I'm back, here's what I learned

[ardchoille]

I recently spent a year using only Apple products. Here are my comparisons of Android and iOS. Note: These comparisons detail system allowances by the manufacturer.

Android:
I have been using Android device since the release of the HTC Dream/G1.

* Released: 2008
* Obtaining the source code for Android: Easy, allowed except for Google proprietary apps, free
* Changing and re-distributing the sources: Easy, allowed except for Google proprietary apps, free
* Compiling your own system: Complicated, allowed, free
* Creating clone systems: Allowed
* Learning to code: Easy, allowed, free, one official language
* Switching kernels: Easy, requires rooted device
* Switching desktop environments: Not applicable
* Switching window managers: Not applicable
* Obtaining apps: Easy, allowed, free, multiple sources
* Advertisements in apps: In many free apps
* Creating and distributing apps: Easy, allowed, free, one official language, no approval necessary
* Creating and distributing themes/skins: Easy, allowed, requires rooted device
* Cost of hardware: Varies depending on your needs
* Where to find hardware: Android can be installed on various hardware
* Aesthetic quality of system: Appealing
* Creating a multi-boot system: Easy, allowed, free
* Access to system files: Requires rooted device, if/when root is available

iOS:
I switched to iOS from Android in early 2012 because I wanted to experience the iPhone and iPod.

* Released: 2007
* Obtaining the entire source code for iOS: Not available
* Changing and re-distributing the entire sources: Not allowed
* Compiling your own system: Not applicable due to unavailable sources
* Creating clone systems: Not allowed
* Learning to code: Easy, developer fees, one official language
* Switching kernels: Not allowed
* Switching desktop environments: Not applicable
* Switching window managers: Not applicable
* Obtaining apps: Easy, allowed, worthwhile apps cost money, one source
* Advertisements in apps: In many free apps
* Creating and distributing apps: Easy, developer fees, one official language, requires app approval
* Creating and distributing themes/skins: Requires jailbroken device
* Cost of hardware: Expensive compared to non-Apple equivalents
* Where to find hardware: Purchase from Apple
* Aesthetic quality of system: Appealing, one theme
* Creating a multi-boot system: Not allowed
* Access to system files: Requires jailbroken device, if/when a jailbreak is available

In 2013 I gave up on Apple products and returned to Android and Linux. The reasons for my return:

Android devices are cheaper (prices are for contract-free devices):
The Nexus 4 (latest Phone): $299
Nexus 7 (latest 7 inch tablet): $199
Nexus 10 (latest 10 inch tablet): 399

iPhone (latest phone): $649
iPad mini (latest 7.9 inch tablet): $329
iPad (latest 9.7 inch tablet): $499

I'm back on Android and I've learned quite a bit. Long live Android

 

[ocnbrze]

ARDCHOILLE!!!!!!!!

nice to see you back in AF land. we sorely missed you. sorry you had to go thru all that to only realize how awesome android is!!!!!

 

[ardchoille]

ARDCHOILLE!!!!!!!!

nice to see you back in AF land. we sorely missed you. sorry you had to go thru all that to only realize how awesome android is!!!!!

Yeah, lol, learned my lesson.. taught me that Android is indeed better. I've missed you all

 

[Frisco]

Nice surprise seeing your name and avi here, amigo.

Great info.

 

[AntimonyER]

Welcome back sir! Thanks for the summary!

 

[ocnbrze]

did you jailbreak your iphoney? how was that? was it easy to do? i have never seen a jail broken phone before.......just curious.

 

[ardchoille]

did you jailbreak your iphoney? how was that? was it easy to do? i have never seen a jail broken phone before.......just curious.

I did jailbreak my iPhone 4S, but jailbreaking still doesn't give you the kind of access that you have on a rooted android device. Jailbreaking was easy and took about a minute, but the system is simply too locked down to do anything worthwhile even after being jailbroken.

Being on Apple products really angered me, it is now my life's work to move apple users over to Android.. one user at a time I've never seen a company so closed off and full of themselves as Apple is.

 

[ocnbrze]

I did jailbreak my iPhone 4S, but jailbreaking still doesn't give you the kind of access that you have on a rooted android device. Jailbreaking was easy and took about a minute, but the system is simply too locked down to do anything worthwhile even after being jailbroken.

Being on Apple products really angered me, it is now my life's work to move apple users over to Android.. one user at a time I've never seen a company so closed off and full of themselves as Apple is.

lame, even jail broken it is still locked down....that is so apple.

 

[Gmash]

Welcome back from the dark side!

 

[Digital Controller]

Thanks for the awesome comparison. Too bad your experience couldn't of been better. I think now that I have been android for 4years almost I could never go apple.

 

[scary alien]

Good to see you back with us, ardchoille!

Interesting and detailed comparison you've made...thank you .

 

[ardchoille]

It's so good to be back! Wowsers, I'm loving this new Droid Razr HD. I took it off the charger around 4:00 yesterday afternoon, been using it heavily and it's still got 40% after 14 hours. I know that these batteries get better over time so my battery life should be nice and long after a week of usage

 

[scary alien]

It's so good to be back! Wowsers, I'm loving this new Droid Razr HD. I took it off the charger around 4:00 yesterday afternoon, been using it heavily and it's still got 40% after 14 hours. I know that these batteries get better over time so my battery life should be nice and long after a week of usage

Yeah, Moto certainly has made a good decision in offering a device with such great battery life.

Did you see the guy that turned his RAZR into a RAZR Maxx?

Turn Your Droid RAZR into a Droid RAZR Maxx – xda-developers

How to: Convert your RAZR into a RAZR MAXX (source thread)

Pretty cool (and a little scary ).

 

[ardchoille]

Yeah, Moto certainly has made a good decision in offering a device with such great battery life.

Did you see the guy that turned his RAZR into a RAZR Maxx?

Turn Your Droid RAZR into a Droid RAZR Maxx

 

[pastafarian]

Welcome back sir!

Every time I play with a friends iDevice, I end up wanting to bash the device against a wall in frustration. Unless you're willing to give yourself over to Apples way of doing everything completely, the devices are so limiting. It also come down to which system you're most familiar with. That's always been my frustration with many tech journalists who proclaim iOS so intuitive. It's intuitive to them because it's what they're using every day. Then they will proclaim Android as non intuitive, mainly because it doesn't work like iOS.

Example:
My last Wednesdays task, copy 904 songs not bought through Apple from friends iPad to friends "new" iPhone 4s using work computer not associated with any iTunes account. Spend time searching out free program that will accomplish the task without iTunes. Find out that all need iTunes anyway for driver support. D/L iTunes which then requires an update. Avoid installing Safari and Quicktime. Find a program that will grab all the songs, not just the first 100 and then ask for $30-$100. Make sure that iTunes doesn't wipe the device you're trying to copy from, as it wants to do this...badly. Finally accomplish goal....after 3 frustration filled hours. With 2 android devices? Plug in usb for both devices and using windows explorer copy files. Time spent? 4 min (7 if the computer needs to auto d/l usb drivers). Double that if you only have 1 usb cable/port.
My friend who owns an iPad and iPhone even bought an Apple laptop to make his iLife complete. Unfortunately, he bought (got ripped off) an old G4 powered PowerBook. iTunes stopped supporting the PPC based systems before it started supporting iOS 6 . Not knowing this, I went to the iTunes d/l page and attempted to install 11. It downloaded and when I attempted to install did nothing. No "this version doesn't work with your device", nothing. That's intuitive.... To even have a chance at getting things to work, he would have to pay Apple to update OSX in order to run iTunes 10.6 (last PPC supported version) and even then, no official iOS 6+ is offered. Oops, that won't be a working solution. Funny, a pc at work that is older and much crappier than the Powerbook had no problem at all running the latest iTunes 11.1.

GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!

 

[Rush]

Hey there, ardchoille... :ciao:

It's nice to have you back. Just to let you know ... I've moved your thread to our Lounge area.

Here's hoping we'll be seeing more from you.

 

[ardchoille]

Welcome back sir!

Every time I play with a friends iDevice, I end up wanting to bash the device against a wall in frustration. Unless you're willing to give yourself over to Apples way of doing everything completely, the devices are so limiting. It also come down to which system you're most familiar with. That's always been my frustration with many tech journalists who proclaim iOS so intuitive. It's intuitive to them because it's what they're using every day. Then they will proclaim Android as non intuitive, mainly because it doesn't work like iOS.

GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!

I know exactly what you mean.. and that's one of the reasons I'm back with Android

Hey there, ardchoille... :ciao:

It's nice to have you back. Just to let you know ... I've moved your thread to our Lounge area.

Here's hoping we'll be seeing more from you.

Thanks for moving the thread. You'll be seeing more of me.. I'm never leaving again

 

[jludwig57]

Here's what I like:

Choices of phones. Lots of options. I always like options. I don't want my phone to look exactly like everybody's phone.
The ability to customize however you want. It shows individually among users. Options to tweak.

I guess I do not want to be exactly like everyone else.

 

[El Presidente]

Nice wee write up.

Welcome back too, very glad to see you've decided to come home.

 

[olbriar]

It's great to have you back ardchoille. We've missed yas. Thanks for sharing the experience with us.

 

[EarlyMon]

/waves

 

[dan330]

hi ya..

so.. tell us the good parts of idevices.
what are we missing? i have never owned one.

my ex-wife has iphone and ipad.. and got our daughter an ipod. I have no desire to play with them. it just frustrating to have only 1 button (yes, android brainwash)

my little 9yr old daughter.. likes the Nexus7 more than the ipad.

 

[ardchoille]

hi ya..

so.. tell us the good parts of idevices.
what are we missing? i have never owned one.

my ex-wife has iphone and ipad.. and got our daughter an ipod. I have no desire to play with them. it just frustrating to have only 1 button (yes, android brainwash)

my little 9yr old daughter.. likes the Nexus7 more than the ipad.

Well, after living with nothing but Apple products for a year, I feel you're not actually missing anything with Android. Android has come a long way, it's been tweaked for speed and battery life, and I can honestly say that it is a superior system when compared to iOS.

Take a look at my post in the OP, you'll noticed quite a number of "Not Allowed" and "Not Available" entries in the iOS section. I'm actually surprised Apple users can get much done as closed down as the iOS system is - which is why I switched back to Android.

In the words of a friend; "the grass may be greener on the other side, but you're going to have to mow that grass too".

 

[nickdalzell]

i am not sure my opinion matters but i had an iPhone 3GS long before i had any Android device.

for me stability, overall UI smoothness and battery life takes precedent over customization and widgets, etc. sadly this is where i miss my iPhone. it was a lended device that i eventually gave back for two reasons 1) the battery kept going to self-discharge mode once or twice a week, so when i would go to use my phone, it wouldn't wake up, only displaying the dead battery logo and 2) someone else at work needed it more than i did so i gave it back.

i miss the iPhone's speed, overall touch response, and lack of crashing. i never EVER had to reboot my iPhone. i often reboot Androids a few times a week, and i get far more crashes in Android than on iOS. the Android has a problem with touch accuracy, no retina comparison, and lag. keyboard lag is horrid. battery life in an Android phone is around ~24 hours tops or maybe a day and a half. the iPhone could go at least 3 days in standby.

there are two things i cannot do in an iPhone that i can do in Android. 1) wifi tether, and 2) download MP3s for free. i do still miss my awesome Star Trek LCARS theme that i had on my then-jailbroken 3GS though. it beat just about any theme i can do in Android.

 

[mikedt]

i miss the iPhone's speed, overall touch response, and lack of crashing. i never EVER had to reboot my iPhone. i often reboot Androids a few times a week, and i get far more crashes in Android than on iOS. the Android has a problem with touch accuracy, no retina comparison, and lag. keyboard lag is horrid. battery life in an Android phone is around ~24 hours tops or maybe a day and a half. the iPhone could go at least 3 days in standby.

Nick, I still think you're comparing the iPhone with some budget and maybe off-brand Android phones. Many of which really are underpowered for ICS or JB, have crappy software, lag, mediocre screens, poor battery life, etc. My Lenovo P700i, which is a mid-range Chinese dual SIM, doesn't do any of what you describe. And it was around the third of the price of an iPhone 4S or 5. Unlocked and no mandatory contract.

there are two things i cannot do in an iPhone that i can do in Android. 1) wifi tether,

FYI you can WiFi tether with an iPhone. But depending on country and/or carrier you might have to pay an extra fee to enable it. Same with Android, all depends on the phone, carrier and country whether you can tether, or if you have to pay extra for tethering.

and 2) download MP3s for free.

I don't think you download copyrighted MP3s for free on Android, unless you're doing something illegal? The exception would be a country that has free legal MP3 downloads, e.g. China. Certainly can't do it in the States AFAIK.