[ambushbug73]

I'm a huge FOX News fan, but on three occasions in the last month they have had articles singing the praises of Apple products while in the same article degrading Android products. The reporter who writes the articles, Clayton Morris, is one of the weekend hosts of Fox & Friends and often admits to being an Apple fan boy on air. I have no problem with him being a fan of Apple, I'm a fan of Android myself, but don't let your personal feelings bleed over into your professional articles.

[lionsson]

I think it has more to do with your Googles algorithm. Simple answer, vote with your eye balls. It's easy to tell sites that just want the attention with far out opinion. Read several articles about that news and you should be able to tell which sites just care about clicks. Just ignore them.

[storm14k]

I think the flame war stuff is funny in the comments and I stoke the flames sometimes. I just like laughing at some of the other folks desperately come up with excuses for Android success and the wild stories about how its going to be overtaken by some next version of their platform.

Now what I can't stand is when these sensational articles are written on so called respectable sites that just try to twist facts for the hell of making a platform look better....normally Apple. As some as said the lastest thing is "Android has peaked". Well they said that months ago and the numbers came out and Android had the same growth rate. Now even more numbers have come out showing Android is growing as fast as ever and they start these crap articles all over again.

[caliskimmer]

Not long after I purchased my Evo, I purchased an Ipod touch 4G just to get a basic feel of the IOS. From my understanding the Ipod touch has about 90% of the functions of the Iphone just minus the radio. With that being said the only thing that IOS allows you to do is pick an app. That is more or less an app launcher(android had a ton by the way) not an OS. I was bored with it in less than a day. It does work great as a music player though.

Oh, I don't exactly care about the overlying "App Launcher" (although it's nice to have apps ). The only stuff I care about really are what becomes possible after jailbreaking and the underlying code. I don't buy things just because the ads say so or there is a review out. I buy a certain item not only if it works for me, but because I can then check out the programming language and see if I can make an app out of it. However, at this point, I still can't understand the custom Objective C code that Apple has written, nor do I want to spend too much time on that yet. I'm studying Java programming right now for a class I'm taking next year and feel like I should focus on that.

ANYWAYS, I understand where you are coming from. After having an iOS device (whether iPhone or iPod Touch) for the past 3 years, I too see where the lack of aesthetic appeal is. I guess you have to appreciate the minimalist feel of iOS. Android, on the other hand, has a lot of customization, which is fantastic, but for whatever reason, the five Android phones I've owned seem to have one issue or another with it and I keep having to take it back. I have my Evo now, but what's really frustrating is how SLOW the darn thing has become and no matter what I try to do, it is just plain laggy. I should really check out a dual core phone shouldn't I? I heard that everything has gotten MUCH smoother and faster since last year anyways

[tsak6789]

Do you have any examples (links) of this hate. I never seem to notice.

Go to Cnet.com, cnn.com, msnbc.com and read any article about Android, and the Isheep come rolling in. Even the articles themselves seem bias against Android.

[caliskimmer]

I think the flame war stuff is funny in the comments and I stoke the flames sometimes. I just like laughing at some of the other folks desperately come up with excuses for Android success and the wild stories about how its going to be overtaken by some next version of their platform.

Now what I can't stand is when these sensational articles are written on so called respectable sites that just try to twist facts for the hell of making a platform look better....normally Apple. As some as said the lastest thing is "Android has peaked". Well they said that months ago and the numbers came out and Android had the same growth rate. Now even more numbers have come out showing Android is growing as fast as ever and they start these crap articles all over again.

Take into account that writers are JUST human and usually side one way or another. The only way to be neutral really is to just use common sense and state pros and cons of both of whatever you're talking about and leave. That way, if someone wants to challenge you, you have already set yourself up for an easy counter and the other person backs down quickly most of the time.

[emceephi]

One thing that people complain about Android is that it isn't as smooth and fluid as iOS, and that is mostly true. The browser on the Iphone 4 scrolls and zooms very smoothly as if it was going 60 frames a second. The browser on my Mytouch 4g is pretty smooth too, but it seems like it's only going 30 frames a second or something. Anyone else understand what I'm talking about?

I think I read somewhere a long time ago that Android doesn't use gpu hardware acceleration and that's why things aren't as smooth. If Google would only add that, Android would be near perfect.

[srkmagnus]

When I came across this thread I expected to see bashing of other OS'. I've seen the opposite and a very good dialect going on the discussion. Very good opinions expressed, something I hope to see more from the community as Android continues to grow.

Android is still in its infacy if you ask me. Its evolving fast and positively. Not everyone will be satisfied but hopefully the majority will :-)

[eled528]

awsome

[caliskimmer]

One thing that people complain about Android is that it isn't as smooth and fluid as iOS, and that is mostly true. The browser on the Iphone 4 scrolls and zooms very smoothly as if it was going 60 frames a second. The browser on my Mytouch 4g is pretty smooth too, but it seems like it's only going 30 frames a second or something. Anyone else understand what I'm talking about?

I think I read somewhere a long time ago that Android doesn't use gpu hardware acceleration and that's why things aren't as smooth. If Google would only add that, Android would be near perfect.

Well, the good thing is that Android 4.0 is coming out soon and based on how quickly Google updates their stuff, maybe they'll add it soon. However, wouldn't that be a bit difficult with all the kinds of hardware?

[Jordan jones]

It's sad how much hate their is. Some of them claim to have a certain android Phone for a week then they proceed to say all the negative things with the phone then they say they are happy with their repurchased iphone 4. One post last night even claimed to have an EVO 3D and returned it hours later for an iphone. Best part of the post is that the evo 3d has not been released to the general public yet. Some people just love to hate.

[blaqbird]

I would have to completely disagree with you. to be honest, 90% of android users dont even know what gingerbread, ice cream, donut, etc are. Just like 90% of iOS users dont know when there is an "upgrade" to their handset. fragmentation isnt an issue. It was just a ploy that steve jobs brought to the media because he was scared sh**less from Android. When majority of people buy phones they dont say "OMG i want this one it has gingerbread" only us geeks do. Most people say "OMG i want the wifis and the GB's and the LTE's" just because you read about it on forums doesnt mean it is apparent by everyone. forums are the absolute vocal MINORITY.


The other people hate android because why, they are the best. clear and simple. its the same reason people hate kobe and labron, and rose. You dont see people saying man I absolutely hate joe smith. Why do they hate? because if you like one, you dislike the other society has taught us terrible habits and that liking more then one thing is bad, you either like one or the other.

I can respect that you disagree with me on the fragmentation issue or non-issue. It's not as bad as it was a year ago but I feel it still exists and it's the fault of the carriers holding things up for their crapware and the manufacturers fault for trying to get their own software involved with the update or not even caring about an update in order to push sales for newer devices.

[huthutchuck]

There is a lot of hate for android out there. As a customer service rep for a certain cellphone company, I can say that I have always been a fan of apple products. They tend to put above average care in putting their hardware and software together and making sure they work seamlessly. That being said, each OS has it's advantages. To me the blackberry is the best texting and emailing device out there. The response time and the keyboard are just top notch. The Iphone is a very good digital media device. If you can get past the dependency on itunes, it is the best music and video player out there. The android line of devices has the best web and internet experience out there. To me, the best thing about the android and what sets it apart from all other cellphones is how personally customizable it is. If you are a gamer, you can get lots of games. If your a reader you can get ebooks galore. You can install what you want and remove what you don't. And rooting....The ability to have administrator access and the ability to install specially optimized OS'es for your phone to give it additional features and performance is just awesome. Four years ago, blackberry had arguably the best smartphone. Two years ago, it was the iphone. Now, it is the android.

[jazzbassist1]

I for one have been very pleased with the discussion here. Most people on the thread are very open to admit that both iOS and Android (as well as Blackberry and I'm sure Windows Phone as well) are good operating systems and each have their own advantages and disadvantages.

iOS is so polished and refined, and you really never have to worry about getting the latest version because everyone runs the latest version. I think the music player on the iPhone is much better than the one in Android (at least the native one), and as of yet, tablet iOS (iPad) is very much ahead based solely on the number of tablet-specific apps and their functionality.

Having said that, iOS does not leave much room for people who like to tinker with their phone to make it their own, which means someone who knows the ins-and-outs of Android would might enjoy rooting an Android as opposed to jailbreaking an iPhone.


Currently, I'm a bit frustrated with the state of Android. I am a Droid X owner, and knowing what I know now, I am almost certain I will only buy nexus phones from now on. Carrier bloatware and manufacturer UIs could very well be the downfall of Android, as I know that Motoblur is a serious flaw on my Droid X. All I want is a Nexus phone on Verizon! is that so much to ask?!

[ANDROID__JUNKIE]

Go to Cnet.com, cnn.com, msnbc.com and read any article about Android, and the Isheep come rolling in. Even the articles themselves seem bias against Android.

That's what I see... And for the general public or "tech-tards" they want something that is either trendy or easy to use. The don't go directly to spec sheets and couldn't tell you the difference between Hummingbird and Snapdragon.

The main point of this thread really I guess was to create a discussion about ways the Android platform could possibly appeal to your Grandpa and at the same time keep the geeks happy. I know fanboys of all sides try to get hits on their websites with rhetoric but I believe the true leader will be the one that has its users, developers, and manufacturers that use it take a deep look and innovate beyond haters. In essence... let's make Android so incredible that those sheep that are on the fence actually want to help support this community through buying into the platform.

[Droid800]

I think Android is suffering the same problems iOS is; namely, that the OS as a whole hasn't really changed a whole lot since the days of the Hero. Most of the foibles and oddities of the OS are still there, and most of the biggest complaints about Android have gone unfixed.

That isn't to say that Android is a bad OS by any stretch of the imagination. Its just saying that all of the things that were wrong with Android on the early versions are still there on the newest versions. And that's what a lot of the sites are noticing.

4.x should fix them though. They have Matias Duarte plugging away at finally fixing the various UX foibles, and unifying the OS look and feel across the board, and they're also fixing (or have fixed) many of the other issues. The 4.x release is going to be a big one for Google; they can either do it right, or they can put a fresh coat of paint on what's already there. Hopefully they choose the former. (They can't really afford to choose the latter)

[butler360]

1. Google is quickly taking over
2. Two of the biggest tech blogs, Engadget and Gizmodo, are of the opinion that iPhone is the standard and anything that deviates from it sucks.
3. Carrier crapware/interference (similar to the PC market)

That's basically it. Also, Apple is very good at marketing and that has made a very big difference (being shiny and having a whooshy UI helps, too).

[cckgz4]

How do I say, I don't have to pay for Angry Birds without that being a slight against another platform that you have to pay for it on?

Oh silly, you can get Angry Birds free on iOS. Just gotta know how.

[Droid800]

1. Google is quickly taking over
2. Two of the biggest tech blogs, Engadget and Gizmodo, are of the opinion that iPhone is the standard and anything that deviates from it sucks.
3. Carrier crapware/interference (similar to the PC market)

That's basically it. Also, Apple is very good at marketing and that has made a very big difference (being shiny and having a whooshy UI helps, too).

Eh. I think you're glossing over some of the issues Android has.

Oh, and as for Engadget and Gizmodo; not really. They loved the G2X and the Nexus S, but they like Sense or other skins much less than stock. And like it or not, the iPhone IS the standard for touchscreen smartphones. If they weren't comparing it to the competition then they wouldn't be doing their jobs. Both of those blogs are just as quick to point out iOS' flaws as they are to point out Android's.

[cckgz4]

And lets not pretend the Android sites don't do the same. You can't utter iOS without being attacked

[Chopper Joe]

Part of what's happening has a pretty clear explanation and it's not about comparing technical specs of iOS and Android.

After WWDC announcements, there was the usual war of words between, well, you know. For all the debating and name calling, there was an objective fact: the response of the stock market, and the market was not impressed. There was no bounce in response to iCloud etc and the stock began a progressive decline that only reversed in the last couple of days.

If you look at the stories about Apple in the financial sector over the past couple of weeks, you'll see an interesting trend.

First, several stories show up questioning how Apple will be doing in the future and questioning the upside (some of these stories had to do with things like people leaving Apple etc but some had to do with market factors that mitigate the upside, e.g., "law of big numbers" -- when something gets big, it's harder to get the same percentage growth as in the past).

Second, in response, you see a number of pro-Apple analysts making some pretty outrageous claims (e.g., iphone 5 will "destroy" Android) that suggest a bit of concern, if not mild panic. There are a lot of careers and mutual funds who depend on Apple stock staying high. Also, many non-Apple fans may not realize that a lot of Apple supporters are also invested in the stock as well as the hardware.

I'm not suggesting that Apple is in trouble or about to collapse or anything like that. However, there are a number of financial factors that suggest Apple may be peaking, at least for the near term, and that has a lot of financial folks nervous.

[tropper]

Personally the fragmentation isnt an issue for me, and for those who are less tech oriented than me it is even less of an issue for them. All most people really see is a great phone with many different styles to choose from, one that fits their style best, one that is way more customizable than the rest.
I really feel it is the other brand fanbois that are most scared, not the OEMs, because they no longer have the latest and greatest phones out there. Android is no longer a joke in the smart phone world but more of a contender, if not the leader in the race for the best phone out there.

[bnrbranding]

I agree with Holsom about the fragmentation issue. My wife has a rooted CDMA Hero on Cyanogen 6, she has no idea what OS she has nor does she care. She just knows it works and I did some stuff to her phone. The vast majority of Android users I know couldn't tell you what OS they have, nor do they care. All they know is that they have a "Droid". The typical consumer has no clue, just the tiny segment of geeks knows or cares about this, and we are the least affected since many of us root and mod anyhow.

There will always be Android hate just like there will always be Yankees, Cowboys, Red Sox, Lakers, Lebron, and Kobe hate. Everyone loves the underdog and hates on success. No big deal, it just means Android is leading the pack.

[icwhatudidthere]

I think the fragmentation issue will be most obvious for nontechies when they buy the latest and greatest Android phone and then find out they can't install Hulu or Netflix.

And if I had to guess, most people won't have a family member who roots their phone for them to install the latest hacked Netflix app.

[paulus]

For the most part, I believe they have the right to bash what they believe is Android. In fact what they're bashing is the Blur, the Sense, the - whatever crap the manufacturers force over the top of Android. Not enough people experience the real Android.
What would be good is more of