Have you tried experimenting with phones other then the iPhone?

[wordoflife]

According to this article the iPhone is going to have trouble keeping up with the android phones.

http://shopping.yahoo.com/articles/yshoppingarticles/615/10-androids-that-outmuscle-the-iphone/

That's because Android is available on many carriers that offer many Android devices from many manufacturers with many different price tags that appeal to many different people. Heck, I bet Android will start running on videogame consoles considering how much you can rework Android as a manufacturer.

 

[John89]

I had a Palm Pre for a while. Loved it!! In my opinion WebOS is better than iOS. I came back for the apps though...can't live without them!!

 

[Vegastouch]

How does this article relates to the thread? The OP asks if people have experimented with other phones. Your article just talks about 10 Android musclephones being more powerful than iphone. There are plenty of those articles already in MR with their own thread.



I have tried Android and BB, but iOS fits my needs better. I don't care which phone is more powerful or selling better, I use the phone that I like. I could own a musclecar, but my sports coupe is fast enough and has all the features I want. Plus it saves on gas and is more fun to drive.

Well, depending on what model and year, id take the muscle car. 67-68 Camaro, Firebird or a 68 Mustang...with much less features

 

[macUser2007]

I switched to ANdroid when the Galaxy S came out, then had the Vibrant. They were O.K., but iOS was more polished.

Now I have the Google Nexus S, running Android 2.3.4 and it is considerably better in terms of user experience, and IMO, better than the current iPhone.

It is smooth, it is unlocked, and it runs Flash perfectly.

Flash is everywhere and without it, iOS will become irrelevant at some point, at least as a web-accessing device. iAd is already becoming irrelevent as an advertising platform, which is the main reason Jobs banned Flash from iOS.

Companies have already scaled down dramatically plans for "mobile" sites, since all the new Android phones and tablets can provide a "desktop" browsing experience, which includes Flash.

 

[Vegastouch]

That's because Android is available on many carriers that offer many Android devices from many manufacturers with many different price tags that appeal to many different people. Heck, I bet Android will start running on videogame consoles considering how much you can rework Android as a manufacturer.

True but iPhone is now on 4 and rumor is will go to T-Mobile and Sprint but it still will have only 1 phone to choose from. Still probably wont have a 4" screen.
The iPhone will get a dual core processor which imo is a biggy and will improve the battery alot if they dont make the screen bigger.
It would be nice to have HSPA+ or LTE but i use edge most of the time anyways which works pretty well on my Vibrant and saves my battery. I use wifi at home. But would be nice to have HSPA+ if i need it.

Iphone isnt going to go away. They have too many fans who actually wait in line to get the new phone when they can just walk in the store during normal hours and get one or just wait a week and get one. Nobody does that with the Android phones which is because there are many to choose from and they have new ones out all the time.
Sure Apple will lose some customers because they are slow to put out new phones and a big firmware update but thats the way they have always been. They still lag in the home computer sales department but are doing much better since iPod and iPhone have given them more notoriety.

 

[rerelease]

Flash is everywhere and without it, iOS will become irrelevant at some point, at least as a web-accessing device.

HTML5 is getting more and more support from all the major players and Flash isn't really gaining any momentum, so I don't see Apple swimming against the tide much with that one.

iAd is already becoming irrelevent as an advertising platform, which is the main reason Jobs banned Flash from iOS.

No it wasn't. The main reason was that the copy of Flash that Adobe submitted was bollocks. And the main real reason was that Flash apps could cannibalise App Store sales. iAd was targeted against Google.


On topic: I've found Android phones quite compelling, but the pure app-centric design philosophy of iOS suits me more than the OS-centric philosophy of Android (or at least that's how I perceive them).

I have to agree with the other posters in this thread regarding Windows Phone 7 - it's very interesting and unique. And with a bit of time and better hardware (I'm hoping Nokia hops on board soon) it could serve as a viable competitor.

 

[macUser2007]

I switched to ANdroid when the Galaxy S came out, then had the Vibrant. They were O.K., but iOS was more polished.

Now I have the Google Nexus S, running Android 2.3.4 and even though it is basically the same hardware as the Galaxy S and the Vibrant, it is head and shoulders above them in user experience, and IMO, better than the current iPhone.

It is smooth, it is unlocked, and it runs Flash perfectly. I like the 4" SAMOLED screen, too.

Flash is everywhere and without it, iOS will become irrelevant at some point, at least as a web-accessing device. iAd is already becoming irrelevent as an advertising platform, which is the main reason Jobs banned Flash from iOS.

Companies have already scaled down dramatically plans for "mobile" sites, since all the new Android phones and tablets can provide a "desktop" browsing experience, which includes Flash.

So, all in all, I am past the iPhone. Maybe if it runs Flash someday, and if it's not such hassle to unlock, and if it has a larger screen, I'd take another look, but I doubt Android will stay still, either.

HTML5 is getting more and more support from all the major players and Flash isn't really gaining any momentum, so I don't see Apple swimming against the tide much with that one.


No it wasn't. The main reason was that the copy of Flash that Adobe submitted was bollocks. And the main real reason was that Flash apps could cannibalise App Store sales. iAd was targeted against Google.


On topic: I've found Android phones quite compelling, but the pure app-centric design philosophy of iOS suits me more than the OS-centric philosophy of Android (or at least that's how I perceive them).....

Yes, HTML5 is great, but it will not, and cannot replace Flash -- the two will complement each other and will coexist for the foreseeable future.

You also do not understand that Apple was attempting to leverage its dominance of the smart phone market to become the mobile equivalent of Google. Apps are important, but advertising is where the real money is. So iOS pushed iAd and banned Flash.

Also, your "app-centric" vs. "OS-centric" comparison is not correct: I have customized my Nexus S to look exactly like my old iPhone (using MIUI launcher with Suave HD icons).

Since most of the apps I use are identical to what I had on the iPhone, the user experience is very similar to iOS, except that I get Flash, the phone is factory unlocked, I get Google's navigation (which is excellent and free, and better than Navigon, which I had on iOS), I can use widgets (I don't really use them, though , and I enjoy a larger screen. Oh, and I can totally change the look and feel whenever I want to, just by replacing the launcher....

 

[ph00ny]

I switched to ANdroid when the Galaxy S came out, then had the Vibrant. They were O.K., but iOS was more polished.

Now I have the Google Nexus S, running Android 2.3.4 and even though it is basically the same hardware as the Galaxy S and the Vibrant, it is head and shoulders above them in user experience, and IMO, better than the current iPhone.

You've just nailed it. One of the main reason why most of these devices are terrible is due to the fact that individual carriers customize the device to their liking. This applies to anywhere from native features such as tethering all the way down to bloatware galore that you can't remove from the devices.

My experience with Captivate (galaxy s) is a perfect example of this alarming issue with carrier branding. Not only did it receive the froyo (2.2) update months after roger's captivate (same device as at&t but released months after at&t), it was crippled all around specially with data performance. (evidenced by few other "4g" devices with hsupa disabled).

Please do take into consideration that customizing the look and feel of an android device is as easy as pie. If you don't like motoblur, touchwiz, or senseui, then you can head over to the market and install one of many quality free launchers to change the user experience. Attached is my current homescreen/lockscreen setup on my galaxy s ii. It's running a free launcher called Go Launcher Ex with notification addon and minimalistic text widget

 

[iPhonelover72]

Iam going to switch to an android just for the heck of it. BTW didnt know windows phone gained so much momentum. I thought they sucked...

 

[kalsta]

Flash is everywhere and without it, iOS will become irrelevant at some point, at least as a web-accessing device.

That's your opinion. As a developer of both HTML 5 and Flash, I can see HTML 5 happily replacing Flash wherever Flash is used as nothing but a stodgy workaround for playing media in a web browser. It's an absurd state of affairs, and Flash is long past its use-by-date for this purpose.

Yes, it has other purposes, but there are good reasons to move away from Flash in most cases I can think of.

 

[yourmother]

I love WebOS. Absolutely my favorite mobile OS. However as people have stated before no apps, limited hardware choices and no Japanese language support (I live in japan).

The first few android phones I've tried were terribly sluggish. I've heard the newer phones now dont have that problem. To me you have so much control over the OS it gets in the way of actually using the phone. Though I really do like a lot of the widgets and the ease of notifications (webos notifications too)

I hope iOS gets a better notification system and that the iphone 5 gets a larger screen. Otherwise I will THINK about a galaxy S2, or ill just chicken out and upgrade my 3gs to the latest edition of the iphone.

 

[Sirolway]

For me it's not just about the phone, it's about the apps / app store, the physical Apple Stores, the Genius Bar & just how much Apple look after their customers.

For some things, like 4G, I'd like it but I understand the issues with the 'right chip' not being available until next year it it's not going to be make or break for me.
It's like the laptops sometimes having slightly old processors; there's generally a good reason for it & they're still (very) fit for purpose, so I'm not tempted by the latest wowee Dell.

So until they do something terrible or fall way waay behind, I'm happy sticking with Apple.

 

[maflynn]

I have,
I've owned a Nexus One and a Droid X. Loved the N1, disliked the DX. Well I liked the DX but hated how Moto was so poor with updates, either in timing or providing a bug free OS. That's the achilles heel of android. You're on the hook with the phone producer for updates.

Android has a lot going for it, as does the iPhone. I'm on the iPhone for now, but I may try a WP7 based phone in the future or go back to android.

 

[scaredpoet]

Every once in a while, I drop into the stores and try out the new smartphones and tablets that are coming out to see what they're like.

Generally, I've found that the best ones will do the job just fine, and maybe if there was no iOS, I would happily use one of them. I could probably see myself using an HTC Inspire or a Motorola Atrix. But, there is iOS, and it consistently works and does everything I need and want it to do. And none of the Android/Windows 7 Phone/Blackberry phones and tablets out there have anything that really makes me go "I'm missing that," or "I need that!" So, I'm just don't feel the itch to switch.

I used to feel that way, before the iPhone first came out. I'd be switching phones every 3-5 months. I'd fall in love with a device, buy it, and then in a couple months get frustrated that it's doing something badly, or crashing or missing some important feature or whatever.

That said, Android is pretty good, and I don't fault anyone for using it. What I DO get annoyed about is when they start preaching to me about why I shouldn't be using an iPhone, and get into their open rants. If you happen to be the guy that uses only linux on all your desktops and laptops, sideloads your apps, and rolls your own custom android kernels, then I'll not call you a hypocrite at least. But Android needs no help from me to survive, and I find personal choice to be equally important as openness. I choose what works for me... and that happens to be iOS.

Also: Windows 7 Phone has some nice qualities to it, and Microsoft is going in the right direction with it. But there are still lots of things I don't like at all about it, starting with the browser. I don't like the way IE works or renders websites on the desktop, and I don't like it on my mobile device either.

 

[droidlover78]

That's because Android is available on many carriers that offer many Android devices from many manufacturers with many different price tags that appeal to many different people. Heck, I bet Android will start running on videogame consoles considering how much you can rework Android as a manufacturer.

Android is the better platform. iOS is underpowered. And flash is the future.

Why settle for a dying standards (iOS, HTML 5) when you have better options?

I have never used iphone and never plan to. The OS is clunky cluttered and sloooww as molases in january. The app support is a joke compared to Android store that has twice as much apps and they are free unlike iOS where you have to pay for apps.

Finally Androids have powerful fast processors and much more RAM. The iphone is ovsolete and iphone 5 will be obsolete too. A5 processor is puny speed vs Android powerful fast processors. Screens are higher reolution and it has FLASH, and the os is free unlike propietary iOS.

And to the one talking about being ok with and sports coope. The Chevrollett Corvete can go up to 205mph and pull 505 hp. Can your puny Civic do that? same with Android and iOS.

Can your iPhone do that?

 

[sazzz]

Wish I could get an iPhone

I'm with T-Mo and love their service! CS is second to none and I've got good coverage. I'm in the market for a new phone (presently using a Nokia N95 8gb) and will have to go android, even though I really have wanted an iPhone for years!

I've been with AT&T , as well as Verizon and know I'll never go back, even to get an iPhone (hoping the deal with T MO doesn't go through). The problem is I can't buy an unlocked iPhone for anywhere near a reasonable price (sorry, $700-$1000 is ridiculous for a phone) That's my main gripe with iPhone.

I'm thinking of the HTC Sensation, the Nexus S, Samsung Galaxy SII, or the G2x, but my heart still lies with the Iphone. I've been a devoted Apple user for years, but they're not makin' it easy for me where my phone is concerned.

 

[droidlover78]

sazzz:

ATT bought T-Mobile.

 

[sazzz]

sazzz:

ATT bought T-Mobile.

As I understand it, it's not a 'done deal' yet! It'll undergo a lot of scrutiny before it is.

IF it happens, it won't go through for awhile, so I can still hope. No one (except them, of course) wants to see the old monopoly of AT&T return, so I'm anxious to see what comes of all the hearings.

 

[scaredpoet]

ATT bought T-Mobile.

Not yet they haven't. And it's still a very open question whether they will be allowed to.

 

[droidlover78]

True but iPhone is now on 4 and rumor is will go to T-Mobile and Sprint but it still will have only 1 phone to choose from.

Wrong. Iphone is just on 2 carries Verizon and ATT.

 

[ph00ny]

Android is the better platform. iOS is underpowered. And flash is the future.

Why settle for a dying standards (iOS, HTML 5) when you have better options?

I have never used iphone and never plan to. The OS is clunky cluttered and sloooww as molases in january. The app support is a joke compared to Android store that has twice as much apps and they are free unlike iOS where you have to pay for apps.

Finally Androids have powerful fast processors and much more RAM. The iphone is ovsolete and iphone 5 will be obsolete too. A5 processor is puny speed vs Android powerful fast processors. Screens are higher reolution and it has FLASH, and the os is free unlike propietary iOS.

And to the one talking about being ok with and sports coope. The Chevrollett Corvete can go up to 205mph and pull 505 hp. Can your puny Civic do that? same with Android and iOS.

Can your iPhone do that?

I wouldn't say it's underpowered. Apple was very smart in limiting what the users can do and cannot do. For me, i'm too used to customization and large screen devices. Every time i get on someone's iphone, i just can't get used to it. iOS 5 is supposed to do bring in more features including widgets, i may take a look at newer iphones. Until then i'm probably going to stay with android based devices

PS - I got my dad an android device and my mom an iphone.
I'm definitely upgrading my mother's iphone 3gs to an iphone 4s/5 when it gets released whereas my dad with evo 3d when it gets released. It's as simple as that. Different folks have different needs

 

[daneoni]

I've owned a device (sometimes two) from every major smartphone platform out there except for Windows Phone which i only tried out at a store.

All have their merits and downsides but I kept coming back to the iPhone in terms of overall experience.

If i were to give my personal hierarchy it will be;

iOS>webOS>Windows Phone>Android>Symbian & BBOS.

But thats just me

 

[decafjava]

Android is the better platform. iOS is underpowered. And flash is the future.

Why settle for a dying standards (iOS, HTML 5) when you have better options?

I have never used iphone and never plan to. The OS is clunky cluttered and sloooww as molases in january. The app support is a joke compared to Android store that has twice as much apps and they are free unlike iOS where you have to pay for apps.

Finally Androids have powerful fast processors and much more RAM. The iphone is ovsolete and iphone 5 will be obsolete too. A5 processor is puny speed vs Android powerful fast processors. Screens are higher reolution and it has FLASH, and the os is free unlike propietary iOS.

And to the one talking about being ok with and sports coope. The Chevrollett Corvete can go up to 205mph and pull 505 hp. Can your puny Civic do that? same with Android and iOS.

Can your iPhone do that?

BS, there are plenty of well supported iOS apps, heck we got a few ios devs here-why insult them when you have no idea how well the apps are supported. You don't even own one so how would you know? in fact why are you here? Do you own any Apple products?

Also why do people have so much problem paying for software when no one would dream of getting a phone, or a computer or camera or any other hardware for free??

 

[wordoflife]

If i were to give my personal hierarchy it will be;

iOS>webOS>Windows Phone>Android>Symbian & BBOS.

Mine is iPhone>Android>WP7>webOS>BBos>Symbian.
WP7 is probably the smoothest OS out there. It's really nice. I might put that before Android when their marketplace grows.

 

[Sodner]

Sure did. My first smart phone was the original Moto Droid. I really got into it, "rooted" it tried numerous different builds of the Android OS at the time and tried all kinds of customization. I did all that to try and get the thing to work better. It was slow, it hung constantly requiring the battery to need pulled, and the applications weren't that great. I thought overall it lacked polish.

I got the iPhone 4 and have been happy ever since.