In today’s crowded mobile phone market there are two main players that clearly stand out from the rest, Google’s Android OS and of course the Apple iPhone with its iOS operating system. Many people go for the somewhat overpriced iPhone because of Apple’s persuasive marketing, or because of the App Store. But is it really that much better than other phones on the market such as Android or Windows Phone devices…?
Here are the top 5 reasons to get an Android device over an iPhone:
1.Flash. The iPhone not having flash is a long debated topic. With Apple fans religiously defending Steve Jobs’ decision not to allow flash on iOS devices and fans of other mobile OS’s ridiculing this huge flaw in the iPhone, what does it really come down to? A very decent proportion of the internet needs or uses flash to run better, look better and ultimately make it easier for the user with this universal plugin. With android having flash capability out of the box it is the clear choice for anyone who wants ease of use and the best multimedia experience online on a mobile device.
2.Open Source. The iPhone’s App Store is well known for being heavily regulated by Apple and Apple not wanting the user to customise fully or ‘jailbreak’ the device. Android however is completely open source which means anyone can make an app for Android and it is more than likely to be accepted in to the Android Market. But if it isn’t accepted they can just as easily put it up on their own site for download and downloading apps to your Android phone from the internet couldn’t be easier.
3.Carrier choice. The iPhone was always known in the U.S for being a strictly AT&T device and in the UK an O2 only phone. Only recently did Apple let other carriers sell their iPhone on their network. Most Android phones however are unlocked out of the box which means you can use any carrier you want and you don’t have to get a special ‘micro-SIM’ as on the iPhone.
4.WiFi Hotspot and tethering. With Android, Google lets you set up your phone as a WiFi hotspot with one tap. All you need is a widget on your home screen and you can let your friends around you abuse your limited monthly internet allowance. You can also just plug in your Android phone to you Mac or Pc and it will offer you the option to tether and use your mobile internet through your computers browser. Neither of these useful features are offered on Apple’s iPhone.
5.Choice of handsets. Literally hundreds of brands have chosen to sport Google’s Android on their devices instead of their own proprietary OS. This means that when the consumer comes to choosing a phone, if they decide to go with Android there are hundreds of choices. Each with it’s own features or custom GUI over Android. This includes a small selection of 4G phones. When it comes to buying an iPhone there is only one clear choice – the iPhone. In fact no, there is only one choice – the iPhone. While the iPhone is perfect for many people, a lot of people want more choice and the ability to choose a phone that is right for them and not catering for millions of other people.
All in all these points all come down to one thing. Customization. Android is all about the consumer and tries to let them do as much as they want with the phone that they handed over $400 for. I’m not saying that the iPhone is a bad choice, just Android has more choice. For iPhone, Android and general technology videos visit GadgetLatestTV on YouTube.