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Interesting. I too am an iPhone lover who recently picked up a Nexus 4 to get into Android development. This is my first experience with Android, so I didn't

Interesting. I too am an iPhone lover who recently picked up a Nexus 4 to get into Android development. This is my first experience with Android, so I didn't realize that the Nexus 4 Android experience might be different than your typical Android smartphone. I was very impressed with the overall experience. If I wasn't so used to iOS, I could easily see myself using Android on a Nexus 4. But in the end, I walked away with the opposite impression; I saw no compelling reason to switch to Android and have decided iOS is still the mobile OS for me. Unlike the author, I do not really consider myself a power user. The customizability of Android is really enticing, but at the end of the day I find myself preferring the design/philosophy of iOS. But it really just comes down to personal preference. After using an iPhone for so long, I became annoyed at the small design/interface differences present in the Nexus 4 (e.g. no physical home button). At times I found it difficult to use the Nexus 4 because of it's greater width. The iPhone width is optimal for my hand size and pocket size. Also, in my opinion as an app developer, the iOS app ecosystem still seems a lot stronger than Android. Browsing the Play Store was a little boring to me. Yes, most popular apps have both iOS and Android versions, but many developers still target iOS first and Android second. Until there's a reason for that to change I think iOS still has the edge in "killer" apps. That being said, I agree that there are a lot of nice things in Android that I would love to see implemented in iOS.

beznogim 14y ago
I would love to see the undo function implemented in Android. Text editing is very fiddly here, and you aren't even allowed to make mistakes.
w1ntermute 14y ago
Are you kidding me? The iPhone has the optimal width? You sound just like Marco, Gruber, and all those other Apple sycophants who were claiming that the iPhone size was perfect for the hand, until the iPhone 5 came out, of course. Just like they got their thumbs surgically altered when the 5 came out, no doubt you will be getting all your pockets resized if Apple increases the iPhone width.
- robmcm 14y ago
  I still think the iPhone 4 &< had the best screen size for ergonomics. I don't think you can contest that. The iPhone 5 compromises to make the screen bigger, but only by a little. I don't think I could use a 4" device like a Nexus 4 (I have a Nexus S which was a good size), on my commute where I need to hold onto a handle of the train, underground with one hand, smartphone in other.
  - kalleboo 14y ago
    Some people have larger hands than others. Android gives you the whole range from an Xperia tipo to the Note. On the iPhone, unless you want to compromise performance, you have one phone.
    - robmcm 14y ago
      Valid point, well put. The danger is that changes to screen size aren't always reflected by the software, so you may have a small screen that scales down, or a large screen with wasted real estate. See the host of apps that haven't update for the iPhone 5 screen yet!!!
      - estebank 14y ago
        Keep in mind that the Android SDK has quite a few features that allow you to create liquid layouts that will work fairly well on most device sizes, as precisely because the Android OS comes on a great variety of hardware, this problem had to be addressed early on, while on iOS every time a new screen size/pixel density comes along you have to create an all new view. I'll acknowledge that many times you have to fiddle a bit to make sure that your Android view works well on a variety of screens, but usually you can target between 3 and 4 layouts and have a usable UI for all devices from 10" tablets all the way down to small feature phones.
    - sbuk 14y ago
      The ecosystem may give you a choice in size, but that has an impact on power. Take the Tipo, woeful screen and battery life as well as being desperately underpowered. So, no, there isn't really a choice. If you want a useable device, these days you are looking at 4" plus.
enraged_camel 14y ago
Agreed on the size. Nexus 4 is basically a mini-tablet, and looks incredibly retarded when someone holds it up to their ear. Reminds me of people who use their iPad cameras to take photos and videos.
- pavel_lishin 14y ago
  > looks incredibly retarded when someone holds it up to their ear I care more about my phone's abilities than I do about what people think of me when I'm holding it up to my ear. (Which only happens maybe once a week for me, anyway.)
  - enraged_camel 14y ago
    That's fine. I just hope you don't judge people who use their iPads as a camera. :)
    - pavel_lishin 14y ago
      Of course I judge them. I just don't expect them to care what I think :P
deleted 14y ago
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beznogim 14y ago

I would love to see the undo function implemented in Android. Text editing is very fiddly here, and you aren't even allowed to make mistakes.

w1ntermute 14y ago

Are you kidding me? The iPhone has the optimal width? You sound just like Marco, Gruber, and all those other Apple sycophants who were claiming that the iPhone size was perfect for the hand, until the iPhone 5 came out, of course. Just like they got their thumbs surgically altered when the 5 came out, no doubt you will be getting all your pockets resized if Apple increases the iPhone width.

robmcm 14y ago
I still think the iPhone 4 &< had the best screen size for ergonomics. I don't think you can contest that. The iPhone 5 compromises to make the screen bigger, but only by a little. I don't think I could use a 4" device like a Nexus 4 (I have a Nexus S which was a good size), on my commute where I need to hold onto a handle of the train, underground with one hand, smartphone in other.
- kalleboo 14y ago
  Some people have larger hands than others. Android gives you the whole range from an Xperia tipo to the Note. On the iPhone, unless you want to compromise performance, you have one phone.
  - robmcm 14y ago
    Valid point, well put. The danger is that changes to screen size aren't always reflected by the software, so you may have a small screen that scales down, or a large screen with wasted real estate. See the host of apps that haven't update for the iPhone 5 screen yet!!!
    - estebank 14y ago
      Keep in mind that the Android SDK has quite a few features that allow you to create liquid layouts that will work fairly well on most device sizes, as precisely because the Android OS comes on a great variety of hardware, this problem had to be addressed early on, while on iOS every time a new screen size/pixel density comes along you have to create an all new view. I'll acknowledge that many times you have to fiddle a bit to make sure that your Android view works well on a variety of screens, but usually you can target between 3 and 4 layouts and have a usable UI for all devices from 10" tablets all the way down to small feature phones.
  - sbuk 14y ago
    The ecosystem may give you a choice in size, but that has an impact on power. Take the Tipo, woeful screen and battery life as well as being desperately underpowered. So, no, there isn't really a choice. If you want a useable device, these days you are looking at 4" plus.

enraged_camel 14y ago

Agreed on the size. Nexus 4 is basically a mini-tablet, and looks incredibly retarded when someone holds it up to their ear. Reminds me of people who use their iPad cameras to take photos and videos.

pavel_lishin 14y ago
> looks incredibly retarded when someone holds it up to their ear I care more about my phone's abilities than I do about what people think of me when I'm holding it up to my ear. (Which only happens maybe once a week for me, anyway.)
- enraged_camel 14y ago
  That's fine. I just hope you don't judge people who use their iPads as a camera. :)
  - pavel_lishin 14y ago
    Of course I judge them. I just don't expect them to care what I think :P

deleted 14y ago

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