Help me in choosing between Android and iPhone.

[fahadchaudhry]

Hi
I need a smartphone and I have to choose between Android, iPhone, Blackberry. I preferably want to go for Android. But I want to ask some questions. First, at Android market there are far less applications and it was very disappointing but then I came to know that when using android market on any android phone, you can have access to wide variety of applications. Is it so? Any idea how many applications are there?
Second, when we talk about "Touch screen", it should be very responsive otherwise when writing emails or messages if responses are not accurate, then it's of no use. Can you please suggest me which touch screen android phone I should go for? Or it's better if I go for G1 or latest release from Motorola?
Third, what advantages does Android have over iPhone? Why should one go for Android?

Thanks

 

[niksbin]

Hi,

I would say go with an Android phone. It has the most flexibility and potential for a smartphone so far, and most likely in the future as well. I have an HTC Hero from Sprint (in the USA). I would say, even though I have had it for just a couple days, it is really good in all respects (even the on-screen keyboard is good, since it gives feedback when typing on it). The user experience is the same as an iPhone (I have played with the iPod Touch (an iPhone w/o the phone feature) and an iPhone briefly).

As far as what the Android phone can do, that makes it stand out and be unique is:

- One example of this is that you can take a picture of a product with a
barcode and the program would compare all of the prices in the area so
you can see if that product is a good deal. Click here to see what I
mean.

- The GPS Navigation is also among the best. You can speak the
destination or type the destination. And during the travel the GPS Nav.
also gives you estimated time of arrival (ETA) to your destination (I think
it measures your speed of your travel).

The Android Market 'marketplace' is also very good. As of now, with over 10,000 apps available, there is a wide selection of apps (programs) you can get for your Android phone. Most are free or some with small cost per app (most of them under $5.00?). There are many more apps on the way since the main design of Android is to be open and flexible; and heavily supports the developer (writing/creating programs) community.

As far as the phone you should get, the main thing you should look for is that the phone should say "with Google" on the back of the phone (so you can get Android updates).

You should also try to get a phone with Android version 1.5 (aka Cupcake) at the minimum, but Android 1.6 (Donut) is the latest version. "Donut" adds features like Text-to-speech, where the phone can speak/read a MS Word document out loud to you.

The next version of Android is 2.0 (aka Eclair), I think adds Speech-To-Text, where you can speak into the phone instead of typing it, among some other features.

I think the next few months (maybe 6 months) will really show how Android can shine.

I apologize for the length of this, but I wanted to be thorough.

Hope this helps.

Thanks.

Sincerely,
Nikhil

 

[Fake Name]

- One example of this is that you can take a picture of a product with a
barcode and the program would compare all of the prices in the area so
you can see if that product is a good deal. Click here to see what I
mean.

You can do the same thing with Iphone

If you want more freedom with your phone go with the android Hero, if you want to be a ignorant d*ck go with the Iphon(most people with Iphone I know, are in your face that they have that phone...)

It also depends what cellphone company you like, for Ex: I almost went with Iphone but I hate every cellphone company except Sprint, so I went with Android Hero (actually I found my Hero through HTC Magic(My Touch))

 

[fahadchaudhry]

Thank you very much Nikhil and Mr Fake. Your replies were really helpful. Especially that I should look for "Google" at the back of phone. So, it means that Android phones not having "Google" at their back won't receive updates.

 

[rob1261]

"The user experience is the same as an iPhone (I have played with the iPod Touch (an iPhone w/o the phone feature) and an iPhone briefly)."

If you have not owned the iPhone 3GS you should not comment on it. I am not sticking up for or recommending the iPhone. I just can't stand people who think they can play with a phone (which you did not) and comment on it.

There are plenty of people that do or have owned the iPhone to give proper advice.

 

[rob1261]

Thank you very much Nikhil and Mr Fake. Your replies were really helpful. Especially that I should look for "Google" at the back of phone. So, it means that Android phones not having "Google" at their back won't receive updates.

His reply would be helpful if it was accurate, but it's not. Whether a phone has "Google" on the back has no affect on its ability to get updates. The "Google" branding is strictly a marketing decision by the manufacturer of the Phone. The Spint HTC Hero came out with and without "Google" branding. They are the exact same phone. This was confirmed by Sprint and HTC.

All I can say is try both Phones at the Store and compare for yourself. By the end of the year there will be more Android phones to choose from. T-Mobile, Verizon, Sprint and AT&T will be getting new Android devices.

 

[Omniscient]

I work as a mobile specialist in the US and I have some points I'd like to offer, forgive me if anyone has mentioned them as I did neglect to read all the replies

1. Cellphone retail nowadays considers any phone that you can get you email on a smartphone, that means basically any phone you get now would be a smartphone but as I always say at work we are looking for "The Smartest Phone". I know you are concerned about the number of android apps versus the number of app store apps and my advice is don't be lol. The numbers aren't what is important because the app store has been out longer so of course it will have more apps, its the quality of the apps that are the key. I can hop on an iPhone and find 10,000+ apps about beer, farting & yo mama jokes. Yet when it comes to finding something I truly need I spend searching all over the app store until I purchase something that I later regret buying.

2. I have customers come in all the time and go "I want an iPhone, its so awesome." But the biggest question I always ask them that you should ask yourself is "Why an iPhone?". Normally my answers are as follows: I can put my music on it, I can check my email, I can get on the internet, I can touch it...you get the idea. Then I offer up that many other phones do the same thing and then it all comes down to branding. The iPhone did not invent the touch screen, therefore any other phone manufacturer who is willing to put in the time to make a quality touch screen can have one just as good or better than the iPhone. And in my opinion, HTC Hero > iPhone 3G/s.

3. As a previous iPhone owner I do not consider the iPhone a true "Smartphone" I consider it a SmartTOY. When thing about my phone is the fact that I can play Gameboy emulators and DOOM but I still lack the capability to send a picture in a text, there is a problem. And I'm not even taking in account the dropped call rates and the fact that AT&T doesn't have nearly enough 3G towers to support all their iPhones leaving the unlucky to be kicked off to the slower EDGE network.

4. To sum things up: Don't misunderstand me, the iPhone is a great piece of technology in its own right. But with that title comes expectations, which is why I also say that some people should get iPhones and some should have a phone and an iPod Touch/or MP3 player. For the price I expect that the phone will have features that come standard on basic flip phones, and when I say standard I mean without the need to jailbreak. I was a jailbreaker, don't let them fool you either. We didn't jailbreak because we wanted to we jailbroke our phones because we had to in order to feel like we were receiving our money's worth.

- Omni

 

[TheBrit]

Maybe this will help you decide.
iDont

 

[MacMan]

I have owned both an iPhone 3g (running 3.1.2) and currently have a G1 running Android 1.6.

Comparing the two phones strictly on operating system:

The iPhone OS 3.1.2, in my opinion, is a vastly superior user interface and is not only easier to navigate, but also smoother. Apple's 25 year lead on Google building user interfaces really shows. I like being able to sync my contacts, calendar, apps, etc with iTunes and have my backup on my computer, not on some distant Google server.

G1 running 1.6: If i'd not spent a year on a iPhone, I might not have noticed the kind of clunky UI (and it's quite possible 1.6 runs smoother on other hardware than it does on the G1.)

What the interface lacks in elegance, it makes up for in 'tweekability' and customized settings.. and area where the iPhone OS lacks.. and the Google Maps functionality in Android blows the iPhone out of the water.

On a hardware level, I like that the G1 has a 3.2mp autofocus camera compared to the iPhone 3G's 2.0 fixed focus camera. Being able to expand storage with inexpensive microSD cards is also a huge benefit over iPhone's 'you get what you got' memory. The G1's built in compass is also a great bonus, and a feature not found in iPhones until the 3GS (which also features a slightly lower resolution 3.0mp autofocus camera)

As a devout MacOS man I have to say if I were buying a new phone today, and could choose any carrier, i'd go with a smartphone running Android.

 

[knickerbocker]

At&t is the single biggest reason I don't have an iPhone. The second is not multitasking - which I do on a daily basis with my Blackberry. I also don't consider the iPhone a strong business phone due to their e-mail client.

 

[MacMan]

At&t is the single biggest reason I don't have an iPhone. The second is not multitasking - which I do on a daily basis with my Blackberry. I also don't consider the iPhone a strong business phone due to their e-mail client.

Compared to the BlackBerry, I agree.. the iPhone eMail client is weak.. but the eMail client in Android is even worse.

The Contacts feature in Android is usable, the Calendar function full on blows.

For serious business use, a BlackBerry is the only real choice.

 

[BSmith]

The guys at Apple definitely did a good job on the Iphone and I think it will be hard to beat. The interface is clean, the app store has most of what you want, jailbreak the thing and you get the rest of what you want.

I'm (obviously) currently an Iphone user. I just moved to NC from Florida. There is no 3G coverage within 50 miles of me. My service is sketchy, and even the Edge data goes in and out. After being spoiled with the 3G and good service, there is no way I am going to accept what I have now. What's the point of the awesome phone if my Facebook and every webpage loads slow, WHEN it loads?

For that reason, I'm switching over to Verizon and am going to pick up the Droid. I feel like I am going to be making a mistake because the Iphone is going to be hard to beat, but at the same time, it's not fully functional for my location, so the Droid can't be any worse.

The #1 thing that always pissed me off about the Iphone was the need to go to the Apple store. God I hate that place. I couldn't be more happy that there isn't one anywhere close to here.

My advice is pick a service provider that works for ya. It seemed like anywhere in FL that I was I never had a problem with ATT. And I never had any problems visiting anywhere either, mostly because I stayed close to the big town. I can't talk for any other service providers. I'm just hoping that Verizon is going to be better.

 

[MacMan]

I will be curious to see the email client on the Droid. I typically use gmail for my main email account and can have my other emails forward to that email if need be and filtered. The email client on the 2.0 software is supposed to be better than the other Android phones to date. I had the iPhone and the email client sucked, I would not get my emails for hours on end unless I did a power cycle.

My iPhone experience was with 3.1 and up. I had 6 POP3 accounts configured, and I never had a problem getting mail, and I NEVER power cycled the phone.. but I used the thing 99% of the time via WiFi.. perhaps there's a difference there in reliability.

My Android 1.6 eMail client regularly delivers 'blank' eMail messages.. constantly tells me mail i've already read is 'new' mail, and occasionally tells me it's encountered a 'connection error'.

 

[chrlswltrs]

Maybe this will help you decide.
iDont

-Jailbreak your iPhone 3GS = background applications (multitasking)
-I was a heavy iPhone user and never had any problems with my 3GS battery
-The keyboard sucks on the droid and the touchscreen on iPhone is flawless

I loved my iPhone more than any android phone I have seen. I currently own the Droid Eris only because it was the best phone available from android OS and AT&T had 0 service where I just moved to. If ANY other network gets the iPhone I will pay my cancellation fee with Verizon and get the iPhone again and never regret it.

 

[spicygadgets]

Well I think for this kind of decision you should see what your friend circle is having ... this is very good if you have similar kind of phones so that you can easily share stuff with them.

 

[QrafTee]

*looks at Android Forum logo* Hm... I wonder what everyone will say... Get the Motorola Droid.

 

[venezia]

Droid.

Case closed.

Get in your car, go to the verizon store, buy the phone.




For every Iphone purchase, jesus kills 7 baby ducks, and bill gates kicks his dog.


Do you want to be a dog kicker? or do you want to have the coolest phone ever.

 

[lekky]

Hi
I need a smartphone and I have to choose between Android, iPhone, Blackberry. I preferably want to go for Android. But I want to ask some questions. First, at Android market there are far less applications and it was very disappointing but then I came to know that when using android market on any android phone, you can have access to wide variety of applications. Is it so? Any idea how many applications are there?

There are currently over 10,000 apps in the android market, and the market is still maturing and growing very fast. There will either be an app for what you want to do right now, or if not will be very soon.

Second, when we talk about "Touch screen", it should be very responsive otherwise when writing emails or messages if responses are not accurate, then it's of no use. Can you please suggest me which touch screen android phone I should go for? Or it's better if I go for G1 or latest release from Motorola?

The latest releases, by general rule, are always going to be better than the older devices, this really depends on how much cash you are willing to part with!

Third, what advantages does Android have over iPhone? Why should one go for Android?

The multi-tasking is one, you can do this with iPhone only if you jailbreak it. One thing i won't ever do with any of my phones is mess with something that i shouldn't.

Android heavily integrates the overall user experience with the web. For instance your contacts phone book is tied in naturally with things usch as facebook and flickr. If you intend to use your phone for social reasons like this and twitter i strongly recommend an android phone.

MP3 is not as good as the iPhone, mainly because there isn't a great MP3 player app out there YET. Remember the market is maturing everyday and a great media player could be just around the corner.

A bit of advice, don't just get an iPhone because of the App market, pretty much anything you want you can do on an android.

I'm trying to think of a reason you should get an iPhone over an android, and struggling to be honest.

 

[FoFa]

My guess if you are on an iPhone forums, they would recommend the iPhone, on a android forums, a android, etc.

I think you should try to find out which network/s in the areas you most frequent, have the best service for your needs. The network in the long run is more important. Does not matter if your phone can sing and dances if it can't connect. And if your phone can make you breakfast, give you a back rub, but drops calls all the time, well you get the picture.

I am thinking the Droid i have is pretty equal to an iPhone. But I have it on the Verizon network, which my wife wants to stay with. If it was not for her, I would have had an iPhone 2 years ago, but that is another story. Now i have basically an iPhone equal device on the network my wife likes. I know in and around the area we live and travel, we have had better luck with Verizon, and my wife being disabled, having reliable connections means something to her.

So think about what is important to you, then choose a phone based on what that carrier or carriers that met your criteria has to offer.

But that is just MHO