Oh, how it pains me to write this, but I have decided to let go of the Apple iPhone. I've been on the fence for a while, but the recent lawsuits against Samsung have pushed me to make the decision. Although I have enjoyed the ease of use, the clean interface, and the customer service (the main reason I've stuck with Apple for my mobile device), the time has come. Here's why.
I think Apple took the low road with their lawsuit against Samsung - I'm all about competition, but I feel this lawsuit is a defensive attempt to strike fear into Apple's competitors. Ultimately, I think this may be a blow to consumers. Seeking a ban on existing Samsung products is like rubbing salt in the wounds.
Aging Interface - "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" is most likely a mantra that is going around Cupertino in the iOS department. The iOS interface has remained largely unchanged since it's introduction years ago. While I do like the simplicity of it, I miss the widgets of my old Nexus One and am a fan of the live tiles of Windows Phone.
I'm beginning to feel trapped - I've been an Apple fan since I first bought the 12" PowerBook G4. For the most part, I love how everything in the Apple ecosystem just works seamlessly. For example, I like being able to stream music from my phone to my computer and vice versa. However, I'm not a fan of having to use all Apple products to do so. Some of you may remember component audio systems. That's the kind where system you could use different pieces by different manufacturers to make your dream system—Technics turntable, Pioneer receiver, JBL speakers, etc. By focusing on what each company did well, you could end up with a great system without having to worry about matching pieces based on brand. I carry this personal philosophy over to other aspects of my life. I'm less worried about logos and more about quality of the product and/or service and how I plan to put it to use.
I'm going to miss FaceTime, iMessage, and certain iOS-only applications, but I don't think I'll regret finding a more open platform with cross-functionality.
So what am I looking at now? Right now I'm considering a few models. Although, I might wait until the slew of announcements that will surely be made this coming month. Currently in the running however are:
- Galaxy Nexus S
- Samsung Galaxy SIII
- Nokia (whatever is announced next month) - Hopefully it'll have "Snake"