IF the iPhone 5 doesn't mean the standards of other smart phones...

[Ponderous]

I come to MacRumors by way of Blackberry and Android. I can honestly say that after I've used the other platforms, I'm planning on staying with iPhone.

 

[CylonGlitch]

I come to MacRumors by way of Blackberry and Android. I can honestly say that after I've used the other platforms, I'm planning on staying with iPhone.

I have a few friends who started with the iPhone, move to Android and even Blackberry and are now back to the iPhone. I do have one who loves her Droid but she is the exception.

 

[mp3junkie]

I'm sorry but why do you have to jailbreak your phone to get all the cool stuff that the Android platform has? We shouldn't have to be doing that jailbreak crap.

I've thought about switching to Android, as I can currently early upgrade. However, I've looked at the phones, and they all wow me with their specs and how they look, but they simply don't have the app ecosystem. The Atrix looks sweet with the laptop dock, but I just don't like the Android market app support. There are so many random games that I like to play in my spare time that simply don't exist on the Android platform. For example, Settlers of Catan is definitely my favorite app to pass time, and they've been "in development" for like a year now for Android. Almost every other big game seems to come to iPhone first as well, and once it becomes popular, it gets brought over to Android. Plus, the iPhone is just so user-friendly. People hate that it's "simplistic," but I love that. It's a phone and not a computer. It does what it is supposed to do, and does it well.

Is a larger screen nice? Is an SD card nice? Is not buying a $40 HDMI dock nice? Sure, it's all nice, but the app environment is #1 in my book, and Android, WP7 and WebOS aren't even close, no matter how much Android users try and convince themselves that it is. Maybe I'll change my mind in a year with more developers jumping onto the Android platform, but it's not even close yet.


Plus a lot of the software differences are available if you jailbreak your phone. I know some people don't like to, but there really is so much you can do with a jailbroken phone. You can get much better notification systems in Cydia, get all the widgets you want, get an android lock screen, free wifi hotspot, true multitasking (if that is what you prefer... I like the way iOS does it as it conserves battery life better), different themes, and a lot more.

 

[iApples]

I have too much invested in iTunes to switch. Actually not really. Only about $40 but it would be a waste of all the insanely addicting games I have.

I really have no interest in an Android device. If I had to choose another platform, it would definitely be the blackberry. But I will be staying with the iPhone.

 

[marksman]

Apple single-handedly created the current smartphone market.

Everyone else needs to meet their standards at this point.

Why not a smart phone with a 9.7" screen? I don't really care about specs.. That is the same problem with the smart phone market before the iPhone. They are irrelevant for the most part.

 

[davidlw]

For me in my area, the iPhone on VZ is the best choice I have made. I have owned Blackberry's, Androids, Palms, all of the major players and none can beat the iPhone on VZ in my area. I am sure the AT&T iPhone is good in other areas too. I have been waiting and waiting for the VZ iPhone and now that I have it, I have the best possible solution for my needs. I have 1500 contacts on my phone and run MobileMe and it works great. Keep up the great work Apple.

 

[dccorona]

Im getting an HTC HD7s if the iPhone 5 (or, more importantly, iOS 5) doesn't make some major improvements with respect to notifications, etc.

 

[dccorona]

I'm sorry but why do you have to jailbreak your phone to get all the cool stuff that the Android platform has? We shouldn't have to be doing that jailbreak crap.

a fair amount of that "cool stuff" that android has comes from installing custom ROMs and rooting the phone...a lot of android "fanboys" talk about how they can do anything if they root their phone, and at the same time critize the iPhone for needing a jailbreak to do those things...but really, what's the difference?

I understand there's certain things like superior notifications and widgets that android has without rooting

 

[jayenh]

funny how your first sentence says it isn't about the best experience, then every sentence afterwards describes exactly that.

Not sure how you worked that out, but those would be features, not "experiences".

 

[applefanDrew]

Not sure how you worked that out, but those would be features, not "experiences".

You experience features....

 

[Megakazbek]

I don't understand people who want 4 inch screens. The last thing I want from a pocket device is to be bigger.

 

[Sedrick]

I don't understand people who want 4 inch screens. The last thing I want from a pocket device is to be bigger.

We're talking about, perhaps, a 1/16" inch on either side. Trust me, you wouldn't notice the difference. No one's talking about a big hulking phone like the Droid X. Apple has more sense than that.

 

[xploit]

mean?

I don't understand the tittle of this thread. This should probabaly be moved to the SPECIAL NEEDS department. Sorry.

 

[iApples]

I don't understand people who want 4 inch screens. The last thing I want from a pocket device is to be bigger.

They could make a 4-inch screen without making the device any bigger. And actually I would prefer they did this. It's such a waste to see how much of the front of the screen is not actually being used for anything.

 

[Beezy]

They could make a 4-inch screen without making the device any bigger. And actually I would prefer they did this. It's such a waste to see how much of the front of the screen is not actually being used for anything.

Yeah i know they are wasting the whole side and back too. Its an outrage.

 

[iApples]

Yeah i know they are wasting the whole side and back too. Its an outrage.

I wouldn't take it that far and your sarcastic post was not needed. If you really don't care why bother wasting your time replying. I feel honored that my post meant so much that you just had to leave a sarcastic remark. A forum community would not exist if they were full of people like you.

 

[Beezy]

I wouldn't take it that far and your sarcastic post was not needed. If you really don't care why bother wasting your time replying. I feel honored that my post meant so much that you just had to leave a sarcastic remark. A forum community would not exist if they were full of people like you.

Why so serious? A little comedic break once in a while never hurt anyone. Except you apparently. Seriously though I dont think it is as easy as just making the screen go edge to edge but I am not an engineer...

 

[NATO]

As far as music goes its just as simple as the iPhone or even simpler using airsync (http://www.doubletwist.com/). I plug in my phone and it syncs with iTunes. No drag and drop crap like people are saying (altho you can do that).

Agreed - DoubleTwist's AirSync is very slick, I thought I would have a nightmare of a time switching from an iPhone to Android but it's actually been very easy. Address Book syncs to Google Contacts, I have my MobileMe Calendars subscribed to in Google Calendars and Music synchronised (wirelessly!) with AirSync using the Smart Playlists in iTunes I've always used.

 

[Certinfy]

I'll get a Samsung Galaxy S2.

 

[Reach9]

Apple single-handedly created the current smartphone market.

Everyone else needs to meet their standards at this point.

Why not a smart phone with a 9.7" screen? I don't really care about specs.. That is the same problem with the smart phone market before the iPhone. They are irrelevant for the most part.

Wrong.
Apple created the smartphone market and dominated with their iPhone from 07 to Q3 of 2009, and then Android caught up and has now surpassed it.
Apple just didn't push the momentum of the iPhone as much as they should have, and now they're playing catch up.

 

[Alaerian]

Wrong.
Apple created the smartphone market and dominated with their iPhone from 07 to Q3 of 2009, and then Android caught up and has now surpassed it.
Apple just didn't push the momentum of the iPhone as much as they should have, and now they're playing catch up.

What this is I don't even...

Your logic is flawed. You're comparing a singular device to an operating system running on many, many devices. If you put the Android operating system on a SINGLE device, do you honestly think it would outsell the iPhone? I have sincere doubts about that.

Quick count from the short amount of research I did showed NINETY Android devices. Let's even use just half of that - 45. We'll even use all 4 iPhone models. Using the data from this chart below, simple math would give you this:
Android per model 235,570
iOS per model 2,185,750
Of COURSE the Android OS is going to outsell the iPhone - it's everywhere and in 30,000 different incantations. Apple has ONE OS, ONE phone. I'd say that it's doing a hell of a job.

 

[syc23]

please buy an iPad. Reading on an iPad is a million time's better than a 4 inch screen. It's a PHONE first. It's supposed to be portable. a 4.5 inch screen will require a bigger device. Honestly, have you seen some of these android phones that show off huge screens? They look like calculators. Currently, Apple does what they do the best. best user experience with everything integrated into one device. My cousin just got a HTC Incredible and he was using his SD card slot to put music on. Neither one of us could figure it out. It's sad the user experience and ease of use is put behind specs and bigger screens.

This 'Android phones have bigger screens' is getting old. Next thing FanDroids will want as they 'have the best Notification on the planet' is for their phones to have the ability to make them dinner and wipe their arses

I can see Android phones average size to be roughly 27" by 2016. They'll then complain about not being able to keep their pants up while they have the phone wedged in their pocket.

 

[marksman]

I don't understand people who want 4 inch screens. The last thing I want from a pocket device is to be bigger.

Yeah I don't at all support the idea of these bigger screens. The current iPhone size is right. Having a 4.5" screen significantly hampers the ability for it to be portable and go with you everywhere.

It is not worth the compromise. I would much rather have a tablet device for larger viewing area if I am going to go that route.

 

[Alaerian]

They'll then complain about not being able to keep their pants up while they have the phone wedged in their pocket.

Or just wedged between their cheeks.

 

[iApples]

Why so serious? A little comedic break once in a while never hurt anyone. Except you apparently. Seriously though I dont think it is as easy as just making the screen go edge to edge but I am not an engineer...

I'm sure it's possible. Never doubt technology these days. But I must say.. the iPhone 4 mockup of a 4 inch display looks really ugly. It would have to be with a complete different form factor.