I must admit....... [I never gave iPhone a fair chance]

[sarcosis]

Call me crazy.... but isn't that a *really* good reason to rule out iOS?

I would say it depends on what you want your phone to do. Sometimes limited is in fact better.

 

[dojoman]

It's simply easier to do most of the same basic functions on a modern day Android device than on an iOS device. I can make a phone call to a very specific person with literally one touch, as oppose to requiring multiple touches and/or holding for Siri and speaking (not always practical in a place you can't or don't want to talk) and waiting for Siri to dial the right person. One touch on Android that is guaranteed the right person.

How do you make a phone call to specific person with one touch? Is it a short cut on lock screen?

 

[sarcosis]

You add a quick dial to your home screen. It varies from launcher to launcher. But you generally have long press the home screen to bring up you "add" menu. Rather than say picking widgets, you select shortcuts. Direct dial and direct messaging is one of the options.

For the lock screen, you can set it up too using Dash clock and the direct dial extent ion. That only works on 4.2.x.

 

[YourAvgUser]

How do you make a phone call to specific person with one touch? Is it a short cut on lock screen?

Have we really gotten to the point where we are nitpicking things like this? Android is simply easier, and iOS is rotten, because you can call your boyfriend with a shortcut, but you still need to dial out to everyone else

 

[dojoman]

Have we really gotten to the point where we are nitpicking things like this? Android is simply easier, and iOS is rotten, because you can call your boyfriend with a shortcut, but you still need to dial out to everyone else

uhmmm... I was simply asking question since I've been using HTC one for only a few weeks. Finally figured it out from above post.
Android can do some things easier but I still cannot find a way to fully backup my phone without rooting? Any answer to that? iTunes can backup and restore to full state.
Some things are better on each OS. None of them are perfect.

 

[Dontazemebro]

uhmmm... I was simply asking question since I've been using HTC one for only a few weeks. Finally figured it out from above post.
Android can do some things easier but I still cannot find a way to fully backup my phone without rooting? Any answer to that? iTunes can backup and restore to full state.
Some things are better on each OS. None of them are perfect.

It requires root but a nandroid backup is truly worth it. Backs up everything including the kitchen sink.

 

[mib1800]

uhmmm... I was simply asking question since I've been using HTC one for only a few weeks. Finally figured it out from above post.
Android can do some things easier but I still cannot find a way to fully backup my phone without rooting? Any answer to that? iTunes can backup and restore to full state.
Some things are better on each OS. None of them are perfect.

Look for Helium in playstore. It allows you to backup without root connected to a usb.

 

[sarcosis]

uhmmm... I was simply asking question since I've been using HTC one for only a few weeks. Finally figured it out from above post.
Android can do some things easier but I still cannot find a way to fully backup my phone without rooting? Any answer to that? iTunes can backup and restore to full state.
Some things are better on each OS. None of them are perfect.

Carbon (not then twitter app of the same name) works too. Its the backup client from then folks who make CWM. I'm not sure how good it is, but its worth a try.

 

[onthecouchagain]

How do you make a phone call to specific person with one touch? Is it a short cut on lock screen?

I don't think Sense offers it but Nova Launcher and stock Android allows you to create a "Direct Dial" widget (also "Direct Text" for opening up a text to a specific person). Pick it, then pick the contact you want and an icon will be placed on your homescreen anywhere you want. One touch dial.

I obviously won't share the screen cap for personal reasons but I have my most common contacts on a homescreen, then a folder on my home screen (you can put Direct Dial widgets into a folder) of less-frequent-but-still-more-frequent-than-normal contacts for a two-step touch access.

Everyone else requires opening my Contacts app.

 

[dojoman]

I don't think Sense offers it but Nova Launcher and stock Android allows you to create a "Direct Dial" widget (also "Direct Text" for opening up a text to a specific person). Pick it, then pick the contact you want and an icon will be placed on your homescreen anywhere you want. One touch dial.

I obviously won't share the screen cap for personal reasons but I have my most common contacts on a homescreen, then a folder on my home screen (you can put Direct Dial widgets into a folder) of less-frequent-but-still-more-frequent-than-normal contacts for a two-step touch access.

Everyone else requires opening my Contacts app.

I figured it out yesterday. Sense does have a widget for direct dial. Thanks.

 

[thehustleman]

Call me crazy.... but isn't that a *really* good reason to rule out iOS?

For me and many other users very much so.

But iOS is good for people who agent tech savvy or those that don't care about individuality. Their phone can look like everyone else's without issue. Long as they can do the basic things (talk, text, Web, games) and that's it.

If you're a basic user, why do you even need an advanced os?

 

[YourAvgUser]

For me and many other users very much so.

But iOS is good for people who agent tech savvy or those that don't care about individuality. Their phone can look like everyone else's without issue. Long as they can do the basic things (talk, text, Web, games) and that's it.

If you're a basic user, why do you even need an advanced os?

Ya thats exactly what iPhone and iPad users are. People who aren't tech savy and sheep... They line up and swallow w/e all mighty Apple feeds them

It's funny that people love Android b/c they give you choice. But when people choose iOS devices they are labeled for their decisions. Looks like a lot of the people on the Alternatives forums are not too tech savy, b/c a lot tote around an iPad.

 

[thehustleman]

Ya thats exactly what iPhone and iPad users are. People who aren't tech savy and sheep... They line up and swallow w/e all mighty Apple feeds them

It's funny that people love Android b/c they give you choice. But when people choose iOS devices they are labeled for their decisions. Looks like a lot of the people on the Alternatives forums are not too tech savy, b/c a lot tote around an iPad.

I never called anyone a sheep.

People buy what they like or what is marketed best.

People who buy Android are labeled, people who buy ios are labeled.

Personally I want an ipad as a gaming companion to my Galaxy s III.



I'll never understand why developers would rather make a game first for the platform with only 25% of the market when they can make it for the platform with 70% of the market.

You'd think they'd make it for Android first since there are way more potential users there, but they don't.

It's just strange to me.

 

[YourAvgUser]

I never called anyone a sheep.

People buy what they like or what is marketed best.

People who buy Android are labeled, people who buy ios are labeled.

Personally I want an ipad as a gaming companion to my Galaxy s III.



I'll never understand why developers would rather make a game first for the platform with only 25% of the market when they can make it for the platform with 70% of the market.

You'd think they'd make it for Android first since there are way more potential users there, but they don't.

It's just strange to me.

A few generalizations can be made from statistics (take them w/ a grain of salt). First, market share is only quarter to quarter growth in sales, and it is not the full picture. App revenue is still higher on iOS. Even though Android is coming really close, they should have a significant advantage over iOS b/c of sheer volume. But even as app revenue favors Android, it still looks good on the iOS side when you factor in market share.

The variation is also less across all iOS devices (all iPhones and all iPads) than it is on Android. It is easier to achieve a more consistent user experience across all similar devices than across hundreds of different ones, built w/ different hardware configs, using different OS versions.

Going back to market share, close examination would show that there are a lot of low end Android devices carrying that market share. And while the iPhone 4 and 4S split sales w/ the 5, the differences are far and few between these 3 devices. And while we are arguing low end Android devices, these consumers are less likely to pay for apps, look for utilities outside of the basic functions, not likely have hardware to support.

 

[Stuntman06]

I think that's the problem with both sides - not giving the other a fair shot.

Iphone people don't try Android long at all then rule it out, Android people rule out ios because of its limited nature and lack of features.

Both fall short and both excel over the other

If you are use to one platform, another one will seem foreign and may have some differences that are uncomfortable or frustrating. As an Android user, my first experience with an iPhone was a little frustrating. I was trying to do certain things like putting the cursor in the middle of a word and couldn't figure out why it wasn't working. Figured it out later. I'm sure people going from an iPhone to an Android will also find some of these differences frustrating.

 

[thehustleman]

If you are use to one platform, another one will seem foreign and may have some differences that are uncomfortable or frustrating. As an Android user, my first experience with an iPhone was a little frustrating. I was trying to do certain things like putting the cursor in the middle of a word and couldn't figure out why it wasn't working. Figured it out later. I'm sure people going from an iPhone to an Android will also find some of these differences frustrating.

Yeah that's what I faced when I switched to Android.

I was iphone all the way until I went Android

 

[zosokm]

I have to agree. I have a Nexus 4 and an iPhone 5, and I found the Nexus collecting a lot of dust because the iPhone had much more appeal out of the box. The Nexus display was crisp, but colors were faded. The camera was good, but usually lagged behind the picture I got with the iPhone. The built-in speaker was tinny and quiet, and battery life was nowhere near the iPhone's. Then one day I decided to take the full plunge with a root, custom ROM, cutom kernel, etc. I was able to get in the Nexus and do some serious work to change the audio signal processing and get the speaker to amazing volumes without distortion, though the sound can be a bit painful because the response is mostly in the higher frequency range. I changed the compression settings for audio and video recording so the videos come out much, much better with fuller audio. I got a color and gamut calibrator to modify the display and, while the Nexus 4 forums are still working on how to get the settings good enough to match the iPhone, the display is gorgeous now. Dynamic CPU controls save tons of battery and provide boosts up to 1.9ghz if using only one (of the four!) CPU cores. Needless to say it took me several days to do all of this, but if you put it on a store shelf next to the stock version you could easily ask more money for these customizations. The hardware was all there, but the software prevented it from reaching its fullest potential. What I found more strange was that, after developers found ways to correct the complaints about the Nexus display after LG and Google largely ignored them, Google promptly issued an update to render the developers' improvements ineffective. That struck me as an odd move, especially if neither Google nor LG were willing to optimize what should be an absolutely gorgeous display. It has all the makings of a top-notch screen, but just wasn't quite calibrated properly.
I think that is the biggest difference between iOS and the many Android phones I've used. iOS is polished and simple, and the iPhone may not have the best camera, the fastest processor, biggest battery, etc. when compared to every phone on the market, but it is positioned so that it has a good overall package that gives good performance in each area and usually holds its own in head-to-head comparison. Most people tend to compare the one iPhone to the array of other phones and then explain why the iPhone is inferior, forgetting that the comparison they are making would require a Frankenstein version of all the other phones that beat it in one area or another. For example, the HTC One X had a beautiful display, but dismal battery life. The Samsung Galaxy line (used to) have oddly tinted and slightly grainy displays, but awesome cameras with endless options for photo taking. If you're willing to do some tinkering to get the max out of your device and make it distinctly personal, only Android can really provide that. If you prefer to go to the store and have something that is going to hit most marks relatively well with not much effort on your part, then Apple is a better choice for some. I personally think both are robust and entertaining platforms, but the only caveat is that not all Androids are equal--choose wisely! Pick the one you like, does what you need, feels good in your hands, whatever. Most people use only a fraction of the huge abundance of features on their phones anyways. And when in doubt, just get one of each ;-).

I think the last paragraph nicely summed up why many people pick up iphones.
Yes every other phone seems to have special features, but for someone who just wants a good phone and can't be bothered to do too much research - an iphone is still a very good buy.

There seems to be a general bias away from iphones nowadays - because they have become main stream and "boring". A lot of people I know have bought androids because they "have heard" that they can do a lot more with android (which is true). Yet they are unable to use even the basic functionality of android. (Clearly most of them are not tech savvy and are very unlikely to have even heard of macrumors!)

 

[cynics]

I never really gave iOS a chance either. Then my employer bought me an iPhone. Free phone and service > any OS, to me. After a month or so I've actually learn to prefer it.

I'm actually in the process of switching to an Apple ecosystem for its integration between devices.

 

[sentinelsx]

I never called anyone a sheep.

People buy what they like or what is marketed best.

People who buy Android are labeled, people who buy ios are labeled.

Personally I want an ipad as a gaming companion to my Galaxy s III.



I'll never understand why developers would rather make a game first for the platform with only 25% of the market when they can make it for the platform with 70% of the market.

You'd think they'd make it for Android first since there are way more potential users there, but they don't.

It's just strange to me.

70% of users are not using galaxy s 3/4, Htc one/one x/one s.

Majority of that marketshare is actually low to midrange handsets. Optimizing a good game for all of them is a nightmare.

Optimizing the same for just one target (iOS) as iPhones are not as wildly different apart from mild processor and memory bumps, is much easier.

Also every one who buys an iPhone can run it. 4/4s/5 (even 3gs ran 2012 3D games, not sure about the new ones, i suspect it can't now) are pretty solid in that department.

Just put yourself in a developer's shoes and then see. A developer is also targeting the return on his investment which seems to be better on iOS.

 

[daveathall]

I was the other way round, I never really gave Android a chance, I had a iPhone 3GS, 4, 4S and 5 and then tried a Galaxy S3, I preferred it over the iP5 and have since enjoyed a Nexus 4 and Galaxy S4, I can't see me going back to iOS any time soon.

 

[AppleDApp]

I was the other way round, I never really gave Android a chance, I had a iPhone 3GS, 4, 4S and 5 and then tried a Galaxy S3, I preferred it over the iP5 and have since enjoyed a Nexus 4 and Galaxy S4, I can't see me going back to iOS any time soon.

How was the transition? Any must have apps that you couldn't find on android or apps you wished were on iOS?

 

[daveathall]

How was the transition? Any must have apps that you couldn't find on android or apps you wished were on iOS?

Surprisingly, the transition was quite smooth, I am not technically gifted so this is saying something, I searched the web to find out how to export/import my calendar and contacts across to Google and use Google music to store my music from iTunes, I still subscribe to iTunes match and purchase most of my music from iTunes though.

I am not a gamer and used recognised apps so didn't find that many that weren't available, 1Password is slightly different in that it syncs from Dropbox rather than directly from the app on my MBP or iPad.

I have just been scrutinising my phone but honestly can't see/remember any apps that are missing or of so poor quality that I never re downloaded from my iPhone days, although I am led to believe that this is not the case on the gaming front.

I haven't got the best of eyesight so do appreciate the larger screens but do understand that others prefer smaller, for me, it is so nice not to have to put on my glasses to use the phone to surf or read books.

If I had to pick an app that I would like on iOS it would be Swiftkey, absolutely wonderful app.

 

[Stuntman06]

I think the last paragraph nicely summed up why many people pick up iphones.
Yes every other phone seems to have special features, but for someone who just wants a good phone and can't be bothered to do too much research - an iphone is still a very good buy.

The iPhone has that brand name recognition. People who want something more than just a feature phone, but don't know much about smartphones are more likely to have heard about the iPhone than any other smartphone. Samsung has become much more popular in the past year, but I think that for the general public, more have hear of the iPhone than any other smartphone.

There seems to be a general bias away from iphones nowadays - because they have become main stream and "boring". A lot of people I know have bought androids because they "have heard" that they can do a lot more with android (which is true). Yet they are unable to use even the basic functionality of android. (Clearly most of them are not tech savvy and are very unlikely to have even heard of macrumors!)

There are still a lot of people who do very little over an above making calls and texting on their phones. I happen to know some people who are like that. Phones that don't have too many options and features is more than enough for these people. Of these type of people that I know, most have iPhones and some have Androids. Even an iPhone can be confusing for these people. I have had to help some family members set up their iOS devices. I don't think that there would be that much of a difference with Android. They won't take advantage of the huge benefit Android has to offer in features, but they certainly won't be at that much of a disadvantage using Android over iOS.

 

[daneoni]

I'm pretty much the opposite. I've given every platform a fair chance and have come out disappointed.

Android (LG NX4)

-UI design and responsiveness vastly improved with JB but...

- Wouldn't connect to my router. Every device i've owned in the last 6 years has had zero issues with my router but the NX4 would only connect for a period and randomly decided it wasn't interested in staying committed to my router anymore and proceeded to file for divorce. Causing un-necessary data charges and battery drain by going cellular

-Getting my media from Google Play on to the device was like trying to mix oil and water. Only some of my content would sync over. Kept giving me storage space errors even though i had plenty. Took me 4 days to finally get most (still not all) of my stuff on.

-Text Editing. Lets just say i frequently considered bashing my phone against a wall.

-App Ecosystem. Much better now than Donut (or even Gingerbread) days but still leaves a lot to be desired in terms of fit and finish

-OS updates; either get a Nexus or you're SOL for months. Galaxy Note on AT&T is just getting JB...which has been out for about 6 months now.

-I've just found with Android things aren't that 'straight forward' i know this is due to the flexibility it offers, but for me out of box experience is lacking. You're either taking stuff off (Custom UI bloat), adding stuff in (dearth stock) or doing workarounds to get to a solid base...and i simply don't have that time/patience anymore.

WP8 (HTC 8X)

-Noticeable improvements but...

-Unboxed device and connected to Windows Phone app for Mac to get my media onto the it and boom...immediate crash. (Ah...typical Microsoft, i've missed you). Tried doubleTwist instead but nope...device not found. (of course not). Had to boot up Windows 7 and use Explorer.

-Battery life = dire. (known issue)

-App ecosystem = scant. At least their getting there but its noticeably lacking still.

-No notification centre or folders support or custom SMS/Email alerts or...etc

-No persistent/pervasive media controls. Either go into the music app or toggle sleep to bring it back. Arguably the most basic media player i've seen on any mobile OS (maybe stock webOS player takes the cake here)

-System volume control = Media volume control and screw you if you don't like it.

-Multi-tasking is worse than iOS, something i didn't think was actually possible

-Bugs galore. Found it baffling that only 1 update had been released in 6 months.

Misc

webOS (HP Pre(2)(3)) - That story tells itself

Sybian (808 PureView) - Dinosaur with great camera

BBOS - This i didn't spend too much time on but great keyboard...not much else. Hub is confusing, no apps, gesture heavy, poor camera...just uninspiring.

I'm exhausted now and calling time on my experiments...decided to just go all in with Apple. The Android/WP devices will remain in my draw as testbeds for any new development when i'm bored. But for me, iPhone will be my daily driver.

Don't get me wrong iOS isn't perfect, far from it. But the little it does (in relation to the other platforms) it does excellently and reliably. And that works for me. I wanted to be really drawn away by other platforms but just wasn't meant to be in my case.

Phew, didn't mean for that to turn into a long-winded rant but there you go

tl;dr tried other platforms but returned to iOS/iPhone.

*flame suit on*

 

[sentinelsx]

I'm pretty much the opposite. I've given every platform a fair chance and have come out disappointed.

Android (LG NX4)

- Wouldn't connect to my router. Every device i've owned in the last 6 years has had zero issues with my router but the NX4 would only connect for a period and randomly decided it wasn't interested in staying committed to my router anymore and proceeded to file for divorce. Causing un-necessary data charges and battery drain by going cellular

-Getting my media from Google Play on to the device was like trying to mix oil and water. Only some of my content would sync over. Kept giving me storage space errors even though i had plenty. Took me 4 days to finally get most (still not all) of my stuff on.

-Text Editing. Lets just say i frequently considered bashing my phone against a wall plenty of times.

-App Ecosystem. Much better now than Froyo days but still leaves a lot to be desired in terms of fit and finish

-OS updates; either get a Nexus or you're SOL for months. Galaxy Note on AT&T is just getting JB...which has been out for about 6 months now.

-I've just found with Android things aren't that 'straight forward' i know this is due to the flexibility it offers, but for me out of box experience is lacking. You're either taking stuff off (Custom UI bloat), adding stuff in (dearth stock) or doing workarounds to get to a solid base...and i simply don't have that time/patience anymore.

WP8 (HTC 8X)

-Unboxed device and connected to Windows Phone app for Mac to get my media onto the it and boom...immediate crash. (Ah...typical Microsoft, i've missed you). Tried doubleTwist instead but nope...device not found. (of course not). Had to boot up Windows 7 and use Explorer.

-Battery life = dire. (known issue)

-App ecosystem = scant. At least their getting there but its noticeably lacking still.

-No notification centre or folders support or custom SMS/Email alerts or...etc

-No persistent/pervasive media controls. Either go into the music app or toggle sleep to bring it back. Arguably the most basic media player i've seen on any mobile OS (maybe stock webOS player takes the cake here)

-System volume control = Media volume control and screw you if you don't like it.

-Multi-tasking is worse than iOS, something i didn't think was actually possible

-Bugs galore. Found it baffling that only 1 update had been released in 6 months.

Misc

webOS (HP Pre(2)(3)) - That story tells itself

Sybian (808 PureView) - Dinosaur with great camera

BBOS - This i didn't spend too much time on but great keyboard...not much else. Hub is confusing, no apps, gesture heavy, poor camera...just uninspiring.

I'm exhausted now and calling time on my experiments...decided to just go all in with Apple. The Android/WP devices will remain in my draw as testbeds for any new development when i'm bored. But for me, iPhone will be my daily driver.

Don't get me wrong iOS isn't perfect, far from it. But the little it does (in relation to the other platforms) it does excellently and reliably. And that works for me. I wanted to be really drawn away by other platforms but just wasn't meant to be in my case.

Phew, didn't mean for that to turn into a long-winded rant but there you go

tl;dr tried other platforms but returned to iOS/iPhone.

*flame suit on*

Hmm I found text editing on n4 to be much easier. There was no chronic input lag either so I never found it "bad".

However the iphone is definitely the overall best package in one. That is because it is apple's handset. The nexus is google and lg's handset. I doubt android will ever get that solid feel of software tightly "hugging" it's hardware because of the licensing nature.

If apple opens up ios a bit though and offers a 4.3 inch variant, I might consider it if i am fed up with android. As it stands now, the nexus covers all my needs perfectly in a smaller $$$ range compared to iPhone

May be that is why I subconsciously want blackberry to succeed. They are the only manufacturer of bb10 handsets which means they have a better chance of providing a solid option later on. Plus the OS is not as tight as ios.