So the Anandtech staff prefers Apple?

[WelshBloke]

I think Anandtech is pretty straight up with its reviews. Saying that I'm not understanding peoples arguments about only using the stock apps on a smartphone.

The point of a smartphone is to install apps on it.

 

[zokudu]

Just on the browser thing, there are alternate browsers on ios too. Why should they review alternatives on android but not ios? In all fairness I see why they only do the stock browser on android just to keep things fair. Besides when the jelly bean nexus devices come out isn't chrome going to be the default browser?

 

[WelshBloke]

Just on the browser thing, there are alternate browsers on ios too. Why should they review alternatives on android but not ios? In all fairness I see why they only do the stock browser on android just to keep things fair. Besides when the jelly bean nexus devices come out isn't chrome going to be the default browser?

Well browsermark and others are benching the browser not the device so it would make sense to use more than one.

Arent the browsers on iOS more or less the same under the hood?

 

[ControlD]

Well browsermark and others are benching the browser not the device so it would make sense to use more than one.

Arent the browsers on iOS more or less the same under the hood?

Yes, they all have to use the same framework so pretty much all "third-party" browsers are the same engine with different features tacked on.

 

[Tom]

If manufacturers or Google can't ship their products with a good loader and browser that isn't the reviewer's fault.

Most people don't buy gadgets to tinker with them. They buy them to do things, make calls, take pictures, look up stuff on the internet, play games.

They download apps to do things, not because their phone shipped with crappy stuff. They don't expect expensive devices to not work well out of the box.

 

[WelshBloke]

If manufacturers or Google can't ship their products with a good loader and browser that isn't the reviewer's fault.

Most people don't buy gadgets to tinker with them. They buy them to do things, make calls, take pictures, look up stuff on the internet, play games.

They download apps to do things, not because their phone shipped with crappy stuff. They don't expect expensive devices to not work well out of the box.

Its not a question of "their phone shipped with crappy stuff" its a question of if a better replacement comes along using that.

And I think people do buy smartphones to tinker. Your missing the fact that on Android, launchers and browsers are apps. Theres no difference to installing any other app.

 

[Tom]

Its not a question of "their phone shipped with crappy stuff" its a question of if a better replacement comes along using that.

And I think people do buy smartphones to tinker. Your missing the fact that on Android, launchers and browsers are apps. Theres no difference to installing any other app.

I'm not missing it. I'm a tinkerer geek myself.

With 40 years experience with tech, I can tell you most people don't expect their expensive cell phone needs or should need a different browser or loader.

And there are messages in this thread that reviewers should customize Android phones to test them.

It shouldn't be necessary.

 

[WelshBloke]

I'm not missing it. I'm a tinkerer geek myself.

With 40 years experience with tech, I can tell you most people don't expect their expensive cell phone needs or should need a different browser or loader.

And there are messages in this thread that reviewers should customize Android phones to test them.

It shouldn't be necessary.

Well by your criteria you're customizing them by installing the benchmarking app.

And its not necessary to change the launcher/browser its just if you're benchmarking browsers or commenting on the launcher it seems a bit wierd not to try the alternatives.

 

[Tom]

Well by your criteria you're customizing them by installing the benchmarking app.

And its not necessary to change the launcher/browser its just if you're benchmarking browsers or commenting on the launcher it seems a bit wierd not to try the alternatives.

That's akin to testers of sports cars being faulted for not putting some fanboi's favorite brand of tires on the car they are fans of.

Testers test things the way consumers receive them. That's the fair test.

 

[stlc8tr]

Wow, assume much? Where did the OP accuse any of the staff at being biased? Seems like a simple question that could have been civilly answered rather than providing fuel for the usual team players to start piling on again.

The title of this thread is "So the Anandtech staff prefers Apple?". Isn't that a bit leading?

A better title would be something more neutral like "What platforms do the AT staff use?".

 

[cheezy321]

I like what Tom said above.

Testers test things the way consumers receive them. Its a fair test. It is the way *ALL* products are tested.

 

[ControlD]

The title of this thread is "So the Anandtech staff prefers Apple?". Isn't that a bit leading?

A better title would be something more neutral like "What platforms do the AT staff use?".

Perhaps the title could have more neutral, but then I actually read the post and found nothing worth telling the OP they are not welcome and should move on to a different forum.

 

[Eug]

I use the stock browser on Android JB (Chrome) and the stock browser on iOS (Safari). IMO, they are the best browsers on their respective platforms. On Android I've pretty much deleted all the other browsers, except for a specific nightly of Firefox with the version of Flash that works on my device and that nightly.

I suspect that vast majority of consumers on both platforms do the same - they just use the stock browser. From that perspective, I think that's the best way to review a phone or tablet - using the stock browser.

However, if you're doing a browser review, then try everything.

 

[WelshBloke]

That's akin to testers of sports cars being faulted for not putting some fanboi's favorite brand of tires on the car they are fans of.

Testers test things the way consumers receive them. That's the fair test.

And if they were testing tires (browsers)?

 

[mikegg]

I remember I once read that Anand used a MacBook as his main working machine.

Are the staff Apple all the way or do some of them prefer Android or windows?

I think Anand said he uses the MacBook air as his main computer. So yes, he does use Apple products. I assume he also uses an iPhone.

 

[dagamer34]

Just on the browser thing, there are alternate browsers on ios too. Why should they review alternatives on android but not ios? In all fairness I see why they only do the stock browser on android just to keep things fair. Besides when the jelly bean nexus devices come out isn't chrome going to be the default browser?

Alternative browsers are not tested in iOS because they do not enable the Nitro Javascript engine, leading to slower performance (including Chrome for iOS). They are not fundamentally different browsers, they are skins on a UIWebView.

 

[Zxian]

They test the out of the box experience. If that favors Apple, so be it. Apple understands that in the end what most people want is a something that works well and doesn't take a lot of work. It's the most fair way to do it because it's not just a hardware review or a software review, it's ultimately a product review.

This. The fact that Android allows for more customizations doesn't mean that a review site should be required to investigate the multitude of options that are available to users. The review of the Galaxy S3 should be showing readers what the device is capable of out of the box - not what you could potentially do if you apply the right tweaks and find your favorite apps for x, y, and z. Same thing goes for Apple products.

 

[Zxian]

And I think people do buy smartphones to tinker.

Most people buy smartphones to use a smartphone. I use my phone to make calls, check email, browse the web, etc etc, most of which I can do out of the box. If I really wanted to add extra functionality, I'd do so in a way that ensured I didn't risk the basic functionality of the device. I doubt most people would buy a $600 device just to "tinker" with it.

 

[TheStu]

And if they were testing tires (browsers)?

Then have a separate review where they take the cream of the Android crop and test the browsers on it. But based on this thread it seems to me that the best Android browser isn't actually available on most Android devices, so what's the point?

 

[BenSkywalker]

They test the out of the box experience.

Which is another way of saying the are extremely biased in Apple's favor. iOS's entire philosophy is out of the box experience. That is the polar opposite for Android. Best Android smartphone out right now? The GSIII. Check how many Android users are using the travesty that is the latest version of TouchWiz.

On newer devices the browser isn't an issue, for older devices not using Opera/Firefox and instead using the default browser was a major hinderance and one that wouldn't be a factor to almost anyone reading this site. The browser downloads are each in the tens of millions- it's not like I'm talking about some fringe group here.

The launcher issue is also another area that the tech enthusiasts, the ones that would actually read AT, would also swap out. A stock UI sucks and is clunky and slow? Say as much, then put a decent launcher on it and let us know how it performs.

Pretty much, AT is doing reviews exactly how every iOS devotee would want them done, and providing minimal useful information for Android users(this is better now with newer devices since Google fixed the horrid stock browser). This very clearly shows that they are out of touch/don't understand the Android market. This is mainly a reflection of them not using the devices on a regular basis which is clearly obvious in most of their reviews.

I'm not saying don't let us know how things work out of the box, I think that is important so people know how much they need to fix when they get their devices. I'm just saying they should also show you how you would actually use the phone if you were to buy it, that is done for the overwhelming majority of iOS users, but not for Android users that would read an AT article.

Then have a separate review where they take the cream of the Android crop and test the browsers on it. But based on this thread it seems to me that the best Android browser isn't actually available on most Android devices, so what's the point?

Opera *obliterates* the stock pre ICS browser. It is a comical difference in performance.

 

[Geekbabe]

I like what Tom said above.

Testers test things the way consumers receive them. Its a fair test. It is the way *ALL* products are tested.

QFT!

Manufacturer ships you finished product in the state that it will reach consumers, the device must be evaluated in it's stock configuration. Add on apps can be reviewed separately should the reviewer desire to do so.

 

[BenSkywalker]

Manufacturer ships you finished product in the state that it will reach consumers, the device must be evaluated in it's stock configuration.

So then everyone would have been fine if AT didn't unlock their phone through iTunes on earlier devices before reviewing it?

 

[Geekbabe]

So then everyone would have been fine if AT didn't unlock their phone through iTunes on earlier devices before reviewing it?

Look, I'm not sure what your beef is but I really enjoy Anand's reviews & have no problem with what he chooses to use as his personal devices.

I advise parents frequently about hardware. If I am asked my thoughts about a phone or tablet, I don't sit there & blather on about how they'll need to root the thing & go in search of a custom rom for it. I tell them about my experiences with the device in it's stock configuration. If the user is technically advanced we might then have a discussion of more advanced concepts. As far as apps go, not every app will play nicely on every device & the OEM is certainly not responsible for the performance of 3rd party apps on their device.I want to know what the device is capable of out of the box, later I can read app roundup's & reviews should I wish to replace / update the apps that were stock installed on the product.

 

[Tom]

"Check how many Android users are using the travesty that is the latest version of TouchWiz."

probably 90-99% of consumers.

 

[Geekbabe]

"Check how many Android users are using the travesty that is the latest version of TouchWiz."

probably 90-99% of consumers.

The fastest way to clear a break room at work is to begin an animated discussion about such issues. LOL, average people just want the thing to work when they buy it & from what I see every day darn few people torture devices the way people like us do.

A co-worker was looking at my phone & said " wow this is different from my husband's" when I said that I didn't like the operating system that came with the phone so I decided to install a new one, she stared at me like I had 3 heads