BrianSD_42
New member
I'll be getting a Galaxy Nexus on Verizon when it is released Nov. 10th with Android 4.0
I considered the iPhone buy 3.5" is just too small for me.
I considered the iPhone buy 3.5" is just too small for me.
Sprint Iphone 5/4S
- Thread starter Thai
- Start date
Thai
Elite Member
imp:
Uneek
Super Moderator
Sure you can. Install Box.net or Dropbox or iFiles on there. I transfer files all the time without using iTunes.
Now, this being said, I won't argue that iOS is tons more restrictive; as an IT professional and a Linux junkie, I tend to 'want' to go with Android. However, my day job pretty much requires not just a good smartphone, but one that is cohesive; and despite the shortcomings of iOS, Ice Cream Sandwich is JUST now getting Android to the point where it's as cohesive/'slick' as iOS has been.
Again, I have to install something as an alternative to iTunes. I could just email it to myself or better yet, bring my own computer. With my Android, it doubles as a flash drive without the need to install anything.
iOS devices are great for 95% of the people, I'm in the other 5%. And if my grandparents wanted a smartphone... yup, you guessed it, they're getting an iPhone. The iPhone isn't a bad device, as a matter of fact, it's great. But it doesn't do the things I would like it to do. Just like PC vs. Mac, same thing.
Thai
Elite Member
This is true! My wife's Nexus is very sensitive to the point of annoying sometimes! The scrolling is also super fast; sometime that is good, but other times, it is way too fast/sensitive. I think that this is where Apple is good...everything is calibrated good for the average person (e.g. me).
PC here...but prefer Apple Iphone. I actually don't like Macs.
+1. I'm doing the same, my upgrade is coming a day or two prior. The new RAZR looks decent, similar stats but no ICS
Thai
Elite Member
Sprint changes to unlimited data plans won't affect iPhone | Macworld
Iphone has brought in NEW customers...much more so than anticpated by Sprint. This is great news for me because Sprint has been great with me...and i want them to continue to do well so that i can still have unlimited data and relatively cheap plans.
But, it does look like Sprint is trying to cut down costs as much as possible elsewhere, such as capping data plans from other stuff (not smartphones): Sprint changes to unlimited data plans won't affect iPhone | Macworld
And it looks like by the time of my next upgrade (november 2013), Sprint LTE will be everywhere: Sprint: LTE rollout starts in 2012, done by 2013 | Macworld
And here is an extensive review of the IP4s: iPhone 4S review: It's a sure thing Review | Macworld
Iphone has brought in NEW customers...much more so than anticpated by Sprint. This is great news for me because Sprint has been great with me...and i want them to continue to do well so that i can still have unlimited data and relatively cheap plans.
But, it does look like Sprint is trying to cut down costs as much as possible elsewhere, such as capping data plans from other stuff (not smartphones): Sprint changes to unlimited data plans won't affect iPhone | Macworld
And it looks like by the time of my next upgrade (november 2013), Sprint LTE will be everywhere: Sprint: LTE rollout starts in 2012, done by 2013 | Macworld
And here is an extensive review of the IP4s: iPhone 4S review: It's a sure thing Review | Macworld
Thai
Elite Member
To be honest, if i were to go Android, then the ONLY phone(s) that i would buy is a Nexus. Guaranteed updates in a timely manner. Hardwares come and go...but software is what makes your phone special IMO. I can tell you that my wife's Nexus S 4G seems smoother, faster, and more stable than my old Samsung Epic despite it having the same hardware (and in some cases, inferior hardware!).
The RAZR looks good, but literally in about 15-18 months post release, it will have outdated software; thereby forcing you to upgrade to a newer phone just to get the updated software from Google. (IMO, this is sleezy by Google to enforce this type of restriction on their software updates.) With a Nexus phone, you always going to get software updates...up until your hardware can't handle it anymore. Nexus One, the original one, is going to get ICS; so is my wife's Nexus S 4G. On the other hand, my old Samsung Epic will only get Gingerbread if Samsung ever gets around to it.
The ONLY problem with a Nexus phone is that, to make it affordable, Samsung/Nexus/Google often decontent the Nexus phones. For example, the upcoming Galaxy Nexus (Nexus Prime) has a cheaper/older graphics chip (GPU)...the current Galaxy SII phones have a much better GPU...thus, the Galaxy SII should still be faster than Galaxy Nexus once it gets ICS. (And Iphone 4S should still be faster than both, slightly edging SII, but for sure faster than GN.) In addition, although ICS should make camera work faster, the Galaxy Nexus camera has lower mega-pixel. Although MP does not mean everything, you got to wonder why the "downgrade."
I can tell you that my wife's Nexus S 4G camera sucks to no end! It is worst than my Samsung Epic camera...and even worst than my brother's Samsung ATT phone (galaxy s phone) with no flash! Clear decontenting! Of course, my wife's Nexus does not have gorilla glass either...apparently due to the slight curvature of the glass (bogus reason IMO).
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Thai
Elite Member
Link: Android Fragmentation: A Major Problem As Users Get Little Post-Buy Support
According to this article, it looks like not even Nexus models are "safe" in terms of receiving future software updates!
The fact that Google can change their minds about Nexus One receiving update so quickly is also worth noting! Yeah, Samsung and Motorola are not enthusiastic about post-sale support. I think that HTC is better but will be similarly limited if Google limits what HTC can do with their old phones in terms of releasing updates to old models.
According to this article, it looks like not even Nexus models are "safe" in terms of receiving future software updates!
The fact that Google can change their minds about Nexus One receiving update so quickly is also worth noting! Yeah, Samsung and Motorola are not enthusiastic about post-sale support. I think that HTC is better but will be similarly limited if Google limits what HTC can do with their old phones in terms of releasing updates to old models.
BrianSD_42
New member
I feel like the fragmentation issue is far over stated by the tech bloggers / apple lovers.
I have both a MacbookPro and an Android phone. my original Droid (1) is running Android 2.3 which is the latest OS.
Google's hardware and software lifecycles are so fast that many carriers and HW manufacturors do not want to invest in over-the-air updates for phones that are more than 18 months old.
Also what do you really get with the iOS5 release? It STILL does not feature turn-by-turn directions and speech-to-text ... well Google had that over a year ago.
It would be nice if the carriers were forced to unlock the phones and give users the option of loading a pure google ROM but they have no desire to see that happen.
We are all held hostage by the carriers.
I have both a MacbookPro and an Android phone. my original Droid (1) is running Android 2.3 which is the latest OS.
Google's hardware and software lifecycles are so fast that many carriers and HW manufacturors do not want to invest in over-the-air updates for phones that are more than 18 months old.
Also what do you really get with the iOS5 release? It STILL does not feature turn-by-turn directions and speech-to-text ... well Google had that over a year ago.
It would be nice if the carriers were forced to unlock the phones and give users the option of loading a pure google ROM but they have no desire to see that happen.
We are all held hostage by the carriers.
Kung
New member
Eh, it depends upon how you look at it. I'll gladly say that I use Apple products. However, I'm not an Apple 'lover.' In fact, I WANTED to like Android - I'm a *nix geek at heart.
This being said, I use my phone far more than most do - being as I do IT work for the government, I use almost every aspect of my phone. For instance, how many people remote into others' computers to help them troubleshoot it using their phones?
Anyways...while I will admit that Android is nowhere near as fragmented as it used to be, it's a simple fact that iOS does tend to be more 'cohesive.' ANY OS that is built for a certain phone ONLY will by definition be more cohesive, of course.
Siri, released with iOS5 (and the iPhone 4S - yes, we iPhone 4 carriers are ticked about that) does indeed provide speech to text.
ALL of this being said...I agree that we're held hostage by the carriers. Case in point - my wife just got an iPhone 4 because her Samsung Captivate has *STILL* not been upgraded to Gingerbread. I mean, an entire YEAR or so after being released? At least Apple releases updates pretty darn regularly.
ChildrenOfBodom
Moderator
Just for the record, turn by turn GPS with or without speech (in general, not just on phones) drives me up the wall. Last friend who tried to use their GPS unit in my car almost had it thrown out the window, lol.
IMO, it's better without it.
Thai
Elite Member
Just want to say:
- I own a PC laptop; never had a Mac
- I have NEVER owned an Iphone, but i do have an Ipod Touch
- My first (and only) smartphone to date is a Samsung Epic 4G (Android Galaxy S)...i had it for 3 months, but it became frustrating to use due to lack of updates, horrible battery, and frequent crashes.
Bottom line, for an Android phone, you better hope that the 3rd party developers like your phone...because after 15-18 months, you will need to "root it" (aka jailbreaking in Iphone terms) to get the aftermarket 3rd party software update (if any available). If this is why Android is "open", then no thanks!
And then you add in lazy manufacturers (Samsung for example), you get a horribly frustrating "Android experience." Samsung Galaxy S phones, like my old Epic, are still on Froyo (2.2) software! Samsung is taking their time with Gingerbread (2.3) update...in fact, no one can really give a definitive time for the update because Samsung even pulled their test version away from 3rd party developers! In 2 weeks, ICS (4.0) is being released...and Galaxy S phones are two generations behind!!! And with the way things are looking, Samsung Epic 4G may never get Gingerbread update, much less ICS!!
I will be very interested to see how long it takes for Galaxy SII phones (and HTC EVO 3D) to get the official ICS (not from 3rd party).
I don't know...my choices in the future may come down to Iphones and Window phones. If Android does not get more organized, then they won't have my money.
- I own a PC laptop; never had a Mac
- I have NEVER owned an Iphone, but i do have an Ipod Touch
- My first (and only) smartphone to date is a Samsung Epic 4G (Android Galaxy S)...i had it for 3 months, but it became frustrating to use due to lack of updates, horrible battery, and frequent crashes.
Bottom line, for an Android phone, you better hope that the 3rd party developers like your phone...because after 15-18 months, you will need to "root it" (aka jailbreaking in Iphone terms) to get the aftermarket 3rd party software update (if any available). If this is why Android is "open", then no thanks!
And then you add in lazy manufacturers (Samsung for example), you get a horribly frustrating "Android experience." Samsung Galaxy S phones, like my old Epic, are still on Froyo (2.2) software! Samsung is taking their time with Gingerbread (2.3) update...in fact, no one can really give a definitive time for the update because Samsung even pulled their test version away from 3rd party developers! In 2 weeks, ICS (4.0) is being released...and Galaxy S phones are two generations behind!!! And with the way things are looking, Samsung Epic 4G may never get Gingerbread update, much less ICS!!
I will be very interested to see how long it takes for Galaxy SII phones (and HTC EVO 3D) to get the official ICS (not from 3rd party).
I don't know...my choices in the future may come down to Iphones and Window phones. If Android does not get more organized, then they won't have my money.
Thai
Elite Member
Good video comparison b/w IP4S and GSII: iPhone 4S vs Galaxy S II - HD 1080p Video Camera Test [Head-to-Head Comparison] | Redmond Pie
Thai
Elite Member
Further fragmentation issue: Why Ice Cream Sandwich Might Make Things Worse | News & Opinion | PCMag.com
Thai
Elite Member
An exhaustive review of the IP4S: Reviews: Apple iPhone 4S (16GB/32GB/64GB) | iLounge
Thai
Elite Member
Initial comparison pic b/w IP4S vs. Galaxy Nexus: Galaxy Nexus vs. iPhone 4S comparison photos | The Verge
In addition, the camera in the GN is clearly pretty damn good too. In this article, it beats the IP4S camera...but not sure if this is user dependent or not (aka bias?) because the IP4s pics are really bad (out of focus, dark, etc.)! Nevertheless, you can see the size difference b/w the two top phones from each company.
In addition, the camera in the GN is clearly pretty damn good too. In this article, it beats the IP4S camera...but not sure if this is user dependent or not (aka bias?) because the IP4s pics are really bad (out of focus, dark, etc.)! Nevertheless, you can see the size difference b/w the two top phones from each company.
Thai
Elite Member
I did...and so far, it is pretty good.
-JD-
New member
Thai, I totally agree on the fragmentation issue. Anyone who has ever tried to 'debug' knows what I nightmare it can be to get different hardware setups to run well on the same software.
Not sure if ICS starts to make use of the GPU for UI elements yet. Thats a big advantage for iphone, and why even the old iphones often run smoother than new androids. Also a good example of the problem google faces trying to write software to run on the huge variety of GPU's out there
As someone who owns an android tablet I can agree that its a frustrating experience. I have frequent app crashes, 'launcher' crashes, etc. I've been an iphone user since the 3G but the android guys push it SO HARD i decided to get an android tablet. I regret it constantly.
