Apple AirPods vs. Everything else

Here we are once again debating the war between IOS and Android. But with the introduction of the new iPhone 7 yesterday, the war just got a little bit more entertaining.

Long gone are the days of the headphone jack, Apple has introduced AirPods as a new wireless way to listen to music.

But why is this so controversial?

Are you a citizen of Android-Ville?

BREAKING NEWS!

Is Android really on top? (Sorry to all you Apple users, the answers in the facts!) After all, they have created the best always-connected consumer experience!–Dr. Paul Jacobs. Chief Executive Officer of Qualcomm

This is why:

1. Customization! You can change any aspect of the phone and its software whereas Apple ios is locked, forcing users to consume and experience the world through the same device, in the same way. In order to customise an iPhone, one must jailbreak it (since when did customisation have the connotation of jail in it?). Thus the notion of a shift in media ownership patterns to a handful of people controlling the media platforms people use everyday Androids allow the user to add widgets anywhere on the phone that can practically do anything. This can range from being able to view your email, flipboard or having access to thousands of books all on your homepage as a widget other than an app! This allows a live stream of content on the homepage.

1. You have all the storage in the world! Meaning that once you’ve used all the memory in your phone, you can just insert an SD card and PRESTO extra storage space! (That’s right, more room for selfies!)

1. You can download any app.Apps from the Apple App store need to be reviewed and tested before being released—controlling what the user sees and how they use content. Android have an open garden of apps from independent android markets thus advocating product connectivity.

I have used this animation to visually reflect on the absence and affordances incorporated in both the lives of Android users (Android-Ville) and Apple ios users (Apple-Nation). This, in my opinion—as a citizen of Android-Ville—believe that life beyond the walled-garden allows me to have endless access opportunities and shape my phone into the very device that suits my lifestyle. If I were to migrate to Apple-Nation, I would feel restricted with a loss of control over the way I interact with the world.

This too is reiterated with the application that I used to create this video–GoAnimate. This app, in its free user form doesn’t allow the user to download the video and share it on any platform–thus an example of the absence of affordances and choice. However, I was able to record the video using Android where I could insert the SD card into the laptop and upload it to youtube. Just that simple!

Refrences:

D’Onfro. J, 2015 15 reasons Android phones are better than the iPhone. blog post, viewed 26 March 2015

Jacobs.P Open Handset Aliance. member quotes, viewed 26 March 2015 <http://www.openhandsetalliance.com/member_quotes.html&gt;

Johnson, S 2010 What does “generative” mean anyway?, blog post, 11 April, viewed 26 March 2015 <http://www.stevenberlinjohnson.com/2010/04/what-does-generative-mean-anyway.html>

Mead-Green.R, 2014 iPhone(or iPad)? The pros and cns of ios jailbreaking, viewed 25 March 2015 <http://www.macworld.co.uk/feature/iphone/ios-jailbreaking-pros-cons-jailbreak-iphone-good-bad-3491721/&gt;

Tubbs.D, 2013 What is flipaboard and how to use it to build content, blog post, viewed 26 March 2015 <http://www.meersocial.com/2014/05/what-is-flipboard-and-how-to-use-it-to-build-content/&gt;

Zittrain. J 2008, ‘Introduction’ The future of the internet and how to stop it. New Haven, Yale University Press pp.1-5 http://yupnet.org/zittrain/archives/6