So I have been pondering buying a Note 4 with the lovely S-Pen and all the editing features that brings, but the more I use the iPhone 6 Plus, the more I realise iOS 8 is just a better organised and structured operating system.
That is not to say I hate everything else. That is not the case whatsoever. I have a Nvidia Shield Tablet for my android fix. As to Windows Phone, well it just lacks the depth and breadth of apps for me. If you don’t need those especially on the gaming front, then it is a viable option.
My sticking with iOS realisation really hit home yesterday. I was looking at the Note 4 and Gear S Smartwatch and thinking once again how it would be to have cutting edge specs. In fact, my ideal setup would be the Samsung Galaxy Note Edge and Gear S smartwatch. However, since owning the 6 Plus and fitting it with an Apple leather case, I completely forget the size and just end up using the phone effectively. Apps are being updated for the 6 Plus and offer such a better designed interface than that on the Note 4. The updated 6 Plus apps really provide in many cases a mini tablet look. And talking of apps, some of the improvements are incredible and the huge breadth and depth in all categories cannot be ignored. Then there is the 6 Plus camera. It is a masterpiece of just getting a great shot. Noiseless and clean and well balanced colours and in focus. And no hassle. Start using apps like Camera+ and you will get the incredible quality shots shown in the other post of mine today. Then there is the loudspeaker. It is not stereo but it is loud and clear and loud enough to play podcast in the car without the need to connect to the car stereo sound system. The sound via the headphones is equally impressive.
I mentioned the tidy structure of iOS. With the aid of iTunes I have all my media in perfect sync using the respective Apple apps. Using iMovie, I can become the masterful movie maker (well amateur at best) and with such little effort. App duplication is not an issue either.
Speed. Love it or hate it, iOS allows for the fastest way of doing nearly anything. I can action something, open something and more quicker than my other devices. Or maybe it is my imagination, but somehow the 6 Plus creates this emotional attachment of working for you rather than against you.
My other problem is family and friends. They all have Apple devices. Staying in touch just becomes easier. In fact, some of my twitter buddies who moved across from android are keeping in touch via iMessage which is so much easier as its the SMS app all in one.
So there you have it, Apple user for the foreseeable future. I would never have predicted it. I was so certain I would be using a Note 4 or Note Edge with a Gear S……
But never say never 🙂
Gavin's Gadgets & Photography 
But the iPhone can not playback FLAC and other HD music formats. And the stylus is probably not important to you as the precision now is unbelievable.
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Not that I would use Flac due to excessive memory requirements, but I am sure it can playback those file types. As to the stylus, I do miss it but it is only one part of the phone. Don’t get me wrong , I don’t dislike the Note 4 and earlier versions. In fact, the pure hardware aspects of the Note 4 are excellent. Just inconsistent software. Maybe android lollipop will help?
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Gavin review at Tech Radar of CD quality streaming services concluded the iPhone 6 at the moment cannot playback HD quality music. Streaming means storage not necessarily an issue.
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Not sure I follow. There are many flac players in the Apple appstore like Flac Player. In addition the lightning connector is digital sound out too. What am i missing?
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In reference to the whole Windows v Apple and Android v iOS usage; I have to confess my transition started with the iPad which practically killed off my use of my windows laptops and a desktop PC.
Things were so much simpler and quicker on the iPad, with a result that allowed me to be more productive with my time.
This in turn ended being an opposite effect with hardware usage as the iPad then later resulted in the purchase of a 27″ iMac which I customised and added all manner of optional extras.
Although the iPad had killed off both the windows laptops and desktop PC, what it had actually done however was introduce me to the world of the Apple structure.
Now the iPad and iMac were a force which I had not used before and boy was I happy.
Turn the page to today and I find the only missing piece of the systems jigsaw is the Smartphone.
At the moment I’m running an Android LG G3 and don’t get me wrong it is a fantastic phone in its own right………. But, that is the problem ~ it is operating on its own.
With that and the iPhone 6 Plus now at the same sizes as the Android Phablet’s would make it an easy choice; using the iPhone 6 Plus with both the iPad and iMac I feel My system would be complete. As such I have placed my order and await my 128GB Space Grey.
With both iOS 8 & OS X Yosemite working solidly together sharing and passing information between all three different devices will make the whole IT experience an enjoyable experience.
Note: I’ll still keep my G3 though running with its own SIM, free to remind me of the fun I have had for a good many years. It’s a friend I can’t just turn my back on and ignore. 🙂
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I am the opposite. I do like small phones and have gone back to Android full-time. Since getting the Z3 Compact, I’ve barely used my iPhone 5. When I tried out an iPhone 6 in the shop, I didn’t like its size and large bezels. I may still keep the 5 as it was manufactured in August 2013 and has only gone through 113 battery cycles, so its still a fairly modern device. But iOS feels slow and dated to me now.
Also, the wearables that I use – Sony Smart Band and perhaps the new Sony Talk Band – won’t work with iOS. I also still have a Nexus 7 (2013) and I can’t see myself replacing that anytime soon, and if and when I do, it won’t be with an iPad.
The only real advantage of Apple devices to me is that they have better cameras, plus they hold their value better.
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Richard,
You mention 113 battery cycles, where exactly is this information stored?
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In the battery, I think…the only app which gives this information that I’ve been able to find is one called Battery Doc.
Basically, I bought the phone last May and it was in mint condition; and given the number of times I’ve charged it since then, 113 cycles seems about right.
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Interesting…. I have Battery Doctor installed on the iPad. Although it shows the charge cycles (Full, Partial or Over charges) it only displays it on a month by month basis, it doesn’t show it for a year.
For that you would have to first ensure you launch Battery Doctor every time before charging and second on completion to check the entire charging cycles you would need to add the totals manually month by month scrolling backwards.
I.E.
Nov = 7 Partial Charges and 1 Full Charge.
Sep = 8 Partial Charges and 2 Full Charges.
Aug = 5 Partial Charges and 1 Full Charge.
Total = 20 Partial Charges and 4 Full Charges.
Is this how you achieved your score?
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On my iPhone version (and I think the app got pulled before, because it wasn’t available for a while, so it could be a different version) it just shows the total number of load cycles, not month by month etc. although I assume they are full charges.
Last June, a few weeks after I bought the iPhone 5, it showed 65 charges – so I’m guessing the previous owner barely used the device from new the previous August: https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-1A9bWLC9Eeg/U602NDbWBLI/AAAAAAAADbI/hu2sy8JBe58/w380-h675-no/2014%2B-%2B1
Today, it shows 119 (my bad, not 113) which is in line with my fully charging the device every 2.37 days, ie. not that often
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I might add that I do get very good battery life out of the iPhone although I have always been a light user. Certainly not the degradation that many see with their iPhone 5s that have perhaps gone through 450 cycles since Sep 2012.
I think it’s a keeper for me; although I prefer Android there are a few unique apps.
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Thanks…. It would appear the App I mention is different.
I do like the idea though of knowing how many times you have actually charged your device.
A little like cameras which will show you how many shots a digital camera has taken.
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