Android vs iOS vs Blackberry OS
The number of smartphone users continues to increase rapidly, and smartphones now make up 40% of all mobile phone usage. Whether you are looking to become a new smartphone user, or you’re a smartphone veteran looking for your next device, choosing the smartphone which is right for you can seem like a difficult task. However, you can simplify your decision quite a bit just by learning about smartphone operating systems (OS). After all, given the numerous devices available, it’s not hard to find a phone with the speed, memory, connectivity, screen size, or keyboard you are looking for. The difficult part is often finding the software that will make the most out of your smartphone experience; the mobile OS being the foundation for all mobile software.
US Market Share
There are currently three major players in the US smartphone OS market: Android (Google), iOS (Apple) and Blackberry OS (RIM). Between 2007 and 2008 the smartphone OS marketplace was shaken up by the entry of Apple’s iOS and Google’s Android. Since then previous market leader Blackberry OS has been overtaken by the new mobile OS market leaders, with Android holding 43% of the market and iOS holding 28%. Blackberry OS holds 3rd position with 18%. However, looking at the segment which has purchased a new smartphone over the last 3 months, Android is gobbling up 56% of the new smartphone market.
User Interface
After Steve Jobs passed away, competitor Nokia’s CEO said that Jobs will be remembered for his simple, elegant designs. Apple's trademark simple elegance certainly rings true for iOS. Given this and the fact that all iOS apps must conform to the iOS user interface (UI) standards, the ease of use for iOS UI is unsurpassed. While Android’s UI might not be as elegant as iOS, Android does have its own advantages. Android’s UI is highly configurable. Take Android widgets for example. To get interactive information out of an app in iOS or Blackberry, you have to load the app and view it. In Android you may configure a widget and interact with that information in a dashboard like view, in a more convenient fashion. Blackberry has made strides of its own with Blackberry OS 7, which is now smoother and more responsive than ever. However, one common complaint about Blackberries is that the UI seems somewhat cluttered. That sentiment doesn’t seem to stop Blackberry veterans from touting the business productivity benefits of their Blackberries.
Mobile Apps
| Top Mobile Apps | |||
| Android | iOS | Blackberry | |
| #1 | Google Maps | ||
| #2 | Pandora | Blackberry Messenger | |
| #3 | Youtube | Google Mobile App | WhatsApp Messenger |
| #4 | Pandora | Shazam | Youtube |
| #5 | MP3 Music | Movies by Flixster | Photo Studio |
While the UI may be the foundation of the smartphone experience, most users will spend the bulk of their time using their favorite apps. For sheer volume of apps, Android and iOS stand head and shoulders over Blackberry. Apple’s App Store has over 500,000 apps available and the Android Market has over 250,000 available, compared to Blackberry’s 45,000 or so. Android and Blackberry users may also download apps outside of Android Market and App World, which increases the potentially available apps- there are over 500,000 Android apps when you include those not offered in the Android Market. However, the apps which a user may download can also be restricted by carriers, so be sure to check their policies before you assume that app you want will be available on your new smartphone. Apps for iOS generally have to be downloaded through Apple’s App Store. Some smartphone users will “jailbreak” or “root” their phone in order to circumvent these restrictions, but this practice can carry consequences like voiding manufacturer’s warranties and violating carrier service agreements. In terms of the volume of free apps the Android Market stands out with 57% free apps. For Apple’s App Store and Blackberry’s App World 28% and 26% of the apps are free, respectively.
For security and quality control Apple’s App Store is the strictest, as all applications are manually reviewed for security, conformance with Apple’s standards for functionality, and adherence to the iOS user interface. In this way Apple is able to maintain a secure, seamless, consistent user experience for iOS users. Of course the flip side of this is that some iOS users complain about Apple’s censorship of apps which might compete with Apple’s products.
Blackberry’s App World also reviews applications for security and functionality, but allows more freedom in terms of the application user interface. Blackberry’s app selection is also more business productivity focused, so don’t expect to find a lack of options in that area. If you are using the phone for business purposes you should have no problem finding what you need. If you want to be on the leading edge of personal apps (e.g. games) you may find Blackberry OS lacking.
The Android Market has an automatic review process which is more permissive than the App Store or App World, which is one reason the growth in the number of Android applications is far greater than for iOS or Blackberry OS. Many Android users enjoy the “freedom of choice” they have, but this comes with a flip side as well. Android applications have less consistency in terms of their user interfaces and are more prone to security risk. Google will of course remove any known malicious apps from the Android Market and will also remotely remove them from user mobile devices. Android users may also choose from a broad range of mobile security apps to help mitigate security threats.
Features
Some users are really looking for certain features and functionality in their smartphone. No one wants to take their shiny new smartphone out of the box for the first time, only to find out shortly thereafter it doesn’t do that one thing you really want it to do. Below is a chart of some of the more prominent features that differ between each mobile OS:
| Features | |||
| Feature | Android | iOS | Blackberry OS |
| Flash Support | Yes | No1 | No |
| Local Full Backup | No2 | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Sync | 3rd Party Apps3 | Yes | Yes |
| Voice Recognition | Yes | No | Yes |
| MS/Office Editing | 3rd Party Apps | Yes | Yes |
| Printer Support | 3rd Party Apps | Yes4 | Yes |
| Turn by Turn GPS | Google Maps Nav | 3rd Party Apps | 3rd Party Apps |
| Desktop Interactive Gadgets | Yes | No | No |
| Bluetooth Keyboard | No | Yes | Yes |
| Front Facing VideoConference | Limited Support5 | Yes | Yes |
2 Android devices may achieve full local backup by rooting the OS and using 3rd party software.
3 Desktop Sync available by default for HTC Sense Android devices.
4 iOS can only directly print to AirPrint-compatible printers. Other printers may be used by specially configuring a laptop or desktop to handle printing on behalf of the iOS device.
5 Front facing video conference capable hardware is now available on some newer phones and supported by Android 2.3+.
Under the Hood
For techies, selecting a mobile OS often goes beyond the user interface and available apps. They want to know what lies “under the hood”. Perhaps they want to write their own apps, modify and extend the functionality of the OS, install the OS on a new device or emulate it in their development environment. The following table contains a list of specifications for iOS, Android and Blackberry OS:
| Technical Specifications | |||
| Spec | Android | iOS | Blackberry OS |
| Latest Version | 2.3.7 | 4.3.5 | 7.0.0 |
| OS Type | Linux | Mac OS/Unix | Mobile OS |
| CPU Architecture | ARM, MIPS, Power, x86 | ARM | ARM |
| Programming Languages | C,C++, Java | C, C++, Objective-C | Java |
| License | Free & Open Source | Proprietary | Proprietary |
| SDK Platform(s) | Linux,MacOS X, Windows | Mac OS X via iOS SDK | Windows |
The Bottom Line
The smartphone market has been growing and evolving rapidly and shows no signs of stopping. Given the rapid change, choosing the right mobile OS may seem difficult, but after a bit of research most users can find the one which is right for them. If you’re new to smartphones or just looking for a simple, elegant user interface with numerous safe apps which integrate seamlessly with it, Apple’s iOS is probably for you. If you’re a power user or techie looking for maximum flexibility, possibly even the ability to experiment with the OS and the apps, Android is probably for you. If you are looking for a business productivity phone which plays well with office and enterprise technology, Blackberry is probably for you. However, every user’s needs are unique. Before purchasing a smartphone, try making a checklist of your most desired/required functionality and qualities. Then do a little research, browse the Android Market, Apple’s App Store and Blackberry’s App World, check out your friends’ and colleagues’ phones, and see how the available options stack up against your requirements.
