Smartphone Thunderdome (Samsung vs. Apple vs. Google etc.)

[Chill Cosby]

Originally Posted by FlameOn

I never called Apple fanboys ignorant or arrogant nor really called anyone a fanboys at all... If you actually go back and read it, I just said that certain types of behaviour were ignorant and arrogant because of the actions of the marketing dept. I criticized the action of a marketing dept and the goals thereof and not the persons/base itself and you chose to read it a certain way... You also have to admit a lot of that base still buys into that hype without actually looking.

100%
I'm not even disagreeing with the assertion that Apple fanboys are ignorant and arrogant (even if you didn't explicitly say it). I was just saying it wasn't necessarily civil, I did like your post though (so I apologise my image came off the wrong way, not my intention!)

I totally agree with the idea that Apple perpetuates this superiority garbage that a significant number of their fanbase falls into.

[ken0042]

Originally Posted by ExiledFlamesFan

Question for iphone loyalists:

At what cost difference would you consider buying a android over an iphone? If a similar android was $300 dollars less? $500 less? Or are you that loyal to apple that you'd buy an iphone over a similar android no matter the cost?

One thing apple continues to do well is loyalty. I don't get it. Maybe I'm just a disloyal guy.

I gave the Galaxy S5 a serious look when I wanted to upgrade. The single biggest thing it had going for it was the screen size, which Apple has now taken away. The single biggest reasons I chose another iPhone over an S5 were:

- Find my iPhone. With my son's Nexus 4 we have found the Android Device Manager to be extremely unreliable for the purposes of real time tracking. As mentioned in another thread, the first time he was taking Transit home it showed him getting off the train at the wrong stop, and then getting onto a random bus. Shortly after it sowed him at his friend's house that he had been hanging out with.

- Apple store for an unlocked phone. Yes, there are ways to get an unlocked S5; all of them with certain levels of uncertainty. If I buy it from Bell and ask them to unlock- how can I be sure it is fully unlocked and not just a Canada unlock? And if I have a problem and have switched providers, then what? With iPhone I can just walk into any Apple store and walk out with another phone.

- Malware. We are staring to see instances of malware on Android phones at work. Not many, but enough to show that iPhone is not as much of a target.

Minor differences with major peace of mind.

[Super Nintendo Chalmers]

Originally Posted by ken0042

- Apple store for an unlocked phone. Yes, there are ways to get an unlocked S5; all of them with certain levels of uncertainty. If I buy it from Bell and ask them to unlock- how can I be sure it is fully unlocked and not just a Canada unlock?

Unlocked is unlocked. There is no lock by country. That goes for all phones, Android or iOS.

Originally Posted by ken0042

And if I have a problem and have switched providers, then what? With iPhone I can just walk into any Apple store and walk out with another phone.

Warranty is always by make, not carrier. Apple does make things easier with brick and mortar stores.

Originally Posted by ken0042

- Malware. We are staring to see instances of malware on Android phones at work. Not many, but enough to show that iPhone is not as much of a target.

Valid point. My opinion is that hacking a phone is nickel and dime. The big score is stealing info straight from a bank, store, etc. Still sucks if it happens to you, though.

[FlameOn]

Originally Posted by ken0042

- Find my iPhone. With my son's Nexus 4 we have found the Android Device Manager to be extremely unreliable for the purposes of real time tracking. As mentioned in another thread, the first time he was taking Transit home it showed him getting off the train at the wrong stop, and then getting onto a random bus. Shortly after it sowed him at his friend's house that he had been hanging out with.

I think you mentioned this but it was with Wind right? This may be a coverage thing. I have the same issue with Wind on my Nexus 5 and it wouldn't work when I tried share my location with someone. It would show me hopping around before and I thought it may be because of coverage issues on the upstream. Didn't do that with Bell when I was with them.

[pylon]

Originally Posted by ExiledFlamesFan

Question for iphone loyalists:

At what cost difference would you consider buying a android over an iphone? If a similar android was $300 dollars less? $500 less? Or are you that loyal to apple that you'd buy an iphone over a similar android no matter the cost?

One thing apple continues to do well is loyalty. I don't get it. Maybe I'm just a disloyal guy.

One of the huge things with Apple loyalty for me, is re-sale.

If you time your purchases and sales right, keep it well protected and spec your stuff out right when you buy it, Apple is the absolute cheapest stuff to buy over the long term. I don't think I have actually paid anything for an iPhone. What I have recouped selling my previous one, has always covered approximately double the cost of upgrading.

A benefit of the flaw with Apple having such a limited product line, is part of the appeal on resale. The market is highly captive, since an iPhone is an iPhone. So it boils down to who takes care of their stuff the best. All my phones and tablets are kept in cases with screen protectors, and a strip it all off when I sell it. And you can advertise it 10/10. I see the condition some peoples phones are in, after a couple months, and it is mind boggling how bad they beat them up.

And the regular model at launch/S-model at refresh keeps the general shape and design of the device current for 2-3 years.

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by pylon

One of the huge things with Apple loyalty for me, is re-sale.

If you time your purchases and sales right, keep it well protected and spec your stuff out right when you buy it, Apple is the absolute cheapest stuff to buy over the long term. I don't think I have actually paid anything for an iPhone. What I have recouped selling my previous one, has always covered approximately double the cost of upgrading.

A benefit of the flaw with Apple having such a limited product line, is part of the appeal on resale. The market is highly captive, since an iPhone is an iPhone. So it boils down to who takes care of their stuff the best. All my phones and tablets are kept in cases with screen protectors, and a strip it all off when I sell it. And you can advertise it 10/10. I see the condition some peoples phones are in, after a couple months, and it is mind boggling how bad they beat them up.

And the regular model at launch/S-model at refresh keeps the general shape and design of the device current for 2-3 years.

Is this anything but anecdotal? Have you ever tried to resell Galaxy s5 or Galaxy Note to compare it to?

[pylon]

Originally Posted by MrMastodonFarm

Is this anything but anecdotal? Have you ever tried to resell Galaxy s5 or Galaxy Note to compare it to?

Yeah pretty much anecdotal. I did sell a Lumia Phone and a Google Nexus tablet, and took a bit of a bath on both.

But there is a benefit. With an Android device, you have a ton of competing devices. If someone is tied to iOS, and plan to stay there, the market is incredibly narrow. There is pretty much one brand to choose from. It is pretty much going to boil down to storage size, version and condition of the device. As long as you have a strong combo of the three, you will always have a buyer.

Apples monopoly on the iSheep, helps if you have the right device. I find the sweet spot with the phones and iPads is always the middle storage version. As far as MacBooks go, it is mind boggling what someone will pay for a used one. I have sold MacBooks for 2/3 of what I have paid for them, 2 years after I bought them. PC laptops, I used to give away after a couple years. Again, I always spec my MacBooks out, to what the base one will likely be in 2 years. And it usually only costs a couple hundred bucks to do it up front. I think that is one of the big benefits to apple usually staying a bit behind on the performance specs on their new stuff. Your used stuff, looks great in a couple years as long as you have hot-rodded it a bit.

[DownInFlames]

Originally Posted by MrMastodonFarm

Is this anything but anecdotal? Have you ever tried to resell Galaxy s5 or Galaxy Note to compare it to?

It's common knowledge that Samsung phones depreciate faster, mostly because they have a shorter release cycle.

[MrMastodonFarm]

Thanks, I actually had no clue about that.

pylon re: Macbooks.

Yeah, those tends to be in a class of their own. I might be showing my own ignorance here again, but I too think Macs are top of the class, easily. I think you still pay the Apple premium but when it comes to them, I think it's worth it. I sold a 3+ year old Macbook last year and couldn't believe the price I ended up selling it for, even though I knew the resell was good on it.

[RedMileDJ]

I had the chance to get my hands on the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus today.

The iPhone 6 is a great size. Just about the size of the Nexus 5, but obviously slimmer. Much slimmer. Had a good feel. I could reach all icons with one hands (thumb). Love the curved glass on it.

The iPhone 6 Plus is BIG. Bigger than my OnePlus One. Longer. Had to use two hands, for reaching the upper left corner. Similar to my OnePlus One. But still, very slim.

Both are beautiful phones.

[ken0042]

Originally Posted by FlameOn

I think you mentioned this but it was with Wind right? This may be a coverage thing. I have the same issue with Wind on my Nexus 5 and it wouldn't work when I tried share my location with someone. It would show me hopping around before and I thought it may be because of coverage issues on the upstream. Didn't do that with Bell when I was with them.

It's possible, but I have never had an issue with my sister in law with her iPhone and "find my friends." I also haven't had any issues since using Life 360 with my son. The reason I'm not fond of Life 360 is that it seems to consume a fair amount of battery.

One of the best quotes I have heard to compare iOS to Android is this. (And of course the numbers are not accurate)
With Android devices, you can do 100% of what you want, and it will work 50% of the time. With iOS you can only do 50% of what you want, but it will work 100% of the time.

[Thor]

Originally Posted by ken0042

One of the best quotes I have heard to compare iOS to Android is this. (And of course the numbers are not accurate)
With Android devices, you can do 100% of what you want, and it will work 50% of the time. With iOS you can only do 50% of what you want, but it will work 100% of the time.

Am I the only android user who has rarely ever encountered something not working on my phone? I mean I get its an exaggeration in the joke, but I have a hard time remembering a time where anything didn't work on one of my android phones, maybe a crappy cheap app, but the phones themselves always been great.

I mean of course one brand, a brand so protective of everything involved in the manufacture of their phone will have slightly better results in failure rates, but we're talking according to this research 2.3% with Iphone compared to up to 3.7% with other android phones.

Of course the drop rate breakage is quite high with Iphone, no shock there.

http://www.squaretrade.com/cell-phon...n-study-nov-10

[terminator]

Originally Posted by Handsome B. Wonderful

Why would you need to turn on the dishwasher from halfway around the globe? How exactly would you get the detergent in to it? This is not a revolution, this is inanity.

heh, I was not sure if this was a serious answer but just thought I'dd add.

Most dishwashers have reservoirs for upto 30 loads now so this is quite possible, the question is how do you get the dishes in it?

[ExiledFlamesFan]

Originally Posted by Thor

Am I the only android user who has rarely ever encountered something not working on my phone? I mean I get its an exaggeration in the joke, but I have a hard time remembering a time where anything didn't work on one of my android phones, maybe a crappy cheap app, but the phones themselves always been great.

I mean of course one brand, a brand so protective of everything involved in the manufacture of their phone will have slightly better results in failure rates, but we're talking according to this research 2.3% with Iphone compared to up to 3.7% with other android phones.

Of course the drop rate breakage is quite high with Iphone, no shock there.

http://www.squaretrade.com/cell-phon...n-study-nov-10

I've never heard that quote in my life and from my personal experience I've had more problems with apple products failing (iphone 4, 2 ipod nanos) than androids. Then again I've only had my nexus 5 for 8 mos.

[psicodude]

Full disclosure: I prefer Android and have never owned an iPhone. I do love my iPad though.

I think the only tangible difference at this point is the quality of the two app stores. Specifically, it appears that Apple does a better job of scrutinizing apps...in general. The reason there is Malware in the Android store is because Google seems to take a "quantity over quality" approach to their app store and let a lot more crap in the front door. Apple isn't perfect, but is doing a better job right now.

Take a look at the BBM launch on Android. There were literally 30 different apps with BBM or BlackBerry Messenger in the title...29 of them being completely fake and probably malware ridden. Yes, it got cleaned up eventually, but it was like that for 4 or 5 days easily. I don't think Apple would have let this happen.

[ken0042]

Originally Posted by Thor

Am I the only android user who has rarely ever encountered something not working on my phone?

Keep in mind most of here on CP are a little more tech savvy than the average person. So a lot of what we might consider general configuration is something an average person might consider to be a "break-fix."

Anecdotally speaking, I would say in my organization we have about a 60-35-5% split between Android, iPhone, and Blackberry respectively; and we see 3 times as many Android issues as we do iPhone. Most of the time these are just software concerns that we address; so it isn't that there is anything wrong with the hardware.

[pylon]

Admittedly, it is stuff like this, that makes me question being an Apple customer more than anything. I get why people mock Apple loyalists as iSheep. Great, it is a bloody phone with a bigger screen. These people are jumping for joy, like World War III had just ended. Or faster than light trail had just been announced. World peace had finally been achieved.

Lame, shallow people. Getting so worked up over a hunk of frikkin metal and plastic, only marginally better than their last hunk of metal and plastic. What a bunch of complete losers. Act like a bloody grown-up.

Anyone have a One-Plus One invite?

http://business.financialpost.com/20..._lsa=deb0-699b

[OldDutch]

Originally Posted by terminator

heh, I was not sure if this was a serious answer but just thought I'dd add.

Most dishwashers have reservoirs for upto 30 loads now so this is quite possible, the question is how do you get the dishes in it?

I think this is missing his point. There is a lot of home automation products out there but very few are inter operable. You have a Nest that works with some things, Drop Cam that works with some things, Honeywell that works with some things. Along comes HomeKit, and everyone will jump on board with that. Apple is going to standardize this industry just like they did with the iPod.

Manufacturers will get behind HomeKit with support, because they know it is easy for users to understand and set up. That is what Apple is, a company that does not do everything first, but they release technology in due time when it is polished.

My question is how Google has not seen this coming. They bought Nest specifically for the same reason as HomeKit. I have a Nest, and it is awesome, but it integrates with practically nothing of value today. Google should have been out there pushing this hard on all the manufacturers, and had a large lead. Now Apple is in the game, and you know they will get automatic support.

It is one of the things I never get about Google. For all the great things they do, they don't seem to take the large picture approach to things. They throw out great technologies and let others implement it. Which is good, but Apple controlling things like HomeKit, you will see the amazing potential that your iPhone can now work with everything in your home in short order. Meanwhile, Google's lack of oversight will probably result in fragmented Home Automation systems that don't work smoothly together.

This really speaks to the two ideologies of Apple and Google. One takes tight centralized architecture control, and the other doesn't. I think being loose on control is good to get your product on as many devices as possible. However, we are now starting to see where the Apple ideology is starting to pay off. Simple and easy implementation of this very exciting new market.

Oh and to answer the question on the dishwasher. Have you ever been at work and realized you forgot to turn it on? You have to cook supper and realize you have no clean dishes? I have. One button push, dishwasher on. Saved you a massive headache especially those with kids.

The best part, this small and sometimes useful feature will come with every dishwasher very soon. For free. All you will need is an iPhone.

[terminator]

Though this a good a place as any to ask.

My wife got a S4 from Fido for signing a contract,however I don't need it since she'll be getting my 5S. What is a reasonable price to sell an S4 at?

Thanks

[terminator]

Originally Posted by pylon

Admittedly, it is stuff like this, that makes me question being an Apple customer more than anything. I get why people mock Apple loyalists as iSheep. Great, it is a bloody phone with a bigger screen. These people are jumping for joy, like World War III had just ended. Or faster than light trail had just been announced. World peace had finally been achieved.

Lame, shallow people. Getting so worked up over a hunk of frikkin metal and plastic, only marginally better than their last hunk of metal and plastic. What a bunch of complete losers. Act like a bloody grown-up.

Anyone have a One-Plus One invite?

http://business.financialpost.com/20..._lsa=deb0-699b

On the other hand why are you bothered by what they do?