To read the first three parts of my switch from an iPhone to an Android click on Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3. Also check out Alisha’s helpful comment about the Android.
It has been about 4 weeks since I made the switch from an iPhone to Android. There have been some growing pains but all in all things are alright.
First off I am going to say I still prefer my iPhone. It has only been a month and while I have grown to like my Android, it just isn’t my iPhone. This could be because the iPhone was the first smartphone I ever used and it is what I learned on. For example, I learned to use Medline on PubMed, but Ovid Medline will always be my DOC (database of choice) because that is what I first learned when I was in library school and what I used years ago when I was an Electronic Resources Graduate Assistant at the University of Missouri Columbia.
I ran into an interesting blog post yesterday stating basically that you are what you use. According to Ars Technica, researchers at the University of Illinois believe “people treat brands as they treat themselves, leading users to feel more affected by brand failure instead of less.” Attacks upon people’s favorite brands can be perceived as attacks against their self image. Because the brand is perceived as a part of ourselves we are more likely to minimize its failures and maxmize the failures of its competitors. Right now it is the iPhone vs. Android vs. Blackberry debate, but it could easily be Coke vs. Pepsi. It is hard for me to think that I feel a certain brand is a part of me, I kind of would like to think I am above all that. But hey if I was able to always have my way I’d be an iPhone talking, Coke drinking, Ovid searching librarian. But this is life, and things happen. If Pepsi is in the vending machine and I need caffiene, I’ll drink it. As much as I used my iPhone and currently use my Android, I can now say that this whole phone thing is like the soda wars to me. I prefer Coke but the two are so similar in taste that if I want a soda, I will take either one. I prefer the iPhone but an Android gives me such a similar experience, it isn’t worth the extra $1200/year to be on AT&T with my iPhone.
Now things in the telecommunication world change rapidly. Who knows maybe a year from now Sprint will sell VirginMobile or VirginMobile’s rates will go up. If things change and the cost of having an iPhone (on AT&T or Verizon) is cheaper or closer to the same price as my Android then I will go back to an iPhone.
The biggest problems I have had with my Android have been with the contacts list. It is horrible. Hopefully the kinks will get figured out. The biggest problem I had with my iPhone was the lack of Flash. Sorry, I know there are people out there who said they don’t miss having Flash. I missed it. Both phones have their faults.
Android doesn’t have as many apps as the iPhone but as I mentioned in an earlier post, most of my favorite apps are available in the Android Market anyway. If you have specific apps that you rely upon on your iPhone but you are considering moving to an Android, go the Android Market and look to see if it is there. See if one of your friends has an Android and will install the app for you to play with (assuming the app is free). However, the Android Market is growing and more more iPhone app developers are also developing for the Android. According to a survey of 47 developers at Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference in San Francisco, 47% said they develop their apps for both iOS and Android. “While that’s admittedly a very small sample,” appolicious advisor says, “it still seems to indicate that quite a few developers are expanding beyond the walls of the iTunes App Store to check the waters in Android’s pool.” Additionally with the new open source project, “in-the-box” Engadget thinks more iOS apps will be brought to the Android platform.
If you have an iPhone and want to move to an Android it will be bumpy because you are used to things being a certain way, but once you get used to things you will be fine. I am assuming the same would be true if you went from Android to iPhone. If you have never had a smartphone you don’t have to get an iPhone, you will be happy with the Android provided you do the research to find one that fits your lifestyle. Hint: Go for the best antenna signal strength, nobody ever complains when their signal is too good, but a constantly weak signal will having you saying words you never knew existed. .
That brings me to one of the strengths of an Android, lots of options. If you are somebody who likes to have a lot of options the Android is for you. Everything from camera, OS, memory, etc. are all different for each manufacturer. An iPhone is an iPhone, there is no extra memory or another “brand” with a better pixel camera.
The best thing I have gained from this is that I have a working knowledge of both phones. I am now able to answer questions on either platform fairly easily, which has been helpful on several occasions professionally and personally.
I recently got a Windows Phone 7 and am very happy with it!