Looking at Android as an iPhone replacement (depending on what the iPhone 5 is like!)

mrochester · 26 Feb 2011 at 14:16

Hi all

I have an iPhone 4 right now that pretty much does everything that I need, but as a technology enthusiast, I'm always looking for the next best thing! Any purchase I make would be held off until the iPhone 5 is announced, but if it doesn't whett my appetite, I'd be happy to look elsewhere for my fix.

However, there are a few cushy things the iPhone does that I don't think I'd want to live without, so I'd like to ask in here to see if these are things that an Android device can do.

My main uses for my phone are internet, emails, call, texts and podcasts.

Right now I have MobileMe, and this probably wouldn't change even if I had an Android device (I know the push features won't work), but the main reason I use MobileMe is to keep all my content in sync on my desktop PC, iPhone and iPad. So what I would want an Android device to be able to do is locally sync contacts, calendars and notes with Outlook, and locally sync bookmarks with Internet Explorer. I have no interest in storing my data in the cloud on Google servers, I want it all on my desktop. Is there a simple app that'll automatically sync an Android device in this way when connected to my PC?

I also listen to Podcasts on my iPhone, and I can't be without the ability to keep podcasts in sync between my desktop and iPhone/iPad. Right now, if I listen to a podcast on my iPhone, when I connect the phone to the computer, the same podcast is marked as 'listened to' on both the computer and iPad so they no longer show as being new, and vice versa. In addition, it also syncs the position I'm up to if I only listen to part of a podcast. This is a really important feature to me, so can anyone give me any ideas of an app for Android and the PC that'll do this, if such a one exists?

I'm perfectly open to trying something new, but any apps to achieve the above things should be as simple as iTunes to use (all auto-synced when connected). If someone knows for sure that the above things can't be done with an Android device, please also post so that I'm not wasting my time hunting around for something that's not possible!

As for the device itself, I'd be after iPhone like build quality, and a data/charging socket on the bottom so that it can be stood in a dock for charging/syncing. An official dock that matches the device would be even better! (not really keen on the typically ugly 3rd party docks you can buy).

Many thanks for any advice on the matter

Michael.

Morba · 26 Feb 2011 at 14:59

you dont really use the phone for much, do you want the latest tech just to show that you have the latest phone?

Nick1881 · 26 Feb 2011 at 15:42

I went from iPhone to Android powered Desire and straight back to iPhone.

If your happy with the iPhone don't change. HTC sync sucks too.

mrochester · 26 Feb 2011 at 15:50

Morba said:
you dont really use the phone for much, do you want the latest tech just to show that you have the latest phone?

Don't really use my phone for much?! I use it for loads of things as above! It usually sees many hours of browsing in a week!

Like most here I just like getting new tech! But I also want something that'll be an improvement over what I already have.

Zarf · 26 Feb 2011 at 16:07

If you're happy with iTunes, no reason to change.
Nothing wrong with the iPhone4 really, Android is a far less expensive alternative but if cost isn't an issue and you're happy with the iPhones interface and capabilities there's no point in changing.

mrochester · 26 Feb 2011 at 16:16

Zarf said:
If you're happy with iTunes, no reason to change.
Nothing wrong with the iPhone4 really, Android is a far less expensive alternative but if cost isn't an issue and you're happy with the iPhones interface and capabilities there's no point in changing.

Cost isn't an issue; I'm happy to pay for something that works for me. I think it's just this (seemingly) constant bombardment about how great Android is and how so much more popular it is that has made me think about looking elsewhere. However, if it can't do all of the things above, it's out!

Locke · 26 Feb 2011 at 16:20

Android can do those things, but the point is why bother changing from the iPhone 4 when it can do everything you want it to do?

Since you seem to use iTunes a lot, then it would be odd to change to something else just to get a new phone or new tech.

flat-6 · 26 Feb 2011 at 16:22

Nothing on Android does podcasts as good as iTunes. I use Google Listen and it works but is way buggy. Love not having to run iTunes on windows though.

mrochester · 26 Feb 2011 at 16:27

Locke said:
Android can do those things, but the point is why bother changing from the iPhone 4 when it can do everything you want it to do?

Since you seem to use iTunes a lot, then it would be odd to change to something else just to get a new phone or new tech.

Can you let me know what software and apps can do these things?

Thanks.

Robbo · 26 Feb 2011 at 17:00

If you are happy with the iPhone, you dont stand to gain anything of note by going to Android at all really.

mrochester · 26 Feb 2011 at 17:03

Robboftw said:
If you are happy with the iPhone, you dont stand to gain anything of note by going to Android at all really.

OK thanks, looks like it'll continue to be an iPhone then! I guess the old mantra don't mess with something that isn't broken comes to mind.

Morba · 26 Feb 2011 at 17:05

mrochester said:
Don't really use my phone for much?! I use it for loads of things as above! It usually sees many hours of browsing in a week!

Like most here I just like getting new tech! But I also want something that'll be an improvement over what I already have.

Well, you are a basic user really. What benefit would you like? Better battery? Better screen?
It's not like you need a faster processor or anything really. Maybe a proper qwerty keyboard?

mrochester · 26 Feb 2011 at 17:13

Morba said:
Well, you are a basic user really. What benefit would you like? Better battery? Better screen?
It's not like you need a faster processor or anything really. Maybe a proper qwerty keyboard?

A basic user would be calls and texts only I'd say. I'm way beyond that!

Better battery would always be good. Bigger screen would be nice too. I'm not sure about a physical keyboard as that limits the text input to either landscape or portrait (unless you switch between a physical and virtual keyboard). There's nothing else I really need my device to do as it does everything I need!

sarge78 · 26 Feb 2011 at 17:16

5 years ago maybe

You've just listed the smartphone basics

If moneys not an issue buy a second hand Desire/Galaxy S (£200) to play around with.

mrochester · 26 Feb 2011 at 17:18

sarge78 said:
5 years ago maybe You've just listed the smartphone basics

If moneys not an issue buy a second hand Desire/Galaxy S (£200) to play around with.

I've actually got an Orange San Francisco but there's certainly nothing compelling on that at least to see a swap. But then it is only a £99 device so I wasn't expecting there to be!

What would be deemed 'advanced smartphone use then' if not various web-connected tasks?!

Zarf · 26 Feb 2011 at 17:18

mrochester said:
Cost isn't an issue; I'm happy to pay for something that works for me. I think it's just this (seemingly) constant bombardment about how great Android is and how so much more popular it is that has made me think about looking elsewhere. However, if it can't do all of the things above, it's out!

Android is popular because it offers choice, there are loads of handsets out there, with different shapes, sizes, keyboards etc and the high end ones offer a comparable or faster experience to an iPhone4 at half the price. In addition many more apps are free or cheaper than the iPhone alternatives.

Plus they get the geek market due to relative openness and modifiability. You can overclock most phones, put custom roms on them, use them as WiFi access points etc.

sarge78 · 26 Feb 2011 at 18:05

mrochester said:
What would be deemed 'advanced smartphone use then' if not various web-connected tasks?!

Web browsing, email, music/podcasts, navigation etc are all general content consumption that the smartphone/OS was designed for.
There's very little between Android/iOS/WP7 in this regard, it's just a mater of taste/small details

More specific use would include things like... Professional musicians wanting to produce tracks on the fly, full end-to-end virtualization, complete home automation, accessing your engine diagnostics etc, the list is endless

3dcandy · 26 Feb 2011 at 21:22

tried both, and both are very similiar - I'm just not a fan of the Apple walled garden approach....

however, in your position I see no real reason to change. However, the new Samsung Galaxy S II looks like it *could* be a game changer, with it's 1.2ghz dual-core cpu and 4-core gpu (fantastic marketing there!) coupled with 8mp camera.

mrochester · 26 Feb 2011 at 21:29

3dcandy said:
tried both, and both are very similiar - I'm just not a fan of the Apple walled garden approach....

however, in your position I see no real reason to change. However, the new Samsung Galaxy S II looks like it *could* be a game changer, with it's 1.2ghz dual-core cpu and 4-core gpu (fantastic marketing there!) coupled with 8mp camera.

Really, that's the device that interest me the most. I just need to make sure the syncronisation I want will work.

Journey · 26 Feb 2011 at 21:55

Stick with the Iphone since it does what you need without fuss, I have an HTC Desire, and I think Android is great but the list of things you stated you do with your handset there is no benefit moving to a different O/S.

Also the Iphone 5 is not out for 4 more months, a lot of things will change in those 4 months.