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**DaFace** · 09-19-2012, 06:14 PM

A few random things in no particular order:

As mentioned, app compatibility is rarely an issue. There are some issues with some apps being designed for tablets only and things like that, but I'd guesstimate that 90% of all apps are compatible with about any Android phone that's come out in the past 5 years.
On that note, a much higher percentage of Android apps are free. I haven't ever pirated an app for my phone, and I probably have a grand total of about $15 of apps on my phone. There are a handful of expensive ones out there, but a vast majority of the apps people use on a day-to-day basis are free.
The Galaxy Nexus is a fairly "pure" Android phone in that it's Google's baby (manufactured by Samsung), so they don't mess with the software like Samsung does. I actually chose to buy the GNex two months instead of the SIII just because I don't like TouchWiz. (Though if you're in the mood to root your phone and install a custom ROM, that's not really an issue.)
If you are already in the Google ecosystem, one of the great things about Android is that it all works together. If you have Chrome as a browser, your bookmarks will automatically sync (transparently) with the Android browser on your phone. You can add a contact in Gmail, and it will instantly show up on your phone. If the phone you have is on Jellybean (Android 4.1), it will even do creepy things like pop up with directions to a place you just searched for on Google Maps. Similarly, if you have an appointment on your calendar (Exchange or Gmail) with an address in the description, it will monitor traffic to that appointment and let you know if there are delays that would make you need to leave early.
Try out a custom keyboard or two - Swype and SwiftKey are the most popular. It's great to have an alternative there.

Those are just off the top of my head. Honestly, one of the things I love about Android is that you can play with custom ROMs (software) to your heart's content, but I wouldn't recommend that with a work phone. With mine, though, I've got all sorts of custom settings pages to quickly turn things on and off, custom themes, different button layouts and functions, and a ton more. Android itself is great, but the development community is what would make me never consider an iPhone.

What it really comes down to is that, if you're looking for a phone that is sleek and feels nice, Android will probably disappoint compared to iOS. It's making HUGE strides, but I doubt it will ever match the look and feel of an iPhone. But if you're looking for something that is incredibly customizable and can be molded to do just about whatever you want to do with it, Android is awesome.

09-19-2012, 06:14 PM	#12
DaFace Kind of a mod Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Donkey Land Casino cash: $2076899	A few random things in no particular order: As mentioned, app compatibility is rarely an issue. There are some issues with some apps being designed for tablets only and things like that, but I'd guesstimate that 90% of all apps are compatible with about any Android phone that's come out in the past 5 years. On that note, a much higher percentage of Android apps are free. I haven't ever pirated an app for my phone, and I probably have a grand total of about $15 of apps on my phone. There are a handful of expensive ones out there, but a vast majority of the apps people use on a day-to-day basis are free. The Galaxy Nexus is a fairly "pure" Android phone in that it's Google's baby (manufactured by Samsung), so they don't mess with the software like Samsung does. I actually chose to buy the GNex two months instead of the SIII just because I don't like TouchWiz. (Though if you're in the mood to root your phone and install a custom ROM, that's not really an issue.) If you are already in the Google ecosystem, one of the great things about Android is that it all works together. If you have Chrome as a browser, your bookmarks will automatically sync (transparently) with the Android browser on your phone. You can add a contact in Gmail, and it will instantly show up on your phone. If the phone you have is on Jellybean (Android 4.1), it will even do creepy things like pop up with directions to a place you just searched for on Google Maps. Similarly, if you have an appointment on your calendar (Exchange or Gmail) with an address in the description, it will monitor traffic to that appointment and let you know if there are delays that would make you need to leave early. Try out a custom keyboard or two - Swype and SwiftKey are the most popular. It's great to have an alternative there. Those are just off the top of my head. Honestly, one of the things I love about Android is that you can play with custom ROMs (software) to your heart's content, but I wouldn't recommend that with a work phone. With mine, though, I've got all sorts of custom settings pages to quickly turn things on and off, custom themes, different button layouts and functions, and a ton more. Android itself is great, but the development community is what would make me never consider an iPhone. What it really comes down to is that, if you're looking for a phone that is sleek and feels nice, Android will probably disappoint compared to iOS. It's making HUGE strides, but I doubt it will ever match the look and feel of an iPhone. But if you're looking for something that is incredibly customizable and can be molded to do just about whatever you want to do with it, Android is awesome.
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