Android Phones

[Jerry Prsha]

I'm hearing from more than one place that the Android interface is the most non-intuitive on the planet. Can anybody comment?

I work on Apple equipment for a living and own an Android phone. No, it's not the most non-intuitive on the planet but it's certainly not as polished as say the iOS. I think over time, things will conform a bit more but a lot of apps put things in different menus and you might have a to take a few more seconds or searching to find the menu you'd like.

It's not a tremendous PIA but it does get annoying after using a more mature OS like on an iPhone, etc...

 

[Jeff Hawkins]

I'm hearing from more than one place that the Android interface is the most non-intuitive on the planet. Can anybody comment?

I'm not sure, Darren, if you're referring to the user-friendliness of an Android smart phone, but here's my 2 cents worth if you are...I got an HTC android Incredible at (sorry to offend) Best Buy for $0 (with a sucky 2 year contract of course)...I've had it for 3 weeks and still haven't found the app store or any such "open source" outlet to view/download apps, beyond the ones preloaded in the HTC/Verizon system.
As far as operation goes, I find the phone awkward, as each time I call voicemail I still have to dial in my password, even though I set the account up myself, and use the same phone every time. If there's a way to do it faster after the first few times, the phone hasn't told me.
Could that be considered 'non-intuitive'? I think so.
But maybe it's just me, and the phone is actually 'incredible' as it says.

 

[Brett Roberts]

I'm hearing from more than one place that the Android interface is the most non-intuitive on the planet. Can anybody comment?

Sounds like Apple propaganda. Well, not necessarily from Apple directly, but their cult followers seem collectively to be one of the most efficient propaganda mechanisms on the planet.

But seriously - I've owned an Android device for six months and have encountered only a handful of "non-intuitive" moments. For the most part, they're simply the price you pay for a more customizable and hardware-agnostic OS. Those moments are quickly forgiven when I connect my Droid to my PC and remember that with an iPhone, I'd be using the iTunes interface for everything - quite possibly the most unintuitive and clunky piece of software I've encountered since the Win95 days.

 

[Scott Bennett]

Yea my evo is without contract.... so if you are not eligible for a upgrade Sprint gets $549 for it.

 

[rdale]

I've had it for 3 weeks and still haven't found the app store or any such "open source" outlet to view/download apps, beyond the ones preloaded in the HTC/Verizon system.

There should be a "market" app that lets you see everything.

I find the phone awkward, as each time I call voicemail I still have to dial in my password, even though I set the account up myself, and use the same phone every time. If there's a way to do it faster after the first few times, the phone hasn't told me.

That is not connected to your phone - that's entirely due to the way you set up your voicemail. Call back up your voicemail options and walk through the setup.

 

[Jim Hunt]

I'm hearing from more than one place that the Android interface is the most non-intuitive on the planet. Can anybody comment?

No, it isn't non-intuitive. However it is a bit more techie to really tweak it but then again it also is a bit more flexible than an iPhone/iPod touch. I love both but can see how a user might find the an Android a bit overwhelming.

(I would not expect user who hang out here to support that but remember people here are more tech savvy than the general population.)

I carry an HTC Droid Incredible and an iPod touch and wouldn't trade either.

 

[Scott Hammel]

12 pictures just leaked right here of the new HTC 4G LTE phone coming to Verizon. Apparently HTC is going to show it off at CES and then release it shortly after. Hopefully some leaked photo's of the LTE Moto phone will come out soon. Both the HTC and the Moto offerings should be face melters. Cannot wait!

 

[Jarrod Barnett]

Yes sir! Im looking forward to seeing that as well.

 

[Skip Talbot]

That's awesome about the Verizon 4G phones debuting soon. I'm holding out for one before I dump ATT and my five year old Razr. I was wondering if anyone had a preference on brands when it comes to running Android. I've used an HTC Incredible a little and really liked it, but also like keyboard offered on the Motorola phones. I found my Razr a little screwy at times though so I was initially looking at other phones than Motorola, but many years have passed.

 

[Scott Hammel]

That's awesome about the Verizon 4G phones debuting soon. I'm holding out for one before I dump ATT and my five year old Razr. I was wondering if anyone had a preference on brands when it comes to running Android. I've used an HTC Incredible a little and really liked it, but also like keyboard offered on the Motorola phones. I found my Razr a little screwy at times though so I was initially looking at other phones than Motorola, but many years have passed.

You probably can't go wrong with either to be honest. I personally prefer Moto but would be just as happy with an HTC as well I'm sure. The Incredible from HTC is an awesome phone but I think you could probably get the same experience from a Moto offering as well. It's a win-win for the consumer any way you go.

 

[Randall Cooper]

Personally, I plan on getting a MOTO for my upgrade in January(or Feb...or March...or whenever the new phones come out LOL). I've had the HTC Droid Eris for a year come January and Im just not that impressed with it. I've had to send it in for a replacement...twice! I havent heard of anyone having to send in the Moto Droid1 or Droid2 in for a replacement. Plus, I think I wanna give the physical keyboard a try. I get tired of trying to type on the onscreen keyboard, but maybe that will get better with a bigger screen(4"+)? I've been dying to get a new phone for weeks now, I've even considered getting a Droid2 in January for my upgrade, but than I think about all the 4G phones about to be released and I convince myself to wait, but I dont know if I can keep waiting if the releases get pushed back to Feb, March or even later! lol. I am eagerly awaiting CES 2011 next week where the new phones should make their first appearances. My advice to you Skip: Go into Verizon store and just play with all the ones that appeal to you and whichever one feels "right" thats prob the one you should get.

 

[LinkeS]

No dual core in the HTC Thunderbolt?

It's rumored the newly leaked HTC Thunderbolt 4G won't sport a dual core processor unlike many of the other upcoming flagship models . It wouldn't be a complete deal breaker but it is surprising that HTC didn't give this beast the full spec treatment considering it's competitors will likely have the Tegra 2.

I'm anxious to move over to Verizon and was hoping the Thunderbolt would be the "one" because I'm a HTC Sense fan. I'm thinking I'll hold out to see what the Moto Etna and LG Star (Optimus 2X) come packed with before jumping the gun with the T-bolt.

I'm curious how Verizon will handle data plans for the Thunderbolt since not all areas will have LTE available at launch. Do you pay regardless? Anyone heard/read anything on this front?

 

[Darren Addy]

Sounds like Apple propaganda. Well, not necessarily from Apple directly, but their cult followers seem collectively to be one of the most efficient propaganda mechanisms on the planet.

Your objectivity, Brett, looks like the one in question. Your post is packed with loaded language that belies your inability offer real objectivity. "Propaganda". "Cult followers". Really?

I will certainly take the word of a nephew who went from owning an iPhone to an Android and who says that there is no comparison and they wish they had their iPhone back - as the word of experience. He has no preconceived biases and showed it by being willing to try both. Having done so he is in a position to offer an opinion, one based on actual time spent with both platforms. Add that to the experiences of others (as in this thread) and I'm in a better place to make a good decision when the time comes.

I love open source and hope that Android is a big success in the long run. But that doesn't mean that they are the best choice for everybody right now. I'll have to weigh the costs of phones and data, once the iPhone is actually available on Verizon.

I appreciate the actual experiences offered here!

 

[Rob H]

I have an iPhone and a Droid X, and I use Windows 7 and OSX on a daily basis so I feel like I'm in a pretty good position to speak on the comparisons. They both have their pros and cons for sure.

The thing that concerns me with Apple is that they hyper-focus on presentation and I'm certain that if Steve Jobs had more influence in the market he would be a negative influence (some argue he's already causing enough problems). Apple's policies can sometimes get in the way of usability and innovation, which is sad because they can really release a polished product. All of this is in regards to tech ideology and is from the viewpoint of me being a developer. It might not be that big of a deal for an average consumer, but the Apple store is ruled with a heavy handed fist, and the type of entrepreneurial hacking done by Woz that got Apple here in the first place is usually fiercely contested by Apple's legal team.

The Android platform suffers from the opposite side of the spectrum on the exact same issues. Detractors will scream about how fragmentation is ruining Android, and apart from some hyperbole, they actually do have a point. You can go to Best Buy right now and probably buy devices with at least 5 different versions of the Android operating system. The Android Market is an unregulated mess of duplicate applications and shoddy development.

Apple *does* have some very strong evangelists, many of whom can't back up their argument when they tell their friends that PCs are evil. I won't go any further except to say Apple has a very positive connotation with their brand and they have one of the best marketing teams in the world. I'd recommend ignoring these people just as I'd recommend ignoring the people that only have eyes for Android and refuse to believe that both platforms have their uses and you don't have to swear allegiance to a side.

P.S. iPhone won't be on Verizon for another 6 months, or another 2 years depending on who you talk to. It's kind of been the running joke ever since the iPhone was released. I wouldn't wait for it if you'd like a phone any time in the near future, personally.

 

[Jim Hunt]

You can have the best of both worlds. Gert an Android phone and an iPod touch. The Android phones can offer hotspot capabilities. That can provide wifi anywhere for the iPod touch.