In this day and age of fast paced technology, it is only fitting that
the humble mobile phone is replaced by feature-packed smartphones. This
has opened up a whole new market for mobile operating systems.
Currently three main software companies are competing for the number one
spot –Apple’s iPhone OS, Google’s Android and the new entry of
Microsoft’s Windows 8.
Mobile phones today come with different variants of operating
systems. Samsung has both Android and Windows phones, Apple’s iPhones
are in a separate league, while Nokia is currently bringing the Windows 8
platform to the fore. Other brands such as HTC and Sony Ericsson too
are experimenting with different platforms. Each has its own set of pros
and cons. We have attempted to compare these software based on a few
general parameters.
User Interface
When it comes to user interface the three operating systems are
neck-to-neck in terms of usability, ease of access and attractiveness.
While Android and iOS phones feature widgets and icons on the home
screen, Windows 8 phones come with an attractive display of larger
tiles. It also allows the user to customize the tiles and add more apps
to the screen, though it might be a little sluggish to swish through. iPhone applications,
on the other hand, come with simplicity, greater functionality and
better features such as child lock for certain apps. Android’s Jelly
Bean too makes for a smooth homescreen experience.
Apps
Apple has been reigning the App scene with a wide range of iPhone applications,
and Android came a close second. Windows 8, however, has upped the ante
with the introduction of two new apps – the Wallet and Maps. Wallet
allows for easier payments using services such as PayPal. While Wallet
is in direct competition to Apple’s Passbook App, the Maps app is by far
unbeatable. iOS has recently moved away from Google Maps by launching
it’s own map application. However, the launch of this application proved
controversial with various errors in the geographical data. Android
relies on the Google maps for the accurate data.
Browser
Safari is a standard iPhone application and the latest
version brings over more features such as offline reading and
integration to iCloud allowing for tab syncing. It also features a Smart
App Banners which help sites promote their app. Android phones feature
the Android Browser, however the Google Nexus 7 is set to get Chrome,
packed with advanced security features which is sure to make for a
smoother browsing experience. Windows 8 isn’t far behind and comes with
the latest version of Internet Explorer, IE10 that is also high on
safety measures. It uses a phishing filter and SmartScreen service to
keep the user from being tracked by malicious websites.
Hardware Compatibility
Mobile application development can truly be successful if it
is compatible with external hardware, making it easier to access and
share files using multi-core processors, HD screen, tablets, SD cards,
etc. After many user demands for better hardware support, Microsoft has
delivered on that front with the Windows NT kernel. Also as it supports
a resolution of1280x768, syncing your phone with the Microsoft Surface
tablet seems very likely. Apple iPhones sync well with the iPad, but
Google takes the cake in this respect. Android 4.0 was seen as the OS
that united both smartphone technology with tablet PCs by combining
Gingerbread Honeycomb and brought forward a seamless experience. The
Google Nexus 7 device is now deemed to be the next step.
In the past the iOS based Apple has been the leader among smartphones
with the iPhone or iPad. However, they have recently been taken over in
terms of total sales by Android based Samsung. It remains to be seen
how the new Windows 8 will fare in the market. Windows 8 is fairly new
in the game and though it packs a punch, it will have to gain the
benefit of doubt from the users. As long as it ensures regular updates,
it is sure to create a better fan following for itself.
