My Problem With Android.

In contrast, I think having so many different phones is what's great about Android. They have phones for various level users and at different price points for people who can't afford to drop $800 for a phone or even $200 on contract for a phone. They are constantly keeping up with what consumers want.
That's good and bad. Its good as a whole, but when you're talking about the hard-core tech heads, it means that the greatest thing will be outdated in a month. Its something you just have to learn to deal with.

I've an iPhone and and a Blackberry and don't get me wrong I think they are all great depending on what your needs are but just very slow at keeping up to speed. Blackberry is super outdated and Apple got some confortable with having a revolutionary phone when the iPhone was first released and everybody jumped on that now the yearly generation updates are minimal. While they are just getting tethering and multitasking, I had that on my Android months ago.

The iPhone has always had multitasking, it just hasn't been extended to 3rd party apps.

Tethering has also been available since last June.

Part of the blame for the slow uptake has to do with both the network and the available resources for the phone's tech. Until Apple bought Intrinsity, they couldn't build a chip to their specs. Now that they can, they're more comfortable with things like multi-tasking since they control the chip power usage and can tailor it directly to their needs.

Tethering and some other features are a direct result of the AT&T partnership. Now that that's over, they won't be as constrained.

I think it just all comes down to doing your homework on rumored phones and deciding which one you want to go for. What rumored specs really catch your eye. If dual core is what you want then look at the Bionic or the Atrix. In my opinion I hate Blur and Motorola so they aren't even options for me. Now when HTC drops a dual core I might jump on it. You also have to consider which contract is going to be best for you knowing that technology changes quickly: 1yr, 2yr, retail?
 
This is a great thread....thank you all for taking the time...

this has been on mind as well....My Storm 1....well it flat out sucks at this point. It is failing...things are starting to not work right etc. I jumped right away on it and well...2 years later...yikes. Wondering about waiting for some of the androids that will be coming out this summer...really nervous about the battery....etc.

Its just a phone...right?
 
My OG Droid has sadly been laid to rest. It started wigging out and I would try to tap something on the touch screen, and another part of the screen would react. I would try typing something, and they keyboard would take over and input a bunch of random text. When I would have the browser open it would zoom in and out over and over, making the browser un-useable. I was waiting on the T-Bolt, but HTC/Verizon has just let me down. I went and picked up an iPhone4, and am pretty happy with the phone as a whole. There are definite things that I miss, like Google Navigation, and my Swype Keyboard. Hell, I even miss Vlingo at times. I do feel there are things about my iPhone that my droid just never could keep up with however. The iPhone just has such a smooth feel, I haven't felt anything like it on any other smart phone. Just flipping from screen to screen is so smooth, it has a great feel. I've also felt that the voice recognition is much better on the iPhone. Maybe it's something I never explored with my droid, but I am loving that my iPhone auto-downloads podcasts (The Sarah and Vinnie Secret Show). I never explored the realm of podcasts before, it's pretty cool. Keep that interesting feedback coming folks! Can't tell you how refreshing it is to be in a thread that isn't full of frustration and hate about the lack of a release date.
 
Thoughts? Opinions? Snide Remarks? I'd love to hear some feedback from this great community.
I can do the snide remarks. So... you'd like Android a lot better if development stagnated and did not advance so fast, like with the iPhone? :)

-Frank
 
I can do the snide remarks. So... you'd like Android a lot better if development stagnated and did not advance so fast, like with the iPhone? :)

-Frank

Or go with BlackBerry. They have the same form factor and OS since 1983!

;)
 
Maybe you should learn to be happy with the phone you have and *not* want the latest model available every month? That's what I see happening. I don't have a problem spending money on a good smartphone because I'm going to have it a minimum of one year and probably two as long as it's a phone I like A LOT and better ... LOVE ... problem solved far as I'm concerned.
 
Welcome to the world of technology.

I can understand your comparison to iphone and android phones but you do not see the flip side. Android phones are design to be for different users.

High End Users: EVO 4G, INC, Droid X...etc

Average Users: G2, LG Ally, HTC Aria...etc

Basic Users: Droid Eris, LG Optimus S, Behold II...etc

Business/Global Users: Droid Pro, Droid 2....more when the demand is greater.

Android phones do not try one size fits all approach or appeal to just one particular group. The try to fit the different core groups and their individual needs. Now the carriers/manufacturer are the blame if their are discrepancy between user types. Those the majority of carriers do appeal to every group of user.

Don't forget Android just began to hit it's stride last year. Their's lot more android can offer and shown what is to come. Apple has taken notice android is pushing the pace of innovation for mobile tech. IOs has update like beta MobileNotifier which Android has done from day one. IOs 4.3 is now letting connect Wi-Fi network and stream itunes content to speakers, TVs and etc. Android has been making strides in streaming media from different devices all last year. The Tbolt has shown what they have learned. Android is growing fast and apple is simply taking notice. Android jumping forward in technology with dual-core, and next year quad core shows the leaps and bounds in technology. The possibility for android just not for gaming and media hubs but real world applications is a feat in itself!

Now Iphone is a great device that is very simplistic however, mainly meets the demands of Average Users and High End Users. The phone is too much for the Basic User and not practical for Business/Global Users. The Iphone is only available through two carriers.

These are just limits between android and iphone on bases of user types as well availability to the consumers.

Lets talk about the physical design of the android phones. They come in many shapes and forms. Unfortunately, the Iphone is one size fits is mentality of apple. The Iphone great design as well very appealing but practically varies. Typing of the Iphone is not a relative difficult but has it's limits.The android phones gives the user the flexibility of a larger screen for typing or the qwerty keyboard. Furthermore with the larger screen option it gives you simply better media experience. In fact not just screen but the option of having a kickstand and speakers improves the overall media experience. The list of difference can go on for ever but the point is....

Android offers users more variety, customization and more importantly personalization.

Iphone offers more simplicity, uniformity across technology and sole innovation of apple.



You are comparing apples to androids.
 
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I've only been into computers for about 12 years now, but they change almost faster than the ad that is telling about them.....but you buy one that works for your needs and live with it till it either needs to be replaced or upgraded to something faster or has more features. Pretty much my whole adult life I've been into motorcycles and for the last 10 to 12 years, those manufacturers "update" their sportbike models every two years. If you think that well, two years is a pretty long time, yea, it is, but a typical 600cc cutting edge sportbike will set you back an easy $10K..........so, you make do with what you've got or end up spending a boat load of money. Phones/computers/anything technology related is no different. Something faster, better, more features comes along every day.......you just have to make the one work for you that you have until it doesn't work for you anymore or you have the money to upgrade if it's that important to you.
 
You guys have left a ton of great feedback, and I really appreciate it. I don't want anyone to be confused with what I was originally trying to say. A couple of you made comments about learning to be happy with what you have, not having the latest and greatest. That is absolutely what the consumer must do in order to not feel bad about their purchase. That being said, there will always be many people who just feel slightly disappointed when a newer, better phone comes out one month after they just purchased a phone. The new phone is probably going to be the same price, and it's common to feel that sting of envy.

What I was trying to do initially is show how Apple is in a really good place when it comes to making their customers feel satisfied/good about their purchases. Maybe it's the shiny aluminum unibody look that everyone is so addicted to. I think there is something to be said about how they're doing their own thing, and by releasing one product a year, they have developed a portion of the market where consumers feel really good about their purchases. (Which is so important when the products are running $500+ dollar price tags.)
The problem with this is that just because there aren't new Apple products coming out constantly doesn't mean there aren't newer and better smartphones. Something will come out a month after the iPhone 5 that will have overall better specs (or in the case of the 4, the HTC Evo was already out). Sure, Apple won't release a better phone for another year, but someone else certainly will.

And actually, I'm extremely satisfied with my Dinc. There's still not a whole lot on the market that's significantly better (in fact, Verizon's about to see its first overall better phone with the Thunderbolt - Fascinate and X are better at some things, but the overall experience is the same quality), and we're coming up on a year now.