Android vs. iPhone

[earllogjam]

I'm thinking about getting a smart phone and was wondering if there is any real difference between these two.

Anyone here have a preference or reason why they chose one over the other?

 

[B_jdunhill]

I just yesterday got a Samsung 4G the new Galaxy. Unbelievable. Simple, fast, light, intuitive.

 

[junkere]

Well there is quite a difference. The basic question you need to ask yourself is:

Do you want an "easy" phone? (iphone) or,
Do you want a phone that you can customize every little aspect of it, and always be fiddling with it, , tweaking and hacking it? (android)

Myself being a tech guy, I got my first android some months back, and I've never looked back. I LOVE IT! (xperia x10)

There is just SO much you can do with an android and it still has a huge improvement window.

Although if you just want a phone to text, call and play angry birds, I would go with the iphone

 

[Blorkin]

As Junkere pointed out with android you can custimize every little aspect of it and for the iphone you can't do shit. Now being that I am anti apple I am going to recommend the android. Their are reasons for this though.

1) You don't need to be tech savvy to use android.
2) If you get android you have the option to hack it. There is a lot on the web on how to do this. You don't need to be a computer genius! You just have to be able to follow directions. For example you can overclock you processor very easily if you follow the directions to do so.
3) The iphone does not have a dual core in it!!!! If you are goign to get and iphone wait till the next one comes out.
4) You don't have to hack android. Out of the box it is a better operating system than ios. Hacking just makes it even better.

If you get an android get a new one (dual core). They are also a lot eaiser to hack because the phone companies got rid of the protection on the phone (I can't remember what it is called).

Go with android. Also on a side note if you get an iphone you have to use itunes and if your music is on an external drive you will have to update your library ever time you update your software.

Once again go with android they are better all around phones.

 

[BlackIsKingSize]

IMO the biggest pro of the Android platform is also it's biggest con. Mainly that there's a wide selection of phones. You can choose your carrier, and the phone specs you want and there's an android phone to meet your needs. With iPhone you've got AT&T or Verizon, iPhone 4 or 3GS. That's it.

BUT that's also why iPhone gets lots more apps faster than Android. The fact that Apple has been dominating for a while (Android is closing the gap fast though) is also a factor. But the fact that its hard to design an app to work with the diverse range of android phones slows down the process for developers. Take Netflix for instance, has been on iPhone for a while. Finally came to android recently but only "officially" supported on a few handsets, although there are ways to get it to work on a lot of phones that aren't supported.

Android = more choice in hardware and carrier, full customizability
iPhone = wider selection of apps

 

[D_Tim McGnaw]

My sister bought an iPhone just before I bought my Android, so I got to play a bit with hers before I decided what phone I wanted.

A agree with most of what's already been said about Android, though as someone who isn't a techy type I can confirm that in fact you don't have to be really techy to use one.

The major difference I find between them is this, iPhones require you to use them all the time, I mean apps are pointless unless you use them frequently, and my sister is kinda glued to hers. There is a sense in which owning an iPhone requires you to suddenly start experiencing reality mediated through your iPhone.

Androids can be used in that way too I suppose, but there isn't the automatic pressure to do so. If you use your phone less and are happy with reality the way it is then I think Androids are more your kind of phone. They do have apps, but that's not the only thing that makes them worth owning.

iPhones look beautiful, no question, but my Experia Arc is gorgeous, lighter and thiner than an iPhone, has the largest screen of any smartphone on the market (though I don't know the specs on the Galaxy S2 so that could have changed) and much less likely to mark me out as a member of a some kind of technological cult, which is what Apple kinda is. I have Sony's excellent customer service to rely on too, and anyone using Apple products will tell you that customer service with Apple is essentially non-existent.

The cameras on a number of Androids are infinitely superior to those on any iPhone, and for me (someone who simply refuses to carry around both a phone and a camera if I can get both in one piece of kit and be satisfied that the camera is as good as it's competition) that's a must.

Also the sense in which iPhone encourages you to have contact only with other iPhones users is creepy, so many iPhone apps seem geared towards skewing your social interactions towards other iPhone users while Android doesn't seem to care what phone your friends use.

Overall I think Android is intuitive, much easier to use, and much more enjoyable as a practical piece of technology. If I break it I don't feel like the sky has fallen in and it wont cost me the earth to get it fixed, a luxury one does not have with the iPhone.

 

[Incocknito]

Android has more free apps

Android Has More Free Apps Than iPhone, Researchers Say [App Store Research Firm Distimo Says That Android Market Has More Free Apps Than iPhone, Says That Android Will Eventually Be On Top Of App Store] | TFTS

And 'better apps' and is more welcoming to new apps. iphone chooses what apps to keep and what apps to not even allow. For example they wouldn't allow a Google Voice app (turns your voice into text, saves having to type).

And Google Voice is pretty useful. So I would say Android is the better OS and more liberal with regards to apps.

What you need to consider though is:

The version of Android OS (if the phone has it, not all smartphones do)
Upgradeability
Perhaps technical specs like processor speed, screen size, camera quality, HD video recording etc

Now from what I've read, Samsung make the best quality smartphones. But a lot of them don't use the Android OS! They use their own 'Bada' OS which is seen as bad by a lot of people.

The main issue for me is that the Bada OS does not support the Whatsapp app. Whatsapp is an app available for iphone, android, blackberry and 'symbian' (Nokia OS). It allows free text messaging, picture and video sending, etc.

Notice that Whatsapp is cross-platform. A lot of the good apps are. Some of the better Samsung phones are:

Samsung Wave
Samsung Wave S8500 review from TechRadar UK's expert reviews of Mobile phones

Samsung Galaxy S
Samsung Galaxy S review from TechRadar UK's expert reviews of Mobile phones

Samsung Galaxy S2
Samsung Galaxy S2 review from TechRadar UK's expert reviews of Mobile phones

Note that in the mid-right hand side table, the Galaxy S2 is rated as the top phone, above the iphone 4. iphone 4 is actually in fourth place.

Note: Even though the Galaxy phones have the Bada OS, the Android Market is built in so you can still download all the apps from google such as Whatsapp.

I am looking for a new phone myself and can't seem to find the one I want with all the features I want. The Samsung Wave is technically the best I've seen (price and quality wise) but the fact that it doesn't have access to the Android Market or Android OS is really off putting.

Some other cool apps I had on my last Android phone:

SMS Backup (sends all your text messages to your gmail account. Online backups are great and it does it automatically)
World News
Whatsapp as already said
APN Backup & Restore - automatically sets up your phone for the internet / 3g / mms without you having to manually enter the settings

Can't remember the others, to be honest I didn't use that many but the ones I had came in handy.

 

[earllogjam]

There seems to be a definite Android preference here. Which makes sense to me because I could get one far cheaper than an iPhone. The web access seems very desirable especially if you were traveling to an unfamiliar areas. I'm looking at the iPhone primarily because I can transfer my iTunes library to the phone which I can't do on the Android, or would be very difficult and time consuming.

I was at Radio Shack to look for a GPS unit and was going to buy one but while I was walking by the cell phones I looked at some of the smart phones and discovered that you can get GPS on the smart phone with navigation AND it's Google maps which is graphically superior to any GPS unit on the market and they are constantly being updated. I found out you can get this also on the iPhone but you need to buy the ap. It's free on Android. Some smart phones are just about $50 more than a GPS unit which made me pause, and they have so much more use.

I'm looking at the LG Optimus V on Virgin Mobile at $149 with $25/mo unlimited data and 300 minutes. Seems like a great deal and I suppose I can use the phone as a WIFI hot spot for my laptop while traveling. Comes with Android 2.2 loaded and 2 gig memory card - not sure if that is adequate memory for these phones.

BUT...I was wondering how the GPS systems on these phones perform and if they are based on satelite signals for positioning or if you need to be in the range of a cell tower for it to work. I think Virgin has spotty coverage in areas compared to Verizon and ATT so I'm fearing how useful the GPS is on a smart phone with spotty coverage. Or does the smart phone navigation use the same satelites as a Tom Tom GPS unit.

I'm leaning towards Android from all the comments on here but the deciding factor will be the GPS unit on the phone. Anyone have any experience with Google Maps Navigation on Android?

 

[D_Tim McGnaw]

BUT...I was wondering how the GPS systems on these phones perform and if they are based on satelite signals for positioning or if you need to be in the range of a cell tower for it to work. I think Virgin has spotty coverage in areas compared to Verizon and ATT so I'm fearing how useful the GPS is on a smart phone with spotty coverage. Or does the smart phone navigation use the same satelites as a Tom Tom GPS unit.

I'm leaning towards Android from all the comments on here but the deciding factor will be the GPS unit on the phone. Anyone have any experience with Google Maps Navigation on Android?

The GPS uses the same satelites as any other GPS unit you can buy and the google maps nav is excellent on my phone. Certainly I don't think iPhone can serious claim to be any better than a Samsung Galaxy S2 on sat nav. Some of the cheaper older Android phones aren't that hot on sat nav but the newer ones are more than equal to iPhone.

If smartphones have any bugs related to sat nav then they're shared across the board, so far as I know iPhone is pretty much average in terms of its sat nav capabilities.

 

[earllogjam]

The GPS uses the same satelites as any other GPS unit you can buy and the google maps nav is excellent on my phone. Certainly I don't think iPhone can serious claim to be any better than a Samsung Galaxy S2 on sat nav. Some of the cheaper older Android phones aren't that hot on sat nav but the newer ones are more than equal to iPhone.

If smartphones have any bugs related to sat nav then they're shared across the board, so far as I know iPhone is pretty much average in terms of its sat nav capabilities.

Thanks Hilaire,

I just saw a demo of it on YouTube and the Google Maps ap is really sexy.

Does the smart phone's GPS work independently of the 3G connection or do you need that 3G and web connection for the Google Maps navigation ap to work?

OR can the maps be downloaded into your smartphone and work with just the satelite signals outside the cell coverage area?

 

[junkere]

Great decision on going for an android, you wont regret it.

The LG optimus is an ok entry level android phone, but I'm personally not to fond of LG products.

Keep in mind that in other to get the "iPhone experience" you will need a top level android phone. I have a lot of friends complaining about how they buy an android, and they say its crap and iPhone is better. And of course its gonna be if you get a phone, with half the processing power, lower resolution, and cheap materials.

Im not saying that this phone is trash, but just don't expect it to be at the same level of an iPhone, or a higher end android.

I would suggest taking a look at some HTC's they make good phones at affordable prices.

Now about the GPS... technically it is called A-GPS (assisted GPS) which means that it works with 3 types of signals, WiFi, cell, and satellite. And that's a good thing because the WiFi and cell provide near instant location and they can even locate you indoors, or underground. With the satellite, you get a really precise location (around 3 meters) but it takes sometimes up to a couple of minutes to get a signal, and you have to be in the open.

When you combine the two you get very fast and precise location in and outdoors, and even if you are someplace where you don't have a cell signal, the satellites will still work perfectly. With the new update on google maps, you can now download the map of where you are going, so that even if you don't have a data plan, you can still zoom in on the map.

Hope this helps. (You can also send me a PM if you have anymore questions)

 

[D_Tim McGnaw]

Thanks Hilaire,

I just saw a demo of it on YouTube and the Google Maps ap is really sexy.

Does the smart phone's GPS work independently of the 3G connection or do you need that 3G and web connection for the Google Maps navigation ap to work?

OR can the maps be downloaded into your smartphone and work with just the satelite signals outside the cell coverage area?

Yes the GPS works independently of the 3G connection. You can use the inbuilt GPS even without coverage. It will show you the route and directions etc.

 

[earllogjam]

Great decision on going for an android, you wont regret it.

The LG optimus is an ok entry level android phone, but I'm personally not to fond of LG products.

Perhaps you can recommend some cool aps for the Android. I want to use it as a mobile WIFI hot spot for my laptop while traveling.

Also I was wondering if there is a way of transferring my iTunes library to a MP3 format so I can have it on my smart phone.

I ordered a 16GB memory card as well for the phone.

Yes the GPS works independently of the 3G connection. You can use the inbuilt GPS even without coverage. It will show you the route and directions etc.

Great. That did it.

I just placed my order for the Android phone! I'm psyched.

 

[Sklar]

I actually downgraded from my Android phone back to a basic phone that had testing and voicemail. The reason why is because I bought the Motorola Xoom. It did everything mt phone could do plus had a much larger screen. Let me clarify, everything my phone could do except make a phone call.

The Android phone had a data plan you can't discontinue so I was paying for that AND the data plan for the Xoom. Why pay twice for the same thing?

As for the apps, I can honestly say I've been less than impressed with them. I'm not seeing what the big deal is all about. The games hold my attention for two or three days then I get bored with them (cribbage being the lone exception). My banking app just seems confusing to me so I just go to the website.

For me, the Android phone was a big waste of time. The Xoom is much more fun, much more portable and much easier to see.

Sklar

P.S. if they come out with a Xoom II with a phone, I'll get that in a heart beat!

 

[vince]

Also the sense in which iPhone encourages you to have contact only with other iPhones users is creepy, so many iPhone apps seem geared towards skewing your social interactions towards other iPhone users while Android doesn't seem to care what phone your friends use.

I've had an iPhone since before there was Andriod and it works just fine. no issues for me at all. It is a great phone for people who travel a lot.

I don't agree with you about being compeled to have contact only with with other iPhone users. There is no sense of that at all. An SMS is an SMS, no matter what device you use. Same for calls and emails or photos. I have friends using everything from Blackberry to the cheapest Nokia out there and there are no barriers. I never even thought of it.

 

[AlteredEgo]

Since a lot of people here like porn, I'm just going to come out and say it: You CANNOT get your mobile porn fix (for free) on iPhone. iPhone will not run Flash. Me? I end up doing a lot of traveling without my laptop, especially now that my online classroom is available through an Android app. I just log into my favorite porn sites and watch porn as I wish. One caveat: Many porn sites will try to force you to use their mobile site and pay for the mobile version of the same content. Make sure you leave the mobile sites and access the full web version.

Using the phone as a hotspot for my laptop has saved my ass on occasion, but it's kind of slow. I do love that I can make calls over WiFi from my phone. This has helped me because no one in my building can use cell phones or walkie-talkies. There is no signal for some reason. However, if I turn on WiFi calling, my calls are very clear and stable as long as I stay in range.

 

[SprinkleMe69]

Get anything but the iPhone. Everything I wanna do that I could do with my basic cell is followed by ,"You need an app for that." Such a monopoly for Apple.

 

[AlteredEgo]

LOL One of my friends with iPhone is constantly hanging up on me. She said she accidentally deleted the app that prevented her from pressing buttons with her cheek while talking. Are you kidding me? My Android (G2) has a proximity sensor. If I put the phone close to my face, the buttons deactivate.

 

[SprinkleMe69]

I shouldn't complain because I got the iPhone as a gift but damn this phone is like a basic house phone. Lol

 

[vince]

LOL One of my friends with iPhone is constantly hanging up on me. She said she accidentally deleted the app that prevented her from pressing buttons with her cheek while talking. Are you kidding me? My Android (G2) has a proximity sensor. If I put the phone close to my face, the buttons deactivate.

iPhone has had the same thing since the first version. Never been an issue for me or anyone I know.