There's an ongoing tech debate out there that rivals any political dispute on Facebook: which of the two is the superior smartphone — the iPhone or the Android?
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Of course, the answer to that question depends on the person you ask. Those who are loyal to Apple products wouldn't dream of trusting their data to anything other than an iPhone and laud the phone's simplicity. Meanwhile, fans of the Android, which is made by Google, love the variety of phones from which they get to choose, as well as the fact that you can score an Android in different price points.
If you are an iPhone user who is seriously considering making a switch to the Android, there are a few things you need to know — including one of the biggest changes of all: how you access your data.
"On an iPhone, you’re locked into using iTunes which can be great or terrible depending on how you feel about iTunes," says Matt Ham, president/owner of Computer Repair Doctor. "On an Android device, you have much more direct access to your photos, music, and files. Plugging your Android into a laptop is more like using a USB stick and is typically easier for users to navigate. However, this makes it easier for someone who finds your phone to access your data than if you lose your iPhone. It means that setting a password is MUCH more important on an Android than on an iPhone."
Another major change Ham warns about (a positive one)?
"You’ll get more access to Apps on an Android device since the app store is not locked down like the Apple App store is," Ham says. "This freedom can be great for people who enjoy customizing their phone, but also doesn’t provide the same stability as an iPhone. Since Apple locks down their App store and their iOS, they have much more control over the ‘feel’ of apps. So all iPhone apps have a very similar interface and usability. This makes the iPhone much more intuitive to use. So if your reader is thinking about switching, they need to be ready to re-learn a new interface!"