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Switching to Android

chadfowler.com

41–50 of 62 posts

Re: Switching to Android

#41
post #15
post #6

If I might go off on a tangent about one of his points I’ve been thinking a lot about this lately… “Speech recognition is actually useful. Big surprise here. I can tweet, search the web etc. with minor edits to my dictated text” For those who don’t know Android has a built in Voice Recognition API so any application can easily put use it for input while Apple has steadfastly refused to include this feature because “i…

My compliant about the voice features in Android isn't just accuracy but also speed. It's just too slow. I can type much faster than it can do speech-to-text. If it does mess something up going back to edit on Android is a bit clunky (nothing like the magnifying glass feature on iPhone) which slows me down even more. Apple has their Voice Control feature and bought Siri so I would imagine they're working on something…

Still useful. For example if you're driving so can't type safely.

Re: Switching to Android

#42

I prefer iPhone 4's form-factor, yet I use Nexus One as my primary phone because of its seamless integration of google voice, free turn-by-turn navigation system, and built-in support for tethering.

iPhone has tethering built in since iPhone OS 3. Works very well over there with no AT&T in sight.

Can you get the iPhone to act as a wifi hotspot though or is it via USB?

Re: Switching to Android

#43
post #41
post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My compliant about the voice features in Android isn't just accuracy but also speed. It's just too slow. I can type much faster than it can do speech-to-text. If it does mess something up going back to edit on Android is a bit clunky (nothing like the magnifying glass feature on iPhone) which slows me down even more. Apple has their Voice Control feature and bought Siri so I would imagine they're working on something…

Still useful. For example if you're driving so can't type safely.

You still have to navigate to the proper box and hit the speech-to-text icon. Personally I just avoid using my phone while driving. Too distracting. Upside is I now look forward to long red lights.

Re: Switching to Android

#44
post #33
post #31

"I’ve never met an on-screen keyboard I didn’t hate. Android is no exception." Swype. In beta now, but I got in on the beta, and man, does it make on-screen entry a lot better than any other on-screen keyboard I've used.

Very interesting... ( http://www.swypeinc.com/ ) Requires touch-typing ability, as you hide a large amount of the display as you swype, but easily stands to be much more efficient than repeated jabbing, but it doesn't prevent specific, accurate input. I quite hope this takes over, it's a great idea.

Hmm, that looks a bit like Shapewriter for the iPhone.

Re: Switching to Android

#45
post #42

Earlier quoted context omitted.

iPhone has tethering built in since iPhone OS 3. Works very well over there with no AT&T in sight.

Can you get the iPhone to act as a wifi hotspot though or is it via USB?

It is bluetooth or USB only. I guess wifi would eat too much battery

Re: Switching to Android

#46
post #42

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Can you get the iPhone to act as a wifi hotspot though or is it via USB?

It is bluetooth or USB only. I guess wifi would eat too much battery

Wifi is much more useful though, I can plug my Nexus One in so battery isn't an issue, then use any device that knows about wifi - Nintendo DS, etc etc

Re: Switching to Android

#47
post #12

Am I the only one that finds the Android UI (esp with HTC Sense) way better looking than the iPhone UI? I think this is beautiful: http://www.androidspin.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/modaco... The iPhone UI looks dated to me.

I can't get over the fact that every single iPhone app icon has the exact same cookie cutter shine to it. It's already starting to look dated--very trendy for 2005.

It's called a "UI standard" and Android apps would do well to acquire some.

Re: Switching to Android

#48
post #31

"I’ve never met an on-screen keyboard I didn’t hate. Android is no exception." Swype. In beta now, but I got in on the beta, and man, does it make on-screen entry a lot better than any other on-screen keyboard I've used.

its awesome. Samsung Galaxy S comes bundled with it, made the move from keyboard to touch screen bearable.

Re: Switching to Android

#50

I prefer iPhone 4's form-factor, yet I use Nexus One as my primary phone because of its seamless integration of google voice, free turn-by-turn navigation system, and built-in support for tethering.

iPhone has tethering built in since iPhone OS 3. Works very well over there with no AT&T in sight.

AT&T now has a tethering data plan for iPhone.
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