TeknologikL

This is a timely subject for me. My current smart phone is an Android. I love it but it's a little old and slow and doesn't have much storage capacity. This has been my phone for 3-4 years. I usually can wait forever to upgrade but the storage thing is starting to get to me.

Time for a new phone! I'm going to try the iPhone this time. I initially chose Android because my carrier didn't offer the iPhone at the time so that was my option. The idea of customization sounds good in theory but over the past several years I have not made any changes to the phone other than downloading apps or rearranging them on the screen.

How much customization and control does the average user really need? I chose an iPad over another tablet for the same reason. I just want to use the thing without hacking around every issue I come across. I just don't have the time or patience for that stuff these days. (Must be getting older!) Sure, there are a few annoying things I'd like to change, but I can live with them.

There is no device that will work perfectly for every person. I think it's great that Android gives users the option of customization but I don't think it should be such a key factor in device selection when most people won't need to use it.

I remember playing around with open source OS on my old mp3 player. By going this route, I definitely unlocked more of the device's potential and simultaneously opened up a can of worms (or rather bugs). As much as I loved the customized look and enhanced functions, there wasn't much I could do in terms of fixing the problems, and support for the mod was virtually non-existent. So I did a factory reset and started over, and learned to love the default OS.

As much as I love tinkering with and customizing computers, with most other electronics I prefer to follow the KISS principle 'keep it simple stupid'. Sometimes it's just easier that way.

While I agree, Google offers much greater freedom, and type of apps, I have to disagree with some points. Apple is not more user friendly or has a smaller learning curve when it comes to iPad vs Zoom anyway. Of course you can bost the Apple is less buggy, when it's functionality is so limited, other are not many features to get buggy. Apple to crowd on buggy is like stating my bicycle is much more dependable than my car. Of course it is, less functioning parts to go wrong. Apple with only apps they think are valuable to you, instead of all apps and let you decide. Apple with no back button on browser' no multiple open windows. My iPad is like the Apple bicycle with no wheels. I just use my zoom car all the time so Google gives me the freedom to easily go where ever I want to go.

"Apple to crowd on buggy is like stating my bicycle is much more dependable than my car."

If you're saying iOS:Android::bicycle:vehicle, that's quite a huge leap in performance and features. What kind of features or performance would you say are lacking in iOS that are comparable to the deficiencies between a bicycle and a car?

RE "If you're saying iOS:Android::bicycle:vehicle, that's quite a huge leap in performance and features."

It too, was an exaggeration, like the original using 'Sewer' for Android is an extreme exaggeration. I think a more accurate example would have been a iOS is like a private garden where you have limited access and control over content; where as the Android OS is like your own and a public garden where you have much more freedom, easier to do what you want, and if imagine it, chances are someone created it and placed it in the public garden. I think private garden:public garden is much more accurate and fair comparison than walled garden:open sewer

Remember both need shit (fertilizer) to grow, Android just has more and more fertile. Also in my comparison you'll know how your public access garden is laid out and works, where the privet garden works only apple's way, not the way the public is used to doing everything and the public visiting Apple's private garden needs permission for every little thing, know apple will say no much of the time.

Much better analogy, IMHO. For that, a GA from me. It brings much greater clarity, without the egregiously inflammatory language of the "Open Sewer".

Have seen many walled gardens in the city. But a sewer in the rural country?

Either way there are some that need that walled garden. Then there are those that wish to venture into that so called sewer. Apple's iOS is Linux based. Some of those that have ventured into that sewer and created apps now have some of those apps behind the walled garden.

So we need both!

"Apple's iOS is Linux based."

Unix based.

I had a brain freeze.

The just of it is that there are open systems where one can create. I understand there are some that can create bad stuff making it the sewer that it becomes. Then there are others that create some good stuff.

Everyone is not in a position to have a door to the garden so they can go in as they please. The sewer may get them noticed so they can be invited in.

What mobile OS? Never felt the need.

http://www.firstpost.com/tech/now-an-app-that-can-hack-your-phones-camera-to-spy-on-you-475820.html

Alternate keyboards - I made it clear in the blog that this is disappointing and frustrating. I really wish Apple would open up at least their keyboard APIs. I really don't understand why they can't let Swype exist on the iPhone. It doesn't have to come preinstalled like some Android phones, but at least the option can be there.

Automation - Battery life for iPhones seems to be good enough that worrying about toggling things like Bluetooth really is not an issue for most people. And, actually, you do not need to turn GPS on and off on Android, as it only becomes active when a program calls for it (like when you open Maps). GPS can still be 'toggled' on but it is not being used once you close Maps. So this isn't a huge deal breaker for me, though it's definitely nice to have. I think Android has trained people that you have to obsess over your toggles to get better battery life on your cellphone. It's a cellphone, I don't think you should have to bother with toggles.

App integration - You can't route calls through Google voice on the iPhone? As far as I knew the Google Voice app was as fully functional on the iPhone as it is on Android. You can use GV as your SMS app, too. You can, too, install alternate browsers. Were you making a different point here that I'm missing?

Alternate app stores - This was my biggest point, I prefer the strictly controlled ecosystem. It allows for a clean, standardized, go to spot that you can trust. Maybe if Google Play didn't suck so much we wouldn't have to look for alternate sources. Amazon app store is hardly a better alternative besides the free app every day.

Your second-to-last point is absolutely true. I think that's a wrong thing to do and it's a step in the wrong direction for Apple. Uninstalling your favorite map application and replacing it, with an inferior one or not, is just not cool.

I was honestly expecting a bit more from the iPhone 5. But I don't think you can equate sales numbers with quality of the product.

Here's a thing:

This info graphic should clear a few things up...

http://pinterest.com/pin/78461218479406712/

Market Share != Quality