[Closed] Anyone moved from iPhone to Android and regretted it?

and a more open platform.

Elaborate on this one, please.

swings for courses.
horses and roundabouts.

I have an Ipod touch and Galaxy S.

Apple is much easier to integrate with my existing hardware, including Microsoft

Galaxy has the functionality I need, but it is a major pain in the arse to make it all work well.

Just hang on for the time being until the Galaxy Nexus is released - Android 4.0 is due out next week and brings some fairly sweeping changes to the platform.

Podcasts are better served with a third-party app IMO (so you can just download them easily on the device itself). I like Instacast on iPhone, but there are dozens out there for all platforms.

Assuming you can get all the stuff you need (and there's nothing specific to one platform) it comes down more to personal preference. IME iPhones are much better built than most of the top-end Android ones, most of which can look tatty as hell after 18 months use. That plus having £50+ of apps on iOS means I'm not likely to switch any time soon. If you're starting fresh and like the look of Android (plus they're quite a bit cheaper on contract) then it makes a lot of sense too.

I've been thinking about this but the fact I can get a new iPhone, plug it in to itunes and know everything will be transferred and works suits me just fine.

I've changed from HTC Hero with Villain ROM to an iPhone 3GS with iOS5.

So far, I quite like the slick interface and speed...

Just moved from Android to Apple 4s and very impressed so far. However,all the new phones from Htc etc are very slick.

Sort of hijack - anyone use Android on a Tablet?

What changes is Android 4.0 rumours to bring?

I get annoyed when trying to use colelague's and friends Iphones, as I find a lot of menus/options/functions, either counter-intuitive or just missing.
I also like being able to use the phone as a USB flash drive, and love the tight Google integration on Android - IMO it's one of the key things that makes them stand out.
Not sure the Galaxy S2 is the best Android option for you though, although it'll likely be the most similar UI look & feel to what you're used to.

Assuming you can get all the stuff you need (and there's nothing specific to one platform) it comes down more to personal preference.

This.

There's little between them functionality wise, on the whole. It really boils down to taste. I have an Android handset, OH has an iPhone, neither of us would swap.

Christ, this is a sensible iChat innit ?
As asked above, what's on Android 4.0 you geek types ? 😉

better gmail integration

I use an iPhone with gmail and can't think of anything I need to be "tighter". What are you worried about?

I have an HTC Desire HD on Android. Despite the appalling battery life of the handset, the platform is fantastic.
My GF has an iphone and I can't say i'd like to be tied to things in the way I see her as being.
She only has stock ringtones, she can't use SWYPE keyboard which is like some kind of black magic and IMHO she is paying extra money purely for the fact its an Apple.

Making the switch will take some getting used but I'd say it would be a good one.

I used an Android phone when I lost my iphone for a couple of weeks, and no way would I switch. It was an old Android phone but it drove me mad.
There are some nice things about Android (well, the fact that processes can run in the background, meaning you can see if you have a new mail without opening your e-mail, and the little notifications you get at the top (which apple have now tried to replicate but not that well)) but I love my iphone. I say stick with iphone.

Not me as it goes. My iPhones were unreliable (two broke in two years - I don't usually break phones) and while mostly nice and slick still crashed and caused me hassle. The battery was crap and it was a poor phone - constantly less signal than everyone else on different phones even on the same network.

I got an iPhone originally because at the time, the competition couldn't really compete. Things have changed.

My android phone that replaced it (Desire S) basically works just as well but isn't quite as slick. For me though the 'open-ness' of it is a real bonus - I can make it work how I want without having to hack it. For now, I certainly wouldn't go back to an iPhone

Enjoyed my iPhone 3GS for a couple of years - it was great as first foray into smartphones.

Although hated iTunes and little crappy screen size but rest ok.

Now swapped for a galaxy S2 in the summer which i'm over the moon with, although had a go on a mates Desire S at the weekend and thats a lovely phone too.

Would prob get that if had choice again.

http://www.techradar.com/news/mobile-computing/android-4-0-ice-cream-sandwich-everything-you-need-to-know-954464

I use an iPhone with gmail and can't think of anything I need to be "tighter".

The thing with the more open system is that Android offers the opportunity for malware/spyware/virus. This situation is only going to get worse as Android becomes more popular. It's the one reason I can't see myself using an Android phone.

I use an iPhone with gmail and can't think of anything I need to be "tighter". What are you worried about?

The standard Mail.app seems to work just fine with GMail.

If you want much tighter integration with GMail then you could always use the GMail app when it comes out (which should be very soon. [url= http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2395832,00.asp#fbid=HgrPDo26AmZ ]Google already released it then pulled it immediately because it was so buggy[/url])

sharkbait - oh yeah, open source is *definitely* the reason for more viruses.

That would explain why Windows has something like 98% of them.

Er.... hold on a sec.

oh yeah, open source is *definitely* the reason for more viruses.

She only has stock ringtones

its easy to add your own non-stock ringtones to an iPhone, google it - and with IOS5 you can use non-stock tones for texts etc as well

+1 for gmail integration on the iphone - I use google mail, calendar etc and it all integrates perfectly

http://lifehacker.com/5801862/top-10-awesome-android-features-that-the-iphone-doesnt-have

oh yeah, open source is *definitely* the reason for more viruses.

There is no denying that Android has [u]a lot[/u] more malware and viruses than iOS.

[img] [/img]
http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2011/08/android-malware-explodes-ios-remains-safe/
(note which one is too small to show on that graphic: oh yeah, iOS)

With the demise of Flash they'll be less and less between the two OSs

The thing with the more open system is that Android offers the opportunity for malware/spyware/virus.

Whilst that's correct, it's a little disingenuous.

Android apps can only access the services that [b]you[/b] grant it access to, and it shows you this request before installation is allowed. If you install a "top 10 best fart noises" app written by phonehax.ru and it wants access to make International phone calls, then you get a really big phone bill, you've really only yourself to blame. Also, apps are peer-reviewed, so you can read other people's experiences live before downloading.

With iPhone, you're trusting Apple to keep the scary people away. With Android, the burden of choice lies with the user. In practice, if you have an IQ higher than a warm drink of water and aren't in the habit of downloading Brittney Spears Nude Screen Savers, the risk is as close to zero as makes no odds. The bottom line is that an app [i]can only do what you say it can do.[/i]

I didn't say open source (I like open source stuff), I said open system i.e. anyone can write an app for Android and sell/give it away. I like the fact that all iOS apps are checked for malicious code before they are allowed to the App Store.

Not convinced that it's really that much of a problem, assuming you stick to the Google marketplace. Of course, if you start downloading software from a russian-based warez site...

To the OP: I use and like Android, the gmail integration is great (although it flies in the face of the idea of "openness" - you're completely tied to Google for everything), but if I were you I'd stick with the iPhone, particularly if you like iTunes and don't mind the extra cost. iPhone handsets feel a little more solid than most Android ones, the interface is a little bit slicker. Nothing critical, nothing too serious, but it's definitely there.

There is no denying that Android has a lot more malware and viruses than iOS.

I've read the McAfee report (written by the creators of McAfee Mobile Security suite). Getting actual figures is harder than it should be.

The scary-looking pie chart is backed up with a bar graph. According to the (less than clear) graph, that pie chart represents, in total, about fifty samples.

How many of those are actual in-the-wild threats? It's not clear. They talk about what's in their lab database, not what's on users' handsets.

Android apps can only access the services that you grant it access to, and it shows you this request before installation is allowed.

That doesn't exactly make you malware proof does it.
The permissions are pretty vague and plenty of apps could use genuine reasons to hide malicious use.

e.g. a map app would need access to GPS (for your location) and internet connection (to download the map) but could easily use this permission to record your location on a server.

Likewise a game might want access to your contacts to "Find Friends Playing This Game" and internet connection for global high score tables - but could then use that permission to upload all your contact details to spam lists.

etc etc

When you give any kind of permission you have no way of knowing exactly what you are giving that permission for.

How many of those are actual in-the-wild threats? It's not clear. They talk about what's in their lab database, not what's on users' handsets.

Well [url= http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-12633923 ]the DroidDream trojans were real[/url] and prevalent enough that Google remotely wiped them from people's handsets.

Well the DroidDream trojans were real

So that's "one", then. And patched as of 2.3.

But whatever. I'm not saying that Android is flawless, any more than any platform is flawless. Just that it's very easy to trot out scary-looking graphics when you're trying to sell security software.

So that's "one", then.

Well, "one" as in fifty apps with one strain of attack.

Here are some more:
http://www.informationweek.com/news/security/mobile/231300257

And here's a recent exploit that let hackers install apps without asking permission:
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/09/20/google_android_vulnerability_patching/

it's very easy to trot out scary-looking graphics when you're trying to sell security software.

So where is the iPhone one?

So where is the iPhone one?

Probably waiting for Apple to authorise it.

I went from iphone 3 which was made unuseable by an Apple update, their customer service were useless and I vowed never to use one again.
Went to HTC Desire which was a great phone, fast, easy to use and able to function like a mini computer. The screen however was useless outdoors and you really couldn't see a thing on it.
I am now using an iphone 4, I know I said I'd never use one again but the app that I need is only available on Iphone or Blackberry, Apples offering is the lesser of 2 evils. The screen and battery on the iphone 4 is much better that the HTC Desire but I still prefer the function of the software and speed on the HTC

GrahamS - Member

How many of those are actual in-the-wild threats? It's not clear. They talk about what's in their lab database, not what's on users' handsets.

Well the DroidDream trojans were real and prevalent enough that Google remotely wiped them from people's handsets.

I would be impressed with this as when Apples own update rendered my iphone useless I got no help from them at Google fixed the problem.

So where is the iPhone one?

That'd be iOS 5.0 then 🙂

And there are rumours of iPhone viruses/trojans out there, here's one: http://macviruscom.wordpress.com/2011/04/12/iphone-trojan-really/ It's only a matter of time, the iPhone user base is too tempting a target.

I used an Android phone when I lost my iphone for a couple of weeks, and no way would I switch. It was an old Android phone but it drove me mad.

A lot of that is just getting used to changes between brands/operating systems. It works both ways.
Years ago I switched from a Sony Eric to an LG and hated it....until I got used to it.

That'd be iOS 5.0 then

Yeah, no exploits there, [url= http://www.bgr.com/2011/11/08/hacker-uncovers-major-ios-security-flaw-video/ ]naturellement[/url].

I would be impressed with this as when Apples own update rendered my iphone useless I got no help from them at Google fixed the problem.

I bricked an iPhone during an update, took it to the Apple Store and they gave me a brand new phone for free, despite mine being out of warranty.

Couldn't be happier.

It's only a matter of time, the iPhone user base is too tempting a target.

Agreed, something will sneak through eventually, but so far the count is nil.

Whereas on Android you have to stick to known vendors, with good reviews, only from the Android Marketplace, then review the permissions the app requests and decide if they sound okay or not (based on no useful information).

Just saying like. I do think Android has a [i]lot[/i] going for it, and openness and reconfigurability is a big part of that, but xiphon's assertion that being "[url= http://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/03/24/google_will_not_open_source_android_honeycomb_on_release_of_first_devices/ ]open source[/url]" protects it from viruses is nonsense.

Anyway, that point is now made. I'm not here for a fanboi war.

kayak, yeah you are right...to an extent. (but my husband works in mobile phone development and uses an android phone so I had had plenty of help setting up the phone and was somewhat acquainted with how to use it before I had it) I would've made more effort if I didn't know I was going to get a new iphone too. But the iphone is more slick, no doubt about it. The android is more customisable and not tied to itunes. So swings and roundabouts, but although I read things like the above article about how good android is and think they have a point, in reality I just don't want to spend ages customising my phone at the expense of having a slick interface that just works nicely out of the box. And in reality I think most non geeks are the same. And a lot of geeks too actually! I guess somewhere along the line I have become an apple fan boy 😉

Yeah, no exploits there, naturellement.

Yeah except within three days of that story they had ejected him from the Developer Program, fixed the bug and [url= http://www.bgr.com/2011/11/11/apple-plugs-huge-security-hole-with-ios-5-0-1/ ]issued a patch that closes the exploit[/url] (iOS 5.0.1).

I'm not here for a fanboi war.

Makes a change.

(-:

open source (or 'open platform') != protected from viruses

(It's just statistically, there are far fewer. You need to remember Windows has been on the desktop a long time for people to discover security holes. As Linux (Android) grows in popularity [on the handset], so the demand for malware to be written will too. )

Absolutely.

Statistically, as a virus writer you'd reach more handsets targeting Symbian than Apple. Apple don't have the dominant market share, not by a long way (it just feels like it).

Android apps can only access the services that you grant it access to, and it shows you this request before installation is allowed.

Blimey- thanks for all of the responses.

Regarding gmail integration, I agree that it's pretty great already, but a few simple things are missing like the ability to turn on/off my 'out of office'. Also would be good if it changed signature depending on what email address I'm using, and some kind of google doc support would be ace (as we use this a lot at work).

In summary though sounds like it's much of a muchness. Will see what Voda try and sell me, and go from there.

Statistically, as a virus writer you'd reach more handsets targeting Symbian than Apple. Apple don't have the dominant market share, not by a long way (it just feels like it).

[img] [/img]
http://www.slashgear.com/comscore-android-and-ios-near-70-percent-of-us-smartphone-market-share-30175188/

just read this...not that any of this lot bothers me really.

http://www.cfoworld.com/technology/24790/iphone-security-flaw-shows-potential-app-store-malware

Graham - that's just the US, nicely cherry-picked.

I'd hazard that the vast majority of Android users couldn't be arsed in the slightest in "customising" and "configuring" their phone.

My 11 yo daughter has an Android phone

Your inability to police your 11yo daughter's technology usage is not a failure of the OS. If you give her free reign of the market and (presumably by extension) the Internet then you've got more pressing issues than malware.

Let me put it another way. I've had a mobile phone for ten years. I've had Siemens, Nokia, Samsung, HTC, RIM handsets running Symbian, Android, Windows Mobile, Blackberry, and proprietary systems. I'd be hard pressed to name a friend or family member who doesn't have a mobile phone. Additionally, I'm the go-to tech generally when anyone I've ever met ever has a problem with something with a plug on the end. And yet, I've never, ever come across a malware infection on a mobile device first-hand, or known anyone who's had one.

Conclusion; so long as you don't need protecting from yourself, it's a non-issue trotted out by iPhone users whenever they need to justify their purchase (ie, constantly).

I'd hazard that the vast majority of Android users couldn't be arsed in the slightest in "customising" and "configuring" their phone.

I'd hazard that the vast majority of smartphone users don't use their handsets to anything like their full potential, irrespective of platform.

Nontheless, many people [i]do [/i]like to customise their phones. [url= http://androidforums.com/htc-desire/84650-show-us-your-desire-homescreens-86.html ]This thread[/url] from the forum for my old handset, the Desire, springs to mind as an example. 86 pages worth (and counting, and this is just one handset) of people customising their phone and showing off the results. It's worth a look, some are pretty darn impressive.

If you don't mind, I really won't be looking at a bunch of IT geeks' efforts at customising their handsets. Because that forum will be more or less full of them., just as these threads get full of them too. My point is also aimed at iPhone users. Again the vast majority wouldn't bother their arses customising them even if they could.

I'm sure I don't use my phone to anywhere near its potential. I can't be bothered. I'm too busy putting shit together during the day to be worrying about the customisability of my wireless communications device. I want something that works and that I don't have to arse about with endlessly...like I did with my brief efforts with a Nokia N something or other (without doubt, the phone that most annoyed me. Ever.) and a Samsung fillet-o-shit. I'm sure a Desire S or a Samsung copy-the-market-leader would also work just fine.

I do think that you guys lose sight of the fact that most people don't care. Their choices will come down to "How much do I have to pay up front, monthly, etc and do I like the look of it".

[b]Advantages of Android:[/b]

- Not restricted to vetted Apps that meet the vagaries of Apple's approval team
- Apps can run in the background so you can log your cycle whilst emailing / texting etc.

[b]Advantages of iPhone[/b]

- All Apps are vetted, so should "just work"
- Apps don't run in the backgrounds so don't slow the device down.

[b]Disadvantages of Android[/b]

- Perceived security risk
- Its not as "cool" as an iPhone,

[b]Disadvantages of iPhone[/b]

- No perceived security risk - so you are 100% reliant on Apple getting it right!
- Cost

Yes, most of those seem to contradict each other.

From a user perspective though, iPhone is very slick/clean. However I personally find the navigation not as intuitive at Android. My colleague who started out on iPhone thought the opposite until his second day using an Android when he suddenly clicked and now prefers the nav on Android.

Got an iPhone 3g 8gb, been alright but slow as flink now.
From playing about on friends phones was sold on a galaxy S2, the price on O2 (tied in as have broadband with them) was £100 on my contract a couple of weeks ago, went to order this week and found it's gone up to £150, what?! Price of ALL hardware going up at the mo? Guessing they are made in Thailand. 🙁

Apps can run in the background so you can log your cycle whilst emailing / texting etc.

I just went back to an iPhone after about 18 months with a Galaxy S, i'm happy to be away from android, things that sucked (won't be the case with all android handsets i'm sure but enough to put me off another one) were terrible GPS performance which was a known issue with galaxy S. Slow apps, not written as well as equivalent iPhone apps. When switching to wifi at home, internet would often be really slow, slower than 3G. Lack of timely updates and likelihood of future updates. I'm sure there are more.

Things I miss, pull down for switching wifi on off. I liked the calendar widget but the new pull down in iOS5 has upcoming entries, it would be nice to be able to see them on the home screen though.

edit: lastly size, the galaxy S was about the right size, the top android handsets are just too big now and I really like the smaller size of the iphone.

A happy Android user here with absolutely no intention of customizing it, ever.

After having all 4 iPhones since they came out I decided to sell my iPhone 4, 4 weeks before the 4S was announced and I thought I'd give android a try as I'd been itching to have a go for a good while.

Initially I was really impressed with it. The difficulties I was having I initially put down to me not being used to using it. However, after 4 weeks I really disliked it and it felt like such a relief to go back to the iPhone os. Biggest problems for me was I found typing awful on it to the point I couldn't be bothered to reply to text messages as it was so much hassle. The bottom row of the keyboard was just too close together and I ended up putting full stops instead of spaces, pressing the remove keyboard button and cancelling out of messages.

Other problem for me was internet browsing was just nowhere near as slick as the iPhone. Again, the result was me spending far more time on my laptop and getting frustrated with the phone.

I also found the battery to be awful but I suppose thats more down to the HTC than the OS?!

Back with the iPhone i love it more than i ever did before, more down to how thankful i am to not be using android software again. I know loads of people love it but it's definitely not for me and will stick with what works for me in future.

Was nice to scratch the android itch though...

If you don't mind, I really won't be looking

I don't mind at all. Choice is good.

I do think that you guys lose sight of the fact that most people don't care.

I made much that point right at the start of this thread. To wit,

There's little between them functionality wise, on the whole. It really boils down to taste

Glad you agree then.

(-:

[b]rs[/b]
You can do this on iPhone too.

You can select, uh, four apps I think, to be background-able. They're the ones that sit permanently at the bottom of the screen. If memory serves, it was one of the features of iOS4 (could be wrong though).

Android memory-manages properly and will terminate background apps "intelligently," this slowing down you refer to is, well, fictional (it didn't even do that on my Samsung Galaxy, and that was crap).

You can select, uh, four apps I think, to be background-able.

You sure about that?

You sure about that?

Not even remotely. That was merely my understanding of how it worked. Does it not?

Graham - that's just the US, nicely cherry-picked.

Not at all. Just the first result I found searching for "iOS Android market share". Is Symbian better represented on the global marketshare?

Oh sorry, I either picked a bad example or Apple are now allowing background Apps without letting me know!

Yeah since iOS 4 came out (June 2010).

That was merely my understanding of how it worked. Does it not?

Nah the stuff at the bottom is just permanent shortcuts to apps.
Any app can implement multitasking - it's up to the developer,

Found figures for the Global Marketshare by the way Cougar:

"Google Android captured 48% of the smartphone market in Q2 of 2011... Apple also fared well, with iOS overtaking Nokia’s Symbian platform to rise from third to second place. A total of 20.3 million iPhones were shipped and Apple raked in a market share of 19%. Apple also became the world’s leading individual smartphone vendor, stripping Nokia of its long-held leadership position."
-- http://mashable.com/2011/08/02/android-market-share/

You can't properly run apps in the background on IoS, only very limited things (sending location & finishing downloads for 10 mins). According to geeky husband.

deadlydarcy, I totally agree with you. I can't be bothered to massively customise my phone and I'm relatively technical. Am sure most other people can't be bothered either.

You can't properly run apps in the background on IoS, only very limited things (sending location & finishing downloads for 10 mins). According to geeky husband.

Yeah, "it's not real multi-taskin" is a common retort from the Android crew*.
I can run multiple GPS trackers, while listening to music and browsing Singletrack. I'm unsure why this isn't "real" multi-tasking.

.

* (Especially if you point out that iOS multi-tasking isn't the huge battery drain that Android is). 😉

Graham, do you work for Apple? You certainly spend a very large amount of your time defending/bigging them up.....

Graham, do you work for Apple? You certainly spend a very large amount of your time defending/bigging them up.....

Nope. I've said many times that I don't even particularly like many Apple products. But I do like me iPhone and I defend it when folk talk rubbish about it.

No different from you popping up on a thread if someone said your favourite bike/coffee/wine/car whatever was crap, catches fire in 102% of use cases and also gives people "teh bad AIDS".

Wait a bit and CountZero will be along with a halfpage of block text pro-Apple rhetoric. Now [i]there[/i] is a fanboi. 😀

Graham, do you work for Apple? You certainly spend a very large amount of your time defending/bigging them up.....

I like how Gee 2dapoweruv Ess can back his posts up with knowledge and facts, unlike some who are obsessed with such hatred that they go into involuntary Tourette's over a product. But you wouldn't know anything about that flashy.

Was thinking the same thing.
How many shares in Apple do you own Graham?
😉

NOOO, I am not from the "android crew". Quite the opposite. (I am from the knowing WTF I am talking about crew) But you can send your location so GPS will work. And you can listen to music. But for example, your e-mail does not and cannot run in the background. Which is annoying.

Here explains it.
http://www.macworld.com/article/150488/2010/04/iphone4_features.html

It's probably not entirely a bad thing. I am just saying though, YOU CAN'T PROPERLY RUN IOS APPS IN THE BACKGROUND. Which I almost but not entirely don't care about. I love my iPhone that much.

But for example, your e-mail does not and cannot run in the background. Which is annoying.

Eh? In what way? 😕

I get a "ping" when a new email arrives and a notification appears on screen (regardless of what app I'm in). I can double-tap the Home button and switch back to my Email app or hit the notification and go directly to the message.

[img] [/img]

I recently chenged to an Orange branded Android phone - the San Fransisco. Dead cheap and very excellent.

But I won't make any comparison. That would be like comparing apples and oranges...

Graham, that must be via push notifications though rather than it actually running in the background and downloading your mail. Which means the e-mail provider has to have a server to send the notification to your phone. But you have made me realise that I can probably set my gmail up to do this (do you have gmail, as it doesn't do this for me out of the box? See I told you I couldn't be bothered to customise my phone)

Awesome, I now have e-mail notifications working! Nice. Basically no need for "proper" background apps I don't reckon.

Wait a bit and CountZero will be along with a halfpage of block text pro-Apple rhetoric. Now there is a fanboi.