Android vs. iPhone vs. Windows Phone: Pick your smartphone OS
With a rush of amazing Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals, this is a great time to buy a new phone for you or for someone else. There are excellent phones flooding the market (here are our top five favorite smartphones), but unless you plan on switching your next handset before your contract is up, you'll want to consider a few points before making any semi-permanent decisions.OK, so what if you're looking for even more basic guidance, like which mobile operating system to get? Is the iPhone 4S really a better choice than a shiny, new Android phone? What's the story with Windows Phone, and are BlackBerrys even a thing anymore? Believe me, these are great questions, and they've been at the top of your mind. Earlier this month, I helped take your burning cell phone questions in a live chat, and fielded even more queries at our weeklong CNET Gotham event in New York. I expected questions comparing iOS versus Android,the Samsung Galaxy Nexus versus the HTC Rezound versus the Motorola Droid Razr--but what surprised me is how many of you were considering Windows Phone.So to get you started, here's a quick primer on iPhone, Android, and Windows Phone (sorry, BlackBerry, you've lost your momentum), and a smattering of the most common questions about smartphone OSes I've received from you. (If you've got more to ask, mark your calendars for the next Ask the Editors live chat on November 29!) iPhone 4S in a nutshellRuns Apple's iOS 5 operating systemAvailable on three carriers: AT&T, Verizon, SprintAvailable on three storage sizes: 16GB, 32GB, 64GBEasiest compatibility with iTunes, Apple ecosystem, and productsForm factor: One 3.5-inch screen (on the smaller size by today's standards)Interface: Approachable, but not very customizable. Some hidden featuresKey features: Excellent 8-megapixel camera, front-facing camera, colorful Siri voice assistantNext big release: iPhone 5, release date unknown, but speculated for summer 2012Android in a nutshellGoogle's mobile operating systemForm factor: Available on all carriers, all shapes, all sizesAll capabilities: Range from budget to super premiumNot all Android phones are created equal in capability: some have excellent cameras, screens, etc. Some don't.Easiest compatibility with Google services, Google Music, other Android devicesInterface: Varies by manufacturers, has a small learning curve for some featuresKey features: Free voice navigation with turn-by-turn directions, very customizable, voice actionsNext big phone release: Samsung Galaxy Nexus phone, Verizon release date unknown, but probably DecemberNext big operating system release: Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. Released with Galaxy Nexus, coming to existing handsets starting "early 2012"Windows Phone in a nutshellMicrosoft's mobile operating systemForm factor: Available on all carriers, all shapes, all sizes.AT&T has the largest and best selectionAll capabilities: Mostly midrange, solid performers. Minimum 5-megapixel cameraEasiest compatibility with Zune, Xbox Live, Microsoft services like Microsoft Office, SkyDrive online storageInterface: Very straightforward, but some hidden capabilitiesKey features: Clean interface, built-in barcode-scanning and music identification, Xbox Live integration, voice actionsNext big phone release: Nokia Lumia 800 or similar for U.S. markets, probably JanuaryNext big operating system release: Unknown. Version 7.5 Mango released in SeptemberAndroid FAQQuestion:Why there is delay on update for Android devices, and will Ice Cream Sandwich bring the solution for this problem?With Android phones, we're at the mercy of manufacturers and carriers who need to test the new OS with the additional skins, overlays, or additional software these phones might have. My colleague Bonnie Cha wrote a great story explaining how OS updates work.So the answer is no, Ice Cream Sandwich (or ICS) won't fix this. However, back in May, Google and several key manufacturing partners agreed to work together to bring phones released within 18 months of a new OS updated to the latest OS version. Unfortunately, neither Google nor other manufacturers have been forthcoming with how this is playing out in practice. For now, the surest bet to get the latest Android OS is to get the Galaxy Nexus or Samsung Nexus S phone (available for AT&T, T-Mobile, and Sprint).Q: I am looking forward to buying the Galaxy Nexus. However, which phone would you select between it, the Motorola Droid Razr, and the HTC Rezound?If it's specs you're wondering about, check out my former colleague Nicole Lee's helpful chart comparing the three. If it's the overall look and feel, well, that's just a question I can't answer for you. What do you value most: the camera, the speed, the price, the way it feels in your hand? They're all fast, they're all premium, and they all run on Verizon's phenomenal 4G LTE network.The Droid Razr and Galaxy Nexus are thin, but the Galaxy Nexus and Rezound have better screens. The Galaxy Nexus has a 5-megapixel camera, but the Droid Razr's isn't my absolute favorite on the market, either. The Droid Razr is more stylish. The Rezound comes with Beats by Dr. Dre headphones and a music algorithm, but the Galaxy Nexus is the first to have the powerful Ice Cream Sandwich OS (the other two will get it as well, but you'll have to wait until early 2012.) Yet, the Galaxy Nexus isn't even available yet, while the other two are. I recommend getting yourself to a Verizon store and getting your hands on the other two devices to see how much you connect with them, then go from there.iPhone FAQQ: With the iPhone 4S out, would it be better to wait for the iPhone 5? My 2-year contract renewal is up in 2012. I am hearing possibly summer 2012 for iPhone 5.If you're still riding out a contract, keep waiting. The iPhone 4S is a great device, but it's not worth breaking a contract for or buying fresh unless you need Siri or a better camera.Windows Phone FAQQ: Which is easier to use: Windows Phone, iOS 5, or Android 4.0?Windows Phone has the cleanest OS of the three and is the easiest for getting in and out, at least as far as the main screens go. With only two home screens to toggle between, it's hard to get lost. However, the edgy "metro" look may not be for everyone, and the apps look completely different. There are also a few tricks you need to know about to fully use the OS, like pressing and holding on "live tiles" to pin, unpin, and get more options, and using your finger to pull down the signal strength meter and battery meter while you're on the Start screen (these otherwise disappear from view.) There are other tricks, too--tools in Bing you may not think to look for, and actions when you press and hold the Home and Back buttons.The iPhone and Android have their own quirks as well, and I don't consider the other two particularly hard to learn, though with its large icons and limit to two screens, it's easier to navigate Windows Phone.Do you know if WP7.5 is limited to single-core processors and how that would impact the performance of the devices?Right now all Windows phones are single-core, and I can't complain about performance issues. With the way that the OS handles tasks and task-switching, dual-core processing may not be strictly necessary. That said, as all phones join the processor race, I'm sure we'll eventually see dual-core Windows Phones with much larger screens and many more features advanced as well.Q: Do you think Windows will have the kind of app choice that iOS or Android do? I have not heard much about what Microsoft is doing to bring in developers or how they will play the app market.Windows Phone is really ramping up its app presence. In a few months' time, the population of the app Marketplace has shot from 18,000 to 40,000, and is growing. While they need to keep wooing developers to create interesting apps, there's also the danger of choking on too much unnecessary app sludge, an argument one could levy against iOS (500+K apps) and even Android (300K).Battery lifeWith battery life being one of the biggest issues, does any one of the operating systems seem to handle that better than the others? If so, which and why?How a phone's operating system handles resources is part of the equation, but not as key a factor in our opinion as the hardware and the capacity of the battery. If it seems that Android phones experience faster battery draining than the iPhone, that's likely because there's so much variance among different hardware specs and manufacturers. To be fair, the recently launched iPhone 4S has purportedly shorter battery life than several Android phones as well. There are also some Android phones with better battery life than others. The real question is when we can stop wondering if our smartphones will last longer than a day before needing a recharge. Here's some good news we still have to wait to see: researchers are redesigning the lithium ion battery to charge faster and hold charges longer, up to three days. I, for one, am relieved to know that smart chemists are hard at work, and that a fix is coming.
iPad to once again dominate tablets this year
iPad to once again dominate tablets this year
Apple will continue to reign as king of the tablet market in 2012, according to an IHS report released today.The iPad will grab a full 61 percent of worldwide tablet sales this year, IHS estimated. That would mark a rebound from last year's fourth quarter when the iPad's share dropped to 55.1 percent.Apple lost some ground to Android during 2011's final quarter due to huge demand for Amazon's Kindle Fire. The retail giant's low-cost tablet helped Android win a 41.1 percent slice of the tablet market over the holidays, up from 31.1 percent in the third quarter.But as Apple recaptures that lost market share, Android's share will drop to 38.4 percent this year, IHS has forecast. Despite attempts by competitors such as Amazon to pick up and retain a larger chunk of the market, Apple continues to hold the edge."The combination of a good-looking device, well-designed applications, video, books, and music has provided consumers with an easy-to-use product and an appealing use case," Rhoda Alexander, IHS director for monitors and tablets research, said in a statement. "Such an ecosystem took Apple years to put together, starting with the iPod plus iTunes Music Store more than nine years ago, and it's proving to be a challenge for the company's competitors to replicate it."Related storiesApple iPad ReviewAndroid tablets slip and fall in Q1. Apple's iPad says ha-ha!Report: Apple's iPad accounts for 94.64% of tablet Web trafficRumors of an iPad mini have been floating around for a while. Apple, as usual, has been mum on the possibility of such a device. But IHS pointed to "supply-side sources" who claim that a 7.8-inch iPad will launch later this year, adding to Apple's lineup.Traditional media tablets, such as the iPad, are running the show right now. However, IHS said it believes that the release of Windows 8 later this year will trigger new ultrabooks and hybrid devices that convert between a laptop and a tablet. These "PC tablets" will attract users who want the flexibility of a touch-screen tablet combined with the power of a PC.But these new hybrid tablets won't cannibalize the media tablet market.IHS predicts the industry will sell more than 197 million media tablets next year, compared with just 8 million PC tablets.Tablet sales overall are expected to reach 126 million this year, an 85 percent jump from the 68.4 million units sold last year. Sales are poised to rise another 63 percent next year, culminating in 360 million units sold by 2016.
Apple will continue to reign as king of the tablet market in 2012, according to an IHS report released today.The iPad will grab a full 61 percent of worldwide tablet sales this year, IHS estimated. That would mark a rebound from last year's fourth quarter when the iPad's share dropped to 55.1 percent.Apple lost some ground to Android during 2011's final quarter due to huge demand for Amazon's Kindle Fire. The retail giant's low-cost tablet helped Android win a 41.1 percent slice of the tablet market over the holidays, up from 31.1 percent in the third quarter.But as Apple recaptures that lost market share, Android's share will drop to 38.4 percent this year, IHS has forecast. Despite attempts by competitors such as Amazon to pick up and retain a larger chunk of the market, Apple continues to hold the edge."The combination of a good-looking device, well-designed applications, video, books, and music has provided consumers with an easy-to-use product and an appealing use case," Rhoda Alexander, IHS director for monitors and tablets research, said in a statement. "Such an ecosystem took Apple years to put together, starting with the iPod plus iTunes Music Store more than nine years ago, and it's proving to be a challenge for the company's competitors to replicate it."Related storiesApple iPad ReviewAndroid tablets slip and fall in Q1. Apple's iPad says ha-ha!Report: Apple's iPad accounts for 94.64% of tablet Web trafficRumors of an iPad mini have been floating around for a while. Apple, as usual, has been mum on the possibility of such a device. But IHS pointed to "supply-side sources" who claim that a 7.8-inch iPad will launch later this year, adding to Apple's lineup.Traditional media tablets, such as the iPad, are running the show right now. However, IHS said it believes that the release of Windows 8 later this year will trigger new ultrabooks and hybrid devices that convert between a laptop and a tablet. These "PC tablets" will attract users who want the flexibility of a touch-screen tablet combined with the power of a PC.But these new hybrid tablets won't cannibalize the media tablet market.IHS predicts the industry will sell more than 197 million media tablets next year, compared with just 8 million PC tablets.Tablet sales overall are expected to reach 126 million this year, an 85 percent jump from the 68.4 million units sold last year. Sales are poised to rise another 63 percent next year, culminating in 360 million units sold by 2016.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)