[Galaxy Note GT-N7000 General] marcob1:
Not an iOS, but to enjoy the whole package you still need to "hack" (jailbreak) an Android... (if you care about the warranty)

Then let's discuss about privacy: I can't trust neither of them, they all spy on you like mad, but the Apple might just be better at this point in time in this regard.

Then, what I most care about is a functioning device that fulfills my needs before talking about principles. At this point, there are quite some Android apps that have reached a stable status, but it's still a far cry compared to Apple. I have tried all Android web browsers over the past 3 weeks, none comes to being as smooth, stable and with a constant good predictability of touch input actions as the Safari on the iOS. Not talking about extra features, just the basics one really really needs. Stable, reliable, ease of use (input, rendering, resizing, reflow).

Then let's take the email. I despise the one on the iOS for being as limited as it is. I used for many years Profimail before getting the 3GS, and that's like as close to a desktop email client as it gets. Switched to the iPhone, had the shock of my life, got used to it with the time, and now I can actually really appreciate it how reliable, rock solid, smooth it is. Almost all must haves are there (except "Mark all as read", that's a must have in my books). Android? They are struggling with basic things like rendering, reliability and search on the server?!?!?!?!

How about switching between apps? Right, Android and multitasking... Works better when the apps are well done, but that's not the point I want to make. Sometimes on my Note it takes a good 3-5 seconds to bring up the recent apps window. Sometimes the app crash when bringing them to foreground (ironically none crash as often as my XDA "Premium"). On the iPhone? You click the button twice and the bar with the "running" tasks are there instantly. And this on a single core processor 3+ years of age. Apps crashes during switching? None I can recall in the past 2 years.

Contacts? Android, way too complex, in a nasty way. Slow as well. iOS? not that feature reach but everything one really needs is there, and it's way easier to use.

Reading eBooks? Kindle on Android vs iBooks/Kindle for iOS.... No contest, Kindle for Android just works. That's all. CoolReader is way better than Kindle, but still no match to iBooks or Kindle for iOS.

PDF files? After buying almost all PDF readers in the store, the best running on the Note is ezPDF, still a far cry compared to iBooks (rendering, feeling). I don't care about the extra features as much as about the basics. I need the extras every now and then, the basics always.

As about the hardware on this particular phone... The light sensor on my 3GS was flawless. I set it to 25% with auto-brightness and it worked as expected.

Android? I must manage it manually. Additionally, way to bright in the night even at the minimum setting. Why am I not allowed to go lower, would be great while driving (I have it mounted on my Cockpit for getting warned about speed traps)? Some apps can go lower about the brightness, for instance CoolReader, why no standard setting?

Speaker, the one inside the 3GS is better. Better sound quality, louder when placed on the table.

Headphone output. With my 16Ohm Sennheiser IE-8 way way too much noise. With higher impedance phones way too underpowered. All in all, the 3GS is definitely better.

Buttons? Way too easy to press. I use my Note with an all leather bag from fitBAG and it always activates the volume buttons while getting it out of the bag or back in. Never happened with my iPhone, used a similar bag, same model from the same brand. The lock "button" sucks too, right the opposite of the volume buttons.

Camera? Great! Never tested the 4S, I don't really care either, the Note's camera is more than enough for me. Way better than the one inside my 3GS (unfair comparison? not considering the other points...)

Well, I will overcome all these problems, I will stay with the Note, but this is just because I'm somewhat of a freak with no real alternatives (5-5.5" phones) out there. Should Apple bring tomorrow an iPhone ~5" out, I'll be the first to camp in front of their store (although I never did something similar before).

Sadly, Android is as immature as I remember it from the time I tried HTC Magic (had it for ~ 5 weeks, before I smashed it against the wall). They invested in features, never in usability nor in polishing the things. Just sad. Hopefully the development of Android apps (I plan to get into) goes better. At least one is clear: IntelliJ is way way better compared to Xcode. Hooray!

:eek: