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Comment by retskrad | Hacker News Reader

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> The Android platform has zero cultural footprint

Who the fuck cares about "cultural footprint"? A phone is a tool, you get the best one for the job, not based on its cultural footprint or how attractive it makes you to superficial people.

> it’s unfathomable why a middle to upper class person would buy an expensive Android

I can answer that as a person in such a position. Android phones from reputable phone vendors are better than iPhones. Better for me, the one making the decision. The fact that in 2024 it's still impossible to not have all your apps plastered on the home screen, at best in folders, is a mind boggling missing feature in iOS. Every time I see someone with an iPhone try to open an app, it takes them a scroll or two to find the correct screen, and then hesitation with the finger moving to find the correct app placement. How I open apps? I have the main ones on my home screen, and for everything else I double tap the home button, and type (the start of) the name. I've been doing this since I first got an Android with Nova, I sure as hell am not going to retrain a decade of muscle memory to rely on apps not changing their icon or having to remember its exact location on the home screen.

Edit to address all the comments regarding this particular feature: Cool that there's some flexibility, but it's still nothing compared to being able to install whatever launcher you want like you can on Android devices.

Oh, and there's actually choice in terms of sizes and features, and associated price. You don't care about waterproof? You want to keep a fingerprint sensor instead of a camera unlock? You want a foldable phone? There are options. And I can choose if I want to use undiscoverable gestures, or keep virtual buttons. And on and on and on.

I have a work issued MacBook Pro and iPad, and both have cemented my desire never to own Apple hardware for myself. UX is for kids, hiding everything from you even if it doesn't make sense - on the iPad I was downloading an app with in-app purchases, and it was just stuck loading, with zero feedback on what's happening. After some Googling it turns out you need to set up a payment method first, before downloading, even if the app can be used for free. Awesome UX there, I'm glad it costs thrice the competition!

> […] it's still impossible to not have all your apps plastered on the home screen, at best in folders, is a mind boggling missing feature in iOS.

You didn’t even try looking, I just checked all the way back to iOS 14 and it was already possible. Yes, it doesn’t change your opinion, but undermines the point you’re making.

I think OP is an idiot for judging people with iPhones but just to be clear:

> How I open apps? I have the main ones on my home screen, and for everything else I double tap the home button, and type (the start of) the name.

On the iPhone you can have your main apps on the Home Screen or swipe downwards and start typing. Basically exactly what you have.

I'm not arguing that this one feature makes iOS an unbeatable platform or anything but the reality is that you (and all of us) are intimately familiar with one UI pattern and are a stranger to the other. That doesn't make the other "wrong" or "bad", it's just not what you're used to. And it's absolutely fine to keep with the pattern you know, but dismissing anything else is being for "kids" or whatever comes across as tedious whining.

> The fact that in 2024 it's still impossible to not have all your apps plastered on the home screen, at best in folders, is a mind boggling missing feature in iOS. Every time I see someone with an iPhone try to open an app, it takes them a scroll or two to find the correct screen, and then hesitation with the finger moving to find the correct app placement. How I open apps? I have the main ones on my home screen, and for everything else I double tap the home button, and type (the start of) the name. I've been doing this since I first got an Android with Nova, I sure as hell am not going to retrain a decade of muscle memory to rely on apps not changing their icon or having to remember its exact location on the home screen.

Obviously you are in rant-mode, but you are incorrect on this point. They've had this exact feature for years. I have tons of apps installed and only a few permanent icons on my home screen.

Because the expensive android phone may have more desirable characteristics in screen size, camera, battery, form factor (my gf loves foldables e.g.) that would be some examples that come out of my head.

Getting into more niche examples: I'm one of those people you describe. I have been locked out my apple id for months (despite having any information required to recover my account) when my iPad with the authenticator broke.

I couldn't even work on my MBP, they just kept sending me emails they were gonna phone/sms me two weeks after. Which they didn't twice and they only recovered my account at the third shot. 0 ways to speak with any human, obviously.

Other examples: I'm a software developer, I want to tinker and write my applications. It was always way more difficult on iOS than Android.

Also, another thing: Android/iPhone in 2024 this barely means jackshit, in fact any $300 chinese android phone is more than perfect for 99.99% of users.

> you’ll literally lose dates over it

I feel like it's a great way to weed out idiocy out of my life.

> everyone I’ve seen in real life who use one lack taste [sic]

Thank you for sharing your anecdote. An insight into the ever-growing trend of conspicuous consumption.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conspicuous_consumption

Even now my 4 year old P20 Pro with a Leica lens, takes better photos then my wife newer iphone - whenever it matters she asks me to take the photos as the colours are just better.

I really don't like the apple ecosystem (android is not a lot better, I just hate it less), so it is the only real option I have.

Why would I care about the “cultural footprint” of my device?

Not to mention peering at which smartphone someone is using in order to judge them… you’re saying a lot more about yourself with that statement than of anyone else.

(saying this as an iPhone user FWIW)

> This platform is so undesirable that you'll literally lose dates over it.

If someone can't deal with the fact I have Android phone, I'm not dating them. People have personal preferences and reasons to use one phone manufacturer over the other. I love my Pixel 6a because I've used the interface and gotten used to it for most of my life. I'm also a developer. I've heard developing for iOS is hell. I can make an Android app on my Framework Laptop in Golang and I can sideload and keep the app on my phone forever. It won't go away after 7 days requiring me to do it again.

Im really surprised how obsessed people are with something as arbitrary as the phone manufacturer someone is using. I have no clue what phones my friends and family is using, I barely manage to remember the iPhone generation I am on.

LOL, I open my Samsung phone and everybody is instantly jealous: twice the screen is a big boost in productivity and of course photos and games. Android is just fine and I still can't find anything I need from iOS.

You check a lot of boxes in this comment:

- dissing on $platform because $expensive_platform is better

- implying that the only reason to use $platform is because you're to poor to afford $expensive_platform

- employing bulshytt [1] to characterise $platform as inferior to $expensive_platform

- attempting to pull in sexual attraction - or lack thereof - in regard to the use of $expensive_platform vs. $platform

- adding a gratuitous Musk diss to show your team colours just like football fans do for their teams

If I were to take this seriously I would refrain from using $expensive_platform given that its users seem to be insecure adolescents who have yet to find their place in society.

[1] https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Bulshytt

Suit yourself. Personally, I judge anyone who gets a smartphone out in public.

So when you see me pull out my phone to snap a photo of some graffiti I like or use it to translate a sign I can't read or message my wife to let her know I'm running late, what are you thinking?

I can google pictues of interesting graffiti any time I like. Taking a picture devalues the moment.

I'm not sure where you are that you can't read the signs (but have cell service), but you would be really out on a limb if that's the case and you don't have anyone to help you out. I'd honestly find it kind of pathetic to watch.

If it's so important to message your wife, then it's a better idea not do it while also trying to walk around in public.

> I'm not sure where you are that you can't read the signs (but have cell service), but you would be really out on a limb if that's the case and you don't have anyone to help you out. I'd honestly find it kind of pathetic to watch.

I guess you don’t travel often or maybe you can read lots of different languages. I can’t so my phone is useful.

Which would you say is more pathetic - the guy and his wife trying to read a menu in a foreign language or the person standing off to the side watching and judging?

If I'm somewhere where I can't read the local language nor is there anyone to ask to translate, then menu translation is the least of my worries. How do you do anything else, like pay, or arrange transport or accomodation? I would certainly judge if someone tried to achieve all of those things by waving a phone around and gesticulating at people.

It's a neat feature, don't get me wrong, but a complete luxury (and only works out in relatively developed countries).

> This platform is so undesirable that you’ll literally lose dates over it.

Sounds like a feature. Seriously.

Please stop insulting other people when you don't understand their decisions, people are more clearly complex than you imagine and have other preferences, priorities and values.

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