Why do you choose android over IOS/Windows Phone?

[Snakevenom]

I choose android over IOS because of the user control, I imagine that's the reason why many people choose Android over IOS but I know others who prefer the OS.

What do you think? What do you prefer and did you convert over from a different mobile OS?

 

[Ian]

I was an iPhone 3G and 4S user, but then switched to Android when subsequent iOS updates effectively crippled the phone (the same for every iPhone 3G owner I know) - so I put my money where my mouth was and jumped ship. There are a lot of things I miss from iOS, but overall I'm happy with Android (plus Android phones tend to be cheaper!).

 

[Sefie]

I got my first phone as a gift 2 years ago I liked the power Android give to its users, and to be honest I don't think I will ever switch to any other OS. Android seems so much more easier to use than iOS, my friend has an iPhone, but he couldn't do the same things I could do wit my phone since day one. He had to jailbreak it, that i when I knew I'd never opt for iOS.

 

[Brian8gbSSDLinux]

Having made the switch from Windows AND Android to an iPad Air and iOS 8

I regret spending the money...

As a 'power user' I no longer have control over where my files are stored...
ALL File Managers are allowed to do now - is to access 'fixed folders', or to transferr files to an iPod, iPhone or to a Computer.

Over the Weekend, I downloaded several dozen photos from a Family gathering, to my iPad

Because I didn't want them all over Google or Facebook (until edited) I chose to save to the 'Photo Roll'...

Well they are not there... and none of the File Managers I downloaded, will access anywhere except folders for - Photo, Document, Video or Music...

 

[IcyBC]

I like the fact that my phone allow me to have the mini SD card for extra storage! I started out with Android, and this was one of the sell points for me as I always snap pictures and needed more room to store them. Sadly, I am no longer have the Android but now I have inherited the iPhone 4. I miss having the Android.

 

[ryanch94]

Not limited to Apple's ecosystem, much more open, and greater handset support (I couldn't possibly afford to upgrade to a new iOS device every few years)

 

[sparkster]

I choose android over IOS because of the user control, I imagine that's the reason why many people choose Android over IOS but I know others who prefer the OS.

What do you think? What do you prefer and did you convert over from a different mobile OS?

Yep, it's customizable. That's the first reason. I've also always intentionally avoided Apple products because of their greedy corporate tactics. Once they've sucked you into the Apple trap, that's it, you're in the Apple trap! Android is also open source and there is a wider variety of apps available. Android devices also do things which require iphones, etc to be jailbroken to be able to do. Android can do many of those things already without rooting.

 

[shadejb]

I have used Android ever since it was in 2.1. In fact, my first android phone is the Orange San Francisco in the UK (Known as ZTE Blade internationally), the little device that introduce ZTE to the world. You can customize so much more with Android, and I've always find it strange with the "iPhone doesn't lag" notion. All phones lag, Apple products in particular are notorious with upgrades.
Windows Phone though, for the little time I was using one, I actually like. The live tiles are a great way of displaying information, and Glance reminds me of a more reliable version of Moto Display when it first came out.

 

[PingPongCall]

I've only ever had brief encounters with the Windows mobile OS, so I can't really say that I prefer Android over it. The thing is that whenever I get a new phone, the one I like just happens to be an android phone, I guess I just don't like the design of the windows phones. The only thing preventing me from using the Apple iOS is the crazy price tag attached to most of their devices. My Daughter has an iPad though and she loves it, not sure if that's saying anything considering she is so young but I do have a Nook which runs on android and out of the two she prefers the iPad.

 

[shadejb]

For me it's a good mix of customizing and availability of apps. I like that if I don't like something with Android, there's always an alternative: lockscreen, UI, app drawer, notification, LED lights, etc. Coupled that with the big app store and I'm sold. I've always stuck with Android since its Fro-yo day. I do however like some features of the Windows OS, like the ability to have live tiles and Glance.

 

[PingPongCall]

For me it's a good mix of customizing and availability of apps. I like that if I don't like something with Android, there's always an alternative: lockscreen, UI, app drawer, notification, LED lights, etc. Coupled that with the big app store and I'm sold. I've always stuck with Android since its Fro-yo day. I do however like some features of the Windows OS, like the ability to have live tiles and Glance.

Just encountered a windows phone in the wild yesterday. Can confirm that I'm still not impressed with them.

 

[scoobydoo]

I use android. I didn't really choose it over an iphone, it came with a plan. I've been thinking about switching to an iphone just to try it out for a while,as I am in need of a new phone, but I haven't decided yet. Any suggestions?

 

[vinaya]

I am using Andriod, but I did not begin using Andriod because it was my choice. I am using Andriod because I cannot afford to use iOS. The only iOS device I have ever used is iPod.

 

[IBMPC8088]

Android has security issues just as iOS does, so that won't be a pivotal point for it. When it comes to flexibility and being able to use or write apps for it, it's a lot more flexible than iOS is. Apple tends to keep an iron fist on their rules and restrictions for iTunes and placing Apple appls there. You can develop for them and try to market outside of iTunes, but they make it harder for people to do that, whereas all you have to do for Android is checkmark a box and tell your phone that you're ok with installing apps from 3rd party sources or without a signature from Google or another major provider of certificates. The android phones are a lot cheaper than the Apple ones, and it may stay that way too since Apple wants to keep their prices high on the hardware for it.

Windows Phone isn't as expensive as Apple devices, but they came so late to the mobile market that it isn't really worth it to get one at this point. They do have their own store for it and you have a little more freedom for developing and selling apps with it, and the same goes for installing them...but I can't justify using or buying one since Android is that much more favorable than Windows Phone or Apple still. As a developer, I want to keep hardware that is useful for testing and running things that are important and will be a good investment for the future.

For what I do, Apple devices are not a good investment. If I were doing more dev for iPhones, that might change. But I can emulate or run a hackintosh to simulate the experience on Mac hardware or emulate an iPhone well enough that it isn't needed at this time, and same with windows mobile/windows phone if it were requested. The same can be done for Android, but I use it for many more things than this, and the price is inexpensive enough that I can buy 2, 3, or even 4 devices for the same price that I would invest to just buy one Apple tablet or phone. Unless factors in that change, for now (and for the past few years) I've been doing more with Android as a developer and a user than either of the other two and will probably continue along that route.

 

[PingPongCall]

After this new update though.....I dont know anymore.

 

[Charles Franklin]

The real answer behind why I chose #TeamAndroid over Apple is because of convenience and ease (aka "I'm lazy and I don't know how to use Apple products like an expert"). I was already an avid Googler, Gmail user, Google Docs ninja, etc. so it was natural for me to look for something that could be easily integrated into my life and my experience.

Having said that, I am starting to get a little uneasy about the number of ways that Google is growing in my life. When anything outgrows its boundaries in your life, dependence occurs.

 

[Corzhens]

The only reason why I bought an android phone is the cost. An iPhone is the best phone in town, I think, and every Tom, Dick, and Harry are wishing for it. However, I know of several cases where the iPhone broke down beyond repair. With that very expensive phone, that is a huge disaster. My Samsung SIII broke down after 3 years of use, well, I just shrugged my shoulders and bought a Samsung J7 late last year as a replacement. But it that were an iPhone, I would probably cry.

 

[Charles Franklin]

The only reason why I bought an android phone is the cost. An iPhone is the best phone in town, I think, and every Tom, Dick, and Harry are wishing for it. However, I know of several cases where the iPhone broke down beyond repair. With that very expensive phone, that is a huge disaster. My Samsung SIII broke down after 3 years of use, well, I just shrugged my shoulders and bought a Samsung J7 late last year as a replacement. But it that were an iPhone, I would probably cry.

I will have to agree with you and forgot to mention cost. I definitely don't have an iPhone budget. Even if I did, the learning curve would still be very steep. I would also cry, like you, if my iPhone were beyond repair.

 

[rz3300]

I have just always had an affinity for Android, and I think that there is really no other reason than I am just used to it as a system at this point. I started with it, and have had little to no problems, so I am not changing not do I intend to. I am operating under the whole if it ain't broke don't fix it mentality. That said, though, I have found the Windows phones to be a little confusing and not all that user friendly.

 

[Personablue]

Because of its versatility also most of my mates have an android phone. Even that will be an understatement, 95% of the people I know has a android phone. Its more popular because of the wide range of price. You can get a phone in 100$ while I don't think i ever saw a smartphone of IOS or windows below 100$.