Android gaining traction

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ArtooDetoo

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#76352 1-Feb-2011 09:08

That subject line might well be an understatement. Canalys has released its smartphone figures for the last quarter showing Android's growth continues at its already impressive rate. In fact, all other smartphone platforms of note have gone backwards share-wise with Android exceeding Nokia's share for the first time, although those Android numbers include OMS and Tapas variants.

Google - 32.9%
Nokia - 30.6%
Apple - 16.0%
RIM - 14.4%
Microsoft - 3.1%
All others - 2.9%

Android's growth, year on year was +615.1%
Nokia's - +30%
Apple's - +85.9%
RIM's - +36%
Microsoft's - -20.3%
Others' - +64.8%

On a side note, Apple's tablet share has dropped from 95% to 77% while Android's share has gone from 2.3% to 22% from Q3 to Q4. That also is astounding growth.

Cheers,
R2D2

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

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BDFL - Memuneh
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#433529 1-Feb-2011 09:12

Here is the table accompanying the press release posted today:

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heavenlywild

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#433531 1-Feb-2011 09:16

Be cautious with numbers though. Although I do agree, Android is gaining traction but by how much, no one really knows.

SteveON

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#433535 1-Feb-2011 09:19

Just make the os easier to use... I had to go back to the old iPhone after using Android 2.2 for 2 weeks...

ArtooDetoo

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#433536 1-Feb-2011 09:23

SteveON: Just make the os easier to use... I had to go back to the old iPhone after using Android 2.2 for 2 weeks...

What did you find difficult?

Cheers,
R2D2

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

SteveON

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#433547 1-Feb-2011 09:39

ArtooDetoo:
SteveON: Just make the os easier to use... I had to go back to the old iPhone after using Android 2.2 for 2 weeks...

What did you find difficult?

Cheers,
R2D2

Just the whole thing, it wasnt as easy to use as what I am used to.
Stopping background apps is impossible, texting was a pain and I hated the lock screen.

Maybe I have turned into an iOS geek.

I might go and buy one of the larger screen $800~ Androids and see how that goes...

dclegg

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#433557 1-Feb-2011 09:49

SteveON: Just make the os easier to use... I had to go back to the old iPhone after using Android 2.2 for 2 weeks...

EDIT: I see it took too long for me to write my reply and you've already answered. But feel free to expand further :-)

Could you please elaborate? I'm in the market for a new smartphone, and I'm torn between getting an Android device or the trusty old iPhone 4. My wife has an iPhone, and I love it. Its ease of use and build quality still seems to be second to none to me, but I can't help thinking there must be something to this Android thing, considering how many people (geeks in particular) are embracing and swearing by it.

I know the primary attraction to Android is its flexibility, but when all is said and done, the iPhone does pretty much all I need it to do right now. And one of the things I love about my wifes iPhone is the awesome concert footage I was able to get with it (see this for an example). In contrast, the Android phones I've been looking at struggle with video in loud environments (Galaxy S example here, courtesy of Geekzone user defragger). Apparently this is more of a software issue than a hardware one, and some ROM developers are working on a solution for it. But that means to get the desired level of performance, I have to chance a ROM flash which may result in a paperweight (and a divorce :-)) if done incorrectly. I would also have to ensure that any future ROMS I wish to apply also have this fix applied. This seems like a common theme in the Android world, and I'm trying to decide whether I actually want this, or whether I want a phone that performs to expectations out of the box.

From what I've seen in my investigations so far (and I know this will probably not go down well with Android fans) is that when choosing Android devices over an iPhone you're sacrificing quality for flexibility. And the jury's still out on whether I want to do that yet :-)

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ArtooDetoo

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#433567 1-Feb-2011 10:01

SteveON:

Just the whole thing, it wasnt as easy to use as what I am used to.
Stopping background apps is impossible, texting was a pain and I hated the lock screen.

Maybe I have turned into an iOS geek.

I might go and buy one of the larger screen $800~ Androids and see how that goes...

Android's not for everybody, that's for sure. Most of the folks I know with iPhones have no interest in anything but iPhones and a very few would even consider switching. Some of that's 'what you're used to' and some is that the experience is as great as they could imagine on Apple kit.

Having said that, Android isn't difficult to use per se and I can't say texting is an issue for me. The lock screen varies from handset to handset and you can customise it if you root your phone anyway. Assuming you feel comfortable doing that. As far as background apps is concerned, you can force close any 3rd party apps, and most included ones, although since only things like notifications, navigation and networking continue to run once they no longer have the focus, I don't see why you'd feel that was an issue.

But once again, Android is probably best suited to those with no preference for Apple, or RIM devices.

And nothing wrong with being an iOS Geek. :D

Cheers,
R2D2

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

ArtooDetoo

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#433577 1-Feb-2011 10:17

dclegg:

I know the primary attraction to Android is its flexibility, but when all is said and done, the iPhone does pretty much all I need it to do right now.

And that, I believe, is the answer to your dilemma right there. So bite the bullet and spring for an iP4. Yep, the iP5 will appear in June, but reports so far suggest incremental improvement and given your statement above, you don't need those improvements anyway.

QED.

Enjoy your new iP4 dude, and drop by from time to time to watch and wonder as the Fandroid hordes tweak and angst.

Cheers,
R2D2

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

semigeek

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#433586 1-Feb-2011 10:31

SteveON: Just make the os easier to use... I had to go back to the old iPhone after using Android 2.2 for 2 weeks...

Interesting. When I last visited my 72 year old mother, who uses an el cheapo 2 degrees phone. I gave her my Galaxy S to try out and she found it very easy, especially being able to use Swype. The GS is running 2.2 as well.

dclegg

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#433587 1-Feb-2011 10:33

ArtooDetoo:
dclegg:

I know the primary attraction to Android is its flexibility, but when all is said and done, the iPhone does pretty much all I need it to do right now.

And that, I believe, is the answer to your dilemma right there. So bite the bullet and spring for an iP4. Yep, the iP5 will appear in June, but reports so far suggest incremental improvement and given your statement above, you don't need those improvements anyway.

QED.

Yes, logic SHOULD dictate that is the correct answer. If only it was that simple :-)

I can't help craving trying something different, and thats exactly what Android offers me. I just need to ensure it will tick all the required functionality boxes before making the leap, hence my current research. Then again, if I can talk my wife into springing for the 32GB iPhone instead of the 16GB one (the phone is meant to be my birthday present), I could ditch my trusty old iPod Touch entirely, and be quite happy I think.

And with the increase of good looking budget Android phones, perhaps I could always dip my toes in the 'droid pond using one of those later, citing the "Its for development purposes" excuse to get it past the appropriations committee :-)

ArtooDetoo

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#433589 1-Feb-2011 10:36

dclegg:

And with the increase of good looking budget Android phones, perhaps I could always dip my toes in the 'droid pond using one of those later, citing the "Its for development purposes" excuse to get it past the appropriations committee :-)

A most excellent reasoning dclegg...

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

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kiwitrc

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#433618 1-Feb-2011 11:29

semigeek:
SteveON: Just make the os easier to use... I had to go back to the old iPhone after using Android 2.2 for 2 weeks...

Interesting. When I last visited my 72 year old mother, who uses an el cheapo 2 degrees phone. I gave her my Galaxy S to try out and she found it very easy, especially being able to use Swype. The GS is running 2.2 as well.

Yeah, my wife has a Galaxy S and loves it, yet she has trouble with the MySky remote.

bazzer

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#433677 1-Feb-2011 13:34

Definitely. I know a lot of people that bought this phone at Christmas, and they've all found it easy to use. I guess you can get used to a particular way of doing things, and don't give the new thing a proper chance.

kyhwana2

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#433684 1-Feb-2011 13:59

SteveON:
ArtooDetoo:
SteveON: Just make the os easier to use... I had to go back to the old iPhone after using Android 2.2 for 2 weeks...

What did you find difficult?

Cheers,
R2D2

Just the whole thing, it wasnt as easy to use as what I am used to.
Stopping background apps is impossible, texting was a pain and I hated the lock screen.

Maybe I have turned into an iOS geek.

I might go and buy one of the larger screen $800~ Androids and see how that goes...

Why do you need to stop background tasks? Android handles that automatically.

What texting app were you using? On which phone/ROM? There are different ones.
What lock screen on what phone were you using? There's the pattern, but you can also use a PIN or passphrase.

Kiwi1971

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#433728 1-Feb-2011 15:41

SteveON:

Just the whole thing, it wasnt as easy to use as what I am used to.
Stopping background apps is impossible, texting was a pain and I hated the lock screen.

I might go and buy one of the larger screen $800~ Androids and see how that goes...

I think that if you did try a bigger screen model more akin to an iPhone and found the apps that were more like the ones you are used to it might be a completely different experience but not a miliion miles away from your iPhone so I don't see why you would make the move to a Droid as it doesn't really offer you anything over the IP4, except maybe the flexability to customise your OS.

I never had any issues with usability, with texting and unlocking I have made both of these easier on my HTC Desire. Unlocking is easier on my custom CM6 ROM. I only have to press my optical button twice, once to turn the screen on and again to unlock.
For texting, I use GO SMS with the Swype keyboard which is extremely easy to use and often doesn't even require me to swipe exactly over the right keys as it must have a proximity tollerance. The other keyboard I used was very good [Someone tell me the name] it would predict your next word based on common text phrases and would also learn from your own sentences. For example if you started to type "Where are you?" when you got to "Whe" it would suggest "Where, then it would suggest the words "are" and "is" then, depending on which one you selected it would suggest the most common words that follow each such as "you" or "the"
I found I could often type whole sentences just by choosing the suggestions or only typing in the first letter and it knowing what word I was most likely going for. It would also give me stats on how many key presses I had saved. Will probably go back to it if my Swype beta runs out.

DLS

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