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Does anybody other than people who actually work in the marketing department of a phone manufacturer care? Is anybody still basing their identity around the bra

by ebbv 9y ago

Does anybody other than people who actually work in the marketing department of a phone manufacturer care? Is anybody still basing their identity around the brand of smartphone they use in 2018? If so, that's sad. The iPhone vs. Android battles were stupid in 2010 they're beyond pathetic in 2018. Pick the phone you like and move on with your life.

matthewmacleod 9y ago
Can’t be said enough. There are good reasons to choose either platform - Apple devices tend to be a little slicker and have better software, but there is a much wider variety of Android devices and the experience is more customisable. It’s still useful to know what way the market is moving and customers’ perception of devices to help us make informed choices about things like device support. But it’s not a competition for anybody except Apple and Android phone manufacturers; pick the platform that suits your needs and ecosystem best, and it’ll be fine.
adamlett 9y ago
People will exhibit tribal behavior over anything. Of course they base their identity around the brand of smartphone they use. It would be surprising if they didn’t. It’s not sad. It’s just human nature.
scarface74 9y ago
Brand loyalty to Android doesn't even help the "marketing department of the phone company". Even people who are loyal to Android are seldomly loyal to a manufacturer.
jstarfish 9y ago
Teens do. They tend to gravitate towards platform-specific apps, and when all the cool kids have iPhones, guess what they're going to insist on?
askafriend 9y ago
In the US, iMessage is a cultural sticking point. That's one thing that contributes to an "us" vs "them" mentality.
incompatible 9y ago
Choosing IOS would be incompatible with my identity as an free software / open source supporter. Android is bad enough already.
- davidgould 9y ago
  I used Android phones for years due to this, I've been using GNU/Linux exclusively since 1994 and the idea that Android was open was compelling to me. I also believe Richard Stallman is an actual saint. However, Google's appalling data collection practices and coercive dark patterns[0] and the fact that the important parts of an Android phone are not at all open disillusioned me on the virtue of Android. That and bad experiences[1] with my latest MotoG persuaded me to switch. The final straw was that it started dieing spontaneously under load. Too bad they did not think to slow it down when the battery aged. IOS may be against my free software religion, but bacon is delicious! I really like my iPhone and I hated the last Android phone although the one previous was not as bad. Of course once you abandon your principles you are on the slippery path with no anchor to prevent you from getting an iPad, Airpods, the watch, and probably Homepod too. However, I'm still on GNU/Linux for desktop/laptop and don't see that changing. [0] Example: I used to use the Android phone as a pedometer with my treadmill desk. After an update it refused to do this anymore without location services enabled so that it could help me record my routes. I'm pretty sure a) I know where my desk has been, b) I don't want Google knowing everywhere I go. [1] Example, on the freeway going 75 surrounded by feral Trumpers in giant pickup trucks, ask phone "Navigate to Fremont Costco". Do I get voice navigation? or a map?. No, it puts up a dialog box about "the destination location will be closing in 35 minutes, do you still want to do this?". I can almost picture the product meeting where they dreamed up this feature. But consider - the phone knows: It's only 10 minutes away, I'm headed toward it, I'm obviously driving. Why would it think a little box full of tiny text is remotely helpful or appropriate? IOS has some flaws but is never this obtuse.
  - davidgould 9y ago
    Follow up point, Having decided that for now I can trust Apple to respect my privacy I've managed to pretty much un-Google myself. I don't use any of their apps, switched to FireFox and DuckDuckGo on desktops and wiped and donated my Chromebooks. It was actually easier than I expected.

by ebbv 9y ago

matthewmacleod 9y ago

Can’t be said enough. There are good reasons to choose either platform - Apple devices tend to be a little slicker and have better software, but there is a much wider variety of Android devices and the experience is more customisable. It’s still useful to know what way the market is moving and customers’ perception of devices to help us make informed choices about things like device support. But it’s not a competition for anybody except Apple and Android phone manufacturers; pick the platform that suits your needs and ecosystem best, and it’ll be fine.

adamlett 9y ago

People will exhibit tribal behavior over anything. Of course they base their identity around the brand of smartphone they use. It would be surprising if they didn’t. It’s not sad. It’s just human nature.

scarface74 9y ago

Brand loyalty to Android doesn't even help the "marketing department of the phone company". Even people who are loyal to Android are seldomly loyal to a manufacturer.

jstarfish 9y ago

Teens do. They tend to gravitate towards platform-specific apps, and when all the cool kids have iPhones, guess what they're going to insist on?

askafriend 9y ago

In the US, iMessage is a cultural sticking point. That's one thing that contributes to an "us" vs "them" mentality.

incompatible 9y ago

Choosing IOS would be incompatible with my identity as an free software / open source supporter. Android is bad enough already.

davidgould 9y ago
I used Android phones for years due to this, I've been using GNU/Linux exclusively since 1994 and the idea that Android was open was compelling to me. I also believe Richard Stallman is an actual saint. However, Google's appalling data collection practices and coercive dark patterns[0] and the fact that the important parts of an Android phone are not at all open disillusioned me on the virtue of Android. That and bad experiences[1] with my latest MotoG persuaded me to switch. The final straw was that it started dieing spontaneously under load. Too bad they did not think to slow it down when the battery aged. IOS may be against my free software religion, but bacon is delicious! I really like my iPhone and I hated the last Android phone although the one previous was not as bad. Of course once you abandon your principles you are on the slippery path with no anchor to prevent you from getting an iPad, Airpods, the watch, and probably Homepod too. However, I'm still on GNU/Linux for desktop/laptop and don't see that changing. [0] Example: I used to use the Android phone as a pedometer with my treadmill desk. After an update it refused to do this anymore without location services enabled so that it could help me record my routes. I'm pretty sure a) I know where my desk has been, b) I don't want Google knowing everywhere I go. [1] Example, on the freeway going 75 surrounded by feral Trumpers in giant pickup trucks, ask phone "Navigate to Fremont Costco". Do I get voice navigation? or a map?. No, it puts up a dialog box about "the destination location will be closing in 35 minutes, do you still want to do this?". I can almost picture the product meeting where they dreamed up this feature. But consider - the phone knows: It's only 10 minutes away, I'm headed toward it, I'm obviously driving. Why would it think a little box full of tiny text is remotely helpful or appropriate? IOS has some flaws but is never this obtuse.
- davidgould 9y ago
  Follow up point, Having decided that for now I can trust Apple to respect my privacy I've managed to pretty much un-Google myself. I don't use any of their apps, switched to FireFox and DuckDuckGo on desktops and wiped and donated my Chromebooks. It was actually easier than I expected.