Android and iOS, are among the top operating systems found in cellular devices today. The controversy between which device is better is just endless. If we went in-depth, the real question then develops into: What’s better, Samsung Galaxy S5 or the iPhone 5s? The questions and arguments are just endless, so today, I’ve decided to do a comparison and answer the question people are frequently asking. What is better? Android or iOS?
With both devices offering similar or identical features, each phone has its own distinctive feature. With Apple, Siri was a huge successor and to compete, Samsung had released S voice as well as Google Now. This list can go on and on. If we were to look at messaging, it would be iMessage verses Google Hangouts. If we move onto maps, you would see Apple Maps verses Google Maps. Even for video chats, Android has Google Hangouts and Apple has FaceTime. Now comes the hard part, what does android excel at? What does Apple dominate at? Let’s also have a look back at Android’s as well as iOS’ history and see who developed the best of features first.
Android is an operating system on cellular devices and tablets that is currently based on Linux. As Android is a great competitor with other smart phones, they were the first to introduce a well flowing notification center. With three years of failure, Apple was finally able to release a decent notification center. With Google’s capabilities and technology expertise, android was able to further develop from version 1.0 to version 1.5 (Android 1.1 was a small update with minor bug fixes).
Android 1.5 Cupcake was new and improved. Android devices had new impressive features such as a soft keyboard support as well as a built-in camera. It was just phenomenal how Google was able to add such stellar features in April 2009. With an improvement in widgets, which iOS still lacks to have, Android 1.5 Cupcake was a mind blower. In a nick of time, Google released Android 1.6, otherwise known as Android Donut, which had minor bug improvements with the new feature of quick search.
Google decided to take a leap to version 2.0 or android 2.1 Éclair. Increasing the screen resolution to a remarkable 480 x 800, this is a huge leap for the time period of November 2009. As android was able to include speech to text features as well as live wallpapers, what more could you ask more. Well, Andy Rubin wasn’t done just yet. Bringing the new innovation of Google Maps navigation, consumers were on the edges of their seats waiting for Android 2.3 Gingerbread. (Android 2.2 Fryo had design improvements as well as some bug fixes)
As we are only half way through android’s version history, consumers had thought that Android has nothing new to offer, but that’s where consumers are wrong. It might have been just a minor improvement in features, but a huge improvement in touch ups. Finally adding support to the front facing camera, Google was in a position to introduce Google Talk. With an improvement in battery management on all Android devices, developers were given more freedom with their phones and tablets. This was good news as 3-D games and such can later be released.
As we begin to move into the modern Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, you might be asking what happened to Android 3.X Honeycomb. Android 3.X Honeycomb was an operating system version aimed more towards the Honeycomb tablet. Moving forward to version 4.0, Ice Cream had a lot of nifty features to offer. With the recent security improvement of facial recognition, a stranger getting into your device is harder than ever. Helping consumers save a few dollars. Google even added a data tracker, a very resourceful add-on. This add-on helps one stay within his or her data limit with frequent reminders as well as live updates. Android Beam is another cool feature that can help many people in the business industry. Allowing everyday users to transfer data from one device to another, photo sharing and documents can be received with a touch of a device. Now it’s time to push Google into android Jellybean.
Android 4.1, 4.2 and 4.3 can all be recognized by its nickname, Jellybean. Jellybean is new and improved with mind-blowing speeds and display. With Google Now, tasks can be easily completed, just staying on your lock screen. Even if you have to find something, just tell Google Now and a Google search results will be delivered in a breeze. With the drastic improvements that can be seen in widgets, Jellybean even offers text predictability, a great feature for clients on social media. Destroying Apple yet again in the notification center, Apple appears to be on thin ice. To make matters even worse for Apple, android even introduced a panoramic camera in Android 4.2 Jellybean. With the multiple user interfaces on Jellybean 4.2, what does Android 4.4 Kit-Kat bring to Android fans?
Android 4.4 Kit-Kat is a significant change to Android. Having the ability to run on older and outdated devices, Kit-Kat offers excellent features and touch ups to all devices. With the efficiency of Kit-Kat, Android users are finally able to use apps in full screen. With productivity improvements, newer devices such as the Nexus 5 offer HDR improvements to the camera.
As Android devices seem to excel in the notification center, they also seem to give users the ability to customize their devices, without rooting. With a smoother interphase allowing multiple users to have separate accounts on the device, Google seems to be excelling in smart phone technology. The ability to share data with the touch of a device, quite literally, facial recognition and the new fingerprint scanner on the S5 seem to give Apple great difficulty to get to the top. Spectacular features like Google Maps navigation and Google Now by your side on an Android, Apple better be able to offer comparable features and specs.
Steve Jobs had driven Apple to an enormous success, during his time. Late 2007, Apple introduced their latest device, the first generation iPhone. Lacking in just about everything, the first generation iPhone seemed nowhere near the technology of its time. As the phone didn’t have the capability to multitask, send MMS, exchange push messages, use or download third party apps or even send files on email, the iPhone was a successor as it excelled in other ways. As Apple introduced the touch screen to the whole world, it was definitely years ahead of its time. Revealing the stunning Safari mobile browser, it was accounted for one of the most powerful browsers on smart phones. Containing Google Maps, Apple also showed off the phone’s visual voice mail capabilities. As Apple started releasing newer versions of the OS, soon the iPhone and iPod first generation became capable of multi touch keyboard, had improved location accuracy as well as the ability to rearrange icons. As they released these impressive features on iOS 1.1.3, the second-generation iPhone was born.
As we progress into June 2008, Apple introduced to its customers iOS 2. With the ability to download third party apps from the App Store, Apple made sure to fix major bugs and such with iOS 2.1 and 2.2. They even added street view on Google Maps as well as contact search, podcast downloads, and even iTunes Genius Playlists.
Soon, Apple blew us away with iOS 3.0 and the mind-blowing iPad that came with iOS 3.2. With features like cut, copy, paste, push notifications and even spotlight search, using the iPhone was becoming a breeze. Releasing the iPhone 3GS was a great move by Apple as it came with Find My iPhone, an amazing app that helps you find your lost device using another iOS device. With USB and Bluetooth tethering, the iPhone 3GS was a wonderful device. Apple surprised us yet again with the new iPad. Running iOS 3.2 the gigantic screen (1024 x 768) was just a stellar device.
Finally, Apple introduces multitasking on iOS 4.0. Helping consumers increase battery life. Apple even releases the iPhone 4 with this new iOS update. Helping users keep everything neat, iOS even gave users the ability to create folders, to store and categorize apps. With Retina display and FaceTime (an app from Apple that allows video chats from iOS device to iOS device), the iPhone 4 was definitely a competitor. Also offering TV rentals, HDR photos, AirPlay, AirPrint and even personal hotspot, Apple definitely hit the bull’s eye with this update.
Following up iOS 4 and its .01 update came iOS 5.0 with Siri. Siri was a remarkable feature, and Apple sure did spend some money on the research. As Siri has the ability to answer general questions, Google search our questions, tell us the weather and do little tasks, customers who purchased the iPhone 4s sure did enjoy this feature. Thankfully, in this update Apple tweaked the notification center, which almost all consumers seemed to have difficulties with. Also in iOS 5, consumers like me were introduced to iMessage, an app created by Apple that allows consumers to message others with iOS devices via Wi-Fi, at no charge. As storage can be monitored on the phone and backups can be done on the cloud (iCloud). iOS 5 was definitely a shocker and android did have competition coming its way.
If you thought iOS 5 was great, let's check what Apple packed for us in iOS 6. Introducing Apple Maps (previously Google Maps which is no longer available via Apple) iOS consumers seemed to always get lost. From glitches and bugs Apple Maps offered, Apple recovered the fall by allowing consumers to FaceTime and iMessage using their cellular data. With Siri enhancements, Siri is definitely smoother and smarter. Apple even took the extra step to add a new feature called Photo Stream, a feature found in the Photos app that shares pictures with others who are logged into the same iCloud account as you. With changes like this, I was worried that Apple wouldn’t add too much in iOS 7.
From mid 2007 to summer 2013, iOS users were used to seeing the regular iPhone display and design. That all changed in the fall of 2013, when Apple revealed iOS 7, one of the biggest changes in Apple history. iOS 7 had a new refreshed look to it, as there was a whole new design change and two new iPhones released. Never seen before, Apple released the more expensive iPhone 5s which comes with Retina display and a fingerprint scanner and the iPhone 5c a cost efficient version of the iPhone 5s which excludes the Retina display and fingerprint scanner. With the new look, Apple finally got their notification center in shape and also added iWorks for free. In addition, iOS 7 even comes with FaceTime audio, permitting users to basically phone call each other via Wi-Fi. With the new 64-bit chip, the 5c and the 5s are rocking loud with iOS 7.
After years of tweaking and testing the notification center, Apple has finally nailed it with iOS 7. iOS has developed very well over the years, introducing Retina display to the world as well as a fingerprint scanner. iMessage and FaceTime are great innovations for the iPhone, iPod and iPad as it connects family and friends. With Siri’s capabilities, consumers can get information on just about anything. Also, Photo Stream is no doubt by far the best innovation iOS has to offer, personally, as all your important pictures are always with you whether you forget your device or it’s stolen. The ability to even find your lost iPhone or Apple device using another iOS device is great as consumers can have the relief that their information is well protected or secured and can still be rescued.
All in all, both operating systems are immense. As Android offers more customization features without rooting, iOS has various things it excels in as well. Personally, I believe Apple did a better job keeping family and friends together with FaceTime and iMessage. Even though Google does offer the same features, I personally prefer FaceTime. As colours are displayed richer, on all of Samsung’s products, the iPhone 5s brings up information virtually instantaneously with that 64-bit chip. As android is more of an open source operating system, allowing developers and hackers to customize their devices, Apple users on the other hand must jailbreak to get the same feel. As voice commands are fairly equal, I am personally leaning towards iOS’ Siri. The true question is what’s better, android or iOS? My response, it’s your money. Put your money towards the operating system you desire. Above, you have my opinion and specs or history of the two devices, and all in all it mostly depends on what you want out of your device. I have the iPhone 4s, iPhone 5, iPhone 5s, Samsung Galaxy S3, and the Samsung Galaxy S4 and I've noticed both brands are similar with different advantage and disadvantage points.
For more in-depth information on any of the two operating systems, visit the following links below:
http://www.theverge.com/2011/12/7/2585779/android-history (For information on android history)
http://www.theverge.com/2011/12/13/2612736/ios-history-iphone-ipad (For information on iOS history)
http://www.diffen.com/difference/Android_vs_iOS (A quick comparison chart between the two)
With both devices offering similar or identical features, each phone has its own distinctive feature. With Apple, Siri was a huge successor and to compete, Samsung had released S voice as well as Google Now. This list can go on and on. If we were to look at messaging, it would be iMessage verses Google Hangouts. If we move onto maps, you would see Apple Maps verses Google Maps. Even for video chats, Android has Google Hangouts and Apple has FaceTime. Now comes the hard part, what does android excel at? What does Apple dominate at? Let’s also have a look back at Android’s as well as iOS’ history and see who developed the best of features first.
Android is an operating system on cellular devices and tablets that is currently based on Linux. As Android is a great competitor with other smart phones, they were the first to introduce a well flowing notification center. With three years of failure, Apple was finally able to release a decent notification center. With Google’s capabilities and technology expertise, android was able to further develop from version 1.0 to version 1.5 (Android 1.1 was a small update with minor bug fixes).
Android 1.5 Cupcake was new and improved. Android devices had new impressive features such as a soft keyboard support as well as a built-in camera. It was just phenomenal how Google was able to add such stellar features in April 2009. With an improvement in widgets, which iOS still lacks to have, Android 1.5 Cupcake was a mind blower. In a nick of time, Google released Android 1.6, otherwise known as Android Donut, which had minor bug improvements with the new feature of quick search.
Google decided to take a leap to version 2.0 or android 2.1 Éclair. Increasing the screen resolution to a remarkable 480 x 800, this is a huge leap for the time period of November 2009. As android was able to include speech to text features as well as live wallpapers, what more could you ask more. Well, Andy Rubin wasn’t done just yet. Bringing the new innovation of Google Maps navigation, consumers were on the edges of their seats waiting for Android 2.3 Gingerbread. (Android 2.2 Fryo had design improvements as well as some bug fixes)
As we are only half way through android’s version history, consumers had thought that Android has nothing new to offer, but that’s where consumers are wrong. It might have been just a minor improvement in features, but a huge improvement in touch ups. Finally adding support to the front facing camera, Google was in a position to introduce Google Talk. With an improvement in battery management on all Android devices, developers were given more freedom with their phones and tablets. This was good news as 3-D games and such can later be released.
As we begin to move into the modern Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, you might be asking what happened to Android 3.X Honeycomb. Android 3.X Honeycomb was an operating system version aimed more towards the Honeycomb tablet. Moving forward to version 4.0, Ice Cream had a lot of nifty features to offer. With the recent security improvement of facial recognition, a stranger getting into your device is harder than ever. Helping consumers save a few dollars. Google even added a data tracker, a very resourceful add-on. This add-on helps one stay within his or her data limit with frequent reminders as well as live updates. Android Beam is another cool feature that can help many people in the business industry. Allowing everyday users to transfer data from one device to another, photo sharing and documents can be received with a touch of a device. Now it’s time to push Google into android Jellybean.
Android 4.1, 4.2 and 4.3 can all be recognized by its nickname, Jellybean. Jellybean is new and improved with mind-blowing speeds and display. With Google Now, tasks can be easily completed, just staying on your lock screen. Even if you have to find something, just tell Google Now and a Google search results will be delivered in a breeze. With the drastic improvements that can be seen in widgets, Jellybean even offers text predictability, a great feature for clients on social media. Destroying Apple yet again in the notification center, Apple appears to be on thin ice. To make matters even worse for Apple, android even introduced a panoramic camera in Android 4.2 Jellybean. With the multiple user interfaces on Jellybean 4.2, what does Android 4.4 Kit-Kat bring to Android fans?
Android 4.4 Kit-Kat is a significant change to Android. Having the ability to run on older and outdated devices, Kit-Kat offers excellent features and touch ups to all devices. With the efficiency of Kit-Kat, Android users are finally able to use apps in full screen. With productivity improvements, newer devices such as the Nexus 5 offer HDR improvements to the camera.
As Android devices seem to excel in the notification center, they also seem to give users the ability to customize their devices, without rooting. With a smoother interphase allowing multiple users to have separate accounts on the device, Google seems to be excelling in smart phone technology. The ability to share data with the touch of a device, quite literally, facial recognition and the new fingerprint scanner on the S5 seem to give Apple great difficulty to get to the top. Spectacular features like Google Maps navigation and Google Now by your side on an Android, Apple better be able to offer comparable features and specs.
Steve Jobs had driven Apple to an enormous success, during his time. Late 2007, Apple introduced their latest device, the first generation iPhone. Lacking in just about everything, the first generation iPhone seemed nowhere near the technology of its time. As the phone didn’t have the capability to multitask, send MMS, exchange push messages, use or download third party apps or even send files on email, the iPhone was a successor as it excelled in other ways. As Apple introduced the touch screen to the whole world, it was definitely years ahead of its time. Revealing the stunning Safari mobile browser, it was accounted for one of the most powerful browsers on smart phones. Containing Google Maps, Apple also showed off the phone’s visual voice mail capabilities. As Apple started releasing newer versions of the OS, soon the iPhone and iPod first generation became capable of multi touch keyboard, had improved location accuracy as well as the ability to rearrange icons. As they released these impressive features on iOS 1.1.3, the second-generation iPhone was born.
As we progress into June 2008, Apple introduced to its customers iOS 2. With the ability to download third party apps from the App Store, Apple made sure to fix major bugs and such with iOS 2.1 and 2.2. They even added street view on Google Maps as well as contact search, podcast downloads, and even iTunes Genius Playlists.
Soon, Apple blew us away with iOS 3.0 and the mind-blowing iPad that came with iOS 3.2. With features like cut, copy, paste, push notifications and even spotlight search, using the iPhone was becoming a breeze. Releasing the iPhone 3GS was a great move by Apple as it came with Find My iPhone, an amazing app that helps you find your lost device using another iOS device. With USB and Bluetooth tethering, the iPhone 3GS was a wonderful device. Apple surprised us yet again with the new iPad. Running iOS 3.2 the gigantic screen (1024 x 768) was just a stellar device.
Finally, Apple introduces multitasking on iOS 4.0. Helping consumers increase battery life. Apple even releases the iPhone 4 with this new iOS update. Helping users keep everything neat, iOS even gave users the ability to create folders, to store and categorize apps. With Retina display and FaceTime (an app from Apple that allows video chats from iOS device to iOS device), the iPhone 4 was definitely a competitor. Also offering TV rentals, HDR photos, AirPlay, AirPrint and even personal hotspot, Apple definitely hit the bull’s eye with this update.
Following up iOS 4 and its .01 update came iOS 5.0 with Siri. Siri was a remarkable feature, and Apple sure did spend some money on the research. As Siri has the ability to answer general questions, Google search our questions, tell us the weather and do little tasks, customers who purchased the iPhone 4s sure did enjoy this feature. Thankfully, in this update Apple tweaked the notification center, which almost all consumers seemed to have difficulties with. Also in iOS 5, consumers like me were introduced to iMessage, an app created by Apple that allows consumers to message others with iOS devices via Wi-Fi, at no charge. As storage can be monitored on the phone and backups can be done on the cloud (iCloud). iOS 5 was definitely a shocker and android did have competition coming its way.
If you thought iOS 5 was great, let's check what Apple packed for us in iOS 6. Introducing Apple Maps (previously Google Maps which is no longer available via Apple) iOS consumers seemed to always get lost. From glitches and bugs Apple Maps offered, Apple recovered the fall by allowing consumers to FaceTime and iMessage using their cellular data. With Siri enhancements, Siri is definitely smoother and smarter. Apple even took the extra step to add a new feature called Photo Stream, a feature found in the Photos app that shares pictures with others who are logged into the same iCloud account as you. With changes like this, I was worried that Apple wouldn’t add too much in iOS 7.
From mid 2007 to summer 2013, iOS users were used to seeing the regular iPhone display and design. That all changed in the fall of 2013, when Apple revealed iOS 7, one of the biggest changes in Apple history. iOS 7 had a new refreshed look to it, as there was a whole new design change and two new iPhones released. Never seen before, Apple released the more expensive iPhone 5s which comes with Retina display and a fingerprint scanner and the iPhone 5c a cost efficient version of the iPhone 5s which excludes the Retina display and fingerprint scanner. With the new look, Apple finally got their notification center in shape and also added iWorks for free. In addition, iOS 7 even comes with FaceTime audio, permitting users to basically phone call each other via Wi-Fi. With the new 64-bit chip, the 5c and the 5s are rocking loud with iOS 7.
After years of tweaking and testing the notification center, Apple has finally nailed it with iOS 7. iOS has developed very well over the years, introducing Retina display to the world as well as a fingerprint scanner. iMessage and FaceTime are great innovations for the iPhone, iPod and iPad as it connects family and friends. With Siri’s capabilities, consumers can get information on just about anything. Also, Photo Stream is no doubt by far the best innovation iOS has to offer, personally, as all your important pictures are always with you whether you forget your device or it’s stolen. The ability to even find your lost iPhone or Apple device using another iOS device is great as consumers can have the relief that their information is well protected or secured and can still be rescued.
All in all, both operating systems are immense. As Android offers more customization features without rooting, iOS has various things it excels in as well. Personally, I believe Apple did a better job keeping family and friends together with FaceTime and iMessage. Even though Google does offer the same features, I personally prefer FaceTime. As colours are displayed richer, on all of Samsung’s products, the iPhone 5s brings up information virtually instantaneously with that 64-bit chip. As android is more of an open source operating system, allowing developers and hackers to customize their devices, Apple users on the other hand must jailbreak to get the same feel. As voice commands are fairly equal, I am personally leaning towards iOS’ Siri. The true question is what’s better, android or iOS? My response, it’s your money. Put your money towards the operating system you desire. Above, you have my opinion and specs or history of the two devices, and all in all it mostly depends on what you want out of your device. I have the iPhone 4s, iPhone 5, iPhone 5s, Samsung Galaxy S3, and the Samsung Galaxy S4 and I've noticed both brands are similar with different advantage and disadvantage points.
For more in-depth information on any of the two operating systems, visit the following links below:
http://www.theverge.com/2011/12/7/2585779/android-history (For information on android history)
http://www.theverge.com/2011/12/13/2612736/ios-history-iphone-ipad (For information on iOS history)
http://www.diffen.com/difference/Android_vs_iOS (A quick comparison chart between the two)