Website design By BotEap.comWhich smartphone is better is the perennial question? No matter how you answer this question, ardent fans of the stylish iPhone or Android phones will always prove that their preferred smartphone is the best. This is similar to the “Occupy Any Where – QAW© to make our point and get free stuff” movement. One smartphone is not really better than the other, but one of these options is more suited to your needs and budget. Having used both helps me understand what to consider when selecting a smartphone. Before choosing your next smartphone, you should read this article to help you in the decision process.
Website design By BotEap.comThe active iPhone family includes the iPhone 3G, iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, and iPhone 4S. These phones are compatible with the major cellular networks of AT&T, Verizon, and Sprint, among others. The active Android family is larger because Android is a Linux-based software operating system (OS) for mobile devices, including smartphones and tablets. The Android operating system is maintained by Google and the Open Handset Alliance. The current Android operating system called Gingerbread runs on a wide variety of cell phones and other devices.
Website design By BotEap.comThe first difference between iPhone and Android phones is that iPhone is strictly controlled by Apple. Rather, Android phones are in a Google-influenced “Wild West” open source market. Tight control results in exclusivity, higher costs, and dependency on Apple. The result is that the iPhone is the stylish phone that everyone who wants to be important wants. Please don’t get me wrong, the iPhone is a very good phone that I’ve depended on for three years. Android phones, by contrast, are more flexible, work easily with Gmail, and support new hardware features that are better than the iPhone on paper. The differences in hardware features aren’t enough to justify choosing an Android phone over an iPhone.
Website design By BotEap.comIn the three years of time with the iPhone there was one failure problem. One day, iPhone 3GS stopped working while I was driving using GPS navigation function. When I say just quit, I mean it died so completely that I couldn’t even make a 911 call. I have a very old Blackberry phone that is no longer in service and I can make a 911 call today if needed. There is likely a federal law or FCC ruling that requires all cell phones to always dial 911 no matter what has happened to them. The only excuse not to call 911 is that the battery is dead and there is no power available. Apple replaced the phone free of charge.
Website design By BotEap.comTwo other iPhone observations are that there was a death grip with the iPhone 4 that caused calls to drop and that the battery is not user replaceable. The first problem is solved with an iPhone cover that slightly separates the hand from the phone.
Website design By BotEap.comThe second problem affects the longevity of the iPhone. Not being able to change a battery means that at some point you will have to buy a new iPhone. The battery is good for two or more years depending on usage. All batteries develop a memory that limits the battery charge. This battery charge supports iPhone operation in standby mode, data mode, text messaging mode, or when talking on the phone. To maintain the longest battery life, the battery must be fully discharged before recharging. At first, an iPhone can run for two days without recharging with moderate phone use. After a while, the phone will need a daily recharge. Older phones often can’t work a full day. This can be fixed by using expensive external batteries for an iPhone. No external battery has worked to my satisfaction. Sticking with the iPhone battery is the best. The problem of short battery life is solved by using car chargers and carrying an iPhone charger.
Website design By BotEap.comIn contrast, Android phones from Samsung and Motorola don’t have a death grip. Both phones support battery replacement with a second battery that costs around $50. They are light on power consumption unless you connect to 4G service. When using 4G service, these phones consume energy like football players eat steak.
Website design By BotEap.comAndroid phones have iPhone “applications” (application programs) rebuilt for Android phones. These “applications” are downloaded to the phone from the Android Market. There was no problem finding the iPhone “apps” I use most frequently for the Android phone. It took me a short while to get used to operating the Android phone because the controls work differently than on the iPhone. The Android phone needed a case because it was too thin to stay in my shirt pocket. It kept falling. This was very bad, but buying a $20 box solved the problem.
Website design By BotEap.comThe new iPhone 4S has a useful voice app that is changing the way we use our cell phones. He responds with responses to spoken commands when he knows how to use that feature effectively. In contrast, Android phones have excellent speech-to-text input that allows you to dictate emails and perform other limited tasks. While speech recognition is excellent, editing and other features are rudimentary and not very smooth. It can be very useful when combined with the Evernote.com “app”. In the longer term, Android phones will catch up and include a feature similar to the new iPhone.
Website design By BotEap.comUnfortunately, the Android phone diminished my public image that was built using the iPhone. This can be important when you’re a nerd. Android phones are not usually used by movie stars and other notable people.
Website design By BotEap.comThe last important item is what cellular service should go with your iPhone or Android phone? The most important criteria of a nerd is unlimited data. AT&T and Verizon do not provide unlimited data.
Website design By BotEap.comBoth AT&T and Verizon seem to have better cell phone reception coverage than Sprint. Everyone in the Baltimore area has good 4G (4th generation) cellular coverage. In theory, 3G data can go up to several million bits per second (Mbps) and 4G data can go up to several hundred Mbps. In fact, 3G phones typically run at 500 Kbps to 700 Kbps and 4G phones run at 3 Mbps to 5 Mbps. Higher speeds provide higher capacities and more communication features, such as phone-to-phone video calls. If I visit my family in Binghamton, NY; AT&T, Verizon, and Sprint cellular networks only provide 3G service.
Website design By BotEap.comYou also want coverage that allows you to make a call and use the phone at the same time. Newer smartphones have built-in wireless hotspot capability. Using the hotspot capacity adds an additional monthly charge to your bill. In 3G networks, phones support hotspot function, but you need to use hotspot or talk on the phone. Both functions do not work well when used simultaneously.
Website design By BotEap.comUnfortunately, cellular speed costs money. When data is limited, you may be surprised by an unexpectedly high bill or two. It’s easy to inadvertently open a tab using text or data while streaming videos. It’s hard to use the new phones to their true potential. Sprint offers unlimited data, but their service coverage is not the same as Verizon and AT&T.
Website design By BotEap.comVoice minutes are less important. Today voice minutes are charged at any time when speaking from the cell phone to the landline. This is a holdover from the old phone rates of the 1980s. Cell phone-to-cell phone calls on many plans are unlimited.
Website design By BotEap.comWhen choosing a cell phone, important considerations beyond the blow-by-blow feature comparison are:
Website design By BotEap.com1. The prestige of having the most expensive and desired phone.
2. The usefulness in terms of battery life and dropped calls.
3. The “apps” you use most often and the new features you can use.
4. The cost of the service plan as it relates to data, voice and messaging.
5. The telephone reception coverage of the cellular network.
Website design By BotEap.comComparing the phone feature by feature is marginally helpful because features are so similar that they rarely tell the difference between phones. Smartphones are the future and the future is now. They can only improve and make us unable to live without them by our side.
