Apple

[lunatic59]

I wonder just how much of Android's popularity is due to the abundance of free or dirt cheap phones rather than some technical reason.

Probably a similar percentage to those who buy iPhones because they are popular, trendy and fashionable.

Most people are not likely concerned with the technicalities of the OS or hardware. They want Facebook, the web, email access, the mighty YouTube, access to their music and the like. If you give it to them in a cool package that costs them zero dollars, it is likely a given; they will go Android rather than iPhone.

Quite an over-generalization which does not explain iPhone's meteoric rise in the face of "free phones" that did, in fact, have all those features prior to android. Mind you, I agree that the vast majority of technology users do not care about the specifics.

So android grows and iPhone haters think it is because people think Android is technically superior and people care about the minutia, like who apparently stole some ideas from God knows where.

"So iOS grows and Android haters think it is because people think iOS is technically superior and people care about the minutia, like who apparently stole some ideas from God knows where."

You can't take part of a class with an extreme viewpoint and then use them as representative to compare to another class without committing logical fallacies. The truth is that most people who understand the technical aspects of both platform know that it is only in the minutiae where the differences can be argued, however irrelevant.

I'll will suggest if the iPhone were free or perhaps $19.95, you would see vastly more iPhone users out there compared to Android. And if Apple allowed iOS to be used by others, you would see far more iOS phones. And, if Apple gave iOS away for free, you would see even more iOS phones.

An interesting theory but wholly unprovable since that set of conditions will never occur.

Android's popularity is due in part to the fact that it is free. The OS is the most important part of the device.

Android is free, sort of, to the manufacturers. Motorola, Samsung, LG, HTC, etc still must pay licensing fees for many parts of the Android OS even though Google makes the source code freely available. But more to the point, whether or not the manufacturers pay for the OS is of no importance to a potential buyer when the deal for a new Thunderbolt, is pretty much the same out of pocket as an iPhone4. Sure, there are cheaper options available for Android devices, especially through subsidized low end handsets, but Apple also has the $99.00 iPhone 3GS and would probably see a bit of a price war between Verizon and AT&T for iPhone business if Apple permitted additional subsidies. It is after all, the contracts and not the phones where the carriers make their money.

Apple grows through innovation and knowing what people seem to want. Android does the same thing. The battle is interesting and we the people are the ultimate winners.

Actually Apple grows though marketing innovation to those who are willing to pay for it. And they are quite good at it.

 

[MyNamesTooLong]

i find it funny when people claim Apple has run out of original ideas, yet where would Google be if not for Apple and iOS? Where would the entire mobile market be without Apple?
Success breeds contempt, and many Android users seem to have a lot of contempt for Apple! And Apple is the most sued tech company in the world. They're used to it.

YEah, too bad there werent smartphones prior to the iphone...
Im all for "borrowing" an idea, but don't sue someone for supposedly copying you then blatantly copy the growing competition.

 

[MyNamesTooLong]

So, what exactly do people want? I wonder just how much of Android's popularity is due to the abundance of free or dirt cheap phones rather than some technical reason. Are we saying that Android is popular because people recognize the technical superiority of the OS or is it because they see they can get a free phone?

Most people are not likely concerned with the technicalities of the OS or hardware. They want Facebook, the web, email access, the mighty YouTube, access to their music and the like. If you give it to them in a cool package that costs them zero dollars, it is likely a given; they will go Android rather than iPhone.

So android grows and iPhone haters think it is because people think Android is technically superior and people care about the minutia, like who apparently stole some ideas from God knows where.

I'll will suggest if the iPhone were free or perhaps $19.95, you would see vastly more iPhone users out there compared to Android. And if Apple allowed iOS to be used by others, you would see far more iOS phones. And, if Apple gave iOS away for free, you would see even more iOS phones.

Android's popularity is due in part to the fact that it is free. The OS is the most important part of the device.

Apple grows through innovation and knowing what people seem to want. Android does the same thing. The battle is interesting and we the people are the ultimate winners.

Nice thought, poor processing though...obviously more people would have iphones if they were given away. Much like more people would have lamborghinis if they were being given away. iphones and androids are purchased with the same intentions of saying "look at me I have the latest phone" just look at how many worthless threads we have here asking "which is the best phone" or "should I get the new xxx, or wait for the new new xxx." Seems most the people with lower end androids have them because they want them and dont pipe up a bunch about them. At least offline.

 

[Treknologist]

YEah, too bad there werent smartphones prior to the iphone...
Im all for "borrowing" an idea, but don't sue someone for supposedly copying you then blatantly copy the growing competition.

This is where I take issue with Apple. I think it is to be expected that there will be imitation between the OS's as good functionality is "borrowed" between OS's and modified in whatever manner to fit the existing OS structure. My problem is with the attitude Apple takes about these things. Steve Jobs has the face to call this the year of the copycat in reference to the new Android tablets that have been coming out yet iOS is now "copying" features from Android and other mobile OS's. Why insult competitors when you are doing the same thing? Give me a break. It is called competition and all it does is push things forward for us the consumers. If you don't like competition, then step out of the game and stop whining about the "copycats" if all you are going to do is be a copycat yourself.

I know many people say Android wouldn't be where it is if not for the iPhone. Guess what? When Android was originally being developed, Blackberry was the dominant OS and it only made sense to compete in that area. Once the iPhone was introduced, the market opened up for something that was and wasn't different at the same time (touch screen phones had been in existence for some time but none that were just a touchscreen). It only made sense for Android to change to fit the changing market.

Let's hope that this continued competition only pushes manufacturers to make even better versions of hardware and for Google/Microsoft/Apple to continue finding ways to impress us as the further improve their mobile OS's.

 

[baillou2]

"It is now possible to buy an iPad, Iphone or iPod touch and never own a computer."

I just wanna punch that douche in his big douchy face.
It's also possible to buy a tent, a sleeping bag or an aluminum shed and never own a house!!

 

[psychotron]

Eh, who cares? Android copied from the iPhone too. Things like the icon screen swiping and pinch to zoom functionality. I just cant wait to have the things like that mirroring feature and the wifi backup for my iPad.

 

[tommy_ed]

i actually think some of those ideas are original and really awesome! especially the app that uses GPS to sent you reminders when you're arriving at or leaving a location, although I'm sure that one's a battery hog

 

[Bramsy]

the arrogance is what seals the deal to me.


YouTube - ‪2011: Year of the copycats?‬‏

 

[nyydynasty]

All mobile companies steal ideas from each other. its the way it is.

 

[bbrosen]

Just show me one tablet, or smartphone that works as intuitively, fast, smooth and fluid and seamlessly works with everything from the phone to pc to tv. I have yet to find an android device like it yet...android is slow and laggy and buggy. way too many incompatibilities across phones and OS.

nothing touches iphone or ipad. Keep your my little pony wallpapers...I have used android for almost 3 years and it still is quite lacking...

 

[Bramsy]

^ u made a funny! apple didnt revolutionize the idea of smart phone. they did things that pushed the limits, and pushed others.

wtf is my little pony wallpapers about?

 

[Sak01]

Just show me one tablet, or smartphone that works as intuitively, fast, smooth and fluid and seamlessly works with everything from the phone to pc to tv. I have yet to find an android device like it yet...android is slow and laggy and buggy. way too many incompatibilities across phones and OS.

nothing touches iphone or ipad. Keep your my little pony wallpapers...I have used android for almost 3 years and it still is quite lacking...

And what, may I ask, is wrong with My Little Pony wallpapers?

 

[Thefoodman52]

>>Hating on My Little Pony

 

[cr0wnest]

Just show me one tablet, or smartphone that works as intuitively, fast, smooth and fluid and seamlessly works with everything from the phone to pc to tv. I have yet to find an android device like it yet...android is slow and laggy and buggy. way too many incompatibilities across phones and OS.

nothing touches iphone or ipad. Keep your my little pony wallpapers...I have used android for almost 3 years and it still is quite lacking...

I really wonder what device you're using... My nexus one still works fine. And have you even tried the SGS2 or Galaxy tab 10.1?

 

[Bob Maxey]

the arrogance is what seals the deal to me.


YouTube - ‪2011: Year of the copycats?‬‏

So what prey tell is so arrogant? In the snippet you posted, Steve Jobs is absolutely correct. Everybody and his dog and a boat load of foreign manufacturers have rolled out a tablet and iPad is the reason they exist for the most part.

Everyone wants a piece of the market Apple largely created and Apple has sold by the tens of millions of iPads.

 

[Bob Maxey]

Just show me one tablet, or smartphone that works as intuitively, fast, smooth and fluid and seamlessly works with everything from the phone to pc to tv. I have yet to find an android device like it yet...android is slow and laggy and buggy. way too many incompatibilities across phones and OS.

nothing touches iphone or ipad. Keep your my little pony wallpapers...I have used android for almost 3 years and it still is quite lacking...

What Android needs are great applications. I am sure we will get there at some point.

 

[Bob Maxey]

"It is now possible to buy an iPad, Iphone or iPod touch and never own a computer."

I just wanna punch that douche in his big douchy face.
It's also possible to buy a tent, a sleeping bag or an aluminum shed and never own a house!!

Why do you say that?

 

[bbrosen]

Ok ok look, sorry about the my little pony lovers out there....so many hurt feelings...android has great customization capabilities, there people who love that. Android has it heads and tails above all. I just want speed, fluidity, reliability. I don't care to change walls all that much or have custom ui's. My phone is for work mostly. Tech manuals are loaded on my SD card, my music. With the iPhone, I used to have one, my wife does have one now...I never had issues with apps not working correctly. Read app reviews in android market and see all the issues because of all the phones and is levels.

I also never had problems returning apps with iPhone.always got a refund. I want and need seamless and effortless integration that you don't get with android. You give up customization for that though. The tradeoff is ok with me. Too many times my galaxy s lags freezes or app force closes when I

 

[Bnice]

Just show me one tablet, or smartphone that works as intuitively, fast, smooth and fluid and seamlessly works with everything from the phone to pc to tv. I have yet to find an android device like it yet...android is slow and laggy and buggy. way too many incompatibilities across phones and OS.

nothing touches iphone or ipad. Keep your my little pony wallpapers...I have used android for almost 3 years and it still is quite lacking...

So what exactly is android lacking? What phone were you using three years ago? The Android as of present Is fast and powerful and have always offered more features from the first android phone compare to the iPhone.

 

[Bob Maxey]

So what exactly is android lacking? What phone were you using three years ago? The Android as of present Is fast and powerful and have always offered more features from the first android phone compare to the iPhone.

Currently, Android lacks great applications. They will arrive, but not here yet. It really depends upon what apps you want or need, however; not to mention, the specific needs of a specific user.

For me, iPad is grand and it is the perfect choice for me. It might not be for someone else, however.

I look for elegant applications. Simple and effortless. I love Pages, for example, It looks great and it has everything I need in a simple word processor.

There are tons of iPad apps that are simply amazing to use and to look at. Like the wide variety of Web Browsers that have no equal in the Android world. The music applications are phenomenal (creation, not listening). The games tend to be clever and visually stunning.

Add the Jailbreak, and vast numbers of cool applications, and nothing comes close to my iPad.

But Android is growing and this will change. Or not, if Apple decides to release the iPad 3 which could blow android tablets out of the water.

 

[lunatic59]

Currently, Android lacks great applications. They will arrive, but not here yet. It really depends upon what apps you want or need, however; not to mention, the specific needs of a specific user.

For me, iPad is grand and it is the perfect choice for me. It might not be for someone else, however.

I look for elegant applications. Simple and effortless. I love Pages, for example, It looks great and it has everything I need in a simple word processor.

There are tons of iPad apps that are simply amazing to use and to look at. Like the wide variety of Web Browsers that have no equal in the Android world. The music applications are phenomenal (creation, not listening). The games tend to be clever and visually stunning.

Add the Jailbreak, and vast numbers of cool applications, and nothing comes close to my iPad.

But Android is growing and this will change. Or not, if Apple decides to release the iPad 3 which could blow android tablets out of the water.

You left off "magical" and "innovative".

 

[Bob Maxey]

You left off "magical" and "innovative".

Not magical; it is electrons, physics, ones, zeros, plastic, glass, printed circuit boards, switches, solder, rare earth metals, and a battery.

As for innovative, indeed it is.

 

[Bnice]

Currently, Android lacks great applications. They will arrive, but not here yet. It really depends upon what apps you want or need, however; not to mention, the specific needs of a specific user.

For me, iPad is grand and it is the perfect choice for me. It might not be for someone else, however.

I look for elegant applications. Simple and effortless. I love Pages, for example, It looks great and it has everything I need in a simple word processor.

There are tons of iPad apps that are simply amazing to use and to look at. Like the wide variety of Web Browsers that have no equal in the Android world. The music applications are phenomenal (creation, not listening). The games tend to be clever and visually stunning.

Add the Jailbreak, and vast numbers of cool applications, and nothing comes close to my iPad.

But Android is growing and this will change. Or not, if Apple decides to release the iPad 3 which could blow android tablets out of the water.

Well of coures the ipad apps are ahead of Android tablets app, apple has a jump on everyone. The ipad 2 and the samsung 10.1 browser experience is the same to me, I might give the edge to samsung because unlike the ipad you get the full browser experience with flash. Android is just getting started with tablets.

 

[Bramsy]

So what prey tell is so arrogant? In the snippet you posted, Steve Jobs is absolutely correct. Everybody and his dog and a boat load of foreign manufacturers have rolled out a tablet and iPad is the reason they exist for the most part.

Everyone wants a piece of the market Apple largely created and Apple has sold by the tens of millions of iPads.

what differentiates an iPad from an iTouch?

 

[Roze]

what differentiates an iPad from an iTouch?

The iPad is bigger