Thoughtful article:
gigaom.com/apple/switching-from-android-to-ios-wha...
Discussion about
What Would You Miss Switching From Android to iOS?
The marketplace chaos.
The visual discord.
The hint of beardiness.
The instability.
Oh OK, a few other positive things but to me, the negatives have always outweighed the positives.
The visual discord.
The hint of beardiness.
The instability.
Oh OK, a few other positive things but to me, the negatives have always outweighed the positives.
Here's what I love most about Android (despite the issues) and why I'm sticking with it instead of going back to an iPhone:
- Google navigation (with it there's no need for me to get a GPS unit for my car)
- Managing files on the SD card with Astro
- I like the Gmail experience on Android more than iOS
- The ability to root my phone and load custom ROMS
Alright....here we go....prepare for parentheses....
- Open platform. Tons of configuration that does NOT require root. For those that root (not as complicated as jailbreaking)? Infinitely broader range of options.
- Integration with Google. Seriously, everything Google lives in this phone. Anything done on the web in a Google service can reflect on the phone. Gmail, contacts, voicemail and online texting with unified number and forwarding (Google Voice), Maps, Social Networking (Google+), Books, Docs, Market, etc....
- Maps and Navigation. Couldn't remember if I threw this in anywhere else. Nuff said. iOS's version can't compare.
- Attitude. Everyone I know that lives completely in the Mac ecosystem are arrogant elitists (to varying degrees). Sorry if this offends you, but that's EVERYONE I know who is all Mac.
- Hardware options. Went from AT&T to Verizon and upgraded to a 4G LTE, Dual-core phone (Droid Bionic). Yes, the phone drains battery. Yes, I've changed my lifestyle to accommodate. Yes, this is the best phone I've ever used. No, I don't care what kind of battery life the iPhone has (pre- or post-patching, nice job iOS5 on being a battery hog EVEN ON OLDER HARDWARE) This thing is fast in every aspect. Where's the 4G LTE iPhone?
- Widgets and notification tray. Kudos to Apple for straight up copying something from Android (which I believe is what everyone claims EVERYONE else does to Apple) However, the Weather and Stocks "widgets" (yes, they called them widgets) aren't much to get excited over. If I want to change system settings on my Bionic? Well, I have widgets on my homescreen that can do it AND an app I can launch 3-4 different ways which brings up an overlay over any app that's currently open and I can change Wifi, bluetooth, brightness, ringer profile and volume, 4G/3G switch, Airplane mode, and a TON of other things. All without ever touching my System Settings section. And the notification tray system isn't as refined or as nice to use. The pop-up notification bar at the top? Gets in the way of the control buttons for apps (which are all in the same place due to iOS standards)
- Third party apps. The funniest thing I hear when I talk to Apple-heads about features is that whenever I get into a conversation about what iOS can and can't do and why it's "better" than Android, I keep hearing "Oh no, I have an app that can do." I had the very conversation over Panorama Mode for the camera. It's built-in with the Droid Bionic's camera app (and yes, it's built into iOS 5, but apparently they didn't want it available to anyone and you have to hack the phone to get to it). Everyone's so eager to tell you the the iPhone can do everything and has everything they need and they don't NEED to customize it or change it. It's always left me with an image of someone who would rather be told what they need in their phone rather than choose themselves. In addition, the ability to create apps outside of the phone platform that work with the phone is astounding (this goes back to the openess/syncing). Look up Chrome-to-Phone and MightyText. Apps that interact with the phone over Google's cloud and allow you more outside control over the flow of information.
- Integration of sharing to other apps within Android. This one is awesome. Pretty much any app I go into has a way or sharing the relevant information within to numerous other apps. Like an article on Engadget? I can share it via Bluetooth, Google Docs, Dropbox, Email, Gmail, Facebook, Google Voice, Google+, create a barcode others can scan to get to the site, Springpad, and Text messaging. And those are just the apps I have installed that can handle sharing. There are more.
- MUSIC. I use Spotify primarily, now. Love the app, BUT when I want music it doesn't have, I can get it over USB cable, Wifi, FTP from internet, or other ways. No iTunes required.
- Real, actual multitasking. No suspension of apps.
- Tethering. Built into the OS. With my Droid Bionic, USB tethering is free with no tethering plan LEGALLY. Verizon doesn't care about wired tethering for some reason. And tethering with 4G is faster than most of the Wifi spots I frequent.
- App marketplaces other than Google's. The Amazon App store is amazing. Free paid app of the day everyday.
- Replaceable batteries and accessories. Car Dock with built-in app made for looking and responding like it's part of your car.
Forgot to add Keyboards. This one's important because of Swype. Faster and easier if you're using one hand. Amazing.
Um, iOS has supported tethering forever, but it is up to the operator to enable it - my Norwegian operator does not charge extra for it for instance (bytes are bytes).
But maybe you mean "freely use tethering in violation of the contract I signed with the operator"? :)
But maybe you mean "freely use tethering in violation of the contract I signed with the operator"? :)
Sadly both of these are aspects caught in the Google/Apple back and forth. At one point, Google did commit to bringing newer Maps features, including Navigation to the iPhone. Then they backed off.
The GMail app for iOS is just a basic web wrapper. Also a shame they didn't build a native app like they do on Android.
One situation of many where political cat fights between two companies rarely benefit any user.
The GMail app for iOS is just a basic web wrapper. Also a shame they didn't build a native app like they do on Android.
One situation of many where political cat fights between two companies rarely benefit any user.
1. Google Navigation
2. Upload photos in my gallery to picasa (or can iphone do that too?)
3. Widgets
4. Large screen
5. Nice gmail app
6. The anxiety of waiting for an update in the hope that my phone will work better
Honestly... I'm fed up with my android phone now. It's a love/hate relationship. People complain about the iphone not being open but at least it works, or at least you know what you're gonna get.
You should make a new discussion: "What annoys you about your android phone?"
Android. I love you.. but I just don't think it's working out between me and you.
2. Upload photos in my gallery to picasa (or can iphone do that too?)
3. Widgets
4. Large screen
5. Nice gmail app
6. The anxiety of waiting for an update in the hope that my phone will work better
Honestly... I'm fed up with my android phone now. It's a love/hate relationship. People complain about the iphone not being open but at least it works, or at least you know what you're gonna get.
You should make a new discussion: "What annoys you about your android phone?"
Android. I love you.. but I just don't think it's working out between me and you.
1. Yep, this is a good free advantage Android has, and Google backed away from their promise to bring it to iOS. There are a variety of navigation apps on the iOS side though, some that work similar to Navigation, for as little as $20 a year.
2. There are a number of 3rd party Picasa uploader apps for iOS. Also, the Google+ app also allows uploads right in it, just like the Android version. It's different from Android where you have to open the app and upload from there, but they all have access to the stored photos on the phone.
3. No real replacements here. iOS 5 does have the notification center that includes weather and stocks, but no 3rd party integration yet for more widgets.
4. Not much choice here either. Apple picked 3.5 and seems to stick to it, possibly to retain one handed usefulness for the average sized hand. They do sell a larger 9.7 inch iOS device though, but probably not too practical as a phone :)
5. This is in Google's court too, and their iOS app is pretty awful. Hopefully they take some inspiration from the G+ team and build an app that functions and works equally well on either platform.
6. At least this will be reduced. Apple pushed 5.0.1 as an OTA update worldwide in one day. Still won't help with the anticipation for iOS 6 though to make thing even better :)
2. There are a number of 3rd party Picasa uploader apps for iOS. Also, the Google+ app also allows uploads right in it, just like the Android version. It's different from Android where you have to open the app and upload from there, but they all have access to the stored photos on the phone.
3. No real replacements here. iOS 5 does have the notification center that includes weather and stocks, but no 3rd party integration yet for more widgets.
4. Not much choice here either. Apple picked 3.5 and seems to stick to it, possibly to retain one handed usefulness for the average sized hand. They do sell a larger 9.7 inch iOS device though, but probably not too practical as a phone :)
5. This is in Google's court too, and their iOS app is pretty awful. Hopefully they take some inspiration from the G+ team and build an app that functions and works equally well on either platform.
6. At least this will be reduced. Apple pushed 5.0.1 as an OTA update worldwide in one day. Still won't help with the anticipation for iOS 6 though to make thing even better :)
There is no way I could go back to the straight-jacket that is iOS, and give up so many features and so much flexibility, even with some annoyances. What I would be giving up would be much more of an "annoyance" than the issues I occasionally have with my Android phone. I have an iPod Touch that I used to use all the time. I pulled it out the other day and I felt completely claustrophobic! :0)
1. Replaceable software keyboards. My favorite: SwiftKey
2. Music locker services (Amazon MP3 and/or Google Music)
3. Google Maps & Navigation.
4. Tethering built-in to the OS. No additional tethering fee.
5. Gmail app.
6. The "Share To" menu system. Apps work better together!
7. Real multi-tasking. Apps are up-to-date when opened.
8. Tighter integration of VOIP apps & Google Voice with the native dialer.
9. Media stores (I.e. Kindle bookstore) can sell media directly within the app.
10. Ability to play Flash videos.
2. Music locker services (Amazon MP3 and/or Google Music)
3. Google Maps & Navigation.
4. Tethering built-in to the OS. No additional tethering fee.
5. Gmail app.
6. The "Share To" menu system. Apps work better together!
7. Real multi-tasking. Apps are up-to-date when opened.
8. Tighter integration of VOIP apps & Google Voice with the native dialer.
9. Media stores (I.e. Kindle bookstore) can sell media directly within the app.
10. Ability to play Flash videos.
4. iOS supports tethering out of the box if the operator allows it.
6. Any iOS app can register as handler for a content type, and then any app can have a sharing option. But neither are mandatory though.
10. Flash is just a container/player in those cases. Streaming to a native player is a better solution, and Adobe are adapting like a fox to iOS...
6. Any iOS app can register as handler for a content type, and then any app can have a sharing option. But neither are mandatory though.
10. Flash is just a container/player in those cases. Streaming to a native player is a better solution, and Adobe are adapting like a fox to iOS...
4. On AT&T, a $20/month tethering fee is required to tether on iOS devices. This may lead you to believe that I am a thief and do not abide by the terms of service, however language was specifically added to the TOS prohibiting tethering using third party apps, meaning that tethering in general is not prohibited. It sounds silly, but they chose the words and allowed tethering without using a third party app. In any case, I do not support tethering on an unlimited plan as it was clearly meant for unlimited data for one device. I am on the 2GB plan, so I need to pay for whatever data I use over the cap.
6. iOS requires each and every app to support sharing to another specific third party app. Android provides a mechanism for an app to allow ANY app to share to it without having to specifically implement support for the target app. That is a big difference and allows for much better interoperability between apps.
10. I don't care what is a better technical solution, and whether it will cost me some battery life to watch a video that I want to see NOW. The fact that I can watch any video on any of my favorite websites on my Android device, and cannot on my iOS devices is what counts.
6. iOS requires each and every app to support sharing to another specific third party app. Android provides a mechanism for an app to allow ANY app to share to it without having to specifically implement support for the target app. That is a big difference and allows for much better interoperability between apps.
10. I don't care what is a better technical solution, and whether it will cost me some battery life to watch a video that I want to see NOW. The fact that I can watch any video on any of my favorite websites on my Android device, and cannot on my iOS devices is what counts.
Apple should do what google did with tethering. Let the user tether without telling the carrier. No carrier will be crazy enough to ban the iphone.
Actually no matter what is a better solution, not allowing Flash went against the main thing Apple stands for - to give the user something that just works! From the iphone, there are still too many websites out there with "placeholders". Apple could have forced Adobe to make a nice stable version of flash for iphone, in fact Adobe were desperate to do that.
Actually no matter what is a better solution, not allowing Flash went against the main thing Apple stands for - to give the user something that just works! From the iphone, there are still too many websites out there with "placeholders". Apple could have forced Adobe to make a nice stable version of flash for iphone, in fact Adobe were desperate to do that.
How could Apple have forced Adobe to solve very large technical issues with Flash and mobile? Apple did work with Adobe for a time, but there is only so much you can do to help out another company. Adobe had more then technical issues that lead to the death of Flash Mobile though, and odds are, those issues were political to the point Apple just decided to walk away. Jobs had little patience for business "bozos".
The death of Flash for Mobile is a good thing. Yes, it's going to lead to some short term pain for now with some sites not working on every device. Now that Adobe officially killed Flash Mobile across all platforms, engineering resources can be better spent on advancing the web standards. This will lead to a good resurgence, akin to the modern Web 2.0 birth once IE 6 (also a very proprietary browser when it reigned over the space) started being replaced. We survived the pain of "This site only works in Internet Explorer", and we will survive "You must have Flash to see this content".
The death of Flash for Mobile is a good thing. Yes, it's going to lead to some short term pain for now with some sites not working on every device. Now that Adobe officially killed Flash Mobile across all platforms, engineering resources can be better spent on advancing the web standards. This will lead to a good resurgence, akin to the modern Web 2.0 birth once IE 6 (also a very proprietary browser when it reigned over the space) started being replaced. We survived the pain of "This site only works in Internet Explorer", and we will survive "You must have Flash to see this content".
Apple never worked with Adobe to get Flash on iphones. Here's what they had to say about it - www.apple.com/hotnews/thoughts-on-flash/
I like my apple gadgets, but I know when they're being hypocrites. Adobe's been wanting to run Flash on iphones and if Apple gave them an ultimatum of having Flash put through a number of tests, Adobe would've jumped at the chance. The death of Mobile flash would be a good thing once Flash is actually dead. Until then my iphone will still show a massive number of incomplete websites.
And please don't tell a web developer that the death of IE6 gave birth Web 2.0. Statements like that completely invalidate every point you have ever tried to make.
I like my apple gadgets, but I know when they're being hypocrites. Adobe's been wanting to run Flash on iphones and if Apple gave them an ultimatum of having Flash put through a number of tests, Adobe would've jumped at the chance. The death of Mobile flash would be a good thing once Flash is actually dead. Until then my iphone will still show a massive number of incomplete websites.
And please don't tell a web developer that the death of IE6 gave birth Web 2.0. Statements like that completely invalidate every point you have ever tried to make.
I don't want to get confrontational about this, so please don't take it that way.
The letter you linked to is the point in time when Jobs finally drew the line in the sand and declared that the time was up. This action occurred almost 3 years after the iPhone shipped. 3 years, and Adobe wasn't able to make a mobile version of Flash up to the standards Apple set (mostly around power usage, and not compromising Flash experience on mobile). Prior to that, and before the situation turned highly political due to comments by Adobe, their engineers were working together. Here is one article, directly quoting the Adobe CEO about the collaboration (www.theregister.co.uk/2009/02/02/iphone_flash_a_ch...)
The iPhone from day one supported the concept of web plugins. Any person who has jailbroken their device and rooted around in the filesystem can see evidence of this. Apple even uses this themselves for pre HTML 5 Quicktime video embeds.
And I'm sorry if my web 2.0 comment offends you as a web developer. The point I was trying to make is that IE had a stranglehold on the market, and Microsoft did stop development for a while. Had that stranglehold continued, we wouldn't have seen the web evolve the way it has to today. Mozilla's efforts with Firefox really helped to restart competition in the web space, along with pushing us back towards the standards bodies laying out the future, instead of proprietary IE only technology developed at Microsoft. Same parallel can be seen with the Flash situation. It's a "standard" that only Adobe drives and pushes forward at their own pace. Open competition with cooperation with standards organizations tends to accelerate that pace, bringing benefits to consumers sooner.
The letter you linked to is the point in time when Jobs finally drew the line in the sand and declared that the time was up. This action occurred almost 3 years after the iPhone shipped. 3 years, and Adobe wasn't able to make a mobile version of Flash up to the standards Apple set (mostly around power usage, and not compromising Flash experience on mobile). Prior to that, and before the situation turned highly political due to comments by Adobe, their engineers were working together. Here is one article, directly quoting the Adobe CEO about the collaboration (www.theregister.co.uk/2009/02/02/iphone_flash_a_ch...)
The iPhone from day one supported the concept of web plugins. Any person who has jailbroken their device and rooted around in the filesystem can see evidence of this. Apple even uses this themselves for pre HTML 5 Quicktime video embeds.
And I'm sorry if my web 2.0 comment offends you as a web developer. The point I was trying to make is that IE had a stranglehold on the market, and Microsoft did stop development for a while. Had that stranglehold continued, we wouldn't have seen the web evolve the way it has to today. Mozilla's efforts with Firefox really helped to restart competition in the web space, along with pushing us back towards the standards bodies laying out the future, instead of proprietary IE only technology developed at Microsoft. Same parallel can be seen with the Flash situation. It's a "standard" that only Adobe drives and pushes forward at their own pace. Open competition with cooperation with standards organizations tends to accelerate that pace, bringing benefits to consumers sooner.
from the register article you linked ... Apple has publicly badmouthed Flash. At a shareholders' meeting last March, just before the iPhone SDK arrived, Steve Jobs said that Flash Lite, a downsized version of Flash designed for mobile use, was "not capable of being used with the web" and "performs too slow to be useful."
Chances of them having with Adobe to get it working on iphone has always been pretty much 0. The collaboration part the Adobe CEO could've meant anything including just taking Adobe's app submission "into consideration." It was just advantageous for him to claim that at that time.
Also, every company likes to follow standards only when they suit them, and even then they interprete the standard to fit their purposes. Adobe's no different, and neither is Apple. Look at you HTML5 example. There are two open video codecs on the table, yet Apple support neither in addition to the proprietary mp4 codec they support.
And Apple is THE prime example of proprietary lock-in within the tech world today. They weren't leaving flash out to help push a standard. They were doing this because they wanted full control over the Apple ecosystem. And flash allows people to get around that.
Chances of them having with Adobe to get it working on iphone has always been pretty much 0. The collaboration part the Adobe CEO could've meant anything including just taking Adobe's app submission "into consideration." It was just advantageous for him to claim that at that time.
Also, every company likes to follow standards only when they suit them, and even then they interprete the standard to fit their purposes. Adobe's no different, and neither is Apple. Look at you HTML5 example. There are two open video codecs on the table, yet Apple support neither in addition to the proprietary mp4 codec they support.
And Apple is THE prime example of proprietary lock-in within the tech world today. They weren't leaving flash out to help push a standard. They were doing this because they wanted full control over the Apple ecosystem. And flash allows people to get around that.
- Google Voice integration
- larger screen
- SwiftKey X (I despise Apple's virtual keyboard)
- Google Listen
- the ability to download files straight to the phone from the browser
- a real file system
- mass storage mode for moving multimedia onto the phone (I don't want to use a music program like iTunes for this)
- Amazon MP3
- proper Gmail, Google Contacts, Google Calendar
- Google Navigation and Maps
- Amazon AppStore
- decent VNC, ssh, and sftp apps (maybe there are better options now, but not good ones back when I used iOS last)
Personally I always feel a bit more confined with iOS, I can't put my finger on exactly what but I just do. I suppose there is just more customiz-ability in android. But what you lack in customization in iOS you gain in uniformity and polish. That being said perfectly executed Gmail integration is just a pleasure and really doesn't compare on any other platform. Additionally huge is the seamless calendar integration which is also perfect. I still think notifications on Android are handled a little bit better. Other than that there isn't a whole lot more that I really think is head and shoulders above iOS or things that I'd miss. At this stage both are very well developed and developer supported platforms.
Oh and I forgot the little niceties like Google Navigation and a really really nice Google reader app. Anyway just my two cents.
Oh and I forgot the little niceties like Google Navigation and a really really nice Google reader app. Anyway just my two cents.
Lack of widgets on screens would be a minus for me. I don't care to dig constantly in the settings menu to turn things on and off either. Android's default Navigation app is much better than iOS's IMO, but if you miss it, just click on the compass in Navigation and it will revert to an overhead view which is just about as awful as iOS's except you still have someone telling you were to go even if you can't figure it out by looking on the screen.
Dawagner1 You are sort of forgetting a 3rd option, WP7. I know I will get flogged for saying that, I can deal with it though. Do you want a great speedy alternative to the iphone and android? You my want to check it out. I have used both iphone and android and I must say, I can't be happier with my current phone.
A quick look at his Have list does hint where Dawagner1's interests lie and the reasons for him quoting the article.
Android to me is a classic case of buying influence with an giant pot of cash. Underneath it all is however - IMO - absolutely the worst mobile OS on the market. To me honestly, even Maemo had way more merit - and it was also host to a far more genuinely OSS vibe, for those who latch on to the (irrelevant in the overall scheme of things) OSS vintage of the Android OS. But of course, a polished lacquered turd can look like a jewel in a certain light, especially if you use the same pot of cash and your brand mindshare to brute-force the ecosystem. All IMO of course, just in case anyone gets upset about that.
Most of the Apple-addled blogger types are very quick to write off WP7 beyond the visuals. I have a nagging feeling that due to their undue influence in this general environment, this might be a self-fulfilling prophesy. MS isn't helping things by apparently being satisfied with the speed of 'catch-up' development. I'm definitely not, although as an OS and the way it fits into my uses at a broad level I have to say it's my favourite out of the ones which actually are halfway likely to have a viable future.
Android to me is a classic case of buying influence with an giant pot of cash. Underneath it all is however - IMO - absolutely the worst mobile OS on the market. To me honestly, even Maemo had way more merit - and it was also host to a far more genuinely OSS vibe, for those who latch on to the (irrelevant in the overall scheme of things) OSS vintage of the Android OS. But of course, a polished lacquered turd can look like a jewel in a certain light, especially if you use the same pot of cash and your brand mindshare to brute-force the ecosystem. All IMO of course, just in case anyone gets upset about that.
Most of the Apple-addled blogger types are very quick to write off WP7 beyond the visuals. I have a nagging feeling that due to their undue influence in this general environment, this might be a self-fulfilling prophesy. MS isn't helping things by apparently being satisfied with the speed of 'catch-up' development. I'm definitely not, although as an OS and the way it fits into my uses at a broad level I have to say it's my favourite out of the ones which actually are halfway likely to have a viable future.
I think you are spot on here. A lot of people will probably be upset with me saying this, but Google today reminds me a lot of Microsoft in the 90s, including the dirty business deals. Google isn't quite to the evilness MS was, but they could easily be. All while pushing inferior products that people think are good, simply due to them only looking at the surface and not seeing the underside or alternatives.
I'm really hoping this refocusing Google is doing now that Page is the CEO is a reversal of this trend. I'm debating if I want to grab an Android 4.0 device to reevaluate where Android is now. My last experience was with 2.1, on a normal consumer phone. The real consumer base has no idea about the Google experience phones (Nexus One/S). Any true Android fan needs to experience both the good and bad to help push Google to improve it.
I'm really hoping this refocusing Google is doing now that Page is the CEO is a reversal of this trend. I'm debating if I want to grab an Android 4.0 device to reevaluate where Android is now. My last experience was with 2.1, on a normal consumer phone. The real consumer base has no idea about the Google experience phones (Nexus One/S). Any true Android fan needs to experience both the good and bad to help push Google to improve it.
It's always interesting to me that if you put a pretty face on 'evil', no-one minds.
I have tried to write a breakdown so many times. It is really difficult for me. It is pretty easy with android and apple though. They have so many similarities. WP7 really is different. With android and apple you get very similar apps. you get very similar icons (minus widgets). I like the customization of android and the stability of ios. I like the screen size of android and the battery life of iphone. Those 2 operating systems all all preference to me. Nothing stands out as head and shoulders better. I decided to try WP7 and it is seriously refreshing. I know that isn't in depth but I am at work :P
People have mentioned all that main ones I thought of - Navigation, gmail app, replaceable keyboards and home screens.
The other big thing for me is compatability with a linux PC at home. iOS means iTunes and that isn't ever going to work in linux, and I'm not interested in fiddling with virtualization and other tricks to make it work. I can transfer podcasts from Gpodder and music/audiobooks from Clementine to my Nexus S without any special configuation.
The other big thing for me is compatability with a linux PC at home. iOS means iTunes and that isn't ever going to work in linux, and I'm not interested in fiddling with virtualization and other tricks to make it work. I can transfer podcasts from Gpodder and music/audiobooks from Clementine to my Nexus S without any special configuation.
The "only" things I really miss are replaceable battery, Google Maps/Free Navigation, Gmail App/integration, and the notification LED. I moved to the iPhone because I was tired of carrying around my iPod and my phone and I just don't think there is anything else out there right now that is as automatic as iTunes is for me. My daily podcasts download automatically while I'm at work and all the music and audiobooks I download are automatically imported into iTunes. I don't need to open DoubleTwist and make sure that syncs with iTunes first before I try and sync my phone. If Google/Amazon ever develop a real iTunes competitor in terms of ease of use and wide-ranging media integration, I'd happily switch back.
people love stitcher for updating podcasts , i love doggcatcher on android. www.doggcatcher.com/. but yes, nothing is as good as regular itunes, and that is kinda sad because itunes on your desktop is a pain.
Thanks for the options...I use Podcaster on my iPhone for emergencies (i.e. I'm not near WiFi and need to download a podcast--the 20MB OTA limit is also a huge iOS downside) but I like that I can pretty much manage/switch between ALL of my audio media in one app on the iPhone.
you kidding me? You rather connect your phone with the computer than have the phone download it itself?
Yes, I would like my computer to be my central source of truth. I listen to podcasts in multiple places. My computer, streamed to different speakers around the house, occasionally on a TV with Apple TV, directly off the phone when walking, or off the phone into my bluetooth audio setup in the car. With the syncing, my playback position is retained no matter where I started or stopped.
I will admit the syncing is annoying sometimes, and the true solution would be wispersync like updates via iCloud.
I will admit the syncing is annoying sometimes, and the true solution would be wispersync like updates via iCloud.
Google listen might do what you are looking for without syncing. I do not listen to podcasts anywhere else than on my phone so I can't judge...
For me? It's not really an issue because I connect my phone to my laptop every night to charge. I'd much rather use iTunes and have all my stuff in one place than have one app for music, one for podcasts, one for audiobooks, etc. iTunes def isn't perfect but it works best for me right now.
I made this switch and the two things I miss the most are the Maps (starring on a desktop browser and having those show up on my mobile) with the included turn-by-turn navigation and the GMail app.
What I don't miss is the poor battery life, the (generally) lower quality apps and sporadic OS updates.
Having used both quite a bit now I can say that both OSes have their pros and cons and picking one should revolve around what works best for you. I loved Android when I got it because I had switched from Blackberry and the battery life of Android phones was on par with the iPhone but generally the iPhone's battery life has gotten better while Android's has gotten worse and that is one of the main things I need in a phone.
What I don't miss is the poor battery life, the (generally) lower quality apps and sporadic OS updates.
Having used both quite a bit now I can say that both OSes have their pros and cons and picking one should revolve around what works best for you. I loved Android when I got it because I had switched from Blackberry and the battery life of Android phones was on par with the iPhone but generally the iPhone's battery life has gotten better while Android's has gotten worse and that is one of the main things I need in a phone.
All Google services.
Always-on Google Talk and Google Latitude ... even always-on MSN (only possible with true open-to-developer multi-tasking)
The file system (storing files on my phone).
Being really PC-Free (no sync for me).
Google cloud in general (the truth in the cloud, not in my device) vs. iCloud.
The ability to do whatever I want with my Nexus phone.
And Flash because I do use Flash everyday on my Android tablet to steam live TV.
Always-on Google Talk and Google Latitude ... even always-on MSN (only possible with true open-to-developer multi-tasking)
The file system (storing files on my phone).
Being really PC-Free (no sync for me).
Google cloud in general (the truth in the cloud, not in my device) vs. iCloud.
The ability to do whatever I want with my Nexus phone.
And Flash because I do use Flash everyday on my Android tablet to steam live TV.
Always on AIM is want lead to 50% of my Android phone battery being consumed in 2 hours of "standby" activity. The push system iOS and Android offers (and uses for Google Talk) works well enough for my IM needs.
And with iOS 5, the Apple devices are also PC free now. iCloud is also similar to the Google side where the truth is in the cloud. I'm glad Android was out there to pressure Apple to make these moves. Competition is good for everyone.
And with iOS 5, the Apple devices are also PC free now. iCloud is also similar to the Google side where the truth is in the cloud. I'm glad Android was out there to pressure Apple to make these moves. Competition is good for everyone.
Problem is that the devices do not ship with iOS 5 yet, so either you need to upgrade in-store or at lest use iTunes one time to get iOS 5 onto there .
