iphone OR Android...I'm selling out...hee (I must have texting)

[abstractcats]

Thanks guys! I believe I'm going to wait on iphone and get an ipad later this year or early next. Cordelia, I just checked out the HTC Android phone, yes, its seems to be a great phone! The image editor app(s) suggestions are great

As for texting, my Flight II is more then good enough, but I figured that since I have to pay for a data package, I'd upgrade to a fun phone at the same time.

As for making "serious" music on a cell phone, yea, probably true but it would be kinda neat o'

Thanks again for all the input, gang

[abstractcats]

OH! Image Line is working on an Android version, stated at their site, YIPPY!

AND, the screen on the iphone(3G version) is much smaller than I like. And the camera is only 3MP really? Boo

[sauli]

You don't need a smartphone for texting. I didn't even know phones without sms capability have existed on this century (besides some special easy phones for old people). I could get 30eur Motorola from gas station and it would handle SMS.


And now for something completely offtopic.

The argument for games is a poor one. You could try that out on PC - many different hardware platforms but it dont stop the games being made.

No, it's very valid point. PC customers are usually aware of what they have inside their computer and you have to just state the system requirements, if you are indie you can use volunteer alpha testing easily, big players can afford testing and have publisher do it for them.

I'm pretty sure most of the Android users are not aware of how much ram, what kind of cpu or even what OS version they have. Fully supporting iOS requires making it work with two or three different devices and in most cases testing with only two would be enough. Major factor small developers.

[zerocrossing]

OH! Image Line is working on an Android version, stated at their site, YIPPY!

AND, the screen on the iphone(3G version) is much smaller than I like. And the camera is only 3MP really? Boo

The current model does 8 mp. It's a pretty kick ass camera.

[CT]

First of all, if its music apps you're after then there really is no other choice of smartphone other than the iphone. Though personally, Ive never used it for that even though I already got a bunch of apps on my ipad which I coukd run on my iphone too.

Iphones are not 50% more expensive than equivalent android phones. in fact their prices are pretty much on par. Maybe 10% more expensive than some brands, at most.

I had a cheapo samsung galaxy s. Within a week the screen was badly scratched up. The phone was exactly like its price, cheap in every way, and tacky. Most of the games I wanted from the android marketplace could not work on the device, so keep in mind that cheaper android phones have severe ram and processor restrictions. The more expensive samsung phones, with snapdragon or similar processors cost about 5 to 10% less than the iphone 4 at the time I bought it.

Also, I got a thing with mobile phones. Never liked them, always thought it was the most useless invention ever. Ive lost count of how many Ive broken. But the iphone is the first phone Ive ever liked. There is something about the smoothness of the interface, its very apple, and its very appealing. Only gripe for me is that the mr. number app for blocking calls works only on android.

[bmrzycki]

Or avoid the whole thing entirely and get a Google Voice number. It has unlimited free texting. It can even forward calls to it to your current cell phone. So give the new number out, use your computer to text and save a bunch of cash.

[zerocrossing]

Yes, all apps work on all smartphones. I tend to buy Nokia apps because they're cheap and then run them on my iPhone 4S. I also like running Windows VSTs in Logic on my iPhone. Logic is OSX but it's an app as well so it runs on anything.

That's what I love about this software business, everything is so compatible and all software and hardware developers use the exact same standards.

My point of view, which is someone who works for a game developer is that the iPhone is the way to go. People think Android is great because it's so open, but from our standpoint it just means a cut down version of the game because we have no idea what features your phone might have. I'm an artist so it's no skin off my apple (pun intended) but I hear the gripes of the engineers and I've worked on more than one project where the publisher just said, "Screw it" for the Android version. I also read somewhere that a huge percentage of apps available for Android are malware. iPhone? Probably next to none because of Apple's standards. Some might see this as a choke hold, but as a user it just means my phone works as well as it did the day I got it.

So... I've had an iPhone since day 1. The interface was great and got better. I've had every other version and the current addition of Siri is awesome. I'm constantly talking to her when I'm lonely or when I need to text someone or set up a reminder. I even use AT&T and my service is good. It got crappy for a little while but they must have fixed things in my area. (San Francisco East Bay) The app selection is awesome. It's a great media player.

So... I'm sure there are good phones that run Android... but the ones I've seen seem cheap to me. Plastic. A coworker's Sony phone screen got so scratched up in his pocket it looked like crap in a week and he claimed he didn't even have keys or anything in his pocket. The iPhones Gorilla Glass is tough as nails. He also spent a long time trying to figure out how to sync his music. If you already use iTunes you don't even have to think about it on an iPhone. Anyway, call me a fanboi, but this thing is one of my favorite devices and I've had quite a few in my day.

Gorilla glass is used on many phones etc :

http://www.corninggorillaglass.com/

The argument for games is a poor one. You could try that out on PC - many different hardware platforms but it dont stop the games being made. IOS isnt a proper OS, its locked down and as for itunes - it locks you in to one way of doing things - via a PC. Ive had texts from people saying sorry, my iphone just crashed. Malware - Apple are where Microsoft were 10 years ago, denying its a problem. Youll have it but youll never know as theres little to tell you. As I said, nothing is perfect

Apple's not saying it.

http://www.pcworld.com/article/245380/i ... _says.html

http://www.pcworld.com/article/244077/a ... _july.html

As for the game argument... well I work for a game developer and although my information is anecdotal, I've seen at least 2 Android projects cancelled and one delayed because of hardware technology issues on Android phones. The publisher didn't want to deal with all the people with cheap android phones that were under our minspec who's owners just wanted to download and use the app. It's why people also buy XBOXs and PS3s too. They just want to buy a game and have it work. I'm one of those people. Judging by how the computer game business is going, I'm in the majority. (not counting the current surge of non-game crap-ville Facebook time wasters)

And, now is an OS that's "locked down" not a proper OS? I'm computer agnostic, but frankly Apple didn't become the largest technology company by accident. While it seems a bit fascist the way they keep a tight control over the hardware and software development, in the end it does lead to a better user experience. I've not played with Ice Cream whatever, but on a friends earlier Android phone, I thought it was horrible. So did she. She got it because she's a scientist and their team thought it would be better for their development (using it to collect specialized data) but in the end they switched to iPhones.

Anyway, I haven't touched all Android phones, and I'm sure there are good ones, but I've yet to touch one that felt as well built and perfectly integrated as my iPhone 4s. In a sense, I see what your'e saying about it not being a proper "OS" as it doesn't feel like a phone running an operating system. It feels like a device that's really well thought out.

[deastman]

I have a Droid Incredible and an iPad. My parents got the iPhone 4s, so I've used them all. You should get the iPhone if you want audio apps, a slightly slicker interface, better voice recognition, a better camera, and more apps. Get Android if you want more control over your device and don't want to drink the Apple kool-aid.

[Ghostwave]

A couple of weeks ago, I treated myself to a Samsung Galaxy Note.
Coupled with the great and inexpensive Caustic app, I've never had so much fun commuting.

[twisted-space]

Galaxy S2 here, Caustic and RD3 are both great fun if you want music apps on your phone.

I've just upgraded (from a winmobile 6.5 phone) and considered an iphone, but

Small Sreen
No memory card slot
No user replaceable battery
Bloody Expensive.
Itunes is a steaming pile of poo

I decided to give an android device a try, and I'm glad I did, this thing's amazing.

[deastman]

Also, if you happen to be a Java programmer, its very easy to get started developing your own Android apps.

[The Chase]

I'm a mobile geek who's had them all. WinMo, Iphone 4, Samsung/HTC Androids, WP7...

iOS is better for music apps. That's it.

Hardware-wise, Android devices can have AMOLED screens, better cameras, 4G, expandable storage, hardware keyboards, you can choose the size and formfactor you like, the carrier you want... basically, you can get the device for you.

Software-wise is a bigger difference for me, even before getting into the sheer functional advantages of Android. iOS workflow has all the emphasis on a short learning curve and how approachable it is to new users. An advantage of iOS is that it's so simple that anyone can pick it up in a day, but in the hands of an experienced user, it's nowhere near as fluid as WP7's sleek interface or Android's customization that essentially allows you design the right interface for you.

On iOS I found myself going through multiple screens and touches that I could have had a widget on my desktop for in Android. Ultimately, going from Android's widgeted desktop environment (I.E., this or this, or when I'm feeling silly, this) to iOS grid hell slowly drove me bonkers.

Judging from the OP, I would recommend WP7. It has the sexiest interface of any OS on any platform I've used, it has your basic needs covered and then some.

[D.Josef]

Haha. You're here so you're a musician. iPhone. Definitely.

The top-line Android phones tend to have stronger hardware, bigger screens, etc., but those are often more expensive than the iPhone 4S, and usability really boils down to the software - OS and apps. (And I didn't even mention the greatest shortcoming of ALL android phones, the shitty touchscreen. The touchscreen of the absolute best Android phone is nowhere near that of the iPhone in accuracy and responsiveness.)

I remember that when I was a kid, people were doing incredible stuff with those shitty little Commodore 64s and Spectrum ZXes. Especially those in the Demoscene. Knowing the hardware spec beforehand gives a developer an incredibly huge edge, and in turn leads to vastly superior software.
Having slightly weaker hardware, but knowing exactly what that hardware is, and writing an app for that will yield better performance than having a massively powerful hardware, but at the time of development not knowing what to expect of the hardware.

Then, Android is essentially Linux. Of course Linux is great, IF you are a geek and like fiddling around. With Android, you CANNOT fiddle around, unless you reflash your phone, which is similar to jailbreaking an iPhone, only a lot less safe. So you get the shittyness of Linux, but none of the coolness of it.
Linux has a terribly shitty sound stack built in. Of course with a desktop machine, you can get, compile and install a GREAT one that is on par with anything a musician could hope for, but then again, on a phone you cannot do that. You're stuck with the crappy one.

Also, on the iPhone, there is an entire ecosystem built around creatives and wannabe-creatives. Plenty of fun musical toys, which, beside being fun, may even help you develop your skills as a musician, or give good enough results that you may eventually want to use in a recording... (For example BeBot, a toy synth - though an incredibly good one - for the iPhone made it onto the albums of several popular bands.)

And while a lot fewer, but there are also semi-professional software instruments and musical tools such as MIDI controllers available.

So yes, iPhone.

[jensa]

I had a cheapo samsung galaxy s. Within a week the screen was badly scratched up. The phone was exactly like its price, cheap in every way, and tacky. Most of the games I wanted from the android marketplace could not work on the device, so keep in mind that cheaper android phones have severe ram and processor restrictions.

Oh dear. Obviously you did something wrong since the Samsung Galaxy 9000S had the EXACT same Gorilla glass as the iPhone 4. And I had almost no problems whatsoever with games with my Galaxy 9000S. Maybe you did have a cheaper Galaxy model but then it shouldn't have cost you as much as an iPhone minus 10%. Either you did something really wrong, you we're fooled or your memory are playing games with you. Or you simply choose to lie.

[CT]

Well, I dont remember saying anything about a "9000" S. Maybe you need to re-learn how to read properly.

My model number is 5670, and I did say it was cheapo. It was actually half the price of my iphone 4. I said the iphone is around the same price as "equivalent" android phones. Maybe "equivalent" is too big a word for you. Maybe you didnt get it. And maybe you didnt get this the first time, so I'll say it again, you need to learn how to read.

Like seriously, dont go around calling ppl liars, especially if you're retarded or deficient in any way.

Oh, and mute button just got pressed, I have no time for idiots.