X verses the iPhone

droidntn

Well-known member
Jul 4, 2010
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I have a buddy who just got the X and moved over from At&T. He was excited about the X and they actually HELD his at the local VZW store cuz he was moving over from At&T.
Now, he has returned it saying it is inferior to the iPhone..slow, bad battery life, iphone easier to type on. I simply don't see it. I've used my brother's iPhone and it's ok..for a phone, (IF you can get a signal) but that's it.
No multitasking, no screensize, the list goes on.
He and I are in a phone battle. LOL.
I told him I believe the Droid X to be the most perfect invention by mankind since indoor plumbing.
:)
So, have any of you guys moved over from the iPhone to the X?
 
I'm in the process of doing just that and comparing the 2 (my iPhone 3G) before deciding on iPhone 4 or keeping the DX....

So far - the iPhone has the computer integration down 100%. Plug it in and it instantly syncs with one app to my music, contacts, etc. The DX was easy to setup contact and calendar syncing (I'm on a Mac) bit the music part is a bit tougher as I listen to a lot of podcasts and getting that play count back is a challenge.

Mail- iPhone wins hands down. The stock Android mail app is good but WTF were they thinking with no IMAP Delete? Hello? I read my mails throughout the day on my phone and use IMAP to keep my phone and computer in sync. Downloaded an app (K9Mail) that is good but still nowhere as polished or good as Apple Mail.

Music- iPhone has it down as the syncing with iTunes is excellent and 100%.

Typing- It's a wash but I think they need to make the space bar a little bigger on the keyboard. I usually end up running things together. And cut/paste on Android is confusing.

Features - Android hands down. I've got a Ford with the Sync system and the DX will READ MY TEXT MESSAGES TO ME. I can then send a reply from a list of 10 or 20 from the car. Slick. The voice stuff in Android is great.

Notifications - Android has that one locked down; much better than iOS.

Battery Life - About the same as my 3G, maybe a little. I've resolved myself that all smartphones have poor battery life. Nowhere near as good as the dumpbhone I use for work which can last a week easily.

Speed - Coming from a 3G this thing is lightning quick.

Network - Despite Verizon's excellent marketing, I have found AT&T and Verizon to be equal in network performance.

That's about it for now. I really like the Droid X but it needs some Apple-like Polish. It's going to be a very tough decision for me on which way I end up going.
 
Some of the differences are less tangible, i'm a former iPhone owner.

For instance, if you've bought into the whole walled garden and have everything in itunes then the iPhone may be a better choice.

I moved away from the iPhone because android gave me choices, I can customize the OS nearly any way. I can load any application I want. Apple dictates what's worthy, and censors apps that it feels is "bad"

The droid x is superior in display, yes even against apple retina display. Its UI (especially with Launcher Pro) is better then apple's panels. We have true multitasking apple has a crippled version of it. I can actually make a phone call while holding the phone :p There's another issue that apple has barely given lip service too. That's the proximity sensor malfunctioning. Don't take my word for it, google it. The apple discussion board is filled up with people complaining. Apple has just stated its "tracking it" Even after a month

When Froyo lands for us, we'll get flash and using flash on my Nexus, it was stable, fast and did not kill the battery.

Overall, the DX on the verizon network offers more choices, more customization, a better product.
 
Comparing the DX to any iPhone at this point is like comparing a macpro to iOS2. Doesn't anyone remember how crappy everything was in the beginning? Sure you compare Android 2.1 on the DX to iOS3.XX or 4 on any iPhone and you're bound to have a few more positives for the i.

Someone try to get back to iOS2 and then compare.
 
It's not just about the apps and such via iTunes but the whole media syncing experience.

I mean my wife asked me "how do you get podcasts on this phone"? My answer was "I'm not sure; let me check". I got an app for it but the easiest way is still to subscribe in iTunes and sync that. That's what Android seems to be missing - that media syncing capability. Sure you can drag and drop but there is something to be said about plugging in your phone and having it take care of this all automagically.

I do love the customization of Android but I also shouldn't have to download another e-mail client to provide basic functionality (IMAP delete)....

And I do think it's fair to compare iOS 4 and Android 2.1; it's what both devices ship with. I've been with the iPhone since the 3G came out 2 years ago and while it was lacking in features those that were present were SOLID.

This is going to be a very tough decision for me as I love the premise of Android, the way it works, and the features. But there's a lot of it that's just a downright kludge.
 
It's not just about the apps and such via iTunes but the whole media syncing experience.

I mean my wife asked me "how do you get podcasts on this phone"? My answer was "I'm not sure; let me check". I got an app for it but the easiest way is still to subscribe in iTunes and sync that. That's what Android seems to be missing - that media syncing capability. Sure you can drag and drop but there is something to be said about plugging in your phone and having it take care of this all automagically.

I do love the customization of Android but I also shouldn't have to download another e-mail client to provide basic functionality (IMAP delete)....

And I do think it's fair to compare iOS 4 and Android 2.1; it's what both devices ship with. I've been with the iPhone since the 3G came out 2 years ago and while it was lacking in features those that were present were SOLID.

This is going to be a very tough decision for me as I love the premise of Android, the way it works, and the features. But there's a lot of it that's just a downright kludge.

I agree with most of the claims here. I hope once Gingerbread comes out we start seeing fresher UI across stock devices, plus a more unified Desktop Software system.

Ideally, i would like to be able to use my Google account to log into phone.google.com (or some variation of that) and have everything in an iTunes-like set up, but all cloud-based. That way I can sync my device on multiple computers no matter what I have stored on it. Give everyone a few GB of storage (keep an option to store music and videos locally), but have podcasts and some music purchases go straight to your cloud. And then have a premium option to get like 20GB of storage for a few dollars a month.

This is what I envision to be an ideal solution and something I think Google is most likely already waste-deep in. It'd basically be like an extension of Google Docs, just more suited toward syncing Video and Audio with your device.

Anyone else rather see a cloud-based system than another desktop program? I think it'd be more "Google" so-to-speak, to have everything thrown into the cloud.
 
Media synching: Download iSyncr & your problem is solved. Synchronization works equally well.

Mail: While I can't speak to IMAP, I can say that both Exchange and Gmail work perfectly. What I found totally mind boggling about the iPhone, is that you cannot insert attachments within the email application. I don't know how any professional business person can use the iPhone without being able to do that. Every smartphone I've had since the i500 has been able to do that.
 
As an owner of both an iphone 4 and droid x I have to say that for the average person the iphone is a much easier device to understand and easily use. You have to be more tech oriented to really understand how to do the things on the DX that are extremely easy on the iphone.

That being said i think the droid has plenty of potential but the iphone is a much easier device in both setup and use.

Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk
 
I have to say coming from the iPhone 3GS and a short stint with the iPhone 4 before returning it in favour of the DX (by way of Palm Pre Plus, long story):

I use the Droid X, but I would recommend the iPhone 4.

Unless AT&T is a problem for you in your area, or you are highly technically inclined you will find the iPhone 4 easy to use, stable, and polished. I would probably even recommend the Palm stuff over the Droid unless of course you really wanted an autofocus camera, then I'd recommend a Palm Pixi with a Canon PowerShot attached with gaffer tape.

Many people would probably get frustrated with the Droid and give up after a while because [you must admit] it's a tad quirky. However I like quirkiness, and was bored with the iPhone. I don't use iTunes so it was an easy switch for me.

-n8
 
I had a iphone 3gs, it was alright, but i feel like the droidx is a better device.
not only that but my itunes account was one of many that got hacked and some POS bought around 100 bux worth of apps for thier ipad using my debit card. i got ahold of itunes and they tole me to take it up with my bank.
talk about crappy customer servcie..
 
its hard to compare both because both are really really different...

the most noticeable thing i can say about the two is the lack of apps for android but from what i have learned this is because android has not been around as long as the app store and many developers are just now releasing apps for android (along with many game developers such as popcap and openfeint expected later this year)...


another noticeable thing is the notifications - with the X you dont get lockscreen notifications but instead have status bar notifications and are able to see these by swiping down on the phone - there are 3rd party apps that help (like sms-popup) - but you really can't as of right now get those notifications to the lockscreen for easy viewing like you can with the iphone..

third i would say the camera functionality is much different from the iphone - the x has a mechanical shutter which for me creates a small lag time in between taking photos - plus the iphone usually no matter how i took photos it always took a good photo - with the X i have to select a scene or play with the settings just not to get my kids (which can't stand still) blurry in the shot

I would say typing on both are about the same, however i am really loving the swype feature on the X

so for me i didn't get the X because it was better than the iphone - i got it because i knew it was something different that i wanted.. if you have apps on your iphone that you abosultely need then wait to make the switch, if you want something different that is comparable but not necessarily better either way then get the X, both have their pros and cons.. just figure out what you NEED in both
 
Personally the idea that I have to hook my device to my computer to get a podcast seems like way too many steps (i have an iPad and iPod.touch and avoid syncing cause it is so time consuming). Maybe you won't like this, but I use Listen for audio podcasts and Mediafly for video. I subscribe, they download to my device (just as they would on iTunes without having to attach). When you have listened to them, they auto delete. To play on a TV you can use the Twonky app and stream to a server (PS3 or x-box). Give it a try and see how it goes.

Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk
 
I didn't have an iphone, but used to have an ipod touch, and I generally agree that the the iphone experience is generally 'easier', as someone mentioned before, like the 'walled garden' experience. And true that it's an all-in-one syncing experience. I personally didn't use itunes, nor did I buy any apps while I had the ipod, so that didn't really matter to me.

What IS superior to the iphone is the level of customization that the Droid X, and Android in general, brings. You make the phone yours with whatever app and look you want, no restrictions. You are not limited by what one company wants your experience to be.

Do you want a whole new UI with your own look and feel? There are Android apps for that. Do you want a different way of sending, receiving, and managing your emails or SMS messages? There's apps for that. Do you want to handle your music and photos with unique apps that are not limited by the stock music or photo app? There are apps for that. Do you want to get into the gritty details and tech specs of your phone and manage files or app processes? There are apps for that.

So true, that the iphone is an easier experience, but Android offers more freedom to do what you want with your device, and that freedom can offer a greater experience. All it takes is a little bit of searching through the Android Market to find the apps that suit you best.
 
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Personally the idea that I have to hook my device to my computer to get a podcast seems like way too many steps (i have an iPad and iPod.touch and avoid syncing cause it is so time consuming). Maybe you won't like this, but I use Listen for audio podcasts and Mediafly for video. I subscribe, they download to my device (just as they would on iTunes without having to attach). When you have listened to them, they auto delete. To play on a TV you can use the Twonky app and stream to a server (PS3 or x-box). Give it a try and see how it goes.

Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk

Have you tried any of the Podcathers in the market, like. PodKast?
 
I switched over from iPhone to Android a little over a year ago now and don't think I could ever go back to the iPhone.

Don't get me wrong, I actually like the iPhone and it has so much potential, but the OS is just so limiting in what you can do and the interface is in SERIOUS need of updating.
It was fine 4 years ago, but it's just bad now.

If you're a basic user and AT&T works well in your area, then the limited interface of the iPhone is probably better for you.

If you're anything more than a basic user, or want the option of picking your network, then an Android phone is the way to go.
 
Regarding iTunes support for Android I'm currently using Salling Media Sync. Once you configure it with iTunes and tell it what you want to sync it will do it whenever you plug your phone in, no manual intervention necessary if that's the way you like it. It support standard playlists, smart playlistes, and also syncs podcasts.

As a bonus they have versions for both Windows and Mac.
 
I'm in the process of doing just that and comparing the 2 (my iPhone 3G) before deciding on iPhone 4 or keeping the DX....

So far - the iPhone has the computer integration down 100%. Plug it in and it instantly syncs with one app to my music, contacts, etc. The DX was easy to setup contact and calendar syncing (I'm on a Mac) bit the music part is a bit tougher as I listen to a lot of podcasts and getting that play count back is a challenge.

Mail- iPhone wins hands down. The stock Android mail app is good but WTF were they thinking with no IMAP Delete? Hello? I read my mails throughout the day on my phone and use IMAP to keep my phone and computer in sync. Downloaded an app (K9Mail) that is good but still nowhere as polished or good as Apple Mail.

Music- iPhone has it down as the syncing with iTunes is excellent and 100%.

Typing- It's a wash but I think they need to make the space bar a little bigger on the keyboard. I usually end up running things together. And cut/paste on Android is confusing.

Features - Android hands down. I've got a Ford with the Sync system and the DX will READ MY TEXT MESSAGES TO ME. I can then send a reply from a list of 10 or 20 from the car. Slick. The voice stuff in Android is great.

Notifications - Android has that one locked down; much better than iOS.

Battery Life - About the same as my 3G, maybe a little. I've resolved myself that all smartphones have poor battery life. Nowhere near as good as the dumpbhone I use for work which can last a week easily.

Speed - Coming from a 3G this thing is lightning quick.

Network - Despite Verizon's excellent marketing, I have found AT&T and Verizon to be equal in network performance.

That's about it for now. I really like the Droid X but it needs some Apple-like Polish. It's going to be a very tough decision for me on which way I end up going.

Keep in mind, you're using two pieces of hardware that are native to each other. You're giving the iPhone a couple legs up over the X already just because of the computer you're using. If you are going back and forth already with the iPhone having that kind of advantage, I'd say the choice is pretty clear.

Put them on the same playing field.
 
snip...

What IS superior to the iphone is the level of customization that the Droid X, and Android in general, brings. You make the phone yours with whatever app and look you want, no restrictions. You are not limited by what one company wants your experience to be.

...snip

Bingo. I have a Droid X running ADW Launcher. It gives me the screen indicator up top that Samsung uses on their TouchWiz interface. I can pinch any of my screens to see a thumbnail of all 7 of my screens like HTC provides in their Sense interface. That's right, parts of two interfaces from competitors on my Motorola phone. All thanks to Android.

Try doing that with a company that's as ego-centric and image-conscious of as 95% of the female population of LA/Hollywood. Yes, I just compared Uncle Steve to LA women.

That, I think, is one of the single greatest triumphs of the Android platform. It has no set image, no set target market. Android is what we, the users make it. We are the face of Android.
 
I have an iPad, itouch, droid, and tomorrow the X. The sea of icons on the apples are boring as heck, unorganized, and easy to forget which app is where. They don't even have an app drawer. Everything is spilled on that so called desktop. And lack of mutitasking till the 4 is real bothersome. It bothers the heck out of me on the iPad. But I wanted a tablet and there is only one game in town ATM. Yes the androids are more complicated and less polished. But they are much more customizable, interesting and every bit as functional.
 

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