What do you value most about Android compared to other operating systems such as iOS?

[Robbo]

To be clear, I'm talking about Android as a whole, so hardware choice may well come into it. It's no secret that Android is a lot more popular than everything else in this particular sub-forum, so I think it would be interesting to find out exactly why.

For me it's mostly the more advanced hardware being employed by the likes of Samsung and HTC. I think for web browsing, the larger screens are a real benefit, at the expense of being a bit trickier to handle. This is a bit of a double-edged sword, as you risk alienating part of the market if you employ a single device size that's quite large in the case of Samsung with the S3 (and vice-versa, with it being too small in the case of the iPhone).

I'm not quite as bothered when it comes to the software, I can achieve a satisfactory setup on either operating system, though the extra options on Android are very useful in places (such as the better sharing options, widgets, and the notification bar). I prefer the app selection on iOS, but I can more or less get all of the ones I use on either OS.

Windows Phone is essentially the same situation as iOS at the moment in that it's very restricted, but unlike iOS, it's not backed up by many decent apps at all. So it has no place. I think this will change with WP8, which does look very good, but at the moment Windows Phone is a bit stagnated.

I think Google are making more strides forward with the software design than Apple, too. ICS and Jelly Bean have made the software look great, and added a more uniform feel to everything. I very much like the direction they're taking with things such as Google Now, which seems to be impressing a lot of people. The only big feature Apple seem to be concerned with at the moment is Siri, and Google have leap-frogged that to a certain extent as well with the new voice assistant, where as Siri is now still the same as it was when it was released with the 4S.

Unfortunately Samsung and HTC are going to insist on messing up Google's hard work when it comes to the software design, so I very much hope the new Nexus phones are a more solid package than the previous ones were.

I think a well designed and well marketed Nexus phone with exceptional specifications could be a massive hit. That's what I'm hoping for.

How about you?

 

[Fallen god]

For me firstly, I love to watch things on my phone and android lets me easily drag and drop all my content and everything just works. More so HD content runs so smoothly and never had an issue with subtitles.

Going from a 3GS to a SGS I really missed all the apps, but no its more or less an even battle field, just missing a few games but they general tend to get released sooner or later.

One big thing is I tend to get very bored of how a phone looks and on android its easier/safer to change things around. You can jailbreak a iPhone and get different themes and such but it tends to leave my phone very unstable, maybe im just doing it wrong but I general run into many more problems iwth iOS. Also with android the options you have are just million times more and for me it helps me not get so bored. Currently I'm running a tablet mode on my phone which really changed a few things and I'm not so bored, these are the things I tend to like about android.

I also like how I can tend to have all the newest OS features, e.g. even though Im using a S2 I will get Jelly Bean with all the same features (apart from NFC ones), this is really good and is mostly due to the huge modder scene.

I agree with google set to release 5 Nexus phones I really think that will make a huge step forward for android, and hopefully there is a nice choice of full stock phones with amazing hardware.

Windows Phone 8 also seems it could be very good, wp7.5 doesnt have much of a modder scene but if WP8 takes off I really think you could see some very nice things coming from XDA.

iPhone 5 is step to finally increase the screen size, and I personally believe the perfect screen is 4.3", something like the One X seems to be the limit, and as good as the S3 feels in the hand it is tough to use it in 1 hand.

One thing that really ****es me off is OEM ruining android, before ICS I thought it was ok beacause android was so ugly but now google has really stepped up with ICS and with Jelly bean it is also really optimised and is just as fast as everything else out there, if not faster.

Edit:

Also things i really love about iPhone is that, everything works. I dont mean in terms of the OS but more hardware, recently I was looking for headphones with a mic and it was tricky to find some that worked with android, but everything i saw was working perfectly fine with iPhone.

 

[muon]

Larger and better screens, more versatile apps, more advanced browsers, better notifications. Widgets save a lot of time.

Also saves when you only have to spend £25 a month for a new phone, saves quite a lot of money.

Also don't have to spend nearly £60 on a decent GPS app to only use on a 3.5" screen.

 

[Bear]

Having an android phone and a tablet which broke so replaced with an ipad3, there is stuff that irritates the hell out of me on the iPad. I find android easier to use as you can put everything in folders and you can put folders anywhere you want. Drag the folders on the home screen which for some reason you can't seem to do on the iPad?

I like widgets, I like the short cut bar for the wifi, gps, Bluetooth etc. iOS just annoys the **** out of me but it may be because I am so used to android.

 

[NuclearWinter]

For me it's mainly the better selection of hardware and more flexiblity for apps to interact with the system (changing default browser etc). I don't do much customising, but it's also nice to know the freedom is there.

I still miss the iOS app store though and Android is still massively behind when it comes to games, though that isn't really a big deal for me. I've also experienced more technical problems with Android than I did with iOS, though a lot of that is down to Samsung I think, rather than Android itself.

Honestly I like both and would probably be happy using either, if the hardware (mainly screen size) was equal. I'm also interested in seeing what WP8 has to offer.

 

[AbsenceJam]

For me it's the better specced/optioned hardware and more flexibility and freedom in the OS. Well, mostly because I can get the best phones free on contracts.

When I got my first Android phone I never really got why people have such a **** over it and still don't, and all the going on about Sense, etc which is just a skin, some apps and widgets - Android always looks and feels like Android whatever launcher you use. It's a pretty simple OS which only comes to life when you add a load of third party apps (after choosing which ones from dozens that are so similar) to peform basic functions, as well as the more advanced ones and it doesn't ever really seem cohesive as a result, even if it is very powerful. You can find applications to do some fairly amazing or unexpected things, it's a shame they look so ugly.
With Android you have too many options, I can't just stay stock and not endlessly try out apps to see which are best. There aren't many 'killer' apps and even the must-haves aren't exactly well designed or consistent with others.

If the iPhone was available on normal contracts and had a bigger screen, and external or cheaper storage I might well have one. iOS is nice to use, everything feels very cohesive and there are very polished apps available. I'd probably spend a lot less time messing about with my phone, and a lot more time actually using and enjoying it to be honest.

This is from an Android power-user.

 

[mikejs21]

For me it has to be the customisablity of Android.

I had an iPhone 3gs before getting the SGS2. I was instantly happy with the switch, so much so I can't see myself going back to iOS. I think Android and iOS are both equally good and bad, both have their benefits and pitfalls. It comes down to user preference.

This user, however, prefers the felexibility of Android compared to the 'just works' of iOS. Android allows me to do more with my phone than iOS. I have an iPad and enjoy using it but simple things such as exiting the App Store everytime you install or update an App, frustrating.

I got bored of my 3GS about 6-8months into a 18month contract. I stuck it out though and I am now an Android user, unless wp8 + hardware comes good.

 

[Amp34]

To be clear, I'm talking about Android as a whole, so hardware choice may well come into it. It's no secret that Android is a lot more popular than everything else in this particular sub-forum, so I think it would be interesting to find out exactly why.

TBH... Because the only other major phone OS at the moment is hidden in another sub forum of it's own. I can see why it is done, on the other hand it also means Android should also have it's own sub forum so other OS's can be discussed in peace. Or all need to be added together because all OS's should be thought about when buying a phone!


The reason I DON'T like Android (even though I try) is also it's greatest strength in this forum (but not so in the real world). The problem is you need to customise it to get the most out of it because even with the best phones released they are still not as smooth and "finished" as iOS and WP. It's definitely getting better, just not there yet. I had a couple of years of modifying Windows Mobile (Android being the OS closest to it on the market at the moment) and got bored, can't be bothered to do it any more. I'd prefer to just be able to change the backgrounds, colours and home screens.

 

[Robbo]

TBH... Because the only other major phone OS at the moment is hidden in another sub forum of it's own. I can see why it is done, on the other hand it also means Android should also have it's own sub forum so other OS's can be discussed in peace. Or all need to be added together because all OS's should be thought about when buying a phone!

Is that really a problem? It's not like the Windows Phone threads are constantly invaded by Android fanboys telling everyone they should have bought an Android phone instead.

 

[Skillmister]

The problem is you need to customise it to get the most out of it because even with the best phones released they are still not as smooth and "finished" as iOS and WP.

Is that really true though? Especially for your more casual (dare i say typical?) iphone user? My One S was fantastic out of the box and really i didn't see any noticeable difference between it and an iphone when side by side. The only reason i have even customised it is for aesthetic reasons, not for "smoothness" or anything performance related.

Admittedly i'm no mobile fanatic so perhaps the finer differences might be lost on me, but i'd put myself in the same group as huge amounts of iphone users who only believe their iOS device is "smoother and faster out of the box" because it's what they've heard online.

My mum got a One S this morning also, she's definitely not the type of person who will notice a few ms difference between performing everyday tasks. She was also using sms and camera etc straight away with just as much ease as anyone who uses an iphone for the first time.

 

[Rimsy]

Unfortunately Samsung and HTC are going to insist on messing up Google's hard work when it comes to the software design, so I very much hope the new Nexus phones are a more solid package than the previous ones were.

I think a well designed and well marketed Nexus phone with exceptional specifications could be a massive hit. That's what I'm hoping for.

Coudnt agree more - drives me mad that Samsung (and to a lesser degree HTC) feel the need to butcher Android with their frankly hideous overlay.
I cant think of a single person who actually prefers TW / Sense over vanilla ICS.. they should at least allow choice between the two

 

[ElliorR]

I love the modding side. My HTC Sensation is running ICS, sans Sense, and it's great.

What I don't like, and something Apple control well, is the fractured nature of Android and the fact that the way devices are updated to the latest versions of it. The US Xoom has ICS but the UK Xoom doesn't, unless you stick on a modded ROM. This happens across countries and devices. I know you couldn't stick ICS on an HTC Magic without some major trimming, if at all, but having more recent devices fractured like this is the one thing that annoys me about Android.

 

[Nexus18]

Yeah, there is virtually no difference between the iphone 4/4s and the S, GS 2, GS 3 and X and once jellybean is on those devices, then they will easily surpass the 4s etc.

AMP34 just had a bad experience with the GS 2 and GS iirc, where as the majority of users have had nothing but one of the best experiences there is.

Heck even iphone 4 and 4s owners are jumping ship to the GS 3 and are loving every thing about it especially freedom, haven't seen them mention one bad thing at all. The one thing they all say is "bloody hell, this is super fast" or something like that.

The devices out of the box "just work" as well, if you go and faff about with settings and downloading dodgy apps then of course you will experience problems, just like any other device where you have choice and aren't locked down to just changing a wallpaper................

I cant think of a single person who actually prefers TW / Sense over vanilla ICS.. they should at least allow choice between the two

I like sense V4 Hated every version before it though.

I don't prefer it over stock ICS, I also don't prefer stock ICS over sense V4, both are excellent in their own ways and have strengths and weaknesses.

However, I can't stand touchwiz and any other android skins, hate them with a passion.



To contribute to the thread, pretty much the same as what everyone else here has said

I cannot use an iphone for more than 5 minutes, I just get so bored of the boring & ugly look, which is now very dated looking tbph.

 

[Fallen god]

Is that really true though? Especially for your more casual (dare i say typical?) iphone user? My One S was fantastic out of the box and really i didn't see any noticeable difference between it and an iphone when side by side. The only reason i have even customised it is for aesthetic reasons, not for "smoothness" or anything performance related.

Admittedly i'm no mobile fanatic so perhaps the finer differences might be lost on me, but i'd put myself in the same group as huge amounts of iphone users who only believe their iOS device is "smoother and faster out of the box" because it's what they've heard online.

My mum got a One S this morning also, she's definitely not the type of person who will notice a few ms difference between performing everyday tasks. She was also using sms and camera etc straight away with just as much ease as anyone who uses an iphone for the first time.

The amount of my friends who find my S2 faster then there 4s is amazing, just shows that there really is no difference in terms of speed. My dad has a S2 and he gets along with it just fine, he came from a really old old phone.

 

[TheVoice]

Is that really true though? Especially for your more casual (dare i say typical?) iphone user? My One S was fantastic out of the box and really i didn't see any noticeable difference between it and an iphone when side by side. The only reason i have even customised it is for aesthetic reasons, not for "smoothness" or anything performance related.

I agree with you. Android is like Windows these days, it'll work fine for you out-of-the-box, but the options are there if you want to tweak and customise it to your liking.

 

[grudas]

snip snap snop

id like to disagree i was faffing around with ROM's on my s2 but then got bored and thought ill try the stock samsung ROM and guess what? it was just as smooth and just as good as the rest yes it didn't have the "extras" that custom ROMs did but i only missed them because im used to them for normal user who is happy with stock software stock ROM will be perfect im not sure how you got that experience tho

i was thinking( by everyones views) that iOS is smooooooth as hell but after using it for hours and playing around with 3 different iphones i noticed same thing it isn't actually all that its made to be? things do often lag behind, apps are slower compared to my s2, games are more limited by levels etc(yes yes there might be more but android seems to have same quality and more quantity in popular games(angry birds free for e.g.) one work mate upgraded from iphone 4 to 4s and was telling me how much quicker it feels and how quicker everything works which was funny as i was expecting him to not notice any difference i mean iOS after all runs as smoooth as it phones get?

its just my experience and what i have heard from people so don't take it as hating i really don't hate iOS and i still think its a personal preference what you like and how you like your phone after all you are the one paying for it

 

[Azza]

Customisation and ease of use for me.

You can have your phone how you like... with the iPhone it's all very blocky and samey, with the features, widgets, launchers and the general ability to customise so much stuff to make your Android phone unique is what puts it well above iOS for me.


Well apart from Nexus18, who just wants to be like mrk.


Oh and just for Amp I know lots of people who are happy with their Android phone just as they are out of the box. Most don't even know the lengths they could go to, to customise their phone for performance and aesthetics.

 

[Xinn]

Customisation, being able to make it look exactly how I want and fiddle with it to get it to work as I want it to.

The dev community, with the exception of a few ungrateful people who think they are owed something by the devs who spend their spare time making things for others.

I like backing the underdog, as watching it grow and perhaps even become the front runner someday. I love the progress Android is making seeing the product evolve and integrate further with the other Google products we all use and love.

I do agree that the Sammy, HTC etc might ruin the astheric progress that is been made with Touchwiz/Sense etc and for that reason I think they should have an option to use stock Android if you wish without having to root. Just a simple option in the settings to turn off the skins.

 

[jonneymendoza]

• Better spec hardware devices
• better multitasking
• customisation
• Easier to develope apps compared to OSX
• supported by google who are imo a great company who make great innovative apps
• All my content is synced and used via google
• cheaper phones and apps compared to apple

 

[Kanifee]

• Better spec hardware devices
• better multitasking
• customisation
• Easier to develope apps compared to OSX
• supported by google who are imo a great company who make great innovative apps
• All my content is synced and used via google
• cheaper phones and apps compared to apple

i think one word sums it up over all other mobile OS.

flexibility