Apple App Store vs. Android Market [ Edited ]

[Gainey2010]

I currently have and iphone 3Gs and am looking to upgrade.  Would really like opinions on which is better app store or android, and if the phones that run on android are up to the same quality that my iphone has been.

[ilikewireless ACE - Czar]

Define quality.

[Gainey2010]

Well my phone has lasted almost 2 years and I have 2 children, a 4 year old and a 2 year old, they play games on it.  It has been dropped, beaten and summerged in water several times and always comes back.  The home button is going out but like I said it has been through some tough times.

[mejoey1]

I have the android and really like the apps. Search online for the apple apps or itunes and the android app to see the different app by category and the cost of each one. They have new apps all the time so I go online and read up on what they do or used for.

[JFizDaWiz]

Well Android/Google don't pick and choose what goes on the market (both pros and cons there), a refund window (15 minutes) more free apps and support for the Amazon appstore (free app of the day)

I choose Android.

[youngjm ACE - Professor]

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Gainey2010 wrote:

I currently have and iphone 3Gs and am looking to upgrade.  Would really like opinions on which is better app store or android, and if the phones that run on android are up to the same quality that my iphone has been.

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The two platforms really are about two different philosophy's and which one works for you.  

Apple is abou the experience and selling hardware.  They have a closed app store that reviews apps and usually keeps them free of malware.

Android is about search and selling ads.  Everything they do is to collect data about you and track your searches to sell advertising.  As a result, there is no one App store for android.  Amazon, and others each offer their own and the rules for having apps available on each store is going to be different and could result in more apps that do bad things in the background  and Google has disabled some bad apps.

The manufactures who produce the phones are all good.  Some models are more robust then others but in a biased way, Apple is about the experience and is more likely to go beyond the written warrenties depending upon what happens to a phone.  consider also that you already own an iphone and probably bought apps and other content.   The apps would need to be purchased again and as for content, they may depend?

There is really nothing wrong with either but you need to decide what fits for you.

[ilikewireless ACE - Czar]

Iphones have one form factor, set by Apple. It's one size for everyone.

Android phones have many form factors. I feel that the larger form factor of Samsung Note may be for those who want to use a phone as a tablet. For those who prefer a real keyboard, Samsung Captivate Glide can meet that need.

[FrankieTM]

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Android is about search and selling ads.  Everything they do is to collect data about you and track your searches to sell advertising.  As a result, there is no one App store for android.  Amazon, and others each offer their own and the rules for having apps available on each store is going to be different and could result in more apps that do bad things in the background  and Google has disabled some bad apps.

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Actually, this statement is incorrect on several aspects.  Android has always had it's own maket.  It is the Google Market (Google Play now), set up pretty much like the Apple market. The difference is when you use a carrier other than ATT, then there are OTHER markets you can get apps from, and even directly from company websites... apps for Android devices, that is.

Android in general does not force users to go through a central market like Apple does, unless of course you have ATT as a carrier. ATT treats their Android phones like iPhones, by locking up their ability to install apps that are not from Google Market.  This will become more of a problem as more stores refuse to give Google a high percentage of their income and provide their apps directly from their web sites, like PC amd Mac programs are typically done. Generally you can share (free) apps between Android phones, again applies to carriers other than ATT.

A difference between Android and Apple is that with Android you get a choice of phones high end to low end, and different, competing makers (HTC, Samsun, LG, etc..).  High end Android phones are as good if not better than the most recent iPhone (Samsung Galaxy S3 is a good comparible to latest iPhone, but of course up for debate.), and will cost about as much, or cheaper.  Lower end Android phones, and last years models, are usually free or very cheap with contract. 

Like youngjm stated, it is more of a philosophy, that one chooses... that between a more competitive, with constrictions market (Android) and a single company's model experience (Apple).

BTW, iPhones also track you and keep your data for adverts, etc.., even more strictly, that is why their market, iTunes, etc, is even more constricted than Android. For instance, ever wonder how the app 'Beat the Traffic' works? It tracks iPhones and Androids that have their GPS on, as they drive along the highway.

[Amazing Spider-…]

Ok :my two cents. I had a Droid X. After 6 months I realized the Google store had very few apps I wanted, even less I wanted to buy. After a tear I stopped using the phone because it was too slow, and gobbled up data bandwidth unless I turned off the 3G permanently.

My iPhone 4 works fine. It doesn't obsess with push apps because I tell it not to, and I have a host of really good games. My son has an itouch. He can play the same games I can on my iPhone 4.

'nuff said