Android vs. iphone

Now that Verizon is coming out with an iphone, what is everyone's thoughts about which is better. I'm due for an upgrade so interested in all comments. Thanks

1. Keyboard
As proficient as we've become with the iPhone's virtual keypad, tapping touchscreen keys (especially ones without haptic feedback) has its limits. Physical keyboards, like those on BlackBerrys and Treos, are much easier to use. The G1's little keyboard will become especially important as smartphone manufacturers increasingly market their devices as pocket-based PCs, and may give the G1 a clear edge when it comes to gaming.

2. Expandable and Removable Parts
The iPhone's sealed battery is more of a metaphoric problem than a functional one. Sure, it's a pain not being able to swap in a new battery for long jaunts off the grid (thankfully, plenty of accessories are designed to fix this problem), and nobody likes having to ship his phone back to Apple if his battery begins to lose its charge. But this problem has drawn as much fire as it has because it is symbolic of the closed, unmodifiable nature of Apple products--a criticism to which Android seems a direct response. Not only can you swap the G1's battery for a fresh one at will (a feature it shares with virtually every other phone on the market), but you can also add extra memory for songs and programs using its micro-SD slot. Good thing too, since the phone's built-in memory is pretty paltry (more on that below.)

3. Integrated Compass
Not only does the G1 have GPS, it has an integrated compass that can determine which way you're facing and give you Google Maps StreetView images of the buildings around you. It's not that useful on its own; after all, you could just look up to see what's around you, but we're interested in seeing what third-party developers can do with this functionality. Maybe Garmin or another company could put together a program that turns the G1 into a fully featured hiking GPS? Even if that doesn't happen, carrying a compass around can't hurt when you find yourself in unfamiliar territory.

4. Offline Integration with Google Apps
You can access mobile versions of most Google applications on an iPhone, but with a few exceptions (such as the Google Maps application) you'll need to do it through the Web. The Android phone's calendar is an offline version of the much-loved Google Calendar online application. Enter dates into your phone, and they automatically show up on your online calendar. And while you can easily set an iPhone to sync up with calendars such as Google's there is a beautiful simplicity with the way Android replicates the online programs you are used to offline, in areas where you don't have service.

5. Multitasking and Copy and Pasting
The iPhone can do a lot, but it can't do a lot at once. With the exception of the iPod music-playing program, which can run in the background while you do just about anything, the iPhone is a multitasking weakling (somewhat ironic, considering the fact that Apple's Macintosh computers were desktop multitasking pioneers). With Android, you can easily swipe between programs. However, it must be noted that it is still to be seen what sort of effect this will have on the phone's memory and performance. The perils of mobile multitasking are among the chief problems with Windows Mobile, where you can certainly load up a ton of applications simultaneously, it will just take forever for them to do anything. It must be noted that we really do appreciate that Android allows you to copy and paste text. Perhaps it will motivate Apple to finally bring that feature to the iPhone.

the above mentions are the advantages of droid

5 Reason's the iPhone's Still Number One

1. The G1's Not a Real Media Player ... Yet
The iPhone doesn't just play back video--it's one of the best (and best-looking) portable media players on the market. While we'll certainly see developers making video playback programs for the G1, there are none built into it. But Apple beware: If there's one thing the open-source development community loves, it is support for a wide range of video formats and codecs. All it will take is one robust mobile playback program (mobile VLC, perchance?) to make users remember just how much they hate converting videos into MP4 so they'll play on an iPhone.

2. The iPhone is Thinner
The G1's slide-out keyboard may be useful, but it comes at a price: The G1 takes us back to the pocket-bulging smartphones of yesteryear, while the iPhone is svelte enough to fit in the front pocket of your Levis.

3. No Multitouch
The G1 uses a capacitive touchscreen. This is the same highly sensitive type of screen found on the iPhone (most touchscreen phones use mostly inferior resistive touchscreens), and should allow the G1 to compete when it comes to touch sensitivity. But the G1 does not have the iPhone's multitouch capability. While the G1 attempts to make up for it by utilizing "long-touches" to bring up deep menus, it loses out on the huge amount of functionality (and coolness) that comes from the iPhone's ability to sense two fingers at once.

4. Terrible Headphone Jack
The iPhone proved that people were willing to listen to music on their cellphones. Still, most manufacturers are reluctant to put a standard 3.5 mm headphone jack on their phones, forcing customers instead to use bulky adaptors or subpar bundled headphones. The 3G iPhone bucked that trend (the original had an annoying recessed headphone jack that could only take specially made headphones), but the G1 relies on an irritating proprietary plug. To make things work, early indications are that adaptors won't even be available when the phone first hits shelves, making the bundled headphones the only choice.

5. Internal Memory
The iPhone currently comes in 8 GB and 16 GB varieties, and we'll likely see a 32 GB version before long. The G1 has just 192 MB of onboard memory, and comes with a 1 GB micro-SD card. That's not really enough memory for a phone that's supposed to be full of music and downloaded applications. If you want an 8 GB G1, you'll have to purchase an 8 GB micro-SD card, which will push the price of the phone from $179 above the iPhone's $199 price tag. If T-Mobile, Google and HTC really expect us to use the G1 as a mobile computer, they'll need to give us more memory.

i cant comment on the iphone cause i never had one or worked with one but i recently upgraded to T-Mobile's HTC G2 and its operated by Android system and Google.  its very fast for downloading and getting online and it also has a flip out keyboard for text.  my nephew has an iphone and last time i saw him he was looking at and playing around with my G2 and he said he likes it better then his phone and wish he had went with an android operated phone but it really comes down to each individual's preferance and what u like better..  GL 

Agree with phillyfan. I never even touched an iPhone but I absolutely love my droid. It's worth every penny with the online access.

I like my Blackberry Torch

I need one of these fucking things pronto!!!!

I am in the cell phone business and up until recently I was a HUGE Blackberry guy.  Now I use Android and I would never go back.  Android is already equal if not better than the i-phone and it will soon leave the i-phone in the dust.  Go with Android.  If you have Verizon get the Incredible...it lives up to its name.

The Android HTC Incredible is garbage.  Go with the Android Motorola.

Hilarious.....thanks

It seems like you guys are neglecting to mention one simple feature the iphone will never adopt which will make windows, google and other smart phones with FLASH better every time.

 

android...it has flash (html 5 standards wont be out till 2012  MINIMUM then revisions etc)....android is moving into other form besides smart phiones such as tablets (slates) and tab phones..so if you buying one gets u half way up to syncing all of them if u buy another android device....all chrome os will like have some sort of port/functionality to it that will allow for android apps to integrate...when my contract end in spring im going to get a tabphone....like the dell streak, galaxy tab is way to much loot....cause ill evetually but a tablet down the road once they get better cpu's in them so i can work and play on it (media encoding!!!)

This guy gets it. FLASH is the key here. Do you all understand how significant FLASH is? All the apps that the iphone has can't make up for how great and simple flash is. But apple is too dam stubborn to add flash to even their newest 4g phone... What a waste of money.....

typhillyfan

i meant toto lol *

open source will ALWAYS win out over closed source

android > iphone

unless you're a fanboy, then you'll accept a steve jobs money shot if it meant an iphone 5

i have a BB torch. love the keyboard, hate the virtual keyboard. also my main use is email/texting. i do very little on the actual web from my phone that doesnt have a mobile app

Im gonna get a Smart phone tom/today....I'm sprint so Consumer report's rated the Epic #1 and since I want a real keyboard it seems like my best buy, but I just saw there may be an Evo out that has real keyboard as well...I'm not looking for rocket science, just shit that I can use/handle

I've had an iPhone for 3 years and have never regretted it. It's the most useful piece of technology I've ever owned. The lack of Flash support, which I thought would be a major inconvenience, has never been more than a minor annoyance -- it hardly ever comes up in my normal use, and I use this thing A LOT.

The comments by totoyturok up at the top of this thread are very out of date, so look at current reviews before you make your choice. There are certainly some nice Android phones -- the Samsung Galaxy is gorgeous -- but for pure ease of use and sheer volume of apps, I really think the iPhone is the way to go.

totoyturok is a self-anointed Apple shill.

My brother owns an iPhone 3GS and an iPhone 4, and both download web pages slower than my HTC Desire (we're on the same network).  If you have a good IQ and love tweaking stuff, Androids are for you.  Doesn't have to be HTC.  A Samsung or Motorola that runs Android can just as easily be tweaked. 

For example, HTC put processor speed limiters on its stock Froyos (don't ask me why, but Mercedes does the same to its E-Class sedans).  I got around that by installing a custom ROM (There are dozens out there, all for free).  Battery longevity problems?  Either buy a similar-sized battery with a higher mAh rating, or flash a custom kernel that undervolts (Runs the same processor speed but at a lower power consumption).  Dislike the graphic interface?  There are literally hundreds of custom themes for you to download for free. 

All that and more--which cannot be done on an iPhone because Steve Jobs decided he knows what's best for you.

Iphone 4

i don't understand most of this shit and didn't read the rest.  flash?  what is that, the flash for the camera so you can take pictures in the dark?

if i actually need a good phone, you know, to talk to people and stuff but also like using the internet and emailing, which phone is the best.  i don't give a shit about the camera and taking videos.  as far as apps go, i use the map for directions and the one that tells you what song is playing every now and then and i'd like up to date sports scores.  also, it would be a plus if i could make some bets on matchbook.

anyone have an opinion?

No doubt!!!!!

If I had to chose I would go iphone.

They're referring to Adobe Flash for mobile phones, not the camera flash.