The google's Android based devices have been hogging all the conversations off late. Some have hailed this platform from Google as the “iPhone killer!” Handset makers (like HTC, Motorola, Samsung and Acer) are working hard to release phones with Android on them. India already has a couple of these devices targeted at geeks from HTC and Samsung. Technology addicts and phone enthusiasts all around the world are drooling all over the new device. What is this new-platform-on-the-block and why is there so much hype around it? What is it about these phones that sets them apart from the iPhone? Can the Android be good enough to threaten the much-desired Apple iPhone?Android is an open source operating system (OS) developed by Google. A lot of handsets from different companies run this OS. Some of the more popular handsets are Motorola Droid, the HTC Dream and the Google G1. The ones available in India include the HTC Hero (for around Rs. 34,000), the HTC Tattoo (for around Rs. 19,000) the HTC Magic (for around 27,000) and the Samsung Galaxy (I7500), for around (Rs 25,000).
While some of these devices have great cameras and full QWERTY keypads, what enthusiasts really get kicks out of are the widgets, applications and the ability to customize the phone. Widgets are something that the iPhone does not have. And Apple’s strict control over what applications are available in the App Store tend to limit the amount of fun people can have customizing their phones.
Widgets
Widgets are, essentially, applications for your home screen. They allow you to access information right from the home screen without the need to open any application. For example, a weather widget could be just a tiny cloud on your desktop that displays the current weather of a place you’re interested in. This would be different from a full-blown weather application that might show you forecasts for the entire week of different places in the world. The widget might allow you to get to a more detailed report by clicking on it.
Then there could be a cricket widget that displays the current score of a particular match that you’re interested in. This information would be available on the desktop of your phone just like the time is. You would be able to configure it to pull in the latest score every 15 minutes or so. A full blown cricket application, like a cricinfo one, might show ball by ball commentary of the last over for all current matches, score cards, schedules of other matches, and contain player and team stats.
Widgets make information available right on the home screen. There are widgets for Facebook, Twitter, email, notes, calendar etc. The android developer community and some of the bigger players like HTC and Google are actively developing more and more widgets. Check out some of the top free widgets.
Applications
Apple’s strict and at times unpredictable screening process for applications has frustrated a lot of developers. Also, Apple does not allow applications, which duplicate the functionality provided by the phone itself. This restricts scope of customization. Developers are writing apps for Android at a rapid pace. The number of apps available for the Android will not be any lower than that available for the iPhone for long. Google already counts over 16,000 applications.
Also, with the type of applications available, you can change pretty much everything — from your default phonebook, default messaging application to your onscreen keyboard. Now that’s customization! Check out some of the top free applications.
Though Android devices are gaining traction in the market, currently they’re only attracting enthusiasts who love making phones their own and would download widgets, applications and run multiple programs simultaneously. For these devices to be popular among others as well, they would have to be less confusing to the consumer. There is no ONE android phone. Having to choose from an array of phones can be a daunting task. Especially if you don’t understand what the Android is and what makes one phone different from the other.
On the other hand, the iPhone is one. While trying it out, you’re not exposed to words like “operating system.” It is easier to understand and comes with enough software so that most users do not need to install applications. And do most users really care about being able to change the default onscreen keypad? No!
source:consumermate.com
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