what smartphones have the same sensitivity in the touchscreen as Apple?

[Tom]

Some of us actually do prefer an engineering approach to design rather then a overly artistic one. The artistic approach might create what some people consider to be beautiful products but it can and does lead to functionally flawed products as well.

Design isn't about being "artsy". Design is making things useful for people.

 

[MrX8503]

Cool, just wanted to check whether people were throwing BS or not.

Wierd that people will try and convince themselves that something has problems just so they can bicker on the internet.

Go to bestbuy and play with an iPhone next to your Android phone. You'll see the difference in smoothness and screen accuracy. You have to see it for yourself to know the difference.

They (Google) have had products that would benefit from good design for years, and have been sitting on a mountain of money. It isn't that the talent is rare (you aren't wrong it is), but that the Google culture doesn't promote it. Do you recall the story that circulated a year or so ago about the 30 or 40 shades of blue that they went through on the google logo? And it wasn't a design process that it went through, but an engineering one. There was no heart in it, just cold calculations. Some of the best and brightest engineers in the industry work at google, there is nothing stopping them from hiring a gaggle of some of the best designers in the world except their culture.

.........

I couldn't have said it better myself. Google has the brightest engineers for sure, but where is bridge to the art designers that closes that gap? I think thats the missing link. Just as you would need designers and engineers to make a car, the same applies to software. I bring this up alot and I always say if functionality was our only concern, we'd still be using MS-DOS.

The fact of the matter is that the design process married to functionality is incredibly difficult, if it wasn't we'd all have awesome UIs for our mobile phones and desktops that were functional.

Why is it that Apple has the most functional and best looking copy/paste on their phone? I think its because they understand the design process. I do believe there are times where Apple gets lost in their form/function problem, but when they do get it right, its highly competitive.

 

[NikolaeVarius]

Go to bestbuy and play with an iPhone next to your Android phone. You'll see the difference in smoothness and screen accuracy. You have to see it for yourself to know the difference.



I couldn't have said it better myself. Google has the brightest engineers for sure, but where is bridge to the art designers that closes that gap? I think thats the missing link. Just as you would need designers and engineers to make a car, the same applies to software. I bring this up alot and I always say if functionality was our only concern, we'd still be using MS-DOS.

The fact of the matter is that the design process married to functionality is incredibly difficult, if it wasn't we'd all have awesome UIs for our mobile phones and desktops that were functional.

Why is it that Apple has the most functional and best looking copy/paste on their phone? I think its because they understand the design process. I do believe there are times where Apple gets lost in their form/function problem, but when they do get it right, its highly competitive.

It's not touchscreen accuracy. They are both equally accurate. Smoothness though I think is just a matter of garbage collection. Though smoothness is among the least of my concerns when it comes to smartphones. As long as it's not jerky all the time, I'm fine when the OS has momentary pauses when garbage collection is going on.

One of these days, I need to make a video comparison of my phone with a friends IP4, and show that its not a massive difference in animation smoothness.

As for design, I like Android better. Looks much nicer. The utilitarian look is very nice compared to the fruity bright colors.

 

[gaidensensei]

I'm not endorsing this phone, as I've only had it temporarily for a few months.
The Motoroa Flipside has ultra high sensitivity out of any phone I've ever used.

I reckon this may hold similar for their Bravo series, since this was one of the 3 released during that time last year.

Just having a smudge of water from a droplet of rain, is enough to make it assume as a finger touch is on it.

Some other flipside owners have mentioned to get past this ultra-sensitivity problem, a screen protector circumvents it. Others really like the sensitivity.

 

[smartpatrol]

It's not just about the smoothness, it's about the lag.

Try using the Android touchscreen keyboard next to the WP7 one and you'll see what I mean. I can type far faster and more accurately on my HD7 than on my Evo 4G. The WP7 keyboard responds instantaneously, whereas there is a split second of lag on the Android keyboard. It may seem like nit picking but it makes a HUGE difference.

 

[NikolaeVarius]

It's not just about the smoothness, it's about the lag.

Try using the Android touchscreen keyboard next to the WP7 one and you'll see what I mean. I can type far faster and more accurately on my HD7 than on my Evo 4G. The WP7 keyboard responds instantaneously, whereas there is a split second of lag on the Android keyboard. It may seem like nit picking but it makes a HUGE difference.

I have to ask, exactly what about the lag you seem to perceive effects typing. Does the split second of lag somehow affect what your fingers are doing? Would your fingers be doing something different if the lag wasn't there? Are you sure it's not simply the keyboard that you don't like?

 

[finbarqs]

another fact is that a crap load of people (probably the vast majority on this forum) ROOT their Android phones and install some sort of custom rom. In fact, most people on this forum will recommend a new android user to "root your phone and install a custom rom". iOS, there's a lot fewer people who will tell you to jail break it. And when you do, you get multitasking, better notifications, and whatever you want to customize the phone. (flash even)

But in the end, if it's just smoothness and UI responsiveness, I've yet to see something to come close to iOS and WP7.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

i think the keyboard lag is not there. im talking about my moto droid which is slow as crap compared to my ipod touch.

the problem is google made a shitass soft keyboard
- no multitouch
- crappy prediction
- no cursor movement

it's so bad htc uses their own keyboard and moto packaged and touted their multi touch keyboard beginning with the droid x.

finally the gingerbread keyboard is out with multitouch... but the fact that apple's had it since like forever in their soft keyboard, and it predicts/corrects with insane accuracy shows how much thought they put in something as simple as a keyboard. why google can't get this right til this day is amazingly stupid. it's fine to tout you have copy and paste and all these features, but if you can't even move your cursor around without having to tap multiple times and hope you land on the right spot is dumb. thank goodness gingerbread FINALLY brought something that should've been there day 1...

perhaps its not so wrong to fault Apple for taking til iOS3 to come out with C&P if it took Google this long to improve their halfass implementation.

 

[smartpatrol]

I have to ask, exactly what about the lag you seem to perceive effects typing. Does the split second of lag somehow affect what your fingers are doing? Would your fingers be doing something different if the lag wasn't there? Are you sure it's not simply the keyboard that you don't like?

I'd encourage you to try both side-by-side and I think you'll see what I mean.

Yes the split second of lag makes a big difference. I'd estimate I type anywhere from 4-8 letters per second when I'm using an on-screen keyboard. It makes an ENORMOUS difference when you can see, feel, and hear that you hit the correct key instantaneously, rather than waiting a split second later.

I'm comparing the WP7 keyboard on the HD7 vs. the HTC Sense keyboard on the Evo (which I understand is one of the better ones), both using 4.3 inch 800x480 screens.

 

[NikolaeVarius]

I'd encourage you to try both side-by-side and I think you'll see what I mean.

Yes the split second of lag makes a big difference. I'd estimate I type anywhere from 4-8 letters per second when I'm using an on-screen keyboard. It makes an ENORMOUS difference when you can see, feel, and hear that you hit the correct key instantaneously, rather than waiting a split second later.

I'm comparing the WP7 keyboard on the HD7 vs. the HTC Sense keyboard on the Evo (which I understand is one of the better ones), both using 4.3 inch 800x480 screens.

I have. My room mate has an iP. I type the same speed. I like my phone better because of the larger screen. My fingers cover up like 3 letters at a time on smaller screens. Using swiftkey at the moment.

I have monster hands.

 

[Zen0]

I have to ask, exactly what about the lag you seem to perceive effects typing. Does the split second of lag somehow affect what your fingers are doing? Would your fingers be doing something different if the lag wasn't there? Are you sure it's not simply the keyboard that you don't like?

It's not just about the smoothness, it's about the lag.

Try using the Android touchscreen keyboard next to the WP7 one and you'll see what I mean. I can type far faster and more accurately on my HD7 than on my Evo 4G. The WP7 keyboard responds instantaneously, whereas there is a split second of lag on the Android keyboard. It may seem like nit picking but it makes a HUGE difference.

This exactly.

I played with a friend's EVO and typing on the screen keyboard was about 5 words per minute. If that, since I had to constantly correct it. Android phones without keyboards are unuseable.

On an iPhone or any iDevice, it's about 5x-10x as fast, not only is the accuracy prediction powerful, the word correction works impressively well.

 

[gaidensensei]

All the software onscreen keyboard lag stuff (yes, I have seen them) on android is redundant when using a device with a physical keyboard. This likely pertains to Evo shift, G2, mytouch slide, Droid, etc. I've been with QWERTY physical keyboard based phones since the debut of smartphones, and rarely ever had to focus on on-screen keyboard problems.

I'm aware it is another way out of the problem as it doesn't fix it with non-keyboard phones, but it is an alternative to address the issue.

 

[kaerflog]

Galaxy S is just as responsive as any iPhone (according to envious iPhone owners who've played with my device).

That statement is so false.
I have an IP4 and a Galaxy S in front of me.
The Galaxy S even has a customized ROM on it.
The S is fine but in no way as smooth as iOS.
Fast and smooth is 2 different things.

 

[kaerflog]

I bet the majority of people in here do not use 2 different OS on a regular basis to diffrentiate them.
Of course you are going to defend the OS you are using.
Use Android and a 3GS or IP4 for a while and then tell me you don't see the difference.
Android might to fast but it stutter at times alot.
After using an Apple keyboard, I hate using most Android keyboard.

I was an Apple hater as recently as last year.
My only experience with them was the 3G and I was not impress.
When the 3GS cam out, I thought it was just a glorified 3G.
Then after I extensively used a IP4 for 3 months, I was hooked.
I then tried the 3GS and to my surprise, it just as fast as the IP4(probably due to the smaller resolution).
Hearing people saying such things about WP7, I have to try one.
I'm not going to bash WP7 just because I like Apple product right now.

 

[WelshBloke]

This exactly.

I played with a friend's EVO and typing on the screen keyboard was about 5 words per minute. If that, since I had to constantly correct it. Android phones without keyboards are unuseable.

On an iPhone or any iDevice, it's about 5x-10x as fast, not only is the accuracy prediction powerful, the word correction works impressively well.

With respect that's bullshit.

I'm typing this out now on an Android phone and the keyboard can keep up with me fine.

I'm using it in landscape and using two thumbs and its as fast as I could wish for, and I'm.still getting used to it.

 

[cheezy321]

OK, buddy. I just spent the past couple hours looking over your posts and came to this conclusion:

About 5 percent of this forum is people pointing out flaws in Apple products and the other 95 percent is you whining about them, in the form of ad hominums and straw man.
If you were really so confident in the superiority of your beloved brand you wouldnt feel the need to constantly bash others who question it.
Thats basic psychology, its a simple defense mechanism propagated by emotional threats.

Look it up.
And stop shitting on people just because they have a different opinion from you.

You are correct in some parts. I have been on this forum since 2003. Some of my hobbies and interests have changed over time.
-Originally came here for the For Sale / Trade Forum.
-Moved to mostly posting in off topic / gaming threads.
-Currently I am mostly reading the gadget, gears & phones forum.

I used to build a lot of computers, now I don't really have time for that. I used to play a lot of console / PC games, now I don't really have time for it. I bought a tmobile MDA back in 2006 and bought the iPhone in 2007 when it was unlocked for tmobile My free time is now spent tweaking my iPhone, among other things. My hobbies have changed, and my activies on anandtech reflects that. A lot of my time is now taken up by my job (had a lot less time intensive job before) so now mostly all of my posts are in the GG&P forum. Is there anything wrong with that?

Things I bring up are usually calling people out for straight up lying or making just ridiculous statements. Someone in this thread actually suggested a phone that isn't out yet. Its a straight up lie man. He has no idea how the smoothness is, but blindly suggests it will be superior. Other people make comments about Steve Jobs that are just plain stupid. So many people on this forum act like this man killed their parents. Ridiculous. I try to point out the stupidity in these comments.

This forum has become an android circle jerk. There is no denying that. 95% of the content in this sub-forum is android related circle jerks. The 5% of the apple threads in here have all the android fans join in, attacking and berating with every comment. It happens in every single thread. You are guilty of it yourself. It's a mob mentality.

If I can come in and provide a differing view of the mob mentality android circle jerk in this forum, then I will.

The only person I bash in this forum personally is senseamp because that guy is just insane.

 

[DivideBYZero]

You are correct in some parts. I have been on this forum since 2003. Some of my hobbies and interests have changed over time.
-Originally came here for the For Sale / Trade Forum.
-Moved to mostly posting in off topic / gaming threads.
-Currently I am mostly reading the gadget, gears & phones forum.

I used to build a lot of computers, now I don't really have time for that. I used to play a lot of console / PC games, now I don't really have time for it. I bought a tmobile MDA back in 2006 and bought the iPhone in 2007 when it was unlocked for tmobile My free time is now spent tweaking my iPhone, among other things. My hobbies have changed, and my activies on anandtech reflects that. A lot of my time is now taken up by my job (had a lot less time intensive job before) so now mostly all of my posts are in the GG&P forum. Is there anything wrong with that?

Things I bring up are usually calling people out for straight up lying or making just ridiculous statements. Someone in this thread actually suggested a phone that isn't out yet. Its a straight up lie man. He has no idea how the smoothness is, but blindly suggests it will be superior. Other people make comments about Steve Jobs that are just plain stupid. So many people on this forum act like this man killed their parents. Ridiculous. I try to point out the stupidity in these comments.

This forum has become an android circle jerk. There is no denying that. 95% of the content in this sub-forum is android related circle jerks. The 5% of the apple threads in here have all the android fans join in, attacking and berating with every comment. It happens in every single thread. You are guilty of it yourself. It's a mob mentality.

If I can come in and provide a differing view of the mob mentality android circle jerk in this forum, then I will.

The only person I bash in this forum personally is senseamp because that guy is just insane.

I agree, but you're only seeing a fraction of what a BlackBerry thread sees.

 

[runawayprisoner]

I agree, but you're only seeing a fraction of what a BlackBerry thread sees.

This is true. Heck, it's not just Anandtech but I feel everyone has been onto RIM lately.

 

[MrX8503]

It's not touchscreen accuracy. They are both equally accurate.

I'm not sure if I would make that assumption. Anyone remember the line test done on all of the phones a few years ago? The original iPhone did better than all of them. Now, no one knows for sure if this was because of software or hardware or both, but the fact of the matter is that the iPhone beat all of them and that was a long time ago.

With the iPhone4, Apple meld the screen and the glass into one, I can only guess this increases accuracy and viewing clarity. I'm not gonna make the assumption that the sensitivity on the iPhone is the best, but its pretty up there.

Recently I gave my iPhone4 to a friend who uses a Galaxy S phone and he had a hard time using the iPhone's keyboard. His reaction? "Whoa, this keyboard is super sensitive".

 

[finbarqs]

and the only OS that would actually multitask is still WebOS... and now QNX from BB.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

im about 5 seconds away from clicking buy for an Incredible S

This coming from an iOS fanboi.... ugh. The fact that I couldnt even fucking map anything on my Droid without Gmapps crashing every 5 seconds (ok, no the phone is so slow it takes 2 minutes to load it then crash)... Gingerbread just does not work on 256mb devices.

 

[zerocool84]

and the only OS that would actually multitask is still WebOS... and now QNX from BB.

2yr old WebOS still with the best multitasking and notifications. That's why I'm waiting to see what they come out with to get my new phone this summer.

 

[JeffreyLebowski]

Well I'm glad Android ahs powerful hardware for me to watch 1080p videos, to play insane games, but how does this matter when basic phone tasks like scrolling through text messages, opening up Facebook all have lag? Shrug. I see powerful hardware as nice, but it's an excuse for non optimization of the OS.

If iOS can run fine on a 600mhz A8 or a 800mhz Apple A4 processor, then why can't Android? We'll put dual core processors in and call it a day, but when you get to higher end OS like the Xoom's Honeycomb, you see hiccups again, kinda like on the Droid. The software has so much bloat the only way to run it is to brute force it with insane hardware. I'd like to see optimized software designed around current hardware with the ability to scale down as well.

Look someone is getting close. iOS is completely closed source and only runs on a very VERY limited range of hardware. This makes it worlds easier to optimize.
Android is basically the Windows of smart phones. It's modular, and can install on a lot more things. That means there is code and parts of it that are installed on some phones that are completely not needed.
I've had an Ipod Touch and have messed around with some iPhones, and I just don't see that they are any smoother or faster than my Vibrant.
As far as multi tasking goes, I can have , Google maps running, along with Torque, and a web browser all going at one time and I don't see any slow down of the system and all 3 of those apps are doing stuff at the sametime.

 

[MrX8503]

Here's a good test for keyboard accuracy and speed.

Type this rapidly with two thumbs.

Alalalalalalalalalalalalalalalalalalala

I just did the above with my iPhone. Notice there aren't any doubles or errors.

 

[Glitchny]

Alalalalalalalalalalalalalalalalala

Not hard

Sent from my Droid