Ardilla: Dogfacedgod: Samsung Galaxy S II >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> iphone

Honest question, not looking to start a flame war:

What makes the Galaxy S II better than the iPhone 4S?

I've never really had the chance to look at Android- What does it do better than iOS? What does it do worse?

Link (new window)

TheSneakerWhore: Ardilla: Dogfacedgod: Samsung Galaxy S II >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> iphone

Honest question, not looking to start a flame war:

What makes the Galaxy S II better than the iPhone 4S?

I've never really had the chance to look at Android- What does it do better than iOS? What does it do worse?

Link (new window)

Thanks for the link. That's a developer's forum, right? From a consumer perspective, does that stuff make a difference? I'm not going to be programming, or hacking, or jailbreaking, or whatever the kids are calling it these days.

Ardilla: What makes the Galaxy S II better than the iPhone 4S?

My wife has the Galaxy S2. There's 2 biggies:-
1. It's really, really fast as a phone. Click to open an app and *blam* it's there
2. The screen is big and beautiful (uses AMOLED)

I've not tried the iPhone's camera, but our Galaxy S2 photos are really great. It's the first camera on a phone that made me leave my point-and-shoot at home.

BizarreMan: I'll stick with Android thank you very much. My G2 works just fine. The only complaint I have is so few people are making phones with a physical keyboard now with adding on all of the suck-ass skins. Give me plain Android and screw your custom "experience".

I have the Epic 4g on Sprint and I love the slide out keyboard, very sturdy design.

The main reason I switched to Sprint from T-Mobile is that Sprint is cheaper with the discount given for my wife's (now former) employer.

When I was with T-Mobile, they were great. CSB bro time:
I was away from home for about 6 months, and in that time we were trying to buy a house back home. I was on the phone with the realtor, bank, etc. a whole lot. My wife and I shared 800 anytime minutes and one months we went over by about 50 minutes. They charged us for the overage at a discounted rate (like $5-10 or something) and offered us 500 extra minutes free of charge for the next 3 months. I saw the bill for the overage initailly and thought "oh well, gotta be more careful" and then they called me offering the free minutes. Excellent customer service. Though Sprint has pretty great customer service as well in my experience so far.

Ardilla: What makes the Galaxy S II better than the iPhone 4S?

It has bigger numbers.

Ardilla: TheSneakerWhore: Ardilla: Dogfacedgod: Samsung Galaxy S II >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> iphone

Honest question, not looking to start a flame war:

What makes the Galaxy S II better than the iPhone 4S?

I've never really had the chance to look at Android- What does it do better than iOS? What does it do worse?

Link (new window)

Thanks for the link. That's a developer's forum, right? From a consumer perspective, does that stuff make a difference? I'm not going to be programming, or hacking, or jailbreaking, or whatever the kids are calling it these days.

Here's the honest and non-biased answer: The biggest difference is integration with other things. If you have a mac, ipod touch, ipad all synced together, the iphone would be the most practical. If you don't and you have gmail account, gdocs, picasa, etc., android would be most practical (I love looking up an address in google maps on the computer, starring it, then opening my phones navigation app and seeing it right there).
If you're not going to be "hacking" it and you don't care about personalization, a good android phone would suit you just as well as an iphone. Besides the integration aspect, the biggest difference would be the apps. Most iphone apps are paid and you can get an app with the same functionality on android for free. Oh, also external storage and removable battery.
Both phones work well and I doubt you'd be disappointed purchasing either.

TL;DR Not a whole lot of difference for the average consumer besides integration w/ other apple/google products.

ajt167: Ardilla: TheSneakerWhore: Ardilla: Dogfacedgod: Samsung Galaxy S II >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> iphone

Honest question, not looking to start a flame war:

What makes the Galaxy S II better than the iPhone 4S?

I've never really had the chance to look at Android- What does it do better than iOS? What does it do worse?

Link (new window)

Thanks for the link. That's a developer's forum, right? From a consumer perspective, does that stuff make a difference? I'm not going to be programming, or hacking, or jailbreaking, or whatever the kids are calling it these days.

Here's the honest and non-biased answer: The biggest difference is integration with other things. If you have a mac, ipod touch, ipad all synced together, the iphone would be the most practical. If you don't and you have gmail account, gdocs, picasa, etc., android would be most practical (I love looking up an address in google maps on the computer, starring it, then opening my phones navigation app and seeing it right there).
If you're not going to be "hacking" it and you don't care about personalization, a good android phone would suit you just as well as an iphone. Besides the integration aspect, the biggest difference would be the apps. Most iphone apps are paid and you can get an app with the same functionality on android for free. Oh, also external storage and removable battery.
Both phones work well and I doubt you'd be disappointed purchasing either.

TL;DR Not a whole lot of difference for the average consumer besides integration w/ other apple/google products.

I should note that if you do decide to root your android, that opens up a whole host of things that you wouldn't be able to do on an iphone. Custom ROMs, CPU and task killer settings, etc. Also, to see the real robustness of android, look up an application called Tasker. It takes a little bit of time to learn it, but once you do, it's amazing.

Bathia_Mapes: IMHO, T-Mobile's Samsung Galaxy S II is as good as or better than the iPhone.

Does T Mobile have LTE yet?

4G is a cute marketing gimmick, but if a carrier doesn't have LTE (which is a huge step forward over 3.5G) and don't have the iPhone (to appeal to the Apple folks), they must have cheap plans. So do they have super cheap plans?

ajt167: ajt167: Ardilla: TheSneakerWhore: Ardilla: Dogfacedgod: Samsung Galaxy S II >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> iphone

Honest question, not looking to start a flame war:

What makes the Galaxy S II better than the iPhone 4S?

I've never really had the chance to look at Android- What does it do better than iOS? What does it do worse?

Link (new window)

Thanks for the link. That's a developer's forum, right? From a consumer perspective, does that stuff make a difference? I'm not going to be programming, or hacking, or jailbreaking, or whatever the kids are calling it these days.

Here's the honest and non-biased answer: The biggest difference is integration with other things. If you have a mac, ipod touch, ipad all synced together, the iphone would be the most practical. If you don't and you have gmail account, gdocs, picasa, etc., android would be most practical (I love looking up an address in google maps on the computer, starring it, then opening my phones navigation app and seeing it right there).
If you're not going to be "hacking" it and you don't care about personalization, a good android phone would suit you just as well as an iphone. Besides the integration aspect, the biggest difference would be the apps. Most iphone apps are paid and you can get an app with the same functionality on android for free. Oh, also external storage and removable battery.
Both phones work well and I doubt you'd be disappointed purchasing either.

TL;DR Not a whole lot of difference for the average consumer besides integration w/ other apple/google products.

I should note that if you do decide to root your android, that opens up a whole host of things that you wouldn't be able to do on an iphone. Custom ROMs, CPU and task killer settings, etc. Also, to see the real robustness of android, look up an application called Tasker. It takes a little bit of time to learn it, but once you do, it's amazing.

Thanks very much!

I've got an iPhone and an Apple desktop; I do like how well they integrate together. I haven't really had the opportunity to play with Android, so I don't know that much about it. But I don't want to dismiss it out of hand without learning why so many people like it.

I don't really have an interest in tinkering with the phone; I'm more interested in using the features that are built-in (or incorporated as apps, etc.). So while I'm sure that all that "root" stuff is very cool, I don't have the time to learn how to do it, much less spend all the time tinkering.

Thanks again for the thoughtful responses.

Moopy Mac: Bathia_Mapes: IMHO, T-Mobile's Samsung Galaxy S II is as good as or better than the iPhone.

Does T Mobile have LTE yet?

4G is a cute marketing gimmick, but if a carrier doesn't have LTE (which is a huge step forward over 3.5G) and don't have the iPhone (to appeal to the Apple folks), they must have cheap plans. So do they have super cheap plans?

if you live in a reasonably populated metro area, you're speed with T-mo is probably just fine. They're supposedly using the 4B$ in ATT failed merger money to implement LTE starting later this year, but who knows. Personally, I'm quite ok with the "4G" T-mo provides.

Been a T-mo customer since it was called Voicestream. Probably leaving when my current contract is up. They keep bumping things up a little bit at a time, sneaking extra crap into our bill, whatever. The wife wants a smartphone next time around, and I don't want to add another $30 data plan. Been looking at Virgin... their phone selection is a bit lacking, but $55/mo per line for unlimited everything seems kinda hard to beat.

/That was also back when phones just had model numbers instead of marketing names.
//And you could non-ironically buy a zebra print or pot leaf faceplate for your Nokia 5110 from the kiosk at the mall.
///Off my lawn, adjusting onion, and all that.

alwaysjaded: bsharitt: Most of the people I know that left T-mobile last year did so due to the then pending buyout from AT&T mostly heading to Sprint(even pre-iPhone) or some sort of prepaid.

Yea, I was going to bail and then the merger fell through so I renewed for a Galaxy S2. Love this phone just haven't had any time to sit and mess with it since work is running me into the ground.

Anyone know a good program that lets me add notes and dates on my laptop then sync it to my phone? I've sorta looked but I'm usually so tired when I get home all I can do is have a beer then go to bed.

Well, the iPhone lets you sync notes and dates between the phone and your computer, whether it's a Mac or PC, just fine, out of the box. But do tell us how much your Android phone rocks :P

the cake is a pie: ...The wife wants a smartphone next time around, and I don't want to add another $30 data plan. Been looking at Virgin... their phone selection is a bit lacking, but $55/mo per line for unlimited everything seems kinda hard to beat...

Look hard - the last time I had an acct. with them the phone had some very annoying goofy software that made you swipe/unlock to hang up - phone engineer said it was because Virgin was concerned with dangling earrings on their clients.

Kar98: alwaysjaded: bsharitt: Most of the people I know that left T-mobile last year did so due to the then pending buyout from AT&T mostly heading to Sprint(even pre-iPhone) or some sort of prepaid.

Yea, I was going to bail and then the merger fell through so I renewed for a Galaxy S2. Love this phone just haven't had any time to sit and mess with it since work is running me into the ground.

Anyone know a good program that lets me add notes and dates on my laptop then sync it to my phone? I've sorta looked but I'm usually so tired when I get home all I can do is have a beer then go to bed.

Well, the iPhone lets you sync notes and dates between the phone and your computer, whether it's a Mac or PC, just fine, out of the box. But do tell us how much your Android phone rocks :P

Actually, you can sync dates with your google calendar and notes with google docs, as well as your contacts with gmail right out the box These don't sync with the computer, per se, but rather your google services which you can access on any internet-connected computer. Also, apps like Evernote do the same thing basically.

What? No Carly Foulkes pictures yet???

LasersHurt: Ardilla:

I would feel remiss if I didn't note that you can integrate all of those accounts he mentioned in one way or another on the iPhone, too. And that while there are fewer free apps on iPhone, as a percentage, $.99 is a steal for a great app.

I've never liked the "numbers of free apps" argument. If you don't have a buck or two for an app here and there, how the hell are you affording a smartphone?

The first part is absolutely true, but the free/versus paid apps still a point worth considering. I've had about 120-130 total apps on my phone at one time and I've paid probably around $15-$20 all total for them. A coworker of mine has about the same and he said he's paid close to $100 for all of them. Of course, this will be different from person to person. As far as the comment "If you don't have a buck or two for an app here and there, how the hell are you affording a smartphone?" goes, what's wrong with wanting to save your money where you can? I can afford my smartphone, but I'll still buy things on sale and use coupons to save a buck or two here and there.

East Avenue Arse: Archimedes' Principal: $30 per month no contract; 5Gb of 4G ; unlimited text; 100min talk.

I am rocking that plan with an unlocked GSM Galaxy Nexus...couldn't be finer!

Same here. Loving it. At first I was worried that 100min of talk wouldn't be enough, even though I'm not a big phone talker, but using Skype as a supplement to call long distance family or friends I haven't really come close to hitting the 100 min ceiling.

Kar98: I'm currently sitting in a huge data center in Dallas, Texas, posting to Fark from my iPhone on T-Mobile so I'm getting a kick out of etc etc...

I was wondering about that. My family has T-Mobile and my son uses an i phone. It's not that hard to do.

LasersHurt: If you don't have a buck or two for an app here and there, how the hell are you affording a smartphone?

some folks have smartphones to do more than just tinker with the flash game of the month.

bsharitt: Most of the people I know that left T-mobile last year did so due to the then pending buyout from AT&T mostly heading to Sprint(even pre-iPhone) or some sort of prepaid.

Exactly. Plus I hated the fact that they kept wanting me to go to a payment plan I didn't want and didn't need. I waited for my contract to end, then went to Cricket. Screw a contract!

Bathia_Mapes: IMHO, T-Mobile's Samsung Galaxy S II is as good as or better than the iPhone.

Yeah the 10,000,000 people bought the iPhone on the first day are wrong, and every single "apple killer " since looks exactly like it.

I'm glad you all like your phones. Whats it to me? I'll be right there with a preorder on the iPhone 5. And what's that to you? Use your phone and be happy. I guess you'll just never get over it.

Bathia_Mapes: IMHO, T-Mobile's Samsung Galaxy S II is as good as or better than the iPhone.

Definitely better.

Screw the haters. I have 3 smartphones on T-Mobile and by bill is under $200/mo. I never have problems with dropped calls. Like, as in NEVER, not unless I am driving through the middle of nowhere. And the Galaxy II flat out rocks.

Oh, and my favorite Android app:

myremote

699,999 people. I left because my new job bought out my contract and is paying for my new phone on AT&T. I liked T-Mobile and loathe AT&T, but when they're free AT&T's not so bad. And my new Galaxy SII Skyrocket kicks some major ass.

I have to say AT&T's "4G" is WAY faster than T-mobile's. I would get maybe 2Mbps speed on T-mobile and get around 30Mbps on AT&T!

Ardilla: I don't really have an interest in tinkering with the phone; I'm more interested in using the features that are built-in (or incorporated as apps, etc.). So while I'm sure that all that "root" stuff is very cool, I don't have the time to learn how to do it, much less spend all the time tinkering.

On the Android devices that Cyanogen supports, "rooting" is essentially just a matter of hooking up your phone to your computer and flashing a firmware upgrade; it's put together in such a way that it's almost like installing one large app. It still doesn't make Android quite as flexible as webOS (sigh), but it does enable some nifty capabilities such as tethering without having to get your hands dirty.

Occam's Nailfile: Oh, and my favorite Android app:

myremote

I'm a fan of the inverse: airdroid

I work for T-mobile (in Retention, specifically), and I'm really getting a kick out of the headline.

Anyway, despite being an Android fan ever since the G1, I'm being swayed over to the new Windows Mobile phones. I'll hold off on upgrading until we get one of the upcoming WM "superphones", but the software they run on is dead sexy.

I have yet to have to do an exchange on the Nokia Lumia 710s for a customer, and that's saying something. Those phones are awesome.

elysive: We've had T-Mobile forever and are starting to shop around. I don't know if anyone else has noticed some poor stability on Droid. Both the bf's and my phones like to randomly reboot themselves, sometimes daily. I have a Galaxy S2 and he has an LG smartphone. I don't think it's a coincidence. The interface is twitchier with every update.

That and T-Mobile's speed, coverage and customer service have gotten progressively worse since they announced the merger. It's really too bad.

Hmm - well - sorry that's been the case for ya. Gotta say though that I've been with TMobile for years in Southern Caifornia, and other than a 1 day where I had no service (They had a massive installation failure and damn near had to rebuild that one to get it working again) I haven't had any issues to speak of. Of course, like some posters have reported above there are a very few weird spots where there is no reception, but from what I've seen just about all carriers have those somewhere, and in 8? years plus I can count the # of them I recall on one hand. And as usual, yes the customer service is a big factor in my retention. They really do try to help when you have an issue, up to and including bending a few rules around if need be. (Key word is bend, they aren't gonna assume the position and smile for you ;p )

Not denigrating the posts of those who have had trouble, I'm sure you have. Everyone's experiences, especially in varying areas - tend to be different. But I can say that for all the time I have had T-Mobile, I hadn't had much to complain about at all.

elysive: T-Mobile's speed, coverage and customer service have gotten progressively worse since they announced the merger. It's really too bad.

Bullcrap. If anything coverage had gotten much better, speed, well who careson a phone as long as its above 1MBps, and customer service? I've been with T-Mobile since 2002, had to call customer service maybe 4 times in all that time and every one of these times it was because of something on my end, not theirs, and they've been stellar every time I had to call in.

studebaker hoch: People still sign up for cell phone contracts?

Yes, as they don't want to pay $600 for a smartphone. Hell, most of them have issues paying anything over $50 for a phone, smart or not.

Moopy Mac: Bathia_Mapes: IMHO, T-Mobile's Samsung Galaxy S II is as good as or better than the iPhone.

Does T Mobile have LTE yet?

4G is a cute marketing gimmick, but if a carrier doesn't have LTE (which is a huge step forward over 3.5G) and don't have the iPhone (to appeal to the Apple folks), they must have cheap plans. So do they have super cheap plans?

And yet LTE isn't even true 4G.

Zachery: What? No Carly Foulkes pictures yet???

YAY CARLY!!! Why can't there be a rep button?