Comparison of Android vs IPhone

by adrian vintu 1/14/2010 7:22:00 PM
Today I made a comparison of Android vs IPhone. I made the list together with an IPhone enthusiast. The results were surprising for both of us. If fact, they were so surprising that the IPhone user is now inclined to go for the Android on the next phone purchase.
Here is the comparison of Android vs IPhone.

Pros for Android
  1. SMS delivery report - for the IPhone you need a third party apparently
  2. notifications without INTERNET - one of the biggest drawback of the IPhone is that you cannot have notifications without Internet -> the notifications are stored on the Apple servers
  3. can install applications from any site - IPhone applications can only be installed from the Apple store (unless the phone is jail broken)
  4. multiple physical menu buttons - used for navigation and quick shortcuts, allows greater screen size (no more software menus)
  5. physical menu button allows recent 6 tasks (like ALT+TAB in Windows) - absolutely useful
  6. the Home screen is organized in 3, 4 or 5 virtual screens, the rest of the applications lie in a list - usability, quick to access most used apps - on the IPhone there are "limitless" virtual screens on Home
  7. can install on the Home screen - widgets, shortcuts, folders
  8. physical keyboard - on some models
  9. open source OS
  10. can install different/homebrewed firmwares
  11. can install home brewed apps
  12. background apps/ multitasking
  13. can make own application to hook into anything - calling, traffic, media, encryption, etc
  14. dev SDK is free and cross platform. IPhone is for $100+ and only works on MAC.
  15. programming is done in Java, bridges exist from J2ME, C#, etc. IPhone uses Objective C
  16. programming - can run interpreters. IPhone only allows running Objective C byte code
  17. easy access to the SD card (both from computer and from the phone). can copy MP3s, read ebooks, etc
  18. cheaper than the IPhone
  19. easy removable/replaceable battery.
  20. 5 mega pixel camera + blitz/flash
Pros for IPhone
  1. screen brightness/clarity
  2. bigger sofware keyboard - because of the wider screen
  3. great 3D apps and harware
  4. easy data synchronization
  5. proximity sensor - saves battery and "locks" the screen
  6. zoom using two fingers - pictures, browser, etc - though some Android phones also support multi touch

EDIT: An update comparison of Android vs iPhone vs Nokia vs BlackBerry vs Windows Mobile 7 is avalilable here http://adrianvintu.com/blogengine/post/Comparison-of-Android-vs-IPhone-vs-Nokia-vs-BlackBerry-vs-Windows-Mobile-7.aspx

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Comments

1/23/2010 1:30:04 PM

vana dragos

Nexus One has a proximity sensor.

vana dragos

1/25/2010 11:10:09 AM

Mihai Campean

As Dragos mentioned above, Nexus One has a proximity sensor, and regarding multi-touch, this is a most controversial and misunderstood subject. Since Android 2.0 the SDK supports simultaneous touch events (the equivalent of Apple's multi-touch) for up to 3 pointers on the screen. The only problem is that existing apps do are not implemented to support that, but they will probably get updated, and new apps depend on how the developers design them to include multi touch or not.

Mihai Campean

3/18/2010 6:45:20 PM

anon

> 1. screen brightness/clarity

My Motorola Milestone has a higher resolution screen than the iphone. The brightness is the same.

> 2. bigger sofware keyboard - because of the wider screen

My Motorola Milestone can run in portrait or in landscape mode with the virtual keyboard.
It also has a hardware keyboard.

> 3. great 3D apps and harware

Quake 2 runs without problems at 30 fps.
With Android 2.1 the Milestone can run Google Earth.

> 4. easy data synchronization

For Google services at least this is automatic.
Admittedly for other apps it could be better.

> 5. proximity sensor - saves battery and "locks" the screen

The proximity sensor turns off the screen when I am on a call and the phone is next to my face. The screen comes on again when I take the phone away from my face.

> 6. zoom using two fingers - pictures, browser, etc - though some Android phones also support multi touch

Motorola Milestone has multitouch.

anon

3/27/2010 1:00:55 PM

Keyser Soze

"9. open source OS

18. cheaper than the IPhone

20. 5 mega pixel camera + blitz/flash"


9. How is support for an open source OS on a mobile device? Linux didn't actually take off on desktop computers or laptops, isn't it? - and it's been around for over a decade now.

18. Nope, it's about the same price for both. You can unlock the iPhone for $20-30.

20. Digital camera resolution is a gimmick. The most important part of ANY camera is the lens. A camera with 3Mpx and high quality lens takes far better pictures than one with 10Mpx and average-quality lens. Basically, unless you're a professional photographer or want to print your pics on A4 or greater paper size, then you do not need more than 4Mpx resolution; however high-quality lens is a must for any camera - if you want great pictures.

RE: multi-sensor
iPhone has multi-sensor since the 1st version issued in 2007.

Keyser Soze

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Adrian Vintu I am a computer software professional lately designing and programming .NET and Android applications.
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