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Which mobile OS do you prefer?
| 44% | 199 votes |
| 14% | 66 votes |
| 2% | 13 votes |
| 2% | 11 votes |
| 2% | 12 votes |
| 4% | 18 votes |
| 18% | 84 votes |
| 9% | 42 votes |
[ Voting Booth | Other Polls | Back Home ]
- Don't complain about lack of options. You've got to pick a few when you do multiple choice. Those are the breaks.
- Feel free to suggest poll ideas if you're feeling creative. I'd strongly suggest reading the past polls first.
- This whole thing is wildly inaccurate. Rounding errors, ballot stuffers, dynamic IPs, firewalls. If you're using these numbers to do anything important, you're insane.
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sillema sillema nika su
(Score: 1) by Tanuki64 on Tuesday September 16 2014, @06:39PM
Which mobile OS do you prefer?
How many members are here, who have experience with more than on mobile OS? Some perhaps with two. Probably Android and iOS. But more then two? I suppose not too many. I use only Android. Disgusting system for a developer. But I have not the slightest intention to get an iOS device. The others are IMHO not profitable enough to invest much work.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday September 16 2014, @06:52PM
I have that snake game on my phone. Is that my OS?
(Score: 1) by Tanuki64 on Tuesday September 16 2014, @06:55PM
Which colour has the snake?
(Score: 1) by moylan on Wednesday September 17 2014, @08:35AM
hmm lets see
dumb phones
nokia 3310
siemens a30
smart phones
nokia 3650 symbian (s60)
nokia e61 symbian
nokia e61i symbian
nokia e71 symbian
iphone 3g ios
htc hero android
sony xperia x10 pro android
samsung galaxy pro android
and then i got sick of the crappy battery life and having to worry about dropping a device that is used in your hand so i switched...
nokia asha 201 feature phone running s40
samsung utopia feature phone
i'd be interested in trying firefox os but will have to wait till it reaches ireland shops
(Score: 1) by Tanuki64 on Wednesday September 17 2014, @08:57AM
Never said, that cases like you don't exist. I just assume they are rare.
(Score: 1) by moylan on Wednesday September 17 2014, @09:20AM
maybe in america but in europe most of the folk i know have gone through 2-3 oses, ancient nokia 3310s then s40, s60 and then android, blackberry or ios and i've noticed in last year a fair few carrying s40 and s60 again. the battery life seems to be the most annoying feature for most. yesterday i was using radio and mp3 player for 4-5 hours and when i plugged it in to charge last night it just beeped at me and said the battery was already full and i shouldn't waste electricity :-) none of the android or ios devices could do anywhere near that.
another factor is i don't drive and it may be that driving facilitates smart phones more as you can charge constantly while driving.
(Score: 1) by Tanuki64 on Wednesday September 17 2014, @09:31AM
Changing phone is not uncommon. But according to my experience changing OS does not happen so often. Unless it is absolutely necessary, e.g. a certain OS is not supported anymore, people are reluctant to change to something unfamiliar. The new stuff is... gasp... different.
(Score: 2) by VLM on Wednesday September 17 2014, @01:22PM
Its money spent on the app store. "What, buy minecraft again?"
I have maybe $100 of ios apps I'll never be able to run again. Assuming I never get another ios device, which seems likely. If I did then I'd have maybe $100 of android apps I'd never be able to run again.
I never spent money on the ITMS but I imagine people who did are not amused at throwing away all their music and starting over with google play (or vice versa)
I got an ITMS gift card from a relative for last christmas and was all "thanks" at the time, but once I get home, WTF do I do with that, ended up trading with a coworker for an equal value bbq restaurant (I kid you not this chick is a vegetarian). GC are supposed to be less awkward and more personal than cash, but in practice they don't work that well.
If a company wanted people to switch, they'd throw in gift cards for the new OS "store".
(Score: 1) by Tanuki64 on Wednesday September 17 2014, @01:37PM
App store? Never thought about that, but good point. I never bought a single Android program. Now... saying that could easily be misunderstood. Yes, I know very well how I get most stuff for 'free'. And I freely admit, I looked what is 'available'. It is just... I never found anything I wanted. Everything I need is available as free version. Two for me very important programs I wrote myself. Of course, writing ones own crap is not really an option for everybody. :-)
(Score: 2) by VLM on Wednesday September 17 2014, @01:55PM
Android stuff I bothered to pay for and would recommend paying for:
Doggcatcher podcast player - worth it, best podcast player on the market
Ambling book player pro - best audiobook player on the market (although I've never used it to purchase an audiobook from ambling...)
Geocaching app - pro version enables a lot of useful features
Tunein radio - paid gives you better account support or something. Devs recently messed up the UI making it really hard to use compared to old version.
Pro weather alert - worth every penny
Radarscope - worth every penny including the subscription service
Baconreader pro - baconreader is pretty good once you get rid of the ads, and thats about all "pro" does.
Torque - I believe this cost money. This plus a $10 bluetooth dongle turns your phone into a ODB-II scanner
wifi web login - so I don't have to click thru stupid splash screens on "free" wifi. Doesn't work on all splash screens.
Skysafari - your stereotypical planetarium software. Works pretty well. This borders on being overpriced and losing my recommendation of being worth paying for.
I have a bunch of stuff I never paid for, I think connectbot is free? Wesnoth too?
I can't remember if Tasker is free. I screw around with automation in tasker on occasion. I wouldn't pay much for it, but I'd suggest fooling around with it.
I have a bunch of games I paid for which I see no point in listing. I have more games from the humblebundle android deals than from the play store, I think.
I've fooled around with seemingly all the IDE/editors on the market and I always seem to go back to connectbot/ssh into a real machine and work there. Just too much of a PITA. The github client is kinda nice to look at code when you're bored and that might be my only exception to "on device IDEs / editors suck". For example theres a version of Octave (I think?) on android for native running, but I always end up just ssh/connectbot into a real machine running debian to run octave (or R or whatever I need).
(Score: 2) by cykros on Monday September 22 2014, @06:05AM
I would add Tasker for the list, if you'll take the time to actually make use of it. The possibilities are endless.
Otherwise though, I'm mostly on board with having very limited apps purchased on Android. I get what I can from f-droid [f-droid.org] as it tends to equate to both free and ad-free (I die a little every time I see someone with ads on their Flashlight app of choice), and while Adblock handles a lot of that anyway, in my experience, software on f-droid is less likely to grab at unnecessary permissions (while data mining seems to be a popular pastime over in the Play store). Beyond that, I do a bit of sideloading as well, both of apk's and command line binaries, as some things, such as nmap, just do better with a command line compiled binary rather than an attempt at making a decent Android ported gui app. What I do get from the Play store I tend to be pretty anal about, and meanwhile make use of CyanogenMod's ability to override an app's requested permissions (there are apps in the Play store that will do this as well on stock Android, but do still require that you have root), as many will run with quite a bit less than they demand (no, your bank doesn't ACTUALLY need to know the contents of your contact list or your location at all times to show you your balance).
The app store lockin does seem to affect some people, but I would argue overall it's probably more of a universal issue for iOS users, as notoriously apps have come out for iOS at a charge, while they turn out free on Android. Even the NSA spy-tool Angry Birds cost money on the iOS App store last I knew. Personally, the only thing keeping me on Android is that it's as of now the most open and application rich environment for doing the things I want it to do. I'd love to see a less PITA environment for the sake of development, among other things, and have been keeping a bit of an eye on some of the other Linux based alternatives in the works (Ubuntu Touch, FirefoxOS, Jolla's Sailfish, Replicant, etc), but thus far, nothing seems quite usable enough for a primary switchover. Given that Android, with root anyway, does just about anything I think to ask of my mobile devices, I'm comfortable enough to wait.
(Score: 2) by Magic Oddball on Tuesday September 23 2014, @04:02AM
Tunein radio - paid gives you better account support or something. Devs recently messed up the UI making it really hard to use compared to old version.
I gave it a try a while back (I listen to streaming radio a lot) but something about the UI just didn't click well with me, I can't recall why offhand. The best app I've found for streaming thus far is XiiaLive [xiialive.com], which is for Android and iOS -- it works with alarm clock apps, plus has ShoutCast and UberStations (which carries a lot of terrestrial stations normally only available through crap like IHeartRadio).
(Score: 2) by VLM on Wednesday September 17 2014, @01:15PM
I wouldn't say that. "The marketplace" has spoken and phones will not be supported longer than sale period, if that, and I've been doing this a couple years so I have a mere three android phones but only one is live on contract.
I use them like mini-tablets, outdoor work, exercising, serious hobby work, stuff like that where a phone might be destroyed and I'd prefer it be an old one, and I'm in wifi range. Theoretically even without a contract I could call 911 if I had to. I can't do voice calls but in 2014 nobody talks on phones anymore.
Mostly I listen to music, podcasts, audiobooks... the 2014 version of the portable handheld transistor radio.
Murphy's law being what it is, I never drop or damage my ancient optimooooooose S but I've dropped my "real phone" moto x a couple times (no damage so far)
I also fool around with the old phones. I put an old version of cyanogenmod on my ancient optimooooooose S and I really don't care if I brick it or not, whereas I'd be pretty pissed off if I bricked my "real" phone.
When the battery dies on the optimooooooose S I'm hot gluing it to the treadmill along with permanent AC power and amplified PC speakers, I think it'll be convenient to have a tablet on the treadmill for music.
(Score: 1) by Kunasou on Wednesday September 17 2014, @11:38AM
I've been using Firefox OS (on a ZTE) for a year and I'm happy with it. I don't really like smartphones and I use them like a dumb/feature phone so almost all their options are disabled (GPS, 2G/3G, Wi-Fi). Since everything is disabled the battery life is quite decent (~10 days).
After the ZTE breaks, I'll go back to feature phones.
(Score: 2) by TGV on Thursday September 18 2014, @01:59PM
It's often the case with these polls. I only know the big 2, although I've had some experience with old "OS"es, like whatever Siemens was using around 2000, and dumb Samsung phones, where the devs had found some innovative way to frustrate the user that wanted to store an entry in the phone book. I, however, have indicated "no preference". I truly don't care, as long as its half decent.
(Score: 1) by Darth Turbogeek on Tuesday September 23 2014, @05:05AM
I have experience with plenty and I'm wondering where the I *HATE* them all option is.
(Score: 3, Funny) by grid on Tuesday September 16 2014, @07:00PM
My phone runs Palm OS you insensitive clod.
(Score: 2) by Hartree on Wednesday September 17 2014, @02:08AM
You jest, but if they still supported the Kyocera Palm Smartphone, I'd still be using it. Quite handy little critter in its day.
(Score: 1) by GeminiDomino on Wednesday September 17 2014, @09:10PM
Oh man, that takes me back. That thing was a first for me in so many ways: First smartphone, first company phone, first sysadmin gig...
Man, I just got misty...
"We've been attacked by the intelligent, educated segment of our culture"
(Score: 2) by richtopia on Tuesday September 16 2014, @07:55PM
I need to buy a new phone, so have looked extensively and have not found one satisfactory yet. There are no phones that can run multiple OSes yet, namely Jolla, Android, or Firefox OS.
The Nexus S comes close, along with the GeeksPhone Revolution, but I also want LTE. I know, I'm picky here.
After all of these years with a PC where I have control over what I run I guess I'm spoiled. Does anyone know of any phones I missed that are more open?
(Score: 3, Insightful) by Nerdfest on Wednesday September 17 2014, @02:16AM
I think the Nexus 5 is capable of running the latest Android as well as Ubuntu Mobile, and I think you can dual boot.
(Score: 2) by cykros on Monday September 22 2014, @06:11AM
I can confirm this is accurate. How-To [xda-developers.com].
I did this on my Nexus 7 tablet, allowing me to run stock rom side by side with a CyanogenMod installation with a custom kernel that allows for packet injection on my external wifi card, with a Kali installation inside of a chroot, essentially to clone the Pwnie Express Kali PwnPad [pwnieexpress.com], which retails for $1,095 (My total costs amounted to $230 for the tablet, plus $20-30 for the usb-OTG cable and external USB wifi adapter).
Still waiting for Multirom on the HTC One M8...theoretically it's in the works. I'd just absolutely love to have a dualboot between Android and Windows, just 'cause...
(Score: 2) by WizardFusion on Wednesday September 17 2014, @08:34AM
The LG G3 is an amazing phone
(Score: 2) by Subsentient on Sunday September 21 2014, @08:18AM
That's the voice of sanity. That's what that is.
Multi-OS booting is a point of personal freedom, yet so many seem indifferent to it. This is harmful.
The ability to do what you want with your devices is important. Today it's smartphones and tablets and tomorrow, your new laptop can only run Windows or Android because of boot-locked firmware.
"It is no measure of health to be well adjusted to a profoundly sick society." -Jiddu Krishnamurti
(Score: 2) by VLM on Tuesday September 16 2014, @09:10PM
I cry BS on the survey results:
Gentlemen, I ask you, what are the odds that both people who bought windows phones are also SN users who participate in polls?
Gotta be a typo.
Oh and a golf clap for you Blackberry, I'm old enough to remember when you utterly owned the smartphone market. Smooth move.
I carried a no-contract dumb phone and an IOS ipod touch until I got into the republic wireless beta (aka, android).
And I stuck i386 port of android on my asus eeeeeeeeeeeeeee pc 900 netbook and it worked pretty awesome although "mobile" OS is kind of off. Android and connectbot and a keyboard is pretty awesome.
(Score: 2) by Gaaark on Wednesday September 17 2014, @01:00AM
Cry shenanigans... you get to carry a broom!
--- Please remind me if I haven't been civil to you: I'm channeling MDC. ---Gaaark 2.0 ---
(Score: 1) by arashi no garou on Wednesday September 17 2014, @07:12AM
Gentlemen, I ask you, what are the odds that both people who bought windows phones are also SN users who participate in polls?
*raises hand*
I hate how locked down Windows Phone is, but I can't get over how fast and fluid it is, and how well it fits my workflow. A ton of functionality is built in to the OS, which helps make up for the lack of certain apps. Plus I don't have to install that abomination that is Facebook Messenger to chat with friends on that service, since it is built in to the phone's messaging hub.
Still, I wish Palm was still around making phones. I miss my Treo 650, I preferred it to pretty much any smartphone I tried up until Windows Phone 7 was released.
(Score: 2) by kaszz on Friday September 19 2014, @05:35PM
"I don't have to install that abomination that is Facebook Messenger to chat with friends on that service, since it is built in"
You will have an interesting surprise once those upgrades slip..
(Score: 1) by Entropy on Monday September 22 2014, @05:26PM
Yeesh... It's completely locked down, thus you have a computer that won't follow your instructions.
It has a ton of stuff integrated isn't a benefit, it's a detriment. In my opinion the measure of a good phone is how much stuff isn't integrated, because most of the stuff is basically crapware.(As you may guess I run a google nexus phone) How many gigs of storage exactly is tied up with integrated stuff that I don't actually want?
App availability is trash. So yes, you're happy stuff is "integrated" but that's just because without it "integrated" you'd be "screwed". Good luck when updates stop, or when they completely abandon the platform as they've done with so many other projects in the past.
It's amazing to me how many millions(billions?) Microsoft spends getting these phones placed in every movie, tv show, and article. Next step is the dual-OS hardware platform where they can count android phones as Windows phones to pump up their numbers. Marketing is where they do their real innovation, not engineering. It's the same trick they use to sell "Windows 8" with a "Free windows 7 downgrade."..or is it Vista with a free XP downgrade?
(Score: 1) by arashi no garou on Monday September 22 2014, @06:06PM
Yeesh... It's completely locked down, thus you have a computer that won't follow your instructions.
You'd better stop driving that car with its totally locked down computer then. I use my phone as a communication device, not a mini-laptop. It serves its purpose well, and if I'm out in the wild and I need to access a real computer, I have SSH, RDP, and VNC apps on the phone to do that with.
App availability is trash. So yes, you're happy stuff is "integrated" but that's just because without it "integrated" you'd be "screwed".
I'm not an app-centric person, I value the workflow more than the individual apps, when it comes to my phone. So as long as my needs are covered (which they are), then I'm satisfied. It's not the same for everyone, certainly. But telling me why it sucks for you doesn't change the fact that it doesn't suck for me. Everyone's needs are different, and if you can't understand that then you have a lot to learn.
Good luck when updates stop, or when they completely abandon the platform as they've done with so many other projects in the past.
This is indeed a concern, one that has had me evaluating other platforms ever since the layoffs at Microsoft started earlier this year.
It's amazing to me how many millions(billions?) Microsoft spends getting these phones placed in every movie, tv show, and article.
I know, it's disgusting that they'd want to market the hell out of the distant third platform. It's almost as if they want to sell phones. Who would have thought?
I get it, you have a severe hard on for bashing Microsoft, and I agree they aren't the best company out there by far. I feel the same way about Google; I don't like them as a company, I don't like how much of your information they take when you use their products, I don't like how they are buying up startups left and right just for the IP. But even though I don't like Google, I may have to give in and use an Android phone one day, since I won't use an iPhone (fuck Apple). But for me, for now, WP is the best platform. All your hate and vitriol doesn't change that fact. Nice try though! :)
(Score: 1) by Gertlex on Wednesday September 17 2014, @01:12PM
I'm still doing the iTouch + dumbphone (just about at 5 years of carrying both; same phone, upgraded from 2nd gen to 5th gen iTouch in May).
Were I to get a smartphone, I'd strongly considering going Windows Phone, and still carrying the iTouch. But at the same time, I am really not a fan of the larger screen devices, which seems to be all of the new Windows Phone devices.
But really, I hardly need a smart phone... The iTouch is largely just for reading books. (Kindles et al are a bit large.) Plus the abysmal battery lifes everyone is willing to put up with. Hooray for dumbphones!
(Score: 2) by VLM on Wednesday September 17 2014, @01:29PM
How much are you paying for the dumbphone vs a non-contract smartphone?
I did exactly the same as you, carry an ipod touch and a $14/mo dumbphone and no way would I pay $120/mo for an iphone, for how little I'd use it. But at $20/mo for republic, hmmm, I won't throw away $106/mo for how little I'd use it, but I'd throw away $6/mo for that, sure...
Before my $14/mo non-contract dumbphone I was paying Verizon $60/mo for a contract phone, donno if times are better or worse now, but you may be able to get a non-contract smartphone cheaper than a contract dumbphone.
(Score: 2) by Gaaark on Wednesday September 17 2014, @04:57PM
I'm one of those poor people without a mobile phone at all, smart or otherwise (would have loved the ubuntu phone, though... drool)......
.....$120/month for an iphone????? Truly?????!!!!!
Wow. I'd save the money and get a REAL good computer or laptop or tablet or tablet/keyboard combo or a nice hooker or lots of booze or crack for Rob Ford before i'd pay THAT much for a phone.
Guess i am really out of touch, but i didn't think it was that much per month. [Gives head a shake]
--- Please remind me if I haven't been civil to you: I'm channeling MDC. ---Gaaark 2.0 ---
(Score: 2) by VLM on Wednesday September 17 2014, @06:04PM
I double checked and 4 years ago it was unlimited everything for $120.
I checked today and they're super scammy with overage fees but if you use less than a couple hundred megs a month its only $60, which is kinda surprising to me. Of course each gig over the ripoff plan is a staggering $15.
Still pretty expensive.
(Score: 3, Informative) by SlimmPickens on Saturday September 20 2014, @09:04PM
Well, if you can part with $100 or so you could get a Galaxy S2 and a prepaid account. AFAIK most international models are unlocked, and in australia at least, you can get slightly better performance by installing the specific modem firmware that each carrier ships (same phone hardware, different networks) but I imagine it would work with any old firmware since global roaming works.
I'm still using my S2, it's plenty fast. Haven't gotten around to trying UP, it certainly looks to be a step in the right direction but what
i really want is Debian phone.
(Score: 2) by Alfred on Wednesday September 17 2014, @09:24PM
Republic wireless FTW.
Compared to an entry level iTouch, the phones cost less, does all the iTouch stuff, has more storage and oh yeah it's a phone too.
For $120/year I can get everything except mobile data. Compared to ~$120/month of the traditional Telco, that is awesome. Mobile data is highway robbery.
(Score: 2) by jasassin on Tuesday September 16 2014, @09:34PM
It's cool if you don't own a smartphone, but that doesn't mean you can't prefer a particular mobile OS.
jasassin@gmail.com GPG Key ID: 0xE6462C68A9A3DB5A
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday September 17 2014, @02:04AM
I drive a Chevy, but I'd prefer a BMW.
(Score: 2) by Gaaark on Wednesday September 17 2014, @04:59PM
I walk a lot, but would prefer a hooker or lapdance.
--- Please remind me if I haven't been civil to you: I'm channeling MDC. ---Gaaark 2.0 ---
(Score: 2) by EvilJim on Friday September 19 2014, @05:38AM
lapdance is just teasing... shall we pool our hooker money and go for a better package?
(Score: 2) by Hartree on Wednesday September 17 2014, @02:13AM
I don't own one. It just works that way for me. I'm around desktops/laptops most of the time, and if anything, I want to be less connected, not more.
Nothing wrong with them. I've considered getting some sort of Android at some point, but never have done so. I carry a powered off Trac phone so I can call 911 or a tow truck, etc. in an emergency.
(Score: 2) by jasassin on Wednesday September 17 2014, @03:00AM
I too have the kyocera tracfone with no minutes and battery out but charged in case I need 911. I do prefer android OS, but I've only used Apple iOS for about ten minutes. It was OK. I love CyanogenMod on my kindle fire.
jasassin@gmail.com GPG Key ID: 0xE6462C68A9A3DB5A
(Score: 1) by acharax on Thursday September 18 2014, @09:33PM
I never owned a "smartphone" or other "smart" device for that matter; yet, based on what I've been shown by a couple of poor saps who enjoy flaunting their assortment of hip gadgets I came to dislike all of the major players equally (if for different reasons), most articles I read on the inner workings of these OSes served to reinforced my ressentiments too.
(Score: 2) by kaszz on Friday September 19 2014, @05:39PM
"most articles I read on the inner workings of these OSes served to reinforced my ressentiments too."
You mean the fact that the mobile phone CPU will only run "blessed code" ie signed by the evil empire? so much for openness and transparency. Ie none!
(and the signed code is still insecure..)
(Score: 1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday September 16 2014, @11:57PM
I still love Maemo.
(Score: 1) by Tanuki64 on Wednesday September 17 2014, @12:05AM
Why? Are you a developer?
(Score: 1) by coolgopher on Wednesday September 17 2014, @07:01AM
Still using my N900 with Maemo. Only wish the web browsing experience was a bit better.
(Score: 1) by quixote on Friday September 19 2014, @09:37PM
Same here. Still waiting for a phone that actually replaces what I've got: open, so "rooted" by default, the apps I want where I want when I want, downloaded from a repository not paid for in a blithering app store. (Yes, I have weird taste in apps, so they are actually available in Maemo repos.)
I admit to drooling a bit over the Jolla phone. If I had a spare $1000 I'd buy one.
(Score: 2) by cockroach on Sunday September 21 2014, @12:24PM
Personally I'm still using the N9, great phone, great OS. If the Jolla phone were comparable in size I would have bought one by now but I refuse to buy a phone that's bigger than the N9. So I guess I'm stuck for now...
(Score: 2) by cykros on Monday September 22 2014, @06:22AM
Fyi, you can install Sailfish yourself onto many Android devices, including the Nexus 5 from Google, which retails at full market price of ~$400. The Nexus 7 tablet is also an option, and those go for just over $200 brand new (with no contract or service required if you care to go wifi-only, but 3g models are available).
Not that I'm sure you'd ignore some of the differences in hardware (the lack of an SD slot on the Nexus devices is a sore point for many, but it's relatively trivial to work around with various means for the most part, ranging from wireless SD readers to using the usb-otg functionality to use a normal thumb drive). For the price though, Google does come through pretty well, and the versatility usually is enough to make up for it if you're looking to get really weird with your "Android" device.
(Score: 1) by quixote on Wednesday September 24 2014, @10:20PM
Yes. Good point. I'd understood the Samsung Galaxy G3 was another possibility for installing Sailfish. Much dithering, though, about whether to shell out $200 (about what a G# costs on ebay last time I looked) without knowing whether I'll like the result.
(Score: 2) by FatPhil on Monday September 22 2014, @04:50AM
I, and my g/f, still not only use our old n900s, but have picked up a whole pile of replacements. So far, almost everything has broken on one of our two devices, but nothing has broken twice, so we've only had to strip down one of the spares for parts so far. We probably have enough spares for another decade of use. Note - we also have n950s and n9s which we almost never use as, apart from maps, I find the whole swipey experience to be vomit-inducing.
Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people; the smallest discuss themselves
(Score: 1) by coolgopher on Wednesday September 24 2014, @02:18AM
I haven't even gotten around to switching over to CSSU yet - everything works pretty well as is!
And the Maemo "desktop" makes sense. There's an icon somewhere? Tap it and something will happen! I borrowed an Android device for the first time the other week and the interface has been driving me nuts. Sure it feels a bit more responsive than the ol' N900, but who the fsck thought the swipe-down motion from the top to access the status area was discoverable?! I kept seeing icons appear at the top, but no matter how I tried tapping there it didn't work. I'm sure it's nice once you've adjusted to it, but right now I am not impressed.
Multi-tasking on Maemo? Sure, the window button gives you an excellent overview of all your running "apps", and switching / closing is a breeze compared to the 'droid as far as I can tell. Maybe you aren't meant to know what you're running these days, given how hard it seems to be access that info...
I'm also very pleased with just how well the contacts and various chat clients are integrated on Maemo - everything between SMS, Skype, google-talk and my SIP line, all easily accessible where I'd expect it to be, without having to jump between different apps all the time.
The fact that I got a proper xterm, ssh, a ctrl-key on the keyboard, a regular package repo, and the ability to mess around with the core interface (reorder menu items ftw!) to my heart's content just seals the deal for me. Someone's going to have to bring out something stellar for me to consider it an upgrade over N900/Maemo.
But yeah, web browsing leaves a few things to be desired, and let's not even talk about the maps (which is why I borrowed an Android in the first place).
(Score: 2) by Appalbarry on Wednesday September 17 2014, @02:51AM
OK, admittedly, three years of living with a Powerbook left me with a strong dislike of anything Apple.
My first three smartphones were Android - up to Jellybean. I eventually got fed up with Android when they decreeed that NO MAN SHALL SEND A TEXT MESSAGE TO A GROUP OF MORE THAN TEN PEOPLE.
Problem is, I actually NEED to do that on a fairly regular basis. Despite a fairly active bug report it appears that Google have no interest in fixing this idiotic "feature."
(Yes, I know Cyanogenmod. Been there, done that. Still think that it shouldn't be necessary to root your phone and install a different OS just to send a group text message.)
Anyhow, because we own shares (loyal Canadians etc.) we both bought Blackberrys this time around.
Hardware - very nice (well, except that Bluetooth stops working after three days. No idea why.)
Where the BB rocks is in text entry - WOW. Even using the on screen keyboard I can write FAST, and the predictive text leave Android in the dust. It is seriously good.
But then there's BB's user support. Specifically, there is none. At all. Period. They refuse to support end users. Period.
"Go talk to your wireless company."
Like THAT will solve any significant problem.
As an end user there's no way to report bugs, no way to influence future products - not even any way to update the OS until your provider decides that it's time.
All of which is why, although there are many reasons to like my BlackBerry, I'll be back to Android next time out.
(Score: 2) by urza9814 on Thursday September 18 2014, @10:39PM
Have you used any of the 'swipe' on-screen keyboards? That's what I've got on my Android devices, and for me it beats anything but a full-sized physical keyboard. I mean I'd love some more physical buttons on my phone, but I don't see any point in a full QWERTY keypad anymore. Had one for six years before getting an S3, and I haven't once missed it.
(Score: 2) by cykros on Monday September 22 2014, @06:30AM
Call it wishful thinking, but if anyone out there wants my money, and hopefully, the money of a lot of other people who really don't like touch screens, you'll design and sell a wrist top wireless keyboard for civilians (as a military option [wordpress.com] already exists. It's a bit of a fashion statement, but at least in my mind, it's no worse than a pocket protector anyway, an plenty of people wore those for decades and commanded respect (and I imagine some still do). Can't be any worse than the waterproof tablet case with a strap so as to wear it hanging around your neck [mytrendyphone.co.uk] that I also happen to occasionally bust out. I figure being able to access data from all over the planet nearly instantaneously trumps anybody else's bling necklace on principle anyway.
(Score: 2) by hash14 on Wednesday September 17 2014, @06:58AM
Well, the poll asked which do you _prefer_ - not which do you _prefer to use_ which later poll options seem to imply. So I'll go with Firefox OS seeing as it's made by a company that's far less evil than any of the mobile device vendors (whether they're mentioned above or not).
That said, I'm stuck with a silly Android phone which has no input mechanism. If only they had some kind of pad or board on which they could put raised buttons or keys... I wonder what they could call this novel tactile input device....
(Score: 1) by zzw30 on Wednesday September 17 2014, @08:34PM
You do know that with a USB->microUSB adapter you can hook up any ol' USB keyboard to your Android device, yes? And if you have a splitter, you can hook up both a keyboard and mouse (an on-screen cursor appears when a mouse is detected).
(Score: 2) by cykros on Monday September 22 2014, @06:32AM
I'd imagine all the wires would get cumbersome. You could of course also just get a bluetooth keyboard (and mouse if you insist, though the touch screen often is a suitable mouse replacement for many tasks). I'm still holding out for a wrist top keyboard, but nobody seems to want my money...
(Score: 1) by zzw30 on Monday September 29 2014, @04:24PM
I can understand the lack of wrist keyboards. They have to be optimized for single-hand entry (and we can't even get people away from QWERTY for two-hand entry), they're bulky, and they're very visible (i.e. the fashion conscious, assuming you could get them to wear one in the first place, wouldn't do so for long).
(Score: 2) by bob_super on Thursday September 18 2014, @08:18AM
My "Samsung Galaxy Stratosphere 2" has a slide-out keyboard.
Not as good as the one on the "Moto Droid 2 Global" I had before, but two Moto's screens went bad mis-detecting touches down one column...
Every generation, there seems to have been a few keyboard options, and I'm definitely not looking forward to when that won't be true.
(Score: 2) by KritonK on Wednesday September 17 2014, @09:05AM
...but I do use Android—it doesn't run only on phones, you know!
(Score: 2) by dublet on Wednesday September 17 2014, @11:03AM
I voted for Android, as that what my current phone is, but in reality the best phone I've had was my HP Pre3 with WebOS. WebOS really ran circles around Android and iOS, it's just sad that the Pre3 hardware was very much middle of the range, meaning lots of performance issues. Being dropped by HP like a shit covered stone two weeks after release didn't help either.
Still from time to time I look yearningly at my Pre3 and it's wonderful UI.
"If anyone needs me, I'm in the angry dome. [dublet.org]"
(Score: 2) by spxero on Thursday September 18 2014, @04:20PM
I'd like to add my vote for WebOS as well. I only played with it a handful of times, but the card system was slick and installing homebrew apps was a breeze. The nail in the coffin for that phone (at least around here) was that it was Sprint-only for the first two years. AT&T and Verizon went iPhone/Android/Blackberry, and Sprint put their bet on Blackberry/Palm and we all know how that has gone...
(Score: 2) by cykros on Monday September 22 2014, @06:37AM
They're coming back with a vengeance on fantastic deals though, and at least around here, offer unlimited 4g service (while everyone else at best offers a few gigs of 4g and after that drops you to 3g or otherwise throttles your connection). I actually just recently bought my HTC One M8, having just price shopped T-Mobile, and was VERY pleased by the price options. Not being tied in with a time-specific contract (there's a contract, but there's no cancellation penalties at any point) and having the cost of the phone separated out from the inflated phone plans with hidden costs was also quite refreshing to encounter.
As for service though, ymmv, and I imagine that'll be a bit of a climb for them to really match AT&T/Verizon's wide areas of coverage. Great option if it works I guess is my 2 cents.
(Score: 1) by archfeld on Wednesday September 17 2014, @04:20PM
I carry a Samsung Gusto2, with texts blocked, using pre-paid minutes. I have a laptop that I am required to carry at all times running Windows7 for work and would like to disconnect totally when not at work. I've got Ubuntu and M$ running on PC's at home and a satellite/GPS service running in my car. I've played with Android and IOS on both of my brothers' machines when addressing problems for them but I see no need or have no desire for a smart phone.
For the NSA : Explosives, guns, assassination, conspiracy, primers, detonators, initiators, main charge, nuclear charge
(Score: 1) by silverly on Wednesday September 17 2014, @11:15PM
I use android/ cyanogenmod and im fairly happy.
But I would still love a feature phone that just does all the basic protocols + phone stuff.
So contacts(ldap/cardav), calendar (caldav) , email (imap/stmp), jabber/irc, web browsing, music/ video playing, rss .. etc.
and be able to send messages and receive the odd phone call.
There are literally too many apps for me to keep up with and i always come down to be using the same set of 7 that are just for odd stuff (public transport, shell, maps ...)
(Score: 2) by janrinok on Thursday September 18 2014, @09:04AM
Our definitions of 'the basics' differ considerably'.
I have an old Nokia phone - over 15 years old now. It makes phone calls. It would also send texts but I have never used it to do so. I have a pay-as-you-go simcard. It is used for emergency phone calls when traveling. Nothing else, Nada, Zip. And because it is only used to make emergency calls, I do not need a provider. By law, all providers in Europe must accept emergency calls free of charge from any phone that is in range. Cost per year - about 10 euros, just to ensure that the simcard is topped-up.
How do I manage? The same way that we managed before smartphones came along.
(Score: 2) by EvilJim on Friday September 19 2014, @05:50AM
heh heh, my Dad still runs his nokia rugged, I gave him an LG prada to try out to get into the style of smart phone use but he didn't like it at all :)
(Score: 1) by Valkor on Friday September 19 2014, @06:07AM
The email client built in to WebOS from Palm is by far the best I have ever used. It was fast, straight to the point, and had the revolutionary combined inbox. I found the gestures used by WebOS to be very fast and intuitive, in particular application switching and multitasking was incredibly easy.
(Score: 2) by kaszz on Friday September 19 2014, @06:10PM
Obviously this poll forgot any secure phone [soylentnews.org] that detect and thwart IMSI-catchers, free OS CyanogenMod [wikipedia.org], Replicant [wikipedia.org] etc.
These "smart" phones is really just locked down computing with a cellular baseband interface attached. In which your radio interface can be pw0ned and your own device will refuse your own software or the removal of built-in ones and the access control of anything else.
(hint allow us to set our own sign key in the processor and publish the baseband firmware)
The phone is hostile to you and tries to maintain walls to keep you controlled. The real owners pilfer your privacy and your money.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday September 23 2014, @03:22PM
To be honest, I think of CyanogenMod as being Android, and grouped it up with that. I have been running CyanogenMod on every android phone I have owned in the last 5-6 years.
You are right though, I should have done CyanogenMod over Firefox OS.
(Score: 2) by Leebert on Saturday September 20 2014, @04:23AM
Same as any other tool: The right one for the job at hand.
(Score: 2) by Subsentient on Sunday September 21 2014, @08:20AM
We are the Borg. You will be assimilated. Lower your shields and surrender your ships. We will add your biological and technological distinctiveness to our own. Your culture will adapt to service us. Resistance is futile.
"It is no measure of health to be well adjusted to a profoundly sick society." -Jiddu Krishnamurti
(Score: 2) by kaszz on Sunday September 21 2014, @10:29PM
Perhaps: We are the mobile operators. You will be provided with a choice of a remote controlled smartphone or a remote controlled smartphone. Lower your security and privacy expectations and surrender your privates. We will add your market value to our own profit. Your attention span will be adapted to service us. Finding alternatives is futile!
(Score: 2) by Geotti on Monday September 22 2014, @04:22PM
I prefer iOS. The jailbroken variety.
Mainly for the software synths, sequencers, (virtual) MIDI i/o, AudioBus and Jack.
Jailbroken, mainly because I sometimes also develop on my little pocket computer, but also, because I like to own my hardware (at least when I turn off the baseband, I do).
I'd be interested to know, if Android fixed their audio latency issues yet or whether any of the alternatives offer a capable mobile music production environment.