Settle the old argument - Apple, Android or Windows Phone

[ZesPak]

RobM77 said:

I guess you've noticed that the shift key lights up when the keyboard's in upper case mode? I much prefer that to the keyboard changing in front of my eyes the whole time. A good example of something that should be customisable though if people's preferences vary.

It's the same thing again, if you're used to see the letter you're about to type, it's annoying that it doesn't change. You're used to iGear so of course it won't bother you. Similarly I've heard no-one say "I really hate not having a keyboard that lights up in the dark". But once you have had a laptop that does,...
The shift key doesn't really light up ime, it's a very minor change in the design of the key, again, if you're not used to it, you don't even know how it's supposed to look like.

But, as I said and as you confirmed, a non-issue if you have the choice to change (customise/personalise) it.

[Mr Will]

budfox said:

All are a complete waste of time until battery technology improves massively. There is not a single smartphone on the market that allows you to use it in any way you see fit, all day long.

In fact, my experience suggests that there isn't one with a battery life greater than two hours when being worked hard.

The Sony range are the current battery life kings, the new Z3 Compact can clock up 10 hours continuous heavy use on a single charge. An iPhone 5S gets on the same test gets half that.

In practice my Z1 compact (it's predecessor) would never be low by the end of the day and would do two days pretty comfortably. When out of the country with data off (not really a fair test I know) I only had to charge it once in a two week trip.

Phones with half decent battery life are out there if you want them.

[Mr Will]

Pixelpeep7r said:

You're probably right, its what you are familiar with that makes it 'easier'

Spot on! Every time I pick up an iPhone these days I stare at it like a moron if I have to do anything more complicated than answer it!

Pixelpeep7r said:

but i dunno, someone calls you and you're in a meeting, you want to text them to say 'in a meeting ill call you back' - on the iPhone you get right on the ring screen 'send message' and its already populated the number and you can even select a pre-written text so literally..

RING
CLICK - 'reply with text'
CLICK - 'in a meeting'

Done.

My (Sony) Android is the same, swipe up from the bottom to reveal a list of pre-written messages, tap the one you want. Generic Android had something similar last time I was using it (IIRC). I can even go a step further and set it up to automatically send a message instead of ringing based upon the appointments I have in my calendar. That's currently a bit fiddly for a non-geek user though, so I'm quite excited to see if Apple decide to venture in to the automation arena - it could do with their touch.

Pixelpeep7r said:

Searching for installed apps, you're on the main screen just swipe down from the top type the first few letters of the app and it appears.

Swipe up from the bottom or touch the homescreen widget, type the first few letters and the app appears. Just the same in that regard.

Pixelpeep7r said:

Want an app and don't have the time to worry about malware? - App Store.

I'm not sure the malware problem is as big as the anti-malware companies make out. The App Store is one of Apples real strong points though, Google could do better at policing the quality of the apps that they offer. On the flip side though, I can install apps from other sources if I want to take the risk. That's a bit of a double-edged sword though.

[toohuge]

Whoever voted for the Windows phone.... could you mention what device you use?

My windows phone is a disaster.....

[HTP99]

toohuge said:

Whoever voted for the Windows phone.... could you mention what device you use?

My windows phone is a disaster.....

Lumia 920, had it for 20 months now, had no issues whatsoever apart from very recently the call quality from the phone to others is crap; they can't hear me, there are some trouble shooting thngs on the Nokia website however it involves backing up and re-sets so I'll have a go at doing those on my next day off.

Apart from the call issue I am very happy with the phone.

[Pixelpeep7r]

HTP99 said:

Apart from the call issue I am very happy with the phone.

Sorry, i know i've taken it out of context but er, LOL!!

[SeanyD]

Lumia925 here, perfect

[NuisanceFactor]

toohuge said:

Whoever voted for the Windows phone.... could you mention what device you use?

My windows phone is a disaster.....

Lumia 800

[KaraK]

toohuge said:

Whoever voted for the Windows phone.... could you mention what device you use?

My windows phone is a disaster.....

Lumia 920 here, running 8.1

[alock]

RobM77 said:

I guess you've noticed that the shift key lights up when the keyboard's in upper case mode?

Not being a regular user, I always have to stop and think what a blue outline means. Thought process is something like....

It's only outlined in blue so is that ON where no blue would mean OFF, or is it OFF and a full infill of blue would mean ON? I therefore click the caps button a couple of times to see the variations and figure out what it means.

Again, I'm not having a go. Just trying to dispell the myth that iPhones are the pinnacle of UI design.

[Insanity Magnet]

Insanity Magnet said:

I've been running a nexus 4 recently and while I love android's flexibility, the feeling of flakiness in the OS (up to date), apps and the device itself really bugs me. It took me very little time to break the case of the nexus while my old iPhone 4 has survived four years of abuse from me, the OH and the kids pretty much without a scratch (N4's screen is a scratch magnet).

There are a host of HTCs and Samsungs in the wider family and they frequently need to be returned or are upgraded (which always smacks of dissatisfaction).

Not sure about Windows phones - missing support for a couple of apps e.g. Sonos that would really irritate me although those that I have fiddled about with are pretty nice to heft about (Nokia).

I'll give L a chance when it is released. If it's no better I'll probably buy a iP6

Although this suggests that the iP6 may not be totally kid-proof:

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2014/09/23/iphone_6_p...

Carbon fibre (proper, not effect) phone case time?

[Jon1967x]

ZesPak said:

I'll repeat myself, you'll have a very hard time finding stuff that's easier to do on iOS.

I had a Samsung s4 for a year and tried really hard to get it to do what I wanted it to do.

Have a single app that showed my work and personal email accounts - not possible on android as its a different app for lotus notes

Have a single consolidated diary view where birthdays from contacts and personsl events are visible alongside work meetings - again not possible

I ended up with 3 email clients on android - the obligatory gmail app, my personal none gmail in a 2nd app and then lotus notes in a 3rd.

Sync music to the device and actually finding one of the 4 apps that look like they play music to actually find the Music. And then when connecting to my car it couldn't find the music if it was on the memory card.

The only thing android pulled together were contacts and then promptly duplicated most of them.

All basic stuff for a moderately complex user.

Android - for those who want to jailbreak or for those who never touch and buy because it's cheaper. Work also insist on anti virus software on android, not req on Apple.

Apple - for those who want features that are more intuitive and can actually go somewhere for proper support

[boxst]

I should like the Android as I'm an old techie and should love the ability to endlessly tweak all aspects of the phone. I think it is great and was even running reaver at some stage to look at wifi networks.

But, I just prefer the iPhone. It is simple, laid out nicely, can't mess about with it too much and as such always works as expected. that combined with iMessage integration across iPad and Mac makes it my phone of choice.

[GrumpyTwig]

Jon1967x said:

Android - for those who want to jailbreak or for those who never touch and buy because it's cheaper. Work also insist on anti virus software on android, not req on Apple.

And not required on Android either.

[HTP99]

GrumpyTwig said:

Jon1967x said:

Android - for those who want to jailbreak or for those who never touch and buy because it's cheaper. Work also insist on anti virus software on android, not req on Apple.

And not required on Android either.

I've always wondered if Anti Virus is needed on an Android Tablet or phone; I don't recall ever hearing of either ever getting a virus like you would on a PC?

[Jon1967x]

GrumpyTwig said:

Jon1967x said:

Android - for those who want to jailbreak or for those who never touch and buy because it's cheaper. Work also insist on anti virus software on android, not req on Apple.

And not required on Android either.

If its not required, why are their apps out there to do just that?

The company I work for as a day job is not exactly a lightweight in the computer world.

[GrumpyTwig]

Jon1967x said:

GrumpyTwig said:

Jon1967x said:

Android - for those who want to jailbreak or for those who never touch and buy because it's cheaper. Work also insist on anti virus software on android, not req on Apple.

And not required on Android either.

If its not required, why are their apps out there to do just that?

The company I work for as a day job is not exactly a lightweight in the computer world.

People buy into paranoia and companies fill the void with products, but there are AV apps for iOS as well so if their mere existence is a basis for their requirement then you need to tell the company to install one on the iPhones too.

[RichB]

tr7v8 said:

No option for BB so that is me out. Yes I have a Q10, my choice & money & love it. Work is a BB as well.

Yep - another Blackberry Q10 user here. Bought it myself, not a company issue, and I'm very happy with it. Get a full day out of the battery even if in a weak signal area with Wi-Fi on all day like when at Goodwood a couple of weekends ago.

[RobM77]

alock said:

RobM77 said:

I guess you've noticed that the shift key lights up when the keyboard's in upper case mode?

Not being a regular user, I always have to stop and think what a blue outline means. Thought process is something like....

It's only outlined in blue so is that ON where no blue would mean OFF, or is it OFF and a full infill of blue would mean ON? I therefore click the caps button a couple of times to see the variations and figure out what it means.

Again, I'm not having a go. Just trying to dispell the myth that iPhones are the pinnacle of UI design.

You answered your last point with your first sentence ;-) iOS is a great UI, but as with most things, that applies to a statistically average person. HCI design is linked to the psychology of how people's minds work, so a good HCI won't work with everyone.

[Mr Will]

Jon1967x said:

If its not required, why are their apps out there to do just that?

Simply because there is money to be made selling apps that do it. There are plenty of task-killers and cache cleaners out there too - doesn't stop them being pointless.