Samsung Galaxy S III

[MrShaun15]

Without wanting to sound rude, get your tongue out of his ar*****e

its not his arse i care about, its steve jobs although... well yeh, apple have taken over the world and since having an iphone and a macbook pro i could never go back to other stupid phones, or the virus ridden Windows computers

 

[Aadam]

A colleague has one. The screen does look very nice I have to admit. Some cool quirky features and the camera seems pretty decent. She's complained of bugs and a few issues with it so far, which I'm sure will be fixed with software updates. For the price it seems like a pretty nifty device.

funny how iPhone owners rave about the great aftersales service, it seems every one of them has used it.

Because the phone is glass front and back, they're prone to cracking when dropped. If you have any issues whatsoever you can pop into the Apple store and it will be looked at/fixed/replaced with little bother. I think the comparison is if you have an issue with a non-Apple phone, you usually have to send it away to be fixed, or the phone shop you bought it from fob you off with some story. The comfort is knowing that if you have a problem, it will be fixed.

Plus, there's no denying that iOS 5 is a lot more stable than Jellybean, and the app store is a lot more secure. Too many people look at the physical properties of the phones and use that as a comparison, but really you need to include the operating system as this makes the phone more than how much RAM it has.

 

[Bozza]

Security? Not something that has crossed my mind... what are the issues??

Ridden with malware due to Google's disinterest in providing any sort of QC.

 

[Bozza]

funny how iPhone owners rave about the great aftersales service, it seems every one of them has used it.

I wasn't talking about after sales service but, you're right, Apple knock Samsung for 6 when it comes to after sales service. Another one for the list.

The sort of thing I was talking about is this:

Looking forward to Android 4.1 (Jelly) rolling out in the near future on this handset.

Samsung's (and indeed Android's) flagship handset still doesn't have the latest version of the OS and we're 2 months after launch. That is laughably poor. You can bet that 18 months from now, when people buying an S3 today under 24 month contracts are still with their phones, Samsung will have completely abandoned them for OS updates as by then they'll be concentrating on the Samsung Galaxy Hyperdrive Whizzoid S4XII Acearama.

 

[Bozza]

Google themselves tell you all you need to know about the laughably poor support from Android handset manufacturers when it comes to supporting your device.

Dashboards | Android Developers

Want the latest features including security improvements to protect you, your phone and your personal information? Nah, you can piss off, we've launched 87 new phones since yours.

Probably the root of this problem, of course, is that by and large no-one makes any money on Android. Google don't and most of the handset manufacturers don't. They can't afford to support their handsets - it costs money to provide decent support. Samsung are the exception of course - they've become clearly dominant in Android-land of late. Oh, and Microsoft - let's not forget that Microsoft make a lot of money out of Android due to all their technologies that are in Android.

 

[Badger]

Samsung's (and indeed Android's) flagship handset still doesn't have the latest version of the OS and we're 2 months after launch. That is laughably poor. You can bet that 18 months from now, when people buying an S3 today under 24 month contracts are still with their phones, Samsung will have completely abandoned them for OS updates as by then they'll be concentrating on the Samsung Galaxy Hyperdrive Whizzoid S4XII Acearama.

That's weird, I've got a Galaxy S2 and updated that to 4.1 over a month ago.

I used to have an iPhone 3G and was very satisfied with it until I updated the software (iOS 4 I think), then it started to struggle and do some slightly odd things every now and again. Since then I've had a cheap Samsung Android phone which really wasn't up to the task and now my Galaxy S2 which is fantastic. For me it comes down to cost, for £25 a month I've got a phone that does everything I want and more, the iPhone is also great but I just can't justify the extra expense. I have also been writing mobile apps and as I'm using a PC Android is the only phone I can target.

 

[Titus]

There's no point disagreeing with Bozza. You can't argue against a closed mind.

 

[Bozza]

That's weird, I've got a Galaxy S2 and updated that to 4.1 over a month ago.

You've clearly got a degree of technical proficiency and have done this yourself. You're probably well aware that Jelly Bean for the S2 has not been released yet.

Unfortunately the majority of people do not have the technical proficiency, the time or the interest to root their phone etc to do what you did. They put faith in their handset manufacturer and/or network provider to do provide them with updates, and they would hope they'd be timely. Unfortunately, they are nearly always disappointed.

As I say - to a degree I don't blame the Android manufacturers - Apple continue to destroy them, so they don't make any money. Good support costs money to provide.

 

[beorhthelm]

Samsung's (and indeed Android's) flagship handset still doesn't have the latest version of the OS and we're 2 months after launch. That is laughably poor.

an often cited big win for Apple, but a tad disingenuous. yes its great that Apple have set a new standard with providing thier OS to older phones. but its a selling point for a few fantatical supporter while 95% of the population dont care. their phone works on the old OS just as it did when they brought it. yeah, you get the new features, but in android land you can DIY if you want new features. those on the upgrade treadmill will get the new features in the new phone anyway.

As I say - to a degree I don't blame the Android manufacturers - Apple continue to destroy them, so they don't make any money. Good support costs money to provide.

"destroy"? why use this sort of language in a debate about phones. its fanboi language. its also ignorant of the global market where Apple trails. the advantages of their single product line (support, stability, upgrades) is a big disadvantage when competing against multiple price points in multiple markets. some cant afford a $500 smart phone, but they can afford a $250 one. its not only a matter for Chinese and African markets, you see it here where the kids all use the cheaper Blackberry deveices (keyboard and BBM helps too).

which is the point really. horses for courses. if one want to have "the look" and great (frequently used apparently) support, get an iPhone. if one wants something a bit different, maybe a bigger screen for video, or writing notes get something like an S3, HTC One or Note etc. if one wants to type copious text or have secure integration to their corporate email, get a Blackberry. pretending one device is gods gift is a bit silly when many people dont use a smart phone for anything more than check their email and train times. dont need quad processors and whatnot for that.

 

[Bozza]

There's no point disagreeing with Bozza. You can't argue against a closed mind.

I'd be delighted to view examples of great post-sales support for the Android community - it's been a long-time coming. Have you got some links I can peruse?

The bizarre thing is, I have genuinely considered getting one of the monster plasticy Android handsets from Samsung as, essentially, my phone is an NSC support tool. As such, extra screen real estate would genuinely be useful for me. If Apple were sticking with 3.5" for the iPhone 5 I reckon I would jump ship - that they've realised that bigger screens are what people want now, is timely. I still wouldn't rule out me getting a Note 2 instead,

 

[DanielT]

If Apple were sticking with 3.5" for the iPhone 5 I reckon I would jump ship - that they've realised that bigger screens are what people want now, is timely

so apple can copy ideas. they will probably claim a bigger screen on a phone was their idea and call it innovation. but other way round, that's stealing!

 

[Badger]

I'd be delighted to view examples of great post-sales support for the Android community - it's been a long-time coming. Have you got some links I can peruse?

The bizarre thing is, I have genuinely considered getting one of the monster plasticy Android handsets from Samsung as, essentially, my phone is an NSC support tool. As such, extra screen real estate would genuinely be useful for me. If Apple were sticking with 3.5" for the iPhone 5 I reckon I would jump ship - that they've realised that bigger screens are what people want now, is timely. I still wouldn't rule out me getting a Note 2 instead,

Have you ever actually owned an Android device?

 

[Scampi]

I'm sorry, but I'm still not getting the "sooooo much better" that you claimed.

The only one of those that I think the S3 could make very legitimate claims to be better in is the screen, but that is still a matter of personal opinion for many as a lot of folk don't want a screen of that size.

I also note you've excluded build quality, app store, security and manufacturer support - the sort of areas where Apple are significantly ahead of Samsung/Android still. Maybe they are not important to you, but they are to a lot of folk.

Why wouldn't you want a bigger screen? Seems odd to me.I can comfortably use the note one handed, though i dotend to use the stylus instead, so i personally cant see how tanyone would struggle with the s3. I thinks we've got stuckwith the idea that smart phones should be the size of the i-phone and ignored the benfits of an increased screen size for what is actually a mini touch screen computer.

Also - build quality, my experience is the build on the samsung is superb and easily matches that of the i-phone.

 

[Aadam]

"destroy"? why use this sort of language in a debate about phones. its fanboi language. its also ignorant of the global market where Apple trails. the advantages of their single product line (support, stability, upgrades) is a big disadvantage when competing against multiple price points in multiple markets. some cant afford a $500 smart phone, but they can afford a $250 one. its not only a matter for Chinese and African markets, you see it here where the kids all use the cheaper Blackberry deveices (keyboard and BBM helps too).

A third of the market buy Apple iPhones. They're not trying to compete against multiple price points. That's like slating Ferrari for not going after Fords market share. One is a high-end product, the other a mass produced product with a short shelf life.

 

[pornomagboy]

Nothing compares to the stereo sound of my old Nokia N95 8GB. Cranked it up the other day and was still amazed by the sound.

I used to love that phone I got the special one with spiderman 3 on it and was great to be able to watch a film on my mobile back in the day, the speaker was brilliant and with it being a Nokia it was so easy to use

 

[beorhthelm]

A third of the market buy Apple iPhones. They're not trying to compete against multiple price points. That's like slating Ferrari for not going after Fords market share. One is a high-end product, the other a mass produced product with a short shelf life.

i'm not "slating" Apple for doing what they do, selling a premium product. i'm pointing out their approach means they are limiting their market. they arent "destroying" android in the rest of the world where they have a global market share under 10%. they can do that because there is plenty of perceived market to go round in the affluent west.

 

[Bozza]

"destroy"? why use this sort of language in a debate about phones. its fanboi language. its also ignorant of the global market where Apple trails.

I used destroy because it is true. Look at profits booked by handset manufacturers on their handsets. It is thought that worldwide profits on smartphones is roughly like this:

Apple 75%
Samsung 25%
HTC, Motorola, Sony, Nokia, RIM (and everyone else) 0%

 

[Deleted member 22389]

My respect for Apple has gone down the drain. I remember 8 years ago I was on the verge of getting a Power Mac G5. The machines felt special back then. Just as I was about to purchase the G5, the Intel processor came out, prices rocketed and I could no longer afford the machine. In the end I installed Ubuntu on my home machine, which I am happy with to this day.

I'm disappointed with the way Apple has turned out. They have turned in to a bunch of greedy pigs, bullying companies who dare to offer something better, and just seem to lock all their own users down and their prices are a ripp off in my opinion. There as bad as Microsoft this way, which is a shame.

 

[Aadam]

i'm not "slating" Apple for doing what they do, selling a premium product. i'm pointing out their approach means they are limiting their market. they arent "destroying" android in the rest of the world where they have a global market share under 10%. they can do that because there is plenty of perceived market to go round in the affluent west.

What's more important, units sold or operating profit?

And don't forget here. You're comparing a phone manufacturer (Apple) with an operating system (Android), which isn't a fair comparison, really. Apple vs. Samsung would be more appropriate.

But then units sold again don't tell the full picture. The biggest two are Apple and Samsung, naturally. Samsung devices are considerably cheaper than Apple, so their 50m Q2 unit sales against Apples 26m didn't yeild as much profit for them. Whilst on paper 'Samsung outsells Apple 2-to-1' looks good, analysts claim Apple took 71% of smartphone profits from Q2 2012, which let's face it is all Apple are concerned with.

EDIT: Damn, Bozza beat me to it.

 

[beorhthelm]

I used destroy because it is true. Look at profits booked by handset manufacturers on their handsets. It is thought that worldwide profits on smartphones is roughly like this:

Apple 75%
Samsung 25%
HTC, Motorola, Sony, Nokia, RIM (and everyone else) 0%

you care to provide a sauce? what do those % even mean, their margin? if so that looks like iphone owners are being taken for a ride. its silly, how can Apple produce a high quality product so much cheaper than the supposed inferior products (especially when Samsung make have the components). HTC, who only make smart phones, make no profit? why are they in business then? dont be daft.