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iPhone vs. Android?

I am due for an upgrade in a couple of months and am thinking about getting a smartphone. I have read reviews, blogs and forums about both iPhone and Androids (more particularly razr maxx and galaxy nexus) but it is getting very confusing. Has anyone out there used both Android and iOS? Which one would you recommend and why? Thanks in advance

Comments

winnersmw

From my experience with both products, I'd say that Android devices are far more powerful and capable than iPhones. However, iPhones are much more reliable and easy to navigate for the average consumer. If you're not going to be doing anything fancy, then you should probably just go with an iPhone. If you want a diverse and open operating system that's supported by a sprawling community of developers, then go with Android.

pgusa

Not all Droids are dogs, not all dogs are Droids. But if you want to spend a lot less time finessing your approach to basic tasks, the iPhone is the way to go. If I need an attorney to return the Spectrum, I'll keep it. Otherwise it's heading back to the store.

AZSALUKI

my opinion is that if you are fairly "tachy" so to speak, then you will enjoy android much more (it just does more and is more customizeable). however, if you just want a solid smartphone that always runs smooth, but is a bit more basic, then the iphone would better suit you. they both have pros and cons. i prefer android, but i recommend iphone to my family (who just want something that's easy to figure out).

pgusa

The phone is supposed to be an appliance, not a toolbox. You can have more "fun" installing more apps and things on a Droid, but in the end, you've got a short list of basic tasks to execute and they should not be the challenge that Android makes them. I don't feel degraded using Apple's one-button mouse but I get very frustrated getting stuck behind a complex routine on an Android phone that could be handled better by a well-engineered user interface. In this case, Less is More.

AZSALUKI

right....and you shouldn't feel "degraded." iphone works better for "basic tasks." i like widgets. iphone doesn't have them. i like a true/full browser. iphone doesn't have that. i felt awful for my mom after she got an ipad and realized it has no flash support and can't run many of the videos when she uses facebook (she literally puts down her ipad and goes to her p.c. to view simple videos that have been posted). the apps and browser on iphone are great, but can't run anything with flash. they both have their pros and cons and people should choose based on what they will be using the device for. i use mine for much more than basic tasks. i stream sports so i prefer a larger screen and 4g speeds (if you're not in a 4g coverage area then this is irrelevant). i also often use it for web browsing so i prefer to have a web page that would have everything that the same page on a p.c. has. i use my phone as my navigator and turn by turn navigation is built in to all androids (i'm sure there are paid apps that could do this with iphone?) i also use DLNA to stream wirelessly from/to phone/pc/tv (last i knew there were paid apps to do this as well on iphone....maybe even free by now?) i personally don't find anything challenging that i try to do with android.....but as i said before, i would recommend iphone to my family, because it is much more simple. you don't have to set up multiple home screens. you don't have to concern yourself with the difference between widgets and apps. also, if you already use apple products, particularly itunes, then an iphone will be MUCH easier for you to sync your existing music, pics, and videos. i'm not trying to argue that androids are better. i just want to point out that there are some pretty big differences in capabilities and you should choose based on what you will actually use it for. maybe a lot of what i do with my android should be able to be accomplished in a more simple manner than it is.....but a lot of what i do can't be accomplished at all on an iphone.

maya0630

Thank you so much for taking the time to reply. I am a bit of a techy so I know I would love a droid and right now I am really leaning towards the Razr Maxx. The only thing I am concerned about is all the glitches that I've read about that seem to plague the droids. I run a company so I really need a phone I can depend on at all times and if that is not an issue then Razr Maxx it is... The only thing that draws me to the iPhone is the fact that I already have a couple of iPods so all my music is on iTunes and I don't know if I would be able to transfer my library over to the droid. Facetime is another thing, but I suppose Skype can take care of that. iMessage is another one, can't beat having free texts...

eloccm

I've owned several Android phones and BlackBerries and the iPhone is hands down the better device. The Android operating system is extremely buggy, laggy, and just generally less reliable than iOS. Although both platforms have a large app selection, the quality of the apps on iOS is much higher than the apps on the Google Play store. Generally, new apps are released on iOS before Android (if at all) and you will never have to worry about if a certain app will work with your device (since Android is highly fragmented). You also don't have to worry about malicious apps like the fake version of Angry Birds Space recently released on the Google Play store that contained a trojan. Some people will say "but Android is more customizable and has more free apps" and while that may be true, most people don't want to install custom roms on their phone to fix issues that shouldn't be there and the first place and almost all of the free Android apps are riddled with ads (and besides most paid apps on iOS are around .99 cents - very cheap). Any time you step into a Verizon store the sales rep is much more likely to recommend an Android device. Why? Because it makes them and Verizon more $$$$$!! Verizon is making a HUGE push for 4G sales and guess what- the only phones they offer with 4G LTE are a bunch of Android devices.

eloccm

Oh and I forgot to mention.. Adobe announced a while ago that they are killing Flash for mobile devices so that whole argument is even more irrelevent now than ever before. (basically as irrelevent as aruging that your computer is better because it has a floppy disc drive still) Most websites are now supporting HTML5 which is by far the better technology. You can also download several apps on the iPhone (such as puffin browser) that let you view flash content on your iOS device.

Wildman

There is a number of apps for Android the will allow Flash base contents to be displayed on a non-flash supported device so if flash is the end card neither are better than the other.... Checkout Skyfire for a nonsupported device with Android.

Basically all these apps does is allow the host server to render the flash data and the stream it in a readable language for the browser to use..

CharmingPhlsphr

It is important to correct a small bit of info. The app store through iTunes does not assure that one version of the iPhone will be compatible with the variety of applications. There are a number of issues where certain apps/games will not be compatible with the older devices and those particular apps will crash in many instances. The iPhone is a fine phone if media is the area of most importance, but if it is for the sake of functionality, the Android OS is the smartest choice.

AZSALUKI

maybe you can help my mom out. she got the ipad2 and loves the facebook app. is there ANY way she can view flash videos with it? or should i have her install a different browser and just tell her to use it and actually go to the fb website (instead of using the app)? and if so, is the puffin browser that you mentioned, the best one for her to use?

Wildman

Check out this post at

http://www.switchingtomac.com/tutorials/ipad/play-flash-video-on-ipad-without-jailbreaking/, it covers just what you are asking..

eloccm

Tell her to check out an app called iSwifter. It's a free browser app that allows you to view any flash content and even play the flash games on Facebook. Puffin is good as well, although a bit more limited in what you can do.

eloccm

Any current iOS device will be compatible with almost every app (even the 3 year old iPhone 3GS) If you are still using the original iPhone or iPhone 3G then you are long overdue for an upgrade anyway. The same cant be said for Android phones - there are tons of android phones out NOW that can't run many apps in the market because of hardware limitations or software limitations.

Wildman

Maybe I just been keeping up with the newer devices and software because I havent had issues with outdated or limited hardware or software with Android.. Also I have seen a number of iPhone apps that do not work on the older devices like 3G and 3Gs but this is expected with any software, they have to stop at some point on supporting the older OS..

The main difference is that the newer OS usually includes items and features that was originally supported only by 3rd party apps, once these options are supported the API is usually modified for this feature and the older devices OS cant support the change.

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