Why iPhone and not Android?

[Pilgrim]

Ive never put a case or protection on any of my phones. Ive dropped my Incredible many times, not even a slight crack. The worst thats happened to it are some scratches on the corners.

I managed to drop a Galaxy S3 onto an asphalt parking lot when i was trying to put it into the inside breast pocket on a sports coat and missed the pocket.

I had a very basic plastic case on it.

The phone hit on a tiny exposed bit of one corner and the screen broke with cracks going top to bottom. The Galaxy S3 is solid glass from top to bottom, and perhaps more prone to breaks than other phones. A local place could replace the glass, but the glass and the LCD screen are bonded together, so the part is about $235.

I very seldom drop a phone, and had never damaged one before by dropping it.

I got another identical phone - it's a university phone and we had upgrade eligibility, so i just burned one upgrade for my unit to get a replacement phone.

 

[Bob Lee (QSC)]

The back cover of my Galaxy S2 is about the thickness of a Pringles potato chip, so I've always been a little scared that I would break it at some inopportune moment. I keep the phone in a silicone case with belt clip.

 

[Eric Perry]

The back cover of my Galaxy S2 is about the thickness of a Pringles potato chip, so I've always been a little scared that I would break it at some inopportune moment. I keep the phone in a silicone case with belt clip.

I did break one of the holding tabs off mine when I was doing a battery pull once. No biggie, because it's always cased, but it does show how fragile that back cover is.

 

[Bob Lee (QSC)]

You might want to explain what a battery pull is, for the iPhone users.

 

[Eric Perry]

You might want to explain what a battery pull is, for the iPhone users.

For them, it requires a hammer.

 

[Rusty Chainsaw]

I've got an admission to make.

I'm actually quite close to defecting to Android. For a self-confessed Apple fanboi like me, that's quite a thing.

Mostly, it's down to the sheer awfulness of the new Apple Maps. I used to use Google Maps a lot - the maps were reliable, full of points of interest, and, most importantly, with access to full public transport information and street view. Even if Google release a standalone Maps app, there's no way of making it the default (ie, when you click on an address in your email, it'll still open in Apple Maps).

*EDIT* Another big problem with Apple Maps being the default is that any other app that uses maps (eg, property/real estate apps) now use Apple Maps. I was househunting recently, and a big deal for me is how far away a house is from the nearest railway station since I want to be able to walk to the station. Apple Maps doesn't even have details of the local railway stations around the areas where I've been looking, so it's utterly useless.

I was also somewhat underwhelmed with the iPhone 5. A little thinner, a little faster and a slightly bigger screen. And a new connector that makes most of my accessories obsolete (including two expensive speaker docks).

However, I've been looking around at the Android phones that are currently available in the UK, and, frankly, I don't really like any of them. The S3 has a very nice screen, but it's maybe a little too big, plus it feels cheap - too much shiny plastic. Same with the Galaxy Nexus - the screen is a more realistic, usable size and runs proper (vanilla) Android, but it's slow in comparison to the more cutting-edge models and still feels cheap and plasticky. I guess I've been spoiled by Apple's much nicer industrial design and better materials. Is there any Android device out there that can match Apple in the design and material stakes?

 

[MJ5150]

Be patient. I'm sure Apple will improve the maps app some day.

I think the RAZR devices from Motorola look nice and are made with good materials. The new DNA looks nice too.

-Mike

 

[fdeck]

Is there any Android device out there that can match Apple in the design and material stakes?

I doubt it. Industrial design has been a strength of Apple for a long time, for many reasons: They are committed to it, they have the cash flow to support it, and they avoid the temptation to come out with too many different models.

 

[Tony Flow MMMM]

I've got an admission to make.

I'm actually quite close to defecting to Android. For a self-confessed Apple fanboi like me, that's quite a thing.

Mostly, it's down to the sheer awfulness of the new Apple Maps. I used to use Google Maps a lot - the maps were reliable, full of points of interest, and, most importantly, with access to full public transport information and street view. Even if Google release a standalone Maps app, there's no way of making it the default (ie, when you click on an address in your email, it'll still open in Apple Maps).

*EDIT* Another big problem with Apple Maps being the default is that any other app that uses maps (eg, property/real estate apps) now use Apple Maps. I was househunting recently, and a big deal for me is how far away a house is from the nearest railway station since I want to be able to walk to the station. Apple Maps doesn't even have details of the local railway stations around the areas where I've been looking, so it's utterly useless.

I was also somewhat underwhelmed with the iPhone 5. A little thinner, a little faster and a slightly bigger screen. And a new connector that makes most of my accessories obsolete (including two expensive speaker docks).

However, I've been looking around at the Android phones that are currently available in the UK, and, frankly, I don't really like any of them. The S3 has a very nice screen, but it's maybe a little too big, plus it feels cheap - too much shiny plastic. Same with the Galaxy Nexus - the screen is a more realistic, usable size and runs proper (vanilla) Android, but it's slow in comparison to the more cutting-edge models and still feels cheap and plasticky. I guess I've been spoiled by Apple's much nicer industrial design and better materials. Is there any Android device out there that can match Apple in the design and material stakes?

Sounds like they heard your cry and brought it back! You can now download

 

[wednesdayagain]

Never liked ios. People laud its ease of use all the time, but I find it harder to navigate than android. I also don't like being locked to iTunes.

 

[Munjibunga]

No reason. You can't add additional memory to an iPhone. Then you have to futz around with iTunes all the time. And you'd end up owning an Apple product.

 

[Rusty Chainsaw]

Sounds like they heard your cry and brought it back! You can now download

Just seen that. But there's still no way to make it a default.

 

[Tony Flow MMMM]

Just seen that. But there's still no way to make it a default.

Copy and paste too much of a hassle?

 

[hgiles]

I have a household full of Apple products and whenit came time to upgrade from. BBerry Storm, I went with a Galaxy SIII.

I just felt like Id be getting a redundant device if I went with Apple. I am really happy with my SIII. Gmail. Maps. nav. Screen res. Camera. Apps. all function better than my wifes iPhone 4S.

 

[CElton]

Google Maps is now available for iOS.

 

[Eric Perry]

The GS4 is expected to drop in the spring. If even half of the rumors about that device pan out on the actual release it's going be ridiculous. I have the GS2 now and want the GS3, but I just have to wait for the 4!

 

[baba]

Well, since this is back at the top, let me review my choice of the Galaxy S3 over the iPhone.

Extremely happy with the S3. The screen on all the iPhone's my friends/family have just look ridiculously small. I've been using the Kindle app and it is fine for reading, but I can't imagine reading a book on the iPhone. Great for burning a few minutes here and there while waiting. I haven't had to slog through the horrible iTunes program! Just dropped songs into a folder like any laptop or other computer. The ubiquitous micro USB connector has kept me from searching for an Apple cord all the time. All the apps I have and the OS run great. Flawless integration with my google calendar which is crucial. Google Maps just work. Fortunately, I made the right choice. My wife is equally stoked.

As far as complaints about the cheap feel of the S3 body, what does that matter when everyone puts a case on it? I have no idea what the naked phone feels like.

Folks, definitely give the S3 a test run before you knee jerk purchase a new iPhone. Unless you are married to the Apple OS and/or like a smaller phone, I can't see why the iPhone would be more attractive.

 

[BioDriver]

My mom's a realtor and there are iOS apps that can access locked doors, realtor sites, etc. None of these apps are on Android.

My brother and I both use Android devices. I have a Nexus 4 and he has an HTC One X. We both find iPhone to be too restrictive and a lot less fun.

 

[Rusty Chainsaw]

Copy and paste too much of a hassle?

It's not that it's a hassle, it just breaks the seamlessness of the experience. It'd be nice to click on an address in a web page or your email and be taken directly to GMaps, but that's not an option.

I might have to look into jailbreaking. I'd like to be able to set Chrome as my default browser and GMaps as the default mapping app, but Apple gives you no way of doing that.

But I will say the new GMaps app is very, very nice.

 

[guitardefector]

Samsung Galaxy S III. Works like a charm and has more than I'll ever need and use. Btw, lots of sites with apps can just be bookmarked using their home page and save you lots of space.