How and why I switched from iPhone to Android… and is it a good idea? [UPDATED]
Comments (6) 
Apple. for such an innocent word, it can be so divisive. The fanboys are extremely defensive of the company, almost to the extent that it’s like there’s an underlying belief that they can do no wrong, while the haters are the polar opposite – nothing that Apple says or does seems to have any element of truth to it. It’s amazing, really, that each ‘group’ is so extreme in their appraisal of Apple as a whole that there’s almost little variance. You either love them, hate them, or have little to no opinion… It’s so strange. (But hey, let’s be clear – I’m SURE there are people out there that don’t fit into my highly scientific and demonstrable definitions… This is just an generalised observation.)
And me? I guess at various stages I have fit into all of the above. At first, I hated Apple products and the hipsters that bought them. I had no interest in Macs or iPods. Then, in the early to mid-2000s when I decided I needed an MP3 player, I was convinced to get myself a 60GB iPod simply based on the fact that, at the time, there was no real competition. But while I loved my iPod, I wasn’t converted to ‘the club’ (or the cult, as some might prefer). I still hated Macs, and had nothing more than a passing interest in the iPhone when it was released.
And then I got one (a story in itself), and I was hooked. I also ended up getting myself an iPad recently – but I still have no interest in Macs (which is my personal beef – it’s not that I hate Macs, I just don’t want one).
Don’t get me wrong – I still believe that iPhone does certain things SO MUCH better than all other phones on the market. There is a reason the phone became so popular, and that’s because it really is a damn good phone. However, I found myself vehemently defending the phone to haters – even defending the obvious problems and omissions. Arguments such as “I just don’t NEED it” are common amongst iPhone users (fanboys?) – but how true is that statement, or is it just that iPhone is so easy to use, and Apple’s marketing is so pervasive, that you are almost brainwashed to feel this way?
Then came Android. Sure, it’s been around for a while, but Google is really making up on some lost ground now. Many tech nerds swear by Android, and most Apple haters do too (coincidence? probably not). But how can something really compare favourably to my wonderful iPhone?
So I decided to break out of my iMould and get myself an Android – in this case, a Samsung Galaxy S. My intention was to see whether iPhone really WAS so much better than the competition, to gauge whether or not I was simply a product of Apple’s marketing, and to see if the switch to Android was worth my time (and let’s face it – money). I did it so you don’t have to.
Continue reading 'How and why I switched from iPhone to Android… and is it a good idea? [UPDATED]'»
It’s funny when you think about it. To date, 3D has always been a gimmick. A joke perpetuated by crappy theme park cinemas and their "3D extravaganzas". The funky red-and-blue glasses that come with the TV guide every couple of years or so in an attempt to drive sales.
They pretend it wasn’t, but this year’s E3 was all about hardware. Microsoft presented Kinect, Sony demonstrated Move, and Nintendo announced their 3DS. Each, in their own way, claimed that the hardware was secondary to the software, yet still allowed a great deal of time discussing the hardware in their presentations. This is not a bad thing – without hardware, we wouldn’t have software. And really, Nintendo said it best – regardless of the hardware, the base experience matters most, and this is entirely dependent on how well the software is designed to be used with the hardware. It’s nice to see someone wasn’t just having a go at everyone else’s tech (looking at you, Sony – but I have to admit you made me laugh). So what was presented?
Reports out of CES from all of my favourite tech sites are noting an influx of 3D-capable TVs and PCs. It seems that most manufacturers consider 3D to be “the next big thing”. Sure – 3D has always been a popular attraction at theme parks for both adults and children alike, but it’s always seemed to me to be a bit of a gimmick. However, with all the major vendors jumping on board, perhaps it will be the new form of home entertainment. But will it be? Will it really? Huh? Yes… this post is full of questions.
Themocracy