Iphone vs Android - User interface comparison needed.

Forums › Apple iOS and devices › Iphone vs Android - User interface comparison needed.

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

4621 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#473818 25-May-2011 10:12

dickytim: that's correct, I can only spend about $600. I have brought second hand phones, ipods etc and I understand it is a risk.

i think battery is something that you really want to consider. it is frustrating if the phone died in the office before you get home! iphone is different from ipod touch as it will continously looking for signals and sync background data for emails etc

MyHeritage

Shop MyHeritage and uncover your origins and find new relatives with a simple DNA test. (affiliate link).

davidcole

5807 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#473819 25-May-2011 10:12

dickytim: I had a window media phone before the Nokia, admittedly it wasn't a very good one and not windows 7 but I quickly out grew it.

Yeah so did it, a k-jam running windows 5. While it was a beast and a bit under powered, it was ok for the time, so looking at the new windows 7 ones they look quite good.

Previously known as psycik

OpenHAB: Gigabyte AMD A8 Brix, OpenHAB with Aeotech ZWave Controller, Raspberry PI, Wemos D1 Mini, Zwave, Xiaomi Humidity and Temperature sensors
Media:Chromecast v2, ATV4 4k, ATV4, HDHomeRun Dual
Windows 10 Host Plex Server 3x3TB, 4x4TB using DriveBender, Samsung 850 evo 512 GB SSD, Hyper-V Server with 1xW10, 2xUbuntu 20.04 LTS, Backblaze Backups, usenetprime.com

langers1972

1039 posts

Uber Geek

#473820 25-May-2011 10:14

Could always get a brand new Nexus 1 for $500 on firstin or an IdeosX5 from 2Degrees

For half the price of the outdated iPhone3GS you get a pretty advanced Android. I think people too readily ignore the massive cost differential between the iPhones and just about all the competition.

For half the price I'd be happy to spend a bit of time learning how Android works rather than spend an extra $500-700 for Apple's 'idiot proof' UI.

I had an iPhone and found it no more user friendly than my IdeosX5, especially if you use a different launcher other than the stock one.

tdgeek

28613 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#473824 25-May-2011 10:19

[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.

Mizon

9 posts

Wannabe Geek

#473835 25-May-2011 10:43

nakedmolerat:most rumours i came across, 3GS will NOT be upgraded to iOS5

Historically iphones get firmware updates for about 2 1/2 years from release, although maybe missing many features in the last major version (eg. iphone 3G got iOS 4, but without multitasking). The 3GS should get iOS 5, and then a few minor updates, but not iOS 6.

iOS 5 details (and likely a beta) should be released at the apple worldwide developer conference in 2 weeks, we'll know a lot more then.

And getting a little more back on topic, most Android devices get one or two minor updates unless you root the phone and load a modified firmware.

jbard

1377 posts

Uber Geek

#473839 25-May-2011 10:50

The nexus 1 on firstin is a bargin, the X5 is also good.

IPhone interface is easy to use but i prefer android because you can do so much more with it.

Took me about 2 hours to figure out my android, but now i have my phone just the way i want it - you can customize it much more than an iphone.

heavenlywild

4557 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#473841 25-May-2011 10:56

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.

Try transferring a music/document file from your iPhone to another non-iPhone and you will understand.

Toiletduck

119 posts

Master Geek

#473842 25-May-2011 10:59

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

However, If you like iTunes(I hate it) and have most of your collection in iTunes and listening to music on your phone is something you will do frequently then you may find that Apple is the path for you.

dickytim

2514 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#473843 25-May-2011 11:04

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

However, If you like iTunes(I hate it) and have most of your collection in iTunes and listening to music on your phone is something you will do frequently then you may find that Apple is the path for you.

I do listen to music on my ipod all the time, when I am riding, in the car and when doing house work. I could keep the ipod for that so it is not really the be all and end all of the discission

dclegg

2805 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#473846 25-May-2011 11:24

I transitioned from an iPod Touch (2nd Gen) to an iPhone 4 earlier this year and I love it!

My wife also has an iPhone 4, and she would make an excellent poster child for its ease of use. She's not very technologically inclined, so much so that I felt it was a little risky for me to be purchasing her such an expensive phone (it was a birthday gift). But I'd now be prying it from her cold, dead hands, and she takes full advantage of many of the smartphone features it offers.

Prior to getting my iPhone, I also did extensive research into Android devices. My findings were that, while Android devices did offer you greater flexibility, the iPhone worked much better out of the box, and with more spit and polish.

At the time, I had it narrowed down to the iPhone 4, Galaxy S, or Nexus S. To get performance that matched the iPhone 4 in all the areas I required, I'd have to install a custom ROM on the Android devices. While that may be an appeal for many, I wanted a phone that worked well without me having to put in hours of research/work to unleash its full potential.

freitasm

BDFL - Memuneh
76370 posts

Uber Geek

Administrator

ID Verified

Trusted

Geekzone

Lifetime subscriber

#473848 25-May-2011 11:37

dickytim: I had a window media phone before the Nokia, admittedly it wasn't a very good one and not windows 7 but I quickly out grew it.

Windows Phone is a lot different from Windows Mobile... And it's fast too. The upcoming update ("Mango") will bring a lot of new features. The phone is centered about your social connections and communications. It doesn't have the same number of apps you find on iOS or Android, but it does a good job.

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.

Please support Geekzone by subscribing, or using one of our referral links: Dosh referral: 00001283 | Sharesies | Goodsync | Mighty Ape | Backblaze

freitasm on Keybase | My technology disclosure

trig42

5604 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

#473885 25-May-2011 12:52

dclegg: I transitioned from an iPod Touch (2nd Gen) to an iPhone 4 earlier this year and I love it!

My wife also has an iPhone 4, and she would make an excellent poster child for its ease of use. She's not very technologically inclined, so much so that I felt it was a little risky for me to be purchasing her such an expensive phone (it was a birthday gift). But I'd now be prying it from her cold, dead hands, and she takes full advantage of many of the smartphone features it offers.

Prior to getting my iPhone, I also did extensive research into Android devices. My findings were that, while Android devices did offer you greater flexibility, the iPhone worked much better out of the box, and with more spit and polish.

At the time, I had it narrowed down to the iPhone 4, Galaxy S, or Nexus S. To get performance that matched the iPhone 4 in all the areas I required, I'd have to install a custom ROM on the Android devices. While that may be an appeal for many, I wanted a phone that worked well without me having to put in hours of research/work to unleash its full potential.

+1

I am in exactly the same position. Bought my Wife an iPhone4 for her birthday, she will not part with it now. She uses it more than the laptop for Facebook/email etc. I upgraded from an E72 to the iPhone4 a few months ago also, gotta say, they are great phones.

tdgeek

28613 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#473889 25-May-2011 13:09

[Try transferring a music/document file from your iPhone to another non-iPhone and you will understand.]

iPhone Explorer lets you use an iPhone, iPod Touch or iPad as if it were in disk mode or a flash drive. iPhone Explorer is an iPhone browser for Mac & PC that lets you browse the files and folders on your iPhone as if it were a normal USB flash drive or pen drive. You can use the easy drag-and-drop methods to add or remove files and folders from the iPhone. Compatible with all iPhones and iPod Touches including the new iPhone 4 and iOS 4 firmware.

Ragnor

8085 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#473893 25-May-2011 13:16

davidcole: I notice no one is suggesting Windows phone 7?

Also for a non geek, I'd suggest an iPhone as well, having gone Nokia (s60) to iPhone 4 myself over this past year.

There's aren't many models available in NZ yet.

WP7 is only just getting started at the stage Android was a year or so ago imo

Anyway LG E900 Optimus 7 Mobile $799 from DSE atm, looks like a nice option.
http://dicksmith.co.nz/product/E6838/lg-e900-optimus-7-mobile.jsp
http://windowsphonenz.com/wp7/review-lg-optimus-7-e900.html

Probably outside his budget.

I would caution against buy a 2nd hand phone tbh, it's going to be hit and miss with reliability and less come back with warranty issues. If you buy from an auction like on trademe you are NOT covered by the Consumer Gaurantees Acts (CGA)... you have to rely of the Contractula Remedies Act and possible the Fair Trading Act which can be a lot more complicated.

So best new smartphone in his budget of $600...

Ideos X5 (Andoird 2.2) imo.

1eStar

1604 posts

Uber Geek

#473897 25-May-2011 13:24

A second hand iPhone is still a good proposition. They are a quality handset, and there are numerous places that will repair them and parts are not hard to come by, should something get wrecked. A recent forum post shows battery replacement for $100
Android is nearly there, but iOS has the edge still, and if you are an iPod touch user, your apps will transfer over to your iPhone.

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5