Masuk Free Press

For years, there has been a worldwide debate over whether Apple or IOS phones are superior. This schism is rooted in many social areas, but too many people ignore the daily problems that users face due to the competition between the phones. I’ve experienced firsthand the frustrations that come with this divide, highlighting how brand loyalty can overshadow the real-life inconveniences we encounter.

  As an Android user, I couldn’t care less about what company other people’s technological devices come from, and I don’t care about what people think about the phone I use—not that I go around advertising that information (because that would be weird, right?). However, I do get annoyed when the companies that make these phones create major inconveniences for me. 

  The first of my technological issues was when I started downloading apps to study to pass my permit test. Everyone I knew used the CT DMV app and loved it, but when I opened up my app store, I couldn’t seem to find it. It is apparent to me now that the app is not available on Android devices. I don’t know the reason for this. All I know is that I am annoyed that I don’t have access to the same resources that Apple users have.

This is just one of the many challenges that come with owning an Android in a country dominated by Apple. Because of the IPhone’s more widespread use, issues between the phones are seen as minor annoyances for Apple users that are caused by Androids.

“My father-in-law has an Android and if I go to send pictures, I can only send one at a time,” said Aly Femia, a teacher at Masuk. This is just one of many examples of the nuisances that occur with the combined usage of the two phone brands. There are enough problems with our phones individually, and adding to that stack just because your customers have to communicate with others via a different type of phone is unnecessary.

      Another irksome inconvenience is that Android phone users can not be added or add people to group chats with IPhone users (This is being fixed, but that doesn’t change the fact that up until very recently has been a problem). Not only does this cause problems with my friends, but it also affects my soccer teammates when we need to form group chats during the season and off-season. This problem is also obviously not limited to just team group chats. 

 “What used to bother me was the fact that, back in the day, I wasn’t able to text. Like, I couldn’t have a family group message because my dad had an Android so I would always have to text my dad separately because we wouldn’t do the green messages for some reason,” said Stephen Casinelli, a teacher here at Masuk. 

This problem affects nearly all families and friendships. While it does not have a detrimental impact on human relations, it is still an unnecessary issue to have that gets in the way of everyday life.

In addition to all of the above, Android phone users still have green text bubbles when we text Apple users. This is especially irritating when you text somebody who feels the need to ask “Oh, you have an Android?” I wouldn’t mention this if incidents like that were few and far between, but they’re not. When people ask this question, it really does come across as snobby and conceited. People joking around is one thing, but way too many people ask this question in all seriousness and do actually care about the brand of your cell phone.

  To be fair, there have been improvements in regard to the phone barriers. “Now I can see when my dad reads a text of mine, which I used to not be able to see, so there’s clearly been some updates to break down those barriers between the phones,” said Casinelli.

While there have been some changes, I don’t think enough has been done yet to satisfy mine and other user’s needs, as we still deal with all of the previously listed problems.

  ”I feel like if there were equality between both phones and services, the debate would die out,” said Femia. 

To be honest, I can’t say I agree, as in today’s society and all others throughout history, people always find a way to divide themselves. Even if there was total equality, I would venture to guess that we would just move on to arguing about something slightly even prettier between the phones.

“I think the barriers contribute to the problem. If the a Android phones were a lot more similar in functionality to Apples’, then you wouldn’t have as wide of a debate, it would just be either or,” said sophomore Marshall Linn.

In my opinion, the debate between the phones and their barriers are fueled either by the public behaviour between Apple and IOS users, or by the companies who are doing things that impact the public’s behavior, or even both. What I mean by this is that either public opinion is what makes the companies competitive, or the competition between the companies is what makes the public opinion be so strong.

While you can take your pick on which theory you believe, let’s all be honest and say that any debate regarding electronics is extremely childish and pointless. The fact that people are more focused on a phone’s maker and not the barriers from that maker astounds me. Whether the barriers are being formed by companies with or without public interference makes no difference to me. I just need to study for my permit test.