Android vs. iPhone for Google Stuff

[msr2112]

It's that time again when my phone upgrade is available. I have an Android, which is OK. The main drawback being that the battery life is terrible. I'm pretty set on giving the iPhone a try but I worry about the whole Google sync-ing thing. My main email and all my contacts and calendar are through gmail and I need to know when I have emails come in.
Any iPhone users out there use gmail? How does it work?

[baffled]

Gmail 2 or 2.0 or whatever it is got pretty "meh" reviews by most iPhone users. I actually like it a lot.

Unless you're just just tired of Android and don't like it, I would look more at the Samsung Galaxy SIII. My "girlfriend" has one and it kicks the shit out of my phone.

[tonkadtx]

Android is Google's platform, they develop directly for it. You have to take steps to get IOS to play nice with Google.

http://lifehacker.com/5944188/get-googl ... ct-harmony

Another deciding factor should be price. They were giving away Samsung Galaxies here for a penny yesterday when you signed a long term contract. Apple never gives away anything.

[baffled]

This is true, but Android is kind of a shit show. I read recently that Android is so fragmented at this point that there is some concern that Google has, or might eventually lose control of it. I'm not sure how real the concerns were or are.

I'm a fan of iOS for a lot of reasons, but if you use your phone for work stuff, I probably wouldn't switch platforms.

[msr2112]

I'm not a huge android fan but I can't say I hate it. The battery life, though, I do hate. I unplug my phone with a full charge right about 5:30 each morning. With even moderate use I'm at 20% by 3 or 4:00. If I actually need to use it a bit it's dead much earlier. I have battery saving programs and I don't do much other than email or text for the most part. No crazy games or music apps.

[WildGorillaMan]

Gmail, docs and calendar all work on my iPhone and iPad just fine out of the box. I think some of these concerns are just nerd navel-gazing.

[Schlegel]

I don't see the problem with Android battery life. You can swap batteries, unlike iPhone, so you can just pop a fresh one in. If you don't like doing that, get a larger battery. I have an OEM extended life battery on my Android, and that extra 25 to 30% life made all the difference.

[baffled]

I'm not a huge android fan but I can't say I hate it. The battery life, though, I do hate. I unplug my phone with a full charge right about 5:30 each morning. With even moderate use I'm at 20% by 3 or 4:00. If I actually need to use it a bit it's dead much earlier. I have battery saving programs and I don't do much other than email or text for the most part. No crazy games or music apps.

I'm pretty sure it's not a problem on the Galaxy SIII. Seriously, I'm kinda chubbed out thinking about that phone.

Which phone do you have right now? As in the model, not the platform.

[msr2112]

Gmail, docs and calendar all work on my iPhone and iPad just fine out of the box. I think some of these concerns are just nerd navel-gazing.

You're probably right. How about contacts? Do they sync well?

[Protobuilder]

The new gmail app works very nicely.

The new Galaxy models are superior to what Apple is currently offering in nearly every way.

If you want to toss in another competitor, a colleague just showed me his new Windows phone from Nokia. Other than the fact that it weighs more than my laptop, it is very nicely put together - if I used a PC at home and in the office, I would likely look in that direction a bit more seriously.

[Shapecharge]

I'm not a huge android fan but I can't say I hate it. The battery life, though, I do hate. I unplug my phone with a full charge right about 5:30 each morning. With even moderate use I'm at 20% by 3 or 4:00. If I actually need to use it a bit it's dead much earlier. I have battery saving programs and I don't do much other than email or text for the most part. No crazy games or music apps.

I'm pretty sure it's not a problem on the Galaxy SIII. Seriously, I'm kinda chubbed out thinking about that phone.

Which phone do you have right now? As in the model, not the platform.

I was seriously thinking about switching from an iPhone to that big fatass Galaxy Note 2 but the wife and I are all ate with with all the other Apple shit...desktop and two iPads.

[tough old man]

I gave my iphone away. Hated it
Samsung Galaxy Note II is the best phone I ever had.

[Mickey O'neil]

I have an android but if I get another phone I want a Samsung Galaxy SIII. That Windows phone sounds interesting. Nokia always makes an excellent phone.

[j-cubed]

Which service?

The Droid Razr Maxx (Verizon) has very good battery life.

[baffled]

I'm not a huge android fan but I can't say I hate it. The battery life, though, I do hate. I unplug my phone with a full charge right about 5:30 each morning. With even moderate use I'm at 20% by 3 or 4:00. If I actually need to use it a bit it's dead much earlier. I have battery saving programs and I don't do much other than email or text for the most part. No crazy games or music apps.

I'm pretty sure it's not a problem on the Galaxy SIII. Seriously, I'm kinda chubbed out thinking about that phone.

Which phone do you have right now? As in the model, not the platform.

I was seriously thinking about switching from an iPhone to that big fatass Galaxy Note 2 but the wife and I are all ate with with all the other Apple shit...desktop and two iPads.

I use an Apple for work, iPad for work (seriously), and having the iPhone just rounds things out.

Even though I get a little hard over the Galaxy models, the only way I would switch is if it meant I got cut off from, ya know... stuff.

Mickey,

Don't dick around with the Windows mobile stuff yet. Microsoft is doing everything they can to isolate themselves in the mobile market. Overpriced, bad marketing, and the platform itself gets pretty consistent "meh" ratings. Good enough to mess around with, not enough to make the change from what they're doing.

Don't do it. Seriously, motherfucker. Don't fucking do it.

[Jay]

Google apps work just fine with the iphone... never had an issue syncing, getting email or contacts on it.

[baffled]

I'm convinced that the only people who have serious problems are the uber tech nerds who find ways to fuck things up and complain about them. Some of the developers I follow are unbelievably bitchy about compatibility issues that most people don't know exist.

for the lie-man, I wouldn't really worry. Just for those who use their phone for work stuff.

[WildGorillaMan]

From where I stand Samsung seems to be singlehandedly holding the Android OS together in the marketplace. The S3 and the Note2 (and their predecessors) are solid devices. You seldom hear anyone say "Oh, I love my HTC"

[baffled]

The Galaxy S3 is the most popular smartphone on the market worldwide now, isn't it?

You're right about the HTC and other devices. I guess it's only a matter of time until Samsung can get its own operating system that's close enough to Android, but not so close that they get sued. Easier said than done.

The Nexus 7 is pretty interesting, but a lot of people don't even know it exists.

Google Now is a potential Siri killer if you ask me.

[tough old man]

Phablet.
http://search.yahoo.com/r/_ylt=A0oG7ljs ... ar-phablet

[WildGorillaMan]

Google Now is a potential Siri killer if you ask me.

Siri is a potential Siri killer IMO. I fucking hate her. I haven't spoken to her since getting into a shouting match with her early last year. Fucking useless twit told me someone was not in my contacts and "YES THEY FUCKING ARE!" is not a response she can understand.

[tough old man]

Not Joking here

[Mickey O'neil]

Man, that looks sweet.

[WildGorillaMan]

Everybody I know who has the Note or Note2 love it.

I think you really do need to pair a Bluetooth headset to it. Sure, you look like a wanker talking on a Bluetooth, but you look pretty silly holding that giant phablet up to your head.

[baffled]

Google Now is a potential Siri killer if you ask me.

Siri is a potential Siri killer IMO. I fucking hate her. I haven't spoken to her since getting into a shouting match with her early last year. Fucking useless twit told me someone was not in my contacts and "YES THEY FUCKING ARE!" is not a response she can understand.

I have a bit of an unnatural relationship with her. She makes my life a lot easier, but I know several people who think she's a real cunt.

I think that voice recognition is really the only direction that phones and tablets can go outside of predictive technology like Google Now.

Phablet... heh. Wouldn't be surprised if that's where design heads. Already seeing a pretty strong trend with the relative success of the iPad mini or whatever it's called.

A couple inches smaller and it's getting close to the Note. And the Galaxy Note is, well, already there.