iPhone or Android?
 

I'm needing, wanting to upgrade to a smartphone. Something else smarter than me.

Our firm has a small discount on monthy charges and some deals on phones.

Android or iPhone? Any real differences (besides shiny vs. SHINY)?

Stupid question #1 Data Plan, I have options of 300Mb ($20) of 3Gb ($30) and I am assuming that much difference is well worth the $10 difference.

Do I go with an older 3G phone or a 4G? Obviously a 3G phone is much less expensive up front. Since I know nothing about 3G and 4G, will a 3G phone be instantly outmoded?

I know it sounds silly, but I am trying to justify the approximately $100 a month. My brain keeps kicking back in, you're not yet out of cc debt and do you really need this or simply want it because it's a cool toy?

So, I come to the wisdom of LoT for advice.

How picky are you about user interface on your devices? Are happy to just have something that works-as-advertised consistently without much thought on your part, or do you prefer things to be set up JUST SO, annoyed when some function is not easily accessible or doesn't look the way you want it to?

If the former, go for iPhone. The latter, go for Android. That is probably the biggest difference. Android is about customization. You can tweak the look and feel and layout to precisely how you like it. The drawback is that it requires more effort on your part and can run across compatibility issues if you're dealing with a lot of 3rd party customization apps.

iPhone is about a stable, reliable, functioning device (not to imply that Android isn't, at its base, stable, reliable, and functional. Just that it gives you the option of messing with lots of stuff, which RISKS unreliability and instability). The drawback is that you can't do much to "improve" on the usability if there's something that isn't comfortable for you.

One of the best pieces of advice I ever had about using Apple portable products (in this case, it was an iPod, but holds true for the iPhone) is choose the i-something because most other people have one - and if you ever have a question about anything, you can ask almost anyone!


The Android has gained tremendous ground, but I still believe you can toss a coin in the air and there's a 94% chance it will hit someone with an iPhone on the way down.


I love, love, love my iPhone and find my boyfriend's Droid a bit confusing. For whatever that's worth. ;)

Thanks Steve and Greg!

Now, what about reasonable data usage? The discounted rate option has 300 Mb. Is this a reasonable amount?

Again, depends.

Do you anticipate downloading music on the go (remember, that includes podcasts)? How about uploading photos? If you expect you won't be doing much of that, or if you do that you'll be somewhere with access to wifi (as opposed to the mobile network), than save the $.

If you expect to be using it as a point-and-shoot often, uploading photos as you go (if you get android, it might be doing it automatically to your Google+ account - a very nice feature). Or if you expect it to be a daily podcast listening device that you'll want to grab the latest episodes on...then it's worth it.

Can you change your mind and upgrade after the initial order? Ask if you can. Go with the cheaper plan, and keep an eye on your usage. If it seems like you are going to hit your limit, upgrade.

I would go for the higher data plan. Once you get a smart phone, you'll find it's good for all sorts of things like streaming something to watch while you wait at the dmv, or listening to pandora or using Skype (although I'd recommend google + instead as Skype has been giving me nothing but pixelation and dropped sound issues.) What's the point of getting a smart phone, to have all those cool features available to you on a whim, if you're not going to use them because you're afraid you'll go over your data limit. (assuming there is some big penalty and it doesn't just switch you to the higher priced plan automatically)

As far as which one? My husband has had both and I liked them both. I liked my android phone when I had it and my son has a pad that runs android and enjoys it immensely.

Sorry, Snowflake, but I say listen to your brain (only because that's the way you phrased it).

The technology will still be waiting for you when you've taken care of your debts. And you might just enjoy it that much more when you're in the clear and the money issue is not still hanging over your head.

See why I picked this name?

Yes, that was very Sam-like of you

Who is your provider?

If it's AT&T go with the iPhone. If it's Verizon listen to all the advice here (and only look at LTE 4G "droid" models from Verizon.

Keep in mind buying new technology will enable you to keep your phone long past the 2 year point (software upgrades/enhancements/support) If you get an older iPhone it will only become more and more obsolete.

sweet talker ;)

Not quite. Android has more than half of the US smartphone market share as of last month. 51% to Apple's 31% (they've both been growing lately at the expense of RIM).

The issue is that whatever iPhone user your coin hits they will essentially have the exact same iPhone as any other it might have hit (with some generally minor version variations) whereas almost every Android user will be on something with significant differences from people on other handsets and service providers.

I just feel like I'm going from something advanced to playing with a kid's toy whenever I'm forced to use my wife's iPhone. I'm spoiled by Swype on my LG Spectrum (instead of pecking at the keyboard like some kind of lab monkey, I can just draw a line from letter to letter).

...like some kind of lab monkey.

(Don't necessarily disagree with which is better, just find amusing the juxtaposition of typing as being more monkey-like than dragging a finger around a screen.)

I love my droid. I do not understand Apple products. They aren't intuitive to me the way they are to others. I have to make a decision this week about whether I'm going to just keep my droid x or upgrade to 4G. Keep changing my mind. No idea what phone to pick if I do upgrade. (Verizon.)

And I would say just the opposite. I think the iPhone has succeeded so splendidly largely because of its intuitive interface. I picked it up, and instantly understood what to do to get what result i wanted. The Droid leaves me totally confused, and I would need an instruction manual to operate it.

Go into an Apple store and play with the iPhone. Is there somewhere where Droids can be played with? (not Tatooine, surely)

I've tried to use an iPhone. Very confusing. (I am apparently the brain that Windows was developed for as, before they started apple-izing, I found it totally intuitive.) I like customizing my droid.

Also, the iPhone is way more expensive than my android options and that's a consideration right now.

Pru - whatever Droid you get be sure to find out if it already has or will be getting* Ice Cream Sandwich.

*confirm via the web - most of of the products are listed

I had a Droid for several years- every software update screwed something up for me. Odd glitches, unexplained power downs, crashes, freezes- it wasn't good. Got three new phones under warranty exchanges, new battery after just over a year-

Finally switched to my iPhone- love it. I was raised on Apple so it's familiar to me yet there is still much to learn. Intuitive, friendly and not a single problem thus far.

YMMV of course :)

I think she (Pru) has already established that she is not interested in an iPhone.

I also vote for the iPhone not-an-option

Oh, I do too, but I felt like a dead horse was having the crap kicked out of it.

The internet has a time honored tradition of creating the illusion of help. I'm glad we can contribute to that mission

I'm currently annoyed at my FB for Android app for constantly pushing notifications to my status bar. All push notifications have been disabled and these are not the normal notifications you get when you check your Facebook (I am fine with those and do not want to/need to 'unfollow' posts.

So I recommend the iPhone because the FB for iPhone app is much better.


;)

Not sure I can agree with you on that. While I haven't experienced any unwanted push notifications, there have been enough other problems on the iPhone FB app. On my iPad (same OS and app), I use my browser for FB.

Facebook's apps for iOs and Android must be programmed by the Windows ME development group...

In many ways I prefer the iOS FB ap to the PC version. No idea about Android.

Again, thanks to all on LoT, I knew you'd be able to help!

What's that? Sounds like you'd get sticky fingers using the phone!

So, what did you decide?

My phone is so old that it fell out of compatibility with my car. That's a statement I could have never known I'd make while dreaming about the future as a teen. I have a Ford that uses Sync, and I can no longer access my phonebook. All other functions work, but it's a 6 year old LG phone and is going to continue to have problems and getting batteries will become an issue.

I don't have a smart phone, there are so many choices and I have never used one, that I have been agonizing over what to get. Hence my late dive into the smart phone pool. I have close access to computers most of the time, so I'm not one to want to use a phone to get on the internet. Nor do I download or listen to recorded music. I just talk, take and send pictures, and text, period. This may change once I get one, but I'm going to want something simple to use, not much troble to maintain, and inexpensive to purchase and use through Verizon.

Coming late to this discussion and posting a thought that is hopelessly behind where the discussion is now, but hey that's how I roll....

As a general rule, I've noticed that if people are not sure which phone they want, Android or iPhone, they end up happier with an iPhone.

Personally, I think you should get a Motorola DynaTAC 8000X

I think you should go back in time, get a Palm Pre, and hopefully become the tipping point that prompts the developer community to write apps for the far superior OS, leading to widespread acceptance and emergence of quality hardware platforms instead of the cheap piece of sh*t Palm/HP released.

I found the setting under a hidden menu for the App, not for Facebook. Those fvcking sneaky weasels.

Errr, you mean under Settings->Notification Settings, like every other Android app in existence?

Though I am a little annoyed that it seems to reset my notification settings with every update, but I wouldn't call using the Android standard for notification settings "sneaky".

I'm considering the LG Lucid.

From the Verizon website:


Specs:

Operating System
Android™ 2.3 Platform (Gingerbread)

Display
Large 4.0" IPS Touch Screen Display protected by Corning® Gorilla® Glass

Keyboard
Virtual QWERTY Keyboard with Swype® – use one continuous finger motion to enter text when composing messages

Battery
Standard Li–Ion Battery (1700 mAh)
Usage Time: up to 480 minutes OR
Standby Time: up to 350 hours

Memory / Processor
Processor: 1.2 GHz Dual–Core processor with 1GB RAM
8GB internal memory (actual formatted capacity is less)
Supports up to 32GB microSD card

So it is an Android.

I've never had to use this settings window to disable push notifications until I received ICS and the FB app to go with it. Disabling the settings under FB > Account > settings > notifications settings was enough before. Then again I haven't updated my FB app in a long time so maybe I missed some updates that started changing the default notifications.

A good friend of mine does data sales training for VZW and he recommends the Lucid. So, I think it's a good choice.

RStar, I decided to take Scrooge's advice and wait.

I do not have too far to go to make the coup de grace on my last big balance. I can live another couple of months without a spiffy phone. Does not lessen the Ohh it's so freakin shiny and I want want WANT it.

With the firm employee discount, I can get a nice iPhone and the monthly will be about $70 a month, which seems to be a good deal. So when the time comes, I will be choose and iPhone.

Gabba Gabba

Good choice!

So you're not going to heed my advice for the Dynatac?

I think I've settled on pre-ordering the Galaxy S3. As long as I pre-order by the 28th of June, I get to keep my current plan. And the Verizon guy on the phone went through his whole "the new pricing saves most people money" and then stopped abruptly and said, "oh, your current plan is way better for you. You should try to keep it."

I've been wondering about the new price plans as well. I'm not "most people" in that I use no data at all. So adding data won't save me money, but if I get a smart phone I will need to add it. So I don't know if it matters.

This helps be a silly decider in favor of an iPhone

Whereas the Farnsworth app is available on both

There's a communicator app for Android also.

For lack of a better thread (and not worthy of its own thread): Ten Weird iPhone Accessories

Well, I have been assimilated. I just ordered an iPhone. The deal from our firm discount was simply too good to pass up. iPhone 4S for $50 and a monthly $50. I should have it in hand next week. It's official, I'm now in the 21st century for reals.

Yay! I got here late, but this now means that my advice to you (which I am about to give from the future) has been taken by you already (in the past).

Get an iPhone.
I personally have never been able to go over my 300mb data plan
For speed, go the 4G option.

and FACETIME calls. :)
Skype works better on the 4G iPhone too.

Glad I could help. :D

Wow, I wish I could I get in on that action.

Love you bearspice! :D

I'm hopng we can manage to do some facetime! That would be awesome to talk to you and Stoat!

Yeah, I know! It's an awesome deal!

She is getting the 4S; she won't be getting the HTE 4G.

Also, I was surprised to find out how much data we've been using, especially considering neither of us doing any streaming; Susan is at 400 mB and I've been around 600 mB.

Panty-weights! If I don't clear 3GB it's a slow month. I love me the Orb.

Verizon can have my unlimited data plan when they pry it from my cold dead fingers.

Does that seem high or low to you? Most apps (games, FB, FourSquare) suck more data than you would think. My Android has something I can view each apps data usage.

4S, 4G, whatever.... as long as it's not the 4 X (XXXX), cos that's a Queensland Beer. :cheers:


...and am I really such a data wuss?? Maybe I connect to Wifi a lot more than I do my mobile data ?

Well, I've opted for 3gb data, and I expect I'll be using the wifi during office hours. I'm excited.

Now, any cool apps to suggest?

There is this thread, but it is three years old.

Also, you get to have fun with Siri

It is high enough that I can't switch data plans to save money (as I learned today).

I'll let my iTunes tell you....

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Oh, but I wouldn't bother with Scruff or Growlr if I were you... :blush:

Or Grindr

Also, a very handy app is Flashlight, which does just what the app is named. I use this one much more than I expected.

With data we switched from our unlimited to 4G shared. Using wifi at home and work our combined data usage is pretty minimal. (of course Madzie toasted her smart phone so she's on her old dinosaur one that doesn't use much anyway cause it can't).

The Flashlight app is one of the only ones I still use regularly. When I'm traveling, I use a couple more. But more and more, the apps were just fun toys that have little usefulness. (Admittedly, I'm glad I have some when they come in handy once a year or so.) I don't even use my phone much for music or pictures or video anymore. I mostly use it as a phone. 80% texting. 20% voice. Email once in a blue. Internet only if I'm not near a connected computer (5% of my existence).

Money's tight right now - so with that realization of my meager smart phone needs - I'm putting off my iPhone 5 purchase till at least mid-2013.

Evernote is an app I'm loving. You can use it on your computer or phone and they synch up. Great for shopping lists. I've put in recipes so I have them when I'm at the store. Gift ideas when I see things. You can type in or put in photos. Very handy.

Okay, I'm assimilated now. I'm hating the teeny keyboard, as I expected.

It's clear I'm really an idiot, I can't get a ringtone from iTunes! :)

This is an extravagance, but I know I will use it.

Using the keyboard in landscape mode gives you a tad more room. Try it, see if that's a worthwhile compromise.

Ja! Thanks I saw that. Also got the ringtone of choice now that I remembered my Apple password. Will be playing with it all weekend, I am sure

You should see if there is a per-app data usage screen. I think on mine it's under settings > data (but I have an Android).

Do you or Susan play any _____ with friends games (or games in general)? Those suck data like no tomorrow.

Nothing I can find easily. But I don't want to give up my unlimited plan so, it's a moot point.Nope. I was worried that Siri sucked up a lot of data, but she doesn't.

If you ever forget your password again, it is: ******** . At least that's what mine looks like when I type it in....

From here.

Interesting. I wonder if that has changed much since last year?

I quoted that section because I know you guys have been 4squaring a lot lately.

I use the Starbucks app every day.
Night Sky is cool for identifying the shiny stuff above your head.
I use Vogue Knitting to keep track of rows when I crochet (they don't judge).
And TapThat lets you figure out how many beats per minute in a song. Everyone needs that, right?