NIC HARALAMBOUS

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When you talk about phones, talk about the phone

When you talk about an operating system, talk about the operating system.An interesting trend is rising and it's one that confuses me as much in my involvement as that of others.iPhone vs Android debates are fucking massive. Forget hunger, religion, politics, economics or anything else that might matter to most. iPhone or Android, where do you stand and how far will you go to defend your fanboy-ism?Let me state outright that I have never used an iPhone for an extended period of time but I do own an iPod touch (my second one) and have for years.I am not an iPhone hater. I think I am a fanboy hater. I am a hater of blind and ignorant obsession displayed by iPhone users. Kind of like Manchester United supporters actually.Anyways, I digress.Increasingly I am hearing the debate around how pretty the iPhone and how shitty Android is. That's a bit of a misnomer. If you are going to tell me that the iPhone itself, the hardware, the actual phone is pretty then you have to further state what phone, precisely, you are comparing it to. Chances are you don't know what Android device you are looking at. You aren't educated in all things Android (nor am I).The point I'm making is this: I use a Samsung Nexus S running Android. If iPhone users are going to compare my phone to theirs in an aesthetic sense then they should be comparing their iPhone to my Samsung Nexus S. Not to "Android".Comparing your phone to my operating system is like comparing iOS (the iPhone's operating system) to Samsung, Motorola or SonyEricsson. Wrong. Yes there are versions of Android running on each and each can be customised but let's just be clear about what we're talking about.Furthermore, I think that I need to get off this fucken high-horse. I baited this morning with a tweet about some new iPhone features but the truth is I like the iPhone 4S. I think the updates are great and I think that the game is on.I don't think there are clear battle lines drawn from the consumer perspective. If you want an iPhone, get one. If you like Android get that too. If you hate what you've got then you should switch. There are no allegiances here, it's technology and it should enhance and simplify your experience of certain things. If the device isn't up to your standard then toss it.Last note. How hot is the new Motorola RAZR?