Sorry. Rant. Is anyone else as sick of "it just works" as I am????

[Mr.Willie]

Then why do you bother to read 2+ paragraphs when the title clearly says what the subject is. Why bother to spend time replying? Yes, good for them. Chose whatever phone you like for whatever reason you like. If that is because it just works, fine.

Apologized and also put RANT in the title. Rant means - this is annoying to me and I am going to go on a bit about it. My question, is it just me or are others tired of seeing it.

Skip the post if you don't like the subject!

It's just you. What aggravates me is when people use the "iOS is boring me", "long in the tooth", "stale", "I would never buy Apple because of the suicide nets" (even though the suicide rate was less than most 1st world countries), "Apple doesn't pay their fair share of taxes" and crap like that.

I see you got the One, glad you didn't fall for the Samsung trash. Lovin' the 4.7" 1080 screen and the front facing speakers.

 

[nizmoz]

Honestly, I have had many Iphones and Android devices. And I agree. The iPhone just works. Not buggy, no issues for the common user and it works and works well without having to modify the phone. Great for people not tech savy.

 

[beaglebaby]

Adriandb, Pump myself up?! Not sure where you are getting that from. Name calling? I didn't specifically refer to anyone or call anyone a name. iSheep is just a generalization, with a LOL attached - as in don't take this too seriously. I have not spouted off one bit about any one platform being better than the other.. Just the opposite. I have said repeatedly - not here to bash Apple or iPhone. If it's what works for you, more power to ya. However, as stated, after reading a LOT of blogs and posts in the past few weeks, I am getting why the term exists. I didn't make it up, never paid all that much attention to all of this, but now what I am saying is that "I get it."

 

[Farish]

Here is where it just works come into play.

Easy syncing with iTunes media/music library. Sorry but I have seen both Mac/Window Users ask questions on these forums about their issues with music syncing with Android Devices.
iCloud. Right now for automatic backup and restoration, it is the best implementation out there. Photostream is a better solution than Google Plus photos and using dropbox as a go between.
FindmyPhone and those other features are built in and work well.
Integration across all their products. iMessage from any device. Sync and access any apple device on your network. Even great support on non Apple devices. My whole music library accessible and syncable on any computer with iTunes.
Exchange support, best way to get support on Android is pay 20 dollar for an app.

Android gives you more customization and features but none of the OEMS have figured out a solid seamless way to make everything to work together like Apple has.

Maybe they will but only one who I think would have a good chance is Microsoft. Problem is with Microsoft is their culture hasn't changed enough and they still have some blind spots with regards who management handles things.

 

[beaglebaby]

Mr. Willie, you are right. I have seen all of those phrases repeated many, many times in my readings as well. Guess we all have our little annoyances, LOL!

 

[karmamule]

The iPhone being the first really popular smartphone is the explanation for this. Almost everyone's first reference for a smartphone as we know it is the iPhone, so anything else will require an adjustment. Android will always be less intuitive to some people not because it is inferior, more customizable, etc but because the iPhone is the standard from which we judge. I like Android much more, but the iPhone was the first smartphone I owned and the first one I saw when friends and family all started using it en masse. It seems simple because it is generally the most familiar. There will be people who this doesn't apply to, but those are the minority.

I think this is an excellent point. Many people saying "it just works" have been using an iPhone for years and I suspect they've forgotten those "How the hell do I...." moments they had in the very beginning the first time they were exposed to iOS. There are plenty of quirks that seem second nature and "just work" now that were baffling at first. (Like having to press and hold the button and all the icons started jiggling, which was the sign that you could now drag and reposition them.)

After a couple years with one phone you've developed well-worn pathways of using it, and of course it seems to "just work". If you took true "smartphone virgins" who'd never seen or been exposed to IOS *or* Android, and had them set up from scratch I'm sure there would be a few things each OS would do easier than the other, but I don't think the differences would be that stark.

There's lots of familiarity and YEARS of experience in addition to the limited customizability that give iOS its reputation for simplicity. Android seems more difficult because you have to UNlearn habit and figure out new ways of doing things, and anything counter to habit will often feel difficult at first.

 

[bembol]

As a new Android user who is loving the OS and my One i can say that Android doesn't "just work" the way iOS does. The end user doesn't need to know anything or configure anything to have a great experience on an iPhone. You can't really say that about most Android devices. I think part of the fun of Android is the customization and how much you can tailor the OS to suit your needs, but this also comes at the price of an OS that is more complicated. I don't think one OS is inherently better than the other, they just take different approaches and each speaks to a different audience.

There will always be some defective devices or bugs in an OS, but iOS and Apple blow away the competition on user satisfaction surveys. Again, their OS is more simple, it's easier to use and harder to screw up. At the same time, you better want to use it the way it's designed to work because you can't change much.

This is the fundamental difference iOS and Android and it's a perfectly reasonable distinction. Anyone who claims that one OS is better for everyone than the other OS is misguided at best. Anyone who claims that all users of "the other" OS are somehow fools or lesser people is just silly.

+1

No, because it's true especially with OSX. My family & friends who I got to switched from Windows all agree. It just works.

 

[bp3dots]

"It just works" is no diffrent that "Android is customizeable" Nothing wrong with it, because its pretty true.

Apple build a platform that is pretty simple for almost anyone to use. Android has a steeper learning curve, and in trade, you get more options to do stuff. Realistiaclly, if you're the kind of person who posts on a tech forum, you shouldn't have a problem with either. But a lot of people aren't so tech savvy.

My mom is a perfect example. I knew it would be easier for her to get used to an iPhone when she finally moved up from a feature phone, and it would be easier for me to troubleshoot from over the phone/email since I'm not in the same town as her. Another bonus was an apple store near to her, where if she needed in person help, she could get it fast.

 

[LegalAmerican]

I've never owned a phone that didn't "just work" because if it didn't, i'd be smart enough to return it for something that did work. I know that Apple Marketing phrases are adopted in the community like it's a Bible passage, but I wish I could hear those same people explain how their device "just works" and mine doesn't. To me, it's Apple's equivalent to when Android users say they hate TouchWiz, Sense, or Blur but can never really explain why. I am passionate about phones, and I love tech. So I can appreciate a well thought out explanation of why someone prefers one piece of electronics over another. If they can't explain it, then don't say yours is better than mine. And certainly don't resort to lazy weak statements like "it just works" or "I just don't like TouchWiz."

I'm not saying people can't have their own opinion, but at least try to figure out what that opinion is instead of just repeating what you've heard others say. "It just works" is a complete load of crap. I know another poster or two tried explaining why they think it's valid, but as I read their explanations I can honestly say: "Mine does that too" to everything they say. One device might be perfect for one group, and that's great. I'm not attacking people who just love their device and enjoy it and talk about how much they like it. I am attacking those who can't leave me alone while comparing theirs to mine and saying that theirs just works as if mine does not.

Everyone acts like Android requires hours of tinkering to make it work. It might take that long to make it exactly how you want it, but at least you have the ABILITY to make it how YOU want it. But for it to just work, it requires no tinkering whatsoever. I agree with the OP entirely.

 

[Topgonzo]

This kind of sums up the whole thread.. Help correct me if I'm wrong.
http://www.metacafe.com/watch/an-y73UJt7bnh2mb/couples_retreat_2009_just_works_part_2/

Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk 4 Beta

 

[Gathomblipoob]

This kind of sums up the whole thread.. Help correct me if I'm wrong.
Couples Retreat (2009): "just Works" Part 2 - Video

Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk 4 Beta

Can't get it to play.

 

[Gator352]

Can't get it to play.

Try using an android device to view the video. Because well, ya know, "it just works".

 

[delta7]

Sorry, disagree with the op.

The iPhone is simple enough for a child to use. Everything is in big bold letters.

Nothing to really figure out, no searching for what's killing my battery. No battery programs, task managers, none if that stuff. Everything is taken care of by apple.

It works so well people get bored of it and need something new to tinker with after a while.

My last android device was a evo design, the upgrade for ics came out and basically the phone became unusable. With 768 mb of ram and a single core processer the phone lagged to hell and back, the android forum here for that phone became a damn ghost town.

That's a example of the android side if things I don't like, compare that to the iPhone, bugs happen but apple handles it and usually it's quick.

Is apple perfect? Hell no, i still want the gs4, iPhones are small and the keyboard blows and the integration sucks but as a daily smartphone it's hard to beat not to mention the apps.

The evo lte is 160 on eBay, it was 199 last year on contract. Only Samsung seems to be going the right direction and that's by optimizing their phones pretty well with little software errors.

Android is good but don't get mad over the statement it just works cuz it's just true.

The video plays on the iPhone

 

[Gator352]

Here's my take.....

iphone is not my problem. In fact, it's a sexy device that deserves it's place in the smartphone world.....but just not in my place. It's not the phone I dislike, it's Apple. I hate Apple. I hate everything they stand for. I hated Steve jobs and now that he's gone, I hate Tim Cook. I purposely circumvent Apple whenever I can and if I can't, I spit on it. Apple is the epitome of "We are awesome and follow us isheep to the land of magical goodness!!" All while suing others for what?? Another row of icons?? Telling users "you're holding it wrong!".....I call dung on Apple and NO ONE will change my mind.

Thank you for your patronage and if you didn't understand what I wrote, you're reading it wrong!

 

[Topgonzo]

Here's my take.....

iphone is not my problem. In fact, it's a sexy device that deserves it's place in the smartphone world.....but just not in my place. It's not the phone I dislike, it's Apple. I hate Apple. I hate everything they stand for. I hated Steve jobs and now that he's gone, I hate Tim Cook. I purposely circumvent Apple whenever I can and if I can't, I spit on it. Apple is the epitome of "We are awesome and follow us isheep to the land of magical goodness!!" All while suing others for what?? Another row of icons?? Telling users "you're holding it wrong!".....I call dung on Apple and NO ONE will change my mind.

Thank you for your patronage and if you didn't understand what I wrote, you're reading it wrong!

That " just works " for me... +1

Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk 4 Beta

 

[paintdrinkingpete]

Hello,
I recently joined and posted a couple of threads in trying to sort out which phone to buy - HTC One, GS4 or Note 2. In the process of my weeks of research on these phones, I found several forums and sites where many opinions from all types of users are posted and read all with great interest. Of course, in all of this reading, there was the inevitable comparison with the iPhone, and in so many cases, whenever someone pointed out how nice some features were of their non-iPhone, an iPhone person would chime in with some version of "I don't care, my iPhone just works."

Well, after a few weeks, I can't tell you how sick I am of hearing that phrase! We know already! I have owned several phones, and guess what, they ALL JUST WORK! If they didn't, I wouldn't have them. Maybe some of you have had phones that haven't just worked, but that cannot be the majority or there would not still be android phones out there today with all of the various versions of the OS. My Evo had gingerbread and worked great. Plus, maybe the earliest versions of iPhone, with their totally simplistic iOS "just worked," but if you go over to the iMore forum, there is a thread with a poll where 47% of the new iPhone 5 owners have had to return their device. There are threads on lag, battery life, when to restart/reboot your iPhone and all sorts of folks with questions on why their home button isn't working properly, purple haze on photos, etc. Also, what about the dropped calls and maps situation from the recent past.

I am not trying to put down the iPhone itself or anyone with one, I am sure it is a great phone that works just fine. So does my One. It just works. It really does.

I agree with this...mostly. I think that many mis-interpret the whole "it just works" mantra. Apple has built a reputation for making devices that are simplistic in design, feature rich and extremely user friendly. USER FRIENDLY. Many mistake this last statement to mean "works better", when in fact, it often only means "requires less user interaction". Regardless of how you interpret it, there is obviously a very large population of consumers out there looking for just that. iPhones are easy to setup and work "right out of the box" because there isn't that much that *can* be setup. This is great if simplistic is what you want...but can drive you mad if you really want to be able to customize the settings to your choosing.

What I actually hate even more than "it just works" is the statement, "I can't believe my [insert Android phone here] can't do this [insert feature here]!!! EVEN my iPhone could do that!!!" Often, this is a feature or task that (1) can be solved through a 3rd party app or (2) isn't the type of thing that should be an obvious feature to everyone. Having said that though, there are obviously certain features that each platform excels at, and yes, there are definitely things that iPhone does better than Android...unfortunately, no single platform seems to have found a way to make everyone happy...yet. Of course, when you suggest that the feature the person is complaining about can be solved by installing an app or going into the settings and changing something is when they drop the 'ol, "Ugh...this is why Android sucks...this 'just worked' on my iPhone!"

I generally hate getting into these discussions...different folks have different needs and expectations. I generally just say, if you want an iPhone (or a Blackberry or a Windows phone or a Palm Treo etc), then buy one...doesn't really affect me one bit...but I'll be more than happy to offer my opinion when asked.

but if you go over to the iMore forum, there is a thread with a poll where 47% of the new iPhone 5 owners have had to return their device. There are threads on lag, battery life, when to restart/reboot your iPhone and all sorts of folks with questions on why their home button isn't working properly, purple haze on photos, etc. Also, what about the dropped calls and maps situation from the recent past.

I do often have to point out that no matter what route you decide to go, no platform is free from defect.

 

[Gathomblipoob]

Try using an android device to view the video. Because well, ya know, "it just works".

Just tried it on my iPhone 5 and it just worked. Go figure.

EDIT: Okay, it "just works" on my One as well.

 

[oscarnyc]

I think this is an excellent point. Many people saying "it just works" have been using an iPhone for years and I suspect they've forgotten those "How the hell do I...." moments they had in the very beginning the first time they were exposed to iOS. There are plenty of quirks that seem second nature and "just work" now that were baffling at first. (Like having to press and hold the button and all the icons started jiggling, which was the sign that you could now drag and reposition them.)

After a couple years with one phone you've developed well-worn pathways of using it, and of course it seems to "just work". If you took true "smartphone virgins" who'd never seen or been exposed to IOS *or* Android, and had them set up from scratch I'm sure there would be a few things each OS would do easier than the other, but I don't think the differences would be that stark.

There's lots of familiarity and YEARS of experience in addition to the limited customizability that give iOS its reputation for simplicity. Android seems more difficult because you have to UNlearn habit and figure out new ways of doing things, and anything counter to habit will often feel difficult at first.

This 100%. So many times I'll read a review of a device, and it goes something like this: "I've been using X operating system for the past 4 years, and now I've been using Y for 2 days, and it is completely unintuitive". Which is ridiculous. I pick up my wife's iPhone and I have no idea how to do certain simple things. Not necessarily b/c Android is superior, but because that's what I'm used to. At this point in 2013, whether its iOS, Android (or any of its OEM variants), WP, BB, OSX, Windows they are all pretty easy to use once you get over the slight learning curve. This isn't 1986 when to bold a word in Wordperfect you needed to press F8 text F8. (or maybe that was underline), vs. clicking on the B in the ribbon bar on a Mac.

 

[LegalAmerican]

No one is saying iPhone sucks or Android is better. OP's point is just his distaste for a particular phrase. So many of these posts are responding as if he's taken a cheap shot at Apple and they have to defend the iPhone. The iPhone is a great device, there's no argument there. The BEST device is debateable because everyone's needs differ. The iPhone is good, that phrase SUCKS. It's a lazy mans (or womans) way of saying their device is better than another because it fits their needs. That's illogical and unfounded.

 

[beaglebaby]

Thank you Legal American! You totally get my post. I just started reading tech blogs recently and was blown away by how many times that mantra gets trotted out. As stated previously, it was mentioned in one single post 3 times! AGAIN, there is nothing wrong with the iPhone or its users. Not a bash of the product here. Don't mind that people like their slogans, even ones I get sick of hearing all the time. I am not the slogan police. Just please stop throwing it out every time someone with android mentions they are having an issue with their phone like an iPhone can't have a problem. Thanks!