Well, if I did go Iphone I would get the Iphone 5, not the 4. I dont think Android App store would have caught up to Itunes by then. See, part of me is excited for the android getting better and maybe a reason for me to go that route, but I hate buying into the idea that it MIGHT get as good one day. So maybe ill get a Iphone 5 when it comes out and then 2 years later when i can upgrade again ill see where Android is at.
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Deciding on if I should go Android or Iphone, looking for Android user perspective
- Thread starter Nick-Bit
- Start date
Well, if I did go Iphone I would get the Iphone 5, not the 4. I dont think Android App store would have caught up to Itunes by then. See, part of me is excited for the android getting better and maybe a reason for me to go that route, but I hate buying into the idea that it MIGHT get as good one day. So maybe ill get a Iphone 5 when it comes out and then 2 years later when i can upgrade again ill see where Android is at.
Usta
Android Expert
I'm willing to bet that by the time iphone 5 is released, there will be more Android apps available than iphone apps...
mystvearn
Android Enthusiast
HTC phones.
depends on where you live. US have specific versions of HTC phones which the world does not get.
HTC phones
Most of the apps on the Incredible S are quite good anyway. Point no. 2 is weak as Android games are making more money than iOS-so Android will get more games coming to it.
Developer Makes more Money on Android than iOS | Android Headlines
HTC phones
Even the original Desire is going to get a 2.3 Android update. HTC has as good track of supporting their phones 2 years, on par with apple.
HTC phones
Have you ever heard something called the HTCsense
HTC, Samsung phones
SE-s current phones still stuck on 1.6 with 2.3 promised. Apps are there to solve your problem.
Stick to Google's or Amazon US market and you should be safe.
I see the Atrix, Inspire and Captivate available on AT&T. That should be more than enough.
Well, if you want to consider the app betewwn andorid and apple, I had to say the apps in apple is much better than andorid right now.
Reformed iphone user here, got the atrix last week and it runs circles around my old iphone and the apps are irrelevant, you wont miss anything since all the biggies seem to be on both sides. Well I do miss an old sports radio station I used to listen to but I have already emailed them to get a droid app!
Usta
Android Expert
Chances are high that you can still get that radio station by using an universal radio streaming application, like TuneIn Radio.
Stuntman
Android Expert
The iPhone 5 hasn't been released yet and there hasn't been very much information on what the iPhone 5 is going to be like. You seem to be waiting for the iPhone 5 in the hopes it will be better than any Android phone released now or around the same time.
I do agree that you should buy a phone for what it is now rather than hoping for it to get better. I'm sure that you can find something out now that suits your needs for a good length of time. There are a number of Android phones out now that you will probably like and the iPhone 4 is probably going to suit you just fine.
Thats was one thing I was considering. Have the Itouch for gaming and the Android phone for everything else.
shawn1224
Ex CEO-DNPSEA foundation
Yep, if gaming is a prerequisite for you then this is the way to go. Don't listen to all those people who say you can't base your choices on gaming. I like my gaming (NO LOVE MY GAMING), I have a PS3 and an XBOX 360 but still choose to have a good mobile platform. When it comes to Android & gaming, they're still in their infancy and don't have the big name titles yet like iTunes. Some of my personal favorites on the iTouch are Battlefield Bad Co. 2, Shadow Guardian and NBA Elite 11 by EA SPORTS. Plus you can always get good titles on sale in iTunes, like Valentine's day dollar sale. You don't have this in the Android marketplace although the Amazon appstore is trying something similar.
Don't get me wrong, there are a few good titles on android like Dungeon Defenders, the gameloft games, Guerilla Bob and Gun Bros. But not as many great titles like on iTunes.
Few things I'd add: the notification mechanism is way superior on Android. iPhone notification comes in the form of red dots on your apps, which may be spread over many screens. Android has a centralized notification pulldown, which can be accessed from any screen.
Android menu button is another thing I like. Whether in an app or a home screen, hit the menu button for more options.
Killing background apps is much faster on Android. Android task manager has an 'End all' button to kill all 3rd party apps. With iPhone, double click on the home button, and sometime I get 20 background apps, have to kill them one by one by hitting the red dot on each of them.
Also a long time iPhone user, switched to Android. Now I hate it when I am on my wife's iPad.
Android menu button is another thing I like. Whether in an app or a home screen, hit the menu button for more options.
Killing background apps is much faster on Android. Android task manager has an 'End all' button to kill all 3rd party apps. With iPhone, double click on the home button, and sometime I get 20 background apps, have to kill them one by one by hitting the red dot on each of them.
Also a long time iPhone user, switched to Android. Now I hate it when I am on my wife's iPad.
Chances are high that you can still get that radio station by using an universal radio streaming application, like TuneIn Radio.
Or in my case, using radiotime.com website on the phone. Its alot better as far as how many stations work than the app. Actually, before the app had its name changed to TuneIn Radio it worked better. Even still it didnt work as good as just going to the website on your phone.
Of course...it needs full Flash to work.
Doesnt work with Skyfire.
Usta
Android Expert
Luckily, nowadays most of the (high-end) Android phones support Flash.Of course...it needs full Flash to work.
Medion
Android Expert
I didn't read the entire thread, so I'll try to address your concerns point by point in case you haven't already made your decision. For what it's worth, I also recommend the iPhone to people who want a basic smartphone that just works, and is easy to use. Android is for those who want more features and don't mind the learning curve that comes with it. Now, onto your points.
First, I want to make it clear that jailbreak and root are not the same thing. Jailbreak is more like loading a custom ROM. Rooting is generally a one-click thing that gives you the equivalent of admin rights on your phone, and it can be undone. That's all.
With that said, Android without root allows for more user customization of the UI and functionality than the iPhone with or without jailbreak. If you like the iPhone UI, get it. If you want to change it, get Android.
The iPhone and Android app stores have a similar variety of apps, but the iPhone wins in games hands down. Now, the Amazon App Store for Android does have some solid, exclusive games, but it's still not up to par with the iPhone just yet.
The iPhone will be supported for 2-3 years after purchase, or the length of your contract. A high-end HTC appears to be supported for 2 years now as well, but I wouldn't trust the other Android OEMs just yet.
iPhone or an HTC phone with Sense UI.
You can either sync your iPhone as a 2nd iTunes device, or you can drag and drop music to your Android phone. There are also supposedly workarounds to sync your Android device with iTunes, but I prefer drag and drop regardless.
To a degree, yes. This is partly spin by Apple and their zealots, because Google doesn't block or remove apps that change the base functionality (IE, customize) the device. On an Android phone, you're free to do this. However, when it comes to malicious apps, they do it retroactively, whereas Apple catches most of them before release.
The big name developers are moving to Android in droves. Just look at Rovio (Angry Birds), EA Mobile (Need for Speed, Sims, etc.), and Gameloft among others. However, Capcom and Square are still exclusive to the iPhone with talk of both coming to Android.
Open/closed source has nothing to do with this. Apple has a requirement that the app's menu and interface must match the iPhone's. This makes every app feel integrated. Google doesn't have this requirement, so the developer will make their app look however they want. So, many apps coming from the iPhone look exactly like their iPhone counterpart, while others get an improved menu system.
The Galaxy S II will be competitive with the iPhone 5 in hardware, release around the same time, and has an excellent user interface that some feel is better than Sense UI. Also, by then, we should see the Amazon app store on AT&T phones.
Rooting is pointless for the average person. It's not even needed anymore for free wifi tethering on many phones. It's never been needed for playing emulators of legacy consoles. It's pretty much just a gateway drug to loading custom ROMs these days (although it still has its uses).
Basically, if you get an Android phone, ask yourself, "Self, is there anything I want to do with this phone that I currently cannot do?" If the answer is "yes," then root. If the answer is "no," then leave it alone.
I sort of disagree. Android is like the PC, whereas iPhone is like a console (not a MAC, just read on). The PC (Android) has greatly outsold the console (iPhone), so you'd think there's a larger target audience for games. But, due to limitless hardware and software configurations, the console (iPhone) is an easier target for games/apps. However, that is quickly changing, and Android's app development is very robust these days.
My wife has the iPhone 4 and I have the HTC Droid Incredible. I'd recommend the iPhone for you in a heartbeat.
First, I want to make it clear that jailbreak and root are not the same thing. Jailbreak is more like loading a custom ROM. Rooting is generally a one-click thing that gives you the equivalent of admin rights on your phone, and it can be undone. That's all.
With that said, Android without root allows for more user customization of the UI and functionality than the iPhone with or without jailbreak. If you like the iPhone UI, get it. If you want to change it, get Android.
The iPhone and Android app stores have a similar variety of apps, but the iPhone wins in games hands down. Now, the Amazon App Store for Android does have some solid, exclusive games, but it's still not up to par with the iPhone just yet.
The iPhone will be supported for 2-3 years after purchase, or the length of your contract. A high-end HTC appears to be supported for 2 years now as well, but I wouldn't trust the other Android OEMs just yet.
iPhone or an HTC phone with Sense UI.
You can either sync your iPhone as a 2nd iTunes device, or you can drag and drop music to your Android phone. There are also supposedly workarounds to sync your Android device with iTunes, but I prefer drag and drop regardless.
To a degree, yes. This is partly spin by Apple and their zealots, because Google doesn't block or remove apps that change the base functionality (IE, customize) the device. On an Android phone, you're free to do this. However, when it comes to malicious apps, they do it retroactively, whereas Apple catches most of them before release.
The big name developers are moving to Android in droves. Just look at Rovio (Angry Birds), EA Mobile (Need for Speed, Sims, etc.), and Gameloft among others. However, Capcom and Square are still exclusive to the iPhone with talk of both coming to Android.
Open/closed source has nothing to do with this. Apple has a requirement that the app's menu and interface must match the iPhone's. This makes every app feel integrated. Google doesn't have this requirement, so the developer will make their app look however they want. So, many apps coming from the iPhone look exactly like their iPhone counterpart, while others get an improved menu system.
The Galaxy S II will be competitive with the iPhone 5 in hardware, release around the same time, and has an excellent user interface that some feel is better than Sense UI. Also, by then, we should see the Amazon app store on AT&T phones.
Rooting is pointless for the average person. It's not even needed anymore for free wifi tethering on many phones. It's never been needed for playing emulators of legacy consoles. It's pretty much just a gateway drug to loading custom ROMs these days (although it still has its uses).
Basically, if you get an Android phone, ask yourself, "Self, is there anything I want to do with this phone that I currently cannot do?" If the answer is "yes," then root. If the answer is "no," then leave it alone.
I sort of disagree. Android is like the PC, whereas iPhone is like a console (not a MAC, just read on). The PC (Android) has greatly outsold the console (iPhone), so you'd think there's a larger target audience for games. But, due to limitless hardware and software configurations, the console (iPhone) is an easier target for games/apps. However, that is quickly changing, and Android's app development is very robust these days.
My wife has the iPhone 4 and I have the HTC Droid Incredible. I'd recommend the iPhone for you in a heartbeat.
I think you have it reversed.
Jailbreak is a term people use to refer to modifying iOS to allow you root access, so it is essentially rooting. You are not loading a custom ROM. It is the same iOS. The only thing is once you update it to Apple's newest version, you will have to re-jailbreak.
Rooting, on the other hand, is a term people use to refer to gaining root access on an Android device for the purpose of loading a custom ROM.