...the Twitter app on the iPhone. With Android, the apps have access to the notification system and can all report.
The notification bar on the Android phone can alert you to new voice messages, email messages, Facebook notifications, new Gmail, new text messages and much more. If an app has a notification, it can let you know quickly — and in the background.
6. Endless personalisation
I hesitate about putting this facility on the list because so many people seem to think user-configuration is worthless. It is not. The Android phone allows users to configure the look and behaviour of their mobile.
If you are a social network power user, you can have a screen for Facebook, one for Twitter, one for texting and one for Flickr. Or if you are a business user, you can, for example, have a screen for contacts, for your calendar, for Gmail, for email and for RSS.
Not only can you configure the desktop, you can configure the behaviour of your phone by setting up default actions for different contacts — or even adding an entirely different desktop. The possibilities are endless with the Android phone. With the iPhone, you are generally limited to what Apple has provided.
7. Market
Apple has an app for that. But so does Android. And chances are, the Android app is free and works as well — or better — than the iPhone app. And, believe it or not, there are thousands of apps in the Android Market.
Installing applications on your Android phone is also easier than on the iPhone.
For free applications, you need not worry about entering a password every time you try to install something.
And you do not have to link to Apple's iTunes store to purchase applications from the Android Market. For those apps with a price, you only need to enter your information once on the Google Market.
8. Google integration
It almost seems unfair to list this advantage, since Android was designed to be integrated with Google. But it does integrate well. Want to search Google? Simply click the search button, enter your search string, and you are off and running. Did I mention Google Voice? Yes, the Android has an app for that, too.
9. Open source
Why does being open source make Android better than iPhone? For the same reason that being open source helps Linux: a planet full of developers with the ability to aid Android's developers. Anyone can get access to the source of Android to improve the system.
That openness is a two-edged sword, however, since it allows those with bad intentions to discover weaknesses in the phone. But even that risk can be seen as an indirect benefit, because once weaknesses are found in the open-source community, they are quickly fixed?
10. Open to carriers
This type of openness is another reason why Android is superior. If you want an Android phone, you can join any number of carriers and have your choice of outstanding phones using Android.
Your turn
Are these reasons sufficient enough for you to move from your iPhone to an Android phone? If not, tell us why you prefer the iPhone. And if you are not sure, just grab an Android phone and play around with it. You might quickly change your mind.
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.