Your opinion needed!

[hooper33]

Hello everyone!

My name's Sarah, this is my first time on these forums, I just had a couple questions for ya'll. But first here's some background info: currently I use an iPhone 4. I have the iPad 2 and a MacBook Pro also... so I guess I'm an apple fangirl (don't hurt me )

BUT - my contract with AT&T is ending in the fall and I was just exploring the Android side of phones and hopefully you guys can help me out!!

I'm so lost when it comes to Android devices, mostly because I've only ever had Apple products. So what I'm asking is : what IS it exactly that you think makes Android better than iOS or other operating systems? From some reviews I've seen, Android just looks plain confusing. Maybe it's because I'm coming from Apple where everything is super simple... but nonetheless, I'm hopelessly confused In your opinion would it be better for me to switch to an Android phone, or just grab the iPhone 5/"New iPhone" when it comes out in Oct/Sept?

Thanks so much, and please feel free to share any information with me that you think would be beneficial!!

 

[Shogun1]

Well my honest advice is to wait for the iPhone 5 announcement. If you're not dying without a new phone, you might as well scout both sides of the market before you lock yourself into a purchase.

And the main benefit of Android is really its ability to be so customizeable. You have a lot more flexibility with making things the way you want them to be, and although that may seem confusing, it is a huge benefit for some people.

The iOS interface is very very user friendly though, so if you don't want to get wrapped up in the myriad of possibilities Android offers, the iPhone 5 might honestly be a better choice. Hang around until October, see what the competition is like, and in the meanwhile, try messing around with some Android devices to get used to things.

 

[treb1797]

Welcome to the forums hooper33 !!!!

 

[XplosiV]

As shogun said, try to explore both sides if you can.

This may be of some use, but you can download a program called bluestacks onto your mac, it's a simple but usable android emulator.

It's basically android but on a pc/mac instead of on a tablet or phone.

The whole interface is the same based on android 2.2 I believe, but you can sync your stuff, download apps, play games etc and just get a feel for how the environment of Android works.

It will be limited in terms of functionality and customisability (compared to full android on a tab/phone) but it's a free way to get an insight as to what's where and stuff.

 

[zuben el genub]

If you are not happy with ATT, then explore other carriers - V and Sprint both have Iphone. TM does not. If you see a deal you like with another carrier, find the phone that goes with the deal, then ask about how a switch would work.

 

[ocnbrze]

welcome to the forums!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

a big thing for me is the screen size. i have an evo 3d with my evo 4g being my first smartphone and most likely will be upgrading to the evo lte very soon. i could not imagine using a tiny screen like the iphone. sure retina display is nice, but it is wasted on the screen size.

anyways, i love android and i do agree that the iphone is more simpler and user friendly. but once you know where everything is, it is not that hard to pickup. plus you i think that android is more customizable and more open then the iphone is. plus rooting an android phone is more acceptable now compared to jailbreaking the iphone which is taboo in the eyes of apple.

but like the others have said, it comes down to you. i would go down to your local cellphone store and start playing around with the phones that are out there and compare them to the iphone.

 

[hooper33]

And the main benefit of Android is really its ability to be so customizeable. You have a lot more flexibility with making things the way you want them to be, and although that may seem confusing, it is a huge benefit for some people.

Yeah, from what I've seen browsing around youtube and tech sites, Android is so much more customizable compared to the iPhone, or really any other smartphone (that I know of) which is really nice since I might be looking for a change.

This may be of some use, but you can download a program called bluestacks onto your mac, it's a simple but usable android emulator.

It's basically android but on a pc/mac instead of on a tablet or phone.

The whole interface is the same based on android 2.2 I believe, but you can sync your stuff, download apps, play games etc and just get a feel for how the environment of Android works.

It will be limited in terms of functionality and customisability (compared to full android on a tab/phone) but it's a free way to get an insight as to what's where and stuff.

Thanks! I'm downloading that now, hopefully it will help me kind of see how Android works!

a big thing for me is the screen size. i have an evo 3d with my evo 4g being my first smartphone and most likely will be upgrading to the evo lte very soon. i could not imagine using a tiny screen like the iphone. sure retina display is nice, but it is wasted on the screen size.

...plus rooting an android phone is more acceptable now compared to jailbreaking the iphone which is taboo in the eyes of apple.

Oh my gosh. You totally hit the nail on the head with your post, haha
The one thing I absolutely HATE on my iPhone is the screen size!! I agree that Apple wasted their retina display on that tiny screen. Plus doesn't the new Samsung Galaxy S3 have like 306ppi and the iPhone 4S has 326ppi or something like that? Doesn't seem to be a whole lot of difference...

Is rooting an Android the same as jail breaking and iPhone? Sorry, newbie question haha. But I agree, I've tried jail breaking my iPhone before and felt like the Apple Police were watching my every move haha

But one of the things I'm worried about is the size the phone will be. I was mostly looking at the Galaxy S3, my main concern is that it will be too big and awkward in my hand. I'll probably end up going to test it out at like a Best Buy or something, but was this a problem for any of you who switched from Apple to Android?

 

[pbf98]

Welcome to the forums
Which OS is better is strictly based on opinion, but I will share a few things that if feel that I like over iOS.

With Android you have the freedom of customization with out the need of jailbreaking, although Apple has started to allow a few changes there are still many customizable settings on the android that you are allowed to change.

With iOS you have (if I remember the name correctly) the spring board which is the screens that hold all your apps. And android has The home screen where you can put all your apps if you want, or customize it with as few apps and widgets such as a fancy clock or something that displays the weather based on your GPS coordinates. And to add to that android also has the app drawer which is where all installed apps will reside whether you add them to a home screen or not, the app drawer to me is like the screens on the iPhone.

One thing to add (in my opinion) Android has a little bit of a learning curve coming from Apple. I remember my first Android device, it took me two weeks to really get a handle on it, where with Apple I picked that device up and I some how instantly knew how it worked.

Another thing that I like on Android that iOS does not have, and for the time being will not allow, is the Swype Keyboard. Part of the customization you have is changing your keyboard if you do not like it, and Swype is not available on iOS. Swype, once you get the feeling for it, is very fast and effective for texting and typing.

As mentioned by a few others I would also suggest going into your local ATT store and try out some of the Android devices and if you need some help figuring out how to do something, someone will be right there to assist you.

Hope I can offer some help, just choose what you feel is best for you

 

[AntimonyER]

Xplosiv told you about the emulator, but I would also point out the Galaxy Nexus Simulator on Verizon's site. It gives you a much more current picture of android and what it does, and also some tutorials on how to do common tasks.

Go here, and click on the "Simulator" link in the middle of the page.
Set Your Location

 

[Speed Daemon]

Hi Sarah, and welcome! Don't worry about anybody here hurting you, and just ignore the ones asking you to hurt them.

Congratulations on being able to separate yourself from the evil SB&C...err...AT&T! Even if you choose another Apple phone using a different carrier (except Verizon) you're a winner. Since you're all-Apple now this might be the best choice for you.

In response to "what IS it exactly that you think makes Android better than iOS or other operating systems?": Android uses the Linux operating system underneath, which is why I'm using Android. Linux is based on the legendary (in the IT world anyway) UNIX operating system. Most of the reasons to use Linux are technical, and I'll not bore you with that. Because Linux is made by people who do it for love, not money it tends to be better cared-for. The FOSS licensing makes it inexpensive, so I know I'm getting a better value.

I personally am not so finicky about user interfaces as other people. The things I look for are again things that I'm sure will bore you. But in the broader sense all I really want is a UI that can be used, no more and no less. What you want may be different.

My advice is to keep an open mind, play with a few different phones and see how you like them. I think you'll find more similarities than differences. There will be differences, of course. But if you have human friends and a life outside the touchscreen, this shouldn't be a deal-breaker. But it's your choice, so do what makes you happy.

 

[dan330]

hi and welcome to AF... hopefully a new android user soon.

but we really dont know what the iphone 5 will be.. so you can not compare honestly till that is out. and what android phone is available then.
so.. wait a few months before any real decision is done.

till then try out some android phones at your nearest store..

like any change.. there will be a difference and a corresponding learning curve.
some dont keep and open mind.. and cant climb that small learning curve.
the android UI.. is much more friendly and open to user needs.

yes.. ios is simpler.. but it is way dumbed down..but android is NOT difficult.
IO = falling off a log
android = deciding which side to fall off first.

if you choose to not customize the phone.. then it is almost simple as IOS. just different.

 

[Speed Daemon]

Is rooting an Android the same as jail breaking and iPhone?

More or less. The main difference is that you can find Android phones that aren't jails. The "root" name is the privileged mode that most operating systems have. Rooting an Android allows more of the Linux to shine through, and enables customizations and certain apps that can't be done in locked down mode. You only want to become root just long enough to do something dangerous, while once you break out of jail you don't want to go back.

But one of the things I'm worried about is the size the phone will be. I was mostly looking at the Galaxy S3, my main concern is that it will be too big and awkward in my hand. I'll probably end up going to test it out at like a Best Buy or something, but was this a problem for any of you who switched from Apple to Android?

The models with the largest screens have to be large for the obvious reason. But you don't have to get the biggest. Another advantage in the Android world is that you have literally hundreds of unique products to choose from.

I'd forget about the emulator and get out there and handle the product just like you'll be using it. Most stores have non-functioning "dummy" display items, and can be a pain about showing you the real thing. Fortunately there are other stores! If you don't get to see what you came to see, walk out. The cellular providers' boutiques are your best bet IME.

 

[hooper33]

Thanks for the link to the simulator!

Congratulations on being able to separate yourself from the evil SB&C...err...AT&T! Even if you choose another Apple phone using a different carrier (except Verizon) you're a winner. Since you're all-Apple now this might be the best choice for you.

I'm not separating from ATT, my 2-year contract is just up. Although I wish I could switch to a different carrier! ATT doesn't have the Galaxy Nexus, kind of a bummer.

The models with the largest screens have to be large for the obvious reason. But you don't have to get the biggest. Another advantage in the Android world is that you have literally hundreds of unique products to choose from.

True. My options are limited though (at least I think so..?) because ATT only has the Galaxy S3 and the HTC One X available. Has anyone tried the One X? I havent heard much of it. What are some of the recommended phones I should check out?

And I know this sounds like a really stupid question, but bear with me. Do all of the Android phones have the ability to be a music player like the iPhones? And would I be able to sync it with my iTunes?

 

[Speed Daemon]

I'm not separating from ATT...

You're kidding, right? Send a coded message and I'll send in a SEAL team to rescue you if need be.

And I know this sounds like a really stupid question, but bear with me. Do all of the Android phones have the ability to be a music player like the iPhones? And would I be able to sync it with my iTunes?

Not stupid, but hard to answer.

AFAIK pretty much every phone of the Android age has the ability to play music to be heard one way or another. All Android devices can play music, of course because there are Android apps that do so. The limiting factor would be the phone itself.

My previous phone that was made before the Android age didn't have a physical earphone jack, but it had the capability to send CD quality stereo audio over Bluetooth. I bought a pair of Bluetooth headphones to use with it, although the Motorola software that might have made it practical to play music never worked and I never used them. Most Android phones should have that hardware capability, although I don't know that it's mandatory.

My current phone has an earphone jack, and I have the ability to play music using a variety of players to play music files on the phone, from the clouds or from streaming servers. The audio quality is OK, which is a bit of a downer since the previous model (Galaxy S) and the succeeding model (Galaxy SIII) feature a well-regarded Wolfson DAC. Just my luck.

As with the Bluetooth solution, I don't know if an analog audio output is mandatory for Android phones. My phone also has MSL, which allows the use of HDMI over USB, which in turn has the capacity to deliver pro quality stereo and 5.1 audio...maybe. The bottom line is that while there may be one or two Android phones that you can't get music out of, it would be very rare.

Since the number and range of Bluetooth headphones is limited, and it would take a lot of equipment to extract usable audio using MSL, I suggest that you look for and ask about earphone jacks when shopping for your new phone.

 

[dan330]

All android phone can play music..

Sprint has gs3.. And the one x is the new EVO LTE

 

[9to5cynic]

Hi Hooper - welcome to the forums! You can sync music with android, but I'm not sure how, I usually just copy and paste files to my phone - but in the past I have heard people mention apps such as double twist...

Like everyone seems to be saying - I'd check out the new iphone. Especially because 1) you're already familiar with the devices/OS (unless apple does something crazy) and 2) you have quite the apple line up, and I'm assuming that they are quite compatible and make sharing across platforms simple.

That being said, I love android for the customization it allows me. My evo has been in use for nearly 2 years and I've had no serious problems. And all little problems have been solved with very little work on my end.

I can change anything on my phone, and there are huge development communities for many of these devices. On the sprint side of things, I've been looking into the Galaxy S3 and Galaxy Nexus. Hardware wise the S3 wins, but I'm really digging the Nexus.

Again, welcome to the forums!

 

[Speed Daemon]

You can sync music with android, but I'm not sure how, I usually just copy and paste files to my phone - but in the past I have heard people mention apps such as double twist...

I can't comment on double twist (never heard of it), and balk at the idea of syncing my music collection to my phone (I have 100GiB of music files and growing, no microSDXC card that big yet), but I do use two native Android applications to play my music files "from the cloud". Both have Windows versions that can sync with a computer.

One is called "Amazon MP3" on Android, and uses Amazon.com's free cloud storage of MP3 files purchased from them +5GiB free and reasonable prices on expanded storage. I'm am Amazon Prime member and plan on moving to Amazon's professional cloud services, so this is a natural start. As the name implies, it's for MP3 files, although you can copy other kinds of files manually.

The other is Google's "Play Music", a companion to their "Music Manager" on Windows. Both use Google Play to store music files in a cloud-like (Google uses Amazon's enterprise cloud storage, so it's as cloud as you can get) fashion. Google used to support non-MP3 files, and still accepts certain kinds, but transcodes them to MP3 now. So you're better off using it only for MP3 or to transcode from FLAC to MP3. Transcoding between different kinds of lossy compression can seriously degrade sound quality.

Apple has decided to be anti-competitive and withhold notmeTunes from the Android market, so that's not an option.

Hope this helps.

 

[hooper33]

You're kidding, right? Send a coded message and I'll send in a SEAL team to rescue you if need be.

Haha! I wish I could get out of ATT's grip - trust me!! But my whole family has it, and my parents still pay for my phone bill so there's no way for me to get out. I absolutely hate the service. The 3G sucks and I barely get service anywhere I go. Eh, I guess I'll have to live for now.

Like everyone seems to be saying - I'd check out the new iphone. Especially because 1) you're already familiar with the devices/OS (unless apple does something crazy) and 2) you have quite the apple line up, and I'm assuming that they are quite compatible and make sharing across platforms simple.

Yeah, when it comes out, I'll definitely be looking at it. When I go to my local ATT store to check out the Android devices and if there isn't anything that catches my eye, I'll probably end up going with the iPhone 5. Hopefully it lives up to the hype.

But thanks to all for the music answers, so basically - yes they can play music, the only challenge would be to find out how to sync up my music. Can I somehow transfer my files from iTunes to the Google Play or whatever?

I really just wish I could do like a test-drive of an Android for a couple weeks just to see if I'd like it. I think it'd be pretty sensible for phone companies to do that, instead of sealing people in with a phone they don't like.

 

[AntimonyER]

Haha! I wish I could get out of ATT's grip - trust me!! But my whole family has it, and my parents still pay for my phone bill so there's no way for me to get out. I absolutely hate the service. The 3G sucks and I barely get service anywhere I go. Eh, I guess I'll have to live for now.



Yeah, when it comes out, I'll definitely be looking at it. When I go to my local ATT store to check out the Android devices and if there isn't anything that catches my eye, I'll probably end up going with the iPhone 5. Hopefully it lives up to the hype.

But thanks to all for the music answers, so basically - yes they can play music, the only challenge would be to find out how to sync up my music. Can I somehow transfer my files from iTunes to the Google Play or whatever?

I really just wish I could do like a test-drive of an Android for a couple weeks just to see if I'd like it. I think it'd be pretty sensible for phone companies to do that, instead of sealing people in with a phone they don't like.

I believe AT&T has a two week return period, where if you don't like the phone you can return it for a minimal restocking fee (which is fair, as they won't be able to sell it as new anymore).

 

[hooper33]

^ Oh cool, I didn't know about that, thanks!

 

[ocnbrze]

just to comment on music. i use google's play music. it is awesome. there is no need to have music on your sd card anymore! it is all streamed and it is your music and not something like pandora. the only drawback is that you have to have 3g signal or be on wifi for it to work. i do not use anything else other then play music. check it out.

all you have to do is sync your music that is on your computer with google and then it is stored on the cloud and any android device can play your music anywhere.

 

[9to5cynic]

But thanks to all for the music answers, so basically - yes they can play music, the only challenge would be to find out how to sync up my music. Can I somehow transfer my files from iTunes to the Google Play or whatever?

Okay, so I'm not a genius with itunes by any means, I *only* use it to sync my ipod. That being said the answer probably depends on a couple of settings you have. If when you import or buy songs, they are in .mp3 format than you likely will be able to play them on your android device (assuming you get one).... so long as there is no DRM funny business going on. I haven't bought anything from itunes in years - so I can't comment on the format and DRM status of music purchased.

But if we assume that the files are playable, then the next thing is copying them over. This is as easy as locating the file - and if you are like me, the are all in one music folder broken up in a great and organized fashion. If you are like some people I know, and you have files all over the place, it could take some time. But itunes has a 'consolidate library' option for this. It will copy your audio files into a nice organized directory structure (probably something like /home/your_name/iTunes/ )

And from there it is simply copy and paste. Oh and before I forget, I seem to recall you mentioning the Nexus - if so, that's a phone that uses MTP to instead of USB. I haven't ever used it, but I believe it is a wireless adhoc network for file transfer of media files....

If you get a phone with USB support, you could write up a nice and quick file copy script to copy file to your phone from your music folder Automate that!



Good luck! And I hope that answer wasn't too long winded

 

[Shinji01]

Soooo true about the learning curve.
I panicked when i first laid hands on an android because it took longer thatn i expected to get used to it.

For me, I am so busy with work etc that I hardly fiddle around on my phone.
So the customizability o the android is totally lost on me...

 

[Speed Daemon]

Haha! I wish I could get out of ATT's grip - trust me!! But my whole family has it, and my parents still pay for my phone bill so there's no way for me to get out. I absolutely hate the service. The 3G sucks and I barely get service anywhere I go. Eh, I guess I'll have to live for now.

Well...at least you're not paying for it. That can go a long way to ease the pain.

But thanks to all for the music answers, so basically - yes they can play music, the only challenge would be to find out how to sync up my music. Can I somehow transfer my files from iTunes to the Google Play or whatever?

Sorry that I didn't communicate that well enough to you. Yes, the Music Manager program scans your music collection on your computer, and uploads them all, or only the folder(s) that you choose, in the background, up to Google Play. Play Music plays them as if they were in the phone, as long as your download rate is good enough.

I really just wish I could do like a test-drive of an Android for a couple weeks just to see if I'd like it. I think it'd be pretty sensible for phone companies to do that, instead of sealing people in with a phone they don't like.

Check with the retailer to see if they have a "no questions asked" return policy. Everybody is going to get your cash or charge your card before they let you out the door with a new phone, which is understandable. But if you don't like the phone, some places will allow you to return the phone for a full refund and cancel your account with no penalty. That's pretty close to a test drive.

 

[!on]

Hello everyone!

My name's Sarah, this is my first time on these forums, I just had a couple questions for ya'll. But first here's some background info: currently I use an iPhone 4. I have the iPad 2 and a MacBook Pro also... so I guess I'm an apple fangirl (don't hurt me )

BUT - my contract with AT&T is ending in the fall and I was just exploring the Android side of phones and hopefully you guys can help me out!!

I'm so lost when it comes to Android devices, mostly because I've only ever had Apple products. So what I'm asking is : what IS it exactly that you think makes Android better than iOS or other operating systems? From some reviews I've seen, Android just looks plain confusing. Maybe it's because I'm coming from Apple where everything is super simple... but nonetheless, I'm hopelessly confused In your opinion would it be better for me to switch to an Android phone, or just grab the iPhone 5/"New iPhone" when it comes out in Oct/Sept?

Thanks so much, and please feel free to share any information with me that you think would be beneficial!!

iOS I find quite patronising, like it's designed for the elderly or mentally impared. I'm still waiting for "iPhone Pro", or "iPad Pro". I like my mac because I like Leopard. Not so sure about Lion making it like iOS (see above). It's all based on Unix it's just what incarnation of it that counts.

Hardware-wise we are getting 'normal' mobile phones with a decent OS on board. Some of them are quite fashionable too, much to the despair of apple.

We all have our reasons for buying things but one of mine is cost. A smartphone is a smartphone. If it's in the ball park of specs & performance, then good. Apple are arrogant in thinking their logo & brand image are the only one that exists. Newsflash, apple! Mobile phones were around long before iphone, & they gradually evolved into smartphones without them. So people did & still have their favourite brands OTHER THAN apple.

It's not about which is best. That is debatable. It's about following your heart & making informed choices (also cost).