I'd be surprised if there are many iPhones that don't have a single Google app (Gmail, Google Maps, Gboard etc). Not to mention Facebook, the master of stripping your personal details. Or instagram. Or Whatsapp.

I'm not sure how your suggestion of iOS being superior in these areas would persuade me to switch.

a

You just made the point for us. Google services inherently lower the privacy value of having an iPhone and by extension Android is a lost cause.

Full device encryption (how long did it take Google to get there...), messaging is end-to-end encrypted by default, permissions are easy to understand and nowhere near as intrusive as android permissions, and the Play store is littered with malware (multiple security experts routinely find thousands of infected apps).
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I'm always surprised by people still attached to iMessage. I guess it's an US thing since the rest of the world has almost forgotten SMS exists.
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Eh, in Android if you uninstall an app in 2 hours after purchase you get an automatic refund.

They monitor your uninstalls? Creepy. What if you uninstall to save space so you can download it later???

 

[Wanted797]

I'm sure they conveniently left out.....

How weird! For a company to leave out something that doesn’t work well in advertising...

 

[JimmyHook]

When Google has the level of security in their own App Store that Apple has give me a call. I’ve seen too many security professionals report massive numbers of infected apps to Google. Sure they get removed, only to find thousands more later. Garbage

 

[bodonnell202]

Haha. And here I am thinking about switching away from iPhone because their camera's haven't quite kept up with the competition....

 

[Pupi]

Ad one was funny to me. Ineffective, but funny nonetheless.

Ad two was funny as well, but in a "laugh at you" instead of a "laugh with you" way. Portrait Mode should be the last advertising tool Apple uses. It needs real work. Probably not the best foot to put forward considering Google's Pixel seems to have the consensus better camera. Effective as a self-own imo. Not as switch enticement.

I think both ads miss the point of Android. Neither ad focuses on the ability to individualize the experience. I understand Apple doesn't want to focus on that, but imo, that's what engenders loyalty in a lot of android users. It's definitely my reason.

You’re trying too hard.

 

[deanthedev]

Name one example of an app that didn’t work. What was the app, what hardware and os did you have, and how long after purchase did you ask for a refund? Please detail the entire interaction with Apple support (what number did you call or what email address did you send your request to, etc)

I’ve had a few Apps that didn’t work or weren’t as advertised. I received a refund for every single one from Apple. Just clicked on Report a Problem in my invoice email from Apple.

Granted it could be made a little easier, but it’s not something I do often.

 

[fairuz]

Apple has to catch up to Google Assistant/Maps/Drive/Chrome. Siri, Apple Maps, iCloud, and Safari are hardly even worth using.

I use them all and enjoy them, with the exception of iCloud Drive. That thing sucks. Fortunately, I can still use Google Drive without losing anything. I've tried Google's ecosystem, and it's too complicated, especially the calendar. Dunno about contacts, but that's worry-free with Apple like it should be, and the Facebook integration is nice.

 

[deanthedev]

Is it really vastly superior?

Unless I'm missing your point, security on iOS vs Android is largely similar (as in, if it were stolen, the thief wouldn't be able to access the phone without some specialist equipment).

As for privacy, I'd be surprised if there are many iPhones that don't have a single Google app (Gmail, Google Maps, Gboard etc). Not to mention Facebook, the master of stripping your personal details. Or instagram. Or Whatsapp.

I'm not sure how your suggestion of iOS being superior in these areas would persuade me to switch.

Hardly. iOS is vastly superior due to these basic fundamentals about software (esp complex software like an OS).

- All software will have bugs/exploits. This includes iOS and Android.
- Given the above, the ability to update/patch software is the best protection against the inevitable exploits that will be discovered.

Android is a complete joke with regard to the second point. Google has tried numerous times to deal with this issue and all have failed. The latest attempt is Treble, and it’s going nowhere (so far).

 

[RogerWilco]

80% of the world uses Android.

But Apple has $275bn in cash reserves.

Apple also has over $95B in debt. I know, minor detail right?

 

[macduke]

Am I the only one who can never get the portrait mode with the black background to work? It always looks like some photoshop hack job with poor masking and hard falloff. Must need to shoot against a solid background, which kinda defeats the purpose most of the time.

 

[bluecoast]

‘I’m an iPhone!’

‘And I’m an android device!’

Who would be the actors in 2018?

 

[phillipduran]

At this point in the game, if you are using Android, you probably don't have the option not to or aren't going to switch no matter what. lines are drawn, sides have been chosen.

 

[RogerWilco]

Am I the only one who can never get the portrait mode with the black background to work? It always looks like some photoshop hack job with poor masking and hard falloff. Must need to shoot against a solid background, which kinda defeats the purpose most of the time.

It is an in-camera masking hack. Done manually, stuff like this takes pros hours to get right, but the wiz-bang AXX chip screws it up in near real time. Cue What a Wonderful World...

 

[yg17]

I always find these clever, but those that already have Android find the iPhone too expensive, or just simply out of their league because they already use Android and don't want to learn another phone. It might happen, but Apple should know that these ads are already not help influence those that have Android

Well that’s not condescending at all

I can afford an iPhone X. I could go out right now and buy the most expensive, biggest capacity one. Hell, my Pixel 2 XL 128 GB costs almost as much. And I’m most definitely not too stupid to use an iPhone given the fact that I had used one for many years.

Did it ever occur to you that perhaps people’s choice to use Android has nothing to do with what they can afford or learn to use, and everything with personal preference?

 

[kazmac]

The first one was cute, the second not so much. I do not think either of these reasons would be compelling enough to make folks switch from an Android phone to an iPhone.

And Apple needs to get their software on a corrective course fast. Once they have a better handle on their software and more iPhones available for mid-tier budgets $500-650, perhaps folks might consider switching to the iPhone.

 

[Kiorr]

Am I the only one who can never get the portrait mode with the black background to work? It always looks like some photoshop hack job with poor masking and hard falloff. Must need to shoot against a solid background, which kinda defeats the purpose most of the time.

It look so bad, dont know why they would advertise it

 

[tkermit]

Well that’s not condescending at all

I can afford an iPhone X. I could go out right now and buy the most expensive, biggest capacity one. Hell, my Pixel 2 XL 128 GB costs almost as much. And I’m most definitely not too stupid to use an iPhone given the fact that I had used one for many years.

Did it ever occur to you that perhaps people’s choice to use Android has nothing to do with what they can afford or learn to use, and everything with personal preference?

I don't doubt for a minute that people like you exist. At the same time, I would be surprised if price were not a major consideration for the vast majority of users when choosing Android over iOS. Most people don't end up with a Pixel 2 XL 128GB that costs almost as much as an iPhone X when getting an Android phone.
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It look so bad, dont know why they would advertise it

I like the first ad, but I'm not sure they're doing themselves any favors with the second one...

 

[BigSky20]

Only about 5% is having iMessage over here. WhatsApp is de facto standard and making iMessage useless over here despite the stickers or Animoji.
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Can you repeat that without blinking?

Sorry...I was talking about over here!

 

[Jack Burton]

I feel like the App Store one is pretty true. There is a lot of crap on the android store, and some stuff I downloaded ask for ridiculous permissions, where Apple wouldn't simply let devs do that on iOS.

I can supposedly run the Google Pixel camera app on my Samsung, but I have to install and unsigned app for that. I just don't know if those incredible photos (and portrait mode without a second camera!) is worth the risk.

 

[bollman]

My Huawei P10 is dual-SIM, has a good enough dual lens camera, 64GB storage (expandable if not using dual-SIM), pretty good performance, OK size (a little too big, but ok, it's about the same size as an 6S) good enough screen and feel pretty solid. Overall pretty good or "good enough".
All this, and it cost about $300 straight up with no contract.
What kind of iPhone do you get for $300? Oh, and dual-SIM which is great so you don't have to have 2 phones.

Android is sorta messy but EMUI is actually making it useful. On the other hand, iOS feel like nothing has changed since I switched to a Windows Phone (yes, I did, and I mourned the day MS dropped it, it was a great mobile OS) in 2012. Or, well, no, it has changed. For the worse. It seems like Apple has thrown features at it with no planning. There are a myriad of swipes and force touch and stuff that seems like half baked afterthoughts tacked on to an aging UI. Not impressed.

But the main 2 reasons are: dual-SIM is a must, and you actually don't get what you pay for when you buy an iPhone, the Apple tax is not worth it. On the desktop, Windows does not cut it, and neither do Linux, but Linux is catching up to macOS, something I thought I'd never live to see.

 

[Constable Odo]

The best reason to move to, or stay with iOS is the vastly superior privacy and security.

Almost no one cares about user privacy. The Facebook scandal has already proven that much. No punishment for Facebook's data breach and only a handful of subscriber deletions. Apple's cry for user privacy has fallen on dead ears. As long as Android hardware is cheaper and Google offers "free" services to users, Apple is wasting its time with these ads. Google will always be valued higher than Apple even if Google spreads user data all over the internet.

 

[citysnaps]

Almost no one cares about user privacy. The Facebook scandal has already proven that much. No punishment for Facebook's data breach and only a handful of subscriber deletions. Apple's cry for user privacy has fallen on dead ears. As long as Android hardware is cheaper and Google offers "free" services to users, Apple is wasting its time with these ads. Google will always be valued higher than Apple even if Google spreads user data all over the internet.

You may not care about privacy - and that's fine. However, you're way over your head projecting your personal views, and apparent willingness to accept compromise on privacy, onto ("almost") everyone else.

 

[-BigMac-]

I always find these clever, but those that already have Android find the iPhone too expensive, or just simply out of their league because they already use Android and don't want to learn another phone. It might happen, but Apple should know that these ads are already not help influence those that have Android

Not to mention the Android fans that will say "yeah but the notch" or "Yeah but Android is better because 'blah blah blah'"

There is android phones with the notch now

 

[69Mustang]

You’re trying too hard.

Maybe. Still better than not trying hard enough.

 

[DevNull0]

Why do they say “your phone”? Most people who will see these in US have iPhones.

I'm not sure what your definition of "most" is, but according to 9to5mac, "most" smartphones sold in the US are still android.