This may be an old argument but I have spent the last three weeks packing dual devices, on dual carriers. To start myself out I think I’ll begin with this comparison. IOS 4, or Android? I’m not really going to sit here and preach about which is better, this argument is about as relevant as the Batman Vs. Superman debate, (and yes I’m aware Batman outsmarted him before. And that some people still argue the point.) However I will make some comparisons and talk about what I like and dislike about each OS.
Here begins my comparison then folks, in one hand I’ve got my Nexus One running Android v 2.2(froyo), and in the other I’ve got a 16gb IPhone 3GS running IOS 4.02.
First comparison, the folder mechanism on the IPhone is much easier than the droid version. On IOS 4 you simply hold your finger on the item to move, wait for it to dance, and then drop it onto another object you’d like it to be stored with, rename the folder and you’re on your way. Droid you hold your finger on the screen select new folder, and then drop items into it. Although it is simple enough for both of the operating systems I prefer Apple’s method it simply assumes you want to do it, and gets it done.
Let’s talk apps, Android has thousands of apps, games, and things to do with your phone, you can utilize many of the apps to customize your keyboard, (my favorite being Slide-It Keyboard). On the other hand the IPhone simply has more apps, I’ll openly admit to that, especially games, there are simply more games for the IPhone. That being said, without my widgets I think I’d lose my mind, widgets run in real time on the Android OS while the IOS allows multi-tasking, you still have to, in not so many words, re-open the app every time you wish to access it. The widgets on Android devices in my mind gives them the edge over the IPhone for the advanced user. I have my stock ticker, custom text messaging app, news ticker, Facebook and Twitter, word of the day, and the list goes on. I keep these running across several different screens that I flip between. On My IPhone I have some widgets, I have a weather widget I open to check info on, I have my email, my only complaint is that it isn’t right there for me to see. In my mind Android wins that battle, all my info is right in my face when I want it, the learning curve is a little more steep, but it is still there.
On contact synchronization I give them a tie, Android uses google contacts, the IPhone uses Itunes, and importing contacts into either device took me about fifteen seconds. That being said, the Android does not always update my contacts online correctly, and that makes me mildly irritated, I used Google contacts to move everything to the IPhone and was missing a fair amount of numbers that I recently acquired, there is definitely a disconnect somewhere in the auto-sync functionality it’s supposed to utilize.
Heading into the customization field, I think Android by far and away wins the battle. With the IPhone I can create custom ring tones, alarms, change my lock screen and background images, and with the 4.02 update you can actually save your different combinations in a sort of “hot swap” method for those who can’t decide which background to keep around. If the phone is jail-broken you can then change icons, and text message tones, transparencies on different parts of the menu bars, etc. These things are not easily done, and isn’t something that the average phone user is able to do by themselves, not to mention the root password for each model of IPhone is generally left at default, so those who jail-break the phone and enable SSH are putting themselves at risk if they don’t change the password, or keep SSH access disabled. Customizing the Android can be done a number of ways, changing the background is as simple as finding a picture, opening it, pressing the menu key, and then pressing set as wallpaper. Changing a text tone is as simple as hitting, settings, sound, notification sound, and then selecting from any audio file stored on the device.
This being said I think the real difference between the IOS and Android is simplicity. IOS4 perfectly embodies the what you see is what you get mentality. It’s all right in front of you, there is nothing intimidating about it, it’s packaged with a big friendly bow on it saying “don’t panic”. Android believe it or not is just as user friendly, the only difference in my mind is that there is much more depth to Android and much more to learn about it, and without any sort of jail-breaking, you can fully customize the device to look and feel the way you want it to. The rough spot for the Android OS comes with the use on so many different devices, depending on processing power, different UI additions and such, the experience may change. Where-as the IOS being locked to one device, and it’s upgrades the over-all experience is consistent and solid every-time.That being said I’m going to continue carrying both phones happily and get the best of both worlds, however, if my preference is asked..I’m going to have to vote Android for the allowance of free-spirited customization. Hate on me or weigh-in on the subject below.