|
It has been a runaway success story for Apple
since the release of its iPhone in 2007 defined new
standards for the others to follow. But according to
research carried out by YouGov on behalf of Intelligent
Environments, there is a new UK market leader. Android,
Google’s operating system, has jumped ahead with a market
share of 28% - that's 2% ahead of the iPhone's 26%.
So for those currently in the market for a new smart phone,
we look at some of the main features of the two front
runners to assess just what sets them apart.
Beauty only skin deep?
Sleek and compact,
there’s no question the iPhone is a stunner. But there’s not
a lot of choice. Apple offers one variety of handset and a
static interface - there’s nothing you can do to change the
look or set up of the product.
Android, due to its
open system, has numerous handsets on the market, each one
highly customisable. You can control all of your settings
and choose exactly what your display looks like, as well as
deciding what apps and widgets you want on your home screen.
|
|
Apps
Apple says “there’s an app for that” - and with more than
350,000 in their App Store, they’re probably right. Android
currently has fewer - around the 150,000 mark. However,
Android has an ‘open system’ meaning anyone can create and
add to apps, so that number is always rising. iPhone’s
‘closed system’ means they are in full control of the
content of their App Store, with no app being added that has
not been approved. The more relaxed approach by Android
brings with it both the good and the bad, as well as the
potentially ugly...
The scope for other developers to
add their app offerings opens up the potential for new and
innovative apps to enter the Android Market. It also means
that many of these are free for users to install. But with
this comes the security threat of applications that contain
security holes, not to mention the possibility of developers
who may have less-than-admirable intentions being able to
discover a possible weakness in the phone and take advantage
of it. That said, the open nature of the Android means that,
once discovered, there are countless members of the Android
community willing and able to find a quick fix for any kind
of bug. Recent news reported that more than 50 Android apps
had been found to contain viruses, underlining concerns
regarding their open system. However, Google acted quickly
to rectify these problems.
Internet
iPhone’s Safari browser does the job nicely. But Android
allows a choice of browser, and the Android browser itself
is faster and more reliable than Safari. Again, iPhone’s
need for control comes into play once more – there is no
chance of viewing Flash content on an iPhone whereas Android
2.2 does now support Flash allowing you to view a wider
range of sites online.
Of course there is one other
significant advantage to Android and that is Google. This is
the Internet giant's own operating system and was always
going to offer excellent Google integration. And they have
done a good job. With Google Search you can find what you
want very easily, even using the Google Voice function to
dictate what you want to find on the web. And if you ever
get lost, Google Maps is on hand to get you back on track.
Cost
Now we come to the thorny issue of cost. iPhones have, of
course, dropped in price. But then they have had to, since
the competition is offering great deals at great prices.
Android have a range of more affordable handsets and
contracts available on various networks.
|
