tobyl · June 15, 2022 20:23
diff --git a/gistfile1.txt b/gistfile1.txt
 I was an iPhone user circa 2010, although I can't recall which models I owned (there were at least 2 or 3).

 I can't recall exactly what prompted me to switch to Android, but for a long time I have felt that whoever Apple's target audience is (for computers and phones) I'm probably in either their primary, secondary or perhaps even tertiary group. Apple's web/online services was a BIG weakness back then, especially for those who are mostly happy with Google's web services.

 I hated my first Android phone, a Motorola something-or-other. But once I switched to Google's Pixels, I was pretty happy and remained that way from my first pixel, the 2XL to my last, the Pixel 4. They were never mind blowing, but they were solid and reliable and did a small handful of things really well. However, in the past few years the price of everything has crept up, and now Google's phones are as expensive as iPhones, so more and more the question is "if I'm paying a ton of money for a phone, does Apple offer anything that is simply unavailable on Android?".

 The answer is "yes" in some cases. It''s impossible to deny that Apple is killing it right now with their hardware. CPUs, cameras and screens seem to be drastically better on the Apple side. But software, particularly for online services, is still a big question on both sides. There are now established paradigms for almost every interaction on mobile, so it's interesting to see how and when the two operating systems differ and the ideological reasons behind the differences.

 I've been using an iPhone 13 for a week now, so this feels a good time for first impressions.

 It's worth also noting that some of my early impressions may just be outright incorrect, since I haven't read any articles or tutorials or watched any YouTube videos. At this point in my life I "should" be able to easily adapt to the functionality of any device without going out of my way to learn, but I do intend to look into a small handful of things I'm finding annoying or problematic.

 My first and most obvious impression is that iPhone is absolutely more fun than Android. In messages and in general interactions, Google tends to favour raw efficiency and clarity of goals and function. Apple skews more towards fun and whimsy (memojis being the example that comes to mind). It's hard to quantify this - if you asked me, I would tell you I just want to "get shit done". In reality, I'm having more fun with simple tasks like messaging, and it's hard to ignore the benefits.

 Beyond that, I'm having trouble figuring out which platform is "best", or even "best for me". Much of the experience on both phones comes from a deep history, spanning a range of factors that have led to the current iterations. The ideology of the two companies is evident in much of the OS, but there are also primary goals, and even bugs and glitches specific to each platform that affect the overall feel. There is a big push by many people these days to "de-google" their life, and while this isn't a primary goal for me, I would consider that to be a good thing. On the other hand, Apple is very much in favour of devices as part of a larger ecosystem. As a Mac user that could be a good thing, BUT I mostly want to own the best possible device for me, regardless of whether the device is made by Apple or Google.

 Right off the bat, there are features and functionality specific to each device and each platform that are pretty clear cut. Some are significant, some less so. I wouldn't pay more for a "great" phone camera, but since the prices are now so close I'm happier with a better camera. I place extremely high value on battery life, and due to Apple's hardware excellence they seem to have the edge here. 

 Parts of the experience are maddening to me. Notifications are a huge aspect of using a phone, and there is no perfect solution. However, Google seems to edge out Apple on this one. I can very quickly view, edit and dismiss notifications whenever and wherever they appear on Android. That doesn't seem to be as easy on iPhone.
	I was an iPhone user circa 2010, although I can't recall which models I owned (there were at least 2 or 3).

	I can't recall exactly what prompted me to switch to Android, but for a long time I have felt that whoever Apple's target audience is (for computers and phones) I'm probably in either their primary, secondary or perhaps even tertiary group. Apple's web/online services was a BIG weakness back then, especially for those who are mostly happy with Google's web services.

	I hated my first Android phone, a Motorola something-or-other. But once I switched to Google's Pixels, I was pretty happy and remained that way from my first pixel, the 2XL to my last, the Pixel 4. They were never mind blowing, but they were solid and reliable and did a small handful of things really well. However, in the past few years the price of everything has crept up, and now Google's phones are as expensive as iPhones, so more and more the question is "if I'm paying a ton of money for a phone, does Apple offer anything that is simply unavailable on Android?".

	The answer is "yes" in some cases. It''s impossible to deny that Apple is killing it right now with their hardware. CPUs, cameras and screens seem to be drastically better on the Apple side. But software, particularly for online services, is still a big question on both sides. There are now established paradigms for almost every interaction on mobile, so it's interesting to see how and when the two operating systems differ and the ideological reasons behind the differences.

	I've been using an iPhone 13 for a week now, so this feels a good time for first impressions.

	It's worth also noting that some of my early impressions may just be outright incorrect, since I haven't read any articles or tutorials or watched any YouTube videos. At this point in my life I "should" be able to easily adapt to the functionality of any device without going out of my way to learn, but I do intend to look into a small handful of things I'm finding annoying or problematic.

	My first and most obvious impression is that iPhone is absolutely more fun than Android. In messages and in general interactions, Google tends to favour raw efficiency and clarity of goals and function. Apple skews more towards fun and whimsy (memojis being the example that comes to mind). It's hard to quantify this - if you asked me, I would tell you I just want to "get shit done". In reality, I'm having more fun with simple tasks like messaging, and it's hard to ignore the benefits.

	Beyond that, I'm having trouble figuring out which platform is "best", or even "best for me". Much of the experience on both phones comes from a deep history, spanning a range of factors that have led to the current iterations. The ideology of the two companies is evident in much of the OS, but there are also primary goals, and even bugs and glitches specific to each platform that affect the overall feel. There is a big push by many people these days to "de-google" their life, and while this isn't a primary goal for me, I would consider that to be a good thing. On the other hand, Apple is very much in favour of devices as part of a larger ecosystem. As a Mac user that could be a good thing, BUT I mostly want to own the best possible device for me, regardless of whether the device is made by Apple or Google.

	Right off the bat, there are features and functionality specific to each device and each platform that are pretty clear cut. Some are significant, some less so. I wouldn't pay more for a "great" phone camera, but since the prices are now so close I'm happier with a better camera. I place extremely high value on battery life, and due to Apple's hardware excellence they seem to have the edge here.

	Parts of the experience are maddening to me. Notifications are a huge aspect of using a phone, and there is no perfect solution. However, Google seems to edge out Apple on this one. I can very quickly view, edit and dismiss notifications whenever and wherever they appear on Android. That doesn't seem to be as easy on iPhone.
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