Very few people actually run Linux on their desktops. If you are one of those people, then yes, I can see this being an advantage. Otherwise... not so much.
I'm a Linux guy and when I had an iPhone, I used to just reboot to my Windows partition to sync my phone. I'd do it ~once per week or so (to sync up with the latest podcasts).
> Ability to easily copy files on and off the phone.
To be honest, I have found this to be more problematic on Android. iTunes synced my music/photos/etc and it Just Worked (tm).
On my Android phone, when I rsync my music/photos/etc from my Linux partition to my phone's SD card, it clobbers everything due to the FS being FAT32 (case insensitive). It's a nightmare to keep things in sync and it takes longer.
> Ability to sync podcasts directly on the phone, without having to connect to a computer with iTunes (not used an iPhone for a while, they might have finally fixed this).
Yes, iPhone has this now. It can both sync with your desktop wirelessly and download the latest podcasts via the iTunes app on your phone if you aren't anywhere near your desktop w/ iTunes.
> Ability to run software Apple doesn't like (emulators).
Jailbreak? I mean, ya gotta do that with Android too...
> We haven't really seen the AI yet, I remain to be convinced, and I don't care about the camera.
I'm skeptical as well, but if it works anywhere near as well as advertised, it will be awesome.
Packing more pixels into such a tiny sensor isn't really going to improve the quality of the photos. However, more sensitivity might...
From what I understand, they've done both... so maybe it'll help or maybe it won't.
The HDR photography that iPhone 4 supported was awesome and makes me regret getting a Samsung Galaxy S which, quite frankly, sucks hardcore in every way.
But I'm a Linux guy so I got an Android... won't be making that mistake again :-\
> Also, you mention price point. The iPhone (particularly the 4S) is about the most expensive phone around at the moment. In general of course the most expensive phone with have the fastest processor, that's hardly suprising.
Equivalent Android's aren't typically much (if at all) cheaper, though (if you buy them outright, at least). Of course, the carriers do seem to subsidize Android phones a lot more than iPhones (which is how you can get most Android phones for cheap-cheap with a 2 year contract).
Just this week, I happened to get an iPad at work. Turns out, the only way I can jailbreak it is by a "tethered" jailbreak, which means (as far as I understand) my iPad has to be attached to my computer whenever I reboot it, else it won't work properly.
We also have a 3G iPad 2, and it seems that can't be jailbroken at all at the moment.
So jailbreaking really doesn't seem to be the "magic solution" to the Apple walled garden. Also, note I don't have to jailbreak to run software Google doesn't like, just go to the webpage and download the package, rather than get it through google market. You can also jailbreak for root access, but I've never felt a need.
I will admit, the argument between Android and Apple is slim, but personally I see it mostly as a "one or the other", not "Apple is superior to Android in every way", as the opening poster seemed to claim.
Given iOS's stability (even while jailbroken), the tethering is an annoyance, but certainly not a dealbreaker.
But you forgot, the original post rhetorically questioned why the 'technocrati' pick another phone. There is a disproportional number of technocrati that run Linux on their Desktop perhaps?
You know what they do care about? A nice camera. An easier way of interacting with the phone (Siri).
(written on my macbook)
Ordinary people don't need Linux connectivity, file copying, emulators, they need a Phone which just works.
I really like the Galaxy S 2 and I wish so hard that Android was actually polished to the degree that iOS is. My iPhone bores and I love the screen on the Galaxy S, yet I know I will miss out on OS updates and being able to smoothly rotate the screen. The day android is as polished as iOS is is the day I switch.
[1] I'm not sure if it is actually thinner than the iPhone 4, but it feels thinner, much in the same way the 2nd gen iPod touch was thinner than the previous gen)
Did Galaxy S2 break iPhone 4's sale record?
Are you sure of that? I can't imagine it's true, or there would be a hell of a lot more sales of it than there are...
Whereas with the iPhone, you basically have "the iPhone". So of course sales are consolidated into that one model.
Samsung have just overtaken Apple in total smartphone sales, though they have a few more models than Apple. But if you look at the trajectory (they came from nothing in the last year or so) it's only a matter of time before their flagship outsells Apple's in more countries than it already does.
I look forward to having you in the iOS community for a long, long time then.
You ... and everybody else! That rather undermines your defense of the S2.
Yeah, this has been fixed for about 2 years. Has to be over wifi though because of the 3G download limits (most podcasts are over 20mb).
Doesn't matter. No one uses Linux.
> Ability to easily copy files on and off the phone.
Doesn't matter. Everyone uses email for a file store.
> Ability to sync podcasts directly on the phone, without having to connect to a computer with iTunes (not used an iPhone for a while, they might have finally fixed this).
They fixed this, also, doesn't matter, no one listens to podcasts.
> Ability to run software Apple doesn't like (emulators).
Doesn't matter.
If you want to make an argument that Android is a better purchase option for mass market consumers, you'll need an argument that actually represents the mass market. I can't think of any argument, as Apple alternatives are always better: better media library, better app library, better product lifetime support (both in terms of software updates, product maintenance), better hardware, better (consistent) software, better branding. These are the things that matter to people.
Who wants to do that? The thread parent post said "it is beyond me how anyone can argue that this is not the best smartphone on the market." That is very, very far from arguing which phone is the best option for mass market consumers. For someone running Linux, it is very easy to argue this is not the best smartphone on the market.
How about (straight off the top of my head)
Better Linux connectivity.
Ability to easily copy files on and off the phone.
Ability to sync podcasts directly on the phone, without having to connect to a computer with iTunes (not used an iPhone for a while, they might have finally fixed this).
Ability to run software Apple doesn't like (emulators).
We haven't really seen the AI yet, I remain to be convinced, and I don't care about the camera.
Also, you mention price point. The iPhone (particularly the 4S) is about the most expensive phone around at the moment. In general of course the most expensive phone with have the fastest processor, that's hardly suprising.