What the heck is the deal with iphone users Vs Android users

[ArmageddonX]

I didn't read every page of this forum thread but I just wanted to post and say I love Apple products. Ya know if you don't mind the limitations in customization and an iDevice does what you need it to; More power to ya!

I simple chose Android over iOS myself because I get absolutely sick of the Apple yearly upgrade cycle. For instance, the iPhone 5 is coming out in Sept and then the iPhone 6 is scheduled for next June. I'm just not interested in having an obsolete device that soon.

Whereas with Android the devices seem to be more "future-proof". My friend still has an original Motorola Droid and is quite happy with it still. My personal preference is also leaned towards the Android UI. I just prefer it.

Anyway, I always say to each their own. If you love Apple products and they work well for you, then I'm happy for you! Same for Android or webOS. People should be more considerate of other peoples opinions just being opinions. When it comes down to it we're all people and it's just a cell phone.

 

[HeadcaseGames]

Apple app developer recently come over to Android speaking here. As such I've recently been spending a bit of times on forums like this reading both sides of the argument. Really it just feels like the old "people have too much free time and like to knock down the opposing team with whatever facts and figures they can pile up in order to feel that they've made the better choice" it reminds me when I was a kid "Nintendo is better than Sega!" Some things never change.

Anyway..

From an app development POV, there are a few valid arguments on both sides. Personally, I didn't want to touch the Android market with a 10-foot-pole for a very long time for the usual bandied-about reasons "Android users typically do not want to pay ANYthing for apps, Android Marketplace is a joke, fragmentation is a huge nightmare, et cetera." I had a meeting which changed my mind and got me switched over (I've not abandoned iOS development, it's simply on hold & lower priority for the time being) and have learned a lot of the pros and cons in Android development in the time since. This much I'll say - as a dev it is generally MUCH more immediately gratifying to go through the Apple channel for many reasons- there's a ton of support on their high-visibility forums for things like apps and games, the user community is incredibly vocal and supportive, and the other devs are usually pretty straight-up in helping one another out as well. Furthermore - and because of all of that - for small devs such as myself, it is way WAY easier to potientially get press (particularly when we may be doing something interesting, although not necessarily "groundbreaking") Casting a cursory glance around this and similar Android forums, they just isn't that same culture and therefore a lot of my (iOS) bretheren argue "what's the point." In Android's defense, I'll say that - particularly recently - this scene is getting a lot of headway lately (especially in the media, and therefore the popular opinion) and you'll see more devs make a stronger effort to support this platform as well. It's up to you guys to support us app devs and let us know there's room for us to be successful here as well - do more of this and you'll certainly get more of what you want The Android market has a long way to go, but I do sense it will be maturing a lot in the coming years.

 

[Bob Maxey]

I didn't read every page of this forum thread but I just wanted to post and say I love Apple products. Ya know if you don't mind the limitations in customization and an iDevice does what you need it to; More power to ya!

I simple chose Android over iOS myself because I get absolutely sick of the Apple yearly upgrade cycle. For instance, the iPhone 5 is coming out in Sept and then the iPhone 6 is scheduled for next June. I'm just not interested in having an obsolete device that soon.

So what if Apple upgrades every year. How does next months new phone render the one you bought just three months ago useless? Not sure I get it, but to each his own.

Not so sure things are all that different on the Android side. Seems that every day some new Android phone is released. My Zio is old and I will likely keep it for a few more years.

What is better . . . a new iPhone every year, or every decade? Not too sure if your complaint is all that valid.

As for customization, you would be amazed at what I could do to an iPhone and customize it just as much as an Android. With a few exceptions.

Cheers,

Bob

 

[Bob Maxey]

Apple app developer recently come over to Android speaking here. As such I've recently been spending a bit of times on forums like this reading both sides of the argument. Really it just feels like the old "people have too much free time and like to knock down the opposing team with whatever facts and figures they can pile up in order to feel that they've made the better choice" it reminds me when I was a kid "Nintendo is better than Sega!" Some things never change.

Anyway..

From an app development POV, there are a few valid arguments on both sides. Personally, I didn't want to touch the Android market with a 10-foot-pole for a very long time for the usual bandied-about reasons "Android users typically do not want to pay ANYthing for apps, Android Marketplace is a joke, fragmentation is a huge nightmare, et cetera." I had a meeting which changed my mind and got me switched over (I've not abandoned iOS development, it's simply on hold & lower priority for the time being) and have learned a lot of the pros and cons in Android development in the time since. This much I'll say - as a dev it is generally MUCH more immediately gratifying to go through the Apple channel for many reasons- there's a ton of support on their high-visibility forums for things like apps and games, the user community is incredibly vocal and supportive, and the other devs are usually pretty straight-up in helping one another out as well. Furthermore - and because of all of that - for small devs such as myself, it is way WAY easier to potientially get press (particularly when we may be doing something interesting, although not necessarily "groundbreaking") Casting a cursory glance around this and similar Android forums, they just isn't that same culture and therefore a lot of my (iOS) bretheren argue "what's the point." In Android's defense, I'll say that - particularly recently - this scene is getting a lot of headway lately (especially in the media, and therefore the popular opinion) and you'll see more devs make a stronger effort to support this platform as well. It's up to you guys to support us app devs and let us know there's room for us to be successful here as well - do more of this and you'll certainly get more of what you want The Android market has a long way to go, but I do sense it will be maturing a lot in the coming years.

What amazes me with Apple apps is quite often they are visually stunning in a way I do not often see (if ever) on the Android side. Not to mention, they can be cool to use. I see nothing so far on the Android side that grabs me or amazes me as much as many of the Apple apps I see.

I support both sides, but less on the Android side because of the lack of apps I need and I do not have an Android tablet, just a phone. I am not married to Apple, just a fan, and they did it right when they introduced the iPad. This will likely change in a few years when I replace my device. Hopefully, there will be great apps for the Android tablet.

Bob

 

[zipur]

just for the hell of it: Top 10 Awesome Android Features that the iPhone Doesn't Have

This list is not correct IOS can
5. Wireless App installation.
2. Flash with Atomic Browser or Swisher Browser

IOS can be rooted they call it "Jailbroken" once this is done you can do

8. Custom Home Launcher
4. Custom Roms
and much much more.

Bottom line is the IOS is a closed operating system so you loose some customization. However you gain in stability and quality. So you can spend time hacking or you can spend time using your device.

I didn't read every page of this forum thread but I just wanted to post and say I love Apple products. Ya know if you don't mind the limitations in customization and an iDevice does what you need it to; More power to ya!

I simple chose Android over iOS myself because I get absolutely sick of the Apple yearly upgrade cycle. For instance, the iPhone 5 is coming out in Sept and then the iPhone 6 is scheduled for next June. I'm just not interested in having an obsolete device that soon.

Whereas with Android the devices seem to be more "future-proof". My friend still has an original Motorola Droid and is quite happy with it still. My personal preference is also leaned towards the Android UI. I just prefer it.

Anyway, I always say to each their own. If you love Apple products and they work well for you, then I'm happy for you! Same for Android or webOS. People should be more considerate of other peoples opinions just being opinions. When it comes down to it we're all people and it's just a cell phone.

Same goes wiht IPAD 1 owners, you don't have to have the latest to enjoy the product. IPAD 1's work just fine.

 

[Bob Maxey]

This list is not correct IOS can
5. Wireless App installation.
2. Flash with Atomic Browser or Swisher Browser

IOS can be rooted they call it "Jailbroken" once this is done you can do

8. Custom Home Launcher
4. Custom Roms
and much much more.

Bottom line is the IOS is a closed operating system so you loose some customization. However you gain in stability and quality. So you can spend time hacking or you can spend time using your device.

Correct to a point. Apple does its best to force their view on all users and some of the things they do really do not make sense. For example, no widgets will be sold through Apple because it "ruins" the user experience. This was explained in one of Jobs' public statements.

As for customization, very true, it is closed, but for millions of users, it does not matter because they are happy with stock devices. That said, try changing icons and see how far you get or try creating folders where you want them. So yes it is closed, just like the Android OS is "closed" and you must Root to gain some features or eliminate stock apps.

Many of the applications developers design are reasonable, well done, and highly useful, but because they disagree with Apple's world view, they will never see the light of day. Unless jailbroken, Apple is the only vendor iUsers have available for applications.

There are two considerations I should think: the unmodified/rooted/jailbroken device and the stock device. Many users likely do not care because they will not "break" their devices and they must accept Apple's view. Judging from the sales figures and Apple's profits of late, apparently millions of people find Apple acceptable as it comes out of the little plastic box.

When you do take the plunge and break/root your device, everything changes. When jailbroken, the iDevices becomes far more useful.

More than a million (best estimates) people have jailbroken their iDevices and as these devices become a bigger part of their lives, I think they will want more features that Apple will never allow, so more will seek changes.

Because my iPad is jailbroken, it will do far more than an unbroken device. I disagree with you when you say a jailbroken device can use custom ROMs. I really do not see much in the way of custom ROMS like one sees with ROMs for Android devices. Not saying they do not exist, just scarce.
then again, I have not looked for custom ROMS.

Through Cydia, however, it is easy to add tools, tweaks, and the like that make your device more useful and quite likely, custom ROMS are not needed because there are thousands of tweaks one can DL and use to make custom ROMs unnecessary. But that word is tricky because only the user can say what is unnecessary and what changes the world.

Here is a list of a few of the things you can do with a JB and (in my case) an iPad:

Change Icon Layout and Size; Move Multiple Icons, Rename, or Hide Unwanted Icons
Create Folders with Password Protection within The iPad Photo Application
Play Flash Web Content with the

 

[zipur]

Absolutely great reply. I agree fully, I miss-identified custom with add-on apps like the cube transition for example. The iPad is an entirely new device when "jail broken".
But as you stated many people are very happy just how it is ; simple and easy to use.

 

[jamor]

Android:

Apple:

 

[ArmageddonX]

I think people run into the unfortunate mindset that just because you enjoy "product A" that "product B" must suck. Product B could be just as nice and just function slightly differently. While Product A works better for you, maybe for someone else Product B is just as good if not better.

Here's a good example, and please don't let this example derail this topic. I have a Playstation 3 and my Wife has a Wii. In all the ways that are important to me I am of the opinion that the Ps3 is a better video game console. However, my Wife doesn't value the same things I do in playing and enjoying video games and prefers the Wii much more. Who's right? Neither of us and both of us!

The moral of the story is that arguing over forms of entertainment or items of personal preference is more or less an exercise in futility. Just be happy you're happy and be happy other people are happy with themselves too.

 

[Bob Maxey]

Android:

Apple:

Unless you are jailbroken. Then the bottom image is misleading and not representitive of the "state of the art." Widgets are not a problem for iPhone users. For most users, however, it likely matters very little.

 

[Bob Maxey]

I think people run into the unfortunate mindset that just because you enjoy "product A" that "product B" must suck. Product B could be just as nice and just function slightly differently. While Product A works better for you, maybe for someone else Product B is just as good if not better.

Here's a good example, and please don't let this example derail this topic. I have a Playstation 3 and my Wife has a Wii. In all the ways that are important to me I am of the opinion that the Ps3 is a better video game console. However, my Wife doesn't value the same things I do in playing and enjoying video games and prefers the Wii much more. Who's right? Neither of us and both of us!

The moral of the story is that arguing over forms of entertainment or items of personal preference is more or less an exercise in futility. Just be happy you're happy and be happy other people are happy with themselves too.

Very true. I buy what I buy because of business needs or personal pleasure. And I evolve. Because I use my iPad, my need for a smart phone has somewhat diminished. I own a Zio and it does what I need it to do.

And like I said previously, millions if iDevice users that are pleased with their purchase, ditto Android users. Much of what we debate applies to mods, roots, jailbreaks, and other things that do not matter to most people.

Bob

 

[HeadcaseGames]

What amazes me with Apple apps is quite often they are visually stunning in a way I do not often see (if ever) on the Android side. Not to mention, they can be cool to use. I see nothing so far on the Android side that grabs me or amazes me as much as many of the Apple apps I see.

I support both sides, but less on the Android side because of the lack of apps I need and I do not have an Android tablet, just a phone. I am not married to Apple, just a fan, and they did it right when they introduced the iPad. This will likely change in a few years when I replace my device. Hopefully, there will be great apps for the Android tablet.

Bob

When I developed 180 for iPhone, we played it safe (our second app) and kept it simple visually for many reasons. Soon after, "Retina Display" became all the rage and our game suffered for it in reviews. When we rewrote it for Android a year later, we took the lesson to heart and redid all the visuals in hi-definition. As a result the Android game looks markedly better (particularly on tablets) compared to the existing iOS game.

At the same time, we had to filter out many older phones from the marketplace since they won't properly run the app with the higher demands. I feel it was the right thing to do, and although it might be nice to go back and build a "lower-tech" version of our game to run on older devices, it's probably not going to do much to help us at this point.

In summation, Android is certainly capable of some gorgeous-looking visuals, and while a lot of the games "aren't there" yet, the ability is there if the dev decides to support it (although that may hurt their sales at this time). Going forward I think we will eventually pass a threshold at some point where the visual quality of your average Android app will be of higher quality, particularly as the foreign markets grow and people trade in their older handsets. Even this year you'll start to see a fair bit more. Just hang in there

 

[NightAngel79]

This list is not correct IOS can
5. Wireless App installation.
2. Flash with Atomic Browser or Swisher Browser

IOS can be rooted they call it "Jailbroken" once this is done you can do

8. Custom Home Launcher
4. Custom Roms
and much much more.

They do mention Jailbroken devices but also state that the level of 'rights' you receive on a rooted android far surpasses an apple jailbroken device.

I would also question the performance of flash on atomic and swisher compared to androids built in stock browser.

And I see nothing wrong with the article, Lifehacker has ALWAYS been fair and objective. (they also state in the article that they are ios fans)

Can you actually send an app from computer to your phone? That is what LF is talking about and if that is indeed possible then it seems they did in fact completely miss on 1 outta the 10 points they made.

 

[zuben el genub]

Not about Iphone - but mindset:
AppleInsider | Steve Jobs to Nike CEO: 'Get rid of the crappy stuff'

 

[Bob Maxey]

They do mention Jailbroken devices but also state that the level of 'rights' you receive on a rooted android far surpasses an apple jailbroken device.

I would also question the performance of flash on atomic and swisher compared to androids built in stock browser.

And I see nothing wrong with the article, Lifehacker has ALWAYS been fair and objective. (they also state in the article that they are ios fans)

Can you actually send an app from computer to your phone? That is what LF is talking about and if that is indeed possible then it seems they did in fact completely miss on 1 outta the 10 points they made.

Not too sure which specific rights Android users have that iOS users lack. Never really thought about it much, quite frankly. I know that when Jailbroken, I can do absolutely everything I need to do and that is the ultimate bottom line for me.

Yes, I can send an app from my PC to my iDevice. I can send the .ipa from my iPod to my iPad wirelessly or put it in my Dropbox. Perhaps when I access my desktop wirelessly using my iPad, I can DL this or that or simply put the file on a SD card.

Some Androiders might do it differently, but so what? Never had the need to do it wirelessly. I'll stick with syncing through iTunes (I recently returned to iTunes) so I can backup my crap at the same time.

I will say this, and I amazed myself when I recently discovered that I did not actually know it, but one thing I cannot NOT NOT NOT do with my iPad is upload files from the browser. It has something to do with iOS and it is not a bug. So if I want to post a picture to this forum, it takes a little effort.

So here is your chance Apple dislikers . . . an iPad can't directly upload files easily, how sucky is that, anyway.

The issue I see with these debates between tech heads over what one can or cannot do with this or that are generally of concern only to other tech folks. We often forget that the finer points are of little interest to most users.

Sometimes, the public will learn about something and forever and forever, it is one of the reasons they do not like that particular something, whatever it might be. Truth is, it really does nor matter and some of those that bitch and moan would never have the need to do what they so desperately want to now do; it is just more ammo for haters that are trying to tell the planet how crappy Apple products are.

The press and "Journalists" for lack of a better word, force the issue, like the absence of Flash, and over time, Apple sucks because it does not do something it was not designed to do.

I read about the technical chip specs of this vs the crap tech specks of that, and I wonder why Brand A is so much better than Brand B when either brands get my job done.

My iPad is the original, with GB of memory. It runs anything I want to run and it does so smoothly. The screen is wonderful and sharp and glorious and that is all that matters.

Bob

 

[Bob Maxey]

Not about Iphone - but mindset:
AppleInsider | Steve Jobs to Nike CEO: 'Get rid of the crappy stuff'

Clarify please. Not too sure what you are trying to say. Apparently, Nike agrees with Mr. Jobs and Nike does indeed make "crappy stuff." I no not purchase Nike products because they are too costly and I think a better value can be found elsewhere.

Interesting thing about Apple. According to the article, they have less than 30 major products generating some 30 billion dollars in sales.

Bob

 

[aysiu]

The press and "Journalists" for lack of a better word, force the issue, like the absence of Flash, and over time, Apple sucks because it does not do something it was not designed to do.

When it comes to Flash, I get annoyed with both sides of how the press misrepresents things.

Here is what I often see:

1. "iOS is lacking, because it can't play Flash, which 90% of the web uses."

or

2. "Flash is a battery drain. That's why iOS doesn't use it."

Neither is really accurate.

First of all, Flash doesn't really matter that much as long as you have a YouTube app, which both Android and iOS have. A lot of video streaming services come in apps instead of through Flash in a web browser. Sometimes it can be annoying not to have Flash, but it's not a biggie.

On the other hand, the battery drain line is getting tired. Android by default uses the Flash plugin only on demand, which means Flash doesn't run unless you explicitly tell it to. The option to run Flash is never a bad thing. If you don't want to run it, don't run it. If you want to run it, you should be able to run it.

 

[Bob Maxey]

When it comes to Flash, I get annoyed with both sides of how the press misrepresents things.

Here is what I often see:

1. "iOS is lacking, because it can't play Flash, which 90% of the web uses."

or

2. "Flash is a battery drain. That's why iOS doesn't use it."

Neither is really accurate.

First of all, Flash doesn't really matter that much as long as you have a YouTube app, which both Android and iOS have. A lot of video streaming services come in apps instead of through Flash in a web browser. Sometimes it can be annoying not to have Flash, but it's not a biggie.

On the other hand, the battery drain line is getting tired. Android by default uses the Flash plugin only on demand, which means Flash doesn't run unless you explicitly tell it to. The option to run Flash is never a bad thing. If you don't want to run it, don't run it. If you want to run it, you should be able to run it.

This particular battle is everlasting.

I noticed a commercial for XOOM last night that takes a shot at Apple. The XOOM "gives you access to the entire Web, not just part of it." OR something like that. It has Flash (with the Flash Gordon theme playing).

It is a non-issue I think. And Mr. Jobs explained it well.

 

[mrqs]

Not too sure which specific rights Android users have that iOS users lack. [in rooting/jailbraking]

as the name "rooting" suggests, it grants the user su rights to the unix system, while "jailbraking" an idevice doesn't go that deep (afaik)

 

[Member243850]

I am not a developer right now, but I will be in the future.

I do not like Apple at all and their crazy way of doing things.

Why you ask?

Because unless you own an Apple Mac YOU CANNOT USE the official iOS Software Development Kit (SDK)

Yes I used to own an iPod Touch but once I even started / began to see how locked in the device actually was I became disgusted.

You need to jailbreak it just to get anything done that is bull dust!!

Yes I know there are other ways to build Applications for the Ipod Touch or other iOS devices with alternative means but I want the official SDK not some thing else.

Where as Android / Mobile Linux gives me all the keys to go ahead and make whatever I want when ever I want without ANY problems.

Don't get me wrong apple make good products,

However apple must make devices more open if they want me to even bother

I HATE being forced to buy an Apple Mac just to get the official sdk!

I don't like that behaviour at all,

Not one single bit.

 

[Bob Maxey]

as the name "rooting" suggests, it grants the user su rights to the unix system, while "jailbraking" an idevice doesn't go that deep (afaik)

Not so sure, either. Perhaps root users do have more file system access. But I have taken a look at my iPad's file system and there are thousands of folders I can get to through iFile. I have no guts so I wont try deleting some files as a test.

You might have SU Rights, and Apple might not, but if we both can get to root, it is a meaningless distinction; both systems are wide open, root level on up. Kinda like my PC. No root access because we do not have what we call root access. We have unfettered access to drive c:, the same thing as root. I think.

For me, I can use iFile to create new folders where I want them. iFile is a nice tool for doing this and it is all I need. I am not sure what are considered iOS essential files, so I simply assume all are needed and avoid exploring dark places I have no business being in.

Anyway, the disagreements and battles will remain forever and perhaps in a few years, I will decide Apple iPads stink and Android will be just a memory, because two wonks in a garage introduced a product this kills both.

 

[Dark Jedi]

THats what made apple so great was their closed source systems. While at the same time it hurts them to as they are limited in their options of programs. They make a great product but their prices are very high.

Apple or android is kinda like communism and democracy. One is you will like what we like and the other is do with it as you please but do it with in our laws. Also You only need one device and this is it. . Where as the other is here is many different devices to choose from to fit your needs the best.

I liked my ipod touch 3G thought it was great. While at the same time I hated having to sync to itunes just to put or remove songs on the device. Felt like apple shoved itunes down my throat. Yes I know there are ways around that but it should be a drag and drop device.

I like apple and the android devices

 

[Dark Jedi]

Android:

Apple:

Makes me want to become an english citizen

God save the Queen!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Bob Maxey]

THats what made apple so great was their closed source systems. While at the same time it hurts them to as they are limited in their options of programs. They make a great product but their prices are very high.

Apple or android is kinda like communism and democracy. One is you will like what we like and the other is do with it as you please but do it with in our laws. Also You only need one device and this is it. . Where as the other is here is many different devices to choose from to fit your needs the best.

I liked my ipod touch 3G thought it was great. While at the same time I hated having to sync to itunes just to put or remove songs on the device. Felt like apple shoved itunes down my throat. Yes I know there are ways around that but it should be a drag and drop device.

I like apple and the android devices

My phone cost me almost 900.00 for the first year. iPhones might be costly, but every cell phone is costly and you still pay for the phone one way or another.

There are thousands of Apple Apps and many cost less than ten bucks. Plenty of ten dollar, three dollar, and sub-one dollar apps for sale. And plenty of free ones, also. Considering what I just paid for one of Adobe's latest suites, ten bucks is not too hard to swallow.

I will bet if Apple licensed iOS, you would see almost every company offering an "apple" device and quite likely, Android would not be a mature as it is today. Android is in direct response to Apple.

Dozens of iTunes alternatives. I went back to iTunes because it is really quite easy to use. Just sayin. I am not sure if you know this or not, but you can drag and drop music into the "Automatically Add To iTunes" folder and iTunes does the rest. Need to edit tags, easy. Need album artwork, easy to get.

I am not convinced that Apple made a mistake by offering only one phone, by the way. Apparently, all it took was one model. Well, there is a white one now, to be fair.

 

[EarlyMon]

If we constrain ourselves to just consider only their top-end phone, Samsung was trying to offer one model - the Galaxy S (enter the US carriers to mess that up).

The One Killer Phone model works really well - sales numbers overall for the SGS were great; something like 10 or 11 million in a little over the first quarter of introduction. If my memory is correct, the iPhones sell at something like a rate of 60+ million/year, so that puts Sammy knocking at their door and the SGS2 isn't going to hurt those numbers.

People like what they like. Without Apple, we'll never know if the Android revolution would have gained the traction it did this quickly. We can speculate, but we can't know.

The one thing I'm convinced of is that the Apple/Android platform competition has been way good for us consumers - and anything that benefits us buyers, I'm all for. So - go Apple, go Android, because I like having choices that push performance (as I'm sure the iPhone lovers do).