Help me leave Apple forever!

[jyl]

When you get your Galaxy, don't use Android Browser. Very serious security flaw that Google first wouldn't acknowledge and now hasn't fixed. Android Browser flaw a “privacy disaster” for half of Android users | Ars Technica

Version control is a problem for Android.

[JavaBrewer]

Unless folks here work at Apple and have access to source I would caution them to not blindly assume that Apple takes individual privacy to heart. Lots of money is involved here. Lots.

That said my wife and daughter have demanded they move on to iPhones. They are using ancient (Galaxy S2) phones and compare them to latest Apple hardware. Sure I'll go in with iPhone, we are a Apple computer home, but it will be 5S phones for $100 and a 2 year commitment. Sigh.

Edit - as others here have mentioned with iOS and Android - our phones were working perfectly just 6 months ago. Now they are sluggish, buggy, and a PITA to use. I think there are updates occurring on Google servers that require the latest hardware to manage. Sucks to be so dependent on digital.

[nostatic]

Originally Posted by Rick Lee

If anyone forced something onto your computer or into your garage that took up enough space to be noticeable, you'd scream "invasion of privacy!" But because it's Apple and U2 I'm a fuddy duddy for not thanking them. World gone mad.

*cough* user error *cough*

I find it interesting that people claim Android is so "customizable" yet most of the distributions from the carriers are full of bloatware. Which you then have to go through hoops to remove. Whereas with this whole tempest in a teapot is a single switch: settings -> iTunes & Apple Store -> Automatic Downloads (music)

[Scott R]

Originally Posted by nostatic

*cough* user error *cough*

I find it interesting that people claim Android is so "customizable" yet most of the distributions from the carriers are full of bloatware. Which you then have to go through hoops to remove. Whereas with this whole tempest in a teapot is a single switch: settings -> iTunes & Apple Store -> Automatic Downloads (music)

You can't discount the fact that should you not like that "bloatware" you have many alternatives in the android community to resolve that. Cyanogen for one. Now I carry and Iphone and a Driod, can't say I like one over the other so I'm trying to remain like Switerland on this topic.

[nostatic]

True - but that requires a significant user input to accomplish. It isn't for joe-average-phone-user.

And Rick, btw - Google Play will also add free songs to your account without you asking. At least they did a year or so back when I was running Android.

[winders]

Originally Posted by nostatic

*cough* user error *cough*

I find it interesting that people claim Android is so "customizable" yet most of the distributions from the carriers are full of bloatware. Which you then have to go through hoops to remove. Whereas with this whole tempest in a teapot is a single switch: settings -> iTunes & Apple Store -> Automatic Downloads (music)

Careful there....you may be labeled a "fanboy" if you don't agree with everything the iPhone haters say!

[jyl]

Certainly both companies want to make money. And convictions get bent, shaded and rationalized when money is involved.

But fundamentally, Apple's business model is not dependent on gathering every aspect of your personal data - interests, connections, illnesses, finances, purchases, location, etc - and "monetizing" it aka selling it, or analyses of it, in some form. Sure, Apple might like to know what features of iOS you use, iTunes has an option that suggests songs based on what you listen to, they store your data in iCloud if you want, their marketing folks analyze customer trends, etc. But fundamentally they make money by selling their products - hardware and software - to you.

Fundamentally, Google is totally different. The only way they make money is by gathering huge amounts of information on you and your behavior, and selling it. At an increasingly personal level. Why do I see ads for diabetes products and get emails from diabetes companies after I've used Google to research diabetes drugs, why do I get ads for Porsche after visiting here, why is Google+ always trying to harvest my Contacts list, why does Google and Chrome track all our actions on their sites/browsers? If Google had no information about us, it would be out of business. Essentially all of its revenue comes from selling information about us and directing personalized marketing to us.

Thus the information gathering done by Apple and by Google is orders of magnitude different.

The difference between Apple Pay and Google Wallet illustrates this. Apple explicitly commits to not track your Apple Pay transactions. Google explicitly says it can gather all available information about your transactions using Google Wallet.

Google - and Facebook, LinkedIn, etc - are companies whose product is us, the "users", and we are sold to their real customers.

Now, Apple is stepping into a tricky area with the health apps of Apple Watch and Health Kit. Here they, and app makers, will be tracking your personal medical data - if you choose to use the features and apps. Apple has placed a lot of restrictions on what apps may do with that data, but it will still be new territory.

Unless folks here work at Apple and have access to source I would caution them to not blindly assume that Apple takes individual privacy to heart. Lots of money is involved here. Lots.



That said my wife and daughter have demanded they move on to iPhones. They are using ancient (Galaxy S2) phones and compare them to latest Apple hardware. Sure I'll go in with iPhone, we are a Apple computer home, but it will be 5S phones for $100 and a 2 year commitment. Sigh.



Edit - as others here have mentioned with iOS and Android - our phones were working perfectly just 6 months ago. Now they are sluggish, buggy, and a PITA to use. I think there are updates occurring on Google servers that require the latest hardware to manage. Sucks to be so dependent on digital.

[Rick Lee]

Originally Posted by nostatic

And Rick, btw - Google Play will also add free songs to your account without you asking. At least they did a year or so back when I was running Android.

That's disappointing. But I would probably only use Google Play as a temporary measure until I figured out how to either move or replace my music library. At this point, I may end up just keeping the iPhone as a music storage device and carry it and a new non-Apple phone until I figure something out.

[Paul_Heery]

The Google Play Music app allows you to set up where it pulls your library from. On my phone, I have it set up to only use a library of music that I have added to my phone.

Occasionally, I get a notice from Google that they have something available for download for free. But, it is up to me whether I add it to my device or not.

[scottmandue]

Originally Posted by Rick Lee

is making me leave Apple. It was 11 songs and I can't get four of them off there. I imagine they'll start doing this with other bands too and I'm out.

What phone do I need?

We have a runner! Dispatching a crew of Jobites to Rick Lee's house to have him reprogramed.

The allegiance some of you pledge to a brand name is disturbing.

[red-beard]

[imcarthur]

Ian

Note: There is a bad word & a few of the lyrics are wrong . . .

[JavaBrewer]

Originally Posted by Rick Lee

That's disappointing. But I would probably only use Google Play as a temporary measure until I figured out how to either move or replace my music library. At this point, I may end up just keeping the iPhone as a music storage device and carry it and a new non-Apple phone until I figure something out.

You are overly complicating your life. My only hesitation going back to iOS is having to deal with iTunes again. That being said the only people in my family that load music on their phone are my kids. Wife and I can't be bothered and are happy with streaming services.

Have you looked at the windows OS phones? Very different approach but well integrated and the hardware (Nokia) is top quality. If you are a heavy app user it might disappoint - the big ones are there but nothing like Apple/Android stores.

[jyl]

Yeah, the dual device thing seems too complicated. Just get an Android phone and be done w/ it.

[Don Ro]

How about the Samsung Galaxy S5? Long battery life and you can switch batteries on the go.
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Samsung Galaxy S5 review

New TR EMBED NO INSKIN - chromeless
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Edit: Oops, I see that it has already been mentioned.

[RANDY P]

In this day and age, you can forget about privacy. Gettin pissed at apple while you play on FB and instagram and PPOT really doesn't make sense. Data brokers are the wave of the future.

Everything you say is gonna be up for sale soon.

[scottmandue]

Originally Posted by JavaBrewer

Have you looked at the windows OS phones? Very different approach but well integrated and the hardware (Nokia) is top quality. If you are a heavy app user it might disappoint - the big ones are there but nothing like Apple/Android stores.

I'm looking hard at a Windows phone for my next device... wife not so much, she would surely die if she had to do without FB, Pinterest, Etsy, and the list goes on...

Originally Posted by RANDY P

In this day and age, you can forget about privacy. Gettin pissed at apple while you play on FB and instagram and PPOT really doesn't make sense. Data brokers are the wave of the future.

True Dat! If you are going to go all 'tin foil hat' you will have to move to the back forty, build a log cabin, and go off the grid.

[JavaBrewer]

Originally Posted by scottmandue

I'm looking hard at a Windows phone for my next device... wife not so much, she would surely die if she had to do without FB, Pinterest, Etsy, and the list goes on...

Social media integration on stock WP is outstanding - particularly FB. No apps needed there. You will have to research them a bit but I do know that Pinterest recently released an app. Good luck!

[widgeon13]

Apple laugh of the day.........

Not sure how this happened but check out the name.

[Rick Lee]

The dual device solution would be a temporary one. I am concerned that streaming would eat up my data limit. Though the places where I use my phone for music the most (gym and practice room) have wi-fi. However, for long drives I'd be eating into data limits. And how does that work on flights? The flight I was on last week from Germany charged something like 15 Euros for wi-fi. That's nuts.