Apple vs HTC Evo 4G - A Few Points Worth Mentioning

[damewolf13]

The few things the iPhone does, it does well. No doubt about it. Even though many may agree that the UI is dumbed down, one cannot argue that it is a seemless experience.

I understand what you are saying, but I don't necessarily agree with it.
To me, The Iphone (all of them) is like going to an exclusive restaurant where you can order anything you want on the menu, and then choosing a grilled cheese sandwich with a side of fruit cocktail. I would much rather have my choice of either a 6 oz. or 10 oz. filet mignon and then have the decision of how to cook it, with my choice of salad dressing on my choice of salad greens, and 2 or 3 different garnishes with my meal so that if I want one bite with A1 sauce, and another bite with horseradish sauce, and a third bite with salsa, I have that choice. I hope you understand my point. It really is about choices and preferences, and I understand that some people just like to keep it simple, and that's okay, but not for me.
There is nothing wrong with grilled cheese.

 

[RaiseUp151z]

So in another words they got a pretty grilled sandwich & we got a little undercooked 10z steak with veggies & a bottle of wine.

I understand what you are saying, but I don't necessarily agree with it.
To me, The Iphone (all of them) is like going to an exclusive restaurant where you can order anything you want on the menu, and then choosing a grilled cheese sandwich with a side of fruit cocktail. I would much rather have my choice of either a 6 oz. or 10 oz. filet mignon and then have the decision of how to cook it, with my choice of salad dressing on my choice of salad greens, and 2 or 3 different garnishes with my meal so that if I want one bite with A1 sauce, and another bite with horseradish sauce, and a third bite with salsa, I have that choice. I hope you understand my point. It really is about choices and preferences, and I understand that some people just like to keep it simple, and that's okay, but not for me.
There is nothing wrong with grilled cheese.

 

[damewolf13]

So in another words they got a pretty grilled sandwich & we got a little undercooked 10z steak with veggies & a bottle of wine.

maybe yours is undercooked....mine is amazing!

and no matter how good of a chef you are, grilled cheese is still grilled cheese.

 

[eshy]

I own an Evo, I had an iphone 3g before, but I was never an apple fan boy, in fact, I really never liked them and I gave them one shot and hated their device.
Yes, it's disappointing that Apple is just playing catch up. If you look at their list of features, there's nothing really there that my Evo doesn't have.

Yea, video calling is not new, but the Evo wasn't the first to do that either.
I was living in Europe years ago when they launched 3G over there, I got a 3G phone from work and one of the features the providers used to push 3G at the time was video calls. It was standard too, so you didn't have to own the same phone model as the person you were calling.
Video calls didn't catch on because
1. no one really wanted it for every day use
2. the other party had to have a phone capable of 3G video calls (but at least it was a standard across all phones).
even skype realized faraway grandparents are their main targets for video calls...

As for the multitasknin in ios4. It's actually very easy to kill running apps, it's like removing an app in the main screens, all you have to do is hold one of the app icons in the multitasking switch window, the minus icons will show up, and you can kill apps. So it's actually built in, unlike android.

The main problem I have with Apple is not just that the new phone has no new features that competing products don't already have, they never invented new features (at least since the first computer), they just took ideas that already exists and made them better (sometimes that means easier for simple users).

I was really hoping that ios4 will get rid of the screens of 4x4 icons that make it so hard to find the app you're looking for.
I thought Apple would notice what the competition is doing and realize their falling behind, but of course, judging by their history, they will never admit that (heck, they were claiming the G4 was faster than Intel for years). They trust that there are enough blind dumb customers who will line up in the heat for hours to get the device because it's an iphone.

Right now, even the WP7 UI looks better to me than the iphone, but I'm happy with Android and I'm not lookng back...

 

[crumsnatcha]

As for the multitasknin in ios4. It's actually very easy to kill running apps, it's like removing an app in the main screens, all you have to do is hold one of the app icons in the multitasking switch window, the minus icons will show up, and you can kill apps. So it's actually built in, unlike android.

Doesn't Settings -> Applications -> Running Services accomplish this?

 

[Deleted User]

Yeah, I read an artilce once where they called HTC the Tao bell of the phone world. They have a set amount of ingredients, and they just mix and match to make a ton of variety. Ie Evo and the hd2.

Reminds me of a car show where the guy said that "Camry" should be on the periodic table because Toyota uses the same Camry parts in 8 different other cars

 

[rickyaustin]

One of the more ignorant things I have read on this forum. Hands down Android is the superior OS, particularly in the area of customization. It's not even close and rooting isn't necessary for this intrinsic property. It's enough to satisfy this WinMo user, and nothing has yet topped that level of customization.

Hands down?

Hands down I think the iPhone OS is superior. I don't think there's even a discussion. I'll never understand why people measure "greatness" by customization instead of true user experience. It's sad.

 

[Niir]

think flexability not customization.

You force yourself to fit with iOS 4 changing how you use your phone to fit it.

Android changes to fit your needs and your specific uses.

Apple tells you how to use your phone.

You tell Google how you want to use your phone.

 

[rickyaustin]

Not to nitpick, but I did want to respond to some of these things. In the end whatever works for each person works, and I'm glad both Android and iPhone are on the market, they make each other work harder. I prefer the iPhone but jumped the AT&T ship for what I consider the second best phone on the market, the Evo 4G.

My post is long, but so is yours. Makes sense

1) FaceTime

From Apple – “People have been dreaming about video calling for decades. iPhone 4 makes it a reality. With the tap of a button, you can wave hello to your kids, share a smile from across the globe, or watch your best friend laugh at your stories — iPhone 4 to iPhone 4 over Wi-Fi. No other phone makes staying in touch this much fun.”

Apple is right about one thing, we have been dreaming about this for decades. However, Apple cant take credit for this one. The HTC Evo 4g has accomplished this before Apple. Not only have they accomplished it first but wi-fi is not a necessity in order to make a call. Thats right, 3G is more than enough to hand its users a decent video quality call. This gives the Evo 4G’s video calling a more practical edge over the iPhone 4. The Evo 4G also works with Skype.

I don't think users care who came out with it first (Evo by a few weeks), they care about how easy it is to use, and how well it works. Now, FaceTime is WiFi only, and that's no doubt AT&T's fault. But having used both video setups, it took 5 seconds to figure it out on iPhone, and about 20 minutes to figure out Qik was junk, d'load fring, get it working with Skype, then make the call in an interface that is vastly inferior to FaceTime.

Evo did it first, Apple did it better. We're waiting on AT&T to catch up.

2) Retina Display

Apple says- “Thanks to the Retina display, everything you see and do on iPhone 4 looks amazing. Text in books, web pages, and email is crisp at any size. Images in movies and photos are stunning at almost any angle. That’s because the Retina display’s pixel density is so high, your eye is unable to distinguish individual pixels.”

From what we have seen so far, the display on the iPhone 4 is gorgeous. However, who has been complaining? This is not to say that innovation isn’t good because it is. How about innovation on a larger scale? Why couldn’t they make the screen a little larger for extended comfort when watching those soon to be Netflix videos? Apple has always been the one to make their users compromise. This time its by having the same size screen you’ve always had that just looks better. Why cant iPhone users have a bigger screen AND higher resolution? While the larger Android screens may or may not compare to that of the iPhone 4, its not a factor for me. Ive never really cared that my cable was a little fuzzy, i just wanted to see the whole picture.

This is definitely in the 'personal preference' category. I have giant hands and the Evo fits pretty well in them. iPhone is definitely the better size for the majority of everyday people. I'm sure this is why they haven't made the phone larger. Apple makes no decision without thinking it through, and Jony Ive no doubtedly made the phone this size for a reason. Evo is at the boundary of how big a phone can be. iPhone is looking for the sweet spot.

3) Multitasking

Apple says- “Now you can run your favorite third-party apps — and switch between them instantly — without slowing down the performance of the foreground app or draining the battery unnecessarily.* This smarter approach to multitasking is available only on iPhone.”

Brilliant Apple! Now, how do i stop it? Thats the one question that has been nagging me since the combination of the WWDC and AT&T’s plan changes. Apple never discussed how one can quit multitasking. With apps running and consuming data in the background on AT&T’s new plans? That spells danger and hard earned money. Android has app killers. Also, Android runs on networks with unlimited data plans. So even if you wanted to multi task your phone to death (crash) you don’t have to worry about over charges. I pray for the consumers of tomorrow that the iPhone will.

You stop an app by double-tapping the home button to bring up multitasking and hold down on an icon to bring up the red x's —*the same method you use to remove/move apps on the home screen.

I'm cold on multitasking personally. The bad battery experience with the Evo so far are due to multitasking. The phone requires more babysitting with it.

Multitasking on AT&T is a valid concern.

4) Camera

Apple says- “Never miss a photo opportunity. The 5-megapixel camera built into iPhone 4 captures amazingly detailed images. A built-in LED flash illuminates low-light scenes. And the 5x digital zoom gets you closer to the action. You can even shoot self-portraits with the front camera.”

HTC Evo 4G. The only difference is that it has an 8 mega pixel camera. Android has always had zoom. We also have the low light for video shooting. Self-portraits are currently available while iPhone 4 isn’t.

Let's remember that photo quality and megapixels have no correlation, especially in this low-end market. I don't know which camera is better, but using megapixels as a measuring stick can be like saying a semi-truck is faster than a corvette because it has more power.

Once again, iPhone now has zoom, Android isnt better because it had it first, it's here on both now, who does it better?

Evo wins with self-portraits. The 'myspace angle photo' has new life.

6) Home Screen

Apple says- “Personalize your Home screen. You can change the background wallpaper on both your Lock screen and your Home screen. Choose from a variety of backgrounds included with your iPhone or select any picture from your library. It’s a great way to make iPhone uniquely yours.”

Holy America Batman! Apple just became less communistic!
Wallpapers….nice. Not only has Android accomplished this since the G1, we now have 3D wallpapers. Wallpapers that react with your touch. Apple likes to play as if its ‘innovating’ in every area that it operates in when its a big fat lie. They do a lot of great innovations but not in everything they do. There just play catch up.

Don’t forget about widgets! Widgets are not available for iPhone. Widgets are apps that are ran directly on the home screen for complete customization and usage.

Nowhere in there did it Apple act like they invented home screen backgrounds. Who had them first is again, pointless. Android 'wins' with live wallpapers, if you consider winning to be every single person on Android forums telling users to turn them off to avoid killing the battery.

Android WINS with widgets, and this is the lone place I see Android on top with the user interfaces. The Android widget system is excellent. HTC has made some beautiful widgets.

7) Phone

Apple says – “Tap (or speak) to call.
To make a call on iPhone, tap a name or number. That’s it. You can tap to call from just about anywhere: a name in your contacts list, a number on a website or text message, even a phone number on a map listing. Voice Control lets you speak a name or number to make a call. And you can switch between calls, merge calls, or add up to five callers with a tap”

Android does this. I’m actually getting tired of saying that. Its slowly becoming a clich

 

[bossxii]

rickyaustin pretty much nails my response. Doing something first is all fine and good but doing it the best is what people remember and then strive to beat. I love my Evo, and love Sprint even more. The network was my reason to switch... the Evo has become my reason to stay. The iPhone is a very polished and well built device, I'm on Evo number two after my screen separated from the case to create a flashlight coming out the bottom I wasn't expecting.

Facetime is a perfect example of how easy video calling can be, it also a perfect example of why to leave ATT and there weak a$$, restrictive network. The benefit that Apple can bring by building a 4th gen iPhone is still negated by ATT. If the iPhone was on Sprint, and offered face time via 3G and had a hotspot/wifi application. I don't know that I would be an Evo owner or not. That would be a very different debate I think for many of us converts, the network played a huge role in chasing off customers, the iphone kept me with ATT for the past 3 years. No current android phone would have kept me with ATT.

 

[IOWA]

I don't think users care who came out with it first (Evo by a few weeks), they care about how easy it is to use, and how well it works. Now, FaceTime is WiFi only, and that's no doubt AT&T's fault. But having used both video setups, it took 5 seconds to figure it out on iPhone, and about 20 minutes to figure out Qik was junk, d'load fring, get it working with Skype, then make the call in an interface that is vastly inferior to FaceTime.

Evo did it first, Apple did it better. We're waiting on AT&T to catch up.

Better? I think not. If it's only because of ATT's network, why is it restricted worldwide hmm? Just because you can't figure something out easily doesn't mean other's can't, so thats just personal preference, and thus is negated. And I think we are all forgetting the EVO didn't do it first. Video callings been around for years, on 3G no less. Let's move on.

This is definitely in the 'personal preference' category. I have giant hands and the Evo fits pretty well in them. iPhone is definitely the better size for the majority of everyday people. I'm sure this is why they haven't made the phone larger. Apple makes no decision without thinking it through, and Jony Ive no doubtedly made the phone this size for a reason. Evo is at the boundary of how big a phone can be. iPhone is looking for the sweet spot.

I agree, personal preference. But there's no reason why they couldn't have used less bezel and more screen other than cheaping out. Something like a 4" screen would have been perfect, like say.. the galaxy s? Still personal preference though. Movin' on.

You stop an app by double-tapping the home button to bring up multitasking and hold down on an icon to bring up the red x's —*the same method you use to remove/move apps on the home screen.

I'm cold on multitasking personally. The bad battery experience with the Evo so far are due to multitasking. The phone requires more babysitting with it.

Multitasking on AT&T is a valid concern.

Multitasking doesn't suck up battery at all, unless the app itself is active(think pandora). That's a huge myth and FUD passed along the apple fanboys, and is thus, completely negated. Not to mention it's not even true multi-tasking, it's only "apple approved" multitasking, which needless to say, a big part of the reason most of us are on Android. We want it our way, not thiers.

Let's remember that photo quality and megapixels have no correlation, especially in this low-end market. I don't know which camera is better, but using megapixels as a measuring stick can be like saying a semi-truck is faster than a corvette because it has more power.

Once again, iPhone now has zoom, Android isnt better because it had it first, it's here on both now, who does it better?

Evo wins with self-portraits. The 'myspace angle photo' has new life.

Have to say, i agree here.

Nowhere in there did it Apple act like they invented home screen backgrounds. Who had them first is again, pointless. Android 'wins' with live wallpapers, if you consider winning to be every single person on Android forums telling users to turn them off to avoid killing the battery.

Android WINS with widgets, and this is the lone place I see Android on top with the user interfaces. The Android widget system is excellent. HTC has made some beautiful widgets.

Android also wins on the UI side due to we can change around our screen anyway we like, dozens of home launchers, most completely different from each other. If I want to be able to swipe up, down, left, and right for my screens, I can do that on Android. Try it with an iPhone.

Wow, had no idea Android did any of this. That's the problem. I had to come to an Android forum and randomly read your post to know this. I knew about the talk to text, but that's it. Other than voice commands I'm not sure how Android is superior in this category? Seems moot.

The Android Speech to text is second to none. The fact I can hit a button, and talk to launch an app, find directions, lookup a website, or send a text message, all while speaking NATURALLY instead of some robotic drone, is flat out amazing.

Safari on iPhone is the best mobile browser on the planet. Everything I've used on Android falls miles short. Is Android faster? Sometimes yes. However, half the time I don't know where to click to input a new site, or get to the other sites, so I spend more time poking for things than anything else. The .2 second difference in loading speed kind of becomes useless at that point. Safari is simple and intuitive, this cannot be discounted.

When Safari is the best browser there's no need for alternatives.

Flash is a minus for me on any mobile device. If it slows down my $2500 computer, it'll probably make my phone catch on fire. First thing I did was turn it off on the Evo. Thank goodness you can turn it off.

Um no? Safari flat out stinks at rendering webpages, why would mobile safari be any better? You don't know where to click to input a new site? Really? It's called hit the search button, or scroll to the top of the page. Pretty simple IMO. And as for flash slowing down your computer, let's take a stab in the dark and guess you have a Mac, right? Well Flash and Mac don't play nice together, and guess who's fault that is. Apple's. They don't allow hardware acceleration, while on PC it does. Any kind of graphics rendered without GPU, and thus CPU only, will bog down any system. Having the OPTION for flash is a plus on ANY browser, ANY system, to say otherwise is just short-sighted. Options are ALWAYS better.

iPhone did this stuff before Android was ever on the market. Now, I've said who does things first doesn't matter, but you said Apple is playing catch up on something it co-developed WITH Google before Google's OS was even on the market.

Google is holding back on the voice turn-by-turn, for obvious reasons. Makes sense.

And WinMo did this before iPhone. What's your point? Fact is, Google maps(and products) are all around better on Android. So Apple is playing catch-up, because they can't do it themselves, yet. And even if they do, I'm willing to bet it will be a hefty add-on price tag to it. So Android wins.

I don't see where they're brainwashing. They're explaining the features of their phone. Apple is openly courting everyday people to join the Mac and iPhone camps. They have to spell things out effectively.

Nowhere in there do they say they invented anything they didn't. They've innovated nearly everything on their phone though.

When it comes to User Interface, it's not even a competition. iPhone is far and away the best user interface you can buy.

Android has its merits. Hell, I own an Evo, and like some of the features it has that iPhone doesn't. About 95% of these though are related to the network and not the phone. Widgets, tethering, 4G, size in my big hands and kickstand.

Actually Apple does go around saying it invented things they didn't. Like multitouch, for example. Which they are now being sued for *gasp* patent infringement by what may be the rightful owners of said IP. (Which I still think IP is a joke anyway, but that''s for a different thread) Or how about the lies Apple spews on commercials, where they debut Apps and say "only on iPhone" when I have the same app on my Samsung Moment, or people have it on Blackberries or Symbian, etc. Hell Apple even tried to take credit for the GUI, which in fact Xerox came up with.

If you do your research, you'll see Apple didn't innovate much of anything on the iPhone at all. And "best UI you can buy"? Please. Read what I said above about that. If *I* wanted, I could have the exact iPhone interface on my phone, or many other UI's. Android clearly wins in this dept, because more options = better, and something like a UI is highly subjects, and only personal preference. To say otherwise is also, short-sighted.

-IOWA

 

[SebastianX]

rickyaustin pretty much nails my response. Doing something first is all fine and good but doing it the best is what people remember and then strive to beat. I love my Evo, and love Sprint even more. The network was my reason to switch... the Evo has become my reason to stay. The iPhone is a very polished and well built device, I'm on Evo number two after my screen separated from the case to create a flashlight coming out the bottom I wasn't expecting.

Facetime is a perfect example of how easy video calling can be, it also a perfect example of why to leave ATT and there weak a$$, restrictive network. The benefit that Apple can bring by building a 4th gen iPhone is still negated by ATT. If the iPhone was on Sprint, and offered face time via 3G and had a hotspot/wifi application. I don't know that I would be an Evo owner or not. That would be a very different debate I think for many of us converts, the network played a huge role in chasing off customers, the iphone kept me with ATT for the past 3 years. No current android phone would have kept me with ATT.

So you don't care that the only reason that the iPhone is just now getting 21st century specs is because of Android?

Let's face it before Google went primetime they lacked something as simply as a copy/paste function heck they banned every turn by turn app in existance including TOMTOM which they rejected over and over again until very close to when Android first came out.

I might also add they did this on purpose so they could bleed the fanbois and release a very minor upgraded iTurd every year and make you buy a new phone. It wasn't until Android went primetime that Jobs got his panties in a bunch and couldn't do that anymore.

Since then he's been badmouthing Android because before then he had no competition and could pretty much rape his "loyal fanbase" anyway he wanted.

 

[evoq]

I'm surprised such a lengthy comparison of smartphones has no mention of notifications, one of the most widely-used features of a smartphone.

The iOS popup notification is just plainly annoying to business users like me who have wall-to-wall appointments, and several different emails and messages flowing in every minute. This is one thing Android has clearly nailed, and iOS is lagging behind significantly.

Also, though swype is not an Evo-only thing, it's definitely an outstanding innovation that is likely to be widely copied and deserves mention.

 

[QuickDraw]

Yeah we've been able to tap to call for ages already. Another feature stolen from android. Maybe google should sue hahaa.

Ha, yea that is one of Apple's favorite things to do, sue. I can't believe all of the articles I've come accross mentioning this crap of sueing anyone and everyone pretty much that even comes close to what they have (in the iPhone). Patent infringement I'm totally against, but from what I can gather, in some cases anyway, they've got no chance in winning....so WHY??

 

[gowcaizer1978]

[QUOTE=rickyaustin;,

When Safari is the best browser there's no need for alternatives.

Flash is a minus for me on any mobile device. If it slows down my $2500 computer, it'll probably make my phone catch on fire. First thing I did was turn it off on the Evo. Thank goodness you can turn it off.

It slows down your $2500 pc? Thats why i custom build my own mainly for gaming but i have never had flash slow my system down. And i have never paid that much to build them. As far as a browser i wish we had firefox on android, I personally think firefox is much better.

 

[SebastianX]

It slows down your $2500 pc? Thats why i custom build my own mainly for gaming but i have never had flash slow my system down. And i have never paid that much to build them. As far as a browser i wish we had firefox on android, I personally think firefox is much better.

I'm wondering if that 2500 dollar computer would be an Apple product? If so that computer would be the equivalent of my spare 600 dollar PC (spec-wise).

 

[EarlyMon]

I've watched people argue the merits and shortcomings of smartphones since they came out.

I'm sure many of you have, too.

I think of the game changers over time - Nokia, BlackBerry, iPhone, Android. (Everyone's list on may vary, I do suppose, but maybe not by too much - I think the fossil record supports that list, despite every new device claiming to be a game changer. I'm not talking personal favorites.)

From where I sat the nature of the discussion changed in early 2007 because of the iPhone and changed again in late 2008 because of the G1.

Smartphones and apps and touchscreens and cameras existed before then. The game-changing came from the user experience.

Now it's heated up considerably as both iPhone and Android are claiming superiority.

This thread (righteously) is about trees, however, I just want to give a commercial for the forest:

If history has taught us anything, it's that when there's competition, the consumer tends to win.

I applaud the decorum maintained by both camps over such passionate issues.

Without these passionate issues, neither iPhone nor Android would be striving to win - striving to improve.

I'm aware of the school of thought that goes that Android would've happened whether iPhone existed or not. I'm also aware of the school of thought that goes that you can't know that because the iPhone did exist. I belong to the latter.

I'd also like to point out - as many here already know, but many do not - we live in the midst of some of the worst carriers in the world. Things are vastly different overseas. We live with carrier-branded phones and a lack of interoperability, by and large.

I think I'm seeing comments here to the effect that if an iPhone were available on Sprint, some people would go that way. I know I've seen the reverse discussing Android on AT&T. That's gone in one direction only because of the contract wrangling that Jobs did on day one with AT&T. (If I may - a replay of the wrangling done with the studios to launch iTMS.)

OS X won mindshare when Apple was possibly on its last legs in large part because the core of the operating system, Darwin, was open source at the precise time when thanks to Linux, open source benefits were becoming obvious. Prior to that, the Windows lock-in was frustrating people to tears. To this day, everything that people love about their Macs is due to open source whether they realize it or not. Even iTunes, that vendor specific, love it or hate it beast - it's really just an XML browser that that manages communication between the filesystem and the QuickTime engine. That whole Bootcamp thing? Uh huh. Macs have Open Firmware. Maybe keep those points in mind. And WinFans may like to keep in mind that Window's improvements have included the caving to open source pressure, even if kept out of the public's eye. Look under the hood at the network stack in Windows and tell me how much MS-proprietary code really exists there as a single example.

Android won mindshare precisely because people were again frustrated to tears over their favorite devices' lock-in.

The thing to love about iPhone and Android is the consumer-winning choice in the marketplace.

The thing to love about Android is that you can have it on more than one carrier and more than one device for each carrier. In my opinion, it wasn't the superiority of Android that make the carriers accept it - the carriers accepted Android because of the market demand.

That's not a moot point - it is THE point.

Sure, carriers had demand from those insisting Android was the superior product. But they would have never given in had it not been for the fact that Android's open source left them without a leg to stand on, and that was the market pressure that they couldn't resist. My proof in that is simple - the American carriers never cave in unless they absolutely have to. Example of proof? "Android is just a T-Mobile, our XXXX gives you all that and more." How many of us remember that??

Android's defeat of the iPhone is due to it's open software foundation.

Yes, I said defeat.

The iPhone will never go away, or if it does, it won't go away soon.

Safari - it's engine is WebKit, an open source project. Android's engine is also - guess what? - WebKit. Don't think for an instant that it's not just a matter of time before Android has browsers that surpass your favorite Safari features, no matter how die-hard a Safari fan you are (I'm one). And if FireFox is your favorite, mmmk, that's completely open source.

iPhone apps? Anyone who loves their iPhone apps and thinks 200k apps proves that everything's rosy simply hasn't hung out with iPhone app developers and heard the horror stories - things are more limited for you than you can possibly realize without hearing the nightmare tales of the developer contract woes. Jailbreak your iPhone - time for jaws music and yes, you are legally in violation of the terms of service that you accepted.

Android apps? Hit the checkbox that allows you to go outside the fold and away from the Android Market - it's your phone, no jailbreaking (rooting in the Android) required (note even the word: jailbreaking!). Your favorite app - that may not even exist yet, so far as you know - cannot be kept from you with threats from the provider.

So, keep those Android complaints coming, it just gives the devs more ideas.

But don't kid yourself in the iPhone vs. Android debate - it's strictly one-sided and it's all over but for the shouting.

With Android, there will always be an app for that.

Oh - and for anyone who thinks I missed this is iPhone vs. EVO.

Whoa, no, nuh uh, I didn't.

This is iPhone vs. Android and iPhone vs. EVO. It's not a battle with a single front and it's not a battlefield that Apple can control.

Again, if history's taught us anything, it's taught us that Sun Tze (Art of War) has always been right - and by his measures, Apple is already defeated.

iPhone charmed the market with choice.

Those days are over.

The iPhone is an epic fail. All over but for the shouting.

And you can thank open source software for all of it - even from the iPhone's key feature underpinnings to all of Android.

I'll return you to your regularly scheduled debates - but not before also pointing out that it seems to me like even the most most vociferous iPhone supporters are saying that they're here because of Sprint over AT&T and because once here, the EVO was the logical choice, as the best phone from Sprint right now.

Seems I heard that somewhere before.

 

[damewolf13]

Not to nitpick, but I did want to respond to some of these things. In the end whatever works for each person works, and I'm glad both Android and iPhone are on the market, they make each other work harder. I prefer the iPhone but jumped the AT&T ship for what I consider the second best phone on the market, the Evo 4G.

My post is long, but so is yours. Makes sense



I don't think users care who came out with it first (Evo by a few weeks), they care about how easy it is to use, and how well it works. Now, FaceTime is WiFi only, and that's no doubt AT&T's fault. But having used both video setups, it took 5 seconds to figure it out on iPhone, and about 20 minutes to figure out Qik was junk, d'load fring, get it working with Skype, then make the call in an interface that is vastly inferior to FaceTime.

Evo did it first, Apple did it better. We're waiting on AT&T to catch up.




This is definitely in the 'personal preference' category. I have giant hands and the Evo fits pretty well in them. iPhone is definitely the better size for the majority of everyday people. I'm sure this is why they haven't made the phone larger. Apple makes no decision without thinking it through, and Jony Ive no doubtedly made the phone this size for a reason. Evo is at the boundary of how big a phone can be. iPhone is looking for the sweet spot.




You stop an app by double-tapping the home button to bring up multitasking and hold down on an icon to bring up the red x's

 

[EarlyMon]

In 2001, Windows lovers defended their closed platform against OS X's open software features.

The OS X architecture and those features - together and alone - led to iTunes that in turn led to the iPod that in turn led to the iPhone.

In an ironic turnabout of mind-numbing proportions, today's iPhone lovers defend their closed platform against Android's open source features.

Will the iPhone survive the technological onslaught by sneaking open source code into their OS and Apple hiding it, just as Microsoft did in the days of yore?

Will the iPhone's evolution continue with the package becoming cheaper until iPhone users that don't get it complain about higher-priced Android platforms?

Will that replace the Windows is cheaper than Mac meme?

Will Buffy tell Skip about her shocking affair with Cruisey or her even more shocking affair with Cruisy's girlfriend, Amanda?

Tune in tomorrow for another episode of As The Dial Turns!

 

[cabbie]

excellent post

~cabbie

 

[MrX8503]

Sorry to play devils advocate here, some points I agree/disagree with.

1) FaceTime

Apple is right about one thing, we have been dreaming about this for decades. However, Apple cant take credit for this one. The HTC Evo 4g has accomplished this before Apple. Not only have they accomplished it first but wi-fi is not a necessity in order to make a call. Thats right, 3G is more than enough to hand its users a decent video quality call. This gives the Evo 4G’s video calling a more practical edge over the iPhone 4. The Evo 4G also works with Skype.

To be fair, video chat has been out before HTC/Apple has even implemented it into their devices.

Time and time again its not about who's first to market something its about who does it right. For now its up in the air which platform is going to reign supreme, Facetime vs. Qik. I will tell you right now though, if the experience isn't smooth, its not gonna win anyone over.

2) Retina Display

From what we have seen so far, the display on the iPhone 4 is gorgeous. However, who has been complaining? This is not to say that innovation isn’t good because it is. How about innovation on a larger scale? Why couldn’t they make the screen a little larger for extended comfort when watching those soon to be Netflix videos? Apple has always been the one to make their users compromise. This time its by having the same size screen you’ve always had that just looks better. Why cant iPhone users have a bigger screen AND higher resolution? While the larger Android screens may or may not compare to that of the iPhone 4, its not a factor for me. Ive never really cared that my cable was a little fuzzy, i just wanted to see the whole picture.

What phone manufacture has a phone that has no compromises? I will agree with the screen size in that it should be bigger, but I disagree with the fact that there's a phone out there that doesn't fall short somewhere. I haven't seen the retina display myself, but I would probably prefer a 4" screen though.

3) Multitasking

Brilliant Apple! Now, how do i stop it? Thats the one question that has been nagging me since the combination of the WWDC and AT&T’s plan changes. Apple never discussed how one can quit multitasking. With apps running and consuming data in the background on AT&T’s new plans? That spells danger and hard earned money. Android has app killers. Also, Android runs on networks with unlimited data plans. So even if you wanted to multi task your phone to death (crash) you don’t have to worry about over charges. I pray for the consumers of tomorrow that the iPhone will.

People complain that Apple's multitasking isn't real multitasking because it doesn't keep the apps running, and now you're saying that the apps stay running? Which one is it?

Its still up in the air if the apps running/paused will still pull data, but in any case you CAN close the apps. It doesn't do batch closing like task killers on Android, but you can close the apps.

4) Camera

HTC Evo 4G. The only difference is that it has an 8 mega pixel camera. Android has always had zoom. We also have the low light for video shooting. Self-portraits are currently available while iPhone 4 isn’t.

Actually the only difference is that the 8MP camera on the EVO is garbage. I don't see how any aspect of the EVO camera is superior to the iPhone's. Self portrait? I could refute that and say, well the iPhone has video editing and the EVO doesn't. But those features really come down to if you really cared about those things.

5) Folders

Since the G1 first existed this was possible but don’t think for a second that iPhone 4 has rived Android here. They got the folder thing down packed but don’t forget about the live folders. A live folder is a folder that automatically updates itself with information. For example if you have a Facebook address folder with the ever changing information from Facebook that folder will automatically update any information changed from Facebook right on your home screen.

That is a nice feature, but overall I think the iPhone executed folders the best compared to any other smartphone out there. Organization is key here and I used "App Organizer" on my EVO and its implementation is archaic.

6) Home Screen

Holy America Batman! Apple just became less communistic!
Wallpapers….nice. Not only has Android accomplished this since the G1, we now have 3D wallpapers. Wallpapers that react with your touch. Apple likes to play as if its ‘innovating’ in every area that it operates in when its a big fat lie. They do a lot of great innovations but not in everything they do. There just play catch up.

Don’t forget about widgets! Widgets are not available for iPhone. Widgets are apps that are ran directly on the home screen for complete customization and usage.

I think this is where Android shines above the iPhone. I'm really digging the live wallpaper and the wide format wallpaper. I like how the wide wallpapers extends to the other screens into kind of a like a panoramic view. Not sure why the iPhone didn't incorporate this when they decided to add in the wallpaper feature.

One thing about the Android homescreen that I'm not fond of though are the icons of the apps itself. There are no standards for what the icons are supposed to adhere to. In the iPhone SDK, there are very specific standards such has drop shadow, sheen, corner radius, etc. For Android, there's nothing like this, and so the icons are in a disarray.

7) Phone

Android does this. I’m actually getting tired of saying that. Its slowly becoming a clich

 

[IOWA]

Sorry to play devils advocate here, some points I agree/disagree with.




To be fair, video chat has been out before HTC/Apple has even implemented it into their devices.

Time and time again its not about who's first to market something its about who does it right. For now its up in the air which platform is going to reign supreme, Facetime vs. Qik. I will tell you right now though, if the experience isn't smooth, its not gonna win anyone over.



What phone manufacture has a phone that has no compromises? I will agree with the screen size in that it should be bigger, but I disagree with the fact that there's a phone out there that doesn't fall short somewhere. I haven't seen the retina display myself, but I would probably prefer a 4" screen though.



People complain that Apple's multitasking isn't real multitasking because it doesn't keep the apps running, and now you're saying that the apps stay running? Which one is it?

Its still up in the air if the apps running/paused will still pull data, but in any case you CAN close the apps. It doesn't do batch closing like task killers on Android, but you can close the apps.



Actually the only difference is that the 8MP camera on the EVO is garbage. I don't see how any aspect of the EVO camera is superior to the iPhone's. Self portrait? I could refute that and say, well the iPhone has video editing and the EVO doesn't. But those features really come down to if you really cared about those things.



That is a nice feature, but overall I think the iPhone executed folders the best compared to any other smartphone out there. Organization is key here and I used "App Organizer" on my EVO and its implementation is archaic.


I think this is where Android shines above the iPhone. I'm really digging the live wallpaper and the wide format wallpaper. I like how the wide wallpapers extends to the other screens into kind of a like a panoramic view. Not sure why the iPhone didn't incorporate this when they decided to add in the wallpaper feature.

One thing about the Android homescreen that I'm not fond of though are the icons of the apps itself. There are no standards for what the icons are supposed to adhere to. In the iPhone SDK, there are very specific standards such has drop shadow, sheen, corner radius, etc. For Android, there's nothing like this, and so the icons are in a disarray.



I actually dont use this feature, so I'll talk your word for it.



Android does have a faster browser. Although I hate flash on websites because most of it are ads anyway. Luckily we can turn it off. All I want is Hulu



Free Nav is very nice, if it wasn't for Google we wouldn't have this feature. I found Sprint's Nav to be pretty awesome too.



You have to give credit where credit is due. The iPhone was released in 2007 where it propelled the smartphone industry into the forefront. For many years we've been force fed shoddy UI's and crappy apps that cost $30.

I don't think we would have such a fierce battle of Mobile OS if it weren't for the iPhone OS. We would probably still be using dummy phones with some propriety OS from Verizon.

Remember that more features doesn't always mean better if its not done right. In fact I wouldn't want the feature at all if its not even working right. For example the iPhone didn't have copy/paste for a long time and people complained. Now that the iPhone has copy/paste, I have yet to see a better implementation. The EVO does something similar using a magnifying glass, but its not as slick, also you can't use it everywhere.

In the end what we all want is a full featured very polished OS. I think the iPhone is polished and Android is full featured. Its up to you what you prefer.

I lol'd my way through this entire post. Classic FUD. iOs does folders better? Please.

 

[cabbie]

folder organizer >>> app organizer.

trust me. its nearly a perfect app.

~cabbie

 

[MrX8503]

I lol'd my way through this entire post. Classic FUD. iOs does folders better? Please.

I used app organizer on the EVO and it sucks. Maybe there's a better app out there, but this should already be built into Android.

 

[RickInHouston]

Hanging on to iphone 3 for the last week, or so, until I can upgrade to Evo.

I updated phone to os4. It's SLOWWWWWWWWWW. This is going to make everyone upgrade their phones. Wait and see. Apple forums are lighting up with people wanting to downgrade. No wonder new phone has a new processor!