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Why do you like Android over iOS?

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mcarlos95

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Apr 28, 2011
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Pretty clear question. I have an iPhone 4 right now and all my friends are telling me to sale it and get a new G2X. Sounds so cool with its awesome specs, but I really do appreciate iOS's design! With its easy to use home screen, app store,syncing with iTunes, design, and music player, I can't get the gutts to switch. Have you guys gotten used to it or why is it that you choose Android over iOS? I know this is a fan boy website, but im asking for the most non-biased answers(if possible:D).
 
Honestly I prefer having the choice and many different options that the Android OS provides. I have an iPod touch 3rd gen, and I was pretty familiar with iOS. I honestly did all the research and found that an Android phone was better for me and my needs and wants in a mobile device.

I'm currently on my 2nd Android phone and will be buying a 3rd. Both operating systems are good in my opinion, and some people like the simplicity of iOS, which is totally understandable... I'm just not one of them.
 
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Welcome to the forums, but you are mistaken if you think this is a "fan boy" site. It's one of the most civilized discussion forums on the internet (although we do have a trouble maker at times that we must take to the woodshed.)

It's a difficult question to answer because what I want or need may be different from your requirements in a device. I like Android's infinite customizability. I like the variety of hardware. I like the feeling that the phone belongs to me and not just that I'm allowed to use it.

There are cosmetic differences, but core functionality is moot. They are devices that make phone calls, access data, run applications and take pictures. Once terms like "elegant" and "freedom" and "sux" enter the discussion, I head to bar.
 
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Partly because i have real problems with the way apple do business - the whole lock-in monoculture control freakery thing really worries me, so anything which helps challenge their position is a good thing in my book.

Partly because i like to hack and play around with my hardware - just for the hell of it.

Partly because there's such a variety of hardware available.

Partly because it's so customisable - my home screens are set up exactly how i like them, using a bunch of different apps and widgets that i've discovered and had shown to me over the years (and still finding new ones) and my phone setup is probably unique to me, as is everyone else's.

Although I dont think Android will ever have the smoothness and ease of use that IOS gives (the advantage of being able to control every aspect of the phone and what's allowed to run on it), and i think IOS still has the edge in variety and quality of apps (although only just). But once you get used to android, using IOS feels like losing a limb or two - it may be shinier and smoother, but to me it feels kind of like a fischer price version of android - it's just so limited in what youre allowed to do with the phone, so many things that i now take for granted are missing.

I know lots of people are happy with their iphones, more power to them. But it's not for me.
 
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There are no iOS phones that have a hardware keyboard. This was the main thing that made me not consider the iPhone. If you have a good idea of what you want specifically, it is more likely you will find that there is an Android phone that suits what you want more so than an iPhone. My impression of the iPhone is that you have to make some compromise on features or price because the iPhone is suppose to be OK for most smartphone users.

I like widgets. Widgets enable me to do certain things or access some information very quickly. For instance, with a single touch, I can toggle auto-rotate on or off. Widgets enable me to check the hockey scores without having to open up an app.

I don't think that iOS has a significant advantage over Android in terms of app selection. I have managed to find apps that I need on my Android phone.
 
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I don't care for the clustered icon view of the iPhone. I don't like that there is no way to navigate or manipulate the files, and I don't like having to go thru iTunes for just about everything.

What are you talking about have you never heard of iFile? Its a VERY popular app available in Cydia.

I don't think that iOS has a significant advantage over Android in terms of app selection. I have managed to find apps that I need on my Android phone.

Do you really think so? I did a search for a developer EA a few months ago and they had around 10 games on Android compared to around 100 on iOS. In the gaming category Android is not even competing with iOS quantity or quality wise. Even in the SAME exact app the iOS version is usually has more features or is updated before the Android version (ESPN Sportcenter and Facebook for example).
 
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What are you talking about have you never heard of iFile? Its a VERY popular app available in Cydia.

Thank you for the clarification

Do you really think so? I did a search for a developer EA a few months ago and they had around 10 games on Android compared to around 100 on iOS. In the gaming category Android is not even competing with iOS quantity or quality wise. Even in the SAME exact app the iOS version is usually has more features or is updated before the Android version (ESPN Sportcenter and Facebook for example).

I agree only about the gaming aspect. In truth, right now, iOS does have more games. A good many people do not own phones to play games. Flinging birds around or zapping zombies really holds no interest for me, but again MY needs are different from YOUR needs are different from HIS/HER needs.

Lets not turn this into another tired old pi$$ing contest of who rulz and who droolz. Please.
 
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http://androidforums.com/htc-thunderbolt/300129-lets-see-your-thunderbolt-screens.html

http://androidforums.com/samsung-droid-charge/328179-share-your-homescreens-screencaps.html

Here are a few sections of how people customizes their homescreens and why its one of favorite reason to have android. You can go in any phone section snd see screenshots of what they do. You can create custom icons and really make it unique to them. Plus people loves to share how they did it. Plus you can OC or underclock to make the phone faster or to extend battery life.

I like Android over iPhone for the simple reason of choices. I have had one motorola and 2 HTC phones. I get what I think I need and not what Gates and applle says I need. THe iPhone seems like its more setup like what you think your grandparents phone would look like. While android rebels from that do what we think is best.

I had an iPod Touch 3gen and as far as a music player it was great but once I got my Moto Droid I gave my touch to my son as it was so bland and not much to make it eye pleasing to what interested me at the time.

If you are happy with the iPhone4 then keep it and who cares what your friends say. When all my firends had stangs and Z-28's I had a Ranger pickup. They said get rid of that junk and get a stang. I just said this is what I like. Dont get something because someone says so. Nothing wrong with an iPhone and after all it makes phone calls and texts right? Plays music and so on? So it does what you need. Android does have more bugs than iOS. So get what you want and to HECK with the rest.
 
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What are you talking about have you never heard of iFile? Its a VERY popular app available in Cydia.



Do you really think so? I did a search for a developer EA a few months ago and they had around 10 games on Android compared to around 100 on iOS. In the gaming category Android is not even competing with iOS quantity or quality wise. Even in the SAME exact app the iOS version is usually has more features or is updated before the Android version (ESPN Sportcenter and Facebook for example).
Also the Apple App store has been around a lot longer than the android version. So they got more of the DEVs that makes those programs. It would be a different story if both came out at the same time. I think the android app store is coming along fine.

Out of all the apps in the apple store how many are worthless and useless? Case in point if I see another flashlight app which is just a white screen with the brightness turned all the way up.

So take the junk out and see how many apps are left in there. :p
 
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Thank you for the clarification



I agree only about the gaming aspect. In truth, right now, iOS does have more games. A good many people do not own phones to play games. Flinging birds around or zapping zombies really holds no interest for me, but again MY needs are different from YOUR needs are different from HIS/HER needs.

Lets not turn this into another tired old pi$$ing contest of who rulz and who droolz. Please.

This isnt this is just really about the facts. iOS apps have been released earlier and usually run better. Look at HBO GO and WatchESPN for example both of those programs even have Tablet versions that Android doesnt have. Even if games are not your thing PC software like Fruity Loops that are transitioning to iOS. There is no problem to prefer Android over iOS or the otherwise but you make it seem like there is not a big difference but iOS has more big time development companies behind it than Android at the moment. Even in the niche markets like the medical industry iOS apps are emerging with no sign of Android counter parts. The only software Android has over iOS those that are apart of the google services (which are mostly good).

I like Android over iPhone for the simple reason of choices. I have had one motorola and 2 HTC phones. I get what I think I need and not what Gates and applle says I need. THe iPhone seems like its more setup like what you think your grandparents phone would look like. While android rebels from that do what we think is best.

This is again not true. You can customize the iPhone look quite a bit here are some examples that well even rival many android screens

http://i51.tinypic.com/vy456b.png
http://i51.tinypic.com/vy456b.png
http://i51.tinypic.com/2i07ipj.png

Now of course customization isnt like this out of the box but it is not hard to achieve these results. And before people throw out the "i dont want to jailbreak" statement why exactly would you NOT jailbreak your iPhone. I dont see how any member of the Android community can go through the hassle of flashing roms, kernals, side loading apps, and so on but would not want to JB which only involves turning your phone on and off and connecting it to the computer.

Like I said earlier there is no problem like one os over the other but my issue is a lot of you guys are saying things that are basically lies.
 
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What are you talking about have you never heard of iFile? Its a VERY popular app available in Cydia.

Don't you have to jailbreak for that?

Do you really think so? I did a search for a developer EA a few months ago and they had around 10 games on Android compared to around 100 on iOS. In the gaming category Android is not even competing with iOS quantity or quality wise. Even in the SAME exact app the iOS version is usually has more features or is updated before the Android version (ESPN Sportcenter and Facebook for example).

Yes the gaming is advantage iphone but android has made great strides. Lets be honest, if you put an Android phone and an Iphone out the box as is, Android does more. Many iphone owners won't admit it.
 
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Also the Apple App store has been around a lot longer than the android version. So they got more of the DEVs that makes those programs. It would be a different story if both came out at the same time. I think the android app store is coming along fine.

Out of all the apps in the apple store how many are worthless and useless? Case in point if I see another flashlight app which is just a white screen with the brightness turned all the way up.

So take the junk out and see how many apps are left in there. :p

You can make the same statement about Android though. Seeing how the Android market is easier to get into wouldnt it logically have more crap apps? Not to mention the numerous amounts of illegal content on the android market (tv stream apps, rom finders, etc..) the android market would have more bloat. But this is all besides the points we are talking about quality applications. Even Adobe who has a lengthy history of being at war with Apple has brought a photoshop companion apps to iOS before Android.

Yes the gaming is advantage iphone but android has made great strides. Lets be honest, if you put an Android phone and an Iphone out the box as is, Android does more. Many iphone owners won't admit it.

I dont get this argument. What things out of the box are you guess referring to specifically? This seems so subjective on what the person is using it for. For the average consumer both OS can do what anyone would want from a phone.
 
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No, what are being expressed are opinions. The topic title asks "Why do you like Android over iOS?" and people are giving their reasons. Opinions can't, by definition, be wrong. You may not agree but calling them "lies" is unfair.

I don't like that there is no way to navigate or manipulate the files

I don't like having to go thru iTunes for just about everything.

THe iPhone seems like its more setup like what you think your grandparents phone would look like. While android rebels from that do what we think is best.

These are all incorrect statements. If I go to the other threads that have recently been closed I am sure I can find a boatload.

The true difference between iOS vs Android is which ecosystem you want to be in. Some prefer having integrated google services while others prefer a more polished a stabler OS with a large development community. Some people prefer a more homebrew community while others want a more commercial community.
 
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Jesus christ. I just remembered one reason i prefer android, fewer zealots that just cant let go of any perceived criticism of their choice of phone.

Southzeztpdot. 4 posts. All in this thread.

If I go to the other threads that have recently been closed I am sure I can find a boatload.
Wonder why they ended up getting closed? Troll much?
 
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Jesus christ. I just remembered one reason i prefer android, fewer zealots that just cant let go of any perceived criticism of their choice of phone.

If you let other people dictate your decisions than you are going to have a bigger issue that iOS vs Android. What would a crazy zealots preference have anything to do with your personal preference?

As has been posted before numerous posters are those exact "zealots" you hate on the other side of the fence. Everything I posted is true, and if not say otherwise. You are chastising me for telling the truth isnt that what whole point of these whole message boards are for to share REAL information. There are some members on here that believe that you cant even change your wallpaper on iOS there is so much misinformation spread that it is sad.
 
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I'm here because i own an android phone, and it's kind of a logical choice to come here and discuss it. I dont go over to iphone forums and desparately defend my phone and i really dont get why you feel the need to do so here.

What is missing from your life that you have to trawl forums for phones you dont even own, and defend your choice to this extent? Seriously, what on earth makes you feel the need to do this? Youre either a troll, or there is something wrong with you.

Still, thanks for ruining a perfectly civilised discussion, (i'm at least partly to blame, long weekend, tired, i bit the zealot/troll). Mods will now close thread. Thanks, zealot/troll.
 
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I'm here because i own an android phone, and it's kind of a logical choice to come here and discuss it. I dont go over to iphone forums and desparately defend my phone and i really dont get why you feel the need to do so here.

What is missing from your life that you have to trawl forums for phones you dont even own, and defend your choice to this extent? Seriously, what on earth makes you feel the need to do this? Youre either a troll, or there is something wrong with you.

Still, thanks for ruining a perfectly civilised discussion, zealot/troll.

I ruined this discussion by pointing out false statements? I think you ruined this discussion by personally attacking me instead of my statements. Like I said nothing I said is wrong so what is your problem?
 
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@southz


So why mention it?(jailbreak). That's one of the benefits of android, you can customize and personalize it to your liking without jailbreaking. For android it's call rooting.

I mention it because a lot of people think Jailbreaking is some long process and some other posters think you cant customize at all which is not true. It is as easy to jailbreak an iOS device as it is to turn of and on your phone. I get what you mean saying Android is more customizable out of the box which is true. You have more options for UI out of the box and have many options for launchers and skins.
 
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Do you really think so? I did a search for a developer EA a few months ago and they had around 10 games on Android compared to around 100 on iOS. In the gaming category Android is not even competing with iOS quantity or quality wise. Even in the SAME exact app the iOS version is usually has more features or is updated before the Android version (ESPN Sportcenter and Facebook for example).

I really think so because for the apps that I use, I am able to find exactly what I need. I am not much of a gamer, so if iOS does have a wider selection of games than Android, I wouldn't know and probably don't care. I didn't buy a phone to play games.

As for apps, I do find that apps for Android become available a little later than those for iOS. For the apps that I use, the Android versions are sufficient for my needs. There hasn't been any major feature of apps like Facebook that I felt I really needed on my phone that isn't available.

If you are comparing features of apps in iOS vs. Android, any Android app with a widget has a feature that isn't available in iOS and that feature is that it has a widget. Any Android app that works as a widget only will not be available at all on iOS.
 
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