Yes, I am Apple users. And yes, for some years now and yes, even on the iPad and iPhone also. And no, I'm not ashamed but stand by it. Why not? After the first step years ago in the Apple world (at that time still in the field of Personal Computers) I was certainly so convinced by the concept and the handling that was nothing else in my house after years of Windows experience. The point was as simple as clear: it just worked!
Pretty devices were also and no comparison to the gray metal boxes from the Microsoft world.
It was the same with the iPhone.
Before the whole smart phone era I was extremely annoyed by extremely expensive mobile phones and sometimes extremely poor material and excessive processing. Something had to be possible more.
A manufacturer, but was already in the right direction at that time, Motorola was with his V-series and no later than the V3 and V9 later I was at home there. A metal casing in conjunction with glass was finally a tactile responsive material and the inner life was equally innovative. Maybe not as sensational as some other manufacturers but focusing on the essentials and thoughtful.
So I came logically in 2007 Apple with the iPhone just fine and since I've stayed there.
Why am I telling you this? To make short clear that I neither informer, Poser or whatever'm trying to distinguish themselves with iPhones etc., but simply a user, the quality and usability is not just a phrase but his own and sought to claim.
Initially, that was not so bad (there was 2007, only the iPhone) but in times of "Apple disciples", "Fandroids" and the like, there are now almost cinematic titles bearing struggles concerning this topic.
But why?
As will be fought in relevant forums to the death and insulted. For me, completely incomprehensible because the best Smarttphone there is not anyway. Everyone has a different user profile and other claims, and therefore there can not be "the best".
However, I have found one:
The Androidverfechter seem rather to belong to the younger generation and often little argue objectively and equally often very emotional during the Apple users, because they react at all in such a discussion board rather objectively and calmly. That says a lot of, I think. On both sides there are exceptions of course.
And then I think: Gosh, it's just a smartphone. Nothing. Where are your priorities in life? Such tail comparisons on a technical level are alien to me. It has to fulfill its purpose and my expectations. That's it. What others think about me personally could not care less.
Despite or perhaps because of my affinity for half-eaten apple from Cupertino, it hurts so never, sometimes to look beyond horizons and so I was very excited about Samsung's latest product: The Galaxy S4.
This article with a comparison between the Galaxy S4 subjekiven and the iPhone 5 would have been interesting for me as a longtime iphone user if because someone had written it. But no one has. At least until now not been found by me. So I'll do it ourselves. Whether it helps you, you must judge.
Facts and technical comparisons, there are more than enough, so I shall confine myself in this article only on the impressions and this for me resulting conclusions. Entirely subjective and possibly biased.
The question is:
Can you imagine, to venture a long-time Apple users quasi a change to another universe? The answer half first: You can, but it depends. What, the reader opens up then hopefully below.
Maybe it will help one or the other in making decisions according to his personal criteria.
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The Samsung Galaxy S4
The Samsung Galaxy S4 (internal designation GT-I9505) was announced in size and were at least as great of course expectations. On 27/04/2013, there appeared finally released and was to have on the market.
The dealer prices only between 600-650, - - and are such as many already S4, Ebay Classifieds at 500 - What I find amazing is added, the fact that already at a scheduled MSRP of 729, is "used" (but welded so new) offered.
This happened with the iPhone so not. Here you had trouble (whether consciously controlled by the manufacturer or not) ever get one due to the initial lack equipment and if you paid absurdly high prices for it. Whether this is stupid or not, I leave times your own thoughts.
Both of the optical system as well as the intrinsic values impressed it though, is rather a good facelift than a totally new smartphone. It seems a little adult. What one Apple accused (not an entirely new iPhone but only an S variant) is implemented here basically just what way, does not have to be bad.
Why is Apple but manages to bring all storage variants at the same time on the market and Samsung initially only the 16GB version vorschießt, she will not reveal to me. Although 32GB and 64GB are now announced, so there were at Samsung in advance already models in which those versions have been announced but not even appeared. Very annoying for many a customer.
Double angry also for the reason, because alone the system and preinstalled apps occupy so much internal memory that just are nearly 9GB available. A few more games, an offline navigation and the used memory is fast.
The possible memory expansion via Micro-SD card is laudable, but brings apptechnisch course nothing if I can not outsource to an external memory, the Apps. And this is precisely since Android 4.0 without Root etc. no longer be possible. And not every user wants to rooting, especially since he can then get into trouble with the warranty.
Similarly, an 8-core processor was announced in advance, for example, but which is not published here, and probably will not even appear. The decision is at Samsung.
Whoever buys therefore may in a few weeks the fool when the other variants will be restocked. Maybe that explains the above aforementioned fall in prices.
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First impression
All eco ?? The packaging of the S4's a different way than expected. Has so far always a little squinting for bitten apple and the packaging designed quite similar quality, it now changes towards sustainability and natural products.
So the packaging therefore (not real wood) and the manual comes in sleek wood design etc. are kept in a natural color. The ink used is soy underlie as a raw material.
Can you like it or not. Power but a good impression.
The S4 itself is neatly packaged and provided with sheets. It looks huge when you're used to an iPhone. This perspective, however, also quickly when you hold it in your hand.
Although about 25 grams heavier than the iPhone 5, it is light and fragile and yet dibasic. Wertig I use here deliberately, because even if it is a plastic, it feels excellent workmanship on. Although I must admit that manufacturers such as Nokia have also managed that even plastic may feel valent.
All in all a very good first impression. It looks sturdy and fits comfortably in your hand.
The accessory was with my black version ("black-mist" - who really thinks of as a "crap" designation) and white at all tried neutrality on my part is here an analogy to the famous Apple Accessories undeniable.
They say that in the Far East, copying is a sign of the highest recognition to the author. I let the then times are so.
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Operational
At the very first time it is a first WOW effect adjusts when the glaring white Samsung logo appears.
It is bright and it's white. Both points that raise hope for a significant improvement in Pentile matrix display was this rather difficult to read its predecessor in the sun and do not really know.
Overall, the colors are also more neutral than it matched the S3 but much stronger than that of a "classic" IPS display.
If one considers times in mind that a Full-HD resolution today is usually on TVs 42-55 inches to wear, it's an engineering feat, something to build in today in a mobile display of "only" 5 inches. Pixels are actually not recognizable.
In summary: The display is impressive. Contrasts excellently. The colors close to the Adobe RGB spectrum and brightness of at least sufficient to allow it to read out can.
The Android system is to operate even for Apple experienced users intuitively through its complexity. This has added amazed me the most. Because I have all the freedom and am still able, the Android / Samsung system easy to operate. By contrast, iOS suddenly seems a little boring and unimaginative.
All settings were done in no time, registered with Dropbox, bagged 50GB storage for two years and looking forward.
The response to touch is fast and immediate. There is always a short haptic feedback in the form of a short vibration. I like that.
Even camera is very good especially compared to S3 and also slightly better compared to the iPhone 5. The colors are neutral but not so pale, contrast and resolution also very good. However, there are also plenty of shooting settings, but they are initially overwhelm certainly helpful.
They must, however, not use, but just can let make the automatic function.
The video recordings are also very good and you can separately for photos and videos, for example, decide whether to activate the image stabilizer now or not. On the iPhone, this possibility is not, unfortunately.
Samsung support for playback of media to DLNA standard, and so it is possible without intermediate devices on my Philips TV to play back photos and videos instantly. When the iPhone in-house standard AirPlay is used, which requires a minimum of an Apple TV, but then works just as well.
As a music player, Samsung has installed a Wolfson audio chip. Audiophile connoisseurs will know what that means. The sound is impeccable, the headset could be better, but for a supplied okay.
Otherwise, it runs very fast and felt the standard functions with all its sensors offers a number of innovations (Smart Stay, etc.) which are partly interesting but also partly not mature and thus in practice as useless part. Smart Stay, while it displays its bright, as long as the eyes are directed works amazingly well and this too I would want for my iPhone.
The telephone function works perfectly and the interlocutor is well understood. Likewise, there were no problems to understand me (at least acoustically). Funny that I specially mention, right? A phone should be able to make calls, but many just there in their core competence difficulties. The Samsung here affords no weaknesses.
As for updates, apps and Co., it is very dependent on Google here. The I rate but not as negative, because that's just at Apple. Good for the purposes of certain is the Appkontrolle at Apple. This is unfortunately missing in the Google Play Goals and include at least a virus scanner on your smartphone here mandatory.
Also very beneficial, but also already present in the predecessor, the status LED is. It shows z. B. calls in the absence or SMS, and is helpful in that it not only has to take the unit into their own hands in order to identify new events.
Should be mentioned the advantage that the battery cover is completely removable and the battery removed. Likewise, the memory is a Micro-SD card is expandable up to 64 GB (128 GB should also work, but this is not officially).
The battery itself holds under normal use, so if the game and test phase is over, about two days. A good value if you look at the performance in relation.
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Conclusion
Due to the total absolute individualization capability, the Samsung Galaxy S4 is a smartphone that has no equal and can not find at the moment.
Technically, the measure of all things and feel excellent workmanship in the sum at the moment. For this purpose a software running principle around and also is adjustable in almost every area.
But as someone once aptly said: A fully equipped Kia is still no Audi, Mercedes or BMW and he was technically so refined. It just lacks that certain something. And that's not rational to capture.
The S4 can virtually everything but something just is not really good. This is demonstrated repeatedly in the handling and use of the system and the apps and yes, I've been playing well the latest update.
Nevertheless, and you can not wegreden easy, there are always small stuttering that I simply do not know as the iPhone.
Conversely, the iPhone has unfortunately or thankfully less intervention options, but runs it absolutely smooth.
But we must not forget, at what range of Android devices so must be running a Androidsystem course. The phenomenon is quite similar to Windows and Mac OS.
For technical game kids an iPhone will therefore quickly become boring for the simple "users" it runs smoothly and perfectly.
Thus, one can not pronounce a clear recommendation in the outcome, because as the Cologne says: Everyone Jeck is different and it depends very much on just personal user profile and the personal claim, which is the right for one of the devices.
Personally, I would do me very hard, if I had to make a decision. The S4 is technically just wow and there are many things and approaches that I would so like to see the iPhone, that it must be too complicated without.
Haptic and even more so from the material produced, I would like to see a little more value at S4, which would certainly not harm the image and it would be no later than then extremly hard Apple.
It is clear that the iPhone iOS looks really dusty. Respect that they brought six years ago such a pretty complete package on the market, but the competition never sleeps and has not only caught up, but already outdated in many respects.
Apple needs to give gas here and the hope is and now coincides with the expected June iOS 7 and the equally anticipated redesign joined by the new line of the iOS software chief designer Jony Department of Apple Ive.
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No ifs and buts? No!
Lastly, there is a big point, the previously most really stop me zuzulegen a Samsung device:
The customer service!
It is not just the device to the overall package but also the support by the manufacturer in the event that a fault occurs.
The much maligned limited warranty from Apple, however, is unparalleled., When it matters most. With AppleCare (costs about 50-60, - extra) Express replacement within 24 hours and a preliminary delivery of the new device. Without AppleCare (and are own experiences) I have yet to wait more than two days on an exchange.
After what I have read in similar cases at Samsung in various forums, Samsung is looking almost always initially the fault at the customer and when swapping, then takes this part five to six weeks. Prohibitive for a business traveler and very uncomfortable for a home user.
Here Apple has definitely understood.
