First and foremost! How many other smartphone manufacturers are using iOS in its complete state, like the one running on today’s iPhones or iPads? None! Does Apple allow anyone else to use their platform in its entirety? NO! You might be saying why do they need to, they sell more smartphones than anyone on the planet, so why should they? I don’t necessarily agree that they have to, at least not yet, but will they need to possibly rethink this sometime down the road? The numbers speak for themselves.
Which brings me to my first point. There’s good reason why people are flocking in groves to get their hands on a new Android device. It is readily available from many different manufacturers, it’s just as solid as iOS, it comes with variety, options, and customization. Need proof? Check out the graph below composed by Nielsen which clearly shows Android is the most popular operating system among people who have purchased a smartphone in the past six months.
Secondly, Google does not get in a pissing contest with a company that it supports on one device and spurns on another with the same basic platform. Adobe ring any bells? How can you support Flash on a Mac, but not on an iPhone or iPad? Tell me how that does not send two different messages to the consumer. Not to mention if you go to an Apple store no one can tell you why. They have been scripted to say it’s because of battery life, and if you’re buying that I have some ocean front property in Arizona I can sell you. This kind of business practice is precisely why I believe Android will continue to gather up more of Apple’s marketshare.
Moving on to the exclusivity deal made with AT&T leaving the consumer with no other options or choices. This topic isn’t even debatable on any front. If you argue this point, you’re simply doing so for the sake of an argument. The Android platform is not only available to all four major US carriers but to every small carrier as well, and even around the globe. Not to mention, they have chosen one of the poorest service providers in terms of connectivity and data in the US, magnifying the matter even more.
Lastly, let’s talk app development! Apple has way more in their App Store than Android does in its Market, but that’s changing. With Adobe Air right around the corner, be prepared to see Android’s market close the gap even further. Developers will have the ability to share apps across different platforms without changing much code or any for that matter. So with all the great games already developed on iOS, migration to Android will be almost instant, filling their Market shelves with an abundance of new apps bringing their grand total so much closer to Apple’s. We then should get a pretty good picture of what platform developers will be opting for when choosing to create their next developments.
Let me reiterate this point! I love Apple, I really do, but their constraints imposed on the consumer are not necessary and are a detriment to a wonderful product. On the other hand you have Android and its open nature which is like a wild flower in full bloom during spring, the antithesis to their rival, listening to the pleas of the consumer and giving them all they desire and more. Competition is healthy, necessary, and the driving force behind future development and growth. I simply believe Apple stunts its own growth at times for whatever reason and in doing so, it is allowing for another great capable company to unseat it, becoming the new dominating force in the Tech Industry!
As far as the carrier concerns go, that does not exist in Canada. The big 3 companies, Rogers/Bell/Telus and Fido offers the iPhone as well. I’m pro-android, but in Canada, android is still less popular.
At the same time Canada doesn’t get the high end phones like America. Sure, they got the galaxy S… But when it comes to more powerful phones, they just don’t have them. Perhaps the reason why iphone is THAT much more popular in places like Canada is simply because lack of revolutionary devices and being a step behind all of the time. Also, if I recall Wind is actually throwing out an Android Device too.
You can buy unlocked iPhones in (at least) the UK and Australia, so part of your argument is US-centric rather than on a global scale. Your argument about not running iOS on non-Apple devices is pretty similar to people arguing that you can’t (legally) run Mac OS X on non-Macintosh computers. There’s obvious pros and cons in that behaviour, which have been argued for a long time, and it’s not likely to get resolved soon (and don’t need to be re-hashed here).
JFYI, I am a strong advocate for open source. I started using Linux 17 years ago on a pre-1.0 kernel (time flies), and continue to use it today for server requirements. I rallied against moving to Exchange at my workplace and we’ve selected an alternative that is mainly based on open source technology. BUT, when it comes to a typical non-technical end user experience, or supporting people beyond myself (as a techy), I still will often prefer Apple as an end-user device. Linux is installable on just about anything that has a power plug, it is incredibly customisable, and often provides stable software (including source code) for little to no money. But that doesn’t necessarily make it the best choice for the public at large. I’d much rather have my relatives (particularly older ones) running a mac at their home than a linux box. And, I think to some extent this can be paralleled with the iOS vs Android arguments.
I understand that everyone has a perspective based on their own needs and experiences. I deal a lot with helping others come to term with technology when they’re not particularly interested in technology. So, I often need to reach the right balance between flexibility vs usability/management.
We’re using iPads in our organisation at the moment to assess how they might be used in classrooms. I’d love to have an android tablet, but it appears right now that there isn’t an obvious solution in the market. The Galaxy Tab is coming, the Dell and Toshiba aren’t available either but each seem to either be running old versions of Android, or have limitations like not being able to hook into the official android store. It seems that Samsung is trying to shoehorn a mobile OS into a tablet, but that may have some issues. We don’t know really though until it comes out. Ultimately, at least from the tablet side of things, I think it will be a little while before we can give a fair iOS vs Android assessment – probably not until Android 3.0?
But even in the smart phone arena, I think it’s too early to argue which platform is the ‘winner’. I think they’re both likely to be winners depending on the user and the application/needs at hand, and hopefully that’s the case, because together I think they meet most people’s needs. So long as Windows Mobile is on the downturn, that’s probably a good thing for most of us.
Another great response MD! I can’t tell you how much I appreciate you taking the time to respond with your thoughts and in an articulate manner. My job is to get people like yourself engaged in our site. Your opinions, knowledge, and expertise in the field are valued greatly! Hopefully we can continue to challenge readers with thought provoking tech issues enough so that they are willing to share their feedback on any and all subjects. Thanks again!
Another great response MD! I can’t tell you how much I appreciate you taking the time to respond with your thoughts and in an articulate manner. My job is to get people like yourself engaged in our site. Your opinions, knowledge, and expertise in the field are valued greatly! Hopefully we can continue to challenge readers with thought provoking tech issues enough so that they are willing to share their feedback on any and all subjects. Thanks again!
Just wanted to say, to Chad, very great article. Thanks for taking the time to write this up!
Nate thanks for the compliment, and thank you my friend for taking the time to read it!
great article, very nicely put! I was quite skeptical about android and was a diehard winmo user for a loooooong time. Recently shifted to android with the galaxy s, and I cant say how happy i am! Seems like android for a long way from here
but, i really think their developer platform/tools are way wayyyyy crappier when you compare it with windows phone 7! this might be an important deciding factor once wp7 goes live