[Newsbot]

Title: Android popularity swells among Canadian smartphone users
Category: Business
Posted By: Curtman
Date: 2012-09-17 18:09:59
Canadian

[Curtman]

$1:

The polling firm conducted four studies using online surveys, between January 2011 and August 2012.

During that period, the number of Canadian smartphone users who own Android-based devices grew from 26 per cent to 36 per cent, a leap of 10 percentage points.

The number of smartphone users who opted for Apple's iPhones, meanwhile, crept up from 23 per cent to 29 per cent.
...
Samsung's line of Android-powered smartphones, which includes the Galaxy S3, has doubled to an 18 per cent share since January 2011, according to Ipsos Reid's findings.
...
"If you were waiting for a titanic battle in the mobile industry, you now have it," Levy said. "It's very clear that Apple and Google are engaged in a fight to the death."

I love the imagery of Apple's frou-frou closed proprietary phone, versus free and open hardware and software, and open winning.

[Public_Domain]

[xerxes]

Meh. I'm still with Apple. I even pre-ordered the iPhone 5.

[Public_Domain]

[xerxes]

Because I like it. It's easy to use, it fits nicely in my pocket, and I don't need a supercomputer in my hand to browse the internet, play Angry Birds, or even occasionally make a call.

And Apple has in a way, earned my loyalty. Considering how many times I've dropped my iPhone 3GS, it still works great (except for the slowness caused by new OS upgrades that is).

[Strutz]

I have the Samsung Galaxy S3. Just got it in July.

I still have to learn more about the features I have yet to use but like what I'm using so far.

I've been happy with other Samsung products I've had, and have still. My previous cell phone was a Samsung flip-phone that I used for nearly 6 years, dropped Lord knows how many times, and never had an issue with it. Still works, kept it for back-up "just in case".

[Public_Domain]

[xerxes]

It works, but it's slowing down, and my contract is up and I want a newer phone.

[Regina]

I'm waiting for the iPhone 13......then I'm making my move!! Should be in about 6 weeks and will be outdated, slow and obsolete the week after. No one see anything wrong with that picture?

[bootlegga]

xerxes xerxes:

It works, but it's slowing down, and my contract is up and I want a newer phone.

I hate to say it Xerxes, but it sounds like Apple has successfully domesticated you.

I don't understand why people accept when companies intentionally slow down their phones with 'upgrades' just to get them to buy a new one. You wouldn't accept a car company doing the same to your car when they repaired it, so why is your phone acceptable?

As bad as Microsoft is/was, they never forced you to take an upgrade that would force you to buy a new PC - it really only happened if you chose to move to a newer (but not necessarily better) OS that you might need to eventually buy a new one. However, PCs are great because they can be modified/upgraded incrementally with RAM, motherboards, devices, etc.

That's one reason why I have no desire to switch to an Apple environment - once you do, you're trapped on the neverending hamster wheel of buying new hardware every couple years.

[raydan]

xerxes xerxes:

Because I like it. It's easy to use, it fits nicely in my pocket, and I don't need a supercomputer in my hand to browse the internet, play Angry Birds, or even occasionally make a call.

And Apple has in a way, earned my loyalty. Considering how many times I've dropped my iPhone 3GS, it still works great (except for the slowness caused by new OS upgrades that is).

If I ever get a cell phone, that's how I'll choose it.
Put them all in my pocket and see which one fits the best.

[FieryVulpine]

bootlegga bootlegga:

That's one reason why I have no desire to switch to an Apple environment - once you do, you're trapped on the neverending hamster wheel of buying new hardware every couple years.

Are not all consumer electronics designed with planned obsolescence in mind? One has to constantly buy new hardware for PCs with they want to keep up the the latest games (though I heard rumors that PC gaming is in decline.)

Though I admit I have a Samsung Galaxy Ace Q and the most basic plan I could buy because I did not want to pay full price or the minimum $50/month plan for an iPhone. I do not have much use for bells and whistles.

[raydan]

My next "phone" investment will be a longer cord for my landline.

[bootlegga]

FieryVulpine FieryVulpine:

bootlegga bootlegga:

That's one reason why I have no desire to switch to an Apple environment - once you do, you're trapped on the neverending hamster wheel of buying new hardware every couple years.

Are not all consumer electronics designed with planned obsolescence in mind? One has to constantly buy new hardware for PCs with they want to keep up the the latest games (though I heard rumors that PC gaming is in decline.)

Though I admit I have a Samsung Galaxy Ace Q and the most basic plan I could buy because I did not want to pay full price or the minimum $50/month plan for an iPhone. I do not have much use for bells and whistles.

I suppose if you're a hardcore gamer that's true - but I don't play that often these days. However, in the PC universe, it's relatively easy to upgrade your computer with more RAM, bigger hard drives, larger monitors, and so on, while in the Apple universe, you need to buy a new Mac.

I've updated a Compaq (remember them?) desktop PC I bought in 2003 and it still works fine for the games I've bought for it. Sure, I've added RAM, a new CD/DVD burner and a bigger monitor, but the PC is still essentially the same. If I had bought a Mac in 2003, I'm sure I would have had to replace it already (my brother bought one in 2008 and has already replaced it).

If you don't mind constantly upgrading your tech (and have lots of disposable income), then it's fine, but I find it a pain in the ass to buy new every couple years. Apple wants it customers to be just like Ford/Dodge/GM and buy a new car every five years or so.

Same goes for my cell phone - I just have a plain old Samsung flip phone that makes calls and sends texts and have had it for years now. I might get a smartphone someday, but I'm in no rush to pay $50/month for a plan and another $20-50 for data.

Frankly, I'd rather save for my kids education, my retirement and pay off my house sooner than constantly buy new tech, but then I fall somewhere in the middle of Rogers Diffusion of Innovations curve.