Android vs. iOS usability and reliability

This write up will certainly draw some fire from both camps as the two have their up and downsides. From my personal experience the cohesive and let’s face it restrictive attitude Apple computer has regarding app design offers a certain flow from one release to the next that simply makes it easier to transition from one device or even software release to the next without a lot of trouble. I notice on some Android based devices like the Samsung Galaxy S3 and S4 are totally different when compared to Motorola or LG models. Menus are different and as a result takes a little more time to familiarize yourself with the device and how to get out of it what you want. I will also step out on a limb and say that the reliability of the Android OS has something to be desired from manufacturer to manufacturer with some apps not having the same features or even force closes and crashes that let’s be honest don’t happen on apple devices.

I personally like being able to modify the look and feel of my devices and this is not real easy and actually impossible to do on an iPhone unless jailbroken. The Android is much easier to tweak the look with themes and such and being able to place widgets on the screen that offer increased functionality is a plus. With the iPhone you have icons that start up apps, that’s it.

After using an Android based device for a while you will probably notice a lagginess or brief pauses when either starting apps or switching between them this is something you rarely if ever experience on an iPhone device. Now that being said running IOS 7.1.2 on an iPhone 4 is kind of a drag but mainly due to the lack of resources on an older device trying to cope with a much newer and larger operating system.

The availability of software applications are pretty much restricted to the Apple App Store which has final say on what is offered there. The only way of getting around that is to jailbreak your device which adds the Cydia repository and the ability to install software Apple deems unfit. Whereas the Android will let you download software most pretty much any source which can be a bad thing since there is no one ensuring that application doesn’t contain something malicious like a virus or worse!

There is something to be said about the frequency of updates for the Android OS. I remember a few years ago when I owned a Samsung Galaxy S 4G the version of software that it came with it was  all there was. The phone had its issues and my only recourse was to root and try different versions of OS that were assembled by hackers and enthusiasts that were sick of the bugs and problems as I was and were forced to take matters into their own hands. That route allowed me to get more use from the device when I was at a point where I was going to replace it but ended up not having to, for a while anyway.

One last thing worth mentioning would be theft of these pricey little devices and deterrents put in place to prevent it. Apple with the release of IOS 7 introduced Find my iPhone and the ability to remotely lock it or even destroy the data if it were to fall into the wrong hands. As of this writing the ability to remove the Apple ID iCloud lock an a disabled device has not been made available except for the older and antiquated iPhone 4. In the case of the iPhone 4 the device is still locked according to Apple and says so when connected to iTunes but after the exploit is run it gives the ability to gain access to the root file system and allows for the removal of the Setup.app and subsequently access to the device. Far from a viable or usable solution for the average phone thief. This feature also causes headaches to those buying a used device from Ebay or classified ads that has not had it disabled as you ultimately end up with a very expensive paper weight. As far as I know Android has a similar feature compared to find my iPhone that allows you to track your device and to remotely erase sensitive data but It is still possible to restore the software and use the device.

All in all it comes down to preference. If you’re not a fan of Apples products and want to give Android a try I would look at a few different models made by different companies since the interface experience varies by a large margin. Some are more friendly than others and as a result make the experience one more enjoyable and have less of a learning curve. One thing is for certain these technological marvels we carry in our pockets are in a constant state of evolution and will continue to become more useful and user friendly.