Steve Wozniak thinks the iPhone is still the best overall smartphone but says Android has leapt ahead in some key areas, reports the Daily Beast.
"My primary phone is the iPhone," Woz told the site. "I love the beauty of it. But I wish it did all the things my Android does, I really do."
Noting that Android devices aren't as simple to use as iPhones, Woz says "if you're willing to do the work to understand it a little bit, well I hate to say it, but there's more available in some ways."
Woz notes that there are some key areas that Android bests iOS.
For developers, Android may be fragmented across devices and have a toolkit that is less refined but not having to deal with Apple's approval process is a huge benefit. Creating an iOS app is always risk. Apple could refuse its approval or pull your app at any time. Also, updates can't be made immediately which leads to bad publicity while you wait for Apple to approve your fix.
Another feature Woz takes issue with Apple's implementation Siri.
"I used to ask Siri, 'What are the five biggest lakes in California?' and it would come back with the answer. Now it just misses. It gives me real estate listings. I used to ask, 'What are the prime numbers greater than 87?' and it would answer. Now instead of getting prime numbers, I get listings for prime rib, or prime real estate."
Woz is also frustrated with Siri's need to connect to Apple servers. "With the iPhone 4 I could press a button and call my wife. Now on the 4S I can only do that when Siri can connect over the Internet. But many times it can't connect. I've never had Android come back and say, 'I can't connect over the Internet.'"
"I have a lower success rate with Siri than I do with the voice built into the Android, and that bothers me," Woz says. "I'll be saying, over and over again in my car, 'Call the Lark Creek Steak House,' and I can't get it done. Then I pick up my Android, say the same thing, and it's done. Plus I get navigation. Android is way ahead on that."
Wozniak also remarks that his battery life has drastically worsened with iOS 5.
Overall he recommends the iPhone for people already in the Mac world and who are scared by complex computers.
Read More
"My primary phone is the iPhone," Woz told the site. "I love the beauty of it. But I wish it did all the things my Android does, I really do."
Noting that Android devices aren't as simple to use as iPhones, Woz says "if you're willing to do the work to understand it a little bit, well I hate to say it, but there's more available in some ways."
Woz notes that there are some key areas that Android bests iOS.
For developers, Android may be fragmented across devices and have a toolkit that is less refined but not having to deal with Apple's approval process is a huge benefit. Creating an iOS app is always risk. Apple could refuse its approval or pull your app at any time. Also, updates can't be made immediately which leads to bad publicity while you wait for Apple to approve your fix.
Another feature Woz takes issue with Apple's implementation Siri.
"I used to ask Siri, 'What are the five biggest lakes in California?' and it would come back with the answer. Now it just misses. It gives me real estate listings. I used to ask, 'What are the prime numbers greater than 87?' and it would answer. Now instead of getting prime numbers, I get listings for prime rib, or prime real estate."
Woz is also frustrated with Siri's need to connect to Apple servers. "With the iPhone 4 I could press a button and call my wife. Now on the 4S I can only do that when Siri can connect over the Internet. But many times it can't connect. I've never had Android come back and say, 'I can't connect over the Internet.'"
"I have a lower success rate with Siri than I do with the voice built into the Android, and that bothers me," Woz says. "I'll be saying, over and over again in my car, 'Call the Lark Creek Steak House,' and I can't get it done. Then I pick up my Android, say the same thing, and it's done. Plus I get navigation. Android is way ahead on that."
Wozniak also remarks that his battery life has drastically worsened with iOS 5.
Overall he recommends the iPhone for people already in the Mac world and who are scared by complex computers.
Read More