Android may have grown bigger than iOS from Apple, and Android may have its advantages over its rival. But Apple's mobile OS packs a few punches of its own beyond its new voice-assisted user interface Siri.
Not a direct function of iOS, but a benefit of the ecosystem is Apple's customer support which is among the best of any company. Got a problem with your iOS device? You can call Apple technical support, schedule an appointment with their Genius Bar and drop by a store. If you have the misfortune of having a faulty device under warranty, you can often walk into an Apple Store and walk out with a replacement.
Software support for iOS devices is absolutely unmatched. By comparison, Android updates are few and at times mysterious leaving Android users wondering if their device will ever get an update. Apple's iOS updates are more regular, and they have supported their devices over a longer period of time. The original iPhone was supported through Apple's third iteration of their mobile OS. Even the 3GS gets a version of Apples latest iOS 5 update. Check out this graphic that has been stirring the Android versus iOS fervor.
Smartphones are made for consuming videos, music and information. Love it or hate it, nothing compares to the simplicity of iTunes and the App Store. Though resource hungry, iTunes integration is second to none for now, and it really is an effective media management tool.
The App Store has the largest selection of apps. Early on, Apple was criticized for their stringent approval process, but the chance of getting a questionable or rogue app is much lower than from the Android Market. I've found iOS devices to be more stable than Android devices and I attribute this to Apple's app policy and its multitasking strategy.
Anything you can do I can do better? There are a number of tricks Android and iOS can both perform. Apple has succeeded in making many of these features simpler and more accessible to a wider audience. Sure you can track an Android device on a map and make it stream media to other devices, but the simplicity of AirPlay and Find My iPhone empowers even basic users to perform these tasks.
While largely subjective, most Android fans admit that iOS has a more polished interface. Conversely, Apple fans admit that iOS is rigid compared to Android, but you won't find bloatware on an iPhone or iPad. There are no carrier "notifications" nagging you - like I get on my Sprint branded Samsung Galaxy Tab.
Android's advantages have challenged Apple, but iOS offers a compelling reason to climb and stay within Apple's so-called walled garden. Saying which is better is much less of a case of apples to oranges than it used to be. The two have grown more similar to one another over the years.
Expect the two to push innovation further and even these giants could be challenged by another player in the arena.
Matthew Fortner has been at The News & Observer since 2002. He has a passion for gadgets, cutting-edge technology and all things geek.
Comments
iTunes is reason enough to
Tue, 11/01/2011 - 10:07 — hdog007iTunes is reason enough to stay away from Apple. It is quite possibly one of the worst written, worst designed, mass-distributed applications ever. Want to delete a song from your iPhone? Good luck trying to figure out how, 'cause there is no way. Furthermore, the iOS file system isn't accessable unless you jailbreak or root your device. Android you simply drag from one folder to another (some apps even do this wirelessly). iOS, you have to import, then convert with iToons, and then sync to phone (3x longer).
The iOS may have 1000x more apps, but 999x of them are garbage anyway. There are very few useful apps that aren't on both OS'es (and for good reason, devs want to make money by selling on both).
I'm suspecting the author hasn't actually tried to run iOS 5 on a 3GS. If s/he had, they would know that it will run so slow it's useless. (I tried to run iOS4 on a 3G that I was given, same problem). Try to run iOS on an iPhone 4, oops, no Siri... So much for retro-support...
The iOS is for children and people who don't care about getting the most from thier mobile device (sheep). Anyone that has any technical background needs a device that is both useful and customizeable. Personally, I can't wait to see Android's ICS.
Delete song from my iphone?
Tue, 11/01/2011 - 11:05 — kg8997Delete song from my iphone? Impossible...NOT HARDLY!!! Go to song list, left swipe on the song, press delete!! So simple, even a caveman can do it!
My 3GS is not yet upgraded
Tue, 11/01/2011 - 10:23 — matthewfortner (author)My 3GS is not yet upgraded to iOS 5, but its has had no issues running iOS 4. I'm with you on Ice Cream Sandwich. I'm hoping there is a ROM for my Tab.
Seriously?
Tue, 11/01/2011 - 09:18 — nchurricanesGotta love fanboy "articles."
And, for the record, the worst customer service experience I have ever had was with a family member in an Apple store.
Guess you didn't see my post
Tue, 11/01/2011 - 09:37 — matthewfortner (author)Guess you didn't see my post on Android's advantages where I was accused of being an Android fanboi. I can unsderstand how you might infer that, but I actually have a Moto Droid and a Samsung Galaxy Tab along along with my iPhone.
Ecosystem comparison, not OS
Tue, 11/01/2011 - 08:30 — wmgrayThis is a comparison of ecosystems, not OS's. All of the differentiations mentioned in the article, with the possible exception of OS updates, are related to the closed, vertical ecosystem that Apple favors vs. the open, distributed Android ecosystem. None of this is tied to iOS 5 or the iPhone 4S's ability to process voice commands (which Android has had for several years).
I agree with you, a
Tue, 11/01/2011 - 09:35 — matthewfortner (author)I agree with you, a partially. I even state as much in the post. But for many the ecosystem is inseparable form iOS.