Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Four months with Android (An iOS user's exploration)

dinnerwithandroid.tumblr.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

81–90 of 122 posts

Re: Four months with Android (An iOS user's exploration)

#81

Post by nhangen »

ajross wrote: post #4

FTA: Fans of Android, let’s not tiptoe around this: Android exists because it is a rip off of iOS. Sure, it has grown into its own in a lot of ways, but its roots are decidedly placed at the introduction of iOS in 2007 While true, I continue to find it infuriating the extent to which people credit Apple with inventing things it didn't. The iPhone was not the first touch-only buttonless interface out there (depending…

I don't think the OP meant copying was bad. I got the impression he/she is OK with it as long as it's done right.

Re: Four months with Android (An iOS user's exploration)

#82

Post by coin »

jsz0 wrote: post #69

I mostly agree with his conclusions. Android is a very manic experience. Half a dozen icons I don't understand in the notification bar, beeps and bloops that make no sense to me, settings hidden under layers of menus, totally inconsistent UIs between apps including Google's first party apps, micro-management required for some of the most basic things (like getting acceptable battery life) and probably worst of all ad…

I couldn't agree more with this. On my Droid X battery life is horrible if the GPS receiver is enabled. The GPS receiver is supposed to turn on/off only when an app requests the phone's location. This works 95% of the time. The other 5% the GPS never shuts off and drains the battery completely. I asked other Android users how they deal with this, turns out they shut the GPS receiver off completely. They then manually turn it on before opening Google Maps.

Also, there is no easy way disable all sounds. I thought I disabled sounds using the master volume. But it still says "Droid!" on power-up and beeps on power-off. After trolling the forums, the "Droid!" sound is controlled the by the "SD card read" settings. What's up with that?

When browsing, clicking on a PDF link downloads the PDF. I then have to go to the download notification and manually open it. I just want to view it.

I could go on and on. The whole Android experience is full of frustrations.

Re: Four months with Android (An iOS user's exploration)

#83

Post by egypturnash »

A pretty thoughtful look.

Me, I basically got my Nexus One because I have no credit, and did not want to pay AT&T's special iPhone rates PLUS give them a $500 deposit for a few years.

I think the dude was using the wrong widgets. I've got my calendar and the phase of the moon on my Android's home screen, I've got quick access to basic music controls as well.

Stuff I miss from Android when I'm using my iPad: - zooming the web page does not reflow, I am annoyed by this every time I have to choose between squinting at tiny text, or scrolling a tiny window around readably-large text. - Share menu. It feels so primitive for me to be limited to whatever options a program's written; if I want e-mail sharing that should be provided by the e-mail client for everyone, once, instead of by a random handful of developers who think "share this via email" is a good idea. - I really hate that iTunes insists on backing up all my apps to my computer, what a waste of space. They're on my device and Apple's servers. - Oh yeah and the whole "plug your device into your computer to sync" thing is so 1994. Apple is just starting to get there.

Re: Four months with Android (An iOS user's exploration)

#84

Post by ajross »

dlss wrote: post #48
ajross wrote: post #4

FTA: Fans of Android, let’s not tiptoe around this: Android exists because it is a rip off of iOS. Sure, it has grown into its own in a lot of ways, but its roots are decidedly placed at the introduction of iOS in 2007 While true, I continue to find it infuriating the extent to which people credit Apple with inventing things it didn't. The iPhone was not the first touch-only buttonless interface out there (depending…

Android inc was founded by Andy Rubin in 2003, bought by google in 2005, and unveiled its first phone in 2007. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Android_(operating_system) Not being an insider, it might be true that no one at Android inc was talking about touch screens before 2007. But probably not. Ultimately, we can't observe what we really want to talk about here -- what would have happened without iOS. The same compas…

The techthirst link is great. I'll remember that one for these sorts of pointless flames. And just to be clear: Apple "copying" all that stuff is a good thing, because it improves the platform.

Re: Four months with Android (An iOS user's exploration)

#85

Post by morsch »

dminor wrote: post #80
Anechoic wrote: post #65

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> How can you do a comparison of iOS / Android and not even mention Google Maps & Navigation? It's funny that I just bought a touchscreen phone with an UX that most will consider to be unquestionably worse than both iOS and Android - namely the Nokia E6 with Symbian Anna - for the same reason that a lot of folks here are touting Android: Ovi Maps and navigation. Or more specifically, Ovi Maps and navigation with offe…

http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2011/07/download-map-area-add...

I've used an inexpensive Nokia smartphone for a year or two. I've switched to an inexpensive Android phone, and I don't regret it. But for maps and navigation, Nokia wins hands down. It's great you can precache maps in GMaps now, but fast, offline vector maps are a totally different beast. Particularly useful for abroad, no roaming charges and precaching is not always an option. Also, it's just cool to run around with a map of half the world in your pocket.

Re: Four months with Android (An iOS user's exploration)

#86

Post by 2muchcoffeeman »

unoti wrote: post #44

I develop apps for both iPhone and Android. I stopped carrying my iPhone for personal use, and use my Droid Bionic full time. Here are the 3 reasons why. 1. Google Maps, and navigation. If you're actually driving places, google maps is an amazing godsend. If you're taking mass transit, it blows the doors off what's on the iPhone. Ever get on a bus with your iphone, and have it vibrate in your pants when the next bus…

I got a Nexus S for the same reason the author did. To address your points.

1. Good luck using those features with rubbish GPS hardware. I've tried testing my Nexus S navigation on public transport and mostly it looks for GPS signals. My iPhone 4 picks up a signal fine. I agree they would be awesome features. But Android has just added 'research GPS hardware' to the list of things you need to do to get an Android handset.

2. I can't get over the fact that the forward button actually goes backwards in your list and the back button actually goes forwards. But the conversation feature is good. iOS 5 has better mail.

3. It is pretty handy. iOS 5 still does not tell you that there are pending alerts. You get the first notification and then that's it. You have to check or swipe through screen to look for those little red circles.

Re: Four months with Android (An iOS user's exploration)

#87

Post by [deleted] »

ajross wrote: post #61
jessedhillon wrote: post #53

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It was pointed out by you, and it was irrelevant. Nobody claimed it was an Apple invention, and if you want to go down this slippery slope let's attribute everything to the first guy who put pixels on a screen. I'm certain everything else in the history of application development and user interfaces derives from that as a plainly obvious application.

Then you agree with me that Apple didn't invent the UI or form factor, and merely aggregated/imitated/improved on the work of others. Which is exactly the same thing Google did with Android. So... what are we arguing about?

[deleted]

Re: Four months with Android (An iOS user's exploration)

#88

Post by aurynn »

Geee wrote: post #59
unoti wrote: post #44

I develop apps for both iPhone and Android. I stopped carrying my iPhone for personal use, and use my Droid Bionic full time. Here are the 3 reasons why. 1. Google Maps, and navigation. If you're actually driving places, google maps is an amazing godsend. If you're taking mass transit, it blows the doors off what's on the iPhone. Ever get on a bus with your iphone, and have it vibrate in your pants when the next bus…

That's why I'm getting the N9. Better 'feel' and UX than iOS, more open than Android. Best navigation and integrated messaging with GTalk, Skype etc. Real-time event view to everything wins widgets hands-down. No need to jump loops to do simple things, no need to open apps to check updates etc. Personally I can live with fewer apps if everyday tasks are handled so well.

This is why I bought the N9. It's damn slick, in every one of these facets.

Though, syncing is still a major pain point.

Re: Four months with Android (An iOS user's exploration)

#89

Post by morsch »

stupandaus wrote: post #3

Your question of who the Android is meant for has a very simple answer. It's designed for people who want a smartphone, but aren't willing or capable of spending enough for an iPhone. Also Apple haters as noted.

I guess the parent is a flamebait, but I was going to make a similar point: I got a used entry-level Android smartphone (ZTE Blade) for 100 EUR. Installing a custom Android 2.3.5 ROM on it was easy. A used iPhone 3GS fetches 2 to 3 times the price over here, despite the much inferior screen.

I could spend more, but I would constantly worry about losing or breaking it or having it stolen. And when I relax my spending criteria a bit, chances are for 200 to 300 EUR an Android phone would still be a much better value than a used/outdated iPhone.

Re: Four months with Android (An iOS user's exploration)

#90

Post by EtienneJohnred »

51 points in just 2 hours, but it’s currently off the first page. The Android-lovin’ douches are really feeling threatened by this one and doing everything they can to try and bury it via downvotes.

But you can’t downvote reality. (Although you can downvote individual comments... you know the routine... goin’ dowwwwnnn!)

Post reply on HN