Do you own an iPhone?

[Jesda]

I bet you love your iPhone. I'm wishing I had one.




I'm about ready to smash my Evo 3D with a hammer. It's terrible at making calls, terrible at taking pictures, terrible at navigation, and terrible at holding a charge. I am very, very close to ordering a landline (a real one connected by copper wires, not just Vonage) and a Western Electric 2500 touchtone. All I'd use a cell phone for is travel.

[Jabberwocky]

Get the land line, having an iPhone is nice but you will have a guilty conscience knowing that some sad Foxconn employee assembled it then a week later threw himself from the roof of the factory/dormatory he lives and works in.

[Mr1der]

My One X has been pretty awesome and reliable. Takes marvelous crotch shots.

Would recommend!

[sx moneypit]

I have a Nokia cell phone and have a land line too.
I never use the cell phone when i make a call from home.

[RicerX]

After three Android Phones (two HTCs - Incredible 1 & 2 and a Motorola RAZR MAXX), I am in an iPhone 5. Oddly enough, my phone tourettes subsided (which was a chronic case starting with my Blackberry Storm and continued with a Blackberry Tour and eventually all three Android phones).

I have a rooted Samsung Fascinate for a backup/OBD II reader and it sucks balls really hard.

I was an Android prude for the longest time and made the typical Android-douche remarks to my Apple-douche counterparts. I miss the customization, but I do not miss the random reboots and overall instability that comes with the open-sourced Android.

Now I have a phone that works, operates consistently, has massive hardware support, has massive app support, and just overall WORKS. Now I don't have to search for random one-off cases for my RAZR MAXX (oh it's not a regular RAZR, sorry we don't have a case for that).

I am officially converted, complete with my foot in my mouth. It is really well done and for the first time in three years, I will not be purchasing something different this calendar year unless it is an iPhone5/s with larger storage space. I should have gotten a 32GB.

All that said, if you're going to get an Android phone, get a Samsung Galaxy SIII/IV. It's a world market phone and is the first Android phone I've seen that is remotely close to an iPhone killer in terms of all of the things I mentioned above.

[themadscientist]

I have a Samsung something or other. Screw an iPhone.

[PapaSmurf2k3]

LG Revere baby!!! Calls and texts like it was born to do it. Pics aren't bad either, AND THAT'S IT. I have computers for going online, MP3 players for music, and Garmins for nav.


LOOK HOW SLEEK AND SEXY!

Cell phone design and functionality peaked with the 12 key touchpad, T9, and clamshell design.

[WDRacing]

Magic Jack works great for a land line Jesda, can't beat the price.

Cell phone = Stratosphere.

[darylzero]

Android. iPhone is for the ghey.

[Ace2cool]

Evo 3D was garbage. I liked the chintzy 3d camera that I never used, but other than that, my Evo 4G LTE is way better in almost every way. I love it.

[VQpwrdSE-R]

I have had an iPhone 4S for the Past 2 years. It was my first smartphone so I don't have much to compare it to. I am not one of those sheeple that runs out to buy the latest and greatest at super high markup. It does what I tell it to when I ask, (with the exclusion of siri which i usually swear at or say offensive sexual things to). Its holds my photos, music and videos and allows me to browse Nico and the interwebs. Too many people put too high a value into laptops, cell phones, tablets in my opinion. I mean damn how many pages of teh learned'd is about upgrading every month to new technology.

[MinisterofDOOM]

Jesda, you need to stop buying weird niche-feature Android phones and get a proper one. Get a Nexus device, or one of the few-and-far-between HTC devices that do not run Sense. Find a Galaxy Nexus or a Nexus 4. You will be FAR more pleased with it than the Evo 3D. I've always kinda felt like the Evo line was sort of HTC's Scion: designed to be "cool" and "hip" and sporting weird features you never wanted. They have so little in common with other HTC devices as far as design language, it really does feel like a separate brand.

Most people I know who buy Android phones and hate them ended up getting some gimmicky model, or going for whatever midrange pile of mediocrity the salesman at the phone store was pushing that day.

If you're buying an Android phone now, there are only FOUR options worth considering:
HTC One
Nexus 4
Sony Xperia Z
Samsung Galaxy S4

I wouldn't touch the Galaxy S4 compared to the others. The Xperia Z is a great all-around package. The HTC One has fantastic build quality and a gorgeous screen. And the Nexus 4 is pure Android right out of the box, hack-free and ready to show you just how much Sense and Touchwiz really suck.

[Ace2cool]

I've always kinda felt like the Evo line was sort of HTC's Scion: designed to be "cool" and "hip" and sporting weird features you never wanted.

I LIKE MY KICKSTAND OKAY?

But really, the newer Evo's are getting their s*** together. And I don't mind Sense all that much, after you take all the bloatcrap and get it running smoothly. I would assume Jesda would want something you don't need to root though, so your suggestion of a Nexus device would be a great idea.

[MaximA32]

I had an iPhone 3GS, got a Samsung Vibrant (rooted, unlocked, ROM etc), sold it for 3GS again, got Motoral Atrix 4G (rooted, ROM) sold it for cash, got iPhone 4 then just upgraded to the iPhone 5. The UI is simple and intuitive. It takes great pictures and video and does everything I have asked it to do without having to mod it in any way.

[Dattebayo]

MoDs perfect design snobbery aside, there are lots of great phones out there that are Android. The trouble is getting the most recent version of the OS. IPhone's non replacable battery is stupid enough not to own one IMO.

[MinisterofDOOM]

It takes great pictures and video and does everything I have asked it to do without having to mod it in any way.

This is the same argument Corolla buyers use. Which is fine, if you only need a Corolla.

IPhone's non replicable battery is stupid enough not to own one IMO.

I entirely agree. Unfortunately, the iPhone's success has taught plenty of other phone manufacturers that non-replaceable batteries are perfectly acceptable design decisions.

[Dattebayo]

Also, the market agrees with what I said about the recent OS versions, right now there is at least a few suits involving security concerns because carriers or manufacturers don't really offer much for upgrades...

[alms24sebring]

Jesda, you need to stop buying weird niche-feature Android phones and get a proper one.

This is what I was thinking

I wouldn't touch the Galaxy S4 compared to the others.

Why is that?

Im an GS4 owner. Nothing bad about it, I just dont like Apple.

[WDRacing]

It takes great pictures and video and does everything I have asked it to do without having to mod it in any way.

This is the same argument Corolla buyers use. Which is fine, if you only need a Corolla.

IPhone's non replicable battery is stupid enough not to own one IMO.

I entirely agree. Unfortunately, the iPhone's success has taught plenty of other phone manufacturers that non-replaceable batteries are perfectly acceptable design decisions.

Best collective phone post on the internet.

[95zenki man]

I am on my 4th 5 and had 3 of the 4's. the first of the 5's i got had manufacture defects and never worked out of the box, the 2nd got cracked the first day i got it and the 3rd worked but the camra didn't work at all. The one i have now is holding up alright altho the flash dosnt work and i get the SIM code at least once a week.

Dealing with verizon is like trying to fight with a 4 year old over a box of capt crunch and apples cs is about as bad. I have had to pay $200+ each time before they would send me another phone. Hell i have spent more time trying to get the damn thing working then i have enjoying it..

Also not a big fan of the 45+ a month just to back the phone up with icloud but without that id really be screwed when the sim cards decides to throw a code every few days

I love the softwear and the layout of the phone but im done with apple after this phone s*** out on me. Id rather have a prepaid flip phone then deal with another s*** fest with Verizon and apple.

End morning rant.

[frapjap]

GET A BLACKBERRY.
/THREAD

[nismo_shifter]

I have a rooted Motorola Droid RAZR XT910 and love it. There are some issues (occasional random reboot if I multitask too much/too quickly, nonsense "not enough space" message for small apps when I've got about a gig or two free) but other than that it's a fantastic phone. I think I might be able to solve some of those problems with a custom ROM but haven't found one I quite like just yet...

I've also had a few BBs in the past and can honestly say they're useless for personal applications; if you're looking for a phone for business, then it's 100% BB in my opinion.

I'm not a fan of the iPhone (or other iProducts) simply because I can't stand Apple. Their crap is overpriced because it "looks pretty"; though I will admit the Mac OS is superior to others as far as support and availability of Multimedia applications, specifically creation and editing.

If you're looking for Android, and want to avoid problems, I would stick with Google phones (which will soon be made by Moto anyway) or Samsung - they've got the largest user base and support out there (especially if you're looking for accessories and cases and the like)

Bottom line, in my opinion:
For personal usage Android > iPhone ≈ BlackBerry
For Business/Entreprise usage BlackBerry > Android ≈ iPhone

[Jesda]

GET A BLACKBERRY.
/THREAD

I MISS BLACKBERRY.

[Really, I do.]

[frapjap]

Just don't get the one with the new slim design. The new, more compact battery SUCKS. The life is PISS POOR. 10 hours if I'm not using it AT ALL, 7-8 if you are using it for email, text, calls, etc. Make sure its the style with a full battery or else you'll need chargers everywhere- at your desk, in your home, at your bedside, USB for your computer in your car(s), you get the idea... You'll also have to take it out even if you turned the phone completely 'off.' I think RIM forgot WTF "OFF" means.

Otherwise, the new processor and OS is extremely impressive- tabbed browsing, flash, videos, multiple processes at once. For example, I can have 2 webpages up, an email being typed while editing/searching for Excel and Word To Go open, and playing music. Its rare that I do this all at once (or even a couple of them) but it will never hiccup or freeze up with the work load. Its probably more fun when it has a larger battery.

[Kompresshun]

The wife has an iPhone 4S and it's a great phone, that's reliable, gets good battery life, and is simple to use. That's exactly the problem at times though, because it's like the Toyota of the smartphone world. I STILL can't bring myself to buy one, because I don't like the limitations and the fact that I don't have any other Apple device in my house. It just seems pointless to buy an iPhone for it's pro's, when I can do so much more on Android.

To mirror what was said above - The Google Nexus branded phones are ALWAYS your best bet. My Galaxy Nexus is over a year old now and has been great. It freaks out every now and again, but so does the wife's iPhone. It does absolutely everything I could ever need to do very well though and the battery life isn't too bad either for what it is. It also takes excellent pics.

The biggest problem with Android phones is there are far too many to choose from and it's hard to pick the right one. Don't buy an older model and I feel like Samsung makes the best all around phones, followed distantly by HTC.

[Jesda]

I am convinced that HTC stands for "Horrible Taiwanese Crap"

[300ZXttZMAN]

I have an Iphone. Its a pretty awesome little device.

[RicerX]

I will say this - all you guys that are saying the iPhone is the Toyota of the smartphone world while running rooted/custom ROM Androids are totally overlooking the fact that the same customization can be had via jailbreaking an iOS device.

[MinisterofDOOM]

the same customization can be had via jailbreaking an iOS device.

No it can't.
A lot of customization, sure. But nowhere NEAR the same degree.
Jailbreaking your iPhone lets you install non-AppStore apps and add a few features.
Hacking your Android phone lets you install a completely different OS.

AOSP
Paranoid Android
CyanogenMod
MIUI
Sense
Touchwiz


Just as you can run Ubuntu or Red Hat or Debian or Fedora and still be running Linux, these are all Android operating systems, and they are all very different user experiences. You can't tweak iOS this way. Android is Linux-based which means it's open-source, which means you can change it a LOT and it'll still be Android (and Linux). These things are not true of iOS, and are the heart of Android's strength to tweak-happy geeks and image-conscious manufacturers alike.

Ubuntu is Linux. Fedora is Linux. They are not the same thing. MIUI is Android. Sense is Android. AOSP and CM are Android. They are not the same thing.
iOS is iOS, Jailbroken or not.

As much as I like to whine about how terrible Sense and Touchwiz are, the upside is that Android's tweakability allows both manufacturers AND users to have a lot of choice in HOW their Java virtual machine-based Linux-kernel'd OS is implemented on their device. For every person like me who hates Sense, there's another who loves it. Choice is good. Jailbreaking doesn't afford anywhere near that kind of customization potential.

Hell, I even have Ubuntu and Android dual-booting alongside each other on my Nexus 7. Do that on your Jailbroken iPhone.

The "jailbreak" degree of customization is built into Android without ANY need for hacks or even rooting. Just download an alternative app. There's one for every single thing the OS does. Dialers, notifications, browsers, SMS clients, email clients, lockscreens, home screens, everything. Without ever needing to hack a thing.

Please don't take that as an iPhone-bashfest. Just clearing up some facts.

[Jesda]

Unless you're launching space ships, there's not much worth customizing unless the preexisting configuration is terrible, in which case the phone was a waste of money because you're paying extra for poorly developed (and discarded) software.

I receive sales calls, call lenders, call service providers, and text girls. In between I read NPR on the toilet, log my bicycle rides, tether my laptop on road trips, pull up maps, and take drunk photos of myself and others doing questionable things at questionable places with questionable people in the middle of the week.

I prefer listening to music on my 5th-gen iPod Nano which has a surprisingly excellent built-in DAC.




If a piece of mobile equipment costs hundreds of dollars (whether its out of pocket or blended into your wireless contract), it had better be damn good out of the box. Choice is good, but with the exception of the barebones Nexus, the default choices with Android are usually sh*t.

In my case, the software isn't the only problem. The hardware stinks too.