Android v.s iOS

[P.D.]

Personally I'm not really a fan of apps and that's why I chose the OS that you need to use them the least because everything is baked into the main OS. Thats why I like Windows as I can just have a live tile pushing me the info - e.g. I have one for the Jubilee line as thats the line I live on so as soon as the status changes on it my tile refreshes and I know it's down etc. Just one useful way of getting info. Opening an app, looking at a certain part of it then closing down, opening another one etc is just too slow and cumbersome really. The Windows idea of pinning certain parts of an app or albums in music etc to the home screen works really well.

It probably doesn't have as much functionality as Android though but I'm not really too fussed about some of the more advanced stuff - as I see things it's a phone I want to do quickly to get the info/do tasks I need - not something I want to spend hours playing with every day.

 

[tommysvr]

Personally I'm not really a fan of apps and that's why I chose the OS that you need to use them the least because everything is baked into the main OS. Thats why I like Windows as I can just have a live tile pushing me the info - e.g. I have one for the Jubilee line as thats the line I live on so as soon as the status changes on it my tile refreshes and I know it's down etc. Just one useful way of getting info. Opening an app, looking at a certain part of it then closing down, opening another one etc is just too slow and cumbersome really. The Windows idea of pinning certain parts of an app or albums in music etc to the home screen works really well.

It probably doesn't have as much functionality as Android though but I'm not really too fussed about some of the more advanced stuff - as I see things it's a phone I want to do quickly to get the info/do tasks I need - not something I want to spend hours playing with every day.

That's pretty cool and the perfect opinion on why you'd buy one phone over the other. Not because one has a 300mp camera or some random spec.

OP, tell us what you would do day to day on a phone and then users of each OS can give you their opinion on how best you would achieve it.

 

[spursman17]

My question is what can an iPhone do that an Android can't? How can an iPhone make your life more convenient in ways that Android can't? Sure, it looks simple because it's all apps and no widgets, but the beauty of Android is that you can do whatever you like with it - Google make it fully customisable and if that's not enough then it's also rootable.

Most apps are free on Google Play, for example Angry Birds isn't free on iOS but is free on Android. Have a look at app prices on www.play.google.com

Many people are making the move away from Apple. Really you should be asking them about how much they regret it. From what I've seen, the vast majority who have dared do such a thing within the last year feel they have never made such a wise move.

I may be biased, but that's because I find Android better, if not on par, in every way - I couldn't say that two years ago however now I can. I used to own an iPod Touch, and whilst that isn't an iPhone it basically does the same thing apart from calls and texts which you said doesn't interest you as much. I lost it in August in Turkey and really wasn't upset.

I have been a Android user for many years. I have never owned an Apple product (including an ipod) but after my phone contract expired a month or so ago I decided to get the Iphone5.

My last phone was a HTC desire s. I was happy with it. Android functions very well and the freeware open-source side of things brings much choice at little expense.

Having said that you can't beat the Iphone for design and looks. It is a thing of beauty and has been designed incredibly well and pleasing to the eye. I would say the Iphone is the bang and olfusen of the mobile phone market.

 

[scaramanga]

Having been an avid fan of phones that allow tinkering for years, I moved to iPhones about 3 years ago. I found that I spent more time playing with settings/having the phone inoperable than I did using it as a phone.

Since I moved to IOS I find that I use my phone as a phone, and I use it a lot more than I ever did any other. Can I make some small tweak to change a fairly irrelevant setting? No. But I live without it as having a phone that just works massively outweighs it.

I bought my first proper android device a little while ago - an Xperia Tablet Z. It's fantastic, and Android has really moved on. I do find though, that it still needs fiddling with and tweaking all the time. Loads of messing around with settings, installing a new rom every few days (none of them are quite right), etc.

That's not a problem with my table as it's essentially a toy that I do some work on from time to time. With a mobile that need to tinker would massively interfere with using it as a phone.

 

[Papercut]

Thanks for all your views thus far lads - I think you've swayed me further towards the Apple route.

Tommy; generally use it for the internet, playing games (not graphically intensive), WhatsApp and taking photos. Occassionally hook it up to the car to listen to music but not too often.

I've done some technical staff in the past with a previous HTC and jailbroke an iPad (which I reverted as it was a pain in the ass) but not looking to get adventurous anymore.

I'm on Three mobile and it appears they may be moving to 4G in the autumn so I'm likely to stay with them. I'm kind of leaning towards either sticking to my current contract on a rolling basis or ordering a monthly sim only and sticking with my iPhone4 until the Autumn. Once the iPhone 5s or 6 is released - I may get that on contract (rather than jump the gun and get the 5 now).

In all honesty, I could keep my 4 but gonna give that to the missus if I get the new phone.

Thanks again!

 

[Ginolius]

I used to root my android phones as soon as I got them, but with my last few I haven't bothered - the last app I needed it for was titanium backup but now helium is just as effective without root - if you don't feel restricted by an iPhone then you don't need to worry about rooting modern androids.

Just go try a few handsets and see how they feel, windows 8, android and iPhone are all good phones, just depends what suits you best.

 

[COYS]

I have been a Android user for many years. I have never owned an Apple product (including an ipod) but after my phone contract expired a month or so ago I decided to get the Iphone5.

My last phone was a HTC desire s. I was happy with it. Android functions very well and the freeware open-source side of things brings much choice at little expense.

Having said that you can't beat the Iphone for design and looks. It is a thing of beauty and has been designed incredibly well and pleasing to the eye. I would say the Iphone is the bang and olfusen of the mobile phone market.

I don't agree. The HTC One is much better built than the iPhone.

 

[scaramanga]

I don't agree. The HTC One is much better built than the iPhone.

It's the only phone out there that is (except the Tag one but that's just silly).

 

[COYS]

It's the only phone out there that is (except the Tag one but that's just silly).

When I pulled my S4 out the box, the last thing I cared about was how it felt in my hands. I took off the battery cover, put the battery in, then I put my S View cover on (which I received a week before the phone) then saw that screen turn on and instantly I cared about nothing other than what I was looking at. It's still a premium phone and doesn't look bad at all, despite the fact it's made of plastic and the functionality is excellent.

My friend got an S4 yesterday after owning an iPhone 4. His exact words to me today were "I'm never going back to Apple."

 

[scaramanga]

When I pulled my S4 out the box, the last thing I cared about was how it felt in my hands. I took off the battery cover, put the battery in, then I put my S View cover on (which I received a week before the phone) then saw that screen turn on and instantly I cared about nothing other than what I was looking at. It's still a premium phone and doesn't look bad at all, despite the fact it's made of plastic and the functionality is excellent.

My friend got an S4 yesterday after owning an iPhone 4. His exact words to me today were "I'm never going back to Apple."

If your friend is talking in terms of design and build then he's in a minority. Apple are highly regarded by most (and rightly so) for getting the design and build just right.

If he's talking about function the. I agree with him - the Samsung is very much a success of function over form.

 

[COYS]

If your friend is talking in terms of design and build then he's in a minority. Apple are highly regarded by most (and rightly so) for getting the design and build just right.

If he's talking about function the. I agree with him - the Samsung is very much a success of function over form.

He probably was talking about the functionality, but at the end of the day that's really what matters most. It's still thin and not that much larger than the iPhone (though I don't like the size of the iPhone to be honest) and certainly isn't ugly, and when it can do everything it does nothing else really matters.

There's this one feature in the settings that has gone very much under the radar, but it's my mum's favourite feature on the S4 unsurprisingly. If I hold down my up and down volume buttons at the same time for more than 3 seconds it sends my emergency contacts an SOS message that I can write myself, my location and pictures taken with both the front and back cameras every 10 minutes.

 

[spursman17]

I don't agree. The HTC One is much better built than the iPhone.

No offence COYS but you wouldn't agree for as long as the product has an Apple logo attached.

I liked my HTC but no way can you compare the quality or the look and feel.

This is essentially the Mac v's PC debate but in the mobile phone world so I'm not going to get into a deeep debate that has no end but what I will say is that I have used both IOS and Android platforms. I would say I'm experienced with the software and have developed android apps in the pasts in both my free time and my profession. From a users viewpoint they both work well. I'm not an overhyped Apple fan (well this is the first Apple product I have owned) but I will say having now had the phone for a month now it's a lovely piece of kit, it looks and feels like a quality piece and it operates extremey well. I would recommend it.

 

[spooky]

iPhone pretty much kills when it comes to build and design.

Re: OS - it comes down to personal choice. I've always found iOS/Apple far more stable and less buggy than Android.

Again, it really is a personal choice. I've actually moved away from using my phone as much as I used to because I'm always on the ipad (blatant I've got a ipad post). Not fussed with widgets etc. iPhone perfect for social media and quick app access. I don't need any more than that.

 

[COYS]

No offence COYS but you wouldn't agree for as long as the product has an Apple logo attached.

I liked my HTC but no way can you compare the quality or the look and feel.

This is essentially the Mac v's PC debate but in the mobile phone world so I'm not going to get into a deeep debate that has no end but what I will say is that I have used both IOS and Android platforms. I would say I'm experienced with the software and have developed android apps in the pasts in both my free time and my profession. From a users viewpoint they both work well. I'm not an overhyped Apple fan (well this is the first Apple product I have owned) but I will say having now had the phone for a month now it's a lovely piece of kit, it looks and feels like a quality piece and it operates extremey well. I would recommend it.

Comparing the iPhone 5 to the HTC Desire S (on Android 2.3) is a little bit silly if you ask me. If you've ever felt or seen the HTC One you'd agree with me.

Like I say, I used to love the iPhone, but now the competition has surpassed it.

 

[spursman17]

Comparing the iPhone 5 to the HTC Desire S (on Android 2.3) is a little bit silly if you ask me. If you've ever felt or seen the HTC One you'd agree with me.

Like I say, I used to love the iPhone, but now the competition has surpassed it.

Not at all. I've played around with both the Samsung S4 and my cousins HTC one. Both great phones but none of those can touch the Iphone in design quality. As I have said before the Iphone actually feels like an expensive product similar to that of a good quality watch. This is why the Iphone is more expensive than the usual HTC phone. Manufacturing costs alone to make an Iphone 5 are around £150 which is considerably expensive. That excludes research and development costs.

As for the functionality; IOS is built for a specific system specs. Android being open source caters for a huge audience from a device viewpoint from phones; TV’s to even the modern day washing machine. Software built for specific systems results in less buggy/ more reliable service and performance tends to be better, especially in the long run when memory management comes into play.

 

[tommysvr]

No offence COYS but you wouldn't agree for as long as the product has an Apple logo attached.

I liked my HTC but no way can you compare the quality or the look and feel.

This is essentially the Mac v's PC debate but in the mobile phone world so I'm not going to get into a deeep debate that has no end but what I will say is that I have used both IOS and Android platforms. I would say I'm experienced with the software and have developed android apps in the pasts in both my free time and my profession. From a users viewpoint they both work well. I'm not an overhyped Apple fan (well this is the first Apple product I have owned) but I will say having now had the phone for a month now it's a lovely piece of kit, it looks and feels like a quality piece and it operates extremey well. I would recommend it.

How do you find developing for Android? I've always thought it would be a nightmare simply due to the fact that there's so many different versions out there.

Almost 90% of iOS users are on the latest version (6.x), whereas Android requires this ridiculous chart:

 

[Baleforce]

this isn't pertinent to the either or but i've just seen it, thought it was interesting, and i'm posting it here

http://www.mapbox.com/labs/twitter-gnip/brands/#3/41.64/-24.43

 

[COYS]

Not at all. I've played around with both the Samsung S4 and my cousins HTC one. Both great phones but none of those can touch the Iphone in design quality. As I have said before the Iphone actually feels like an expensive product similar to that of a good quality watch. This is why the Iphone is more expensive than the usual HTC phone. Manufacturing costs alone to make an Iphone 5 are around £150 which is considerably expensive. That excludes research and development costs.

As for the functionality; IOS is built for a specific system specs. Android being open source caters for a huge audience from a device viewpoint from phones; TV’s to even the modern day washing machine. Software built for specific systems results in less buggy/ more reliable service and performance tends to be better, especially in the long run when memory management comes into play.

Are you sure it was the HTC One you were playing with? The HTC One's design and feel undoubtedly beats the iPhone, and I'm not sure how much it costs to manufacture, however I read on Wikipedia it takes 200 minutes of CNC cutting to cut out the anodised aluminium frame for the HTC One that really puts Apple in its place. That's the beauty of Android, though. Some phones will have plastic cases but have excellent functionality, and others will have beautiful, Apple-killing frames with more subtle features.

In terms of your second paragraph, HTC and Samsung realise that they have the two top phones on the market, so they can't allow this to be tarnished by the older versions of Android, so they don't let bugs slip through the net. They add a lot of coding to Android to give a phone that's still based on the same OS but that's customised exactly for that phone. Google have also ensured Android is now more slick with Project Butter. In rather short my time spent with the HTC One I didn't see any bugs, and in my last month with the S4 I've had the same - nothing but smooth, slick brilliance that makes me smile every time I pull it out of my pocket.

How do you find developing for Android? I've always thought it would be a nightmare simply due to the fact that there's so many different versions out there.

Almost 90% of iOS users are on the latest version (6.x), whereas Android requires this ridiculous chart:

You paid good attention during the iOS 7 keynote, however just another worthless snipe from Apple. For example, if you can make an app using the SDK for Android 2.2, then all phones from 2.2 upwards will be able to download it. If you can't then just start from the next version. Not the biggest deal ever. People are still successfully making Android apps everyday, and now Google Play is growing faster than the App Store (and that doesn't include apps you can download from elsewhere for Android)

 

[tommysvr]

You paid good attention during the iOS 7 keynote, however just another worthless snipe from Apple. For example, if you can make an app using the SDK for Android 2.2, then all phones from 2.2 upwards will be able to download it. If you can't then just start from the next version. Not the biggest deal ever. People are still successfully making Android apps everyday, and now Google Play is growing faster than the App Store (and that doesn't include apps you can download from elsewhere for Android)

That's why I asked the question champ. And no, I didn't watch the keynote, I'm just aware of it.

Honestly, you're hatred of Apple is amusing.

 

[tommysvr]

I read on Wikipedia it takes 200 minutes of CNC cutting to cut out the anodised aluminium frame for the HTC One that really puts Apple in its place. That's the beauty of Android, though. Some phones will have plastic cases but have excellent functionality, and others will have beautiful, Apple-killing frames with more subtle features.

Oh and lol at the first sentence. Put Apple in its place?

And I'd have thought by now that you knew Android is just the software...so no, it's not the beauty of Android at all. HTC could turn around tomorrow and say they're shipping with Windows OS, which wouldn't change how the phone is made, would it?

That of course is another plus for Apple - the hardware and the software is made by the same people. That's the reason why you'll never get tighter integration from any other phone / tablet / computer and one of the main reasons I buy Apple gear.