Friends don’t let friends use Android devices
I am surprised how fundamentally flawed the Android OS seems to be. I’ve long been an iOS user, both on the iPhone and iPad, but in the last year circumstances brought me into the this mobile OS world via the Samsung Infuse 4G. I can no longer stand it.
Some of the issues that concern me, which may be inherently part of this device, contribute to an underwhelming experience are these:
- Resolution — while much bigger than an iPhone, once you go retina display, you can’t go back.
- Stability — it seems like apps are crashing all the time, for inexplicable reasons. I’ve given up on most social media apps, preferring to use the browser where I can.
- Reliability — It seems whenever I try to take a video, view a YouTube clip, shoot a photo or almost anything, the device fails requiring a reboot to continue use. I sometimes wonder if Googles used Microsoft employees to write some of this code.
- Configuration — Configuration is clunky, often losing the preference immediately. Some applications, even after multiple re-installations, cannot keep logins and sync preferences. It makes many apps pointless to use.
- Updates — It annoying to wait for the phone carrier provider to allow you the privilege of updating your phone to newer firmware. I’ve been waiting for months to upgrade to 2.3, and the only update I was able to get added more restrictions.
- Bloatware — I love all these lousy phone carrier applications, often that require money to use, that you simply cannot remove from you phone without rooting the device. Additionally, you cannot stop these apps from running and wasting system resources. Even bookmarks are filled with links you can’t even move from the home folder.
- Interface — Big ugly buttons, settings panels and ugly icons makes me think this was made by developers decades ago. Windows 3.1 called, it wants it’s interface back. Very non-intuitive as a whole.
- Connection — Bluetooth, phone reception and Wi-fi are just not as strong as you would expect a new device would have. People complain about iPhone, but at least you can use that device in places that Android fails. Wi-fi can’t even connect some places that my iPad does so immediately.
- Accessories — Have you seen the amazing devices you can buy for iOS devices. The list of accessories you can get for Android devices numbers in the almost the teens. iPhone has blood pressure devices, arcades, cameras, camera lens mounts and dedicated media devices galore … Android, not so much.
So, you may wonder what I do like about Android? I liked the notifications pull down, until iOS 5.0 did it better. Beyond that, the device just pales in comparison to even an iPhone 3GS.
Next year, I will upgrade to a new iPhone 4S, and sell my Samsung device. I would love to wait for the next iPhone, but that would be just too painful. Most of the time, my Android is ignored on a table somewhere, charging it’s embarrassingly weak battery.
I will not be developing for Android either. iOS, Mac Cocoa or Web Dev for me from now on!
