So not to be accused of any biased here is a YouTube video showing 50 reasons why the Samsung Galaxy S3 is better than the iPhone 5.

50 reasons why the iPhone 5 is better than the Samsung S3 is shown in this YouTube video. It’s a classic IMO.

What the video highlights is the simplicity of iOS and how much just works. If you were to look at the iPhone accessibility options there would be even more reasons.

In the smartphone world, there are really only 2 options if you want a top class phone. The choice is either the iPhone 5 or Samsung S3/Note 2. Apple iOS vs Android Jelly Bean.

The reason for this post started with some friendly banter on twitter a few days ago when Samsung released the Premium Suite for the S3, making it similar in features to the Samsung Note 2. The Note 2 has a S-Pen and a larger screen and has some bespoke S-Pen software. Otherwise its just an enlarged S3.

So which phone is better. Now this is an interesting topic. So on paper the S3/Note 2 are brimmed with high tech and larger screens. I could fill a whole page of A4 of all the features, but I won’t. In comparison, if you pick up the iPhone 5 it seems pale in comparison. It doesn’t have a massive screen, it doesn’t have bluetooth apt-x (provides very high quality bluetooth codec and sound quality), it doesn’t do split screens and multitasking to the same standard and it doesn’t share information as easily using whatever apps you want, it doesn’t do a lot more things. As I said before the list is endless. The problem might arise that these phones can do so much it is more like having a full blown computer in your pocket. Is that a good idea? Some might say yes, others no. So clearly the Samsung phones have won the battle. Or have they.

Last week, one of the top Samsung executives proudly remarked he had an iPhone, Mac, Apple TV and iPad. A complete Apple eco system. Why? Because it was the best eco system. Surely that top executive must be on drugs. Maybe not.

Time for the iPhone 5 to fight back. It is a work of art. Does that count? Probably helps but doesn’t provide a winning blow. The eco system is better. If you have other Apple products everything just syncs across all devices and talks beautifully. The key part here is the simplicity of the solution. Even a non tech person can get it to work. The Eco system includes all media (apps, tv shows, films, music etc), photosharing, photo uploads to photo stream, FaceTime (video calling), iMessage and more. The beauty here is you don’t have to worry if the iPad or iPhone has the correct app, they will since Apple controls the default apps.

And then we move on to Apps and customised software. Both the iPhone and the Samsung S3/Note 2 have good default apps and customised software. There are differences in presentation, but more or less its an equal billing. But third party apps and accessories there is no competition. The iPhone wins. There are more decent and a larger variety of apps available, that look and work smarter on the iPhone than the S3. You can argue the toss with me if you want, but you won’t win. Android is catching up. But there are many examples of where an app plus accessory only exists on iOS, the iPhone app is released first, the type of app only exists on iOS and is designed better.

So a less specced iPhone actually is more powerful. Odd really.

But heading back to the Apple eco system. You might argue you don’t have any other Apple products. Well, if you buy and iPhone in an Apple store, they will set it up so that you know how it all works. You will be given a choice to backup your entire phone to the cloud or to your PC via iTunes. So if you lose your phone everything is safe from out of the box. You also have apps like Find My Phone that in my experience work much better than Samsung equivalent. And moving on to iTunes. There isn’t a better piece of software that keeps everything perfectly managed.

So in conclusion, the iPhone is a better option, but I still want a Samsung Note 2.

On a cheeky side note, if Samsung or any of my readers can send me free of charge a Samsung Note 2 that would be greatly appreciated.

Pudding Monsters is a new game from the creators of Cut The Rope. It’s available on the iPad and iPhone. There is also a lite version to try first if you want. It’s a cute puzzle adventure, whereby your aim is to save their friends from the cold hearted fridge owner. It’s a crazy game. And good fun.

Hot of the press of my last post, Electronic Arts has started it’s war on blitzing the AppStore with its reductions. The most expensive items are now $0.99 while several are now free. Be careful, since free might really be freemium.

As examples the following are on sale, Dead Space, Battlefield 2, Sim City Deluxe, and many more.

It’s at that time of year where Google, Apple and developers are getting ready to offer free and reduced media, from apps, films, music and more.

Firstly, make sure you have the 12 Days of Xmas app from Apple installed. Every day from the 26th December something free is given away. Last year was a mix of songs, music videos, films, apps and TV shows. If you install the app now as I did, I have already have received a free music video.

Second. The Apple AppStore closes shortly, and it is then that a number of developers reduce their apps. Why. Well just think of all those people opening Apple gear over Xmas. Reducing and promoting the reduction, in turn pushes your apps higher up the table, and in turn creates more sales. In fact, getting it right over Xmas means a massive spike in sales for developers. For us consumers, we get a ton of apps for a small amount of money.

So if you have android watch out as Google is offering something similar to Apple’s 12 days of Xmas. In fact it has also given away a free music video, ironically of the same artist Rod Stewart. If Google do anything like they did last year, they offered a sale on apps at crazy low prices. In fact, when I got my new Samsung Note last year, I was able to purchase all the apps I wanted for under £5. I bought over 15. Link to Google promotion Xmas Google Offer

In addition, the developers on the android platform offer similar reductions. The difference here is making sure you check out the variety of difference sources the apps are available from as android apps can be bought from many difference places. Make sure you have the Amazon AppStore app installed. Between Google, Amazon and the developers own websites they is sure to be huge discounts on offer.

So whatever you do, do sneak a peek at the deals whilst eating your Xmas pudding.

So another day and another session in court for Apple and Samsung. What was interesting this time was the fact that the judge denied Samsung a mistrial and Apple a ban on Samsung products.

This seems like the Judge having had enough of the constant legal wrangling between these two companies. But the piece I find interesting is the judge denied a sales ban on Samsung phones due to the fact Apple hadn’t and won’t get impacted by Samsung phones. If that is the case what merit does the billion dollar settlement figure against Samsung hold true? In the UK, the courts threw out most of Apple’s claims. They weren’t interested. HTC settled with Apple. It would be interesting to understand the monetary values apportioned to that agreement and then compare it to the billion dollars Samsung is meant to pay to Apple. I doubt for one minute there is any similarities.

There is no question Samsung copied Apple to try and compete, but they had no choice. That is what consumers wanted. But their copying didn’t impact Apple sales. The US patent system sure doesn’t make sense. A smaller settlement should be paid but not a billion dollars. But then are the features found on iPhones unique and patentable? The same question could be asked for Samsung. And should essential mobile technologies that we as consumers need, be allowed to be patented. And if they are, a separate ruling body should set out the agreed amount other companies that use this technology should pay. Simple solution.

What both these companies now need to do is innovate and not litigate.