Apple falling behind ...

[Park@82]

The software is 50% of the reason I still stay away from Android. For all its manifest flaws, iOS is still ahead of Android from a usability and solidity perspective, and in the selection of apps. Apps tend to have a qualitative edge as well; and the key Google apps (GTalk aside :/) are all represented on iOS and some are even better. So all Android has to sway me is this openness spiel. If there is a groundbreaking app especially in gaming, you're pretty much guaranteed that it will hit iOS first, Android second - if at all.

I am not surprised that iOS has better apps than Android. As I understand it, Apple has better QC on apps, developers make more money on iOS and Android has the hardware fragmentation issue.

I cant really comment on the usability of iOS vs Android (I have newer owned an Apple device).

All I know is that because of the openness of Android: I can access to the local file system, I have access to shares on a network (read & write), I can customize the UI to my liking, I can backup and side-load apps & their data, I can use my phone to automate many tasks (pretty cool huh?), I can connect my device to a number of non proprietary devices (memory sticks/ USB keyboards & mice/ game controllers/ SDcards etc) - without Root.

To most users this is a non issue, I like choices.

 

[cerebus]

I am not surprised that iOS has better apps than Android. As I understand it, Apple has better QC on apps, developers make more money on iOS and Android has the hardware fragmentation issue.

Yes but you see that makes for a legitimate reason to choose an iOS device over an Android one; that doesn't have anything to do with trendiness or simplicity or flashiness or any of the other myriad of reasons touted by the anti-crowd. iOS has a totally thriving developer environment; if you're into games it's not even a contest. Hundreds, Faraway, Badland, Ridiculous Fishing, Little Inferno, Year Walk, Infinity Blade 2, The Room, etc, etc. Even the cross-platform apps tend to be better on iOS overall - like I used Isilo on both, and it's so much smoother on iOS.

I cant really comment on the usability of iOS vs Android (I have newer owned an Apple device).


All I know is that because of the openness of Android: I can access to the local file system, I have access to shares on a network (read & write), I can customize the UI to my liking, I can backup and side-load apps & their data, I can use my phone to automate many tasks (pretty cool huh?), I can connect my device to a number of non proprietary devices (memory sticks/ USB keyboards & mice/ game controllers/ SDcards etc) - without Root.

To most users this is a non issue, I like choices.

I don't think it's a non-issue. It seems like a pretty strong argument for.

 

[BeVonk!]

This ad is amusing, but the message is very odd. It seems like Nokia are saying that no-one has heard of the Lumina, which surely means that their own marketing is pretty bad...!?

I find the ad to be very poor. Isn't the fact that people "fight" over iOS vs Android a positive indication of brand loyalty and affinity? Is having something that nobody cares about (not willing to fight about) a good thing? I don't think so. MS just got it wrong ... again.

 

[Sputnik]

The MS add makes it look like only the "The Help" uses their product.

 

[BeVonk!]

Is this what MS is trying to get across?

 

[BeVonk!]

BeVonk!, I think your problem with file syncing on iOS comes from the fact that Apple has deigned iOS assuming everyone has access to Wi-Fi, as is the case for most people in the US. etc

This is unfortunately true for us here in SA in many ways. Games not officially in App Store. Music came not too long after years of waiting (and despite selling iPods in SA since it launched). A small segment of the SA population uses the stuff we do and "always on ... always connected" just doesn't work here. I hear what AJ is saying about his experience in the States but in the States accessible wi-fi is far more common in urban areas. Here we have very poor coverage, and where you do get it it comes at a cost. Samsung with their free wi-fi access deal is starting something but we are a far way off from being able to depend on wi-fi access. The cloud is therefore not cost effective in SA yet. At home and/or at work one might have wi-fi linked to ADSL, but not in-between or away from the two.

 

[zippy]

I find the ad to be very poor. Isn't the fact that people "fight" over iOS vs Android a positive indication of brand loyalty and affinity? Is having something that nobody cares about (not willing to fight about) a good thing? I don't think so. MS just got it wrong ... again.

So Apple sucks because SA is still backward

 

[clasqm]

I find the ad to be very poor. Isn't the fact that people "fight" over iOS vs Android a positive indication of brand loyalty and affinity? Is having something that nobody cares about (not willing to fight about) a good thing? I don't think so. MS just got it wrong ... again.

Assuming that bride's family and grooms family are seated separately in the traditional way here, the question that arises is "can this marriage last?"

 

[Sl8er]

Assuming that bride's family and grooms family are seated separately in the traditional way here, the question that arises is "can this marriage last?"

 

[BeVonk!]

So Apple sucks because SA is still backward

How does this comment tie in with my comments about the MS ad (that you quoted)?

 

[cerebus]

http://gizmodo.com/dear-apple-let-s-talk-about-photos-496372876

Just for you bevonk

 

[BeVonk!]

http://gizmodo.com/dear-apple-let-s-talk-about-photos-496372876

Just for you bevonk

LOL!

I use Dropbox at present because I want to access my stuff on any device ,,, not just Apple ... so I will not opt for what this author proposes. The freedom to move across ecosystems is too valuable for me. What Dropbox should do is create a photo management application for all the devices they support (Instagram for Dropbox). Not tied to one specific ecosystem.

 

[[)roi(]]

So Apple sucks because SA is still backward

IMO, they are responsible.
Clearly music, movies and tv shows could have been made available much sooner; and we should also ask why other game suppliers like steam have succeeded where Apple still seems to fail?

The cloud fiasco is clearly a problem everywhere, yet no rational thought was provisioned how a drive towards this would impact backward countries like SA.

Remember they officially distribute their products in SA, therefore they should be held 100% accountable to ensure required functionality in the confines of each environment.

Yet to be fair; neither Google, Nokia, Samsung, Microsoft, ... have had complete successes here either.

Consider however that people are used to the Google model of trial, fail, discard service process. Google's failure is almost expected, and as such escapes much media wrath.

Apple has held itself to a higher quality standard and by their own admission don't follow Google's model externally i.e. they sold us on the idea that it all should just work -- yet in practice some of it doesn't ; therefore the media tends to deal them with a heavier hand (justifiably so)

 

[zippy]

IMO, they are responsible.
Clearly music, movies and tv shows could have been made available much sooner; and we should also ask why other game suppliers like steam have succeeded where Apple still seems to fail?

The cloud fiasco is clearly a problem everywhere, yet no rational thought was provisioned how a drive towards this would impact backward countries like SA.

Remember they officially distribute their products in SA, therefore they should be held 100% accountable to ensure required functionality in the confines of each environment.

Yet to be fair; neither Google, Nokia, Samsung, Microsoft, ... have had complete successes here either.

Consider however that people are used to the Google model of trial, fail, discard service process. Google's failure is almost expected, and as such escapes much media wrath.

Apple has held itself to a higher quality standard and by their own admission don't follow Google's model externally i.e. they sold us on the idea that it all should just work -- yet in practice some of it doesn't ; therefore the media tends to deal them with a heavier hand (justifiably so)

So foreign tech companies are responsible for Telkom ?

 

[cerebus]

LOL!

I use Dropbox at present because I want to access my stuff on any device ,,, not just Apple ... so I will not opt for what this author proposes. The freedom to move across ecosystems is too valuable for me. What Dropbox should do is create a photo management application for all the devices they support (Instagram for Dropbox). Not tied to one specific ecosystem.

I came across another photo management suite that is meant to be (if Gruber's sponsorship commendation is anything to go by) pretty sterling:

https://www.everpix.com/campaign.html?origin=thetalkshow

Worth a look I guess.

 

[BeVonk!]

I came across another photo management suite that is meant to be (if Gruber's sponsorship commendation is anything to go by) pretty sterling:

https://www.everpix.com/campaign.html?origin=thetalkshow

Worth a look I guess.

Thanks Cerebus, that looks very promising. First time see it. Bwana will probably know it but its new for me.

Got the app. Signed up.

No Android support ... yet, I hope. Their PC app will help a lot. Looks promising. $5/m subscription fee.

 

[cerebus]

Yeah I think you need a higher level of content curation for pics as you're a pro or semi-pro level user than a basic operating system can provide. My pic collection is a mess, every time I look at it I wince, and I just never get around to sorting it out so it's clearly not a domain I've needed to bother with too much. I do appreciate the value of good content architecture though.

 

[[)roi(]]

So foreign tech companies are responsible for Telkom ?

South Africa is not the only country hampered by communication, and the lack of affordable always on WIFI, Broadband, ...

In SA, the lack of iTunes store components, had nothing to do with Telkom; yet it's quite possible to imagine that an earlier introduction could have been catalytic.

How were others able to achieve the same, where Apple could not?

For me Apple's advertorial mantras should be just as applicable in SA as in any other country. As I previously said the failing is not singular Apple; Google, Samsung and many others are similarly quite happy to enjoy the benefits of sales in the 3rd world without any actual effort to ensure their catch advertorial phrases are justified.

 

[zippy]

South Africa is not the only country hampered by communication, and the lack of affordable always on WIFI, Broadband, ...

In SA, the lack of iTunes store components, had nothing to do with Telkom; yet it's quite possible to imagine that an earlier introduction could have been catalytic.

How were others able to achieve the same, where Apple could not?

For me Apple's advertorial mantras should be just as applicable in SA as in any other country. As I previously said the failing is not singular Apple; Google, Samsung and many others are similarly quite happy to enjoy the benefits of sales in the 3rd world without any actual effort to ensure their catch advertorial phrases are justified.

Well, Apple, Google etc. didn't build the Internet and telkoms backbone or the legislation in the the 1st and 2nd world. The South African market is too small and the attitude of those in it and who control it is very insular.

The problem with iTunes is that it has to comply with agreements regarding release dates applicable to regions. This forces a seperate store for these regions. And seperate is never equal.

South African censorship laws also prohibit some material which would not be prohibited in other countries.

I believe the South African App Store shares with Quatar?? (Google "why a separate app store for south africa")

It's South African law which makes it difficult for foreign companies. Not foreign companies being disrespectful .