Just to clarify, here are the stats for the iPhone's growth in the smartphone market. And this data doesn't reveal the iPod Touch, which would be something to consider as well when you are talking about market share. They are both running on the iPhone OS, after all.

Link: http://theappleblog.com/2009/1...

most of you guys have legitamate points, just you have to be less bias with them, and the only point i have to make is about the article itself. For reviewer or journalist who wrote it, i understand that most phones will be compared with the iphone, but this guy only went on to compare it with videos and apps, which is bias, because i guess if he compared the iphone with the pre and mentioned multitasking the iphone wouldn't stand a chance, so at the end of the day, just give us an objective opinion, not one that suits your preference!!

My opinion, as someone who has owned neither but played with both, is that the Android OS is the superior.

From a user perspective, I like the customisability of the Android - the iPhone just have pages and pages of icons. Yes, you can put what you like on which screen, but, for example, the Android allows you to create folders.

The widgets are great. For example, you don't have to actually run your MP3 player application to start/stop playback, as there is a widget that you can use.

If you really really prefer the iPhone interface, you can download a new interface for Android that will give you an iPhone interface, so you can have 'best of both worlds'.

As a developer, I can see myself developing for Android in the near future - from a developer point of view, I can use my already-known Java skills to develop applications. For the iPhone, I would have to learn Objective C. So, learn a new language just to develop on for the iPhone, or use my existing skills to develop for a plethora of Android devices that is increasing, month by month, gaining in market share? (the iPhone's market share hasn't changed in several months)


that's just my opinion anyway.



T.

@David S: Reasonable enough. A few things to note:

1. If Android apps are expected to exceed 150K by the end of 2010, iPhone is expected to have 300K apps by the end of 2010, according to IDC.

Here's a link for reference: http://www.newsfactor.com/stor...

2. I wasn't trying to defend the iPhone, but you can't really change what's already out there. The future of iPhone and Android is exciting, but it continues to be a mystery. We only have historical data to base our opinions on. Wouldn't you agree?

3. I also agree that it all boils down to personal preference. Just like 99% of the people, I'm only going to carry a single phone, and I'm going to pick one based on what I need. Forget the smartphones, if the only thing that matters to me is having phone conversations, then I'm going to get a flip phone that offers me great voice quality but doesn't have the same features as a smartphone. People are still buying them in masses. It is what it is.

4. Comparing Android to iPhone or comparing webOS to Android or to the iPhone - let's face it, it might be biased or unrealistic, but that's what people want to know. Should I dump my iPhone for the Nexus One? Should I get a Blackberry instead of an iPhone? That's how we are wired to make decisions. It doesn't matter if it's an apples to oranges comparison.

5. I also agree that no one platform has to kill another to succeed. Android could be doing its own thing and have a loyal fan base, and Apple could be doing its own thing and have their core enthusiast group. Why does the one need to kill another to be successful? Makes no sense to me.

6. I also agree with you that Apple has already gotten a lot flexible with accepting certain apps. You will continue to see that in the future.

Hope that clarifies my points.

@ Gundeep Hora

I think you miss the point...Android has just gotten started in terms of apps development...it is moving much quickly and I do believe Apple soon is going to be forced to be a little more flexible on what it allows on its own site because it risks losing money to other sites designed with apps for jail broken iPhones. Android and iPhone only makes a developer money if they have a hit...they know this and the majority of developers are designing for a single platform but have projects going for cells, computers, etc...

I'm not sure on the estimates but the pace on apps for Android is accelerating quickly, so its not necessarily logical iPhone will hit 150K just because Android does. I think the pace for apps on iPhone is flat, which is what would be expected on a more mature platform. So they are growing at the same rate month over month.

Android is drawing in new people and amateurs into the development world...people not necessarily interested in money, but designing something new, cool, innovative. It appeals to these kind of independent and free-spirited developers.

That being said, there is no argument that iPhone is a hit and will always have its following. The OS is clean and sleek. On the other hand their can be no argument Android is a hit now. The OS is...well its what you make of it...the Android based phones are too. That is the point on Android...you have a little more control. I have yet see anyone so excited with the iPhone OS to try and port it over to a non-iPhone device and run it on there. However, people are doing it and posting it online all the time with Android...just see what can and can't be done and experimenting.

Innovation on both devices exist, but with Android based devices I think there is much more going on there. Innovation + experimentation.

So don't feel like you have to defend iPhone against the Android, but also be legit on your posts and know that your argument on the apps projection doesn't hold up since they are progressing at much different rates currently.

And for the record, the article was bias in my opinion. I didn't expect a glowing response...nor should the Nexus One or any single other Android phone have to be an iPhone killer...so comparing the two in an article or review does seem bias from the get go. iPhone can't be used as a benchmark, since they are two different platforms that appeals to generally different types of people. All the Android devices combined tho may end up outselling Apple's iPhones...and from an investor standpoint that matters...and maybe it matters to an individual if they have an ego...and maybe a cash strapped developer looking to make some cash and choosing.

But from a user standpoint the comparison does not matter. I wish to use only one phone at a time and iPhone or Android its going to be what I need and I'm going to love it, or I would just trade it in or buy another phone. Most people are going to stick to the same phone or carriers if they have something that works, they love and can easily transfer everything from and to when they upgrade. I love iPhone but will not own another as long as it is on AT&T. Despise their customer service and their cell phone service is spotty...have them for my work cell.

So the iPhone killer for me is the carrier...

@Ratnok: What if none of that stuff is important to me? Then what? I'd love to have a replaceable battery, I'll give you that. But let's face it - when I had a Blackberry with expandable storage and a replaceable battery, I never bought a spare. You make it sound like they are such flexible features, but the fact is - where are you going everyday where you are going to completely drain your battery in a matter of few hours and won't have a nearby charger to plug your iPhone in anyways? There are cheap car chargers available just for this reason, and the iPhone (and Android + Blackberry phones) charge so quickly, it's almost ridiculous. I can charge my iPhone for 90 minutes tops to get a full recharge. The same thing with Android and Blackberry phones that I've used.

I don't take photos with my phone. I always have a camera stashed away in my car. Phone photos look like crap anyways, regardless of the platform. Increase it's screen size? What does that mean? I'm perfectly happy with a standard 3.5-inch display size - whether it's on the Android or the iPhone, it doesn't matter. In fact, the upcoming Motorola shadow with a 4.5-inch display seems a little big to me.

Yes, the 3GS doesn't run at 1GHz speeds, but that doens't mean it won't ever run at those speeds. Up until the Xperia 10, no Android could run at 1GHz speeds either. Give it time. You yourself said there's only one version of an iPhone from Apple and they are only releasing one handset a year, so of course, it will take them time to catch up.

GPS Turn-by-Turn navigation - I agree. You have a point. It's freakin' expensive on the iPhone.

Why do I need to create screen widgets again? I have no problem clicking on an app icon to get them the it to display the weather and all that. And just so you know, there's a jailbroken app that lets you display the weather with the press of a home button.

Unlimited SD Storage. Really? SD Cards only go up to 32GB. The iPhone has a 32GB version. What's the big deal? What the hell are you storing on your iPhone that takes up 32GB space. I can live with a 8GB version just fine. Of course, I use my iPhone for email, calls, calendar, texting, news reading and social networking for the most part, with a few games and entertainment apps thrown in. I don't ever have the time to go watch 90-minute long movies on my phone, so I really don't see the point.

There are plenty of apps for everything else that you mentioned. AT&T; sucks, but I'm not on AT&T.; I use a jailbroken iPhone on T-Mobile. Sure, 2G is horrible, but I have access to WiFi everywhere I go, so I'm good. Plus, emails download just fine over 2G. ;)

I could say the same thing. An iPhone can do everything that an Android can do. Can we really prove that statement one way or the other? The fact of the matter is everyone is spending more money developing for the iPhone, and Android takes second place in development resources. Could that change? Sure. But for now, developers are loving the iPhone.

But, but, but...if I'm happy with the iPhone, why would I care if Apple offers 10 other models? Kinda ridiculous, isn't it? That's like saying, if you don't like the Droid, go get the Nexus One or the Xperia 10. Why? I don't like the Droid because of the OS, not necessarily the hardware. And Xperia 10 and Nexus One both run on Android, so what's the difference? Really, there's no difference in the underlying OS. You're just excited because so many companies are offering the same hardware with the same OS to the point of making no sense and getting to a saturation point in the market.

Creative freedom? Is that why the iPhone has 100K apps compared to Android's 20K. If there's so much creativity, why aren't developers developing for Android right now? Again, the fact is - if there's no money for them in a platform, or if the platform isn't mature enough, no one's going to want to be creative on it. Android will definitely not get to 150K apps by 2010. And if Android hits 150K, do you not think, logically, that Apple will hit 150K by then as well?

It's funny how you call me a fanboy, yet you have nothing but awesome things to say about Android. Which is fine. To each his own. ;) Android will kill Windows Mobile, Symbian etc. iPhone and Blackberry will hold strong, thanks to their tightly controlled platforms.

Kiddies play in a sandbox.

@Gundeep Hora- your rationale about a jailbroken iPhone is a joke. Being hacked will never give the iPhone the ability to change it's battery, or take photos in the dark, or increase it's screen size, or run at 1ghz speeds, or have unlimited memory storage by using SD cards, or provide internal free GPS turn-by-turn navigation, or create screen widgets like weather,calendars, or photo albums, or provide VISUAL search, or stop all of the dropped calls of AT&T, or give you unlimited talk, text, and web for only $79 a month, or shoot pictures in 5mp, blah, blah blah.

You're living in a delusional Apple world my friend. By the way, a rooted Android can do everything the iPhone can do and even more. That's not fanboyism talking like your post. It's the truth.

If you don't like the G1, you can use the Cliq, or the Droid, or the Behold II, or the Hero, or the MyTouch, or the Eris, or the Moment, or soon, the Nexus One, or the Xperia X10. With Apple, all you get is the iPhone. Every phone looks and acts alike on Apple. With Android, you get diversity. You get choice, and developers get creative freedom- over 20,000 apps and with the speed of app growth, the Android Market is analysts project it to grow to 150,000 by the end of 2010.

unlocked also means that you can take to MOST GSM networks (outside U.S.!) to use 3G. Even if you buy iphone 3GS today without a contract, it's still locked to ATT unless you jail break it.

@Vicky: You're right. It is a little unfortunate that having an unlocked Nexus One might not do us any good if it's going to run at 2G speeds on the AT&T; network.

@Jeff and @Reality: The Nexus One is faster than the 3GS, but it's not "far faster."

@Jeff: Let's talk. It's not a matter of what's better. It's whatever work for YOU. If Android does everything that you need for it to do, then good for you. There are people that ONLY text, call or email. For them, the Blackberry is the perfect choice. Why bother with iPhone or Android at all? I think we need to let go of "blah, blah" is better than "blah, blah." Stick to whatever works. Simple as that.

Whatever qualities you mentioned with the Android, you do realize you can do all of that, plus a lot more with a jailbroken iPhone. Big deal that you can't implement all the hacks from the go, but who cares? The functionality is there, you just need to enable it. The fact of the matter is, despite Android being the more open platform, developers have spent a lot more time trying to have the iPhone do some creative things.

It's also not about the present, but the future possibilities. With the way some of the apps are getting developed on the iPhone, it's ridiculous what you will be able to do on that platform. That's not to say in the next 5 years Android won't do everything that the iPhone can do, but for now, the iPhone is winning hands down in app development and for a good reason. It's just a much better platform to develop for.

I respect your choice to pick the G1 over the iPhone, but after using the G1 and "feeling" Android for the first time, I was certainly intrigued, but there's no way I can use Android right now in its current state. I have too much invested in my iPhone (apps and information, not money) to let go of it.

> And then the rest. Battery, expandable storage, unlocked

What good is "unlocked"????
$500-$600!
You'll be able to use it on a *ONE* other network: Awful AT&T.
And worse yet... it will only be their 2G network.

"Unlocked" in that way just isn't worth it.

1. The Nexus One has the latest android OS, 2.1.

2. It is far faster than the iPhone 3gs.

Oh and I forgot...Tethering.

wwwwwaaaaaa!!!!

Yet another Apple-nut posing as a legitimate journalist.

What do you mean "where are my movies?" Even the antiquated G1 has movie capabilities. I have had mine loaded for over a year with tons of high quality movies and videos.

Apps? Quantity does many quality my friend. Android has all the apps I need, there aren't any on the apple side that I miss...except slingbox, but I can admit that is a short coming (but coming soon)

Now lets talk about what is better.

Flexibility... I can customize my desktop experience to my liking along with widgets, which are extremely valuable.

Speed... the Nexus One blows away any Apple Phone on speed.

And then the rest. Battery, expandable storage, unlocked, regular updates, open source.

Honestly I've used both and I frankly think the G1 was on par with the I-Phone and don't know exact ally what else it would take to be considered an I-Phone killer.

Bittet party of 1.