02-18-2013, 03:40 PM
Android is the best bet.
It has the best feature list and the most choices. I still think it's dumb every time I see iPhones and realize they have no widgets -- that is, live content you can see on your home screen without having to click an icon. Apple added these to their "notification center" but it's not the same thing.
Basically when I use my phone, 90% of what I want to do can be done without opening an app. I can toggle music, check the weather, see upcoming Facebook events, stock prices, set my volume and turn on the flashlight without having to open an app. It's just right there on my desktop (I suggest Smooth Calender if you use Facebook. Free. Draws in your Facebook and Google calender events and can display them right on your desktop as a widget).
The only apps I regularly open up are probably internet and Netflix (mainly to queue up something for streaming on the TV). I'll open my Amazon app to shop for music but it has a widget that can be used to control playback without opening it up. Also can be configured to operate from the lock screen.
Apple gives you a very....stable....experience, which is to say, it's bland. Well tested, but bland. It's what the Apple authorities have authorized you to see and it works great because it's well tested but if you want something else, tough shit. I feel like Apple came up with a good idea and then went out to lunch for 2 years and still aren't back. Nothing I ever see on iPhones tempts me to buy one.
Windows would be cool to play with but seems risky. It's new and I dunno how much effort Microsoft is really putting into it. I'm wary of Microsoft because it feels like they fell asleep at the wheel quite some years ago. I could be convinced but I'm not going to be the test subject.
I would look at the Droid DNA, HTC One or Samsung Galaxy S3.
It has the best feature list and the most choices. I still think it's dumb every time I see iPhones and realize they have no widgets -- that is, live content you can see on your home screen without having to click an icon. Apple added these to their "notification center" but it's not the same thing.
Basically when I use my phone, 90% of what I want to do can be done without opening an app. I can toggle music, check the weather, see upcoming Facebook events, stock prices, set my volume and turn on the flashlight without having to open an app. It's just right there on my desktop (I suggest Smooth Calender if you use Facebook. Free. Draws in your Facebook and Google calender events and can display them right on your desktop as a widget).
The only apps I regularly open up are probably internet and Netflix (mainly to queue up something for streaming on the TV). I'll open my Amazon app to shop for music but it has a widget that can be used to control playback without opening it up. Also can be configured to operate from the lock screen.
Apple gives you a very....stable....experience, which is to say, it's bland. Well tested, but bland. It's what the Apple authorities have authorized you to see and it works great because it's well tested but if you want something else, tough shit. I feel like Apple came up with a good idea and then went out to lunch for 2 years and still aren't back. Nothing I ever see on iPhones tempts me to buy one.
Windows would be cool to play with but seems risky. It's new and I dunno how much effort Microsoft is really putting into it. I'm wary of Microsoft because it feels like they fell asleep at the wheel quite some years ago. I could be convinced but I'm not going to be the test subject.
I would look at the Droid DNA, HTC One or Samsung Galaxy S3.