Difference between revisions of "662: iPhone or Droid"

Explain xkcd: It's 'cause you're dumb.
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(Screen ppi)
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==Explanation==
 
==Explanation==
This comic references the "phone wars" between the iPhone and phone that run the Android system. The third panel references the fact that, officially speaking, the iPhone is a closed system which does not guarantee entry into the official store, yet anyone can acquire an .apk file that will install an app into an Android phone.
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The comic starts to set up a joke about the "phone wars" between the {{w|iPhone}} and phones that run the {{w|Android (operating system)|Android}} system (in this case the {{w|Motorola Droid}}), but instead just brings up a serious point criticizing the {{w|consumerism}} this "war" stems from. In the last line of panel 2, [[Cueball]] refers to the slogan "There's an app for that" from Apple's iPhone marketing.
  
The comparison of screens is outdated. Less than a year after this comic was released, the iPhone 4 was released with its retina screen. Retina screens are (almost by definition) the best ppi you can have.
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Then the third panel makes a joke anyway, at Apple's expense: apparently, this "enlightenment app" was rejected from Apple's app store, which is the only supported way to put software on an iPhone. Apple has become infamous for rejecting apps from their app store without adequately explaining why. Android devices, on the other hand, are not limited to an app store and can install software from any origin. Many, however, use the Google Play Store as a primary repository for apps.
  
Cueball has a point in the second panel. After consuming a lot, would you not want to actually give back to the community that gave you all the ever-fancier toys? Would you not get a pleasure from actually constructing and contributing something yourself? Would you want to feel useful about yourself?
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In the title text Cueball succumbs to the consumerism and marvels at the Motorola Droid's high {{w|Pixel density}}. Apple responded 9 months later by releasing the iPhone 4 with a 326 ppi {{w|Retina Display}}.
 
 
{{Incomplete}}
 
  
 
==Transcript==
 
==Transcript==
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:Cueball: What if I want something more than the pale facsimile of fulfillment brought by a parade of ever-fancier toys? To spend my life restlessly producing instead of sedately consuming?
 
:Cueball: What if I want something more than the pale facsimile of fulfillment brought by a parade of ever-fancier toys? To spend my life restlessly producing instead of sedately consuming?
:Cueball: Is there an app for THAT?
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:Cueball: Is there an app for ''that''?
  
 
:Megan: Yeah, on both.
 
:Megan: Yeah, on both.
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{{comic discussion}}
 
{{comic discussion}}
[[Category: Comics featuring Cueball]]
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[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]
[[Category: Comics featuring Megan]]
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[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]

Revision as of 20:04, 24 May 2018

iPhone or Droid
It may be a fundamentally empty experience, but holy crap the Droid's 265 ppi screen is amazing.
Title text: It may be a fundamentally empty experience, but holy crap the Droid's 265 ppi screen is amazing.

Explanation

The comic starts to set up a joke about the "phone wars" between the iPhone and phones that run the Android system (in this case the Motorola Droid), but instead just brings up a serious point criticizing the consumerism this "war" stems from. In the last line of panel 2, Cueball refers to the slogan "There's an app for that" from Apple's iPhone marketing.

Then the third panel makes a joke anyway, at Apple's expense: apparently, this "enlightenment app" was rejected from Apple's app store, which is the only supported way to put software on an iPhone. Apple has become infamous for rejecting apps from their app store without adequately explaining why. Android devices, on the other hand, are not limited to an app store and can install software from any origin. Many, however, use the Google Play Store as a primary repository for apps.

In the title text Cueball succumbs to the consumerism and marvels at the Motorola Droid's high Pixel density. Apple responded 9 months later by releasing the iPhone 4 with a 326 ppi Retina Display.

Transcript

[Megan sitting at her computer is talking to Cueball standing behind her.]
Megan: Well, it depends what you want. The iPhone wins on speed and polish, but the Droid has that gorgeous screen and physical keyboard.
Cueball: What if I want something more than the pale facsimile of fulfillment brought by a parade of ever-fancier toys? To spend my life restlessly producing instead of sedately consuming?
Cueball: Is there an app for that?
Megan: Yeah, on both.
Megan: Wait, no, looks like it was rejected from the iPhone store.
Cueball: Droid it is, then.


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Discussion

The title text is outdated. 75.69.96.225 01:53, 29 April 2013 (UTC)


We'll get right on that for you. 107.205.30.219 11:32, 8 May 2013 (UTC)


L. O. L. 108.162.219.223 07:09, 24 December 2013 (UTC)

What is meant by the incomplete tag? I see no reference to Linux (although it is the platform that Droid is based off of, it does not seem relevant). Kyt (talk) 02:27, 4 January 2014 (UTC)

Cueball's response is vacuous New Age-speak. That's what makes the idea that there's an "app for that" so funny. Gmcgath (talk) 07:36, 6 November 2016 (UTC)

wow android used to have a physical keyboard User talk:Anonymous)

anyone found an app that actually works like described in the comic? Anonymouscript (talk) 18:58, 31 May 2022 (UTC)