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Android (As We Know It) is Dead.

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Maybe proclaiming the death of Android in early 2013 is a bit outlandish, but the Android landscape has changed dramatically since HTC had announced the very first Android smartphone, the HTC G1, in October 2008, and the platform will continue to evolve drastically in years to come.

In a few years, I speculate that Android as we know it–not the OS variants and the way the UI looks–will be drastically different, and Google’s vision of Android may become secondary to the many disparate builds curated by Android’s licensees.

Born of a Common Enemy

urlWhen Android was introduced, it was a geeky OS that offered competition to the simplistic language of iOS. It was edgy, nerdy, and offered promise. If iOS, with its growing market share and rapid consumer uptake was the Windows equivalent in mobile, Android definitely was a geeky mobile Linux build, and there’s nothing wrong with that. It was aimed at fighting the dominance of Apple’s iPhone and iOS platform.

When Apple was the common enemy, prosumer users of Android often shunned gimmicks that were introduced by smartphone manufacturers. Consumers appreciated the appeal of the HTC Sense UI to make Android more aesthetically pleasing while pro-users despised Samsung’s TouchWiz UI, marking it a bloated blasphemy to Google’s vision.

However, those days are long gone. Android grew up with its own maturing design language that had evolved over the years. And a new star rose in Android’s circle in the form of Samsung, one that is powerful enough to battle Apple head-on.

The Trojan Horse Within

While there is still a lot of attention on the very public battle between Samsung and Apple as the two companies fight over patents and money in courtrooms around the world, there is a more subtle battle that is happening from within Android. With the rise of Samsung, Google and other Android handset-makers are on edge.
urlRather than shunning TouchWiz, consumers are now overwhelmingly choosing the Samsung experience over other UI overlays on Samsung. From the beloved Galaxy Note phablet, which many had predicted would flop due to its sheer size and what was once thought of as a gimmicky S-Pen, users are looking to Samsung for innovation.

This has pushed the platform to be even more fragmented. Motorola, now under Google’s control, is attempting to keep neutral grounds on the user experience by staying as true to the Android vision as possible. HTC is choosing design and simplified software with the new iteration of HTC Sense on the HTC One. And LG is focused on software innovation to keep pace and keep ahead of Samsung: from eye tracking technologies to maximizing the use of sensors to make its phones smarter.

Rather than battling Apple, these Android manufacturers are now battling each other–regardless of how useful these innovations are, how much of a gimmick they are viewed as, or how much value they’ll be in the end to end-users–to try to steal Samsung’s crown. The enemy has moved from outside to inside the Android camp, with Samsung acting like a Trojan horse for Google to handle. And all these players are offering their own versions of Android to combat each other.

Fragmentation Doesn’t Matter

For prosumers, fragmentation is a big deal as it means that the latest innovation from Google may not make it to their phones of choice, but consumers do not really care about fragmentation. For them, the HTC One provides the best audio experience and low light imaging capabilities in a simple, elegant zero-gap design while the Samsung Galaxy S4 offers a variety of sensors to track their activities throughout the day so they don’t have to think about it. Fragmentation is good, for the average consumers, as it offers them choice and surely one of these devices on the market will fit their needs. At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter which Android OS version their device runs as long as their devices perform.

urlAnd sure enough, with the launch of the Galaxy S3, people are asking for the Samsung experience. The Galaxy S3 shows that Samsung has matured into its own, with an elegant nature-based UI and design, software innovations on top of Android, and an experience that was primarily Samsung, and Android a secondary function. This is quite the drastic shift from a couple of years ago when tech pundits declared Samsung’s tile interface to look ‘cartoonish’ and its experience slow and buggy.

And Samsung isn’t the only one creating its own experience. Even more drastic Android make-overs come from Amazon and Barnes & Noble with the Kindle Fire and Nook tablets. With those devices, no trace of Android remains and even Google’s Play Store has been replaced with their own proprietor’s proprietary digital storefronts.

And the latest to the pack may be Facebook, which may make its Android invasion with a custom-made phone from HTC to focus on social media streams, and perhaps leverage the Facebook marketplace.

In the future, we can see the TouchWiz OS, the Facebook OS, the Kindle OS, and more–all powered by Android. But Android won’t be promoted. Sure, its apps ecosystem will be highlighted as a selling point, but Samsung, Facebook, Amazon, and other OEMs will likely market the unique selling points to their customized experiences, like eye tracking, instantaneously networking with friends, or reading.

All Roads Lead to Android, But the Road Less Traveled is Preferred.

What all these experiences show is that Android still powers all these custom and proprietary builds. However, rather than going the old route and thinking of Android on a smartphone as Android with an added UI overlay or a touch of flair on top of Android, the new vision for Android is this hidden kernel that powers an entirely custom build. It’s HTC’s OS that’s powered by Android versus Samsung’s OS fueled by Android, not Android with HTC Sense on top or Google’s mobile OS that’s enhanced by TouchWiz.

urlIn fact, this vision is akin to how the Linux ecosystem operates today. Various Linux builds, or distributions, get their own branding, from Canonical’s Ubuntu to Red Hat and a number of others. The underlying Linux core is relegated to secondary status to accommodate the primary branding espoused by the distribution’s creator(s).

At the end of the day, what holds Android together will be the ability of these disparate builds of the mobile OS to run Android apps. In the future, these apps may not come from primarily from Google Play, but from HTC’s app store or Samsung’s hub for apps.

So fragmentation as we know it today–why one handsets is running Android 4.1 while another one is able to get to Android 4.2 quicker–will not be as important. Rather, Android fragmentation will not be important as long as manufacturers create customized builds.

I speculate that within a few years, manufacturers will play up Sense, TouchWiz, and LG UI so much that we’ll be clamoring why the Optimus G10 on AT&T may be running the LG UI 10.3 with Android 7.9 at its core whereas the Optimus G10 on T-Mobile may be running the LG UI 10.2 with Android 7.9 while the Nexus, which may be found only within niche circles, is running Android 8.0. The proprietary UIs will play a leading role compared to the builds for Android.

And it’s this new mentality that makes the evolution of Android a secondary consideration. The subtle changes that come as we jump from Android 4.1 to Android 4.2 could be considered a nuanced Nexus build rather than an Android necessity for all devices. In fact, when we think of distributions first and core kernel second, then Samsung may not even have to adopt Android 4.2 in this new vision of Android. The manufacturer can implement similar features that were introduced in Android 4.2 in a future build of TouchWiz, and rather than updating Android, it could just update TouchWiz.

New Threats to Android

With Windows Phone and BlackBerry in the rear mirror, Android will face growing threats from external operating systems as well as from internal players. When Microsoft debuted Pocket PC–then known as Palm PC–over a decade ago, it was a small blip on the radar for market leader Palm. However, Microsoft had demonstrated that perseverance is a valuable trait and eventually Pocket PC, evolved through Windows Mobile, dominated the PDA space. If Microsoft could repeat history, then Windows Phone will be in the mobile marathon and Google will need stamina if it wants Android to be reigning king in a decade.

urlAnd there’s also internal threats. The acquisition of Motorola Mobility provided the impetus in disrupting the Android ecosystem. Android OEM partners are not seeing Google’s purchase of Motorola as a means to strengthening Android’s patent portfolio against lawsuits, but rather as a threat. Samsung is fighting back and the company may be viewing its venture into the unproven Tizen operating system as a means to reduce reliance on Google, while it’s been recently reported that Google execs may be worried that Samsung, being a powerful Android ecosystem partner, may try to leverage additional benefits through tough negotiation tactics in the future.

Whatever the case may be, carriers and manufacturers are trying to diversify and reduce their reliance on the dominance of Android. Whether that’s through Sasmung, Tizen, Windows Phone, BlackBerry, or some unknown player is unclear at this point. What’s clear is that Android is now peaking and through the disparate actions of Android’s partners, its status as the leading OS may be vastly different in a few years.

Rather than clamoring about fragmentation, Android ecosystem partners will encourage differences. Rather than worrying about the Nexus having the latest Android OS build, older Android OSes may be skinned with fresh UIs that will beg for users’ attentions.

We’ll still have Android, but market share numbers may be re-thought of in terms of Samsung OS, HTC OS, and LG OS market numbers, rather than aggregate Android numbers. And to that point, Android may not be the king of mobile as it stands today.

92 Comments

92 Comments

  1. Larry

    04/01/2013 at 7:21 am

    I hope android will win!! Why apple Sue Samsung in court wen Samsung makes parts for apple?? Two faced??? Apple is too greedy and will go down just like Steve!!! If Tim cook stays CEO!! Ip 5 was supposed to be the biggest yet and turned the worst glitch and the new iPad mini on iOS 5 ? Heck all the $$$ you think apple can get it together yet ??

    • Shane

      07/04/2013 at 6:15 pm

      Do you have any idea what you are even talking about? Apple sued Samsung because Samsung copied them. That doesn’t make Apple two faced. And what the hell are you saying, the iPhone 5 doesn’t have any glitches and the iPad mini came with iOS 6. You are so ignorant.

      • xblade724Dylan

        07/04/2013 at 6:46 pm

        LOL so much irony floating around from this comment. They are all that is two faced.. they are quite literally double overpriced for all their products, yet lack 1/2+ the features that Android has, and has had for years. They are infamous for suing every company in the world that has even so much as “a square shaped app icon”. I heard they even tried to sue Fiji before (…the fruit…). iPhone 5 has glitches all over. Didn’t you experience the “new maps” after they got rid of google maps out of spite, punishing their customers? Ok brainwashed old man, go back to your apple EZ mode now.

        • Shane

          07/25/2013 at 9:20 pm

          You’re an absolute idiot. You can say Apple’s products are overpriced and lack features, but at the end of the day, iOS is smoother, more reliable, and more energy efficient than Android. It is what it is. Apple doesn’t sue for square shaped icons. Apple will sue if a large number of the icons looks like theirs. They trademarked their icons, they have a right to protect their appearance. By the way, you seem to be confused. Apple Maps glitches had nothing to do with the iPhone 5 itself, as it was a standalone app. Move along now.

          • james

            09/08/2013 at 7:15 am

            wake up , IOSis smooth because it won’t let u don anything tell me what’s tge difference between iphone 3g and iphone 5 tge same os just better hardware which is worse than samsung’s , lg’s , htc’s hardware
            The google nexus 4 is smoother than iphone 5 and u can do tons of thinks with it

          • matt

            09/11/2013 at 3:03 pm

            correct. iOS is smoother, and its because it can be compiled to assembly in less steps than android. It will always be faster than android on the same hardware because android is written in java and needs to be compiled more times before assembly.

        • Guest

          11/30/2013 at 1:16 pm

          Umm… Sorry but most features on Android is useless. Only thing that they do is bloating Android OS and making it slower. Most ”features” are just a marketing gimmick. Android is slower, fragmented, bloated and fragmented.Tim Cook closed every stupid lawsuits Apple made before. Except Samsung lawsuit beacuse Samsung COPIED Apple, Apple won the lawsuit, of course. Apple made Siri, 2 months Later Samsung made S-Voice, etc. I did not experinced any glitches on iPhone 5 but I experinced lots of glitches on my GS4. Android Phones are bloated with gimmick apps and features, slow, fragmented, worse App Store and Premium Android phones are as expensive as iPhone. So who is ”brainwashed” ?

      • lwcmomo

        09/13/2013 at 12:22 pm

        well, iphone is dead together with jobs. R.I.P apple

        • Edd

          11/03/2013 at 12:37 pm

          Iphone is not dead, it still runs on 35% on the phone market and it’s still in 2nd place.
          So shut up!

          • Adi

            01/27/2014 at 1:10 pm

            IOS is on only 12% of the world phone market & shrinking rapidly. Android is the future.

      • larry

        11/02/2013 at 8:42 pm

        ok i fagbot shane

    • Al Stienworld

      09/10/2013 at 8:02 pm

      The iPhone 5 was the biggest and most successful iPhone yet. And the mini has iOS 6. Maybe instead of hating on Apple you read and learn about Apple. Then your comments will not look like a 2nd grader wrote them. The iPhones are many times better than Android phones unless you want 2nd rate apps, lots of malware and horrible performance.

      • Stephane

        09/14/2013 at 10:45 am

        For one there is a small chance that you may get malware but Google has more than taken care of that with there policy changes recently and if you install applications from outside the play store that’s YOUR PROBLEM and this is not 2011 sir most android phone’s today not only are more powerful Than the iPhone 5 possibly the 5s but have performance better then a ios 7 device try to download ios 7 gm which I pretty much the final build and It lags to hell so that point is invalid and android is a open source platform meaning you have choices so you can’t really compare the two

      • tyyer

        09/25/2013 at 7:51 am

        By YOUR opinion ios is better, depends on the user and what they want out of the phone and os. Many apps work nicely on android as they do on ios. I wouldnt take the fire your getting personal, unless your an apple employee.

    • Cosmo Kramer

      09/16/2013 at 6:28 am

      You know you’re still a child, when you end every sentence with multiple “?” and “!”. You do realize one or 5 exclamation marks, still mean and imply the same thing?

  2. Cort

    04/01/2013 at 7:53 am

    I will go back to a pager for communications before I switch to an apple device. Face it, no matter how many douches preach the superioriority of an apple product I will not believe it.

    • Larry

      04/01/2013 at 6:47 pm

      Cool I still have my pager and my old 1997 Motorola sartac lol lol ya no more apple for me, I sold my ip 5 on eBay since it was a junk i device and now my blackberry z10 works great!!

      • Nonreality

        11/17/2013 at 7:21 pm

        The Startec or what ever it was called was a great phone and a phone only. It just worked perfectly. I wish they still had them just for a cheap phone. Best was the flip open design with not volume buttons but 3 that would scroll your contacts and the center button would dial your pick. One handed simplicity. I used that way more than the volume buttons that became the design on all phones from there on. Oh sorry, back on topic. I feel hat Apple is for people that what things done for them and want the social click of being part or something while Android is for those of us that wants to control the way their phone interacts with them. Both are good but are designed for different types of people. I personally think Android rocks and would be frustrated with the limitations that Apple applies. I also know that a lot of people would be equality frustrated with having to make more choices that Android applies.

    • Hunter

      05/02/2013 at 2:57 pm

      You must admit that apple’s devices are well built such as the materials that make them and the os works great but the company is just pumping so much BS around. I am love hate with them. I love the device I hate the people working behind them.

      • benny

        08/17/2013 at 2:42 pm

        I mean they are good for a few months or so yes but after that they go to shit, ive had my fair share of apple products and its kind of ironic how they go bad just when the warrenty ends….hmmmmm
        I wonder why

        • Tim

          10/15/2013 at 12:12 pm

          Exactly, almost to the day. My iPod Touch, 2 days after the warranty expired, suddenly takes 2-3 times longer to boot and the home screens lag so bad that it take 4 seconds to return to the first page when hitting the home button (when 3 days prior, without any changes to the screens, was nearly instant). Then when OS 4 came out, we were dropped, with 3.1.3 being the last version available. After that, I bought an iPhone with no SIM. It had to be jailbroken just to work, which took 2-3 weeks to get that far. After suffering through the iPhone for a few months, I bought a Galaxy S Captivate. 3 years later, I still have and use the Captivate and it works just fine. I also got an S3 for Christmas that has been amazing. It lasts the better part of the day with WiFi and Bluetooth on, streaming music, usually while using it for most of the day.

          By the way, which brand always has battery life problems when a new OS is released?

        • Guest

          11/30/2013 at 1:20 pm

          My iPhone 4S still works well, no lag, no glitch, no problem. Apple gives iOS 7 update to iPhone 4, iPhone 4 launched in 2010, that is 3 years ago and Apple STILL supports it. Can you say samething for Galaxy S (2010)?

    • Al Stienworld

      09/10/2013 at 8:04 pm

      Great. iPhone user are smarter, make more money and are generally happier people. Glad a loser like you will stay away.

      • tyyer

        09/25/2013 at 7:59 am

        Smarter?

      • justin

        10/31/2013 at 7:51 am

        you sound like a miserable piece of shit

        • larry

          11/02/2013 at 8:45 pm

          well said there justin!! that hitting the nail on the head

  3. Eye4detail

    04/01/2013 at 9:35 am

    …And all of this (and more) is why I’m a proud Nexus owner. I have a feeling, too, that T-Mobile’s new anti-contract model, if successful, could do a lot to promote the sale of Nexus phones. If other carriers jump on the bandwagon, the Nexus line would become the device of choice. There isn’t another line on the market that offers so much for so little.

    • Larry

      04/03/2013 at 6:11 pm

      Ya go t mobile!!! That’s the best they ever did, I dumped Verizon for t mobile, Verizon is not all that, just greedy like apple!!!!

  4. Paul Stuart

    04/02/2013 at 12:38 pm

    FUD, FUD, FUD .

  5. John Smith

    04/12/2013 at 3:27 pm

    It’s a different os because a manufacturer puts on a custom launcher? I don’t think so. Heck you can even download custom launchers in the play store. It’s like saying that people don’t look at Linux market share vs Windows. Instead they look at KDE market share vs Gnome vs Windows. This article’s conclusions are way off.

    • trainman261

      06/16/2013 at 12:59 pm

      It’s not only a launcher (and lock screen). It’s a general theme for everything, including third-party apps, and a set of features not available for other Android devices (to mention just one example: when you tilt a Galaxy S III to the side a bit by accident but don’t want to rotate, most phones would rotate, but the S III realizes that the orientation of the phone in relation to your face is still the same, so it doesn’t rotate). While I have my doubts as if this will really happen, this article does present an interesting and valid possibility of what could happen with Android. Let’s just say, I was worried this was another “Windows Phone/iPhone/BlackBerry will kill Android with it’s new features/OS/style” article, but this was actually very well thought out and gives some interesting food for thought.

  6. dev

    05/17/2013 at 11:31 am

    Apple sucks.they loose the market.

    • Ayaz

      11/04/2013 at 7:40 pm

      u cant even spell u loser

  7. David

    05/29/2013 at 8:33 am

    I think it is a shame that all the phones can’t run stock Android and be updated automatically by Google. These other addons from different manufacturers should be apps that are available free to people who buy their phones.

  8. McGehee

    06/11/2013 at 10:19 am

    I had a Kindle Fire. That was an Amazon tablet fueled by Android. I will not buy another one.

    I now have a Google Nexus 7. It runs stock Android. If it fails, I will buy another. And it has convinced me to replace my iPhone with — preferably — a Nexus phone running stock Android.

    Does that make me a prosumer? Or just somebody who wants a phone with an operating system, not a prison yard?

    • Cyprus2013

      06/25/2013 at 9:40 am

      Very wise move… Since buying Nexus devices as an Android developer, I love them.
      My Nexus 7 rocks, so does my Nexus 10. My next phone will be the Nexus 5. The reason is I get the latest and greatest OS without the delay and top notch hardware products as well. I use to own the original IPhone for 4 years until I switched to Android. My Samsung Note II just makes using a smartphone the most pleasurable thing.
      Until Apple fight back with a bigger screen and more innovations, and before RIM gives us a bigger phone, I stay with my Nexus and Samsung devices. I smile when my friend iPhone5 shuts down every night when my Note II last 2 days easily. He keeps defending Apple but that becoming almost amusing.

      • Brandon Crump

        06/26/2013 at 1:14 pm

        I think Samsung being the dominant carrier of android should depart from android and model their own os after android and from there keep all the phone’s for Samsung galaxy’s running on the same os this way they can be a company like apple but way better than apple

        • james

          09/08/2013 at 7:20 am

          I couldn’t agree more
          I think in the future samsung will have its own os with futuristic features and Google will have a perfect os for normal people so I think in 5 years it will be samsung vs.google and apple in the background

      • Shane

        07/04/2013 at 6:22 pm

        It’s really sad that you think you are so much better than a person with a different phone than you. I seriously hate Samsung fanboys like you, always preaching how the bigger screen and gimmicky features means it’s a better phone. You people are worse than Apple fanboys. That’s saying something.

        • Alex

          07/30/2013 at 6:04 am

          Man just stfu apple is horrible. Mabel if they actually came out with a updated phone once and a while not just the same dam box with justa little bit more power

    • Al Stienworld

      09/10/2013 at 8:06 pm

      Prison yard really ? And have you not noticed Google is moving towards a walled garden with their products. They are using more and more proprietary technologies. If you think they are going to stay open you are in for a rude awakening. Look at Google+. No API available for others to play with. They were once the champions of open but realize they can not control open. They need to control so they can continue to make lots of money.

  9. Dylan Hunt

    06/26/2013 at 4:20 pm

    lol what? ANY OF YOU can have the same experience as Samsung — if you are even concerned about this, you must be a techie, and therefore can flash a custom rom with ease. “Jelly Beans” (with an S) has even the touchwiz/sense hybrid UI and a combination of all that is good. You can get anything you want.. If you have Android, you have choices that are unlimited no matter what OS you get. As for 3rd party stores, like Samsung’s store? It’s awful! And worried about Microsoft? What? Their phone is about as fail as WIndows 8 (another Vista).. no worries, there. Have you seen their app store? What app store? It’s barely there …

    Anyone that has experienced Android will never go back to Apple.. no matter what Android flavor you have, you have 1000x more options than apple will ever offer you with their rotten apples

    • Tom G

      06/29/2013 at 9:27 pm

      You, sir, win the internet for today.

    • AivarasL

      08/12/2013 at 11:43 pm

      Cant agree more!

    • Matt S.

      08/13/2013 at 3:09 pm

      I have recently upgraded my Samsung Stratosphere for an Iphone 4, Yes I upgraded to a phone that is a year older. I am amazed on how well the Iphone 4 is vs a phone that is a year newer. I can actually make phone calls without a 20-40 second delay and my cellular / wifi work without restarting my phone every 30 mins. The Stratosphere has left an awful taste in mouth, I am 100% google fan but the flaky samsung product with half the battery life and so many glitches has drifted me away from Android. I was on my third Stratosphere vs my wife on her first Iphone 4 which sparked the upgrade for me. Maybe it was just the Stratosphere but i cringe when i see someone using a Samsung product and feel sorry for them. I’m interested in the nexus but scared to invest in it and come up hating my phone for years again. I am also interested if anyone can convince me to come back to android and assure me it was just a bad product and not the company (Stratosphere).

      • Eye4detail

        08/13/2013 at 3:18 pm

        You’re comparing a low/mid tier phone running a complex, multitasking OS to a top tier phone running an OS equivalent to that of a TI calculator.

        Stop cheaping out and buy a REAL Android, not a freemium handset that you can get on Generi-Mobile. I don’t know why people keep thinking they are going to get a good experience from a claw machine toy.

    • Epic Tea

      09/21/2013 at 11:44 am

      i agree I try to give apple a fair chance every year, but then I leave the apple store and start using my android and think to myself “yeah right! whatw as I thinking?”

  10. semba

    07/03/2013 at 10:18 am

    I choose my phone according to my workflow. I only have apple products, so I bought an IPhone 5. I’m an android developer, and had a HTC Desire for 4 years which still runs on Android 2.3 thanks to the phone’s divided memory for apps and storage. When I switched to apple was the best move I ever did (for my situation).
    Funny this article compares Android (the biggest playground for malware) to Linux (a rock solid OS).
    Apple has far greater stability than any other mobile (and desktop) OS. It is limited to what apple chooses to make available to you. If you are an advanced user, you can customize almost everything. Apple is about user experience and they made a choice to keep everything tidy and neat. You might find this restrictive or you might like the simplicity and control over how apps can access your resources. Android will never have this kind of security, or at least not in the near future.
    I have two colleagues, one with and Iphone 5 and loves it, and one with a Samsung Galaxy 3 and loves it. There is no point looking what’s the best phone/OS, only what’s best for you…
    unless you are at a kindergarden level, then keep arguing…

    • IPHONE4EVER

      07/19/2013 at 8:53 am

      Finally an intelligent reply thank you. It’s all about choice not this pissing contest trollers on forums want to bash each other. I have apple iphone 5, had an android GS3 foe experimental purposes and chose iphone, my son loves android and wouldn’t take a free iphone of I gave it to him, I wouldn’t use GS4 if you gave me one, I’m not gonna bash android just because I prefer apple. Enjoy your phone and stop worrying about others..

      • Bloop

        07/30/2013 at 6:18 am

        Workflow? Android can connect to anything and everything, anywhere by any means. iOS you have to use that $40 thunderbolt cord or w/e the hell it’s called, and use a single app with a single mean to connect. You need to perform more research, sir. Applers always seem to lack intelligence in these matters. Your point is moot, good sir.

        • Al Stienworld

          09/10/2013 at 8:09 pm

          iDiot. you no longer need a cord for sync anything on the iPhone/iPad. It is for charging. Everything else is over the air including OS updates.

          • Till

            10/30/2013 at 8:53 pm

            You’re saying that it now has a feature that Android has had for years? Stop it, you’re too funny.

    • Bloop

      07/30/2013 at 6:20 am

      “unless you are at a kindergarden level, then keep arguing…” pretty long story you got there before ending on insulting yourself to get the last word.

      You are old, with little intelligence and more money than you should be spoiled with (who gets a new $400 phone for testing purposes?). Old people use iphone because it’s like connect the dots.

  11. shazaam

    07/03/2013 at 8:06 pm

    It doesnt matter to google if its a samsung OS, HTC OS or LG OS. that is because the goal of google is to get as many devices out there that will use google search which generates more than 80% of its revenue.

  12. K. C.

    07/04/2013 at 9:04 am

    I foresee Apple will be Apple. Steve Jobs did wonderful job collecting users and make us comfortable/trap with in iTunes. I have over $5000 thrown at iTunes alone and let’s not forget thousands and thousand of dollars buying their products. But I think it’s time for me to move on. I didn’t see the need to upgrade my personal iPhone 4S to iPhone 5 and the rumored 5S doesn’t capture my interest at all. I am losing my faith on Samsung too. If they refuse to make something that has quality material on it’s body, there isn’t a reason I should be royal to them too. So my Note 1 will be the last Samsung I buy until they put out phone that is worthy. Samsung if you are listening please use some quality materials on your flagship phones, I am sick of buying a V8 powered fully technology filled Ford Focus, I want Audi with same engine and toys.

    • Dylan Hunt

      07/04/2013 at 3:10 pm

      S5 leaked info already says the s5 will be metallic (titanium was it?). The thing is that the s3/s4 is actually very high quality – it’s not plastic it’s a polycarbonate that is equally as strong as iphone devices… it just doesnt LOOK that way. On the flip side it’s what also makes it way lighter, which also in turn makes dropping it less of a “smash”

      • Hocobo

        08/22/2013 at 10:22 am

        “It’s not plastic, it’s a polycarbonate.” Methinks you don’t know what a polycarbonate is. Equally as strong as metal? No, don’t think so. Also, I’m pretty sure the iPhone 5 is lighter than the GS4, it’s sure lighter than my GS3.

      • ThatJuan

        10/22/2013 at 4:08 pm

        polycarbonate is plastic.

  13. Ronald Geiken

    07/18/2013 at 9:44 am

    Creating and keeping an O/S up to date is herculean task. That is why all the smaller manufacturers will probably stick with Google Android. Obviously all manufacturers will try to make you think of their version of the O/S, and like a lot of Windows manufacturers may not even mention the O/S especially if it is W8. I saw one ad recently for a computer laptop, and it did not mention the O/S. It only talked about the features of their product. Coming up with Overlays that work with Android will be a more profitable way to go. That will help them distinguish their products. I’m sure that the powers that be at the corporations involved are looking at all options and they will make decisions that are in their companies best interest. Samsung wants to remain number one in the Android field, and they are sure to keep promoting that their product is the best. Also they have tremendous manufacturing capability. Really Android is really just getting going in the Tablet market and they need to create a united front against Apple. If they don’t that will be a real plus for Apple.

    • Jim Tapia

      08/12/2013 at 10:54 pm

      Its almost here when android 5.0 arrives say goodbye to the fruit

  14. jakey455

    07/23/2013 at 11:04 am

    This site should be called “Gotta be Apple” because that’s apparently all they know how to talk positively about.

    • Bloop

      07/30/2013 at 6:20 am

      too many applers here trying to defend their buyer’s remorse with cult followers to justify their loss

  15. Luke

    08/01/2013 at 12:36 am

    Phone website comments section contain the stupidest of the Internet.

    It used to be apple fanboys posting the stupidest stuff a few years ago but android has definitely taken a lead in stupidity recently.

    Take the first guy. “I hope android will win!” …win what?

    Competition is what keeps technology moving forward, the healthiest way for the industry to be is for multiple platforms to have similar market share.

    If your chosen OS wins then you lose because there is no longer reason for them to aggressively try to make their system better.

    • Jim Tapia

      08/12/2013 at 10:51 pm

      Nice idea but in the real world you have market share dominance and because of this other companies build their items around you. I have luxury vehicles that interface with apple crap but next series of automation will have android setup as well more likely Samsung based!

  16. ZMAN (@Zii69)

    08/03/2013 at 10:58 am

    good writing, but all of this is delusional

  17. Jim Tapia

    08/12/2013 at 10:47 pm

    This guy sounds like a sore loser apple fanatic who’s days are numbered. Give it 2 years and apple will be 2nd tier stuff!!

  18. Aaron

    08/17/2013 at 9:53 am

    Guys, get your panties out of a bunch and think about it. You guys are comparing phones like dick-sizes. It’s time to step back and think about whats more important. It’s always this vs. that, whether it be Apple or Samsung they don’t care about you as an individual. Stop blowing tech companies; interests shift every year anyways. I’m reading half these comments and you guys are defending companies like they’re your daddy. Both platforms have something enjoyable to offer and it doesn’t seem like many people here know that we experience media SUBJECTIVELY. There is never going to be a wrong or right answer to this. Either way you’re sheep to it already.

  19. Brittany

    08/22/2013 at 10:05 pm

    Proud Galaxy owner…

  20. Dukkha Long

    09/06/2013 at 5:30 pm

    I am glad there is competition instead of a monopoly. Options are always good for consumers. I don’t with demise upon iOS, Windows, BB, Tizen, or Android.

  21. N/A

    09/06/2013 at 10:18 pm

    By Android and by Samsung. In fact bye to you all. This argument is not worth fighting for. Good day to you all!

  22. Dean

    09/07/2013 at 3:45 pm

    apple has beaten android hands down. no one uses android anymore because apple products are superior in every way and apple care about their customers more. argument over.

    • Eye4detail

      09/07/2013 at 6:30 pm

      The argument would be over if anything you said was true. Fortunately, the numbers don’t support your argument (read: trolling) whatsoever.

      • Dean

        09/07/2013 at 6:54 pm

        yes but android just doesnt have the quality of my iphone. im not trolling im stating the truth

        • Eye4detail

          09/09/2013 at 2:33 pm

          You realize, the fact that you insist on comparing an entire platform (of which you couldn’t possibly have used every device) to one specific phone (yours) completely negates any credibility in your argument.

          You like your iPhone. Great, we get that but it hardly makes you an authority on that which Android is and is not. Especially when you make asinine comments stating that nobody uses Android. Approximately 80% market share means you’re not only wrong but also completely blinded by fanboyism.

          Please, stop spreading lies. You’re quite bad at it and only serve to make iOS users look ignorant.

        • ThatJuan

          10/22/2013 at 4:10 pm

          My HTC One begs to differ.

  23. alex

    09/08/2013 at 7:15 am

    I had an iPhone for 2 years, I thought it was the best then I got a galaxy nexus and I will never ever go back, how can you even compete with all the innovative simple things android and custum ROMs have to offer. Like setting my brightness and WiFi from within an app, witch apple can’t even do. Also the notification bar. The only thing you guys have is a stiff as a board, nasty pulldown thing. How can people even say apple is better on battery life and performance android supports HUNDRED’S of different phones. If I put up the newest android like an Moto x, HTC one or S4 against an iPhone 5 it would win every time in every category, althoght my galaxy nexus would not

    • Dean

      09/08/2013 at 9:03 am

      yes but the iphone is just better because its a refined product which is superior.

      • IOU812

        11/02/2013 at 8:49 pm

        iphone is all look you idiot douche bag i faggot

  24. Paul

    09/12/2013 at 11:37 am

    Wow, you’re the kind of guy that would joina cult and be totally cool with the leader needing to breed your wife and underage daugters. You basically say “the iPhone is better because it’s better, therefore it’s irrefutably better.” It’s okay to have your opinion and preference, but don’t try to justify it to others with nonsense. I get the feeling you are a spoiled 12 year old…

  25. Wei Zhang

    09/13/2013 at 12:45 pm

    is this article written by Microsoft?

  26. blewvelvet

    09/18/2013 at 11:48 am

    One problem with Google programmers is they have no visual taste. They really don’t understand how to visually and functionally simplify the user experience AND they don’t put those parameters out to their app developers. Using Google products are not intuitive and don’t make sense to any new user when using any of their products. They waste precious screen and web browser real estate. Even the simple google page does not make it easy for the user to customize their browsing experience. They seriously need to hire some artists to clean up their visually “unappealing” OS and apps….they also need someone to set visual standards and revamp/revisual their Google web products. Make it simple..but also easy to understand and the make it easy for user to change their prefs. Make it clear. When I have to visit 10 pages to find or change a preference…that’s not good. Apple products…you don’t need a manual for anything. Everything is in one or two clicks in their apps.

    • Epic Tea

      09/21/2013 at 11:46 am

      the dumbest comment I have heard in a long time.

      • Great One

        09/26/2013 at 4:01 am

        Completely agreed

    • TheBox Comp

      12/03/2013 at 12:37 am

      Your IQ must be below 100

  27. Calvin

    09/28/2013 at 1:57 pm

    Microsoft gets royalty fees off every android phone. Apple and Microsoft just have to sit back and watch as android slowly turns against each other

  28. Mark

    10/18/2013 at 1:51 am

    Yeh…well you’re gay!!

    This board is childish haha

    • Roberto

      10/21/2013 at 10:06 pm

      Reading these comments is way funny, it seems to me that most people will just defend what kind of phone they bought to justify to themselves that there phone is the best(its true don’t deny it) Having used both ios7 and Android 4.3 they are both great, ios looks better to me but Android is definitely more customizable. Just to clarify Apple sells more phones then any other company, but overall there are more systems that run Android. And don’t say Apple and/or Samsung are stupid and just sue everything, well guess what, just about every major company sue each other because first of all they can, and 2 they want to protect themselves so they can get that much more cash in their pockets.

  29. ThatJuan

    10/22/2013 at 4:17 pm

    I really wish Samsung wasn’t the only super well known android manufacturer, I get asked if my nexus is “the new galaxy” all the time. Their products always break on me, plastic crap with a shitty UI. That hype train is the reason what it seems that touchwiz is liked now, most of the people who have them don’t know its a difference experience that other devices. I had two people arguing with me that android was inferior to IOS because it was ugly, lagy, and cartoony. They had only seen Samsung touchwiz.

  30. mark

    10/24/2013 at 11:12 pm

    I love my Note 2, but I hate the plastic that Samsung wraps their phones in, and their software is generally garbage. I picked this phone because of the screen size and powerful processor. My next phone might be a samsung and it might not. Depends on the competition. But I wouldn’t take an apple product if it was given to me. I just can’t handle how rigid and moderated the apple experience is. I like technology that I can pick at, modify, explore and customize. Apple makes computers for people that don’t like using computers. They design products that can quickly and easily perform a limited number of specific tasks that Apple has decided people are interested in. For a lot of people, this works just fine. However, for me, technology is not a means to an end. A programmable device with rewritable memory can potentially do ANYTHING. The possibilities are endless. But this freedom is largely absent from Apple products. They only do what apple lets them do.

  31. Slayerwulfe (@slayerwulfe)

    11/03/2013 at 3:14 pm

    the subtle battle you mentioned is the number of players and a changing population not confined to phone.
    read the comments. they don’t think. Uno
    slayerwulfe

  32. Eric

    02/09/2014 at 5:46 pm

    Its hilarious to watch everyone debating whether android or iOS it better, all making false and completely biased accusations, acting as if they own the companies themselves…. The truth is nobody is right, because there is no defined better alternative. Sure, one might be better for you, doesn’t mean it’s the best for everyone. And in the end, they’re all overpriced tech, that’s why I went with a nexus 5, it’s cheaper and comes with the latest hardware and software. But that’s what I think, and someone else might think different than me. And if one were in fact the best, how can you explain why everyone in the world doesn’t have that one right now? It’s alright to have an opinion, just don’t go insulting other people because they think differently. Sheesh it’s sad to watch this, makes me think it’s a bunch of 12 year olds ranting behind their monitors, but then again, that’s my opinion ;-)

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