Turned to the Dark Side...

[theinvid]

So, I've been a huge fan of the iPhone since I left Verizon to buy the 3GS on launch day.
I read macrumors daily...even still.

I really felt let down with the iPhone 4s after all the iPhone 5 hype got my hopes up for a larger screen.

I tried to talk myself in to staying with the iPhone and getting the 4s based on the Siri cool factor but that was the only thing that was tempting me.

Ultimately I decided to give android a look and bought a Samsung Galaxy S 2. I am very much pleasantly surprised with the device. It's best feature....the screen. The Super Amoled + just has incredible contrast and colors. Despite it's lower resolution the screen still comes off as superior to the iPhone 4 imo.

I'm also really enjoying all the customization I can do without having to 'jailbreak'.

It's only been about 2 weeks since I've purchased it but I'm already wondering if Apple can win me back with the next iPhone...I do hope that they bring something serious to the table.

Two things that the iPhone does better than the SGS2: The iPhone chargers faster and holds it charger longer. But, I got 4 extra batteries for $33 bucks and also got chargers all over the place...turns out that I didn't really need all that.

SGS2...love that when I plug it in to my PC that it opens up like an external HD and I can just drag and drop music and pictures in to it and it just works.

Also, if I get lonely for the iPhone I can use the EspierLauncher and it looks and functions ALOT like an iPhone.

I just thought I would share this experience with those of you who may be feeling as I did. Not happy with the 4s....wanting something more...but scared to switch.

I'm loving the SGS2....but I'll be watching for Apple's next iPhone.

 

[bruinsrme]

I have a number of friends that went from the iPhone to a droid platform.
They haven't looked back.
If it works for you great. If not you already have experience with te iOS

 

[Nekcik]

You'll be back before this thread reaches 5 pages or a months time.

 

[dndlnx]

Oh well. If you feel the SGS2 met your needs better than the iPhone so be it. That's why there is choice! There's other phones in the sea.

Personally, I use a Mac for my main machine. So I think it's a no-brainer to have one for the integration. And jailbreaking is not a huge deal for me.

When you say "PC", is it in the "General" or "Windows" sense?

 

[zap2]

Nothing to be sorry for, Android is a darn fine OS. I myself would try to avoid Samsung, but I do love the BlackJack line, but recently they haven't been innovating nearly as much(taking a bit too much influence from Apple)


I'd deeply considering the HTC Vivid to get some LTE love on AT&T, but the losing my unlimited data is a downer. Gotta decided between that and the iPhone 4S.

(Currently using an Optimus One, which for the price is a great phone)

 

[ZBoater]

I felt the same way but opted to get a Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 in addition to the iPhone. That way I get my Android fix but I still pay homage at the altar of Apple...

 

[asleep]

www.samsunggalaxyrumors.com

 

[isoft7]

The Galaxy SII was to be my next phone, I saved my upgrade just for it... but, when they introduced it in the US with a 4.5" screen instead of a 4.3" I bailed. Did so terribly disappointed as well.

4.3" is far too big for me as it is... 4.5" is just clown big.

I feel it's a superior piece of hardware to the iPhone, but when it comes down to being a phone, the iPhone with it's much more portable size and battery life won out for my money.

 

[xraydoc]

I, too, went Android from a 3GS on AT&T to several different phones on Verizon hoping to find something as good.

AT&T was horrible - absolutely horrible - where I'm located and there was completely zero signal indoors at work (where I spend most of my day and where I was in most need of a cellphone). Verizon, on the other hand, has micro cell repeaters inside the building at work so there's 100% blanket coverage in every corner everywhere. So it had to be a Verizon device.

I tried 3 different Android phones (original Droid, HTC Incredible, Samsung Captivate). All were lacking...something. Be it the pain of getting music/movies on to and off the device (i.e., no iTunes integration which is where all my media is stored), bugs in the OS... it was, to quote Steve Jobs, a bag of hurt. HTC's contact manager for example at the time couldn't correctly sync first and last names with Google/Gmail - either it would organize by first name or you had to enter people as "last, first" to get it to sort correctly. And any change would change the way it was on Google's contacts. Half my contacts were "firstname lastname" and half were "lastname, firstname." Horrible battery life, enormously bulbous extended battery packs, lack of nice accessories like cases, screen protectors, charging docks and car kits, inability to route music though any of the 3 cars I own without using the headphone jack (and messing with the volume controls constantly). Meanwhile all three cars had iPod-compatible (thus iPhone-compatible) connectivity. Uhhg.

Then there were the custom ROMs. It was sure fun at the beginning. Like getting a whole new phone every time I flashed it. New features... new skins... Except every new ROM brought new show-stopper bugs (non-functional camera, crashing widgets as two examples).

And months went by without official updated ROMs from the manufacturers while new models out of the factory got all the attention. With an Android phone, you better like the way it runs out of the box, or better be prepared to live with open-source ROM bugs, because it'll be a long time before you see official support for new Android releases.

Long story short, the day the iPhone 4 came out on Verizon is the last time any of my Android phones were powered on.


This is just my story. If Android works better for you, that's great. Choice is good. But just be prepared for what you're getting.

 

[Millionin20s]

There is no dark side, it's ok to own an Android phone. I really think we get too caught up in what platform we use, and never stop to realize just how fast mobile tech has become this sophisticated.

If Sprint didn't get the iPhone this year I'd be drooling over the Nexus Prime (maybe) or something similar.

 

[mcdj]

Why isn't the MacBook forum littered with posts about people who bought a Dell? No one in the OSX forum goes on and on about the virtues of Windows.

Why all this non-iPhone discussion in an iPhone forum? Because despite this being an Apple website, the iPhone's popularity has opened the floodgates for people with zero interest in Macs, Mac OS, or Apple in general, to come here and ramble on about whatever they please. It's like having a Starbucks in a museum. We're trying to enjoy art, but hoards of people come around to talk lattes and cappuccinos.

The iPhone forum isn't an iPhone forum any more. It's becoming a general smartphone forum. People are even starting to come here to ask specific tech questions about Android phones and Blackberries. It's getting ridiculous.

I'm all for competition. I'm all for Android. If someone comes out with a cool Android phone that could replace my iPhone, I'd happily consider it, but if I bought one, I'd take my discussions to the proper forum. For now, I like my iPhone. If you like your Android phone, that's awesome. Why not chat about it with like minded people in an Android forum?

I just wish people had a little more respect for this site. It's MACRumors. There are no Samsung Android phone announcements in the news section of the site. So why are there discussions about them everywhere else, and why does Arn let his moderators continue to let the forum be diluted with the ever increasing air time these non-Apple products get?

If I were an advertiser here, I'd be thinking of finding a new home for my banners.

 

[miggitymac]

Why isn't the MacBook forum littered with posts about people who bought a Dell? No one in the OSX forum goes on and on about the virtues of Windows.

Why all this non-iPhone discussion in an iPhone forum? Because despite this being an Apple website, the iPhone's popularity has opened the floodgates for people with zero interest in Macs, Mac OS, or Apple in general, to come here and ramble on about whatever they please. It's like having a Starbucks in a museum. We're trying to enjoy art, but hoards of people come around to talk lattes and cappuccinos.

The iPhone forum isn't an iPhone forum any more. It's becoming a general smartphone forum. People are even starting to come here to ask specific tech questions about Android phones and Blackberries. It's getting ridiculous.

I'm all for competition. I'm all for Android. If someone comes out with a cool Android phone that could replace my iPhone, I'd happily consider it, but if I bought one, I'd take my discussions to the proper forum. For now, I like my iPhone. If you like your Android phone, that's awesome. Why not chat about it with like minded people in an Android forum?

I just wish people had a little more respect for this site. It's MACRumors. There are no Samsung Android phone announcements in the news section of the site. So why are there discussions about them everywhere else, and why does Arn let his moderators continue to let the forum be diluted with the ever increasing air time these non-Apple products get?

If I were an advertiser here, I'd be thinking of finding a new home for my banners.

Maybe not Samsung Android phone announcements, but the Nokia/Windows "Lumia" made front page news.

I don't see why people shouldn't talk about iPhone in the context of its competition. Aren't favorable comparisons to other products part of what makes something great? I honestly don't see why discussions about the iPhone and its competitors should be policed/discouraged.

If you don't like the way Arn & Co. do things, go start your own rumor site.

 

[eezing]

I think it's good for people to have different experiences.

One thing though, you said you upgraded from a 3GS, but compared the Galaxy S2 to an iPhone 4. How can you compare the 4 or 4S experience to a GS2 when you haven't owned them? The 4 is a different beast from the 3GS (4S even greater).

 

[Pink∆Floyd]

The iPhone isn't all about the screen size, it's about the experience, the usability, the great variety of apps

Don't you miss all the apps you had on your iPhone?

 

[miggitymac]

The iPhone isn't all about the screen size, it's about the experience, the usability, the great variety of apps

Don't you miss all the apps you had on your iPhone?

Have you ever used the SGS2? From my time with it, there wasn't a difference in experience and/or usability. And the android market has pretty much the same, or very similar, apps to most of the ones in the iOS app store. Usually, for any particular function, there's more than one app for that.

 

[Savor]

Android has also grown on me considering I didn't like it all that much in the beginning. You just need patience and the right customization and apps to get it working. For instance, I hated the stock Gallery app. I solved it with the QuickPic app which also has multi-touch and has similar arrangements to the iPhone stock Photo app.

Plus, my Android looks very clean and minimalistic. Only three screens. I have a very nice clock widget which displays the weather, time, moon phase, and battery percentage. Have a news widget below it that I tap to get it updated. Both have a glass effect which gives it a transparent look. I use the Nexus Revamped Live Wallpaper (no ripples) with just a clean black background for added effect and Zeam launcher to keep it simple and stable. The second page is arranged exactly like my iPhones' first page. I never have a 4th row. And then the power control widget and WinAmp in the last page. The Lookout app is there to keep me safe. I also do adore the notification system and the Adobe FLASH player is nice to have when I want to watch porn. I love how my notification sound is one of Stewie saying 'SAY WHAT?" or of R2D2. Got most of the ESSENTIAL apps I need for entertainment like Pandora, Movies (Flixster), SoundHound, Currency, Converter, Merriam Dictionary, Bible, IMDB, Google Voice, and even Crackle. Android still sucks at gaming even if we can get all three Angry Birds games for FREE or if decided to pirate them.

You can make it as simple as iPhone if you want it to be. I still give credit to iOS for being able to arrange content better with iTunes, being more stable, having longer firmware support, better ecosystem, and it doesn't seem to dry out with the juice although Juice Defender or whatever battery defender might help. Android has more of a learning curve, but once you figure out where you want to go with the various options, it isn't that bad like some people think. I didn't like it all that much from the start, but I am now starting to see how fun it can be customizing it. Reminds me of the early jailbreaking days of iPhone (circa 2008) when that too had problems and using Winterboard made it laggy or crash alot. But Android is alot more refined NOW than iPhones jb scene from 2007-2008.

 

[mcdj]

You just need patience and the right customization and apps to get it working.

This is exactly why the iPhone is so popular. Most people are not tweakers. They want things to be ready to go out of the box. Moreover, if you do all those tweaks, then decide to upgrade to a better phone next year, those tweaks may become irrelevant.

 

[eaglesteve]

The iPhone isn't all about the screen size, it's about the experience, the usability, the great variety of apps

Don't you miss all the apps you had on your iPhone?

I agree with all these. Except screen size forms a very major part to user experience and useability. Back when iPhone was first designed, Steve Jobs wasn't even expecting it to run third party applications. So the screen size was primarily for applications such as phone, music player, calculator, and stuffs that work very nicely with a 3.5 inch screen. Lots of things were expected to be still done on a PC.

Now, more and more of us are spending a lot more time on my mobile devices than on PC. The 3.5 inch screen isn't good enough for eBooks, spreadsheets viewing, PowerPoint slides viewing, web surfing, gaming, and media consumptions. Most of us would not want to carry along an iPhone plus an iPad. We just want something in between the two. Something very pocketable but with generous screen size, and one handed operation is not at all important.

If it is not because I detest Android and its ecosystems so much, I would have bought e Samsung Galaxy Notes or SGS2. The things I like about Android phones are choice of screen size and the Swype keyboard. I prefer iPhones in all other aspects.

To me, everything about iPhone is perfect, except it's way way too small.

 

[juswest]

The iPhone isn't all about the screen size, it's about the experience, the usability, the great variety of apps

Don't you miss all the apps you had on your iPhone?

I switched to the S2 and haven't found a great difference in usability, the experience is the same-the phone just does what I ask it do. I don't use many apps and the ones I do were found on android. The apps feel no different.

I wanted so hard to believe that android was some huge bag of hurt. It isn't. I think many go wild with customization so they don't enjoy the phone. Then it creates a self fulfilling prophecy. Only reason I'd switch back is because I have a hard time with change in my routines.

 

[treyjustice]

So, I've been a huge fan of the iPhone since I left Verizon to buy the 3GS on launch day.
I read macrumors daily...even still.

I really felt let down with the iPhone 4s after all the iPhone 5 hype got my hopes up for a larger screen.

I tried to talk myself in to staying with the iPhone and getting the 4s based on the Siri cool factor but that was the only thing that was tempting me.

Ultimately I decided to give android a look and bought a Samsung Galaxy S 2. I am very much pleasantly surprised with the device. It's best feature....the screen. The Super Amoled + just has incredible contrast and colors. Despite it's lower resolution the screen still comes off as superior to the iPhone 4 imo.

I'm also really enjoying all the customization I can do without having to 'jailbreak'.

It's only been about 2 weeks since I've purchased it but I'm already wondering if Apple can win me back with the next iPhone...I do hope that they bring something serious to the table.

Two things that the iPhone does better than the SGS2: The iPhone chargers faster and holds it charger longer. But, I got 4 extra batteries for $33 bucks and also got chargers all over the place...turns out that I didn't really need all that.

SGS2...love that when I plug it in to my PC that it opens up like an external HD and I can just drag and drop music and pictures in to it and it just works.

Also, if I get lonely for the iPhone I can use the EspierLauncher and it looks and functions ALOT like an iPhone.

I just thought I would share this experience with those of you who may be feeling as I did. Not happy with the 4s....wanting something more...but scared to switch.

I'm loving the SGS2....but I'll be watching for Apple's next iPhone.

I switched to the infuse 4G a while back and felt the same way for about a month... Then I started getting more and more frustrated and ended up hating android. I am not back on my iPhone 4 it is seems even better than the first time I had it. So smooth no app problems and no crashes. Superior battery as well.

 

[Savor]

I remember a couple days ago, I got so annoyed that the YouTube app on Android would always stop in middle of the video and tell me to retry. It would go all the way back to the beginning. I couldn't watch my latest episode of Ghost Adventures because it would constantly do this. This is a prob for many Android users. But I didn't realize I needed to UPDATE my YouTube app to the latest. Problems solved and even if does stop, it stays at the same place where it stopped.

So sometimes the errors do come from the user and the not hardware. Like figuring out a puzzle. Alot of apps I want are essentially the same as the ones I had from iOS. The only real difference is iOS is far superior with gaming with these apps. Being more of a core gamer and purist, these games don't mean much to me as I would rather game on a Vita by next year.

Also for anyone wanting a great weather app, try out My-Cast Weather. I love how it displays the temperature on the top. And Twidroyd is also solid for a free Twitter client. Not as good as Echofone on my iPhone 4, but one of the better ones. Opera Mini, TuneIn Radio, TuneWiki, etc. Alot of apps I generally use on iPhone is there for Android with the exception of the games. Zedge is great for wallpapers, sound tones, and ringtones. And the notification when I get a new email or if their is a new Tweet from a celeb is great to have.

People just need to open their mind and be patient with Android. Compare Android to even the latest Symbian or BB OS7, and it is still way better. It is up to user if you want to figure it out or if you want to be spoonfed.

 

[thenerdal]

I remember a couple days ago, I got so annoyed that the YouTube app on Android would always stop in middle of the video and tell me to retry. It would go all the way back to the beginning. I couldn't watch my latest episode of Ghost Adventures because it would constantly do this. This is a prob for many Android users. But I didn't realize I needed to UPDATE my YouTube app to the latest. Problems solved and even if does stop, it stays at the same place where it stopped.

So sometimes the errors do come from the user and the not hardware. Like figuring out a puzzle. Alot of apps I want are essentially the same as the ones I had from iOS. The only real difference is iOS is far superior with gaming with these apps. Being more of a core gamer and purist, these games don't mean much to me as I would rather game on a Vita by next year.

Also for anyone wanting a great weather app, try out My-Cast Weather. I love how it displays the temperature on the top. And Twidroyd is also solid for a free Twitter client. Not as good as Echofone on my iPhone 4, but one of the better ones. Opera Mini, TuneIn Radio, TuneWiki, etc. Alot of apps I generally use on iPhone is there for Android with the exception of the games. Zedge is great for wallpapers, sound tones, and ringtones. And the notification when I get a new email or if their is a new Tweet from a celeb is great to have.

People just need to open their mind and be patient with Android. Compare Android to even the latest Symbian or BB OS7, and it is still way better. It is up to user if you want to figure it out or if you want to be spoonfed.

What phone was that?

 

[theinvid]

.

MCDJ,

I think that sharing my opinion on this site is valid. I owned the 3GS and the iPhone 4 and jailbroke each OS as they came out. I've enjoyed my iPhones tremendously and recently made a switch. I'm certain there are others that felt similarly to me on this site which is why I opted to share.

Open your mind a little and try not to be so narrowly defensive.

--Theinvd

P.S. as far as missing the iOS apps. That was a concern of mine at first but that was quickly put to rest as every single app that I am accustomed to using was available in the Android Market.

I have tweaked my phone out to my liking and I didn't have to root/Jailbreak it. This has been a good experience for me thus far.

I'm enjoying the widgets and their added functionality.

Oh, and check out the difference in quality of google maps between the two phones. The turn by turn voice navigation and the 3d look of google maps on android is infinitely superior to the iphone. I'm fairly confident that Apple will remedy that within the next 2 years.

In the meantime, I'm enjoying the SGS2 more than my iPhone 4.

Why isn't the MacBook forum littered with posts about people who bought a Dell? No one in the OSX forum goes on and on about the virtues of Windows.

Why all this non-iPhone discussion in an iPhone forum? Because despite this being an Apple website, the iPhone's popularity has opened the floodgates for people with zero interest in Macs, Mac OS, or Apple in general, to come here and ramble on about whatever they please. It's like having a Starbucks in a museum. We're trying to enjoy art, but hoards of people come around to talk lattes and cappuccinos.

The iPhone forum isn't an iPhone forum any more. It's becoming a general smartphone forum. People are even starting to come here to ask specific tech questions about Android phones and Blackberries. It's getting ridiculous.

I'm all for competition. I'm all for Android. If someone comes out with a cool Android phone that could replace my iPhone, I'd happily consider it, but if I bought one, I'd take my discussions to the proper forum. For now, I like my iPhone. If you like your Android phone, that's awesome. Why not chat about it with like minded people in an Android forum?

I just wish people had a little more respect for this site. It's MACRumors. There are no Samsung Android phone announcements in the news section of the site. So why are there discussions about them everywhere else, and why does Arn let his moderators continue to let the forum be diluted with the ever increasing air time these non-Apple products get?

If I were an advertiser here, I'd be thinking of finding a new home for my banners.

 

[Jimmy James]

But, I got 4 extra batteries for $33 bucks and also got chargers all over the place...turns out that I didn't really need all that.

This is something I really don't get, and I'm a bit of a battery nerd. I charge my iPhone every night and it lasts me the day.

In order to have multiple charged batteries you have to actually charge them. Wouldn't that involve swapping the battery every time? And then you're physically tethered to a power outlet so much of the time.

5 batteries sounds great in theory but I think it would drive me nuts.

 

[ijohnbro]

Everybody has a personal preference to what they like, some don't have a preference at all and go with whatever.

I couldn't do the 5 battery thing that's a bit much personally. I know some people like thin little phones and that is fine also. I like how HTC have the extended battery option for my Thunderbolt. Several hours of battery life to the point of not needing a charger more than every other day.

The bulk isn't really all that bad if you consider how much longer the battery last. If you have a 4.3 inch screen a little extra thickness isn't going to really be an issue. Fits right in the hand with ease