Phones should be phones first and everything else later. I also think Android is a bit resource-hungry and a battery sucker compared to other firmwares on phones and smart devices.

I see Android as neither here nor there; and really, I see a revival of inexpensive handsets that just work on stable, simple firmware with strong basic functionality.

I am not going to comment on the iPhone, because to be frank, Apple products are too damn over-priced.

A Tale Of Three Android Phones: Droid 2, Samsung Fascinate & Google Nexus S

I see the Android vs. iOS debate a lot like the Windows vs. Mac debate. They are different in regards to how they work with different sets of features, but in the end, it doesn’t really matter which one you use. All the basic features (web browser, email, etc.) can be done quite easily on both platforms, even if some of the buttons and options are in different places. You’ll get used to whichever platform you’re using over time, and the minor differences won’t matter (that is, unless you need some feature exclusive to one platform).

I personally prefer Android, with its open platform that doesn’t have to be “jailbroken” to run certain apps simply because they didn’t get accepted to the App Store, and its built-in wireless tethering and Adobe Flash support, but I have nothing against iOS, and could use it just as easily instead if I had to.

Android’s hardware discontinuity has been criticized a lot, but I personally like it because it gives you more choice in the device you want. Need a hardware keyboard? Get a phone that has one. Want a trackball? Get something that has one. Don’t want either of these things? No problem. This allows you to get a phone with exactly the hardware features you need. iOS, however, leaves you with a large touchscreen and a single button, which is fine if you like that, but if you don’t, too bad. (I’m not attacking the iPhone’s design by the way. I would personally be fine with it, and my current Android phone only has a touchscreen and four buttons.)

However, Android’s software fragmentation is something I see as a major disadvantage. iOS is the same on every iPhone. It does not vary in any way at all (except perhaps between versions). On Android, the platform is heavily fragmented, and the user interface differs depending on which flavor of Android you’re using. You have stock Android, which Google releases as the default interface, but some manufacturers have replaced it with other user interfaces for reasons I can’t really figure out. HTC has their Sense interface, Motorola has MOTOBLUR, Samsung has TouchWiz, etc. Even worse, it is very difficult to switch between these interfaces, as it requires you to flash an unofficial custom rom to your phone. This isn’t a problem if you get used to one interface and stick with it, but it could be a problem if you switch between phones that come with different ones.

I should point out, however, that practically all features are available no matter which interface you use, and the differences are not particularly striking for the most part.

After about a week, the initial high was wearing off. The phone had so much room to “customize” but there wasn’t really anything to customize it with. Also, like the reviewer, I grew tired of the “menu in menus” system which is found in Android. The web browsing isn’t as smooth or slick, the pinch to zoom and expand aren’t as polished and the apps just feel like they’ve been made half-heartedly.

Whenever I’d use an iPhone, I would never have a problem figuring out how to do something. Within my first 5 minutes of using the phone, I was already familiar with the settings menu and where everything was. For android, even adjusting brightness made me look through endless menus to finally find the option.

Now, I’m sitting here with a Galaxy S regretting the fact that I sold the iPhone. The galaxy is barely 2 weeks old and the resale value is only half of what I bought it for. The iPhone on the other hand, was over a year old with scratches and I sold it for way more than I would ever get for the galaxy. This just goes to show how much everyone wants the iPhone. It still is the most intuitive device on the market in my opinion. Who cares if your phone has a radio? You can stream radio over 3G on the iPhone, or listen to it in your car. Who cares if you have a removable battery? It’s not like people keep their cell phones for 4 years at a time these days. Even if you still do use the original iPhone, you can easily get the battery replaced by a third party vendor and it’s as good as new.

The world is adopting to the iPhone. Docks, Speakers, even Printers and Cars are built to integrate with the iPhone. Why look in another direction just to torture yourself? Do yourself a favor and get an iPhone, you’ll appreciate the fact that you did.