Iphone vs Android - User interface comparison needed.

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#473900 25-May-2011 13:30

Toiletduck: Once you have had a play with Android, the boring interface for iOS becomes laughable (just a collection of folders and icons).

haha, this is so true. pretty much the same since the first iphone.

i love trialling and changing widgets on my screen. everytime i docked my android, the screen dimmed and it became a huge alarm clock with weather forecast widget next to it.

Lilly

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#473902 25-May-2011 13:31

heavenlywild: OK I have experience using both Apple and Android.

Ease of use? Apple, hands down. Menus are intuitive and standard.

Flexibility to do what you want - share photos, music, documents etc - Android, hands down. No restrictions there.

If you want ease of use, go with Apple. If you would like the freedom to do whatever you want on your phone - with some maybe not so intuitive menus etc - go with Android.

What gets me about the iPhone is the fact that when iTunes forces you to download and install the latest version/firmware when you are on the run, or that the syncing takes forever.

I read today the iOS 5 will not support iPhone 3GS. iPhone 3G was not able to be updated to iOS 4.something so it seems that they are updated for 2 years and then it stops. Someone may be able to clarify further.

talisker

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#473923 25-May-2011 13:56

I've been an Apple fan for years, and had my heart set on an iphone for a long time. Due to budget constraints I ended up getting a cheap android phone instead, and it's great. In fact I far prefer it to the iphone now. (Even though it was a third of the price)

I'd heard that Android was very flexible and customisable and better if you like getting into the geeky nuts and bolts of the system. That's all true, but because that's what's always emphasised about Android I expected it to be inferior in terms of look, feel, design, intuitive user experience etc to the iphone and that's just not true. I actually think it's superior to Apple. As others have mentioned, the iphone interface is pretty tired now.

The only exception could be integration between iphoto, itunes and the iphone which is probably more seamless than the Android equivalents, if you use those programs.

Android's integration with gmail, google calendar, contacts etc is superb, almost uncannily good at times, and google maps and navigation are great. The market works well too, with lots of software available, much of it free.

ArtooDetoo

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#474092 25-May-2011 19:14

A lot of what has made the iPhone the success that it is, stems from its ease of use. Before Android, it had the field to itself pretty much. But that's arguably not true now, and with WebOS and WinPhone, it's getting even less true. So it's down to what you're used to for the most part.

If you don't want to take the week or so of getting to know a new OS and having it become second nature, then the choice is a simple one - stay with what you know. If you're not averse to having to exercise your grey matter at a modest level and are open to new and exciting experiences, then the world's your oyster.

And that goes both ways. I'm a long-time Apple user but my phone's an Android. Why? Because I craved some new experience with a tech that wasn't beyond my capabilities. It wasn't a difficult choice in the end. But I totally 'get' why many people will prefer to remain where they are.

In the end, it just wasn't me.

Whichever way you end up travelling. I hope you'll enjoy it. A lot.

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R2D2

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owner. Galaxy S3 has gone to its new owner. Now using Galaxy Note 3. Skipping Note 4 I think...

alasta

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#474097 25-May-2011 19:29

tdgeek: My iPhone4 is superb, ticks all my boxes, speed, interface, build quality and ease of use. Its also secure, as while many will say Apple is a locked down product, it isnt. There are 250,000 apps, many are free, many are cheap as chips, and you dont see malware issues as the apps are vetted for quality, bugs and malware.

Whilst I'm an advocate of iOS and I don't have any objections to the 'walled garden' in principle, I have to say that the quality of third party iOS apps is generally very disappointing given that Apple is supposedly performing quality control on them. At least a third of the apps that I've purchased are crash prone, some to the point of being unusable.

It's a shame, because it puts a big black mark on an otherwise excellent overall user experience.

CdTDroiD

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#474103 25-May-2011 19:39

I think your asking in the wrong forum for a even sided answer lol.

I've had both and would never get another iPhone.

I think it really comes down to personal taste now. the apps stores would be even although apple does have ALOT of useless crap in the store, If you want to fiddle and play, customize and hack get android. if you want a nice easy Ui use iPhone... BUT dont get a 3GS save for a 4 or just go android.

iPod touch is an iPhone without the phone function.

iPhone and iOS = boring just icons after icons... but is reliable (somewhat). 3GS screen is crap if your talking about price a desire or newer captivate or something is much cheaper and so much better in all aspects.

android = free reign, no limits... basically 100% customizable from a custom OS to custom internal storage partitions. but can be somewhat "overwhelming" for a beginner. in saying that if you get a standard device and just use it without hacking anything you really need to be a bit silly to get confused and probably shouldn't be using a smart phone hehehe ;)

Long story short... iOS if you want lots of music, and... lots of icons. android if you want to "make it your own".

note: if you are going iPhone I'd save for version 4 the 3GS is really pretty old and outdated now. The last few devices ive had, Desire, Trophy, HD7, Desire HD, N8, iPhone 3GS, N900 plus the others lol, i would prefer all others over the iPhone... Except the Windows Phone 7 is still a bit young for me...

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CdTDroiD

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#474110 25-May-2011 19:49

tdgeek: [Flexibility to do what you want - share photos, music, documents etc - Android, hands down. No restrictions there. }

??? What restrictions? I have many photos, videos, documents that are mine, made by me, or downloaded from elsewhere that I look at, read, play. You can add anything to an iOS, you are not restricted by what iTunes has online. You can add your own "not from iTunes" files by using iTunes to sync, or you can also add files via some apps that have the ability to import files.

[What gets me about the iPhone is the fact that when iTunes forces you to download and install the latest version/firmware when you are on the run, or that the syncing takes forever.]

You are given the option of an available update, you don't have to do it then. Syncing is not a long issue for me at all.

Problem is when you update you cant get back if its crap, which happens alot really... if your being honest. And no one can really compare android to iOS when talking flexibility. it doesnt really exist in the iOS world...

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CdTDroiD

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#474112 25-May-2011 19:53

freitasm:

I use a Windows Phone as my daily device, and I have a few Android around here. The main problem I see with Android is that each device is different, and even devices running the same OS version show the same options in different places, making it quite difficult for novices to move from one to another.

+1.. BUT its really the launcher that changes not the OS (mostly) so if your going from Nexus one to Desire with sense you can always just use a launcher like ADW and you more or less have the gingerbread experience back :)

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billgates

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#474115 25-May-2011 19:58

I recommend a Windows Phone 7 handset. Very simple and easy to use User Interface and plenty of apps available (18,000 in the marketplace and growing strong every day). Social communication and email interface is the best I have seen on a smartphone OS so far. You can get a Samsung Omnia 7 for less than $500 from parallel importers in NZ. Fantastic handset for the price. Below is a video released today by Microsoft which shows the upcoming 'Mango' update which should be released sometime between September and October.

Forget everything about your past expereinces with Windows mobile. This is totally different and the OS has been built from ground up.

http://einfo.co.nz/shop/samsung-i8700-omnia-p-15587.html

http://einfo.co.nz/shop/htc-trophy-p-21120.html

Do whatever you want to do man.

Wade

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#474116 25-May-2011 19:58

I would be very seriously considering android for two reasons

1/ for a $600 budget you can buy a number of upper level android handsets brand spankers, which compared to buying a 2 year old used phone (iphone or not) makes a lot of sense

2/ if the best argument for not going android is because you are not familiar with android OS then again that is no issue either, it will take you 2 or 3 days to become fully fluent with android, it is very intuitive. You don't have to speak fluent g33k to get the most out of your android either

CdTDroiD

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#474120 25-May-2011 20:05

+1 you can get a desire for like 540 new now and so much better than iPhone.

why spend 600 on a old used iPhone... you'd be disappointed for sure.

As for WP7 I would try get your hands on one to play with first can be very frustrating for some... (minor issues and things) but very smooth... and nice handsets. As I said before very very young still so just be prepared.

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CdTDroiD

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#474123 25-May-2011 20:07

captivate looks awesum too if your going to go android... hell you can get a galaxy 2 cheaper than a new iPhone 3gs and its dual core! what's a rip off? hmmm

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CdTDroiD

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#474126 25-May-2011 20:10

another thing... a bit extreme for some I guess but if you get say a HD2 or something you can run and android and WP7... but old handset etc... depends if you want to get a little geeky lol

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tdgeek

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#474138 25-May-2011 20:32

Problem is when you update you cant get back if its crap, which happens alot really... if your being honest.

I am, and faultfree as always.

And no one can really compare android to iOS when talking flexibility. it doesnt really exist in the iOS world...

A fanboy comment I guess but each to their own.

CdTDroiD

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#474144 25-May-2011 20:38

Fanboy comment? I have had both and am certainly not a fan boy for any of them. Its more of a fact really... Even if you jailbreak you iPhone you cant do that much. iPhone is very limited dosent mean its no good some people like it, just not me :D

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