iPhone 4s VS Samsung SIII - Hands on.

[LSUtigers03]

Well yes its about storage as in this day and age its all moving to the cloud slowly but surely.

Memory cards are lame as they have problems when you swap them often.

What memory cards are you using? I swap two different 32gb micro sd cards (Samsung and Sandisk) and I've never lost one or had one not work. Memory cards are lame? I'd rather pay $40 or less for a 32gb card than pay $100 for an extra 16gb.

ETA: Cloud storage is great but what about people who are on a limited data plan and need something on the go? They download it from the cloud but then that causes them go over their data limit and they have to pay more. I bet at that point they wished they had a lame memory card as an inexpensive way to hold everything they need. You're so close minded its unbelievable.

 

[Vegastouch]

Which U.S. non-Nexus phones have received ICS? I'm not saying your incorrect, I just did a search on couldn't find any that have received it yet.

Must not have looked very hard

HTC has announced most their newer phones will be getting it by summers end. The Vivid, Amaze and Sensation have already recieved it according to them.
http://www.mobileburn.com/19657/news/most-htc-devices-to-get-android-40-ics-by-summers-end


Verizon has announced which devices will be getting it.

HTC: ThunderBolt, Droid Incredible 2, Rhyme, Rezound
Motorola: Xoom, Bionic, RAZR/RAZR MAXX, Droid XYBOARD 8.2/10.1, Droid 4
Samsung: Galaxy Tab 10.1, Galaxy Tab 7.7
LG: Spectrum

GS2 is said to be getting it soon as well but dont have it yet.

 

[matttye]

ETA: Cloud storage is great but what about people who are on a limited data plan and need something on the go? They download it from the cloud but then that causes them go over their data limit and they have to pay more. I bet at that point they wished they had a lame memory card as an inexpensive way to hold everything they need. You're so close minded its unbelievable.

Not only that, but when people have no signal or are underground, etc, they won't be able to access their data.

mustu is a grade A Apple apologist.

 

[nefan65]

Must not have looked very hard

HTC has announced most their newer phones will be getting it by summers end. The Vivid, Amaze and Sensation have already recieved it according to them.
http://www.mobileburn.com/19657/news/most-htc-devices-to-get-android-40-ics-by-summers-end


Verizon has announced which devices will be getting it.

HTC: ThunderBolt, Droid Incredible 2, Rhyme, Rezound
Motorola: Xoom, Bionic, RAZR/RAZR MAXX, Droid XYBOARD 8.2/10.1, Droid 4
Samsung: Galaxy Tab 10.1, Galaxy Tab 7.7
LG: Spectrum

GS2 is said to be getting it soon as well but dont have it yet.

Not to nitpick, or start an argument, but he did state "received"; as in has it now. Not what will be getting it at a later date. Android/Carriers have often announced "Phone-X" will be getting updates on/around a certain date, only to have that come and go with no update. Or cancel it all together.

 

[Vegastouch]

Not to nitpick, or start an argument, but he did state "received"; as in has it now. Not what will be getting it at a later date. Android/Carriers have often announced "Phone-X" will be getting updates on/around a certain date, only to have that come and go with no update. Or cancel it all together.

Yes, and i posted these devices below have recieved it. I only did a quick search where he said he had been searching around and found nothing.

Originally Posted by Vegastouch View Post
Must not have looked very hard

HTC has announced most their newer phones will be getting it by summers end. The Vivid, Amaze and Sensation have already recieved it according to them.
http://www.mobileburn.com/19657/news...by-summers-end

I would also like to add ( not directed at you nefan65) that Apple only gives a major update once a year so saying these carriers dont get out these updates very well is kind of hypocritical to me.
If you buy a iPhone 5 with iOS 6 in it a month after they come out, you wont get iOS 7 for a year so whats the difference?
At least many of the better devices on Android will get the next major update.
If i buy a GS3 in June and Jelly Bean comes out in December, chances are i will get it the update even if it is a couple of months down the road.

And if i want it sooner i can do it myself thanks to the guys at XDA and if my phone dont run that great with it, i can change it back easily to stock. iPhone you cant go back. I wish i could change my first gen iPod back to 2.2 instead of 3.2 because the battery sucks on 3.2.

 

[DodgeV83]

and can do many more things. iPhone users wish their Phone could do all those things.

It's been established that both platforms have functions not on the other. What is your source that Android can do "many more things"?

I contend that Android users wish their phones could do all of the iPhone functions as well.

 

[Drunken Master]

I use the desktop wall paper to show the weather real time. Nice background versus a static post on Apple.

What is this obsession with the weather?

When you walk out the door in the morning to go to work, don't you take note of the weather outside? It's hot today. Now it's cold. Does the weather change that much from day to day? Anytime we get into a conversation about the weather with another person too, it's always like that last line of defense in a conversation; we've run out of anything interesting to talk about, so we look up at the sky and say, "Hot out." "Yep."

 

[matttye]

It's been established that both platforms have functions not on the other. What is your source that Android can do "many more things"?

I contend that Android users wish their phones could do all of the iPhone functions as well.

It's obvious that Android phones can do many more things.

- The entire launcher can be changed.
- You can change all of the default apps; SMS, browser, email, gallery, etc.
- You can share to all of your services from one location rather than having to rely on individual apps.
- You can create all manners of different home screens using different widgets, shortcuts, etc.
- You can use your phone as a hard drive, by storing anything you like on it.
- Apps can do anything they want in the background (have a look at "Tasker" to see how useful this is.)

Everything I've mentioned above is STOCK. You don't need to install apps to obtain this functionality.

Sometimes you don't need to provide a source, it's just so OBVIOUS.

 

[DodgeV83]

Yes, and i posted these devices below have recieved it. I only did a quick search where he said he had been searching around and found nothing.



I would also like to add ( not directed at you nefan65) that Apple only gives a major update once a year so saying these carriers dont get out these updates very well is kind of hypocritical to me.
If you buy a iPhone 5 with iOS 6 in it a month after they come out, you wont get iOS 7 for a year so whats the difference?
At least many of the better devices on Android will get the next major update.
If i buy a GS3 in June and Jelly Bean comes out in December, chances are i will get it the update even if it is a couple of months down the road.

And if i want it sooner i can do it myself thanks to the guys at XDA and if my phone dont run that great with it, i can change it back easily to stock. iPhone you cant go back. I wish i could change my first gen iPod back to 2.2 instead of 3.2 because the battery sucks on 3.2.

The difference is two fold:

1. Timeliness of updates - Many Android phones never receive an update, but if they do, it is always many many months behind. ICS was released 8 months ago and the vast majority of phones are still not on it.

2. How long is your device supported - The iPhone 3GS was released 3 years ago this month, and it still runs the latest update of iOS from a few weeks ago. Samsung's previous flagship device, the Samsung GS2, still doesn't have ICS on all carriers.

Replacing your whole OS with an unofficial version posted by a random person on a free message forum, is not a valid option for anyone concerned with security.

----------

It's obvious that Android phones can do many more things.

- The entire launcher can be changed.
- You can change all of the default apps; SMS, browser, email, gallery, etc.
- You can share to all of your services from one location rather than having to rely on individual apps.
- You can create all manners of different home screens using different widgets, shortcuts, etc.
- You can use your phone as a hard drive, by storing anything you like on it.
- Apps can do anything they want in the background (have a look at "Tasker" to see how useful this is.)

Everything I've mentioned above is STOCK. You don't need to install apps to obtain this functionality.

Sometimes you don't need to provide a source, it's just so OBVIOUS.

Matttye, we've been through this many many times, I'm not sure if you're really trying to have a discussion, or if you're trolling at this point.

In any case, making a list of things Android can do, does not satisfy the statement that it can do "more things".

 

[Eduardo R.]

"Originally Posted by thewoz:

Pay $700 for a Samsung - sell it for $200.

Pay $700 for an iPhone - sell it for $450"

Well since this is clearly true go find an AT&T note for $200 and I'll give you $300 for it. Easy way to make $100.

Nice try, but you missed his point (or avoided it on purpose).

Apple products have a better resell value than Samsung products. That is a fact.

 

[matttye]

Matttye, we've been through this many many times, I'm not sure if you're really trying to have a discussion, or if you're trolling at this point.

In any case, making a list of things Android can do, does not satisfy the statement that it can do "more things".

We've been through this many times? Was I asleep when these apparent conversations happened?

I showed you a bunch of things that Android can do out of the box that iOS can't do. All you did in another thread was list a bunch of third party apps that apparently did things that Android can't. However, even if no existing app can do what your apps do, it's still POSSIBLE to write an app that can do those things on Android.

However, on iOS it's not possible to do anything in my list without jailbreaking.

It's widely accepted that iOS is a very limited, simplistic os, whereas Android is a lot more capable, but not as simple to use.

You're the only one who can't accept facts.

 

[brento1499]

No matter what phone you have, if it doesn't have power it's worthless. My iPhone battery lasts for days. Beat that Samsung and I'll take a serious look at your phone. Otherwise, you're just pretending to be a good phone.

well i can't speak for any samsung phones, but i will say that i bought a brand new iphone 4s roughly three weeks ago and the battery life is absolutely awful. much worse than the moto droid i used to have and that's not saying much.

i also find it hard to believe that the iphone 4s is more durable than the latest samsung phones. while the all-glass design is fingerprint-resistant and keeps my iphone looking brand new, it's extremely delicate. i treat it like a baby knowing that even a small drop may result in it shattering.

 

[DodgeV83]

We've been through this many times? Was I asleep when these apparent conversations happened?

I showed you a bunch of things that Android can do out of the box that iOS can't do.

Matttye, you literally listed 6 things just now. That does not prove that Android can do more, iOS has more than 6 exclusive features.

All you did in another thread was list a bunch of third party apps that apparently did things that Android can't. However, even if no existing app can do what your apps do, it's still POSSIBLE to write an app that can do those things on Android.

However, on iOS it's not possible to do anything in my list without jailbreaking.

It's widely accepted that iOS is a very limited, simplistic os, whereas Android is a lot more capable, but not as simple to use.

You're the only one who can't accept facts.

So you are acknowledging that the iPhone can do more, but since it is theoretically "possible" for Android to have similar functionality in the future, you're using that to substantiate your claim that Android does more today?

Your entire argument is illogical. You have failed to show that Android can do more, and your supporting statements are not based on today's reality.

 

[FlexPen76]

So I also got the S3 (16Gb White) on Wednesday. I'm not going to start flaming OP because thats his opinion, but from my POV heres what I'm finding.

Build quality - yes it feels a bit plasticky. But you know what - no worse than my old 3G and 3GS phone felt. It doesn't feel very light, kinda hefty in fact to me. Its lighter than the 4 and 4S thats for sure. My home button is also a bit "mushy" not sure if thats the way it should be or a faulty unit but hey even the the iPhone has bad home buttons.

Screen. Right - haven't got giant ass hands, but it fits my normal man size hands without difficulty. Everything I need is in reach, a bit of stretch to the top bar but you don't need to go up there often, and its just a quick shuffle. Its pretty impressive, if pushed, i'd say the colours are more vivid than my iPhone 4S but the screen on the 4S has the edge for me. Before purchase I also considered HTCOX and its probably not as good as that either, but only marginally. Seriously there isn't much in it and unless you are really anal about pixels and quality it will blow you away.

Speed - not a lag, very fluid responds to touch better than any only android device I've used. Most others I've had to jab at a few times, where iOS always seemed to respond better. ICS is a god send now. Ive used different android phones, HTC legend, Desire, Nexus, S2 (i work in network and telecoms and get to try a lot of phones out), but ICS on this is as good now if not starting to surpass iOS.

What else? S Voice is a Siri ripoff, but it works better than Siri does with my Northern Ireland accent. It doesn't respond with voice as much which I kind of miss, and it also seems to miss some intelligence - you can't ask it do I need an umbrella for instance.

Apps wise, everything I need can be got in android market. It even syncs with iTunes using iSyncr.

Would I recommend it? Yes in a heartbeat. Would I recommend the iPhone also? Yes in a heartbeat. Maybe instead of everyone bleating on about Samsung ripping of Apple or it being a clone or the other accusations being levelled at it you should have a go with it. I think you'd be pleasantly surprised.

Closing up comments I can only say this. I'm a pretty big Apple fan, I've had Macs since a G4 12" powerbook, going through the MBP and now MBA. My house has two iPads, an Apple TV and Apple Airports as routers. I imported the original iPhone from the US back in July 2007 when it was little more than an iPod and had to activate it using DVD Jons hack and I'm one of those sad people who queue for Apple iPhone launches, and have had every one at launch. Apple store staff know me by name in my local store. But I just got bored with my current iPhone and wanted a change. The S3 phone is a real alternative to it and I'd urge any naysayers to at least accept its going to push all other manufacturers forward or at least gives a glimpse of where the market is heading.

If anyone has other genuine questions about the device drop me a PM and I'll give my honest opinion.

 

[BaldiMac]

well i can't speak for any samsung phones, but i will say that i bought a brand new iphone 4s roughly three weeks ago and the battery life is absolutely awful. much worse than the moto droid i used to have and that's not saying much.

If you are having poor battery life, make sure you update to the latest version of iOS (which solved some battery life issues). If you are still having problems take it into an Apple Store or call Applecare. There is no way it should have worse battery life than a Motorola Droid.

 

[DroidConvert]

It's obvious that Android phones can do many more things.

- The entire launcher can be changed.
- You can change all of the default apps; SMS, browser, email, gallery, etc.
- You can share to all of your services from one location rather than having to rely on individual apps.
- You can create all manners of different home screens using different widgets, shortcuts, etc.
- You can use your phone as a hard drive, by storing anything you like on it.
- Apps can do anything they want in the background (have a look at "Tasker" to see how useful this is.)

Everything I've mentioned above is STOCK. You don't need to install apps to obtain this functionality.

Sometimes you don't need to provide a source, it's just so OBVIOUS.

Jack of all trades but master of none. In my short time with iOS vs three years with Andrioid, I can confidently say that what iOS does it does very, very well. I can't say that about Android.

 

[matttye]

Matttye, you literally listed 6 things just now. That does not prove that Android can do more, iOS has more than 6 exclusive features.



So you are acknowledging that the iPhone can do more, but since it is theoretically "possible" for Android to have similar functionality in the future, you're using that to substantiate your claim that Android does more today?

Your entire argument is illogical. You have failed to show that Android can do more, and your supporting statements are not based on today's reality.

No, what I'm saying is that you listed a bunch of third party apps that apparently have features that no Android counterpart has. What I'm saying is that whilst you may have found exclusive iOS apps, it is possible to write those apps for Android using existing features. What I have listed are a bunch of features that are IMPOSSIBLE on iOS. No app developer can make those things work on iOS because the Apis to make them work simply don't exist.

I also listed a bunch of features that have a variety of uses. The sharing Api for example isn't just for sharing data to social networking sites, but places like Dropbox, Photobucket, Google Drive and Evernote. All from the same place.

The ability for apps to do what they want in the background has limitless possibilities. Tasker for Android can react to so many different events it's amazing. When I walk into work it can silence my phone. When it gets to 5pm it can turn the volume up again, etc.

Androids settings menu is more complex than iOS because it has more options. You can install different keyboards. You can use your phone as a wifi hotspot. Apps can monitor the file system and perform tasks when it's modified (Dropbox makes use of this by automatically uploading pictures and videos).

Not only this but Android has been built around the "menu" button rather than a simple touchscreen interface, so it has always been able to cram many options into the menus.

Everyone knows Android can do more.

Edit:

This is a quote from Tasker's homepage:

Here are only some of the things you could do with Tasker, it's real power is the flexibility to combine contexts and tasks however you wish.
passcode-lock sensitive applications (e.g. for child safety)
change phone settings by
application: long screen timeout in a book reader
time: screen brightness lower in the evening
location: ringer volume high at the office, turn off ke yguard at home
wake up with a random song from your music collection
Text-to-speech; read out loud: incoming SMS/ phone number, WiFi/Bluetooth status, when it's time for an appointment, when the battery is low etc etc (Android OS 1.6+ only)
launch a music application when your music SD card is inserted, otherwise a file browser
start the day with a particular application showing
change all your home icons and wallpaper every day, or in particular locations
turn the phone upside down to return to the home screen, tilt 90 degrees to the left and back to toggle speakerphone during a call
create a Home widget to
toggle bluetooth/wifi on/off
launch wireless settings dialog
show a menu of tasks to choose
send an emergency SMS with your GPS location
remap camera etc buttons to other applications, or show a menu of applications and/or actions
decrypt/encrypt and/or zip/unzip application data on the fly when an application is launched/exits
pause music playback while in a particular application, restart on exit
change the Home icon for any application
take a time-lapse photo series (possibly 'secretly')
make a regular backup of a file on the SD card
track your phone location via SMS in case of theft
extend the use of the media button on your headset: take a picture from a distance or go to the previous media track with a long press
record call times and destinations to the SD card
show a popup when an SMS arrives from a particular phone number
setup a birthday SMS to be sent months before it happens so you don't forget
record battery levels over time to a file on SD card
make automatic recordings of what you say during phone calls to SD card
during the night, turn on airplane mode to conserve battery/reduce radiation, but turn it off every 15 minutes to check for SMS/voicemail.
setup a vacation SMS message, with different messages for different callers
launch a music application when headphones are connected

This demonstrates the power of Android's multitasking

----------

Jack of all trades but master of none. In my short time with iOS vs three years with Andrioid, I can confidently say that what iOS does it does very, very well. I can't say that about Android.

Maybe three years wasn't long enough for you to learn how to use it, or you just had bad devices? My Galaxy S2 is brilliant. It has a few downsides but it's very stable, fast and has good battery life.

 

[emacna1]

I didn't get a chance to read everything, but I'd like to post my opinion.

As I'm sure others have stated, it is all about preference. Apple, Samsung, HTC, Motorola, and others all make excellent devices. Apple and Google both make excellent operating systems. But it is all about preference.

For me, I prefer a larger screen (currently have a 4.3"). I prefer the openness of Android. I do not prefer being locked into the Apple ecosystem.

But, everything in that Apple ecosystem is excellent. I would love having an Apple iPhone, but it is not what I prefer.

I'm not sure if I've reiterated prefer(ence) enough, but you all should get my point.

To be honest, although I don't prefer the Apple ecosystem, if they were to bring out a larger screen (4.3" or larger) with 4G LTE then you could very well find me with an iPhone.

 

[DroidConvert]

Must not have looked very hard

HTC has announced most their newer phones will be getting it by summers end. The Vivid, Amaze and Sensation have already recieved it according to them.
http://www.mobileburn.com/19657/news/most-htc-devices-to-get-android-40-ics-by-summers-end


Verizon has announced which devices will be getting it.

HTC: ThunderBolt, Droid Incredible 2, Rhyme, Rezound
Motorola: Xoom, Bionic, RAZR/RAZR MAXX, Droid XYBOARD 8.2/10.1, Droid 4
Samsung: Galaxy Tab 10.1, Galaxy Tab 7.7
LG: Spectrum

GS2 is said to be getting it soon as well but dont have it yet.

I guess you missed the part about us discussing SAMSUNG phones. I said SAMSUNG was horrendously slow at updates. The response he made was to that post and that's how we got to the post of mine you quoted.

SAMSUNG is the worst of the big three at OS updates (except for Nexus devices, which come from Google). It's still terrible that ICS has been out since November and only a scant number of U.S. phones have it. How can it take 6 months to push out an update?

 

[BaldiMac]

No, what I'm saying is that you listed a bunch of third party apps that apparently have features that no Android counterpart has. What I'm saying is that whilst you may have found exclusive iOS apps, it is possible to write those apps for Android using existing features. What I have listed are a bunch of features that are IMPOSSIBLE on iOS. No app developer can make those things work on iOS because the Apis to make them work simply don't exist.

Impossible? I'm pretty sure Apple could implement any of those features if they wanted to.

 

[0m3ga]

I guess you missed the part about us discussing SAMSUNG phones. I said SAMSUNG was horrendously slow at updates. The response he made was to that post and that's how we got to the post of mine you quoted.

SAMSUNG is the worst of the big three at OS updates (except for Nexus devices, which come from Google). It's still terrible that ICS has been out since November and only a scant number of U.S. phones have it. How can it take 6 months to push out an update?

Samsung is only a small portion of the delay. The carriers and national regulators make up a large portion of that delay. They gotta add their bloatware, dontcha know! Nice thing about Android though is you can competely freeze and hide the bloatware or any file/app you want with Titanium Pro. Love that program.

 

[DroidConvert]

Samsung is only a small portion of the delay. The carriers and national regulators make up a large portion of that delay. They gotta add their bloatware, dontcha know! Nice thing about Android though is you can competely freeze and hide the bloatware or any file/app you want with Titanium Pro. Love that program.

But why is Samsung always behind HTC and Motorola when they too have to deal with the carriers and their bloat?

 

[LSUtigers03]

"Originally Posted by thewoz:

Pay $700 for a Samsung - sell it for $200.

Pay $700 for an iPhone - sell it for $450"



Nice try, but you missed his point (or avoided it on purpose).

Apple products have a better resell value than Samsung products. That is a fact.

He said that Samsung phones sell for basically half what an iPhone sells for and that's not true. Both the Galaxy Note and iPhone 4s sell for more than $400 used.

ETA: I went and started a listing for a used AT&T 16gb 4s (black) and AT&T Galaxy Note (carbon blue). According to eBay the average selling price for the 4s is $419.62 and for the Note it's $448.65.

 

[0m3ga]

Impossible? I'm pretty sure Apple could implement any of those features if they wanted to.

Not unless they do a complete hrdware remodel. One of the awesome features of Android is multi-colored LED notifications. I like havng my phone off, but when I see that blinking light, i know i have a missed call or email.

And unless Apple wants to let its users play with the file folders, don't expect to see an app like iFile come stock with the iPhone.

But if Apple wanted to, they could build their own space rocket and fly to the moon. Pretty much anything is 'possible' given enough time and money. But probability negates possibility 9 times out of 10 when it comes to Apple.

----------

But why is Samsung always behind HTC and Motorola when they too have to deal with the carriers and their bloat?

Larger Phone and user base would be my guess. samsung really needs to slim down their line. They are producing to many different phones to constantly update and test old phones, build new ones, get new OS builds out, and so on. Ithink they should take their top 5-10 phones and just concentrate on those.

 

[Twixt]

LTE phones will come w/ a 32 GB option. At least the ones coming to the USA will. Dont know about a 64 GB option.



Ive never had an issue with mine as i buy the known quality brands and how the hec can you lose it? Just leave it in the phone. Problem solved.



Its nothing like an iPhone in any capacity. Completely different OS, completely different size and feel , much bigger screen and can do many more things. iPhone users wish their Phone could do all those things.

I wish my iPhone could indeed do all these things!
Also would welcome 128 GB embedded plus expansion card slot...