Joined Mar 2010
L5: Journeyman
Forum Thread
Android anyone???
March 6, 2012 at
02:54 PM
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Hi All,
I would like to get viewpoints from those who use Android OS. I have been an Apple person but i'm interested in Android. I would like to know if Android will offer me a different or improved user experience or would you say the differences are subtle and just a matter of taste? Basically, I have an iPad and would like to know if it would be worth my while to get an Android tab.
Thoughts?? And please no flaming, or trolling.....
I would like to get viewpoints from those who use Android OS. I have been an Apple person but i'm interested in Android. I would like to know if Android will offer me a different or improved user experience or would you say the differences are subtle and just a matter of taste? Basically, I have an iPad and would like to know if it would be worth my while to get an Android tab.
Thoughts?? And please no flaming, or trolling.....
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I think this video [youtube.com] shows you a little of what Android is really capable of and Android is only getting better.
I think this video [youtube.com] shows you a little of what Android is really capable of and Android is only getting better.
Plus, that video is to a launcher...basically...you are paying nearly $20 for an app that only opens other apps...really?
But as schooby said, if you're not going to tinket, stick with iOS.
Plus, that video is to a launcher...basically...you are paying nearly $20 for an app that only opens other apps...really?
iOS is not necessarily getting worse, but they are slowly improving, as opposed to Android. The way I look at it is Android gives you nearly 100% freedom from the beginning. iOS first has you in a strait jacket {aka gives their users freedom/features like being able to infinitely scroll the homescreens, increase fonts in texts etc.) (version 1), then they loosen the strait jacket a little and gives everyone a couple more features (version 2) and so on and today you're still greatly limited IMHO. For example getting multi-tasking, Android had it from the start, but iOS had to wait so they could charge you more for it.
I'm not saying Apple isn't smooth and polished, but it is just moving icons around and opening apps for a bit more than $20.
As far as the launcher, I didn't tell anyone to buy it or use it, I just showed it for a small sampling of the capabilities of Android which iOS may get to by version 623. Plus there is much more to it than opening other apps if you looked at it and why I showed it. It has amazing widgets and capabilities that iOS can't fathom.
BTW I'd rather pay $200 to $300 for a tablet that I can add storage to and pay $16.80 for an app that will make the tablet even better rather than pay $500 to $800+ to just move icons around.
BTW I'd rather pay $200 to $300 for a tablet that I can add storage to and pay $16.80 for an app that will make the tablet even better rather than pay $500 to $800+ to just move icons around.
But, There are a lot of draw backs to the open app structure of Android. As someone said, the APPS are what crashes the phone, not the OS...BUT, that is all fine and dandy on paper...but the Apps are what makes the phone!!!
Both Android and Apple are App Launchers at heart. The OS's don't really do anything except for give you access to your apps. Apple's OS is built as a bunch of application silos. They don't talk to each other, they don't overlap, they don't depend on anything except for themselves. Android is much of the same except it does allow those launchers that dive into apps, pulling out small bits and pieces (called Widgets) and allows you to put a bunch of bits of certain apps onto one screen, creating a faux synergy.
Android won't be able to do it since it is so incredibly fractured with everyone making their own thing, and as you said Apple will get around to it in a couple of years as their reason to upgrade to an iPhone 6S from the iPhone 6...but Windows built in applications that are all native to the phone is the way to go/the future...instantly go from taking a picture to sending it via email and posting to facebook and twitter...streaming music from the cloud giving you access to 25GB of extra space instead of just syncing...built in QR reader that will instantly load the marketplace or going strait from an internet search to pulling up restaurant information to getting directions...3 different silos on the iOS, all built into one native function on the Windows Phone.
BUT, the OP was talking Tablets, and IMO, I tried to get an Android tablet as a laptop replacement, and that will be impossible until Windows 8 is released.
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I know Mango is supposed to be excellent functionally and it will hopefully get better (FYI I've owned and loathed a couple Windows Mobile phones and still love my 120GB Zune), but I sincerely don't see how it can get any traction (like WebOS etc.), so I will continue to enjoy my Android silos.
Plus I'll happily take a couple app crashes (which I don't recall the last time I had one) for the freedom that Android provides. On top of all that, I despise iTunes with all my being.
Plus I'll happily take a couple app crashes (which I don't recall the last time I had one) for the freedom that Android provides. On top of all that, I despise iTunes with all my being.
I have an app/OS crash about every other day (of heavy usage) on my tablet. Most of the time I just have to delete the app because they were just sh*tty apps...or they just make the tablet freeze and restart though.
Apple products are more like good luxury cars...just get in and enjoy them...no futzing with them.
If you know how to and like to tweak things then go andriod. If you would constantly have to ask someone how to do it or ask them to do it for you then go Apple.
iPhones are more likes BMWs, consumer style. Ready to go..if you want service or parts though..that'll be an extra cost only available from your BMW dealer.
I have noticed a trend of late though. More females use iOS devices and more guys use Androids. (Hipsters excluded).
iPhones are shiny. Women like shiny. I mean yes there are guys that use iPhones but it's just not as common from what I've seen. I used to use iOS in it's infancy (up to iOS 3) but have moved on.
Androids are more practical when it comes to stuff like moving files, or choosing your screen size, or what kind of camera it has. It has options. Many options. Some better than others. Depends on the person but that can be both genders.
Guys usually like more power, like me, so Android provides that as an option.
Side note: A girl just gave me her year or two old Dell laptop, nothing wrong with it, which I refurbished (she had a red styling to it..I made it black) and installed Windows 7 on it, and have been using it as my primary laptop for almost a year now, since she got a shiny $1800 MacBook Pro which she uses mostly for..facebook and some photos (not even a DSLR. An iPhone and I think a basic P&S.)
I'll be straight up sexist about this..but usually when I recommend devices to people I usually just straight up say iPhone to women and the top of the line Androids for guys. Unless it's a guy that doesn't know jack about technology. I then have to answer the "How do I use iTunes" questions, in which case I just don't like recommending stuff. Because those questions get annoying fast.
I taught an English professor a year or two ago (also female) how to use Pandora on her iPhone. She didn't need an iPhone, but she told me she was up for an upgrade and it looked like the best looking thing on display (no surprises there).
I will say this much though..I LOVE AppleTV. It is my favorite Apple product just because it is quite hackable, and does not bitch or whine like other media center type alternatives, and it's small enough that I could put it in my pocket if I wanted to to carry around.
So I'm not against anything Apple (I still have two iPod Touches lying by my bedside here), I just prefer the freedom of Android.
I still cannot believe, to this day, that I cannot drag and drop stuff onto a stupid iOS device, (FIVE YEARS NOW! Seriously Apple?) without some kind of third party app. I remember having to go through all kinds of crap to transfer files to my iPod Touch with third party programs.
When I compared the iPhone 4s next the the new Galaxy S II I felt that the screen on the iPhone was easier on my eyes.
So it was another selling point for me.
When I compared the iPhone 4s next the the new Galaxy S II I felt that the screen on the iPhone was easier on my eyes.
So it was another selling point for me.
And I'm not judging your choice at all. An iPhone is a great device, but I'm just saying that it's what I've noticed from typical consensus from non-geeks what general people have told me.
Also because the iPhone screen is significantly smaller, it also has a higher PPI (screen density), so that's probably why it was easier on your eyes. Apple's Retina displays is one of the best (if not the best) display technology out there..I think second only to SAMOLED Plus from Samsung.
So I can definitely understand that choice.
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I just feel Mango or other phone iterations of Windows will probably not get traction with app developers and have people running to buy one just because of functionality (similar to what WebOS and Zune could have been). Personally I feel Zune was and is one of the best portable media players ever, especially with the Zune Pass, but Microsoft never really got behind it and let it fall off the face of the earth. Look at the Kin phone line for another Microsoft debacle for a pretty decent phone.