Why I should change from an iPhone...

[Ashman1987]

Hi Guys,

1st Post!

Currently own a jailbroken iPhone 4 and have been patiently waiting for the iPhone 5, until now.

Have always found iOS restrictive, hence the jailbreak.
I want themes, custom springboards, third party apps, custom ringtones, lockscreens, access to root file system, wifi tethering etc etc.

Well the recent iPhone 5 ruomours seem a little disappointing, 4" screen, no flash support, no expandable memory, maybe not even NFC? Plus I would have to wait MONTHS for a decent untethered jailbreak.

This has led to me thinking about Android, and I never thought I would change over to the dark side so to speak but the Galaxy S3 looks tempting. Better display, better battery, new INNOVATIVE features and true FLEXIBILITY.

However, having never owned an Android im nervous about just going out and buying it and not getting on with the platform.

For someone being used to iOS, what features do Android not have that I will miss? What will Android bring to the table that iOS doesnt? What advantage does "rooting" have? Anyone here got an S3 and care sharing their impression / review?

Sorry for the long post and I am really hoping this doesnt spark a whole Apple vs Android fan boy war!

Thanks guys!!

 

[jerofld]

As you're a new member, you probably didn't know that there is a Samsung Galaxy S3 section. And there is quite a bit of information/comparisons on them already. I did a quick search and found this:

http://androidforums.com/samsung-galaxy-s3/588470-came-iphone-comparison-questions.html

http://androidforums.com/samsung-ga...-iphone-newbie-observations-running-list.html

http://androidforums.com/samsung-galaxy-s3/608184-these-iphone-features-available-galaxy-3-a.html

http://androidforums.com/samsung-galaxy-s3/607124-talk-iphone-user-into-galaxy-s3-vice-versa.html

It is a rather debated topic, as you can see, and you're not the only one curious/cautious about making the switch. There are more threads on the topic, but I think that should give you a place decide or add to the conversation.

I can't make any direct comparisons myself, as I haven't used iOS since iOS 4 on an old iPod Touch.

 

[Ashman1987]

Thanks for the quick reply, will have a read!!

 

[valorian]

Hi Guys,
For someone being used to iOS, what features do Android not have that I will miss? What will Android bring to the table that iOS doesnt?

Most of the advantages you already answered here.

I want themes, custom springboards, third party apps, custom ringtones, lockscreens, access to root file system, wifi tethering etc etc.

I got the GS3 a couple weeks ago. This is by far the best phone I've ever owned. I cannot say for sure what features you will miss as I've never owned (and will never own) an iPhone.

The biggest advantage of rooting is to have the ability to run custom ROMS. These ROMs sometimes are tweaked to give you better battery life and some allow you to overclock CPU for faster performance. You can also run custom themes. This is just a few of the things you can do with a rooted phone. Keep in mind though, that rooting will void you warranty.

EDIT: I forgot one other advantage of going to Android..... No ITUNES!!

 

[chanchan05]

The biggest reason to NOT switch is the time and effort it will take to make everything sync together again. Remember that the Apple ecosystem is a walled garden, and moving out of it is almost the same as transferring to a new house: you pack up all your stuff (contacts, calendar etc) and bring them to a new place. Spend a lot of time and effort resorting back everything to how you want it. It may take a couple of weeks or even a month, but eventually you'll get everything running dandy.

Every now and then you may run into trouble with the OS (like finding that leaky spot in the corner of a bedroom in the moving house analogy), to which you'll find a fix and move on. That's just the way it is.

Samsung does provide however an easy way of porting over stuff, since Kies can restore an iPhone backup to a Samsung phone. But what you will notice first is how a lot of things are done differently on an Android compared to an iPhone. Android is open and app centric. The inbuilt features a phone has out of the box is less important than some of the more technical aspects in running the OS. So you will find a lot of people resorting to third party apps to modify features in the UI of the phone itself, unlike in Apple's world where an app was basically a program you use, while in Android you can change everything on the phone. You don't like the default keyboard? Get a new one that looks like the iPhone keyboard if you want.

Oh yeah, and like when moving to a new house, you may have to rebuy a few things you already had in the old house. In this case apps. You need to buy paid apps all over again because purchases on Apple doesn't carry over to Android and vice versa.

 

[Ashman1987]

thanks for your replies, and unless there is some mind blowing technology revealed in the iphone 5 on September 12th, im moving to android for sure...

 

[Ashman1987]

The biggest reason to NOT switch is the time and effort it will take to make everything sync together again. Remember that the Apple ecosystem is a walled garden, and moving out of it is almost the same as transferring to a new house: you pack up all your stuff (contacts, calendar etc) and bring them to a new place. Spend a lot of time and effort resorting back everything to how you want it. It may take a couple of weeks or even a month, but eventually you'll get everything running dandy.

Every now and then you may run into trouble with the OS (like finding that leaky spot in the corner of a bedroom in the moving house analogy), to which you'll find a fix and move on. That's just the way it is.

Samsung does provide however an easy way of porting over stuff, since Kies can restore an iPhone backup to a Samsung phone. But what you will notice first is how a lot of things are done differently on an Android compared to an iPhone. Android is open and app centric. The inbuilt features a phone has out of the box is less important than some of the more technical aspects in running the OS. So you will find a lot of people resorting to third party apps to modify features in the UI of the phone itself, unlike in Apple's world where an app was basically a program you use, while in Android you can change everything on the phone. You don't like the default keyboard? Get a new one that looks like the iPhone keyboard if you want.

Oh yeah, and like when moving to a new house, you may have to rebuy a few things you already had in the old house. In this case apps. You need to buy paid apps all over again because purchases on Apple doesn't carry over to Android and vice versa.

Sorry for the double post but the moving house analogy was great!

 

[jerofld]

thanks for your replies, and unless there is some mind blowing technology revealed in the iphone 5 on September 12th, im moving to android for sure...

The only thing I think that's going to be special is that Apple will slowly be fragmenting itself. There will be a 2 different phone screen sizes and 2 different iPad screens. If what I hear is correct, they had separate apps for both iPhone and iPads, because iOS doesn't scale anything (due to not having any real need before). So it makes me wonder if they'll have 4 different app versions to choose from. The big/small phones and the big/small tablets. Or if they'll scale the app to the resolution of the screen and call that revolutionary.

 

[nickdalzell]

An android phone is more customizable rooted than an iPhone is jailbroken. Some pay apps on iPhone (such as angry birds) are free on android

 

[Stuntman]

Have always found iOS restrictive, hence the jailbreak.
I want themes, custom springboards, third party apps, custom ringtones, lockscreens, access to root file system, wifi tethering etc etc.

Well the recent iPhone 5 ruomours seem a little disappointing, 4" screen, no flash support, no expandable memory, maybe not even NFC? Plus I would have to wait MONTHS for a decent untethered jailbreak.

Android phones will make these a lot easier. If you are really into this, you would likely be interested in an Android phone. If you are truely into tinkering with your device, the Galaxy Nexus is one you may want to consider. It is an older phone, but it will be easier for tinkering. Also, it should get the latest updates faster than most other Android phones. I have a friend who got it and he is ecstatic about it.

This has led to me thinking about Android, and I never thought I would change over to the dark side so to speak but the Galaxy S3 looks tempting. Better display, better battery, new INNOVATIVE features and true FLEXIBILITY.

Just FYI, over here, Apple is the "dark side."

For someone being used to iOS, what features do Android not have that I will miss? What will Android bring to the table that iOS doesnt? What advantage does "rooting" have? Anyone here got an S3 and care sharing their impression / review?

I personally do not root my phones. I have an SGS3 and I find that an unrooted Android phone will get me pretty much what I want out of it already. I've been using Android for almost 2 years. With both my old HTC Desire Z and SGS3, I have never really gotten to a point where I feel like I really need to root my device to get what I want out of it. That's just me. You may want to tinker more than I.

 

[Digital Controller]

The only thing I think that's going to be special is that Apple will slowly be fragmenting itself. There will be a 2 different phone screen sizes and 2 different iPad screens. If what I hear is correct, they had separate apps for both iPhone and iPads, because iOS doesn't scale anything (due to not having any real need before). So it makes me wonder if they'll have 4 different app versions to choose from. The big/small phones and the big/small tablets. Or if they'll scale the app to the resolution of the screen and call that revolutionary.

Another mentionable thing, on the talk of Apple, is the possible new connection. Meaning you will need to buy either a converter, i imagine they will have them, or an entirely new connector, which will only work for the new Gen of Apple Products, EWW WHY APPLE WHYYY

 

[Deleted User]

Personally even if i had an i phone that was rooted i would be bored simply because there's so much you can do with android with widgets wallpapers themes. If you root (which I've not done) there's even more possibility but that i shall leave to an expert whose rooted! With an i phone i realise the simplicity and use of i tunes just works but that could get boring. I also accept that having that simplicity could also work well because you know it works. Shame there are limitations when using stock official apple products and being forced to use them!

 

[AlvarezLuis]

Hi Guys,

1st Post!

Currently own a jailbroken iPhone 4 and have been patiently waiting for the iPhone 5, until now.

Have always found iOS restrictive, hence the jailbreak.
I want themes, custom springboards, third party apps, custom ringtones, lockscreens, access to root file system, wifi tethering etc etc.

Well the recent iPhone 5 ruomours seem a little disappointing, 4" screen, no flash support, no expandable memory, maybe not even NFC? Plus I would have to wait MONTHS for a decent untethered jailbreak.

This has led to me thinking about Android, and I never thought I would change over to the dark side so to speak but the Galaxy S3 looks tempting. Better display, better battery, new INNOVATIVE features and true FLEXIBILITY.

However, having never owned an Android im nervous about just going out and buying it and not getting on with the platform.

For someone being used to iOS, what features do Android not have that I will miss? What will Android bring to the table that iOS doesnt? What advantage does "rooting" have? Anyone here got an S3 and care sharing their impression / review?

Sorry for the long post and I am really hoping this doesnt spark a whole Apple vs Android fan boy war!

Thanks guys!!

What the other guys said! You'll LOVE Android!

However, FYI: Flash is being phased out everywhere. Also on Android (and good riddance too).

 

[adaaaam]

Flash is awesome and will be a mainstay amongst Webpages for the forseeable future because HTML5 is just not gaining the traction that many had hoped. Adobe will likely be integrating Flash with Air.

 

[Lordvincent 90]

Plain and simple... The benefits you get by jailbreaking an iphone are STOCK features in Android. It's a whole new world. Custom EVERYTHING. You don't need a case to make your device different from all the others

Not happy with the launcher (ui) change it with a free app from the market.

Keyboard sucks? Dl a new one!

music player to plain? They're are hundreds to choose from.

The list goes on... Come to the 'dark side'. (lol he doesn't even know HE is one of the fallen )

Bottom line:
If you like one way of doing things and no options to express yourself buy an iPhone (or rob a bank, intentionally get caught, and live in prison)

If you like endless options, custom software and utter freedom: toss away those shackles, tear down that wall, and burn the garden to ash.

Android = freedom
IPhone = fancy garden, with tall walls and razor wire.

'iPhone'
'iRun'
'iFail'
iPrisoner...

lastly:

Oh and once you made the switch, press this

Spoiler

 

[MsvSpaz]

I just went through the same thing. JB'd iPhone 4 to HOX. I consciously decided to take the plunge before the iPhone 5 came out as I was eager to try Android and did not want to be tempted by the iPhone. After just over one week with the phone I couldn't be happier. The HOX is not compatible with my car stereo, I can no longer use the voice command button on my in car bluetooth, my music library got messed up when I transferred it over from itunes and my battery lasts half as long as the iPhone, BUT it was all worth it. The UI is more interesting and customisable. As previously mentioned the apps are able to operate more within the OS rather than in the app itself so are able to achieve a lot more.

I would now consider iOS to be the dark side. I have seen the light.

All this said I would still recommend the iPhone to my wife, mother, grandfather, grandmother or basically anyone who is interested in the most rudimentary, user friendly, experience possible. I myself prefer to be a little challenged and able to achieve a lot more.

 

[Rxpert83]

Because any high end Android is years ahead of an iphone as far as hardware goes.

 

[Omar Days]

Totally off topic, but, Ashman, are you an mc from London?