Written by Dan Grabham
Start quaking in your boots, Steve. Or support some more stuff, up to you
So Android has arrived with the announcement of the T-Mobile G1. The HTC-manufactured phone certainly has a few nice touches, despite its lack of multi-touch (and with T-Mobile’s particular variant, no accelerometer).
But while this particular handset might not be the technology king to beat the iPhone, the potential’s there. And the OS looks super-hot. Here’s why Android can make its presence felt and could really threaten the iPhone.
1. It’s more open
Android is a fully open OS, which means that developing for it is a free-for-all. Handily, that’ll mean more free apps and games than the iPhone’s App Store can throw at us currently as they’ll be offered by networks, content providers and Google alike.
2. It’s got integration with online apps
Google is heavily involved here. We’ll get better versions of handy stuff like Google Docs, Talk and Calendar plus Street View mapping on Android-based handsets. And it all comes with a single sign-on.
3. It’s faster, faster, faster
One thing we’ve seen with Android all year is that it’s incredibly fast. In the tech demo at last week’s Google Developer Day and now we’ve got hands on with the G1, the interface doesn’t suffer from the recent glitches the iPhone 2.0 firmware has.
4. Better hardware
The iPhone is high tech hardware, but it remains that phones with features such as HSDPA and better digital cameras appeal to the masses. Add in Android, and the iPhone will be playing catchup.
5. There’ll be more variants
Apple has always been a bit one-size-fits-all. And the iPhone is no different in terms of the hardware (the capacity aside, of course). Android will be available in cheap mobiles as well as expensive ones, and that can only be a good thing.
6. It’ll have Flash
So Steve Jobs reckons Flash is too intensive for mobile use? We don’t think it’ll be too long before somebody develops a version for Android. In the meantime, websites use Flash, Steve. Get over it.
7. It won’t be restricted by Apple’s nuances
Following on from number 6, many Android phones won’t be locked down in the same way that the iPhone is (although how this plays out with networks remains to be seen). More flexibility could mean more fans.
8. You can have proper keyboards
We’re pretty used to typing with the iPhone’s keyboard now, but for many it’s a step too far – and too small. The QWERTY slider keyboard on the T-Mobile G1 is the real deal.
9. It’ll have better format support
Wider support for different formats will appeal to those frustrated by Apple’s restricted model. And bring a whole load of new fans to Android.
10. You won’t need to jailbreak
Hacking? It’ll be expected with Android (though, once again, we don’t know how this will play out with the networks). Customisation will be the norm, rather than the exception. Jailbreaking? What’s the point?
11. Unrestricted apps
Apple has banned several apps from the App Store, including the Murderdome adult comic. You won’t get so many restrictions with Android.
Well, it’s not faster. Check out the video when they compare new Android phone with iPhone side by side.
I can give you several reasons why it will get its ass kicked:
1. Its on T-Mobile…in Europe, that may mean something, but here, T-Mobile sucks. They should have gone with Verizon. And by the time they do move to other characters, their hype will be gone. Which brings me to my next point:
2. NO HYPE. Ok, there is a little bit of hype among the nerd-elite, but for the most part, people don’t know this phone exists. I have seen no commercials or advertising for it.
3. JAILBREAK. People continue to talk about how the iphone is locked down. Not if you have 5 minutes and are able to use a mouse. Jailbreaking is easy and safe, and I would wager that the majority of people that are looking for more features with the iphone have been able to get them with jailbroken apps.
4. Sleek, superior hardware. I have owned many HTC devices. They are always bulky and unergonomic. This one looks especially bad…how easy is it going to be to type with huge square protrusions on the sides of the keyboard? The iphone’s onscreen keyboard may be small, but even if you mistype, the mistake correction works extremely well.
I am no apple fanboy, I have never owned an ipod, and I prefer Microsoft (yes I have a Zune). But the iphone was one thing I couldnt argue, and I have been extremely pleased with it. Good luck if you buy an Android.
AT&T – 73 Million Subscribers
T-Mobile – 28 Million Subscribers
AT&T- More Expensive Services/Phones with success (as shown in subscribers) to a higher financial clientele
T-Mobile- Less expensive Service/Phones with success to a lower financial clientele
Point:
AT&T can afford to charge up to $600 for a phone (as the lines outside stores are proven so) AND still have plenty of subscriber class to market to.
T-Mobile has less subscribers and limited on high end devices WHILE supporting the service-to-phone cost ratio (E.G. The higher price a phone the higher standard the customer demands for quality service.)
Many less tech-savy people may determine the G1 to be a poor phone if T-Mobile drops many calls/undelivered SMS. Even though this is a reflection upon T-Mobile and NOT on the G1, many people may not understand or care, and just believe the G1 is a bad device regardless.
I heard android’s apps are compiled and run using somekind of virtual machine that seems to me not as fast as native code apps that run on iphone. Plus android lacks the UI that iphone has and iphone certainly has lots and lots of programmers than android and many of them were familiar with Mac osx coding prior to iphone which means you’ll get a ratio of 50 iphone apps to 1 android app in number.