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iPhone 4S: 5 Concerns of an Android Switcher

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I didn’t think this day would come, especially without a re-designed iPhone 5, but I am finally thinking of getting an iPhone 4S.

After using iOS 5 on my iPad for a long time, I am interested in trying out an iPhone as my main mobile phone. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t see myself quitting Android cold turkey, but iOS and the iPhone have caught up in enough areas to convince me to give it a shot.

Update: Find Out How My Switch from Android to the iPhone 4S is Going

For quick background, I’ve been an Android user since the Motorola Droid launched two years ago, and have used almost all of Verizon’s Android lineup.

I have outlined why I wouldn’t switch to the iPhone on several occasions, but with Siri, accessories and other features, I’m tempted to join the iPhone side.

If i do get the iPhone 4S, I would pick Verizon as my carrier since I already have a plan and good coverage. I don’t need tons of space to store music and movies on my device, but I will probably aim for the 64GB Black iPhone 4S, in order to accommodate large apps and the hundreds of photos and HD movies I will take.

Concerns of Switching from Android to iPhone

Android to iPhone

Can a Google heavy user switch to iPhone?

While my concerns about switching between OS X and Windows have been put to rest with my increasing reliance on web apps to get work done, I still have a number of concerns about the ability to use the iPhone as my main phone. I’m exploring, but since many of you have probably dealt with these concerns, or have solved them, I am sharing what’s keeping my from going to the iPhone 4S.  As a little more background, I use two Gmail accounts on a daily basis, and cannot mix inboxes.

Gmail – Priority Inbox

I love Gmail Priority Inbox. Even though I currently sit at Inbox 242, that represents a fraction of the email that would be in my inbox without the magical sorting of Priority Inbox. On my iPad I use Exchange to link up to Gmail, but usually default back to the mobile website to get the Priority Inbox experience I know and love.

I could almost get by with the web client but I want notifications for email in the new Notification center, but not for all email — just the important email.

Am I missing an obvious solution to this issue?

Google Talk

I spend more time on Google Talk these days than I did on AIM back in college. I rely on the mobile app on Android to notify me of new messages and allow me to chat with co-workers.

Android still doesn’t let me switch between two Google Talk accounts, but it has performed admirably in keeping me in touch and notifying me of new messages.

I would prefer a Google solution, but if need be I will use a third party app.

Smaller Screen

I’m not alone in my concerns with the relatively small 3.5″ display of the iPhone 4S. After upgrading to the ThunderBolt, it will certainly be hard to transition back to a smaller screen again.

I’m hopeful that the Retina display and higher resolution screen will make up for this. If you’ve switched, how is life on the small screen?

Keyboard

I’ve tried using the iPhone keyboard before, but it can’t compare to SwiftKey X. I’m worried that I will be slower at typing on the iPhone 4S.

Even with the last iPhone keyboard trick I discovered, I am still slower at typing on the iPhone 4S.

Perhaps Siri will help me overcome this issue, but it’s a big bet to make. (Read: What is Siri?)

Here’s a look at Siri’s abilities. If only she could give you directions.

https://youtu.be/rNsrl86inpo

Google Maps

The final sticking point is the lack of turn by turn navigation. It’s tough to justify paying for an app like Navigon, when I have great turn by turn navigation on my ThunderBolt that comes free with the phone.

Today, as I drove down to the Apple store to take my MacBook Air in for repair, an iPhone owning friend was along and he asked me to use Google Maps so he could find a local market for lunch. The iPhone map solution reminds me of the paper-oriented past. If there’s no turn by turn directions, I may as well be printing out Yahoo Maps.

Are the iPhone GPS apps better than Google’s free offering?

Help Me Out

I’m sure at least a few of you use these services on your iPhone. I know there’s no keyboard solution on the horizon, but how do you use these services and get around the limitations of the iPhone?

138 Comments

138 Comments

  1. Denind

    10/06/2011 at 10:33 am

    I am currently in the same situation. I’ve owned stoics since day one but this iPhone caught my eye. My main concern is not having a turn by turn navigation when switching to the iPhone 4s.

    • Jakerhode

      10/06/2011 at 1:24 pm

      Mapquest has a free app for the iPhone that gives turn-by-turn directions that are even read aloud.  I like it over the iPhone’s native map app.

    • Kimabb

      10/06/2011 at 6:18 pm

      If you want the iphone you can purchase telenav for $9 in ituens. It gives turn by turn audio directions. There are many features to it as well. For instance, you can keep a running mileage log. It’s great and well worth the money.

      • Shamoriwall

        10/10/2011 at 9:20 pm

        Telenav Is Now 99 cents in app store and it features voice control so that you speak directly to the iPhone and it finds your directions and give turn by turn voice navigation.

  2. Denind

    10/06/2011 at 10:34 am

    Sorry my iPad changed *DROIDS into stoics

  3. theb.rob1983

    10/06/2011 at 10:39 am

    This is easy ….the questions u have put forth are the exact reasons u should stay with android ….I have too many friends asking me to use my tbolt for directions and to look at certain websites that they don’t get access to on an iPhone …when its get up to date with flash(never) and get lte maybe next year then u should make the jump but for now u getting an iPhone would be like trading in a ferrari 599 for a Toyota camry (the new one ) …even with siri and a finally a dual core processor. It still doesn’t compare…..and once Kal el reaches our palms u will be making the jump back trust me …stay with the android clan and help us devour this bushel of apples …….munching munching

    • Sam

      10/06/2011 at 10:50 am

      Android will never take down apple. Sorry!! Your wasting you time.

      • Epgomez

        10/06/2011 at 11:25 am

        I think it might happen

      • Zach Keller

        10/06/2011 at 11:28 am

        44% android market share compared to apple’s 23%. yeah..clearly android will never take down apple. haha.

        /sarcasm.

        • grayson

          10/06/2011 at 1:29 pm

          Android has more phones that use it. Apple is just the iPhone.

        • Soccerboy72000

          10/06/2011 at 2:53 pm

          Clearly if we talk about technology apple destroys android, there poor excuse of a tablet is the only other thing it makes, apple makes everything from laptops to cable providers, they obviously have more technology but what’s the point of putting it all out already and destroying the competition, where’s the fun in that?

        • SgtUSMC

          10/06/2011 at 7:04 pm

          I could put numbers on a forum too and say I win. Look:

          98% of people that don’t have an iPhone are just Apple haters stuck on what is old and what they are use to. while the other %2 are just keeping droids because they don’t want to get kicked out of their droid friends group…
          See!
          P.S. I find your numbers to be based on nothing accept for numbers. But as Grayson stated the Droid system is used by a variety of phones manufacturers that are constantly trying to prove they are better then the iPhone. You ever ask yourself why they aren’t competing with the other Droid phone Manufacturers? Its because no body cares about being second place, everyone wants to challenge the number one spot. Would you go into a football season trying to be better then the Carolina Panthers. or the Superbowl Winning Green Bay Packers?
          Thank about it… I don’t see many phones out there claiming that they are the Samsung Galaxy Killer? Nope, just a bunch claiming they are the iPhone Killer….

          • know Your Technology

            08/16/2012 at 11:11 am

            Android phone manufacturers DO compete against each other. It’s dumb tech website like these and apple fanboys like you that keeps going back and comparing Androids to iPhone. If you knew anything about Android, you’d know Manufacturers design and build their phones with other Android phones in mind, therefore, other Android phone is WHAT MANUFACTURERS HAVE TO BEAT. Follow Android news and you will NEVER hear talks of building a new android phone just to compete with an iPhone. Manufacturers dont aim that low. Sorry for the sad truth but ANDROID has been the standard since the old HTC EVO/HTC Thunder Bolt/Samsung Galaxy S 1 days. IPhones are no longer worthy to compete. My question to you is, why do you apple fanboys compare the the iPhone to every new Android phone that comes out? Android is the standard and is what apple has go beat.

        • Cole

          10/06/2011 at 7:06 pm

          how many phones does ios have? how many phones does android have? yeah exactly if ios had more phones (which obviously there is no point to) they would have a much larger percentage.

        • Andrew Lum

          10/07/2011 at 3:17 am

          well its kinda like saying Microsoft will never take down apple when majority of the world uses windows 

        • Aryankingster

          10/07/2011 at 10:14 am

          Heyy buddy 44% is a gud share but with android having 1000 of phones in market whereas iOS with just a single phone , actually all the persons can’t buy expensive iPhone therefore they are forced to shift to android and the best part is apple is considered a better brand and elite brand over samsung or lg or any other so think over it plz

          • know Your Technology

            08/16/2012 at 11:21 am

            If you knew anything about technology, you would know the apple charges a lot more because

          • know Your Technology

            08/16/2012 at 12:10 pm

            Haha funny you should mention Samsung and iPhone. Do you ass even realize the Samsung makes the semi-conductors for iPhones? Not a clue do you? Also quit bitching about the lame old “iPhone is too expensive for people” excuse. If you look at today’s prices, Sprint sells 16gb iPhones for $149, whereas a.16gb EVO LTE or GS3 will set you back $199-$299. Also, if you knew anything about technology and pricing, you’d know apple charges a lot more for there phones ONLY because it has larger internal storage. YOU damn well better net expect to walk into an electronic store and buy a 32gb & a 64gb memory card for the same price, idiot. You apple fanboys need to pay attention to the small details. Just because one does not buy an iPhone doesn’t mean he/she is poor. It means they want a non-below average, up to date, latest technology phone, not an overpriced, overhyped, under performing, yesterday’s technology of an iPhone. And that’s the beauty of it, manufacturers gives you thousands of Android powered phones to choose from so you don’t get stuck with one lame piece of crap device for years and years on end. I’ll be damned if you like earrings one pants for the rest of your life. Variety is what apple don’t have/offer and they never will. Which is also part of the reason why Android is doing so well and is why I opted out from iPhones. Please get over it with your interior device.

        • Mcosta Tech

          10/07/2011 at 11:57 am

          The Ford Focus must be a better car than a Ferrari….. They sell lots of them ;-)

        • Yourmom

          12/10/2011 at 1:54 pm

          Grayson has a great point and in addition to his…The iPhone had only been with AT&T until early this year. So that old statistic you pulled out doens’t account for the record breaking phone release of the iPhone 4s which is now on the 3 main carriers. Apple will always far surpass android just like it has been since the beginning

    • Jacobk5

      10/06/2011 at 12:28 pm

      “stay with the android clan and help us devour this bushel of apples”

      You are obviously just another Android fanboy.

    • SgtUSMC

      10/06/2011 at 6:51 pm

      This is funny, that you feel the need to convince someone to keep a droid because you want help keeping that brand alive. Look, droid will be dead eventually, there’s a reason why federal law enforcement, hospitals, major corporations, as well as government and military entities are going with IOS operated systems like the iPad and iPhone. Performance and security, Flash, is the same reason why I had three Marines as well as myself, when I thought the iPhone was inferior until I woke up, have their droid phones crash due to an upload that wiped my phone and all my passwords and contacts along with pictures. So you stay with the security risk of a phone. But to state that a droid is a ferrari and that the Toyota Camry is the Iphone, then that’s like saying that ferrari (Droid) will run great for a short period of time, but cost money in gas and expensive to fix, while the Toyota  (iPhone), will outlast it and keep performing for years to come and is one of the most popular and best full size sedans in the country. If that was your intention then very well, I guess somehow you win….. Keep your droid that gets outdated every six months, I’ll use the iPhone with the free IOS updates every few months that keeps my phone current and doing now, what your next Droid will be able to do.
      JOSH GET THE IPHONE, Trust me, there is nothing it can’t do that’s worth your time. I am a United States Marine that has used the iPhone in the city, in Iraq, and the woods in training, always performs, and even allows me to access Military Personnel Sites, that my Droid could never even download the homepages of.

      • one sgt to another

        10/22/2011 at 8:15 pm

        Sorry sgt. but got to burst yours and soccer retards bubble. Apples labtops suck amd are too expensive for old tech. Apple is always behind PC. Take an apple computer and take a PC same price and you will find a beastier computer with a PC. If you say the operating system is better then you must like an operating that is easier to hack. I use windows linux and iOSx and i dont own an apple. iOSx is less secure. So i fail to see how apple is better unless you equate being more expensive is better. Apple also made a pathetic attempt at a phone in the iphone 4S. There is nothing that competes with android on the phone. icloud huh good luck on a capped data plan. Siri huh, I have never used a voice recognition that I didnt have to repeat myself over and over and i doubt Siri will be much different. Why buy a 4S when all you have to do is upgrade your 4 os to iOS5 and there you a 4S. The 8 mp camera is still shit as is any camera on a phone no matter how many mp you give it kust buy a damn camera. I can get a 5 mp camera to take better pics. The dual core processer will never be used unless you use big graphic intensive games or use 4g. Oh my bad it doesnt. The 64gb 4S is not worth $400+. You make fun of android fan boys yet your an apple fan boy for even saying the 4S is the best in technology out there. All the iphone is is a fashion statement nothing more. It is not a technology leader. Only a cost leader. So usually when i see someone with an apple product i think that person has money and like to waste it and are fooled in the hole apple is the best mentality that comes with 99%of apple users. Theres some figures for you. The other 1% is right but thats because they do audio and video editing hense the reason i have iOSx but not an apple computer. So all in all sgt quit sucking apple cock.

        Posted from droid bionic

  4. Sergioferns

    10/06/2011 at 10:47 am

    One word: jailbreak.

    It solves everything and you can easily pirate a navigation app free.

    iPhone 4s will be jailbreakable with hours of its release via userland exploits so don’t update it willy-milky and you’ll be fine.

    • Ciarán Gentle

      10/06/2011 at 11:32 am

      It shouldn’t be that way though. Having to make such a big change like that shows that the original option was flawed and pointless. It should be usable for what you want in the first place.

      • Balthor5000

        10/06/2011 at 11:42 am

        It really isn’t a big change. A jailbreak takes a few minutes to complete and opens a whole new world of possibilities for your iPhone. Although it isn’t there to begin with, you don’t want novices messing with the phone. Without having jail-breaking your phone, its pretty hard to crash your iPhone. The point is the iPhone is designed to be used for the masses, but the option exists to make it more powerful. If your into the ability to customize your Android device, you are certainly able to that on an iPhone.

        • Ciarán Gentle

          10/09/2011 at 2:53 am

          I understand that it is quick but why should you have to take extra steps to gain abilities that should be there to begin with?

      • Jay

        10/06/2011 at 12:37 pm

        Jailbreaking only takes a few minutes, takes less time than an actual update, and only a few seconds to revert back. You can think of it as a customized update. It’s always people who’ve never owned an iPhone before that bash it just because they own an android phone.

        • Tim Davies

          10/06/2011 at 1:38 pm

          A Jailbreak is not a promised feature for the iPhone 4S though. I am currently running 4.3.3 on my iPhone 4 and I have happily run a jailbroken iPhone since the 3GS first came out. But Jailbreakers are having a problem getting the A5 to support their jailbreaking magic. We don’t know how long it will take for them to crack iOS 5 on the 4S or even if they will ever, no it can’t be a given, only a nice option for later as a maybe.

      • Photostyle85

        10/07/2011 at 12:32 pm

        Ya, just like people who need to root their Android device….so hence Android is flawed and pointless?

    • Tony

      08/16/2012 at 12:25 pm

      Why jailbreak just to do something as simple as map and navigation? Android allows you to do maps and voice activated turn by turn for free, out of the box. And, in factory stock condition, it can do every thing a “jailbroken” iPhone can plus more. Haha. Like “know your technology” says, yesterday’s technology is Apple. Very true. Overdrive and overhyped, I can vouch for that too. And Yes I’m an Android fanboy. Save you some typing.

  5. Anonymous

    10/06/2011 at 10:49 am

    Hahaha, i know what you going trough, i went through it my self, but after using the iPhone 4 with ios 5 betas being beta 7 the last i used for about a month i can tell you right now is not even close to android, it isn’t bad either is just not there where android is already, you going to be missing all of those features you just mention, I often found my self lost with the iPhone when ever i need it an address there was to many steps you have to do on the iphone, in compare to android were you just input the name of a place you want to go and from there you just hit the navigation button and go,  on the iPhone you have to manually enter the address after you find it on Google maps, that to me is priceless so anyway you have to find out for your self to see what it is that i am talking about, once you try an android you know how good and how nicely intergrated the system really is.

    • Big dog

      10/06/2011 at 11:18 am

      So Siri doesn’t solve this problem?

      • Kam Siu

        10/06/2011 at 9:38 pm

        appears not from the article “Here’s a look at Siri’s abilities. If only she could give you directions.”

    • Kam Siu

      10/06/2011 at 9:35 pm

      who types anymore in Android?? just say “Navigate to XX Street, Town, State, Zip Code”. they had that ages ago and works well

      • Obz(urgirl'sdream)

        10/10/2011 at 1:24 pm

        1. nobody uses android voice commands.
        2.iphone has had voice commands before android did, hell even my fucking lg chocolate had voice commands before android did. 
        Siri is not voice commands, it different because you can do more than commands. say it in different ways, it acts on it, its intelligent unlike android where you have to know what to say and say it in a monotone manner.

        • Dapup

          01/29/2012 at 7:52 am

          Actually the Google Voice has been out for about 3 years and there are plenty of users out there. In which time I’ve used it for abuot 2 years. I get any information I request, directions, and it will go to any WEBsite I want. However, there are always flaws with any technology.

          Both Siri and Google Voice are not intelligent. They are both programed and designed to respond to a variety of commands the USER vocalizes. The programmers are the intelligence behind the success of any technology.

          They are both voice command/activated services provided by Google and Apple. Both are flawed based on the simple fact that not everyone in the world sound, or speaks the same. Neither service is perfect.

          The only difference I see between Siri and Google Voice is that they programed the Siri software to respond to a variety of commands with vocal replies.  Kinda like the Jeannie app for the Android OS or that Voice Commands that repeats ” Say A Command..Say A Command…”

          So, all and all Siri has a voice but the same technology otherwise that Google Voice provides or even the common voice command phone book on any cell phone. But neither one is Intelligent.

        • Dapup

          01/29/2012 at 8:53 am

          My apologies…It seems that the Siri does utilize artificial intellegence after all. However, I do stand behind my other statements.

  6. Empty

    10/06/2011 at 10:49 am

    Turn by turn can be done third party app Mainly Map Quest.  The keyboard I am uncertain of what your problem is if you need the assurance of a click key they make blue tooth cases that take care of that.  As for the screen that doesn’t mean much to me but I think you will live. As for the rest I dont’ know what to tell you.  I would just look in to it as for me I have been apple since the original Iphone and don’t think I will switch nothing against droid but I just prefer apple.  And to quote the late Steve Jobs  Flash player is a dinosaur once companies update and realize there is better software that is more secure people will realize why it isn’t supported

    • Brian

      10/06/2011 at 11:06 am

      I am happy with GPS Drive on the iPhone (and iPad) for navigation. It isn’t free, but worth it to me. I have the same problem with using google mail. I go back and forth between the built in mail program and the web page. Staying with iPhone because of the many medical apps available.

    • Anonymous

      10/06/2011 at 11:14 am

      isn’t that part of the problem of converting Android users?  You always have to purchase another app, or an accessory to get the job done.  Even a micro USB dongle is extra.  Micro SD and SD card reader is extra.  While I think it’s great they have accessories available…eventually, people get tired of paying for extras to do the same job.

      • Moitoi

        10/06/2011 at 1:33 pm

        and the iphone 3rd party accessories industry doesn’t ?

  7. Nisha1030

    10/06/2011 at 10:50 am

    IM + has google talk. Sorry wish I new more, I only use IPhone.

  8. Moneycirlos

    10/06/2011 at 10:56 am

    I am an original iPhone holder once you own one you will not look or have any concerns about another phone the only thing you will be looking forward to is the next iPhone! However i am disappointed that the screen size is still the same and they are repeating themselves by going from the 3G to the 3GS and now the 4 to 4S… To answer your question about the play by play navigation my iPhone directs, redirects and reloads faster than my friends garmen or my wifes andriod smart phone. In all reality when you need fast and easy directions we all use my iPhone 4

  9. Christiankapp91

    10/06/2011 at 10:56 am

    You can jailbreak the iPhone which mine is which makes it the best phone it does Not freeze like junk androids apple makes the best products its simple there is no phone better than the iphone

  10. Anonymous

    10/06/2011 at 10:57 am

    I think I will get a Samsung Galaxy S2 after all…tired of all the waiting and false rumors and eventual disappointment and walled garden and iTunes bottleneck and overpriced everything from Apple.  When they come out with the 5 I might switch back, but this was not an upgrade…it was Lord of the Rings Theatrical Edition on VHS then Lord of the Rings Extended Edition on VHS then Lord of the Rings Theatrical Edition on DVD then Lord of the Rings Extended Edition on DVD then Lord of the Rings Theatrical Edition on Blu-Ray then Lord of the Rings Extended Edition on Blu-Ray.  They just want to make a buck and bide their time.  Cruel little Hobbitses.

    • Judaswaits

      10/06/2011 at 5:48 pm

      Last year I moved from a Droid (mine died after a sad incident with Jack Daniels) to a Samsung Galaxy S. I will NEVER go back to Samsung. They have taken, with the Galaxy S at least, a fire and forget attitude. Updates are slow to come out (TMobile is part of the problem too) and I have lived with some annoying bugs for almost a year now. I was an iPhone user from July 2007 – Jan 2010. I am seriously considering going back to the iPhone even with the lame-azz limitations that Verizon imposes. I haven’t ruled out Sprint though.

  11. koo

    10/06/2011 at 10:59 am

    Samsung s2 is ur answer!!! that is what the iphone 5 was meant to be but they were beaten to it!!

    • Balthor5000

      10/06/2011 at 11:14 am

      I don’t want to start a flame war, but I would like to know what you honestly think is better about the Samsung S2 over a jailbroken iPhone.

      I agree the Samsung S2 is thinner and lighter, but from what I’ve read that makes it flimsier.

      The Samsung S2 probably has the faster processor (A5 is 1 GHz dual core?) but what can that extra power be used for?

      They both have decent battery life, and cameras, and screens.

      I personally like Apple + Cydia’s app stores over the Android market.

      Please let me know if I am mistaken, or if your views differ.

      • Lurks

        10/06/2011 at 11:17 am

        If you’re a T-mobile user, make that a 1.5Ghz dual-core.

        • Balthor5000

          10/06/2011 at 11:28 am

          True, but what are you going to use the 1.5 GHz dual-core processor for? While the specs [for their top-tier phones] are undoubtedly going to be better than the iPhone’s, the real question is which device makes a better use of that hardware. Due to vast number of apps the Apple Appstore plus Cydia’s Appstore contain, I think the iPhone has a better usage.

      • Zack102795

        10/06/2011 at 11:27 am

        If we see that the 4s A5 is the same is the ipad A5, it will be much faster than the sg2. 

        • Balthor5000

          10/06/2011 at 11:32 am

          Because Apple only releases one model per year (or more), Android will gain the upper hand in specs. There are rumors of a quad-core processor being released in the next few months for Android. It’s not all about which phone has better processor speed, because right now there aren’t many apps that take advantage of both cores let alone 4.

  12. Balthor5000

    10/06/2011 at 11:05 am

    Gmail Priority Inbox

    Check this out:
    https://siliconfilter.com/mobile-gmail-gets-a-priority-inbox/

    Basically, just make a bookmark for the web version of Gmail and it works fine. You can also get that bookmark as an icon on your homescreen

    Google Voice

    Check this out:
    https://www.google.com/support/forum/p/voice/thread?tid=74bb9d1bb9401719&hl=en

    Basically, just make a book mark for “togoogle.com/voice” and you can access your Google Voice Account. Again, you can make a bookmark for that website an icon on your homescreen

    Smaller Screen

    I would compare your device with a normal iPhone 4 and compare screens. I cam from a Droid X and love the iPhone 4’s screen a lot more. But it really is a personal opinion (some of friends liked the Droid X’s screen better).

    Keyboard

    If you jailbreak your device you can get a variety of different keyboards (including a beta Swype).

    Navigation

    If you won’t pay for a navigation app, jailbreak your device and get a navigation app.

    • Balthor5000

      10/06/2011 at 11:09 am

      Sorry for Google Voice there is a more recent website.

      Check this out:
      https://www.google.com/mobile/voice/

      You visit the website “m.google.com/voice” on your phone and you should be set

  13. Lurks

    10/06/2011 at 11:10 am

    Apple, when you make/have too much money to care that you’re getting less for more.

  14. Mgarst

    10/06/2011 at 11:12 am

    Mapquest app. Free turn-by-turn directions. Can run in background. IM+ lets me have multiple im accounts even from the same provider. I think the pro version was $3.

  15. Johnkim575

    10/06/2011 at 11:15 am

    iphones are great, but the reason I picked up a epic 4g touch (galaxy s2):  1)  bigger screen as I use the phone more for surfing, email, navigation, than I do actually using it as a phone.  I can sometimes go a whole day without having to use my macbook air or ipad because of the size of the screen.  2)  Able to change batteries when needed.  I am a heavy user and one thing I hate most is having to look for wires  when the battery is getting low.  I just purchased four spare batteries (2 for home and 2 for work) from ebay and its awesome to be able to switch out batteries as needed. 3_)  Again I use it a lot for navigation and the combination of turn by turn and the screen size makes it unnecessary to carry my bulky Tom Tom anymore!

    Both iphone and android phones are great in their own ways, you just have to decide what features are important.

  16. Jamesjesse40

    10/06/2011 at 11:29 am

    Welcome to the future

  17. Alexander Garcia

    10/06/2011 at 11:30 am

    With so many of these concerns (and BIG concerns I may add), I suggest that you do not make the switch at all.  ;-)

  18. Google411

    10/06/2011 at 11:31 am

    Honestly i was an iPhone user for years now and swithed to android (Galaxy s2 epic) and i enjoy android more then i did the iPhone and i have less restrictions with Android then i did with iPhone. The Android has had a lot of the features iPhone and iOS is finally getting plus some and i believe that yhe iPhone 4S is a disapointment.

  19. Bradyschleicher

    10/06/2011 at 11:39 am

    I was the same as you when deciding to switch to iPhone! I had all the android phones you could get from Verizon… The last one I owned was the Thunderbolt. I was nervous about google talk and the navigation factor. There are tons of apps that work very well for google talk. And if you set it up to push the notifications when they come in… You will never know the difference. Another thing was navigation. I love using map quest as my turn by turn navigation. It is free and in my experience it works as well as maps on android. But if you dont like map quest, there are tons of free turn by turn navis. I also use google voice on my iPhone and it works better on my iPhone 4 than it did on any of my android devices. Let’s not forget the applications that are available on the app store, the quality is much better because the standard is higher and the games are amazing using the gyro. The iPhone is in my opinion a way more reliable phone that is put together perfectly. Oh and if your worried about the screen size…. The retna display makes up for the size by how clear it is. I am deffinately buying an iPhone 4s. I think that you will be very happy about switching to iPhone!

  20. brandon joyner

    10/06/2011 at 11:47 am

    wow after reading everything on this page i would like to state that all the apple fans out there have only mentioned one thing that’s really not in question. if an average person was trying to switch from android to apple, that jail breaking the phone seems to be the only way to get the phone up to par with an android device. if someone is talking right out of the box would they like the phone after using android and the clear answer is no. you shouldn’t have to do any mods to a device just so that you can enjoy the experience. why you ask because people are to accustomed to the way things already work, and how fast they can get information. so if you have to jailbreak it to get to what you were just at why add the additional steps when the android devices do all of that out of the box. though apple makes great music and media devices they always seem to fall short with incompatibility with websites pcs everything apple seems to require some work around, update, or accessory save yourself the head ache/money and stick to what you know has been working for you. 

    • Balthor5000

      10/06/2011 at 12:06 pm

      At least in the case of Josh Smith, all of his concerns (with the exception of keyboards and screen size) can be taken care of without Jailbreaking.

      You’re right, Android does have better integration for a Google Power-User. However, you can’t add any functionality to that. Apple can accomplish those things that Android does, but Apple also has hundreds of thousands more apps that Android doesn’t and that’s not including Cydia’s appstore.

      Who honestly does not have the brains to jailbreak an iPhone; it takes less than a couple minutes with on-screen directions.

      Plus, if you want to dumb down the average user, wouldn’t that average user want a more stable platform?

    • David C Rossi

      11/30/2011 at 8:35 am

      Your contradicting yourself.  Android users need to root their devices.  As do iPhone users need to jailbreak.  I’m in this situation myself right now.  The iPhone has 2 antenna’s, CDMA and GSM.  That is all I got on my decision so far.  lol

  21. Shannon_fernandez

    10/06/2011 at 11:49 am

    why would u get the 4s when in the morning Oct 7th u can pre-order Iphone 5 and have it on the Oct 14th? Att&t called me this morning told me about it.

    • maud

      10/06/2011 at 4:14 pm

      no you can pre- order the 4s on the seventh, there is NO iPhone 5

  22. theb.rob1983

    10/06/2011 at 12:01 pm

    One more thing to the horde of idiots who keep saying iPhone is better because they have more apps …1of course u do have more apps the apple app store was around longer …2what good is it to have a billion apps if u can’t even use all of um ……and about jailbreaking it doesnt make the logins anywhere near and android just a wanna be …and my first smart phone was an iPhone 4 got it once it came to Verizon and I got rid of it in less than ten days cuss I hated it ……got my tbolt after that and never looked back can’t wait to see what’s due up for android users in the months to come …..

    • Balthor5000

      10/06/2011 at 12:12 pm

      The point of a larger app store is you have better choice in apps.

      “jailbreaking it doesnt make the logins anywhere near and android just a wanna be ”

      I don’t fully understand what you mean by that. Are you saying that jailbreaking is copycatting Android? In a certain sense, you’re right. But that doesn’t mean Apple’s way is worse. If you’re claiming Apple is copycatting Android, the real question is who does it better.

      Again, because of the greater choice in apps, I personally say Apple. Though hardware is really on Android’s side, there aren’t many apps (that I’ve seen) that fully use the hardware.

      • Balthor5000

        10/06/2011 at 12:17 pm

        The only things I see that Android does better than an iPhone [let alone a jail-broken iPhone] are all physical. The top android phones are generally going to be slightly ahead in hardware. The other points to be made are expandable storage (but it maxes at 64 GB…) and exchangeable batteries. Being able to swap out batteries is a really cool feature, but as long as the phone lasts a day I don’t really mind.

  23. Salp07

    10/06/2011 at 12:03 pm

    Obviously you go with the iPhone… Once you have the iPhone for just a week you’ll realize that android sucks and try to match up to apple. Which they will never be able to do because they keep tryIng to copy them. Think about it. Apple thinks of all the ideas and everyone else try’s to change it a little and put it in there phones.. Nothing works better than the iphone..

    • Balthor5000

      10/06/2011 at 12:13 pm

      Apple does copy quite a few ideas from other OS’s. The thing is Apple generally (but not always) does it in a way that is at least as good if not better than the original. Whether or not that’s ethical is whole different ball game.

    • Drew Nusser

      10/06/2011 at 9:12 pm

      Yep.  Just like Android copied Apple’s notifications, multitasking, and widgets.  Android is always playing catch-up with hardware, too.  They’re miles away from an 8MP camera, dual-core processor and a full GB of RAM.  Next thing you know, Android will try to come out with a “4g” phone.  Pfft…imitators.

      • Anonymous

        10/12/2011 at 9:50 pm

        what we are discussing is that while android phones and android have these features first they are not necerally implemented good apple tends to implement things good

        • Drew Nusser

          11/15/2011 at 10:07 am

          Well, as someone who switched from an iPhone to an Android, I can tell you that my Atrix has better battery life and better data speeds than the new iPhone 4s.  My buddy has one and raved about it’s 16-18 hours on a single charge, while I hit about 38 hours on a single charge.  Yes, that’s with the battery-sucking widgets and updates.  I agree that iOS does work with the hardware a little better than Android, but now think of how fast your phone would be if Apple would spend a little more money to upgrade the hardware.

      • Dapup

        01/29/2012 at 8:36 am

        Both Apple and Google will always be in competition concerning apps. That’s the way the market is. It’s their money makers.

        My Droid X came with the 8 mega pixel camera, 32 GB of storage capability, and a 1ghz procesor. All of these features are perfect for my preference. Now, 2012, the manufacturers are making phones with dual core processors such as the Droid Razor. So, being miles away is not an option anymore. The future is already here. And I havn’t heard of any phone that has 1 GB of onboard storage yet.

        As for the 4G phones. The term 4G is not used for the iPhone 4. 4G relates to a generation of Networks. Sprint, like them or not, has had a 4G Network for years and now all the other carriers have followed. The 4G capable phones have also been out for years, such as the EVO 4G or as Verizon calls it the Thunderbolt. The iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S are not 4G capable.

        There is no Android manufacturer either. Android was created by Google with the introduction of the original Android Nexus phone before the i Phone was introduced, and is the operating system of a phone not the manufacturer. So, the race for technology is not with Android but rather the creators of the OS. And as for imitators…well, I’ll let you all be the judge based on facts.

        • Drew Nusser

          01/30/2012 at 12:42 pm

          I think you may have issues with comprehending sarcasm.

  24. Ernieparani

    10/06/2011 at 12:11 pm

    you’ll never know until you try it for yourself. the popular question is always going to be which is better, apple or android. but the real question you need to know, is what phone will suit YOU best? i’ve had several smart phones before getting the iPhone, and after converting, i will never get a different phone. i love the simplicity. it all depends on what you think will suit you best. i also think that people ask too much from their devices. they expect their devices to do everything. go make your own phone and see how hard it is.

    • Drew Nusser

      10/06/2011 at 9:18 pm

      This is one of the few fair statements on here.  I actually went the other direction.  I went through 2 iPhones, and then switched over to the Motorola Atrix.  While I appreciated the simplicity of the iPhones, I actually prefer the extra options, Google features, and processing power you get with Android phones.  To each his own, but obviously there isn’t a “best” operating system, because it’s all just a matter of taste.

    • Aryankingtster

      10/07/2011 at 10:39 am

      The best reply I have ever read. Well written

  25. Vike

    10/06/2011 at 12:39 pm

    imo.im and talktone pretty much cover the google voice scenarios.

  26. Moitoi

    10/06/2011 at 1:30 pm

    Did an experiment with my brother…gave him my Sensation for his iphone 4 for 1 week. Result : he’s going for the Nexus ” Prime ” ( or whatever they will call it ). He NEVER expected to actually like, much less Buy , an Android device, but was simply blown-away by all that Android can do. I enjoyed my iphone experience, but the lack of ” customizing “…making My phone work like I Want, just completely caught me off guard and truly hobbled my experience. IPhones are good…there’s NO doubt there, but Androids just plain work Better ( again, NO Denying This! ).

    • Dave

      10/07/2011 at 7:49 am

      The only thing I’ll say is you haven’t used iOS 5 yet.  I’m not saying Android isn’t good or better.  It’s just you are comparing an Android device to iOS 4, not iOS 5.  Ice Cream Sandwich is also coming out in a few weeks.  So this iOS 5 vs. Android conversation probably should even be taking place right now.

  27. maud

    10/06/2011 at 4:18 pm

    honestly, just make the switch. when i got my first iPhone i didn’t want it at all simply for the keyboard. after a week or so of using it at could type extremely fast on it. You get used to it instantaneously. Also i am one of the very few people who doesnt want a bigger screen. especially the android phone where not only the screen is large but the whole phone is huge, they don’t fit in my pocket and i find them clunky and awkward. GET the iPhone :) 

  28. Frilouxrj

    10/06/2011 at 4:31 pm

    I feel sorry for apple users jail breaking all the add ons just to make it do what androids already do lol I’d like to see a jail broken iPhone out do a custom rom galaxy 2 or even better nexus prime the reason why apple spoon feeds y’all cause they make b.s. and give y’all minor upgrades an 8 Meg cam wow dual core yippy and y’all accept it when the 5 comes. Out it will be so far behind android it won’t be funny I bet no one with the iclone 4 isn’t crazy enough to buy a 4s but then again probably will and apple will continue slacking on y’all

  29. Ashleicasuals

    10/06/2011 at 5:26 pm

    I have been a longtime Blackberry Bold user… and thinking about getting an iPhone 4S. I date4 someone who owns an Android Evo… we are both deaf and I am low vision. He receives a data-only plan from Sprint that is available only for deaf/hard of hearing people. The plan requires an additional ten dollar fee for premium data because now we can use videophone to make calls, but without the required additional cost – a few seconds on videophone would come to about three thousand dollars on the bill. For this reason and since the premium data includes free Sprint GPS, Sprint TV, and one other feature I don’t remember… my boyfriend loves his Android and looks down on IPhone.

    But as I am deaf-blind, the Apple iPhone offer accessibility features that are already built into its IOS. And there are apps from longtime companies who have been serving the low vision and blind community for years with computer software and other products that can utilize an iPhone and make my life independent in all one device. These companies have not yet developed apps for the Android market… 

    I tested the Evo on several occasions… there aren’t any suitable accessibility features on the Android that I need and then you have to go to the Android store to look for apps that might meet your needs but I haven’t seen any from companies that I trust.

    RIM was the first company to offer font change options… this is why I have been using Blackberry until Apple started incorporating accessibility right into its IOS starting with IOS 3. I have hurt feelings that most companies – especially Google – do not seem to care at all about those of us who would like to enjoy technology that is accessible to us and that bring more independence into our lives as contributing citizens to this country. I would like to believe that building accessibility into the IOS should not cost that much money… we have to pay for apps to get what we need and there aren’t any quality apps in the Android market that suit us.

    But there is one coming for both iPhone and Android. We are still waiting on this wonderful revolution to our lives… In present day, we can only go to movie theaters that offer captioning for newly released movies and only offered at certain times. But now an app is coming out once all major movie companies have signed the agreement necessary to allow the use of movie files and caption them right on your phone while you are watching the movie in a theater… we don’t know how it will work yet but this will mean we can go to any movie theater at any time of the year.

    So the bottom line here is that you have to choose what suits you best. Joseph loves Android and he is a heavy user – has many apps on his phone. I do not care much for most of these apps and prefer only the important ones that I can really use and enjoy – at the same time putting less strain on my low vision and bringing more mobility in this world.

    Pick the features you want the most.

  30. Anonymous

    10/06/2011 at 5:28 pm

    You asked our opinion, but youve already made up your mind. Get the iphone 4s. The reason you list generally suggest that you stick with Android, why go through the hassle of getting things that simply work for you as it stands now?

    IMHO, you should just stick with an Android phone and an ipad. Best of both worlds. They each represent who is best right now in which area.

    Android rules phones and ipads rule tablets. If you do switch, switch out both. Try Android for a tablet and get an iphone. Your articles are good because you can speak objectively from both sides. Dont change that.

    • Drew Nusser

      10/06/2011 at 9:23 pm

      I second that – and just a thought – wait for a couple of weeks for the ASUS Transformer 2 – a quad-core and keyboard dock to turn it into a laptop.  Oh, and Ice Cream Sandwich.  Do it.  I want to hear about it.

  31. Sacbarter

    10/06/2011 at 5:37 pm

    I got my iPhone when it came out for Verizon and haven’t looked back.

    • Pearlh1

      10/06/2011 at 7:08 pm

      Wow, lots of opinions. Let’s be honest, both operating systems are good. If you are really having a problem deciding what phone to get try this, close your eyes and hold an iPhone in your hand. Those of us who have one know exactly what I’m talking about… One phone a year, think about it this way, cars make “new” modles about every 5 years. During that five years each year improves but has the same basic design. It doesn’t make sense to dramatically change it every year, especially when you have an awesome design. I update Every two years and each phone I have “retired” has been in near perfect condition, cause I take care of it, because I treat it like fine jewelry. When you have something nice/sturdy/exceptional you
      want to take care of it. That’s what makes apple an apple and not a lemon. Go for it, If you don’t like it the resale is the best in the industry.

  32. Armas

    10/06/2011 at 5:57 pm

    One thing you will find about the iPhone, as soon as you get one you will begin exploring new things and realizing the freedom of the iPhone. One example, if you jailbreak your iPhone you can get a app called ifile. In this app it is your phones code laid out for you. You can then clone the email app, change the identifier and switch the udid. As many times as you want! History of me is, had every iPhone and others and will never switch.

  33. Rekesq

    10/06/2011 at 7:04 pm

    Try tnav app… Awesome gps w/ voice 3d…

    • Rekesq

      10/06/2011 at 7:07 pm

      Telenav…

  34. Dipu00

    10/06/2011 at 7:57 pm

    I switched from google nexus one to iphone 4 and I am not disappointed. 2 things you will be missing everyday (if you are like me) Are the Gnav and voice to speech.
    Voice to speech finally taken care off but you have to rely on third party apps(free) like mapquest etc for navigation.
    Good luck and by the way I am getting the 4S. Gmail, gv works fine…

  35. Jefft625

    10/06/2011 at 8:17 pm

    how much is a used iphone 4 selling for? hundreds $$$ , & its 1 1/2 years old
    how much can the evo sell for? probably nickles & dimes!!! 

    • brandon joyner

      10/07/2011 at 4:18 pm

      funny you should say that considering i just sold my evo for 250 with no sd card and a chip taken out of the corner please do some research before you post ridiculousness nonsense. 

  36. whatever

    10/06/2011 at 8:40 pm

    Lol I feel the same way. I’ve always wanted a iphone. But I have a droid,its a lot that the iphone can not do. But I do think that siri is cool. I’m thinkn abt getting the samsung galaxy s2 but I don’t know abt the iphone 4s. I mean we can get the same sh*t free wth android that iphone user must pay to use.

    • brandon joyner

      10/07/2011 at 4:22 pm

      please tell me whats so new and cool about siri because last i check all they did was add a talk back feature to the already integrated speak now function that seems to come with every smart phone. that program is going to be extremely limited in alot of areas and wont be fine tuned for awhile on both android(sure they will have a similar app) and apple 

      • Anonymous

        10/12/2011 at 9:54 pm

        siri has artificial intelligence google voice does not please research a bit 

  37. Anthony

    10/06/2011 at 9:11 pm

    I own a rooted Droid Incredible and I will be upgrading to the iPhone 4S. Both operating systems are good, they both have their pros and cons. With Android I will miss the customizing and the navigation. But the iPhone just works. True, Android can brag about specs and size but the Apple’s software is far superior. Two days ago I spent a couple hours in my local Verizon store playing with the newest, high end, dual core Android phones. I left disappointed because the UI seemed sluggish compared to that of the iPhone 4 and that only has 1 core. Software makes the phone. I will happily live with less customization in order to get a flawlessly working device that provides its owners with regular updates.

    • brandon joyner

      10/07/2011 at 4:25 pm

      Verizon and android devices ….they give droid phones a bad name with all the bloatware and crap that they add to there phones i dont blame anyone with an unrooted verizon droid for wanting an iphone because i do agree that software does make a huge difference in performace.

  38. In different

    10/06/2011 at 9:30 pm

    I like how everyone is like oh Siri.  That is some of the arugent above.  You realize Android has had this for a while now.  With the Genius button.  This is my second android phone with Genius and I love it.  Samething as Siri but came out a lot sooner.  Also the Iphone can do the samethings as the Android but at what costs from the market for something that is free on the Android.  I don’t mind both.  I have an Ipad but i do not have an Iphone.  As I think as a phone and portable device.  Android comes with more bang for the buck.  Free voice nav, free gmail, etc.  I think the Iphone is not a bad phone just think they could provide or do more with it.  Each year we hope for more from all of these devices.  But this year what is the new Iphone really going to provide that is “new”.  Nothing Siri…  Already out on Android phones.  So it is not ‘new’, just caught up to what is on the market already.  I am disappointed in this years release of the Iphone.  Just like I was with the 3gs.  They still have the smaller 3.7 screen.  I think what apple needs to do is make a couple different model of their phone.  Like a flipout keyboard would be nice…  or a bigger screen would be nice.

    • Anonymous

      10/12/2011 at 9:55 pm

      siri has artificial intelligence and the 4s beech marks beat samsung galaxy s2

  39. Andrewnjmartz

    10/07/2011 at 1:30 am

    Mapquest app for iPhone. Turn by turn. Free and works great.

  40. Jy

    10/07/2011 at 2:39 am

    I too have been trying to decide between an android device and an iphone. The ‘dealbreakers’ for me are:

    1. it must play flac music as all my music is lossless (yes I could convert to wav or whatever but I don’t want the hassle)

    2. I want an NFC chip

    3. I want to tether my laptop

    4. i want security – by this i want to be able to ‘clean’ my phone memory (similar to crap cleaner on the pc, or th old ‘evidence eliminator’ function)

  41. Cbourassa

    10/07/2011 at 5:13 am

    Well all I can say it that I have had many phones and nothing compares to droids, or HTC operating service, plus with no flash you can’t still enjoy websites that I can,

  42. Dave

    10/07/2011 at 7:41 am

    You are always going to have Android phones be further ahead in hardware.  Their refresh cycle is faster.  Pretty much a new phone outdoing the joneses month after month.  The hardware advances right now are really nice, but at some point they’ll offer less and less benefit as time goes on.  You really won’t need faster than 4g speeds for download and if processor power equals a laptop computer soon then quad core is probably all you’ll need.  That’s even more true if you just use your phone for searching the internet.  Like all things it will come down to software.  Siri gives Apple quite the advantage going forward.  The other voice systems on Droid are nice, but none understands you like Siri.  At least from what I’ve seen online.  The real test will come in the store. 

    • In Different

      10/07/2011 at 8:00 am

      Have you even tested the Genius from android?  Everything they did in the video for siri i tested with genius.  And it works just fine.  Check new messages..  play music…. call this person… text this person…  All has been working for many many many months on an android.  So you statement is bascially Apple finally caught up?

      • Anonymous

        10/12/2011 at 9:57 pm

        siri=artifisial intelligence if you say shane is my dad then next time you say text dad it will know what you are talking about get it this is not on android

  43. Firsttimothy31

    10/07/2011 at 8:41 am

    Hot spot is my issue. With Sprint you will have limited minutes and data, not good. I’m stricken with evo 3d

    • brandon joyner

      10/07/2011 at 4:30 pm

      sprint is the only carrier with no data caps are you kidding me do some research 

  44. Hepcatz

    10/07/2011 at 9:07 am

    I have been on Android since the Nexus First came out from Google directly, switched to the Droid X and went back to VZW…I ordered the Iphone last night at 4am…While I have enjoyed Google’s OS…I am an AV tech and we perform alot of control solutions that incorporate Iphone/Ipad…SO for me it was simply.  But, in response to many of the arguements above…Google OS/Droid generally requires rooting and superuser to perform alot of the tweaking, certainly required for ROM changes and unlocking tethering (depending on your carrier of course), so to imply simply that it is more customizable, while bitching about “Jail Breaking”, well….what do you think rooting is….Google version of ….Jail Breaking.

    Flash, who cares….It annoys me sometimes as well when I use my IPAD, but do I really need it…No…I can live without it…I have loved droid as it is an open source based environment, but the droids have suffered sluggishness, bloat and a myriad of other issues that destroy the experience…whereas an Iphone and most other APPLE based products simply work (like a toaster)…

    No I am not a Fanboy either…I don’t have a Mac PC (I do use an EFi-x chip which works well!!) and I have an ipad i use for control systems and my Kindle app, and my kids game on it constantly…

    But I do appreciate the design and superiority of an Apple Based product.

    My Two cents…

  45. Rezzie1975

    10/07/2011 at 10:35 am

    How are you using IOS5? Thought it was coming on Oct 12th?

    • Baddgoat

      10/20/2011 at 1:07 pm

      Beta. Developer’s account.

  46. Obz(urgirl'sdream)

    10/10/2011 at 1:28 pm

    Hey Fandroid users! Ever wonder why your 1.5 ghz dual core and 1gb ram runs at the same speed as a single core 3gs or iPhone 4? because android doesn’t take advantage of your 2 cores, iOS does. so you wasted your money on dead trash inside you phone that you’ll never use until 2 years when it will be so old it won’t even run right. look at infinity blade. That’s taking advantage of your phone!

  47. Steve Jobless

    10/10/2011 at 11:45 pm

    The reason why pple jb is because they want to ADD features into their phones. A unrooted android phone already has 99% of these features you would want to see on a jbed ios. The ultimate reason for rooting, unlike jbing, is not to clog your phone with more apps which most of the times reduce your performance (winterboard, mobilesubstrate, intelliscreen, backgrounder being the common culprits), but rather to flash  to another clean, slick rom, no repetitive apps that do similar tasks, without the manufacturers’ framework & overlay. The best representation rom for android is the miui rom. It combines android functionality together with ios UI, a truely amazing rom. It is unfair to judge to an android phone with a stock firmware because they contains bloatwares. IOS do not have custom roms hence elite jber have no idea of simply how different an elite custom rom like MIUI works. Until they have gotten their hands on a MIUI phone perhaps and compare to their jbed iphone, it is not credible to take what they assume android to be like. 

    Once you bought a phone, you cannot change the hardwares, but you can still be able to upgrade your software. No matter how good the updates on ios you can get in the coming years, the performance of your phone will be limited by the hardware. A very good example will be ios4 running sluggish on 3gs. Android phones are inclined to have superior hardware. The software part are in continual improvements. Miui developers release rom updates every friday, yes every friday. Suggestions/ requests can even be sent to the developers. The things a rom can do are only restricted to the developers’ imagination. Take miui for example, they have make theme changing effortlessly. Anyone can choose the themes with previews from a huge library, download and apply (bootup animation, fonts, lock screen types, bootup sound etc) in less than 5 seconds which is too easy compared to what jbers did with winterboard. Some phones do not have the backlight notification, but thanks to custom kernels, their led soft keys will lit whenever there are missed calls/messages and you don’t have to keep checking by pressing any button. iphone only has a button and it doesn’t led, this is another hardware limitation and makes some options impossible to implement. Other hardware limitations such as a replacement batteries of 3500mah is impossible on iphone too.

    ps: Steve jobs must be laughing on icloud and thinking “I slammed my followers with legal attempts to make jail breaking illegal, and here are they promoting my products thru jbing. I love my sheeps but it is time to change a herder”. Points at Tim Cook.

    • Baddgoat

      10/20/2011 at 1:06 pm

      You obviously no nothing about iOS and custom firmware. On android, can you change the entire UI look and feel, theme, colors, etc writhin just a few seconds? Besides the couple extra included with the custom ROM? No. You have to flash an entirely new ROM. With iOS you can use winterboard to apply thousands of themes in about 20 seconds.

  48. Lurker

    10/18/2011 at 7:56 pm

    Many Android owners ‘know’ what they own, MOST iPhone owners just know they own an Apple (…and think it’s better for that reason). I dislike Apple because of the arrogance I’ve run across far too often among its users. People spec-ignorant that think what they own is better or the best simply because its the most ‘trendy’. The only thing I like about Apple is that keeps all of the hipsters out of my tech circle =)

    • Baddgoat

      10/20/2011 at 12:56 pm

      You’re basing your decision on which phone is a better choice by the arrogance of its users? THAT’S why you hate apple? Yeah right.

  49. Sofryj

    10/20/2011 at 9:27 am

    I made the switch. I had the exact same concerns, but now I could’t be happier.  I thought the super amoled screen on my Samsung was the best out there, until I got my 4s…now I know I was only fooling myself.  Not only is the retina display way better outside, I can clearly read even the smallest print.  The one thing I miss is the Google maps….but the native iOS maps is much improved.  I really like how it gives you multiple route options.  Mostly, I’m just happy to have a stable, dependable phone.  There were so many times I wanted to smash my Andriod to pieces.  Sure, I miss some features…..but I got other cool ones in trade.  Plus I get the best feature of all….dependability.  Post trade, I have to say I am better off now.  For the record….for a very long time I was staunchly anti-Apple because I thought they were too restrictive and controlling. At this point I feel neither restricted or controlled…..I feel free.

    • Sofryj

      10/20/2011 at 9:31 am

      I will say I am a little nervous about fragiility….I could drop my Sammy off a bridge and it would be just fine.  The 4S is clad in glass front and back…and had not faired well in drop tests….if you are a clutz…get a good protective case. 

  50. Baddgoat

    10/20/2011 at 12:48 pm

    I’ve owned android up until a little over a year ago. Android is good in a lot of ways, but overall iPhone is better IMO. Android OS is more visually appealing, but iPhone iOS has more usability. Android phones are slow as crap to in just a short time. Unless you root an android device you’ll never see it’s full potential, even with a 1.5 ghz processor. It’s no just about processor speed, but also about how well the OS integrates with it. Apple has perfected that aspect. My sister has the DI 2 and her friend has the SG II and my 4S blows them away in speed. Now they both want my 4S. I’ve even rooted my sister’s droid incredible II and it’s still slower. My 4S isn’t obviously jailbroken either. I like android a lot, but their phones are also built for crap man. Hold an iPhone and you can feel the superior craftsmanship apple has put into it. iPhone screams quality and precision. Something no other smartphone to this day has. Go with iPhone and you won’t regret it, overall. And I’m not an apple fanboy either. Just speaking he truth. And that you can’t argue with.

  51. Taylorgilliam94

    10/21/2011 at 2:10 am

    I personally use the thunderbolt, and I am soooo disenfranchised with it due to all the problems I’m having and the lack of update consistency I will probably switch to the iPhone 5… However this is because I have been using iOS since 2007 via the iPod touch and I have rarely had any problems with it… Oh and not to mention updates are consistent and good. Could this be an HTC problem? Yes. Do I care? No. I’ve had it. There are some good android devices though like the new droid razr and the galaxy nexus, but I’d prefer that to play the game of chance anymore…

    • Taylorgilliam94

      10/21/2011 at 2:14 am

      I mean not to play the game of chance anymore…

  52. Aldoyn

    10/31/2011 at 10:21 pm

    I just recently made the change from a samsung galaxy S 2 to iPhone 4s,
    My personal experience is been okay the phone looks and feels great. The media features are awesome ….Icould (Amazon has a cloud player for droids), Siri is extremely helpful and on my opinion better than Vlingo , sound , screen and video quality are excellent. On the down side
    With the iphone you can not attach files or folders to the iphone mail app.
    You will definitely miss the google maps app is probably one of the things that I miss the most.
    The iphone is not 4G is only 3G so internet can be slow at times.
    you can not sync Facebook contacts (You will need to buy an App)
    You don’t have flash player
    The phone dial pad is not intuiting like the droid.

  53. Cyberman7

    11/08/2011 at 7:18 pm

    Four reasons for me switching to the iPhone.
    1) Music Player way better than my droid 2’s.
    2) Battery Life last so much longer.
    3) I like the boxy design.
    4) App Store seems more appealing to me.
    Besides that, I hate the device. But all the things listed above make up 75% of my decision when choosing a new phone.
    Although I am in fact going to miss Google Navigation. Don’t worry Android; I am not totally abondoning you, for I still have you on my Tab.

  54. Queentorrent

    11/17/2011 at 3:47 pm

    And is it possible Jobs was not “intimately involved” in the SUCCESSOR
    TO the iPad 2 tablet, also believed to be coming out sometime next year,
    perhaps even earlier than the iPhone 5 if Apple keeps to its
    established release cycle?

  55. Ndluna86

    11/20/2011 at 10:32 am

    Don’t buy an iPhone 4s. I bought
    Mine the day it came out and have had it replaced twice in under a month. As a droid user myself the interface is almost un-useable. Even as I type this the phone is just popping whatever word it wants that closely resembles the word I want to use ehhh. The navigation is awful I tried to find a gas station headed east but only found ones west of my location. Avoid the hassle avoid iPhone

  56. Nijagl

    01/02/2012 at 4:33 pm

    Map quest has come up with a free turn by turn direction app that will solve your issue

  57. Chaz

    01/13/2012 at 1:07 pm

    Same problem here too. One thing that I really miss the most are the built in smileys that Android’s keyboard has by default. For some reason you can get about 50 apps on the iPhone to enable over 400 emoticons, but the basic “:-)” smileys don’t work.

  58. Sonic Lizzz

    03/01/2012 at 8:33 am

    In the same pickle myself. I ordered myself an iPhone 4S two or three days ago, and I didn’t really think about how much I use Google. Which is why I stumbled upon this post. I use Google for most things. Calendar, mail, contacts, maps…briefly speaking: Everything!

    Now, I do have to check out your post on how it’s going. I just might HAVE TO get my Android working again as a sort of PDA alongside my iPhone. (But it’s currently hard bricked, so it’ll take some effort to unbrick it. I did order a USB Jig on eBay the other day so it MAY help)

  59. turn_by_turn

    03/06/2012 at 7:14 pm

    One great feature about Google’s Navigation is that it includes real-time traffic that is crowd-sourced. This means that you are not limited to the main roads that traffic subscriptions cover. Google’s traffic feature is just amazing.

    Do any of the iPhone navigation apps have a similar traffic feature? In other words, are there any iPhone navigation apps that do not rely on subscription traffic data?

  60. Benhall847

    04/04/2012 at 9:53 pm

    I like all the iphoners goin “android sucks apple apple apple!” You realize ur getting screwed by apple? They release a new iphone with a few things slightly made better and then make you buy it through adv good advertisement and saying hey look! This is new! Your iphone is obsolete now! And no company can compete in “their land” to release the technology thats actually available be,ause theyve made their own protected os, so if I were to ever get an iphone, id want one that didnt have an overly protective operating system, id want to have hardware that wasnt a year old no matter what the hell apple tells me a hundred times nd just no apple is a big joke cause the dude took acid nd figured out how he could make a lotta money, make your product absolete a littlr at a time. hell I could buy one of the top 5 gaming laptops for the price of a macbook and put mac xos or whatever on is and have a 20 times better laptop just cause the hardware is up to date with the rest of the world

  61. poet

    05/29/2012 at 6:55 pm

    Don’t be an idiot. why would you switch from an android to an iphone…. like you said it caught up….. android will always be better in terms of IOS

  62. Nick Miller

    06/17/2012 at 10:40 am

    In ios 5, apple is launching their own app service that will shake google maps. They are also going to add Facebook integration, Siri 2.0, and a lot of other features. Apple is quickly closing the gap; playing catch up in a way. Head over to apple.com for more info. Hope I helped !

  63. Lola

    08/14/2012 at 10:28 pm

    I’ve been an HTC EVO user for a long time and was about to click the Buy button on an iPhone from my network, Sprint, until I did my homework and found out I won’t be able to use Swype on an iPhone, mayor deal breaker for me.

  64. alex

    08/18/2012 at 8:57 pm

    i have to say there is some serious rivalries here. I am an android user, but lately I haven’t seen any new phones I like. I’ve had the HTC hero since 2010, and its awesome even today. I have run every version of android even though Sprint stopped supporting it towards the end of 2009 at android 2.1. I will say I do like the iPhone 4s hardware, but the two main factors that ruin it for me are the iOS (i really don’t like the fact that all iOS looks the same), and the lack of expandable memory (no micro sd ). Don’t flame me for my next comment its only my opinion, but i have looked at buying an iPhone 4s with the sole purpose of jailbreaking it, and dual booting iOS and android…. yes it can be done; maybe not yet, but just wait. This cool little dual boot was achieved on iPhone 2g and 3g with android 1.6, and 2.2 running side by side with iOS. So that’s my take on this Android in all its diversity, and iPhone with all its (again sorry just an opinion) “uniformity” are both awesome devices. By the way Blackbery who? JAJA!! see what i did there.

  65. robert

    09/17/2012 at 11:45 am

    arguing over phones, come on, get a life

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