25 replies to this topic

[JMichael]

I recently read this article, and thought I'd share it with the Evernote community:

How to make Android faster, more productive and more secure than iPhone

After I read this article, I thought a better title might be:
Why You Should Not Buy An Android Phone

Disclosure: I'm a long-time iPhone user (since iPhone 3S).

Generally I am well satisfied by the iPhone, but I am sometimes frustrated by the constraints that Apple puts on the iOS. I have read that Android has made a lot of advancements recently, and many think it is superior to the iPhone. Even the iPad advocate GrumpyMonkey has been making noises about switching to Android.

So, I thought I should review the Android to see what I might be missing out on. I just ran across this article today, and it seemed like a good place to start.

I may have a bias toward the iPhone, but the suggestions listed to make the Android better seemed to me like a list of what's wrong with the Android:

IPhone users love to brag about their phones. They line up around the block and stand in line for hours when a new one is released. Yet, for many users, Android is clearly the superior platform. Yes, its Achilles' heel is a big one: security. Android's openness and large market share mean that it's a juicy target for attackers.

With a little tweaking, you can speed up and optimize Android in ways that will make iPhone users' heads spin.

Here are 10 ways to make Android faster, more productive and more secure than iPhone:
[Note: See the full article for details provided for each item on the list]

Make your Android faster

1. Get a better browser.
2. Install an Android optimizer.
3. Conserve your battery.

Make your Android more productive

4. Dig deeper into which apps hog data.
5. Tether your phone.
6. Pick your own keyboard.

Make your phone more secure

7. Turn on screen lock, but don't use a pattern.
8. Install anti-virus software.
9. Stay away from App Stores you do not know.
10. Stay away from mobile payments.

Your thoughts?

[GrumpyMonkey]

They both have their strengths and weaknesses. I have both (iPhone and Droid), and overall I prefer Android on the phone. I'm not terribly enthusiastic about phones, though. I can't get much of my work done on them. I am far more interested in seeing how Android improves in the tablet market.

In terms of Evernote, Android is light years ahead of iOS right now. Let's hope it's the iOS team's turn this year to get some love

[gazumped]

I thought the clue was in the title - "How to make Android faster, more productive and more secure than iPhone". So after I have installed some extra free software, and tweaked a few settings I'll have something that is.. what was that phrase again? "faster, more productive and more secure". Seems like a buying signal to me...

[GrumpyMonkey]

I find Android to be quite fast and secure, but I don't think any phone, even with about 5 inches of screen, is terribly productive. But, that might just be me.

[Metrodon]

From a developer's point of view...this is exactly why we don't want to develop for Android

http://techcrunch.co.../KqJb (The Loop)

[JMichael]

From a developer's point of view...this is exactly why we don't want to develop for Android

http://techcrunch.co.../KqJb (The Loop)

Wow! I had no idea. This pic is so impressive I just had to show it here:

You know how many Android developers complain about fragmentation? Yeah, this is what fragmentation looks like.

[jefito]

From a developer's point of view...this is exactly why we don't want to develop for Android

"Sad Cakes!!" (I have a friend whose circle uses the expression "Bunny Cakes!")

This is not too far akin to the old problems of developing for disparate versions of Windows across different lines of computers with different devices (hence different drivers), etc. etc. Even as recently as 5 or so years ago we had a problem with Intel's driver for its graphics device on certain motherboards would support video capabilities that it plain didn't support (and they refused to fix it).

[Metrodon]

Devices are just a part of the problem, the sheer number of versions of Android out there, the slow pace that carriers update at and the customisations that build in make it a horrible platform to develop for.

In comparison, Apple has very high adoption rates for it's latest OS each time they release an upgrade and I (as a developer) know what the screen size/resolution/memory/processor/everything else are going to be for any device that is going to run my app.

Marco Arment (ex-Tumblr and now Mr Instapaper) also says that Android users are less likely to pay for apps than iOS users - http://9to5mac.com/2... Intelligence). So, (again as a developer), where is my incentive to write something really cool and profitable.

I can perfectly understand why an organisation like Evernote will try and build a really cool Android app, but in the end they are selling their service and the apps are just a means to that end.

[heather]

Similar argument as to why companies don't like to develop for linux. Too many versions and the general consensus is that software should be free/open source. Apple's lockdown on hardware requirements does make it relatively easy to support.

[jefito]

The appeal of having a nice, safe, uniform device space is undeniable. Of course, if everyone is over there, than that leaves opportunities over in the wild & woolly zone (do you want a larger slice of a smaller pie or vice-versa?). And some folks just lean more towards the cool than the profitable. Not to mention any developer types who harbor antipathy towards the walled garden and are never gonna build an iOS app anyways.

Anyhow, it's interesting that Apple has succeeded with this strategy (if it was intentional) in the mobile device space, where it never came anywhere near this in the desktop space.

In the end, I have my Android device as a nicer reader (prefer the color vs. b/w readers, and the size over a full-blown tablet), and it's nice to have Evernote there for me there, too.

[Metrodon]

Apple are moving nearer to it on the desktop too - the App Store seems to be pretty successful on Snow Leopard and Lion and will be even more integrated into Mountain Lion with apps being sandboxed to 'protect' the user and the new Gatekeeper stuff.

There are benefits to the developer too, Evernote pretty much only (apart from betas and trying to fix user issues?) distributes the Mac App through the App store. And if you want to update to Mountain Lion then they are saying that it will be App Store only - they said the same about Lion and then did sell a USB install drive.

It's very clear that Apple are trying to take the successes they have had in iOS and try and bring them to OS X and you can see why. My computer illiterate mum (who loves her iPad) sat down in front of my old MBP a few weeks ago and was happily browsing and emailing once I'd shown her how to get Launchpad up. The balance will be keeping those who are coming to OS X via iOS happy, whilst not alienating the more sophisticated users. I never want to use Launchpad on my Mac, why the ***** would it?

[heather]

This reminds me of the case a few years back where a college student - CS major, was arrested for using a terminal window instead of a GUI.

https://www.eff.org/...-are-suspicious

[May]

Apple approach is nice of course, all they need is just a 7inch ipod (smaller iPad) and I would be happy. That's just my personal wish.
They can still keep the resolusition at 1024x768 on a 7inch screen so it wouldn't add much fragmentation.

From a developer's point of view...this is exactly why we don't want to develop for Android

http://techcrunch.co.../KqJb (The Loop)

Wow! I had no idea. This pic is so impressive I just had to show it here:

You know how many Android developers complain about fragmentation? Yeah, this is what fragmentation looks like.

We don't need **this** many form factors but I find 3.5inch to be too small. There is not much benifit in having the smallest device possible (for me at least)

[gazumped]

I don't really consider the software side of things - most apps cover both OS's sooner or later; otherwise a clone springs up to cover the gap. Developers may have problems with the slightly fragmented hardware, but if you stick with a major manufacturer and a recent version of the OS, any apps that don't currently work with the current incarnation are quickly amended so they do. I'm more attracted to the better hardware - my Galaxy S2 is bigger (the screen, that is), thinner and lighter than the comparable iP4 with a better camera and cheaper upgrades. I like Apple because it always looks nice. I buy cheaper because I'm just mean.

[TechBarber]

I don't really consider the software side of things - most apps cover both OS's sooner or later;

True, but in the case of some apps (i.e. WiFi Scanners), they are banned from the Apple App Store altogether. Android does allow more kinds of applications.

Having said that, Android's greater flexibility also leads to some junky and insecure applications.

[gazumped]

It is a headache to find apps that actually do what it says on the can reliably and without too much advertising gumming up my screen (NB Adblock is now available for Android...) but I get my recommendations from friends (who I find often have lousy taste) and various tech blogs running Android App of the Day/ week/ Month features (which I suspect are sometimes generated by money rather than honest journalism) and just try out what sounds useful. After that it's down to trying stuff out and seeing what is genuinely so good I'll want to continue using it.

I now have over 300 apps installed and actually use about 10 regularly. One of these fine days I'm going to have such a clear-out...

[spg SCOTT]

It is a headache to find apps that actually do what it says on the can reliably and without too much advertising gumming up my screen (NB Adblock is now available for Android...) but I get my recommendations from friends (who I find often have lousy taste) and various tech blogs running Android App of the Day/ week/ Month features (which I suspect are sometimes generated by money rather than honest journalism) and just try out what sounds useful. After that it's down to trying stuff out and seeing what is genuinely so good I'll want to continue using it.

I now have over 300 apps installed and actually use about 10 regularly. One of these fine days I'm going to have such a clear-out...

I hear you there. I think that I use even less apps than that. Maybe 5? Even then, I mainly use my tablet for browsing (though, since it is a tablet the uses may be somewhat different to a phone)

On the topic of ads, I am not bothered by them at all really, hey, the app is free right?

That said, when you start putting ads in my notification bar while the app is not running (telling me I have viruses no less* - What?) then the app is gone. I don't care what it was or how useful it is. I don't want to see ads when I am looking at the home screen.

*That was the first notification ad that I got. Confused me for a while until I realised that it was a game that I had installed (I noticed this after it had the app name in the ad for some reason.)

[gazumped]

ads in my notification bar

Yup had a couple of those. Whenever my phone starts to do something of which I disapprove - frequent upgrade reminders / ads / locking up / bad battery life etc I track down and exterminate with extreme prejudice any app responsible.

The most gentlemanly app I know is Wifi Analyzer - which I use to tech wifi connections (obviously) since it detects all the signals currently available in my location and the band on which they're being broadcast. Somewhere in Settings there's a Display Ads? tickbox which will give me 14 days without ads -which are quite small and unobtrusive anyway- if I untick it. That was so darn polite, I tend to leave the ads on anyway.

Another one I favour is Motion Tracker which gives you an Aliens motion tracker right there in your hand. Good for conversations in a certain type of geeky crowd...

[TechBarber]

... I get my recommendations from friends (who I find often have lousy taste)

Haha...man, do I hear that!

[BurgersNFries]

True, but in the case of some apps (i.e. WiFi Scanners), they are banned from the Apple App Store altogether.

Which is why people jailbreak their Apple devices. ;-)

I think its normal for people to get a lot of apps, initially. Then the fun wears off & you realize you only really use a small portion of them.