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Ask HN: What do you do on an Android phone that cannot be done on an iPhone?

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Re: Ask HN: What do you do on an Android phone that cannot be done on an iPhone?

#191

Post by duxup »

obarthelemy wrote: post #91

- Widgets on the actual home screen, no swiping required. Every app has widgets (except Skype !), so you can have whichever info you need most right there - true browser, true addons. Unlike iOS, Android doesn't limit 3rd-party browsers to reskins of the OS' Web engine, but allows desktop-like from-the-ground-up browsers. You can get Firefow and put uBlock Origin and Privacy Badger on it. - sideloading w/o rooting. E…

If you need really good pics the pixel 3a will do it for $400 (I got mine with a $100 rebate so $300).

Re: Ask HN: What do you do on an Android phone that cannot be done on an iPhone?

#192

Post by ajford »

DEADBEEFC0FFEE wrote: post #119
obarthelemy wrote: post #104

Earlier quoted context omitted.

On the flip side, mu iBrother made the transisiton to Android about a year ago. His major pain points were: - no iMessage. It's not particularly good or different compared to whatsapp, Skype, Messenger... but it's not available on Android and people are used to it. - in case of an issue, the solution is brand+model-specific. For some reasons he wanted a Notifications widgets, you get that differently for a Samsung or…

I think the switching cost is the same which ever way. I own a Pixel, and have an iPhone for work. I cannot be bothered to invest any time in learning IOS beyond the basics and generally don't enjoy it. I never really have confidence that my intuitions will be right. Simple things like pressing the big button will exit the app, makes me unproductive. I'm sure if it were my only phone I would be more proficient.

I have this same issue on a work-provided macbook pro. They want to standardize on laptops for the dev team, but I spent months just getting up to speed on using the damn thing, and I still don't feel comfortable on it. And when my personal laptop and desktop and file server are all linux, the switch is annoying and makes me less productive on both systems (take a bit to switch from "OSX mode" back to normal after getting home).

Re: Ask HN: What do you do on an Android phone that cannot be done on an iPhone?

#193

Post by gmiller123456 »

Develop apps for it in a nice environment on a good PC, without fear of the app not being good enough for the overlords.

I already have an expensive overspeced PC taking up a lot of room, there's not room for two even if I could get a comparable Mac at a descent price. I eventually did buy a MacBook to develop on, but since my work area was already laid out, I'd either have to reorganize everything, or put it in a crappy spot. And since even my main PC is quite expensive, it was either buy something that's just enough to get it done, or shell out more than I'd could afford, and for less value for the buck.

If I were getting paid to develop, that'd be another story, but I only develop phone apps for fun. So to develop iPhone apps, I'm stuck in a cramped position, on a relatively crappy computer that I paid out the nose for.

Re: Ask HN: What do you do on an Android phone that cannot be done on an iPhone?

#194

Post by gmiller123456 »

richardthered wrote: post #178

Consider the security aspect, as well. Apple is generally considered much more secure than Android phone. For example, see this Ted talk that describes how this security gap is a civil rights issue. Basically, Android phones are cheaper. But, they are much easier for the police to hack into. People with more money buy Apple, and it's much harder to hack them. https://www.ted.com/talks/christopher_soghoian_your_smartp…

There's only been one case like that, so it's not really useful to say you've never heard of one for the Android. And they eventually did hack in, and the firm that did it offers its services to anyone who can pay. During the whole incident there were quite a few police depts that said they had a lot of phones, both Android and iPhone, that they were hoping to get a ruling allowing them to force the manufacturers to make it easier to access.

Of course they managed to hack in before a ruling came down. If iPhone does become unhackable in the future, we'll get a ruling, and if it's in the government's favor it won't matter how secure your phone is.

Re: Ask HN: What do you do on an Android phone that cannot be done on an iPhone?

#195

Post by PopeDotNinja »

obarthelemy wrote: post #91

- Widgets on the actual home screen, no swiping required. Every app has widgets (except Skype !), so you can have whichever info you need most right there - true browser, true addons. Unlike iOS, Android doesn't limit 3rd-party browsers to reskins of the OS' Web engine, but allows desktop-like from-the-ground-up browsers. You can get Firefow and put uBlock Origin and Privacy Badger on it. - sideloading w/o rooting. E…

My new Android is an Google Pixel 3a. Cost me $399 ($430-ish with tax and/or shipping). It's quite nice, and likely the best phone under $500. The camera is quite nice, too. Battery life seems decent enough, it lasts me the day with moderate-to-heavy usage. With Cricket Wireless, it $50/month with unlimited data on AT&T's network. I'm pretty happy!

Re: Ask HN: What do you do on an Android phone that cannot be done on an iPhone?

#197

Post by dredmorbius »

lstamour wrote: post #102
dredmorbius wrote: post #85

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Flexibility, power, maturity, lack of distractions, data control, offline continuity, tool continuity, and 30+ years' experience and proficiency with the toolset. For starters. The apps often aren't all that, and search costs alone in trying to find one exceed time to complete of a typical task. With no additional overhead for bugs, incompleteness, ToU, privacy policy, or EoL / business continuity concerns.

Sooo... offline continuity is the only example I can think of that wouldn’t work with a remote SSH session. Everything else is a simple configuration setting away, whether it’s disabling apps and distractions or continuing where you left off (which is enhanced by SSH sessions, I would think...) And while iSH is one attempt at a local shell, and jail-breaking another, I’d say it’s only a matter of time before Apple su…

End-user audio and video experience for mpv on AWS is generally poor.

As is direct interaction with your own device via CLI environment.

Sometimes being there is the best way to be there.

Re: Ask HN: What do you do on an Android phone that cannot be done on an iPhone?

#198

Post by lstamour »

dredmorbius wrote: post #197
lstamour wrote: post #102

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Sooo... offline continuity is the only example I can think of that wouldn’t work with a remote SSH session. Everything else is a simple configuration setting away, whether it’s disabling apps and distractions or continuing where you left off (which is enhanced by SSH sessions, I would think...) And while iSH is one attempt at a local shell, and jail-breaking another, I’d say it’s only a matter of time before Apple su…

End-user audio and video experience for mpv on AWS is generally poor. As is direct interaction with your own device via CLI environment. Sometimes being there is the best way to be there.

Assuming you wouldn’t use a local SSH server hooked up to a TV instead... If you want mpv on a Mac, use https://iina.io/ and for iOS, libmpv is available and someone’s compiled it and wrapped it in a UI at https://apps.apple.com/ca/app/outplayer/id1449923287 or use Plex which is less integrated with the iOS Files app but is multi-platform: https://www.reddit.com/r/appletv/comments/9zd9p5/plex_beta_i...

You can interact with your device with multiple accessibility mechanisms including voice control, software buttons, voiceover, Siri shortcuts, Pythonista, and wirelessly or remotely, including Safari automation. If the only problem you have is you have to use the Files app with your fingers and a GUI instead of typing “ls” and using a non-touch-optimized UI, well... maybe a phone with a touchscreen isn’t the right device for you. Perhaps the original android concept with a keyboard (like BlackBerry) would be preferable?

Re: Ask HN: What do you do on an Android phone that cannot be done on an iPhone?

#199

Post by lstamour »

austhrow743 wrote: post #103
lstamour wrote: post #69

Earlier quoted context omitted.

iOS 13 shipping in a couple months (but available now in public beta) adds native swipe-to-type keyboard functionality. As a Microsoft app, the third-party Swype keyboard has been available for years. (Since iOS 7’s custom keyboards if I recall correctly...) The new iOS 13 and iPadOS 13 really brings iOS forward into the future, with downloads available in safari, native USB file management and more. You can even sav…

Swype is dead. Swiftkey is the one Microsoft bought.

Ah... good point. I merged the two mentally, thanks for the reminder :)

Re: Ask HN: What do you do on an Android phone that cannot be done on an iPhone?

#200

Post by lstamour »

taylorfinley wrote: post #118
lstamour wrote: post #69

Earlier quoted context omitted.

iOS 13 shipping in a couple months (but available now in public beta) adds native swipe-to-type keyboard functionality. As a Microsoft app, the third-party Swype keyboard has been available for years. (Since iOS 7’s custom keyboards if I recall correctly...) The new iOS 13 and iPadOS 13 really brings iOS forward into the future, with downloads available in safari, native USB file management and more. You can even sav…

"Native swipe-to-type keyboard functionality [...] downloads available in safari, native USB file management [...] You can even save video files now." As someone who hasn't used iOS in years I couldn't immediately tell if you were being sincere or 'damning with faint praise,' ironically pointing out how crippled iOS has been.

I will say that like copy and paste it has taken forever for iOS to catch up in key areas, but... this is not faint praise: they’re nailing it. Every implementation done to “catch up” to Android has been very well executed and superior in many respects. If there’s a downside to the Apple delayed-until-ready approach, it’s that apps need to be redesigned every two years to keep up with the pace of change. On Android the cycle of redesign is slower, maybe 3-5 years.
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