Android cedes ground to iOS in U.S. smartphone market during April

135

Comments

  • Reply 41 of 88
    chiachia Posts: 715member

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by DrDoppio View Post


     


    Ask your operator for a new SIM; most likely the contacts are oxidized or damaged. Clearly it's NOT a software problem if it works with other SIMs.



    Oxidised or damaged contacts on a new phone and SIM?


    For the record:


    - It's an O2 prepaid Android phone.  I have tried several active O2 sim cards in the device, only for it to go into endless restart.


    These same SIM cards, including the one that came with the Android phone, work fine in other phones and USB modems.


     


    - I have tried SIM cards from other operators within this O2 Android phone.  The phone then starts normally and goes to its home screen as expected.


    Whilst I can't make calls with the SIM card, the phone is able to read contact details from these SIM cards


        The same is true when I just start the phone without any SIM card at all.


     


    The phone has taken sudden exception to O2 SIM cards.  This strongly hints at some sort of software or firmware problem within the Android phone, not physical problems with SIM cards.


    And yes, the phone was bought brand new at an official O2 dealer, and no, I've not made any amendments or rooted the phone in any way.


     


     


     


    Quote:



    You seem to be making the common mistake of judging Android only based on a cheap (in every sense) device.





    Well it's suggested that the majority of Android devices are cheap handsets so it's fair to judge Android by what most people experience of it.


     


    This may actually work in Apple's favour, those with a bad experience are unlikely to spend more money getting an expensive handset offering "more of the same Android experience", especially when they have mainly free or cheap apps they feel little commitment to.


     


     


     


    Quote:


    Besides, your worries of "installing a trojan from untrusted sources" are unwarranted, after all the phone will not go to those "untrusted sources" by itself while you're sleeping -- it's entirely in your control. A simple way to make it impossible to install from untrusted sources is to turn off the option in the settings.




    My prime concern is that even apps on Google Play, the trusted source may not be so trustworthy:


    http://arstechnica.com/business/2012/04/googles-official-app-market-found-hosting-malicious-android-appsagain/?comments=1#comments-bar


     


    and once malware is on your Android, yes, contrary to your assurances, it can download and upload stuff whilst you're sleeping, without your knowledge.

     0Likes 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 42 of 88


    I would disagree with that. I find the expensive android phones are the biggest sellers. The galaxy S II is the first or second best selling phone on every network it is offered.

     0Likes 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 43 of 88
    drdoppiodrdoppio Posts: 1,132member

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by ChiA View Post


    Oxidised or damaged contacts on a new phone and SIM?


    For the record:


    - It's an O2 prepaid Android phone.  I have tried several active O2 sim cards in the device, only for it to go into endless restart.


    These same SIM cards, including the one that came with the Android phone, work fine in other phones and USB modems.


     


    - I have tried SIM cards from other operators within this O2 Android phone.  The phone then starts normally and goes to its home screen as expected.


    Whilst I can't make calls with the SIM card, the phone is able to read contact details from these SIM cards


        The same is true when I just start the phone without any SIM card at all.


     


    The phone has taken sudden exception to O2 SIM cards.  This strongly hints at some sort of software or firmware problem within the Android phone, not physical problems with SIM cards.


    And yes, the phone was bought brand new at an official O2 dealer, and no, I've not made any amendments or rooted the phone in any way.



     


    I hadn't realized from your previous post that the card worked in other phones; that would of course rule out mechanical damage. It seems then that it's a problem with the software from O2 but not Android per se, since other SIMs work.


     



    Well it's suggested that the majority of Android devices are cheap handsets so it's fair to judge Android by what most people experience of it.


     


    This may actually work in Apple's favour, those with a bad experience are unlikely to spend more money getting an expensive handset offering "more of the same Android experience", especially when they have mainly free or cheap apps they feel little commitment to.



     


    I disagree that it's fair to judge Android by the cheapest devices, but I agree that most people do so. It does work in Apple's favor, since many would fail to understand that going from a $200 to a $650 phone is what makes the difference, not going from Android to iOS. I would expect that a greater number of people will choose to buy another cheap phone either from another Android vendor, or with another OS such as WP.


     



    My prime concern is that even apps on Google Play, the trusted source may not be so trustworthy:


    http://arstechnica.com/business/2012/04/googles-official-app-market-found-hosting-malicious-android-appsagain/?comments=1#comments-bar


     


    and once malware is on your Android, yes, contrary to your assurances, it can download and upload stuff whilst you're sleeping, without your knowledge.



     


    The article you cite does not present any evidence at all, does not list any apps nor any developers. It is safe to regard as FUD and ignore; alternatively, you may don a tin hat and live the rest of your life in fear.

     0Likes 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 44 of 88
    chiachia Posts: 715member

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by DrDoppio View Post


     


    I hadn't realized from your previous post that the card worked in other phones; that would of course rule out mechanical damage. It seems then that it's a problem with the software from O2 but not Android per se, since other SIMs work.



    Something has altered within the software of the phone itself, it was recognising the O2 sim on Thursday but entered the endless loop on Friday with the same SIM.  It's possible that a SIM update was pushed to the phone which has messed things up, but then it underlines how Android makes significant changes without informing the user.


    The OS is Android, even if O2 have customised it (on that note, the customisation I see on this handset are an O2 wallpaper and there info app).  


    It's safe to presume that it's the OS within a smartphone that decides whether a SIM card is valid for use, and not an add-on third party application.


    It's another thing against Android if any company (or anyone) can mess around with such a fundamental part of the smartphone OS.


     


     


    Quote:


    The article you cite does not present any evidence at all, does not list any apps nor any developers. It is safe to regard as FUD and ignore; alternatively, you may don a tin hat and live the rest of your life in fear.



    Must I do all the work for you?  There's a direct link in the article, which I am now including for your benefit:


     


    https://blogs.mcafee.com/mcafee-labs/android-malware-promises-video-while-stealing-contacts


     


    I don't walk around with a tin hat but nor do I leave my car and house doors wide open either.

     0Likes 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 45 of 88
    drdoppiodrdoppio Posts: 1,132member

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by ChiA View Post


    Something has altered within the software of the phone itself, it was recognising the O2 sim on Thursday but entered the endless loop on Friday with the same SIM.  It's possible that a SIM update was pushed to the phone which has messed things up, but then it underlines how Android makes significant changes without informing the user.


    The OS is Android, even if O2 have customised it (on that note, the customisation I see on this handset are an O2 wallpaper and there info app).  


    It's safe to presume that it's the OS within a smartphone that decides whether a SIM card is valid for use, and not an add-on third party application.


    It's another thing against Android if any company (or anyone) can mess around with such a fundamental part of the smartphone OS.


     


     


    Must I do all the work for you?  There's a direct link in the article, which I am now including for your benefit:


     


    https://blogs.mcafee.com/mcafee-labs/android-malware-promises-video-while-stealing-contacts


     


    I don't walk around with a tin hat but nor do I leave my car and house doors wide open either.



    I think you're being too picky. You bought a cheap phone, you're having an isolated problem, take that with the vendor. Accusing Android as an OS is ludicrous. Have you never heard of iPhones rejecting the SIM card or asking for a SIM when operating on a CDMA network?


     


    As to the malware, thanks for the link, but I wasn't able to find any of the apps on  Google Play. With more than 400 000 apps, you can get 2 that are fishy, but the threats are grossly exaggerated. If that's such a problem for you, by all means, don't use Android -- just don't expect me to take you seriously. If you are seriously concerned with safety, then following XDA developers and dedicated Android sites is a much wiser thing to do than reading blogs from companies with a financial incentive to spread FUD.

     0Likes 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 46 of 88
    jragostajragosta Posts: 10,473member
    I would disagree with that. I find the expensive android phones are the biggest sellers. The galaxy S II is the first or second best selling phone on every network it is offered.

    That doesn't refute the claim that cheap Android phones sell the most. It's much like the iPhone vs everyone else thing. iPhone is at the top of the list, but when you add up the thousands of Android phones, the total number is higher.

    Similarly, even if Galaxy SII is the top seller, that doesn't preclude the possibility that the thousands of other Android phones make up the majority. The data on usage patterns suggests pretty strongly that many Android phones are not much more than feature phones. I know people with Android phones who never use them for anything but making a call - but don't know any iPhone users like that.

    Furthermore, market share data suggests the same thing. For example, different analysts largely agreed (within a couple percent) on Samsung's total phone sales. However, these same analysts differed widely on their estimates of Samsung's smartphone sales (by 25% or more, IIRC). Clearly, there is a large number of Android phones that are marginal - since one analyst considered them to be smartphones and the other did not. It is clear that a large number of Android phones are low end phones that may be smartphones, but only barely.
     0Likes 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 47 of 88
    tzeshantzeshan Posts: 2,351member

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by DrDoppio View Post


    I disagree that it's fair to judge Android by the cheapest devices, but I agree that most people do so. It does work in Apple's favor, since many would fail to understand that going from a $200 to a $650 phone is what makes the difference, not going from Android to iOS. I would expect that a greater number of people will choose to buy another cheap phone either from another Android vendor, or with another OS such as WP.


     



    Smartphones are expensive whether iPhone or Android based.  They sell because the carriers subsidize large portion of the cost.  Or to put it more correctly the carriers amortize the cost so the buyers feel less of the expensiveness.  And this is the most important reason Android tablets can not compete with iPad.  No carriers want to subsidize the cost.  And the buyers know that at the same price Android tablets are inferior to iPad.  

     0Likes 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 48 of 88
    tallest skiltallest skil Posts: 43,388member

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by tzeshan View Post

    Smartphones are expensive whether iPhone or Android based.  They sell because the carriers subsidize large portion of the cost. …buyers feel less of the expensiveness.


     


    How are so many people affording $70 a month plans? And for their CHILDREN, as well?!


     


    Quote:


    And the buyers know that at the same price or even much lower price Android tablets are inferior to iPad.  



     


    So why do people constantly buy Android phones at the same price or even a much lower price?



    It's frigging buy one get one free on brand new Android models. THAT'S why they have any numbers. But even still, that's TWO $70-a-month plans people are paying! HOW?!

     0Likes 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 49 of 88
    macbook promacbook pro Posts: 1,605member

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by DrDoppio View Post


     


    Ask your operator for a new SIM; most likely the contacts are oxidized or damaged. Clearly it's NOT a software problem if it works with other SIMs.


     


    You seem to be making the common mistake of judging Android only based on a cheap (in every sense) device. Besides, your worries of "installing a trojan from untrusted sources" are unwarranted, after all the phone will not go to those "untrusted sources" by itself while you're sleeping -- it's entirely in your control. A simple way to make it impossible to install from untrusted sources is to turn off the option in the settings.


     


    As to screen size, you should hope that the device maker that you prefer will give you a choice of different sizes. I know for sure I don't have to worry about mine.


     


    Cheers.



     


    You seem to be making the common mistake of suggesting that comparing a bargain Android-based smartphone against the bargain iOS smartphone is unfair.


     


    Malware is a serious issue for Android, including on the official store Google Play.


     




    • According to Sunnyvale, Calif., security firm Juniper Networks known instances of Android-related malware -- "virtually all" involving apps - have jumped steadily month by month from 400 in June 2011 to 15,507 in February 2012 (1)


    • "San Francisco-based Lookout Mobile Security reported In August 2011, that "an estimated half-million to one million people were affected by Android malware in the first half of 2011." (1)


    • Trend Micro of Japan, which has U.S. headquarters in Cupertino, Calif. - identified "more than 1,000 malicious Android apps" last year, 90 percent of them on Google's site and noted that the number of bad apps grew last year at 60 percent per month.  Trend Micro has estimated the total this year "will grow to more than 120,000," (1)


     


    Lack of software upgrades is unconscionable. 


     


    1.  Steve Johnson.  Posted March 17, 2012.  Updated March 23, 2012.  http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_20182226/android-apps-targeted-by-malware?source=rss_viewed.  San Jose Mercury News.  Retrieved March 29, 2012.

     0Likes 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 50 of 88
    tzeshantzeshan Posts: 2,351member

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Tallest Skil View Post


     


    How are so many people affording $70 a month plans? And for their CHILDREN, as well?!


     


     


    So why do people constantly buy Android phones at the same price or even a much lower price?



    It's frigging buy one get one free on brand new Android models. THAT'S why they have any numbers. But even still, that's TWO $70-a-month plans people are paying! HOW?!



    There are much cheaper plans than $70.  Try TMobile or Gophone?.  The market share in it is probably 90% Android 10% iPhone.

     0Likes 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 51 of 88
    tallest skiltallest skil Posts: 43,388member

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by tzeshan View Post

    There are much cheaper plans than $70.  Try TMobile or Gophone?.


     


    No T-Mobile where I live. GoPhone is AT&T. They'll see the iPhone and change your plan.


     


    Quote:


      The market share in it is probably 90% Android 10% iPhone.



     


    Except it isn't. Not even close.

     0Likes 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 52 of 88
    tzeshantzeshan Posts: 2,351member

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Tallest Skil View Post


     


    No T-Mobile where I live. GoPhone is AT&T. They'll see the iPhone and change your plan.


     


     


    Except it isn't. Not even close.



    What is the numbers in TMobile then? 

     0Likes 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 53 of 88
    gatorguygatorguy Posts: 24,771member

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by ChiA View Post


    My prime concern is that even apps on Google Play, the trusted source may not be so trustworthy:


    http://arstechnica.com/business/2012/04/googles-official-app-market-found-hosting-malicious-android-appsagain/?comments=1#comments-bar


     


    and once malware is on your Android, yes, contrary to your assurances, it can download and upload stuff whilst you're sleeping, without your knowledge.



    Apple's Appstore has suffered from the same "malware" problem of apps stealing contact info behind the scenes, and their's is a curated market so less of an excuse for it to happen. Any iOS, Android, WinMo or whatever app that harvests contact info, location, calendar events, etc without notice to the user is considered malware by the security companies. For some reason it's seldom referred to as malware when it's an iOS app, but always considered malicious if it's in an Android app. Any reason they should be thought of/referred to any differently if they do the same things?


    http://dcurt.is/stealing-your-address-book


    http://iphone.pandaapp.com/news/02152012/181804808.shtml

     0Likes 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 54 of 88
    tallest skiltallest skil Posts: 43,388member

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by tzeshan View Post

    What is the numbers in TMobile then? 


     


    Oh, T-Mobile! I thought you were responding to my earlier point as a whole; sorry. Yeah, those are probably pretty close for T-Mobile, I guess.

     0Likes 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 55 of 88
    drdoppiodrdoppio Posts: 1,132member

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by MacBook Pro View Post


     


    You seem to be making the common mistake of suggesting that comparing a bargain Android-based smartphone against the bargain iOS smartphone is unfair.


     


    Malware is a serious issue for Android, including on the official store Google Play.



     


    What makes you think that I would suggest "that comparing a bargain Android-based smartphone against the bargain iOS smartphone is unfair"? I have never done that and I was the one pointing out that one should compare equally expensive devices to begin with.


     


    Malware is NOT an issue at all to the normal user. Nobody on the street talks about malware, there are no regular posts on the most vibrant Android forums that talk about everything else. Security application companies are only trying to justify their existence by magnifying minor occasional threats.


     


    If I may use an analogy, malware threats are much like crime in the cities. Sure there is crime in the big cities, but it is by no means deterrent for people who want to live where things are happening, and I don't see everyone running helter skelter for some quiet province. If you aren't afraid to experience new things, all you need to do is stay out of sketchy neighborhoods at night.

     0Likes 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 56 of 88
    gwmacgwmac Posts: 1,830member


    The only way Apple could ever hope to really gain on Android in raw numbers would be to introduce more models or release twice a year. Apple will never do that. Selling the one year old model for $99 and the 2 year old model for free seems to be doung a decent job. Now adding all these new pre-paid carriers like Cricket and Boost will also help over time. But with so many Android models being released nearly very month in every shape and size and option imaginable, it is next to impossible for Apple to ever overtake Android market share without adding more models and updating more frequently which they will never do. 

     0Likes 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 57 of 88
    tallest skiltallest skil Posts: 43,388member

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by gwmac View Post

    The only way Apple could ever hope to really gain on Android in raw numbers would be to introduce more models or release twice a year.


     


    That's far from the only way.


     


    Quote:


    But with so many Android models being released nearly very month in every shape and size and option imaginable, it is next to impossible for Apple to ever overtake Android market share…



     


    Why? Flooding the market with trash is flooding the market with trash. The iPod didn't lose marketshare when the thousands of clones came out.

     0Likes 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 58 of 88
    esoomesoom Posts: 155member


    I love the "common knowledge" posts about how Android is killing iOS, and then Apple announces it's sales figures for another quarter where they blow the roof off the previous numbers yet again.


     


    People get confused about global VS US sales and market share over and over, also, anyone who thinks the "flagship" Android devices outsell the iPhone are deluding themselves, repeatedly....

     0Likes 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 59 of 88
    chiachia Posts: 715member

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Gatorguy View Post


    Apple's Appstore has suffered from the same "malware" problem of apps stealing contact info behind the scenes, and their's is a curated market so less of an excuse for it to happen. Any iOS, Android, WinMo or whatever app that harvests contact info, location, calendar events, etc without notice to the user is considered malware by the security companies. For some reason it's seldom referred to as malware when it's an iOS app, but always considered malicious if it's in an Android app. Any reason they should be thought of/referred to any differently if they do the same things?


    http://dcurt.is/stealing-your-address-book


    http://iphone.pandaapp.com/news/02152012/181804808.shtml




     


    It's because there's a key difference between iOS apps which store contacts on the developer's servers in a misguided attempt to improve the user experience,


    and Android apps which not only take your contacts, but hijack your phone to send premium SMS and make premium calls to line their criminal pockets:


     


     0Likes 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 60 of 88
    anonymouseanonymouse Posts: 7,123member

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Gatorguy View Post


    Apple's Appstore has suffered from the same "malware" problem of apps stealing contact info behind the scenes, ..



     


    That's sort of like saying OS X suffers the same malware problem as Windows. I guess that's the sort of misleading language we've comet to expect from GG.

     0Likes 0Dislikes 0Informatives
Sign In or Register to comment.