the new iPhone

[Tin]

- On iPhone, I can control Play/Pause from the lock screen without unlocking the phone, regardless of it being MP3's, Spotify, Pandora, etc. I seem to have to Unlock Android and open Spotify.
- On iPhone, I can see who just messaged me without unlocking the phone, Android doesn't seem to be that way.
- The speaker in the Atrix HD is no where near as loud as my iPhone, making it sort of weak as an alarm clock.
- Voicemail integration on iPhone is better for sure, on the Atrix I have to use the AT&T visual voicemail app, and it's not quite as clean.
- I haven't bothered moving music onto the phone, because I've become rather addicted to Spotify, which is a good thing.
- The majority of my "regular" apps are available on both platforms, so that's been good.
- The general feel of the Android is growing on me, it's a huge step up from earlier Android phones (2.3, etc).
- The display of the Atrix HD is as close to an iPhone, so I like it.
- Android camera leaves a little to be desired in specific focus/macro functions.
- I do miss the hundreds of dollars in App Store apps I have, but thankfully, I still have my iPad and can play games on it, I usually use that on plane rides over my iPhone anyways.

Most of the above issues can be resolved by running a vanilla Android ROM. The one thing that bothers me about Android, is why manufacturers have to tamper with an already incredible OS, and make it inferior to the way Google designed and built it. I know Android is open source, and the manufacturers have every right to modify it, but why mess with something perfectly good in the first place? It would be much easier if it was the same OS inside and out across all manufacturers...kind of like Windows. Any OEM Windows computer will mostly be the same across all manufacturers...something Google should think about with Android.

 

[Scooter70]

- On iPhone, I can see who just messaged me without unlocking the phone, Android doesn't seem to be that way.

Use Handcent instead of the stock Messaging app. Much cleaner and more features, including a popup over the lock screen.

- Voicemail integration on iPhone is better for sure, on the Atrix I have to use the AT&T visual voicemail app, and it's not quite as clean.

Use Google Voice for voicemail. It's integrated right into the call log so you can hear messages right from there as well as the Google Voice app. You can also set it up to send you e-mail transcripts.

 

[Tin]

+1 for Google Voice. Thats my VM/text app of choice. As a bonus, if you use the Chrome browser, they have a Google Voice app for that as well. Its nice being able to text from my web browser instead of having to reach for the phone everytime.

 

[Overboost]

Most of the above issues can be resolved by running a vanilla Android ROM. The one thing that bothers me about Android, is why manufacturers have to tamper with an already incredible OS, and make it inferior to the way Google designed and built it. I know Android is open source, and the manufacturers have every right to modify it, but why mess with something perfectly good in the first place? It would be much easier if it was the same OS inside and out across all manufacturers...kind of like Windows. Any OEM Windows computer will mostly be the same across all manufacturers...something Google should think about with Android.

This. I can understand back in the Android 2.X days, but the 4.X software is significantly refined and better thought out. I wish it were like PC where you had the choice on everything so you could decide whether or not to run stock Android or the OEM skinned version.

 

[jsxtreme]

Android's OS is so superior, you only have to download Handcent or Google voice to do simple tasks iOS5 already does? :mmm:

 

[Tin]

Android's OS is so superior, you only have to download Handcent or Google voice to do simple tasks iOS5 already does? :mmm:

Plain old Android, like whats found on the Nexus phones, does pretty much everything that was touched on above. When you get to companies like Samsung, HTC, etc...most of that stuff is removed in favor of the manufacturers own garbage. The beauty of Google Voice is everything can be done from a web browser. I dont have to use my phone in order to access texts or voice mail. Its also nice when you can click a phone number in your web browser on the computer and make your phone call it.

 

[88RedLX]

I bought an iPhone 3 and had nothing but problems from the very first week I owned it. When attempting to get resolution to the multitude of issues, I found the staff at the Apple Store to be arrogant pricks that literally did nothing and it left a bad taste in my mouth.
As a result, I switched to an Android-based phone and I have been extremely happy. I have had zero issues since day one of ownership.
I'm not going to bash Apple product, but I'm not going to be giving them any of my money any time soon.
I hope all manufacturers continue to improve products and the consumer benefits...regardless of brand.

 

[Stalker]

Android's OS is so superior, you only have to download Handcent or Google voice to do simple tasks iOS5 already does? :mmm:

Every os has its own shortcomings. You mean to tell me it took apple as a superior Os how many years to figure out mms messaging? What about notifications? Or GPS built into the phone instead of having to download applications. The list for each phone of features the other phone has is massive. Doesn't mean either one os is better than the other.

 

[jsxtreme]

Most of the above issues can be resolved by running a vanilla Android ROM. The one thing that bothers me about Android, is why manufacturers have to tamper with an already incredible OS, and make it inferior to the way Google designed and built it. I know Android is open source, and the manufacturers have every right to modify it, but why mess with something perfectly good in the first place? It would be much easier if it was the same OS inside and out across all manufacturers...kind of like Windows. Any OEM Windows computer will mostly be the same across all manufacturers...something Google should think about with Android.

Good stuff to know before I take the Galaxy Note plung.

So all I'd have to do to get all the features is install the vanilla Android ROM? I wonder what special features the note comes with I'd be losing, like the intergration of the stylus. Honestly that sounds like a real pain in the ass.

 

[Stalker]

Good stuff to know before I take the Galaxy Note plung.

So all I'd have to do to get all the features is install the vanilla Android ROM? I wonder what special features the note comes with I'd be losing, like the intergration of the stylus. Honestly that sounds like a real pain in the ass.

I guarantee you you won't lose that integration. Someone will make a cwm flashable package to add it.

 

[Tin]

The Galaxy Note probably has the Touchwiz UI, common to most Galaxy products. While its perfectly usable, its still not plain Android. Is that the 10.1 youre looking at? In order to run vanilla Android on a non-Nexus device, it does have to be rooted and have a new recovery program flashed.

 

[Overboost]

Good stuff to know before I take the Galaxy Note plung.

So all I'd have to do to get all the features is install the vanilla Android ROM? I wonder what special features the note comes with I'd be losing, like the intergration of the stylus. Honestly that sounds like a real pain in the ass.

Cyanogenmod 10 will probably be your best bet. They typically have a very robust stock Android ROM that enhances even the vanilla Android 4.1.

 

[Tin]

Cyanogenmod 10 will probably be your best bet. They typically have a very robust stock Android ROM that enhances even the vanilla Android 4.1.

This. Cyanogenmod is a godsend to the Android community. If it werent for the CM team, I wouldnt have 4.0 on my old school Evo. Id be stuck at 2.3 like everybody else.

 

[jsxtreme]

Sounds very user friendly. :lol: As much as I'd love to have to root a $600 phone and install an after market firmware to make it perform like an Apple, I think I'll stick with what I have.

Thanks for the info.

 

[Tin]

No problem. User friendliness is Apples biggest selling point. Even in stock form, Android isnt as easy to get the hang of as iOS. For us geeks out there, the tinker factor is what sells alot of us on Android.

 

[jsxtreme]

Yeah I understand that. If you're into modding your phone I know the android based phones are great for that. They certainly are more powerful platforms. But for those of us who just use it for basic things, Apple is hard to beat.

 

[Overboost]

The beauty of iOS is that you have to be trying pretty hard to screw it up. With Android, there's a lot more power up front, which could get you in trouble. Not to mention, the Android market allows you to basically rewrite your phone with new apps, adding a layer of complexity and confusion to a basic user.

 

[Golden]

I wonder what the 4s will cost next summer? I think I'm eligible for an upgrade at that time. Should be damn near free. :lol:

 

[Stalker]

I wonder what the 4s will cost next summer? I think I'm eligible for an upgrade at that time. Should be damn near free. :lol:

One step down in models is usually 99 not sure about hard drive size though.

 

[Detroit454]

So is there a way to convert iTunes music files to MP3's if I wanted to switch to a droid?

I can bite the bullet on the apps, but not the music. I'd kinda like to try the galaxy note.

Just a heads up, you will not be able to use a droid to play music in your truck.