While the Apple iPhone 3GS already has an impressive three-year lead and over 85 million units sold, Google’s Android cannonball launched out of the gates and after a mere 20 months, outsold the iPhone in the U.S. for the first time during the 1st quarter of 2010. Should the fine folks over at Apple be worried? Probably not, I’m sure no one is losing any sleep over this. But lets have a look at perhaps why the Android OS is appealing to so many users so quickly shall we?
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Apps
With everything from a blood alcohol content calculator to a Jedi’s lightsaber, Apple blows the doors off the Android in terms of the number of applications available (over 215,000 vs 70,000, but let’s not forget the 2 year head start!). However, they are only available through the iPhone or the iPad. Android apps can not only be run from a wide variety of smartphones, but you will also be able to access the OS from your HDTV, your car, your desktop or office phone, your microwave oven and even your waching machine! (source)
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Keyboard
Since Google’s Android is available on several different phones, both touch screen and keypad options are available. iPhone only offers the touch screen for typing. This is one is pretty much a matter of preference, I enjoy the tactile response from an actual keypad and I find it very frustrating trying to text quickly with an iPhone (maybe I just have clumsy thumbs), but many of my friends enjoy the touch screen. Still, with Android it’s nice to have the option.
Media Players
This is one department where Apple stands out. In terms of audio the iPhone can support all the usual formats, as well as the unique formats like WAV and Audible audiobooks. You cannot load formats like uncompressed WAV with your Android. The iPhone is amazing at video playback, supporting formats like H.264 and MPEG-4. You can convert many of your songs and movies by dragging them into iTunes. Unfortunately the Android does not let you play MPEG-4s, and is not a fantastic video player. However! Apple simply refuses to support Flash, whereas Google has fully embraced it, giving users access to all websites, without the ERROR message from Flash sites. In terms of photos, with Apple there is a way to store document files in your iPhone “Photos” folder so you can access those pictures of you and your buddies at singles resorts and remember the good times.
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Network
AT&T’s lousy service has been a major cause for people to switch over from the iPhone to Google’s Android-powered phones on the Verizon network. And while Verizon network may not be as fast as AT&T, their reliability is making them a popular favourite.
If you want a more technical breakdown of the differences between Apple’s iPhone and Google’s Android, you should check out the great comparison chart available at mashable.com.
Now get out there and choose wisely!
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