What's so fantastic about Android ?

[TheL8Elvis]

If your goal was giving out information rather than playing some game of gotcha you would have said how to do it in your first reply rather than stringing me along.

But no one asked *how* to do it. Just if it was possible. If you wanted to know how, you could have just replied 'how do you do it ?'

Fact of the matter is that compiling from source and installing via SDK sounds more complicated than jailbraking and installing via Cydia for most people and not even possible if you don't have a Mac

You compile with the sdk, you install by just dragging the app onto your phone in itunes. And you can run OS X in a VM on windows, so you don't technically need a mac. But I agree, it's way easy to just jailbreak and install. But the question was if it could be done without jailbreaking.And it can.

Think outside the box. You are not restricted to the walled garden, there are lots of ways around it.

Anyway - this is the android thread, not iOS , so I'll stop with this off-topic diversion.

 

[TheL8Elvis]

But the Apple-Tax to actually be able to compile and upload stuff to the iWhatever is 99 Dollars per year. Only then you can install stuff on a regular iWhatever.

So, just telling that the SDK is free is somewhat misleading.

Does anyone know what happens to the installed, self-written apps after that one year, if you don't pay the Apple-Tax again?

Greetings,

Chris

That's $99 to distribute via the app store.

Not on your own device, or anyone whose UDID you have. That's free.

ETA: argh - even in the android thread we must talk about apple.

 

[The Dark Lord]

But no one asked *how* to do it. Just if it was possible. If you wanted to know how, you could have just replied 'how do you do it ?'



You compile with the sdk, you install by just dragging the app onto your phone in itunes. And you can run OS X in a VM on windows, so you don't technically need a mac. But I agree, it's way easy to just jailbreak and install. But the question was if it could be done without jailbreaking.And it can.

Think outside the box. You are not restricted to the walled garden, there are lots of ways around it.

Anyway - this is the android thread, not iOS , so I'll stop with this off-topic diversion.

OK, I'll drop it also.

Back on topic. One thing that's great about Android is that it's not a walled garden. You can install any app you want to on it. App not in the app market for whatever reason? Don't want to use the Android Market? Just sideload it on. No rooting or compiling of source code necessary (unless you have an AT&T phone, I think they restrict you to the Android Market, but I don't nor would I ever have AT&T so I don't care).

 

[SeanDamnit]

can you bit torrent on an iOs without rooting ?

LogMeIn and bittorrent on your PC...then transfer to your phone if you'd like.

Posting on my HTC View Tablet BTW...

 

[Captain_Snort]

Standard ports (usually) even have a full size USB port on my Acer Iconia, chuck a normal keyboard and mouse in it, via a hub, well capable laptop replacement. Similar for HDMI. Even plugged and xbox 360 controller in it and happily played GTA III on it.

Stuff is less expensive and a lot more powerful in general. hey, GPS even works when you are not connected to any network.

Open source, easy to develop for. My current research is based partly on Android, mainly because it means some custom software, that, and it will be on the ground in Africa, apple stuff is just way too expensive there when people live on a dollar a day.


The list goes on, but the best is it shows you are not a brainless fanboi.

 

[megaresp]

My wife's Android phone allowed her to take her existing £15/month plan and get a brand new Samsung Galaxy Ace for no extra money - just a 24 month commit to her existing plan. But wait, there's more...

She also got a free bandwidth allowance per month and an additional allowance of one free 60 minute call from her mobile to New Zealand every month. So she got a MUCH better phone and a better call plan, but pays no extra per month.

The amount of call minutes and texts plus the free call to NZ per month wasn't available with an also free 24-month iPhone 3Gs contract at £15/month. The Samsung Galaxy Ace is reasonably similar spec-wise to my own iPhone 3Gs, so from where we sat it was a very good deal indeed.

That's what I like about Android, but I'm unlikely to cross-grade. I have too many apps on my iPhone 3Gs and prefer iOS5 to whatever version of Android she is running.

 

[Fishstick]

OK, I'll drop it also.

Back on topic. One thing that's great about Android is that it's not a walled garden. You can install any app you want to on it. App not in the app market for whatever reason? Don't want to use the Android Market? Just sideload it on. No rooting or compiling of source code necessary (unless you have an AT&T phone, I think they restrict you to the Android Market, but I don't nor would I ever have AT&T so I don't care).

With HTC, the HTC-branding can be relatively easily removed without rooting by disabling the background services. Do the AT&T-branded firmwares delivered with androids not do this? I've never had a carrier-locked phone, so I don't know.

 

[The Dark Lord]

With HTC, the HTC-branding can be relatively easily removed without rooting by disabling the background services. Do the AT&T-branded firmwares delivered with androids not do this? I've never had a carrier-locked phone, so I don't know.

I dunno. They might have even stopped doing that because it puts them at a competitive disadvantage. Especially since Amazon came out with its app store which gives out a free app every day (many of them very good - I have almost all of the ~300 they have given away).

 

[Ove]

I like the "Walled Garden" expression which also describes why i use Android and will keep on doing so. I use Android for the same reason that i use a PC and not a Mac, i just dont like being tied to ONE manufacturer. Android is open for many people Apple is open for Apple, period.
I know Iphones are good, but i prefer Android phones.

 

[megaresp]

I like the "Walled Garden" expression which also describes why i use Android...

Sure, but the "walled garden" approach isn't all downside. For a certain segment of the population I'd argue it actually makes more sense.

 

[Wudang]

Sure, but the "walled garden" approach isn't all downside. For a certain segment of the population I'd argue it actually makes more sense.

Indeed. An Apple "fanboi"* colleague has both an iPad and an Iconia and regarded the latter as the better device apart from the Apple app market which he regarded as better for the QA Apple did on the apps.

*say "apple" and he launches into the "everything just works" speech. Again.

 

[Darat]

I don't find anything fantastic about Android - it's a nice enough software platform to build touch devices on and it has good support for a large range of hardware. Beyond that - it's just an OS, it's what you can do with your device that is important not what it runs on.

 

[keale]

Prefer Android, installls any app, not tied to itunes, more customizable, more hardware choices and screen size choices where Apple makes all those choices for you...

 

[Alareth]

The App Store and the Market Place have almost all the same apps (with a few notable exceptions, like my beloved LogMeIn)

Can someone explain to me why the **** the iPhone app for LogMeIn is free while the Android app is is $30 *********** dollars?

 

[kajata]

Can someone explain to me why the **** the iPhone app for LogMeIn is free while the Android app is is $30 *********** dollars?

LogMeIn Pro is 39 bucks for the iPhone. They also have a free version. I'm guessing the $30 one for Android is the Pro version?

 

[Red3]

I nearly just started a thread called "sell me an iphone". I have a Samsung Galaxy Ace, which compared with the iphone is classed as a "low end" smartphone. A few of my friends have iPhones and I can't seem to understand what they're getting from them that i'm not getting from my humble little handset (with insanely good battery life), or why they're paying out so much cash. What am I missing?! I don't intend on buying an Iphone, and if I wanted to upgrade I would go probably go with Samsung again. How would you sell me an iPhone?

what justifies the iPhone & iOS over Android (and in particular Samsung) for everyday usage, and why should I buy one? What are the *real* advantages, and what is just Apple snobbery?

why is Apple so popular with celebrities? It seems like Apple is all about image. Android devices are cheaper, just as functional, just as powerful and you aren't tied to apple.

 

[TheL8Elvis]

Can someone explain to me why the **** the iPhone app for LogMeIn is free while the Android app is is $30 *********** dollars?

Android users pay for apps ? I thought you just searched for logmein.apk and installed it

 

[TheL8Elvis]

I nearly just started a thread called "sell me an iphone". I have a Samsung Galaxy Ace, which compared with the iphone is classed as a "low end" smartphone. A few of my friends have iPhones and I can't seem to understand what they're getting from them that i'm not getting from my humble little handset (with insanely good battery life), or why they're paying out so much cash. What am I missing?! I don't intend on buying an Iphone, and if I wanted to upgrade I would go probably go with Samsung again. How would you sell me an iPhone?

what justifies the iPhone & iOS over Android (and in particular Samsung) for everyday usage, and why should I buy one? What are the *real* advantages, and what is just Apple snobbery?

why is Apple so popular with celebrities? It seems like Apple is all about image. Android devices are cheaper, just as functional, just as powerful and you aren't tied to apple.

According to the first few reviews I read, the battery life isn't very good.

The resolution is pretty poor as well.

But I wouldn't try to sell you an iphone if you didn't care what phone you had so long as it was cheap and did xyz.

It also depends on your cell phone plan, etc.
In the US, the 3GS can be free with contract. I would say a free 3gs beats a free galaxy ace. A $100 iphone 4 on contract crushes it as far as resolution, speed etc.

But there are lots of factors, many of which remain unknown about why you have the galaxy ace.

 

[kajata]

I nearly just started a thread called "sell me an iphone". I have a Samsung Galaxy Ace, which compared with the iphone is classed as a "low end" smartphone. A few of my friends have iPhones and I can't seem to understand what they're getting from them that i'm not getting from my humble little handset (with insanely good battery life), or why they're paying out so much cash. What am I missing?! I don't intend on buying an Iphone, and if I wanted to upgrade I would go probably go with Samsung again. How would you sell me an iPhone?

what justifies the iPhone & iOS over Android (and in particular Samsung) for everyday usage, and why should I buy one? What are the *real* advantages, and what is just Apple snobbery?

why is Apple so popular with celebrities? It seems like Apple is all about image. Android devices are cheaper, just as functional, just as powerful and you aren't tied to apple.

SOME Android devices are cheaper. There are Android phones that cost 300 dollars with a contract. I'm sure many of those are excellent.

Compared to your phone, the iPhone 4S has a better camera, lens, a screen that's over twice the resolution, shoots hi-def video, Over-the-air updates, and will sell on eBay for about what you paid for it when your contract is up, can do video chat, has Siri, Is thinner, has longer talk time, more internal storage, More memory, more apps available.

If these aren't very important to you than you bought the right phone for you.

Apple is popular with celebrities because it's popular overall. And of course Apple is concerned with image. They are also very concerned with design.

 

[The Dark Lord]

The Galaxy Ace seems like a crap phone. Especially compared to monsters like the Galaxy S II. Hell, it is inferior to the Galaxy S which came out like eight months before the Ace. I wouldn't get one.