If you are a mobile phone user, which most of the modern population of this planet are, you will fit into one of two camps - iPhone or 'the other ones'. Admittedly I am a big fan of the Apple camp, having iPhones since late 2009, and converting from my HP laptop to a MacBook in 2010. A little hesitation on both transitions is now lost in a wave of delight and reliability - my 5+ year old machine that still works flawlessly and does not look or feel a day old compared to new machines... that is, until I push the processor hard, but that is another story. Back on topic... when it comes to my love of Apple and the iPhone, change has blown in, with a refreshing force.
Gone are the days of cool two and three finger swipes and motions... gone are the days of a perfectly symmetrical design both outside and in... gone are the days of hearing how the iPhone is the be-all and end-all of smart phones. Why?... because I have jumped the fence, and retired my trusty iPhone 4S to the third draw down beside my desk, to be lost amongst a variety of charges, cables and adapters. Yes, I have bought an Android phone... a Samsung Galaxy 5S in fact. As you pick yourself up off the floor and regain some sense of composure, I will explain my new direction in life. You see, Apple are geniuses in luring you into their clean white stores filled with similar dressed personnel standing at the ready... and before you know it, bring your latest Apple device promptly to you via cool wireless in-store communication that would rival NASA. You get swept up in the awe of smooth machines and a hip lifestyle that you usually only see in magazines displaying how your life should be lead. It is brilliant, because you completely forget how much you are actually paying, wrapped up in a 24 month contract of communication bliss. How could all of this be wrong? I'll tell you... It was only when I somehow tripped over a paperclip and found myself in the Samsung store that I saw a different kind of light. The sales person (yep, only one in the store) greeted me with a smirk when I mentioned I had never used an Samsung before... I thought that his facial expression was one of paid arrogance and maybe even ignorance, not working for Apple. Soon though I was talked through the specs of a now superseded Samsung phone, and still blown away. Not only is the Galaxy S5 now replaced by the S6, but it still has almost twice the processing power of the iPhone 6, twice the RAM, twice the MP of the camera, much better resolution of the screen, and 30% longer battery life. Add in that I can expand the memory, replace a battery if one dies, and the Galaxy S5 is IP67 rated (waterproof), I really was scratching my scalp so hard I lost 16 hairs... how the hell can Apple get away with charging twice as much (RRP) for the 6, for a device which is seriously outclassed. "The Operating System", I hear you say... sorry to dampen your argument, but after living with the Samsung and Android system for a few weeks now, I really can't see much difference at all, apart from it being a little smoother with information at hand compared to the Apple. Yes, it really is that good... and I'm an 'Apple Guy'! Okay... in all fairness, there is one feature I miss... using Apple's iMessage via my computer was a nice interface when I much prefer typing on a keyboard. And the iPhone has a more user friendly alarm... but that's it... and I can live with this when I know I saved 400 Euros!
Naturally though I am sticking with my MacBook Pro, only upgrading it for a newer machine due to more recent work demands and processing with PS and FinalCutProX. I also have a relatively recent (retina screen) iPad for my mobile teaching, so not all is lost for you Apple hopefuls out there :) It does however still bother me, as it should Apple as well... for just having one tasty fruit that is advertised to make your life happier and healthier is a very risky attitude. The 'others' are not only catching up but surpassing Apple, and making iPhones ever so harder to swallow at their price point. If Apple is not careful, they will wake up and see everyone eating a just as tasty alternative, still living a very fruitful life (like me) and wonder what happened.
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