Why is AnandTech running damage control for Apple?

[Fx1]

So are apps and the interface faster on the Android than they are on iPhone 5?

Androids UI style is totally different. iOS is styled for fast transitions.

The S3 downloads and installs Apples about 10x faster than iOS. When i do a full wipe and reinstall all my apps i do it in one go and install about 30 apps within a matter of minutes.

Also web browser performance is significantly better than iOS even though its rendering much more pixels.

Now im running Omega Rom its even better.

 

[cheezy321]

Androids UI style is totally different. iOS is styled for fast transitions.

The S3 downloads and installs Apples about 10x faster than iOS. When i do a full wipe and reinstall all my apps i do it in one go and install about 30 apps within a matter of minutes.

Also web browser performance is significantly better than iOS even though its rendering much more pixels.

Now im running Omega Rom its even better.

Yes that's it, the lag is intentional!

Oh yeah, and apples specs dont matter because its a closed OS!

Got any other gems for us today?

 

[Fx1]

Yes that's it, the lag is intentional!

Oh yeah, and apples specs dont matter because its a closed OS!

Got any other gems for us today?

What lag? i dont have any lag.

 

[openwheel]

Sorry OP that is an excellent article.

btw I hate Apple and its cult.

 

[WelshBloke]

Oh yes that's after turning off Wifi, Bluetooth, making the screen brightness low, and turning off every other service in the background that may slow down the phone while overclocking the core and probably running a custom ROM with root with bloatware removed. This is exactly how I and 99% of the population use our phones day to day.

My S3 runs about 1900 in GB and its stock. (well its rooted but it doesnt have any performance tweaks or anything)

 

[secretanchitman]

dont understand how the article is damage control. im sure they wanted to put out a detailed article about it because no other site had a decent explanation.

 

[Pressurge]

Because Anandtech should devote the same amount of resources to a phone that is almost like any other Android phone over the once-a-year iPhone that tens of millions of people will buy.

/sarcasm

It doesn't make any business sense for Anandtech to devote that much resources to a single Android phone. And for the record, the One S review was still far more detailed than 99% of the crap reviews on another site.

Once again, I never said that they should have had the One S (or One X) review be on-par with the iPhone 4S'. I was simply pointing out that the claim that they put the same level of effort into any Android review was on-par with what they do for Apple, and that's simply not true.

Even those Android handsets that do see sales in the millions or more of units (such as the Galaxy line) or otherwise serve as a flagship device (such as Google's Nexus line) get front-page coverage that is maybe half that of the iPhone. Now, if Anand or anyone else on the site were to come out and say "Yes, we cater to page views/etc. in terms of article frequency", I'd be more than ok with it because they deserve to make a profit/etc. It just gets annoying to have people defending endlessly what is blatantly obvious: the site is beginning to cater more to Apple users, since they're more affluent. And ultimately, that's fine.

 

[Randum]

I hear apple runs on magic, and every product is always "better and faster".

No trolling please
-ViRGE

 

[mikegg]

Once again, I never said that they should have had the One S (or One X) review be on-par with the iPhone 4S'. I was simply pointing out that the claim that they put the same level of effort into any Android review was on-par with what they do for Apple, and that's simply not true.

Even those Android handsets that do see sales in the millions or more of units (such as the Galaxy line) or otherwise serve as a flagship device (such as Google's Nexus line) get front-page coverage that is maybe half that of the iPhone. Now, if Anand or anyone else on the site were to come out and say "Yes, we cater to page views/etc. in terms of article frequency", I'd be more than ok with it because they deserve to make a profit/etc. It just gets annoying to have people defending endlessly what is blatantly obvious: the site is beginning to cater more to Apple users, since they're more affluent. And ultimately, that's fine.

I'm glad that you are fine with Anandtech's coverage of Apple. Why shouldn't Anandtech cover products extensively for the most popular American company and its most popular product? It doesn't make sense not to.

There are just people here that think Android is so much superior that Anandtech shouldn't even cover Apple. Ludicrous.

 

[MrX8503]

Android fans will cry and moan at every Apple article at every chance they get. They'll also scream bias at every angle.

Anand does a fantastic job of covering tech. Apple devices are tech, get over it.

 

[Hmoobphajej]

Less worries about brand and more worries about tech please.

 

[ThermalShark]

I'm not really sure where you're getting that. The tagging of my username is mostly to avoid confusion in the events when I go into my more "official" mode to help someone having issues with an Asus RMA. Otherwise, I'm just another member of the Anand community. In fact, I try and go out of my way to avoid even the appearance of promoting Asus products, since I'm under strict orders not to do anything that might be seen as spamming.

The whole Gizmodo incident with the iPhone 4 is a good one however to illustrate my point. Some ex-cops on the Apple payroll go around intimidating basically a (no offense to the poor guy) no-name journalist who happened to luck into getting a huge scoop the likes of which could launch and make a career. These ex-cops dressed up like they were still on the police force, and in a couple of cases the local police force was actually there, though not "officially" participating. All of this over what is, at its core, a civil matter. Now maybe there's a part of this story where Apple actually asked to have the lost prototype phone returned and the journalist refused, and that would cast something of a negative light on the journalist, but it still would in no way justify the extremely heavy handed approach Apple took. And as far as I'm concerned, there are several SF Bay Area police commanders who should be raked over the coals by the local city councils for allowing officers to go along on these "raids".

Anyway, don't read too much into the fact that I work for Asus. It's not like I'm running around badmouthing Dell, Acer, HP, Toshiba, or whomever else at every turn. I worked as a Dell tech for a time too, and by and large have little but good things to say about that experience. Apple is another story, and I have personally been on the receiving end of repeated abuse from them. However, you don't need to take my word for it, find an independent AASP in your area and buy some of the techs a beer some evening. I can pretty much guarantee you that you will hear stories that echo mine, so unless I'm coordinating some massive smear campaign against Apple, and am good enough to place people at every AASP in your area, then if numerous people, none of whom have ever met, are all telling you the same basic story... Well, I guess I can't speak for you, but I'd tend to start to believe there's something to it.

You ignored my point and first question, do you really think Anand would put up with this manipulation or would he write an article about Apple trying to manipulate him?

I think we'd find out about it pretty quickly if Apple used those tactics. Heck, they can't even keep the supply chain quiet anymore.

 

[zephxiii]

It was a great article, though i kinda wished he covered more on the AT&T potential of using the 850/1900 bands for LTE since their recent phones that have gone through the FCC have included those bands.

 

[dagamer34]

It was a great article, though i kinda wished he covered more on the AT&T potential of using the 850/1900 bands for LTE since their recent phones that have gone through the FCC have included those bands.

Uhh.. AT&T only has plans to use LTE in the 700Mhz A and B blocks as well as AWS. They use 850 and 1900Mhz for UTMS/3G.

 

[zephxiii]

Uhh.. AT&T only has plans to use LTE in the 700Mhz A and B blocks as well as AWS. They use 850 and 1900Mhz for UTMS/3G.

For one, 850/1900 isn't going to be forever for UMTS/GSM only. Both ATT and VZW realize that those 10x10 carriers of LTE on 700mhz are not going to hold forever. In addition if they are planning going VoLTE which makes LTE a complete replacement, they are going to have to prepare for refarming. Also the antennas they have been using for LTE support all 4 of those bands (I have seen their specs). AT&T is just taking the opportunity thanks to current baseband setups to include 850/1900 in their upcoming devices, which is really cool.

Actually the iphone 5 ATT is using supports LTE 850/1900 per FCC testing. In addition the last few android devices for ATT to roll through the FCC have also had LTE support on 850/1900. This is pretty clear intent that AT&T is preparing for future spectrum refarming. This most likely will not happen in the big cities for a while, but primarily in markets where their 700mhz/AWS holdings are slim to zero.

We knew all this (their newer devices supporting LTE on 850/1900) before the 5 was announced and I was really curious (and hoping) to see if it was going to have 850/1900 LTE which it does and confirms that AT&T is looking to prepare their UEs for the future.

Also, if you are wondering why devices are coming with LTE 850/1900 now....it is simply because if you are going to refarm any spectrum from 850/1900 to LTE...you better damn sure make it worthwhile and you do this by flooding your sub base early with capable devices so that when u turn that 850/1900 LTE carrier on, a good amount of your sub-base can actually use it instead of it sitting there idling.

 

[cl-scott]

You ignored my point and first question, do you really think Anand would put up with this manipulation or would he write an article about Apple trying to manipulate him?

I think we'd find out about it pretty quickly if Apple used those tactics. Heck, they can't even keep the supply chain quiet anymore.

How should I know? I've never once spoken to Anand. Aside from the "fancy" tagging on my name, I am no different from any of you on these forums. I don't have any more or less access to Anandtech staff than any other member of these forums. I am not attached to the Asus marketing department, so I am not even peripherally involved in providing review units to Anandtech. Those people are all over in a different part of the building. I am on the service side of things, here to help people who have issues with RMAs and otherwise just be a useful contributing member. If my being a helpful member here is enough to push someone over the edge and buy Asus products over something else, even better, but that's as close as I come to any kind of marketing or promotion. Well, I can also pass along marketing partnership requests to the marketing department, but I am not involved beyond facilitating the initial contact unless people choose to CC me on the back and forth.

Speaking of conspiracy theories...

Now, that all aside... I have absolutely no idea what Anand would do if Apple tried to pressure Anandtech to publish only favorable articles. I would like to think there would be a big article outlining everything in excruciating detail, but at the same time there are certain pragmatic business considerations to take into account. Like it or not, Apple products are very popular, and like it or not Anandtech is a for-profit venture (someone correct me if I'm mistaken on that). So, I would certainly understand if at the end of the day the Anandtech staff did the numbers and decided that it makes more sense for them to not upset Apple. I wouldn't agree with it, and I wouldn't be happy with it, but I would understand it. If the beancounters at Anandtech crunched the numbers, and found that if Apple decided to send them to coventry, they would be unable to remain in operation... I would certainly understand the decision to do what is necessary to stay in business. Again, I wouldn't agree or like it, but I would understand it.

However, anyone in the supply chain who is even suspected of being the source of those leaks is certainly subject to summary termination from their job. In China, they quite probably are blacklisted.

 

[dagamer34]

For one, 850/1900 isn't going to be forever for UMTS/GSM only. Both ATT and VZW realize that those 10x10 carriers of LTE on 700mhz are not going to hold forever. In addition if they are planning going VoLTE which makes LTE a complete replacement, they are going to have to prepare for refarming. Also the antennas they have been using for LTE support all 4 of those bands (I have seen their specs). AT&T is just taking the opportunity thanks to current baseband setups to include 850/1900 in their upcoming devices, which is really cool.

Actually the iphone 5 ATT is using supports LTE 850/1900 per FCC testing. In addition the last few android devices for ATT to roll through the FCC have also had LTE support on 850/1900. This is pretty clear intent that AT&T is preparing for future spectrum refarming. This most likely will not happen in the big cities for a while, but primarily in markets where their 700mhz/AWS holdings are slim to zero.

We knew all this (their newer devices supporting LTE on 850/1900) before the 5 was announced and I was really curious (and hoping) to see if it was going to have 850/1900 LTE which it does and confirms that AT&T is looking to prepare their UEs for the future.

Also, if you are wondering why devices are coming with LTE 850/1900 now....it is simply because if you are going to refarm any spectrum from 850/1900 to LTE...you better damn sure make it worthwhile and you do this by flooding your sub base early with capable devices so that when u turn that 850/1900 LTE carrier on, a good amount of your sub-base can actually use it instead of it sitting there idling.

I stand corrected. I guess they'll eventually make that transition, but it's going to be several years down the road, like 2016 or so.

 

[ThermalShark]

Now, that all aside... I have absolutely no idea what Anand would do if Apple tried to pressure Anandtech to publish only favorable articles. I would like to think there would be a big article outlining everything in excruciating detail, but at the same time there are certain pragmatic business considerations to take into account. Like it or not, Apple products are very popular, and like it or not Anandtech is a for-profit venture (someone correct me if I'm mistaken on that). So, I would certainly understand if at the end of the day the Anandtech staff did the numbers and decided that it makes more sense for them to not upset Apple. I wouldn't agree with it, and I wouldn't be happy with it, but I would understand it. If the beancounters at Anandtech crunched the numbers, and found that if Apple decided to send them to coventry, they would be unable to remain in operation... I would certainly understand the decision to do what is necessary to stay in business. Again, I wouldn't agree or like it, but I would understand it.

So despite the motivation to not publish anything about Apple that would reflect poorly on Apple, Anand chose to publish this:

http://www.anandtech.com/show/3821/iphone-4-redux-analyzing-apples-ios-41-signal-fix

Yesterday Microsoft’s COO referred to the iPhone 4 as Apple’s Vista. I’d actually take that one step further and call this whole situation Apple’s first Microsoft moment.

There's more in the article, but you can read it yourself...

I think Anandtech has a lot of integrity and read the front page with the knowledge that they publish what they feel is accurate and correct, and back up what they say with hard data.

 

[cl-scott]

So despite the motivation to not publish anything about Apple that would reflect poorly on Apple, Anand chose to publish this:

http://www.anandtech.com/show/3821/iphone-4-redux-analyzing-apples-ios-41-signal-fix



There's more in the article, but you can read it yourself...

I think Anandtech has a lot of integrity and read the front page with the knowledge that they publish what they feel is accurate and correct, and back up what they say with hard data.

I'm confused. Did you read the same posts that I made, because at every turn I am left scratching my head as to where you are coming up with some of these things.

I said I wouldn't be surprised IF Apple was using methods to try and "encourage" sites like Anandtech to post pro-Apple fluff pieces. I backed it up by giving a few examples of the ways Apple abuses domestic "partners" that I have personally suffered numerous times. What you hear is apparently some kind of conspiracy theory where, because I work for Asus, I am running around badmouthing Apple and that I somehow have special access or insight to how Anandtech operates.

I will make absolutely no bones about my rather extreme dislike for Apple. I was the absolute model of what an ACMT should be, and then when I approach Apple with some questionable activities from one of their regional managers, they don't say, "Thanks for this information, we'll look into it," they don't even simply ignore me, they come back and make claims against ME. So I feel rather justified in my dislike for the company. There are a great many things I know that would call into question their reputation for quality, like how they had a manufacturing defect with the first two generations of the wedge-shaped Air models which would result in the GPU preventing the unit from booting, that they probably wouldn't like me to tell people. They tried to keep that one quiet by quickly pulling the logic board component from AASPs, and making it so only their repair depot (which is outsourced to a company called Flextronics) can get those parts.

I could also talk about how if an AASP might, in some small way, compete with one of Apple's retail stores, they will engage in a systematic process of making life for that AASP a living h3ll. They will constantly be moving the goal post. Out of nowhere, Apple's new focus will be on some minor aspect of the repair process. They will ride you endlessly about that minor aspect, clubbing you over the head with threats of pulling your authorization, and then when you've turned your business upside down to comply with it, suddenly they won't care about that any more, they want you to do something else.

I could talk about the Service Excellence scoring, and how AASPs are expected to average 1.1 parts per repair (PPR in Apple parlance), but their retail stores can just throw parts at the problem shotgun style. AASPs have to get parts back to Apple within 10 business days of them shipping it to you or they start billing you for the difference between the exchange and stock prices of the part. After about 20 days, there's not even a partial refund offered. If a unit comes back to an AASP for any reason within 30 days, they get a FTF (First Time Fix) ding. None of this applies to Apple's retail stores.

You combine those two things, and you come up with a rather clever system where it's almost impossible for AASPs to repair customer's computers in a reasonable period of time. So people then get frustrated and take it to an Apple retail store where they say, "Oh, I don't know what their problem is, but we'll take care of you!" And of course AASPs can't really say anything about it, both because they're under threat of having their authorization pulled if they talk, losing whatever little crumbs Apple leaves on the table for them, plus the AASP tends to rely on Apple's image to help their own business.

Apple is a nasty company when you look behind the curtain. Given things that I have personally witnessed, I would not find it hard to believe that they would pressure sites to post friendly fluff pieces. Do I know for a fact that they are doing that to Anandtech? Not in the slightest, and never claimed to. I do know that The Register (an amusing British tech news site) likes to make jokes about how Apple has officially blacklisted them after The Register repeatedly put up a series of unflattering articles about Apple. No, that doesn't mean the same applies to Anandtech, and if you can find anywhere that I said differently, then my apologies for that oversight on my part. One more time before I finally end this post and consider this pointless side-discussion concluded: I was merely stating that it would not surprise me IF Apple were trying to pressure Anandtech. Which is a rather different statement from saying that they ARE.

 

[shortylickens]

Why are there so many conspiracy theories about Apple as a brand specifically? You never hear people speak like this about Samsung, HTC, etc etc.

Why does everyone think apple pays off every media venue and anytime someone writes something positive about them they are simply a shill. This has always confused me.

You see a million reasons that one of their products sells well and its never because its a great product. It is always something along the lines of 'so many sheeple' or 'Great marketing' or 'brainwashing' or whatever is the most popular lame excuse at the moment.

I hear you talk that way all the time.




:awe:

 

[Belegost]

So now that the iPhones are in people's hands, anyone with a VzW iP5 actually try to make a voice call and use data?

 

[Aikouka]

So now that the iPhones are in people's hands, anyone with a VzW iP5 actually try to make a voice call and use data?

It definitely doesn't work. Someone called me today (quite rare!), and when I was hanging up the call, I saw the 'o' beside Verizon at the top. The 'o' means no data connection.

 

[pandemonium]

Were you guys hoping that somehow, someway, beyond all technical reasons, that you could actually do both data and voice at the same time?

 

[shortylickens]

Were you guys hoping that somehow, someway, beyond all technical reasons, that you could actually do both data and voice at the same time?

Data uses 4g and voice uses 3g.

 

[Aikouka]

Were you guys hoping that somehow, someway, beyond all technical reasons, that you could actually do both data and voice at the same time?

Nah. I just thought it was interesting seeing the 'o' as today was the first call that I got on the phone. I've had the phone since Friday, which tells you how often I get calls.

EDIT:

Data uses 4g and voice uses 3g.

He's talking about on the iPhone 5, which doesn't support CDMA + LTE simultaneously as it lacks the proper hardware to do so. Until Verizon supports VoLTE or Apple includes a cellular modem (or more than one modem) that supports multiple connections (i.e. one for LTE and one for CDMA), it will not work.