In what already seems to be a decades-old question, I am curious to hear what the classes’ opinion is on which kind of phone/software they prefer. As some may know, the HTC One M8 is set to be released soon, and early benchmark tests propel the handset to the top of the pack in terms of speed and functionality. While I am always interested in what Android has to offer, I’ve been skeptical at times of their phones sustaining the zippiness and fluidity they have when you initially buy them. I’ve owned multiple Samsung Android handsets in the past (before jumping ship for the iPhone 4S, and now the 5), as well as fooled around with countless other Android devices, and I would always get that impression. I’ve also gotten the sense, speaking to other Android owners, that the phones start getting buggy after a few months. And this, to me, is no doubt because of the fragmentation that develops between the software and hardware.
Since Android is proprietary to Google, all the phone makers (HTC, Samsung, LG, etc.) need a specific kind for their hardware. And because it’s so hard for Google to customize one kind of software for virtually hundreds of different phones, there is inevitably bugs and glitches that are pushed through at a much higher rate than the iPhone. Since the iPhone only functions on iOS (Apple-made software), it is that much easier to make a uniform, fluid interface that works cohesively with all iPhone hardware. But that software is extremely limiting, and that’s why I debate whether Android is the better fit for me.
Apple, as most people most likely already know, keeps its ecosystem locked tight within iOS. There are very few customization options. The icons are static. There are no skins. No themes. No nothing. Just a wallpaper selection. Everything else is basically decided by Apple for you in a ‘take it or leave it’ sort of mentality. The functionality is optimal, yes, but there’s almost no customization. One alternative is to jailbreak, which basically means that you hack into your iPhone to get all the customization options that Apple actually has. You can change pretty much every single thing with your phone, but the caveats are that it voids your warranty and the phone doesn’t run completely right afterwards. While the former can be moot with a simple software restore, the latter gives me less inventive to do it than not, since I’d rather have a phone without any glitching that is more limited in options. The other alternative, though, is to switch over to another device. And while I used to believe that the bugginess of Android devices was too much to compensate for more customization options, I feel as though that functionality disparity is closing. And if it is, with the new Android line-up in the coming months, including the HTC One M8 and Samsung Galaxy S5, is it time to start considering a switch?
I’ve never thought so much into phones and their softwares but I have an android so I am a little biased. I do agree that androids get a little buggy after a while and it starts acting up as well. I think although they have their flaws, they have so much to offer (more than apple) that it keeps me entertained and loyal to their models. You can get a new phone every year or two and that’s probably about the same amount of time for new models and phones to come out. I guess this is a matter of preference really and it’s up to you whether you want to make the switch!
I agree with your point of view regarding to android. I just want to add few more things about disadvantage of android phone.
Disadvantage Android
1. Continuous Internet connection – Yups, most Android phones require a simultaneous Internet connection alias continuously active. That means must be prepared to subscribe Agan GPRS packet that suits your needs.
2. Advertising – Application in the Android phones can indeed be obtained easily and for free, but the consequences in each of these applications, will always be ads on display, either the top or bottom of the application.
I’ve used an iPhone for a little over a year now and I have to say, it offers the best phone experience. Because of its simplicity, it runs smoothly and without lag–even with lower specs. However, I do agree that it lacks customizability. Maybe the iPhone 6 will be different.
Everything we see in terms of technology is software. Android is an open source software, and that is the main problem with android phones. Apple controls every bit of software that goes into iPhone and thats the reason we never see any bloatware in iPhone. If we look at Android, different companies put different bloatware inside the phones. Eventhough this Android phones are packing a specs, but iPhone with lower specs can and does compete. App store is also a huge favor for Apple. It has apps with better interfaces eventhough the apps are same in Google Play Store. So basically the difference is indeed in the software.