This is a response to Seven Ways PC World is wrong about the iPhone-Android by matchup by straw, which was a response to 7 Ways Android 2.2 Froyo Tops Apple’s iPhone by PC World.
In the article, Chris Rawson attempts to knock down Android’s accomplishments over the iPhone. He first claims that PC World compares today’s iPhone with the ‘as-yet-unbuyable Froyo phones of tomorrow.’ Someone is outdated. Froyo has been pushed to the Nexus One handset just days after the Google I/O. I just wanted to make sure we are clear on that.
1. Tethering-
PC World’s take: “Want to use your phone as a broadband modem for your computer? With Android 2.2, you can do it. With the iPhone, you can’t.”
tuaw’s take: “Yes, you can’t tether in the US… But most of these Android evangelism articles overlook that tethering has been possible on the iPhone for almost a year worldwide, except in the US.”
OK, so I did the math. While we don’t know country breakouts, we know that Apple shipped 8.7 million phones in their Q1 2010 (ended 12/26/09), and during AT&T’s Q4 2009 (completed 12/31/09), they activated 3.1 million, or about 36% of those sold.
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Also, consider that the Android iPhone battle is taking place in America. America accounts for 36 percent of all iPhone sales. That’s a lot for a single country. With America having the highest percentage of iPhone sales, one would believe that it would be catered for. However, it isn’t, and this is where Android shines. So, of course, what Android accomplishes in America vs. what the iPhone performs in America will matter and will someday determine the all-out Victor.
2. It turns your phone into a Wi-Fi hotspot
Tuaw’s take is, “Now multiple Macs (or Wi-Fi-only iPads) can piggyback off the tethered Mac’s connection to the iPhone.” That’s always been the problem. Apple’s closed system doesn’t allow for good integration with other systems. You can include those little MacBooks if you want to make your Android a hot spot with any Wi-Fi-capable device. It is designed and described as being able to be used only from Mac to Mac. Even so, that method can still be used in the US (check my previous response).
3. It plays Flash
UAW’s take: “Flash support on Android is mixed. Many reviewers have said the playback stutters on even moderately demanding video content, crashes fairly often, and the handset gets “piping hot” and takes a significant hit. To battery life after only half an hour of use.”
He talks about mixed reports, which means there were bad and good. Fair, but in open source, an iPhone user would never realize that we never wanted Flash. We enjoyed the option to use it. So let’s say I have an Android Flash-compatible site and am an hour or so from home; I want to be able to CHOOSE to use Flash. We still own by just allowing it.
4. It has open apps
PC World’s take: “On the iPhone, you can only download apps that Apple wants you to download.” UAW’s take: ” I can work on my iPhone, too. With over 200,000 apps on the App Store, I have yet to run into a situation where I said, “I wish there were an app that does (x)” without being able to find one.”
Have you ever wished you had an app that gives you free turn-by-turn navigation? Or how about an app that allows free SMS and voice calling through an internet plan? You probably haven’t because then you’d understand that there isn’t an app for that. Android doesn’t control its users’ experience. They respect that we paid for the device and, therefore, should use it how we see fit.
5. It multitasks
tuaw’s take: “I guess they’ve been asleep for the past month because multitasking is one of the main features of iPhone OS 4.0, very likely due for public release within the next few weeks.” It hasn’t happened yet. The fact that Android landed first means Apple is just playing catch up now. Owned.
6. It has a better browser
PC World’s take: “Android’s built-in browser is excellent, but if you don’t like it, you can always use another one, such as Opera, and eventually Firefox.” tuaw’s take: “PC World’s assertion that the only web browsers available for the iPhone are Safari and Opera is also incorrect. There are many alternative browsers available in the App Store other than Opera. All of them are based on WebKit like Safari, but that doesn’t mean they don’t count.” Umm… yeah, they do not count. Once a browser, always a browser. However, moving away from that point, Android now has the fastest mobile browser (yes, it’s shorter than the iPad). So Android excels here, and your argument lacks authority.
7. It gives you more career choices.
Tuaw’s justification is now lacking. Statistically, the war on phones with Android and Apple is all about controlling the US market because the US market controls the world’s market over time. If a telephone is popular here, it will be popular there. So, Android still owns this category for the iPhone to be limited to AT&T. Remember, Android does in a world that doesn’t, even if that doesn’t want to accept it.
