Yeah, you're right about that. That's the problem with huge companies, the small groups just don't matter in the end. Even if this whole forum wanted a bigger screen or whatever, we make up probably less than 1% of iPhone users, so what do they care, really? Kinda sucks.
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Just test drove a Galaxy S II
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Yeah, you're right about that. That's the problem with huge companies, the small groups just don't matter in the end. Even if this whole forum wanted a bigger screen or whatever, we make up probably less than 1% of iPhone users, so what do they care, really? Kinda sucks.
I think even if we get a 4S, having that A5 chip would still beat out Exynos in performance although Apple probably does underclock it. And the GSII probably has the bigger screen.
I am waiting for both the Galaxy Note and Nexus Prime myself. I think if I find the Note to cumbersome to hold, I may just get a Nexus Prime because that is stock Android to get the fastest updates and 4.6-inch screen might just be max on really the size of a phone I want to hold. As long as I can still operate it one-handed. I saw a leaked image of the Prime, and it has the 720p resolution display at over 320 ppi. The only prob for me personally is that it probably heads to Verizon first and I would have to wait a bit longer. We will see next week when it is announced. I am also intrigued by the HTC Sensation XE just because of the specs and Beats Audio.
I think from a hardware point, Apple is selling their users a bit short on screen size if only 4S comes out with a 3.5-4.0. HTC and Samsung seem to surpass them already from a hardware-standpoint and the gap between "fluid" UI is closing compared to say last year or in 2009. People shouldn't generalize all Android phones just because some have experienced lag on certain phones. I really think it depends on the model. The thing that knocks Android is the ecosystem. Some may want it and some won't because they have 10TB of media to not care.
I am waiting for both the Galaxy Note and Nexus Prime myself. I think if I find the Note to cumbersome to hold, I may just get a Nexus Prime because that is stock Android to get the fastest updates and 4.6-inch screen might just be max on really the size of a phone I want to hold. As long as I can still operate it one-handed. I saw a leaked image of the Prime, and it has the 720p resolution display at over 320 ppi. The only prob for me personally is that it probably heads to Verizon first and I would have to wait a bit longer. We will see next week when it is announced. I am also intrigued by the HTC Sensation XE just because of the specs and Beats Audio.
I think from a hardware point, Apple is selling their users a bit short on screen size if only 4S comes out with a 3.5-4.0. HTC and Samsung seem to surpass them already from a hardware-standpoint and the gap between "fluid" UI is closing compared to say last year or in 2009. People shouldn't generalize all Android phones just because some have experienced lag on certain phones. I really think it depends on the model. The thing that knocks Android is the ecosystem. Some may want it and some won't because they have 10TB of media to not care.
Thanks for the feedback. We all have our verbal/written crutches at times, you just identified one of mine
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I agree with you regarding Apple selling their users short on the screen size. Just look around and you will see 4" plus displays everywhere. It's what people want, and more importantly, it's what people expect.
I also very much agree with you about the gap between fluid UI is closing. There is no doubt that Apple has tremendous vision, and because of it got a 2 year head start on everyone else. Now that we are 5 years in, I think other manufacturers are starting to catch up.
Me personally, I use my phone to surf the web a lot, watch videos, a little email, and apps.
As far as using the Internet, the phone, and video, I could really care less whether it's via iOS or Android. You touch a button either way. The apps situation is another matter entirely.
I didn't think to try and access the Android store when using the Galaxy S II. Does anyone know how easy it is to access the Android App Store from your phone?
I actually can type faster on the SGII than my iP4? I like both keyboards, maybe it's the extra real estate?
One thing I do like on the Android is the ability to install apps via the marketplace website and they immediately download on the phone.
One thing I do like on the Android is the ability to install apps via the marketplace website and they immediately download on the phone.
Thanks for the feedback. We all have our verbal/written crutches at times, you just identified one of mine
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I agree with you regarding Apple selling their users short on the screen size. Just look around and you will see 4" plus displays everywhere. It's what people want, and more importantly, it's what people expect.
I also very much agree with you about the gap between fluid UI is closing. There is no doubt that Apple has tremendous vision, and because of it got a 2 year head start on everyone else. Now that we are 5 years in, I think other manufacturers are starting to catch up.
Me personally, I use my phone to surf the web a lot, watch videos, a little email, and apps.
As far as using the Internet, the phone, and video, I could really care less whether it's via iOS or Android. You touch a button either way. The apps situation is another matter entirely.
I didn't think to try and access the Android store when using the Galaxy S II. Does anyone know how easy it is to access the Android App Store from your phone?
It's very complicated, you have to reboot the phone into the terminal shell, type in about 30 esoteric commands then enter a 50 character password in 5 seconds or restart the process over. Not many people are brave enough to access the Android market.
I now have my Samsung Galaxy S II charging right next to me. Actuallly kind of looking forward to exploring the new Android OS.
I'm sure there are a lot of things I haven't taken into consideration that I might run into over the next few days as I get familiar with it. That said, I have a 30 day window to return it (with a $35 restocking fee).
Looking forward to seeing what Apple comes up with for the true iPhone five in another year.
I'm sure there are a lot of things I haven't taken into consideration that I might run into over the next few days as I get familiar with it. That said, I have a 30 day window to return it (with a $35 restocking fee).
Looking forward to seeing what Apple comes up with for the true iPhone five in another year.
So what's the excuse if one of the manufacturers comes out with a metal or glass back? Then the phone is acceptable to use?
I can see where you are coming from, but I don't mind the plastic back at all. I actually like it in the sense that A) It makes the phone lighter, and B) I don't worry about it scratching like I would an iPhone with a glass back.
Not saying the iPhone design is deficient in any way, but it does add weight to the phone, and it does scratch.
I've had a full day with the phone now and love it. Keep in mind that I had never so much as touched an Android device prior to yesterday. I had a very skeptical view of Android based on so many posts in these forums noting how buggy, slow, crappy it is, etc.
I have been very pleasantly surprised thus far. It's very easy to use IMHO, is very fluid, and has a lot of neat things you can customize like widgets. I've also gotten a lot better at using the keyboard, so my biggest complaint/gripe about the phone isn't much of an issue.
I was also very surprised at how easy it was to get into the Android marketplace. It was setup nicely (very similar to Apple's IMHO), and I was able to get all my previous apps quite easily.
There are two things however that I'm really missing thus far from iOS that as far as I can tell, isn't available on Android:
1. A simple email client to setup gmail, yahoo, hotmail, aol accounts. There is a mail app on my Galaxy S II, but I haven't been able to get it to work yet with my yahoo account.
2. Visual voicemail. I forgot how truly archaic the thought is of dialing into a number to get your voicemail. I think there are visual voicemail apps you can get from the Android marketplace, but I believe they are for other carriers only. I don't think one exists or is available for AT&T.
but we are talking about the S2 which is definitely plastic. I have one so I know. It most definitely has a big "cheap" feeling when compared to the feel of the iPhone4 (plus the screen is not nearly as good).
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The built in email client is awful in Android. Most Android user will tell you to go purchase a 3rd party app called Touchdown (completely crazy you need to buy a good email client)
I need to do some additional searching to find out for sure. That said, my current understanding is that visual voicemail is not a feature built into the Android OS, and needs to be added via an app.
I was able to find visual voicemail apps in the Android marketplace, but they were for other carriers. I could not find anything for AT&T. I am going to scour the Android forums later this evening when I get home from work to get the definitive answer on this.
i am going to get the nexus prime most likely. iOS is much smoother and fluid but the lack of screen size is just pathetic and unexceptionable at this point.
Windows 7 phone is the closest to iOS and is equal in being fluid, behind on apps and they just need that "one" great phone to release for the OS and it will catch on like wild fire. I would get a W7 phone in a heartbeat if they had something decent out there with LTE at this point.
Windows 7 phone is the closest to iOS and is equal in being fluid, behind on apps and they just need that "one" great phone to release for the OS and it will catch on like wild fire. I would get a W7 phone in a heartbeat if they had something decent out there with LTE at this point.
Nexus Prime is the one to wait for if you want to switch to Android. I believe it's an improved version of the Galaxy S2 with better display, processor etc. It is being announced next week by Samsung.
As for Windows Phone, Nokia is promising multiple smartphones in Q4 this year. I'm awaiting those announcements eagerly. Samsung Focus S also has potential. I have a number of Microsoft products around here: XBox, Windows Home Server and a Windows 7 desktop and laptop (MacBook Pro wiped clean of all traces of OS X after installing bootcamp). Windows Phone plays nicely with all of those products I have around the hone.
Right now I'm leaning towards buying a Windows Phone once something decent comes to market.
If you want to keep waiting for Google updates then get an android. I bought the Nexus S and still it came with an older firmware version and I had to wait almost a month to get the update from Google even though the firmware to fix color issues had been released a month ago when I bought my Nexus S. Google Nexus forums were full of angry Nexus S users wondering why they had to wait for so long when some Nexus S owners had already received their update.
The reason for me buying the Nexus S was simply because I had gotten sick and tired of Samsung's broken promises about updating the Vibrant phone to Froyo. That update by Samsung took almost 5 months!! The samsung vibrant is still as of today stuck on 2.2 froyo.
So after buying the Nexus S I found out this fragmentation is also a problem with Google Nexus phones because even though I have the NFC capability I can't have the Google Wallet feature since Google has released this capability only for Sprint Nexus S!! Even when you buy the Nexus phones you still have no idea how long you have to wait for the update to actually hit your phone. At least with iPhone you get it the same day as everyone else.
I don't know if this a problem on the iPhone but on the Nexus S I always had background apps like Google Map, Skype etc running on their own even after I had closed them repeatedly and still I had no control over the apps from starting on their own and using up ram and battery life. Those apps were not "frozen" as google claimed. I'm done with the long wait times for firmware updates on my Nexus and still not getting Google wallet.
Wanted to get HTC android but they were found to have some huge security issues, that's another thing about Android phones: not very secure. Today someone told me about the NoLed app for android that has a security hole. I wouldn't have bought the Nexus had I known it too can be fragmented but I'm sure a lot of people only want the latest and greatest specs and don't care much about the fragmentation, security or a stable OS.
The reason for me buying the Nexus S was simply because I had gotten sick and tired of Samsung's broken promises about updating the Vibrant phone to Froyo. That update by Samsung took almost 5 months!! The samsung vibrant is still as of today stuck on 2.2 froyo.
So after buying the Nexus S I found out this fragmentation is also a problem with Google Nexus phones because even though I have the NFC capability I can't have the Google Wallet feature since Google has released this capability only for Sprint Nexus S!! Even when you buy the Nexus phones you still have no idea how long you have to wait for the update to actually hit your phone. At least with iPhone you get it the same day as everyone else.
I don't know if this a problem on the iPhone but on the Nexus S I always had background apps like Google Map, Skype etc running on their own even after I had closed them repeatedly and still I had no control over the apps from starting on their own and using up ram and battery life. Those apps were not "frozen" as google claimed. I'm done with the long wait times for firmware updates on my Nexus and still not getting Google wallet.
Wanted to get HTC android but they were found to have some huge security issues, that's another thing about Android phones: not very secure. Today someone told me about the NoLed app for android that has a security hole. I wouldn't have bought the Nexus had I known it too can be fragmented but I'm sure a lot of people only want the latest and greatest specs and don't care much about the fragmentation, security or a stable OS.
There are a bunch of different keyboards you can use. Swype, Swiftkey X, Better keyboard, Slideit which is another swype version. Those are the ones i have and use but there are others. You arent limited to the one you dont like at all.
For email, Yahoo has their own App for email in the market and K9 mail is also a good one. Like the other poster said, the email that comes with the phone isnt very good and doesnt work well with Yahoo.
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Well, I just downloaded Google voice and was able to setup my voicemail with them. What a freaking cool program!
Not only do I get visual voicemail with notifications, but the program actually provides me text readout of my voicemail messages. I am really digging this phone.
Will have to try a few of the other keyboards on the marketplace. That is the one thing I can say that Apple nailed 100%, that being their keyboard.
I've had a galaxy s2 all summer (bought an unlocked international version because I thought I'd give android a chance since there was no new iPhone for summer). The scrolling is SO annoying and almost makes the phone unusable! If not unusable, then extremely frustrating.
Also, the resolution of the screen was WAY too low and there was LESS screen real estate than iPhone 4. all the fonts and icons looked ridiculously big with no way of making them smaller.
Why are people complaining about the screen size of iPhone 4S when it has more screen real estate than ANY phone out there now? A 4.3" screen at 800x480 is like a 17" laptop with 1280x800 screen.
Open up a website in portrait mode on both iPhone 4 and Galaxy S2 without zooming in. iPhone 4 is always readable while I can't make out anything on galaxy s2. Portrait web browsing without zooming is unusable on Android.
I figured since so many people were buying it, Android was worth giving a chance,but it is inferior in every way to iOS and UI is ugly as hell! And no, I don't want to spend my days tweaking the UI, I want it to be beautiful out of the box.
I do like that it is lighter but build quality is also really cheap. The black is already coming off the ear piece area and turning grey. This is with about 3 months of use.
I'd understand if it were cheaper but who in their right mind would choose Android over iPhone if same price? Keyboard still sucks after 3 months, downloading iPhone keyboard made it better but the autocorrect, auto predict is pretty poor. Again, I don't want to try 10 different keyboards and find the best one. I want to have the best one out of the box.
Can't wait to get the 4S and sell this piece of garbage.