Posted on 06/11/2012 6:02:51 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
Apple's World Wide Developer Conference (WWDC) kicked off today with the unveiling of iOS 6 for the iPhone and iPad. Apple is promising over 200 new features in the latest version of its mobile operating system, but only a few of them were highlighted in the keynote.
June is an exciting month for smartphone fanatics as Microsoft is expected to unveil the next generation of Windows Phone at an event next Wednesday, June 20 while Google is expected to reveal its plans for the next version of Android, codenamed "Jellybean."
While some of the features Apple announced today already exist on competing platforms, Apple is putting its own twist on these updates. For example, Siri, Apple's voice-activated virtual assistant, is even smarter now with support for sports, movies, and restaurants. Siri can also directly launch apps, but you still can't control these third-party apps with your voice.
Apple is also breaking up with Google Maps and launching its own Maps application with iOS 6. It includes local business information, Yelp integration, real-time traffic updates, and turn-by-turn navigation. Naturally, Apple has also added Siri integration to maps so you can ask questions along your journey such as, "Are we there yet?" or "Where's the next gas station?" Apple has also added a 3D/fly-over mode to its Maps application, , which shows you detailed 3D models of buildings and landmarks.
These updates certainly give Microsoft and Android something to chew on. While both competing platforms offer voice-command support, those features are crude in comparison to Siri's artificial intelligence and natural dictation. Microsoft's Bing Maps could definitely use a revamp in the next version of Windows Phone as its turn-by-turn directions feature is quite clunky (you must tap your phone at each turn).
(Excerpt) Read more at pcworld.com ...
I have had iphone, many androids and currently have a windows phone 7. I jailbroke the iphone I had and rooted and hacked every android I had (5 of them). For purposes of full disclosure I currently switch between an HTC Sensation, a Nokia Pureview 808 with the 41 megapixel camera running symbian, and a Dell Venue Pro with Windows Phone 7.
The iPhone offers a seamless user experience that incorporates their media. It is the ecosystem and apps across devices that most people that use if find so great. The iphone tends to stay updated consistently because there are really only a few devices to keep updated. Apps almost always come to iphone first. The user experience is generally very good and the devices are supported well. If I was going back to iphone I would wait for the iphone 5 to come out, it is going to have a bigger screen and I always found the 3.5 a bit small for my fingers.
Android has pluses and minuses. The phone is much more customizable, even if you do not root it. The ecosystem is much more fragmented. Most of the devices do not ever get updated past their present version of Android, although to be fair that is not usually a problem since they will run most apps without problems. You can get an android in almost any size, screen size and price point, although if you go android go with the manufacturer’s flagship as it is the most likely to be stable and get updated. Most androids are skinned by the manufacturer with Sense (HTC), Blur (Motorola) or TouchWiz (Samsung) and that can be good or bad depending on your point of view. It can make the phone easier to use, or bloat it up, make it slow and make updates take a lot longer. The hard core android users generally buy the Google experience phones — The Nexus Devices. Androids integrate with all your google services (gmail, G+, maps, etc)
Windows phone 7 is my current toy and personally I am finding I really like it. It is ultra stable, integrates well with my windows box. It also integrates with my live account, gives me 20gb skydrive and integrates with office and my calendar.
I don’t know if any of that is of any use, but feel free to contact me if you want any other info.
And just to play the Devil’s advocate, maybe wait until the Windows 8 tablets launch in a few short months. It is supposed to be seamless across the xbox, windows 8, windows 8 tablets and windows phone 8.
My windows phone 7 voice commands are easily as good as any android I have owned. It works great for me. Vlingo on my Nokia Pureview on symbian is excellent as well. I don’t have a current iphone to compare it to though.
There is a 4G iphone? since when?
Time to make a list that includes Live Tiles and Xbox Live integration and a stack of Android features iOS doesn't have.
Why? So I can facetime my kids when we are apart.
It’s definitely slanted towards Apple, while ignoring the latest Android or Windows due out this fall.
I know Windows 8 will support a higher resolution than IOS 6 does and will support a resolution that only falls a bit short on the resolution of only the most pixel density of the highest Androids.
Preach it brother!
You are right about that, but I am old.
Some gadgets just don’t fit into this old man.
Thanks for the laugh! i enjoyed it.
Blessings, Bobo
Yea, I did this with a 35mm camera years ago. It is somewhere down in the Mississippi.
Would have been a great picture, too.
No one would have believed it. So I just told them about the loss of the canon.
they wouldn’t have believed the fish story.
Blessings, Bobo
Not for one second.
The QA on Apple apps is 100 times better than for Android apps. The same app will work on an IPhone where it will not for an Android. I have a recent model Android and I'm not impressed with it beyond it's speed at browsing. The IPhone is an older model but rock solid reliable.
Really, the Androids a small PC with all the quirks. The IPhone is a polished machines where the apps are limited by what Apple deems is qualified to appear on their product.
Actually, that is the only reason I have a cell phone. As long as i can receive calls and make calls, that is about as sophisticated as I can get.
Would you like to train my wife on how to use one?
a task beyond my ability to add or detract.
You got an answer button and one to hangup. beyond that, there is no hope.
Blessings, Bobo
I've got that app. You're right, it works perfectly every time!
I really did not want to like Apple products. I always thought of them as computers for stupid people and volvo driving vegetarian lesbians. But the ipad won me over and the iphone has kept me there.
I even switched to a MacBook Pro. I like it better than my old dell in every way but one - Excel for Mac sucks and I am an Excel junkie. I have gotten it to work alright but sometimes I wonder if it is worth the hassle.
Bootcamp...
Friend of mine can’t even imagine getting anything other than an iphone, the idea is ridiculous to him.
He can afford it, he’s a pilot. But for most people it’s crazy how much they pay for the plan and phone
;<)
My son gripes constantly that I don’t answer my phone.
I just tell him that if he would quit calling I would quit not answering.
iPhone 4S is effectively 4G on AT&T. Note AT&T 4G is not as fast as Verizon 4G. You can research this yourself. AT&T has somewhere in the 12MB download range (max situation) where Verizon has approximately a 20mb download speed (max).
The reason the 4S exists as it does today is because the 4G system Verizon employs required a separate chip to do 4G and there is no room in the phone to put a second chip. The 4G uses a single chip for AT&T 3G and 4G speed.
The iPhone 5 will have a new hybrid chip for Verizon that works both 3G and 4G.
You know you can turn off the ringer, or just not answer it. I generally don’t.
I’m getting older too, so I always carry my phone in the woods, never know when I may fall and break a leg, I can even give 911 my exact GPS coordinates. That and I listen to audiobooks on my phone when I’m walking.
My neighbor turned is mower over on himself a few years ago. Apparently he was trapped for hours before he died, he had no way to call for help. I’ve been carrying my phone with me ever since.
actually, u r right. my children force me to carry a phone now.
i actually never shut it off
it has just taken me years to get used to the idea of carrying one. U know, never had to have 1 before, why should I have 1 now?
Stubborn old fart.
Blessings, bobo
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.