CNet: Android, iOS activations hit record on Christmas. Again.
Here, also. I often get grief from my clients for pulling out iPad, iPod Touch, Macbook ... and a (as clients characterize it) ’4,000 year old’ cellphone with no smart features.
I chose Android over iOS for two reasons:
One, most of my clients are running Android and I need to know it better than I do.
Two, the majority of my information is in Google apps rather than MobileMe or iCloud.
After 48 hours with the HTC Sensation, I have to say I really like it.
Better than iPhone? It’s early days yet. The iPod Touch gives me most of the functionality of iPhone, and I run an iPad ... so I know the ‘lay of the land’ on iOS very well.
The Sensation is very fast compared to my late model iPod Touch and iPad 1.
Android’s interface is non-intuitive if you’ve been using iOS. Took me a while to figure things out (if I actually have). Setting up apps and widgets on the home screen is particularly confusing at first. They need to include a link to an extensive Android tips and tricks page or similar in their user guide.
Battery could use more legs, but I doubt it’ll leave me stranded on any given day. With moderate ‘setup new apps’ use, I got a day and a half out of it. There seem to be higher capacity replacement batteries out there. I may pick up a second just to have around.
The screen is quite bright, colorful, and I have not even given a thought to the lack of a Retinal Display.
I wish some iOS apps would move over to Android (Flipboard, Instagram, etc.), but there are plenty of alternatives. I’m surprised that many apps are free on Android, whereas you will always be pulling out your Apple account to pay for apps on iOS. So far I’ve spent less than $10 on apps and am covered about equally compared to my iOS devices.
Compared to the portrait and landscape keyboards on iOS, the Sensation’s keyboards are actually usable for my big fingers. That doesn’t really communicate the feel ... it’s a much more responsive keyboard. If for no other reason, this is a huge dealmaker for me.
The GMail app is superlative, much better than the iOS experience. Once you get the hang of the interface, one can zip through email, label and archive much much faster than in iOS.
Camper app works well for Basecamp. I have yet to fully kick the tires on this, but just accessing it with one click without having to use a little browser, is a plus.
The phone calling features actually work (some of my clients who have iPhones complain of call quality). Call quality’s not as good as my old phone, but I hear all smartphones have call quality handicaps.
Those last three items (email, Basecamp and phone quality) are vital to me ... and for once I feel I can be connected to my business in a small form-factor.
In sum, I had expected much, much less out of an Android phone. So don’t believe the nay-sayers - the experience for an iOS person who uses Google products, is a good one. Fun, even.
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