An Android phone offers so many advantages over the iPhone that it seems unfair to pick only 10 reasons for the Google operating system's superiority, says Jack Wallen.
I recently switched from an iPhone to an HTC Hero, which adds HTC's Sense user interface to the core Android operating system. Through this phone, I have once again come to enjoy my mobile experience.
There are so many differences between the iPhone and Hero, and so many aspects of the Hero to really bring out the mobile geek in you. But because I had to pick just 10, I have focused on those aspects that really make the experience superior to that of the iPhone.
We all know the iPhone and how it works — or does not work, in many instances. We know there is an app for just about every possible task on the planet. But an Android phone? You do not really know an Android phone until you have worked with one.
1. Browsing
I like the Safari browser on the iPhone. It is fast, reliable and stable. But flexible, Flash and monopolistic? Yes, Safari is the only browser for the iPhone and it still does not do Flash.
However, the Android browser is one of the best on the mobile market. On my HTC Hero, I have Opera Mini, Dolphin and the default browser. I have not used Opera Mini since I used it a couple of times after installation.
Dolphin is outstanding, with its use of tabs and gestures. But the default Android browser just cannot be beaten. It usually loads pages faster than Safari, has Flash support and simply does everything a browser should do.
2. Desktop
Instead of having icons littering your phone's desktop, as on the iPhone, the Android phone adds widgets. For example:
- The Twitter Widget allows you to update your Twitter status from your mobile desktop
- The People Widget allows you to enable different actions for different contacts right from your desktop — for example, if you want to call your wife or text your child from a single click
- The Messages Widget allows you to instantly see your email from the desktop
The Android desktop is on a completely different level from the iPhone's. To compare them is actually unfair. Apples to éclairs, as it were.
3. Connectivity
On one of the pages of my Hero desktop, I have four buttons:
- Turn Bluetooth on or off
- Turn Wi-Fi on or off
- Turn mobile network on or off
- Turn GPS on or off
These buttons let you instantly switch on or off the various connectivity options, which helps conserve battery life. There is also an app in the Market called Y5, which will automatically turn off Wi-Fi when no known wireless network is available. To do any of these things on the iPhone, you have to go into the Settings screen and navigate your way around the various options.
4. PC connection
Unlike the iPhone, you do not need iTunes to manage your phone. However, Android cannot yet sync with the Linux desktop, although it can mount the SD card via drag and drop so that it is usable by any operating system. You can put music and files on this card, which will then be usable on the phone. Simple.
5. Multi-notification
One of the issues I have always had with the iPhone is its notification system. It depends on a single system to which not all applications have access.
For instance, if you are a Twitterer, you can find out if you have updates only by opening...
Talkback
...before you are inundated with the shrill whinging of incredulous, bitter Apple fans. LOL
Meanwhile, for more fun in customizing your Android phone, you might try 'Locale' (http://www.twofortyfouram.com/) and 'Toggle Settings' (http://tinyurl.com/osoy8b). Between them, these apps offer sophisticated automation of several key functionalities - either singly or bundled into multiple, complex 'profiles' - such that they are triggered by your phone's location and/or the time of day...or merely by a single click. Best of all, both apps are FREE.
Hope this helps. Enjoy your Hero. :)
I do like android, but why o why 10 best again.. any Android will rule and I'm think Meamo might catch on too once eople realise apple iphone is locked.... (written on a mac pro).
To be fair, I wasn't impressed with the TEN list.
Listing open source as an advantage for the Andriod USER is plain stupid. The user doesn't care! No one will buy a phone just coz it is open source. Think about it.
Then there is FLASH support, but you didn't mention the user responsiveness AFTER a flash app or file is loaded on your browser. One one the main contentions why FLASH is not supported in Safari is obvious. The code is heavy and it slows down the processor. You need to have a much faster processor on the iPhone (in the case of the 3GS) just to maintain the same user responsiveness. This would be a bad move on Apple's part if this was allowed to happen as 2G and 3G iPhone users will have sluggish phones.
Lastly, you seem to have left out one important aspect that has dogged iPhone users. Reception quality.
Over outside of the US, the iPhone has garnered a strong following but all will agree that reception quality is generally poorer than most mobile phones. For example you can't get a clear or good signal when you start to roam outside your locality as Apple has not fine tuned the base band to work seamlessly across any roaming network. So if you are indoors, chances are it will switch over to a non-3G network as the signal detection fails.
I'm pretty much sold Jack but for one thing. Are you saying it's not possible to sync your calendar and address book between laptop and phone? I've been using that feature since way back before smart phones, surely any self-respecting phone OS should be able to do that?
3 reasons I won’t give up my iPhone.
1. It really is a single device for all things. It is an iPod, it is a phone, it is a games machine. You can argue that the Android can do all three – but it can’t really. iTunes – no. How many games?
2. Security. Why would I embrace a platform that had it’s first incidence of malware within weeks of launching? Especially when not a single instance of subversion has occurred in 3 years of (non-jailbroken) iPhone life.
3. Size, ease of use. It isn’t perfect, but I don’t want a bulkier device, and I don’t believe that – all things considered – that the Android is easier to use.
Battery... locked inside the case.
itunes... locked into one platform
phone... rubbish phone.... dropped calls poor reception
Android, I just drag and drop tunes form itunes or any mp3 I like onto my phone...
my android phone appears with no software on my mac, pc and linux.
Still crave a N900 though
It syncs with google calendar. You can then use say plaxo to sync between google and office.
I don't know bout you but the ten reasons seem rather lame? Taken that the browser will probably the best reason, the rest are simply frivolous at best.
Open Source? Andriod App Market? For one, nobody will ditch the iphone to say that they can get the same app for free on the Andriod platform.
Jack, did Google give you a bribe to write this?
apple fanboys are so predictable....
Flash is definitely a plus for me. Why pay for games when the web if full of awesome free ones...? It only slows down browsing when you're opening a page with flash content but at least i get to use the sites as they were intended.
Loving the new iPhone advert acting like they invented video calling...and with a bigger battery you get up to 40% more talk time...if you have a signal...
Personally, I can't wait for Froyo....its going to change everything...all over again.