Not everyone is in the market for a smartphone, and there’s some good discussion of some important considerations in the comments following Julie’s post, Using Super Smartphones for Productivity.
For those who are considering such a device, the two big players right now are the iPhone and a slew of Android phones. (There are smaller players such as Blackberry, Windows Mobile, and WebOS, but they seem not to get much attention these days. Yes, I’m aware that Blackberry is actually a pretty big player in terms of sheer numbers, but they seem to get more attention in the corporate world than among average end users. At least that’s my impression.)
Lifehacker recently ran two posts on the iPhone and Android operating systems: Which Do You Prefer: iPhone or Android? and iPhone vs. Android Showdown: Which Phone is Best for Power Users?. Their conclusion in the second of those posts? Android narrowly edged out the iPhone, though the editors will readily admit that their evaluation is very subjective.
Among the members of Team ProfHacker who are smartphone users, we’re pretty equally divided between the iPhone and Android devices. There are all sorts of reasons why we’ve chosen one sort of phone over the other. Those reasons range from the philosophical (some prefer Android’s open source approach to Apple’s closed system), to carrier preference, to app availability, to participation in already-existing family plans.
All of these are important things to think about. When it came to a phone, carrier dictated my choice; I’m not with AT&T and I’m unwilling to change carriers, so the iPhone was never an option for me. However, I’ve used both the iPhone OS (up through version 3.1.3, on a 1st-generation iPod Touch—feel free to add comments about iOS 4 in the comments) and the Android OS. What follows are a very few thoughts on my experience with each of them. [Note that the following presumes that the device is not rooted or jailbroken; I'll have a bit to say next week about why rooting/jailbreaking might be worth considering.]
iPhone OS:
- The good: The OS is very easy to use. There’s a strong community of developers, so you can find an app to do just about any task you might want to do with the phone; the App Store is very well stocked. It syncs very nicely with iTunes, so taking your music with you is a breeze.
- The bad: The only negative thing I have to say about the OS (people have various opinions about AT&T as a carrier) is that there’s no way to install non-App Store applications without jailbreaking.
Android:
- The good: The OS is easy to use—in my experience, just as easy as the iPhone OS. If you’re a user of All Things Google, the synchronization can’t be beat. It’s easy to install non-Market applications without rooting your phone (unless your carrier has disabled that option).
- The bad: At present, there are fewer applications available for Android than there are for iPhone, though the Android Market continues to grow, as does the developer community. Though Android can sync with iTunes, it doesn’t do so out of the box (Mac users wanting to sync with iTunes might want to take a look at DoubleTwist; I’m not sure what options are available to PC users, but it’s also possible to just copy files to the phone’s SD card).
At present, I’m using my Android phone exclusively, and will be sending the iPod Touch to Gazelle. Not that it isn’t a handy device, but all the applications that I regularly used on it are now also available for the Android platform, and there’s no good reason for me to hang onto both. (The last application I was waiting on was Kindle for Android, which became available earlier this week.)
If you’re a smartphone user, what OS did you choose, and why? What have you found to be the benefits and drawbacks of that choice?
[Image by Flickr user Geoff Livingston / Creative Commons licensed]
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23 Responses to iPhone or Android?
rtalbert - July 2, 2010 at 11:10 am
My wife and I are considering smartphones and leaning toward the iPhone. I’ve been using an iPod Touch for the last couple of years and have a bunch of apps that I really can’t imagine living without (such as OmniFocus), otherwise it would be a very even match between iOS and Android. In fact we went to a Verizon store two weeks ago having made up our minds to buy Droids, but the workers at the Verizon store were so woefully ignorant about the technology that we didn’t feel comfortable buying from them.
jrstrang - July 2, 2010 at 11:23 am
I’ve been on an iPhone now for a year and although I’m impressed with the Android, I will probably stick with the iPhone for one simple reason.The iOS platform is directly tied to its hardware. When I buy an iPhone, I know that I can upgrade operating systems regularly within the limits of my hardware. With an Android phone, there are so many hardware versions that they really have become the PCs of the smartphone world. It’s harder to know when your phone’s hardware will become obsolete. I remember the hooplah up here in Canada when early Android phone adopters found out they couldn’t upgrade to a newer OS because Rogers (then the sole provider) wouldn’t let them. 3G users may disagree with my comment, but they’re using relatively older phone models. Tighter OS/hardware integration is one of the things that make Apple computers such a pleasure to use and it remains the same with the iPhone.
heatherwhitney - July 2, 2010 at 11:43 am
Mashable reported this week that the iPhone will come to Verizon in January, just when I was about to leap on the Android train. I’m hoping to go to a Verizon store soon to try out the Droid X, but like @rtalbert I’ve been pretty unhappy with my experiences at their brick-and-mortar stores, particularly with how long it takes to get help or the workers’ ability to answer technical questions.
acavender - July 2, 2010 at 11:45 am
@rtalbert: I’m not an OmniFocus user myself, but I know a lot of people swear by it. Sadly, as you note, it’s not available for Android, and I haven’t heard any rumors that it will be. The availability of applications that are critical for one’s workflow is a big factor in deciding on a platform–at least it was for me.@jrstrang: I hear you. Tight OS/hardware integration can be a real benefit, and simplicity and freedom from hassle are often the way to go. For those using older phones, though, it’s possible to upgrade the Android software if the phone is rooted, even if the carrier technically doesn’t allow it. I can personally attest that Android 2.1 runs just fine on the MyTouch3G/HTC Magic (better than 1.6, actually), and I’m told it also runs pretty well on the old G1, as well. That said, rooting the phone isn’t a risk-free operation, and it does void the warranty, so it’s not something all users would want to do.
brianborchers - July 2, 2010 at 12:02 pm
If you want to run apps, but don’t want to sign up for a cellular contract, you should also consider the iPod Touch- I spend 90+% of my time in Wifi hotspots, so I’m very happy with mine. Are there Android equivaelnts of the iPod Touch available?
acavender - July 2, 2010 at 12:25 pm
@brianborchers There are some
acavender - July 2, 2010 at 12:27 pm
I’m going to try this again, since my comment got chopped off for some reason.@brianborchers: There are some Android tablets out there.Some folks find that a smartphone isn’t a good choice for them, but they’re around Wifi so much that an iPod Touch plus a plain vanilla cell phone–or no cell phone at all–serves just as well.
csgirl - July 2, 2010 at 1:56 pm
I am waiting for the Droid 2 (not the Droid X) to come out, probably in August, and then I will pounce. I have an iTouch right now (won it in a contest) which I find to be essentially useless because of its horrible fake keyboard. It takes me 10 tries just to enter a password. Plus, since I have to use both a Mac and a Windows machine, I have everything pretty much Google’ized as it is.
misanthropic777 - July 2, 2010 at 3:18 pm
My husband and I are both android devotees. Originally this was because AT&T sucks here, but now because we are much happier with the evolution/revolution in devices, the OS and the way google treats the user community. We’ve converted several people out there off of iphones.That being said, if you never ever want to think about it and you have good service from at&t, i think it’s a matter of preference more than one platform being hands-down better than the other.
acavender - July 2, 2010 at 3:29 pm
@misanthropic I’m inclined to agree there’s a point at which it’s largely a matter of preference–or a matter of what you want to do with the device, and whehter there’s an app for that. Android was the better choice for me, even apart from carrier considerations (mostly because of my Google addiction), but I’ve talked with others for whom the iPhone was clearly the better choice.
drgunn - July 2, 2010 at 4:53 pm
Happy Android user here, on AT&T, too. I like the way Google treats their community of users and I think the potential of their open platform is much greater than with Apple. Developers will only be happy as sharecroppers for so long.All that’s sorta tangential, though. I really got it because you can plug it in to your computer and just add files to it like you would a flash drive. So I guess the difference really is that iphone would be best for someone already bought into the Mac ecosystem, Android would be best for someone either undecided or on a PC. The more techy sorts will certainly appreciate the level of control you get with the Android platform.Please don’t judge Android based on the person talking to you in-store. Unlike with Apple, Android devices can be found anywhere, so know what you want before you go and you can find some good deals.
matt_l - July 5, 2010 at 3:50 pm
I have a palm pre. (Sprint and Verison were the best carriers in town). I love the operating system, email and calendar. I’m less than thrilled with the available apps. I have loaded evernote, but I do not use it much. I might just need to play with it some more. I will probably have to switch platforms since webOS is going to the elephant graveyard that is HP.I think I will probably opt for an iPad (despite the stupid name) and a dumb phone like acavender suggested. I would consider an android phone, but I do not feel like having to do all the set up and monkeying around. From reading reviews and websites the android phones are for people that want to spend a lot of time tinkering under the hood. Although I do like google’s calendar, email, & docs.
daveapostles - July 6, 2010 at 8:09 am
[Comment deleted by editor. Please stick to the topic of discussion: "If you're a smartphone user, what OS did you choose, and why? What have you found to be the benefits and drawbacks of that choice?" Thanks!]
michaelnelson - July 6, 2010 at 9:27 am
I recently became an iPod Touch user and am using iOS4. In case people are reading this to decide for themselves, the reasons I chose that over an Android and other options:1. I don’t want to pay for a data plan, but I do want a “PDA”. I have wifi just about everywhere I am on a daily basis, so I don’t really want to pay monthly data fees. Prior to the iPod Touch, I had a Dell Axim (also not a phone), running Windows Mobile 2003SE. That lasted me almost 7 years. But it also had a user-replaceable battery. 2. I use a Mac and do feel tied to their (exceptional) universe of applications. Bento and OmniFocus are two examples. I’m looking forward to iWorks for iOS4 (rumors suggest it is coming). 3. I use a Mac and the iPod Touch/iPhone just synchronizes better with the Mac than other devices do. I’ve tried third-party synchronizing options (for calendar and tasks) and they just don’t work quite as smooth.4. Like all things Apple… it just works. There are serious cons with my choice of the iPod Touch: no built-in microphone, no camera, no user-replaceable battery. I’m not sure whether this can last 7 years, like my Dell did.
lsimpson33 - July 6, 2010 at 10:18 am
I currently have a Palm and will be switching to either a Droid or an iPhone. My question is: I already have a hook-up for my car and a home stereo that play the ipod. Will these work with the Droid? From what I’ve seen looking at the Droid, the ports are different meaning I’d have to buy a whole new car stereo converter and a new stereo for my home. Is this accurate? if so, that’s probably a deal breaker for me.
11272784 - July 6, 2010 at 11:18 am
I’ve been using the Droid for months – love it, much more user friendly than my Blackberry. All the apps I need have been available free. My daughter’s 25 year old hi-tech boyfriend just dropped his iPhone and switched to Droid…that has to mean something.
lexalexander - July 6, 2010 at 11:50 am
My wife and I became Droid Eris owners a few weeks ago after she went to the Verizon store to replace my daughter’s lost flip phone. We’re on Verizon, have been happy with both mobile and bricks-and-mortar service, and have heard little but complaints about AT&T from our iPhone-using friends.I use a lot of Google, esp. at work, and will be using even more in the coming year, so that integration is delightful. My favorite app, though, is Google Sky — it was a huge hit at my son’s recent Cub Scout camping trip — although it also makes me sad because it clarifies just how much light pollution there is where I live.
heron_swift - July 6, 2010 at 12:14 pm
I’ve been on a iPhone for a little over a year, and have been pretty happy with it, but when my contract is up I’ll be taking a good hard look at the Droid alternative. A big part of this is my hatred for iTunes–lordy, iTunes annoys me to no end. And the the wealth of apps for the iPhone is a plus right up to the point where one gets overwhelmed by too many choices. (I know, I know, *such* a first-world problem…) My campus is one of those rare locales where AT&T has much better service than Verizon or any other provider, and I haven’t really had *worse* experiences with AT&T than I used to have with Verizon. Anyway, count me in the “netural and willing to be persuaded Droid-wards” camp.
joshhibbard - July 6, 2010 at 1:45 pm
I own two Android smart phones (initial G1 user) and an iphone 3gS. With major cell phone providers employing SIM cards, there is little reason why users should be confined to just one device. Between the two, I am an Android fan. This is mostly because I am also a fan of “free stuff.” And if you are a fan of free stuff, then you are also a fan of Google. My android phones connect me seamlessly to all of my google products. In addition, I choose Android OS for philosophical reasons. I am opposed to Apple’s closed system that forces non-AT&T customers to jailbreak their iPhones.While the speed and “smoothness” of the iPhone is presently at a higher level, I predict this will change soon. Apple has set the pace on developing cutting edge smart phones, but I predict the android community will out run Apple’s iPhone within the next two years as more and more cellular companies produce android phones.
emmadw - July 7, 2010 at 6:21 am
Interesting thoughts … like some others on here, I’ve already got an iPod Touch, which I like; but have been looking at iPhones/an Android powered one. I’m UK based, so don’t have the same AT&T love/hate issue; but there are some UK networks that don’t have as good coverage as others! My main reason for currently leaning towards the Android is more for the variation in hardware; though I’ve found the iPod keyboard to be usable, I do make quite a few mistakes & have a feeling that something that had clickable keys would be easier for me. I’ve read several good things recently about the Motorola Milestone (& that seems to be one you can get on a pay as you go contract) – a bit of googling suggests it’s the ‘Droid’ that some of you seem to be mentioning.
acavender - July 7, 2010 at 8:40 am
@lsimpson33 I can’t speak to the car stereo situation, but if your home stereo has a line-in for MP3 players, a cheap 3.5mm-to-3.5mm cable will do the trick. It won’t be as pretty as an iPod dock or your stereo’s native dock, but it’ll work.
jmeloni - July 7, 2010 at 9:40 am
@emmadw yes, the Motorola Milestone is the WCDMA/GSM version of the US-released Droid.
jfischman - July 7, 2010 at 10:24 pm
I use Android, on a Droid, and get a fair amount of work productivity out of it because A) It works very well as a phone that makes voice calls, and B) I can use the Swype keyboard, which Julie Meloni has written about — http://chronicle.com/blogPost/Using-Swype-for-Android-for/25127– so I can be very fast writing documents and emails on my train to/from work.One incredible annoying thing about Gmail on Android 2.1 is that you cannot cut and paste. That’s awful. The single biggest source of data coming into my life is email. Not being able to transfer text from it to any other application–like a calendar or To Do list– is terrible. (There is a rumor that Android 2.2, AKA Froyo, will fix this but I don’t believe rumors about phones.) Has any Android user on Profhacker figured out an easy solution to this? Like a better email client that still synchs with Gmail?