iOS vs Android OS

iOS vs Android is one of the hottest topics you can discuss after the well known Apple vs Microsoft debate.

First things you must know when you buy an iPhone is that you will be using Apple's iOS. You can find many debates and argument about iOS vs Android, which one is better, and which smart phone you should buy.

The answer to those questions is much simpler than what you might think when you break it down to the big players. There are basically only three players in the smart phone industry. Apple with iOS, Google with Android OS, and Microsoft with Windows phone.

The biggest competitor to the iOS is the Google Android. The Android OS is an open operating system that runs on hundreds of smart phones while the iPhone and the iOS are proprietary of Apple, and there is no other company than Apple that can make an iOS device or iPhone.

When you decide to buy an iPhone, you won't see any competition. It is very simple, you go to any Apple store or carrier and simply buy an iPhone. However, with Android, you will see hundreds of phones made by HTC, Motorola, Samsun, Nokia, Sony and many many others. You have to study the spec of each device from each company to decide which Android phone you want to buy. There is more competition in the Android world than iOS. Therefore, it is more difficult to buy an Android phone than an iPhone.

iOS vs Android User Interface:

The big difference between an iOS vs Android come in the user interface and the user experience. If you are an Android user, it might seem easy to upgrade from one Android phone to another, however, you will see big changes from one Android version to another, and also from one company to another. Each company such as Samsung, HTC or LG run a layer on top of the Android OS that gives it a different flavor for its own.

You will notice a learning curve from each Android version and each Android phone to another. For example, older Android OS and phones came with three hardware buttons, while the latest Android OS got rid of those buttons.

Fragmentation:

The Android OS suffers from so many revisions and updates available, and compatibility issues between different hardware and those different Android versions. On the other hand, you will find compatibility issues between current Apps, the hardware and the Android version. For example, an App might work on a Samsung device but not on an HTC device. Or it might work on Gingerbread but not Ice cream sandwich and so on.

This is called fragmentation between software and hardware. Another problem is that not every Android phone can run the latest Android OS. For example, Ice cream Sandwich, or Jelly Bean Android OS will not install on many Android Devices for example.

The iOS vs Android on the other hand has the same user interface from one version to another. If you have used an iPhone with iOS 3, you will immediately be able to use iOS 6. Moreover, all iPhones can be upgraded to the latest iOS when a new iOS is released. All apps will simply work on all iOS versions. Apple might disable some features on some older hardware, or might stop upgrading them all together just to keep the good user experience.

With iOS vs Android you can't go wrong, things just work smoothly and fluently on the iOS, with Android, you have to look carefully for what you want to make sure things work as you expect.

Open vs Closed System:

One of the biggest argument when you compare iOS vs Android is the openness of each system. The Android is an open platform, which means you can install anything you want from any source. You can simply download anything and install it, and take the risk of what you install.

Although people might think this is great, as you will see many free applications and many apps from different stores. And since the OS is open, many development can take place much faster. The fact is that iOS has more advanced applications in general, and software development take place on the iOS first and then come to the Android.

The Openness of the Android OS makes it also volatile and open to hackers, and much easier to break through. Running an App by a hacker could simply steel your information. Moreover, It is very common on an Android phone to run an app that freezes, crashes or slows down your phone.

The iOS is less open, more protected, and secured thanks to Apple's strict requirements in the App Store. The only place to download apps is the App Store, and each app must be tested and verified by people at Apple to make sure it meets all Apple requirements. It is very uncommon to find an App that crashed your iPhone or cause it not to boot, or not to start. Of course, if you are interested in a more open system, you can jailbreak your iPhone and get all the openness you want.

Features:

It is true that the Android OS has more features than the iOS. However, because Android Phones are made by many different companied, they are also fragmented and less stable.

On the other hand, most of the things done on Android can be done by using an application in a way or another from the App store.

The Android OS is a more customize able operating system than the iOS. You can add widgets, and customize your home screens with animated themes and more.

There are generally more settings, and more options to customize your Android phone. However, there are just too many useless or unnecessary options which just make the experience too overwhelming.

iPhone customization can also be done by jailbreaking your iPhone and install hundreds of themes and iPhone widgets from the Cydia store.

The Ecosystem:

If you own a Mac computer, or two iOS devices, you will see that it is your best interest to stay within the Apple ecosystem. It would be best to have an iOS vs Android devices when you have an Apple ecosystem.

Your apps that you paid for will simply run on all your devices, and if you have a Mac, your syncing experience is much easier. If you add an Apple TV, you will be able to stream your media from any of your Apple devices to your TV seamlessly using the amazing AirPlay or Airplay mirror feature.

The Android has the Google ecosystem, but it still can't match the Apple ecosystem where everything from hardware and software is designed by Apple to work together. This is the area where iOS vs Android shines.

iOS vs Android Mobility:

The iOS is a more portable operating system, which means you will find it easier to use and handle on the go specially given the smaller more convenient screen size and retina display.

Android phones tend to be bigger in size and could become difficult to control and navigate with one hand. Also, the overwhelming number of settings make it more difficult to get to where you want.

The nice thing about Apple is that there is a line between an iPhone and a Tablet. The iPad is not a big iPhone, and also there is a line between the iPad and a laptop.

The iOS for example is much much simpler and less complicated than OSX running on Mac computers for example. iPad applications take full advantage of the iPad bigger screen while iPhone applications are perfect on the iPhone screen size.

With Android, there is no split between an Android phone, and an Android tablet. Most apps look the same on all Android devices regardless of screen size, they just stretch to fill the additional screen size.

iOS vs Android Performance:

Apple could have made the iOS the most complicated operating system if they wanted by adding just every feature you could imagine and make it close to OSX.

However, people buy an iPhone because it is the best in ease of use. It is simple, reliable, and it has lots of iPhone applications. Apple implements more and more features as needed and as hardware improve and prove that it can handle those additional features.

Performance is the number one priority to Apple. If a feature degrades performance, then Apple will not implement it until the iPhone hardware is powerful enough to handle it.

This is one big area of argument of iOS vs Android where Android OS usually implements many features even at very early stages when the hardware cant still handle them perfectly. Therefore, performance on Android has always been suffering and lagging in always noticeable.

For example, Apple didn't have multitasking when the first iPhone and iPhone 3G came out simply because the hardware power wasn't enough to handle multitasking.

Then, when they implemented multitasking in iOS 4, those older generation iPhones still didn't get multitasking because performance is more important.

If you are a tech guy, you will find more than what you need by jailbreaking your iPhone and installing hacks and tweaks that change the whole look and feel of your iPhone.

Visit the iPhone system tricks to learn more about the power of iPhone jailbreak.

Everything Just Works:

This is the idea behind the iOS and the iPhone. You are down to the point which is making phone calls, and running applications quickly and with ease. Remove all unnecessary background noise. This has been the concept for the iPhone and iOS, and it has been the key to the success and popularity of the iOS among all ages. Everything just works.

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