Apple or Android phones?

baby_frogmella

iPhone

b33r wrote: »

To be honest, to have an android phone and not create a google account is crazy if you ask me, buzz, latitude, gmail, google calender, contacts, maps, the market place all need one so why on earth would someone have an android phone and not create one?

Why should i be forced to use google mail in order to get the best out of the nexus one? I'm not forced to use a Macintosh to get the best out of the iphone. I'm even bypassing itunes (hate it) by using ifile on my iphone. My wife now uses my nexus one most of the time but she only tolerates it because its got a good browser, not because of any decent apps.

b33r wrote: »

What has the speed which HTC release phones got to do with the android market place? .

Well since Android has recently overtaken Apple's OS in the US (linky) in terms of users, this is probably due to the fact that HTC release a new Android phone every few minutes so if the trend continues, its only a matter of time before Android Market overtakes the Apple store in terms of quality content. BUT as things stand the Android store is pants.

People harp on about Android being a open source platform so you can customize your device and whilst i agree this is an advantage, imho this is only of real benefit to app programmers. You don't need an open source platform just to change the background on your phone or to add some custom widgets. Having seen some of the garbage apps written by 9 year olds on Android Market, I now understand why Apple went against opening their platform to all and sundry...it keeps the quality of apps higher (of course there's also garbage on App store but nowhere near the Android market).

Just to re-iterate i'm not one of the "sheep" or an Apple "fanboy"...i hate Apple and hate Macintosh even more. I just find the iphone far smoother, more complete than the Nexus One. I couldn't care less if the iphone was made by Bush or Alba.

Finally you will find most people who have owned both devices (as opposed to people just having a 5 min play with one or the other) prefer the iphone 3GS/4G over the desire/nexus one. Have a look at posts #14 and #40

Jomo

baby_frogmella wrote: »

Really? Can you please tell me how to install Skype on my nexus one? Each time i go to m.skype.com i get this message:

I suggest you read up on SKYPE TO GO.

You don't have to download the software onto your mobile

nickmack

baby_frogmella wrote: »

Finally you will find most people who have owned both devices (as opposed to people just having a 5 min play with one or the other) prefer the iphone 3GS/4G over the desire/nexus one. Have a look at posts #14 and #40

Not exactly a scientific survey looking at two posts in this thread, but for the record I own both and prefer the Desire for most of the same reasons already stated above. My son (2 years old) prefers the 3GS. If it wasn't free as a work phone, I would not have purchased it.

Jomo

baby_frogmella wrote: »

Why should i be forced to use google mail in order to get the best out of the nexus one? I'm not forced to use a Macintosh to get the best out of the iphone. I'm even bypassing itunes (hate it) by using ifile on my iphone. My wife now uses my nexus one most of the time but she only tolerates it because its got a good browser, not because of any decent apps.

Being forced to sign up to google mail is a little different to being forced to use a specific brand of computer.

Just thought I'd point out

Btw, I wanted the Desire but expecting my new iphone today as the Desire was too expensive (I'm getting a 3GS).

I absolutely love Apple and Macs (have 2 old macs in my loft) but have opted to use Windows the last few years as I can't afford to throw money on a new beautiful mac just yet.

It's not about being a sheep...I hadn't aticipated getting this iphone until it was put forward as an option to me.

But I suppose one perk of having an iphone is you get through to customer services a hell of a lot quicker :rotfl:

bubblesmoney

HTC

baby_frogmella wrote: »

Why should i be forced to use google mail in order to get the best out of the nexus one? I'm not forced to use a Macintosh to get the best out of the iphone. I'm even bypassing itunes (hate it) by using ifile on my iphone. My wife now uses my nexus one most of the time but she only tolerates it because its got a good browser, not because of any decent apps.



Well since Android has recently overtaken Apple's OS in the US (linky) in terms of users, this is probably due to the fact that HTC release a new Android phone every few minutes so if the trend continues, its only a matter of time before Android Market overtakes the Apple store in terms of quality content. BUT as things stand the Android store is pants.

People harp on about Android being a open source platform so you can customize your device and whilst i agree this is an advantage, imho this is only of real benefit to app programmers. You don't need an open source platform just to change the background on your phone or to add some custom widgets. Having seen some of the garbage apps written by 9 year olds on Android Market, I now understand why Apple went against opening their platform to all and sundry...it keeps the quality of apps higher (of course there's also garbage on App store but nowhere near the Android market).

Just to re-iterate i'm not one of the "sheep" or an Apple "fanboy"...i hate Apple and hate Macintosh even more. I just find the iphone far smoother, more complete than the Nexus One. I couldn't care less if the iphone was made by Bush or Alba.

Finally you will find most people who have owned both devices (as opposed to people just having a 5 min play with one or the other) prefer the iphone 3GS/4G over the desire/nexus one. Have a look at posts #14 and #40

i think having an android device and not having a google account is plain silly as it makes the device much less useful. it is as silly as saying i will buy iphone and not use itunes or any other apple product. same as buying a windows device and saying why i should use windows based software and why one cant use mac based software. probably i should start posting on forums after buying a diesel car about why i cant fill the gas tank with petrol as it is cheaper and then blame the car manufacturer!

buy anything that you wish but then if you dont use the product with services that make it more useful then you have only yourself to blame and not the device. the online backup facility on iphone is a paid service via apple as far as i am aware. but the same can be had for free on google by linking anything and everything to you googlemail account.

you dont have to use the gmail account, but life is much more productive when using the phone with a gmail account. i dont use the gmail account as my primary account but it is still useful all the same to have it to use my desire to its potential.

skype seems to be having a bit of a spat with google as google has launched a very successful competitor to skype in the usa already where one can get a google worldwide phone number and calls go via googles servers worldwide. it is still not available as far as i know outside usa but only a matter of time before that happens. maybe one reason why skype is dragging its feet officially with skype app for nexus one. but the htc desire which is almost the same as the nexus one can get the skype app and i have it on my desire phones and it works fine.

the beauty of android is that one can download an app from anywhere and not just the android market. i downloaded the skype app from three network website (planet three) and it works fine. but that app works only on 3g and not on wifi due to some arrangements between three network and skype. but the calls on 3g doesnt count towards minutes while not on roaming. there are other versions available which use your skype login and can make calls like skype lite / iskoot / fring / nimbuzz etc etc etc which work on wifi as well but i havent used them as have no need for those versions as when on wifi i have my computer with skype on it. or you could use fring / nimbuzz or any number of other apps that make use of skype account.

or you could download the relavant skype apk file and instal it yourself ! i did this with google earth when initially it wasnt yet available for the desire and it worked fine. so the same is possible for other apk files as well. but use standard caution and user beware when using third party apk files and installing it.

if you are on three network then download the file from here Skype: http://download.three.co.uk/un/811/001/skype/android/Skype_0.10.0.12_hutch_live.apk

WindowsLiveMessenger: on three network http://download.three.co.uk/un/811/001/WLM/desire/IT5_3UK_HTC_DESIRE_V0_3_19_1_EN.apk

if you are on another network then ask their forums or tech teams! have you wondered whether it is your network not allowing skype on your handset for obvious reasons! verizon in usa and three network in uk among others elsewhere officially support skype on their networks. if the file works on my htc desire, i dont see why it shouldnt work on the nexus one as both the phones are very similar and made by same manufacturer although labelled differently.

regarding backing up files etc, you can back up everything locally on your sd card. htc desire does this as a default option (unless YOU disabled it when setting up the phone). plus if you use the desktop synch option..... for example i have htc synch for my desire, it backs up the phone on the computer as well to recover the data. you could do online back ups with any number of third party apps easily available by doing a google search or looking for top android back up apps or android forums.

if you just want to back up contacts then check out 'contacts 2 sim' or something like that. or if you choose all contacts are backed up to google email account.

if you want to backup sms then there are apps that do that for you by sending the sms as an email copy to your gmail account.

there are apps for visual voice mail as well but i havent used that option.

i have used various messenger apps like google talk, skype, WindowsLiveMessenger (again free on three network). there are loads more available for free. i have used skype for conference calls on my phone conferencing with multiple people on computers and landlines and mobiles together. you can conference for free upto 24 people together i think. loads of people i know use the skype app on their phones.

android store is NOT the only place to get apps. that sort of thing happens only with apple. without modding your phone on android you can still legally download and use apps from anyother website that has android apps and there are literally loads and loads of them. one good reason why reports of android market having lesser apps should be taken with a very big pinch of salt.

you can get apps from the official android market place and also just to name a few others ... androlib / cyrket / htcapps / appbrain / androidzoom / app store hq / andbot / xda developers ... etc etc etc and numerous other websites where you can get apk files from.

look on nexus one specific forums / blogs there will be loads of useful apps. there are many htc desire specific forums and blogs and websites and many of them are good and i have found them useful in helping me to learn to use my device better.

ps: another useful thing is cloud to device computing which is coming in a big way. while using google chrome and firefox with extensions one can link it to andorid phones and anything done on any linked computer anywhere in the world is automatically beamed to your phone (links / maps / tesco shoping lists etc etc). for example for forgetful people who get into arguments with spouse about forgetting items on the shopping list, there are options where spouse types shopping list on tesco website or google chrome or firefox browsers and that gets updated on your android phone, so when you get out of work, there is no need to carry shopping list or worry about losing scrap of paper etc, as you usually have your phone always with you, you just open that app and voila an up to date shopping list is always with you, you just swipe to cancel items off the list and there are apps where a few phones can be synched together, so that lists are synched always so you dont double up on things on your shared shopping lists if you shop separately when coming back from work etc. i dont use such apps but know it is there if i need it.

showing skype website screenshot as not showing your device as compatibe isnt exactly evidence. there are hundreds of handsets so skype or anyother website cant6 be expected to show all devices on their websites AS COMPATIBLE. even my htc desire isnt shown on their website as compatible but i have downloaded the app and it works fine on my htc desire on three network. you really should think whether your network is the cause of the problem rather than the phone!

b33r

HTC

baby_frogmella wrote: »

Why should i be forced to use google mail in order to get the best out of the nexus one? I'm not forced to use a Macintosh to get the best out of the iphone.

What are you talking about? No one forces you go use google mail, but you do need a google account, the same way you need an itunes account to access the app store or a live account to use an xbox. Your analogy is just laughable to be honest.

baby_frogmella wrote: »

Well since Android has recently overtaken Apple's OS in the US (linky) in terms of users, this is probably due to the fact that HTC release a new Android phone every few minutes so if the trend continues, its only a matter of time before Android Market overtakes the Apple store in terms of quality content. BUT as things stand the Android store is pants.

Again I fail to see why the two correlate, how is the number of phones released by HTC related to the amount of quality apps developed? I agree they're on the same android topic or at a push vaguely related but otherwise....meh. The android store is not "pants".

Please stop saying minutes too, it is months and also a good thing, it's called progress and HTC don't hold it back like apple do. People have different wants for their mobile, some like a keyboard, some a very good camera, some a long(er) battery life, different devices are released with good reason.

baby_frogmella wrote: »

People harp on about Android being a open source platform so you can customize your device and whilst i agree this is an advantage, imho this is only of real benefit to app programmers. You don't need an open source platform just to change the background on your phone or to add some custom widgets. Having seen some of the garbage apps written by 9 year olds on Android Market, I now understand why Apple went against opening their platform to all and sundry...it keeps the quality of apps higher (of course there's also garbage on App store but nowhere near the Android market).

You're obviously not an app developer, or have the slighest clue about it or open source for that matter so I'll keep this brief but you are way off the mark. Open source has nothing to do with changing backgrounds or widgets but is about sharing ideas and innovation.

Apple have given people a lego kit (for £50 a year or whatever the dev licence is) and told them to build houses and there will be a judging competition at the end. Google have given people a lego kit but also access to the plastic mould that made it and said everyone can have a go.

No what keeps the quality of (some) apps higher is that more professionals are invested in developing for the iphone as it is far more profitable, which may come from the mindset of the two different types of user but I'm not so sure on that. Also because Apple dictates what can be sold on the App Store with a huge list of do's and do not's.

baby_frogmella wrote: »

Finally you will find most people who have owned both devices (as opposed to people just having a 5 min play with one or the other) prefer the iphone 3GS/4G over the desire/nexus one. Have a look at posts #14 and #40

Wow, two posts, you win by a land slide!

baby_frogmella

iPhone

b33r wrote: »

Again I fail to see why the two correlate, how is the number of phones released by HTC related to the amount of quality apps developed? I agree they're on the same android topic or at a push vaguely related but otherwise....meh. The android store is not "pants".

Well as HTC release a new handset every few minutes...sorry i mean few months, there are now more Android users than Apple OS users (in the US at least). This inevitably means that more and more developers will jump on the Android bandwagon and start to develop some quality apps...the Android Market is now at the same stage as the Apple App store was 1-2 years after launch ie mostly full of cr*p. Ask anyone who owns both devices which App store has better quality of apps overall, and most (if not all) will say Apple.

b33r wrote: »

Please stop saying minutes too, it is months and also a good thing, it's called progress and HTC don't hold it back like apple do. People have different wants for their mobile, some like a keyboard, some a very good camera, some a long(er) battery life, different devices are released with good reason.

The problem with releasing a new handset every few minutes...sorry i mean months is that it drives the cost of the older handsets down...great if you want to buy, not so great if you want to sell and buy the latest handset. In May/June many 3GS users were selling their year old handsets for £300+ on ebay, there's no way you will be able to sell your HTC desire for 60-70% of original cost in a years time as HTC will have saturated the market with 15000 handsets. Having said this i'm perfectly happy with my 3GS and will only upgrade if i find the new iphone is significantly better than my model.

b33r wrote: »

You're obviously not an app developer, or have the slighest clue about it or open source for that matter so I'll keep this brief but you are way off the mark. Open source has nothing to do with changing backgrounds or widgets but is about sharing ideas and innovation.

Apple have given people a lego kit (for £50 a year or whatever the dev licence is) and told them to build houses and there will be a judging competition at the end. Google have given people a lego kit but also access to the plastic mould that made it and said everyone can have a go.

No what keeps the quality of (some) apps higher is that more professionals are invested in developing for the iphone as it is far more profitable, which may come from the mindset of the two different types of user but I'm not so sure on that. Also because Apple dictates what can be sold on the App Store with a huge list of do's and do not's.

At the end of the day because of Android's open source platform, every Tom, !!!!!! and Harry is putting garbage on the Android store making finding decent apps like finding a needle in hay. Yes Android is a lot, lot better if you're into developing your own apps but from my experience Apple OS is not as 'clunky' as Android and has a better range of quality apps.
PS Can anyone get "wunderradio" working on Android? I can hardly stream any radio station despite paying a fiver for it:eek:

Oscartheposcar

iPhone

Wow - just came back and was surprised to see this thread still going.

A few observations:
1) The resale value thing is a big deal for customers - if you can sell last year's iPhone for a high price that greatly reduces the upfront cost of a new model. Like I said, I'm not sure how older Android phones compare, but it's a valid point if you're working out total cost of ownership.

2) I'm a little surprised at how vehement some of you are in arguing for your choice and against other options! They are only phones at the end of the day

3) If anyone really is trying to weigh up the pros and cons of different phones, they really should try them out in person (talk to their friends, try them in the shop) - that way you'll find out which one you prefer.

4) As Harry Hill would say, there's only one way to find out...

bubblesmoney

HTC

Oscartheposcar wrote: »

Wow - just came back and was surprised to see this thread still going.

A few observations:
1) The resale value thing is a big deal for customers - if you can sell last year's iPhone for a high price that greatly reduces the upfront cost of a new model. Like I said, I'm not sure how older Android phones compare, but it's a valid point if you're working out total cost of ownership.

2) I'm a little surprised at how vehement some of you are in arguing for your choice and against other options! They are only phones at the end of the day

3) If anyone really is trying to weigh up the pros and cons of different phones, they really should try them out in person (talk to their friends, try them in the shop) - that way you'll find out which one you prefer.

4) As Harry Hill would say, there's only one way to find out...

the resale value is not independent of the contract costs. both need to be added up. at the end of the day the features of the phone which are useful for the user are as important as the cost. not everyone wants a showpiece that doesnt do all they need to do at a competetive price.

just like anything else in life, competition increases consumer benefits in terms of quality and pricing, that is best reflected in the android model presently, unfortunately that can be said of the apple model. yes apple will have a role to play but just for a niche group just like in computers today, ineveitable if they follow the same gameplan as in computers they will get relegated to a niche group as in computers. the iphones are nice phones but arent competitive in terms of price and they cant claim to beat other phones in terms of quality either. liking the looks of phones will be down to end user choice.

a lot of people including me will buy any phone that suits our needs. if iphone suited my requirements at a competetive price i certainly would consider it as an option. but presently in terms of price or quality there are loads of fish to try other than apple. just like in cameras or laptops or anyother electronic product, these things get outdated every week, so whats wrong if htc releases a phone every week! wouldnt that suit the consumer, after all they wouldnt be releasing a phone a week if there were no buyers! the same applies to apple as well. yes like you say it is just a gadget but an essential item all the same now a days for most people. opinions will vary like with everything in life. have a nice day.

Fifer

HTC

Oscartheposcar wrote: »

1) The resale value thing is a big deal for customers.

The resale value is a probably a big thing for some customers. I've never sold a second hand phone in my life.

EDIT: And as stated above, even where it is a factor, it's the total cost of ownership and the cost to exchange which are relevant. Second hand value is only one element of that and possibly not the most significant one.