Android not there yet?

[minotauri]

i think some of the comments on the Google phone vs the Iphone that are presented in that article are a bit skewed. For example:

With those lofty goals, Android seems off to a slow start. Michael Gartenberg, an analyst at Interpret, called the initial G1 "incomplete" for failing to support some basic functions such as Microsoft Exchange synch.

The iphone didn't have exchange support from the onset either and its done quite well for itself. I think the Android platform has done more in less time than the iphone platform. That said, the iphone is a very well done phone with an overwhelmingly larger support base and amount of developers and accessory manufacturers. I think overtime, no single android phone will even come close to matching the sales of any single iphone, but the overall android vs iphone numbers will be much closer.

[darico18]

android is an open surce os and it will never get bigger than iphone because google is a pice of crap and is stopping every one who has made the g1 n g2 the best phone on the market. google is going after the developers who are making the os better than the one google gave us . google can go suck it and its so call OS. they say is going to be an iphone killer but in reality they wont make it close if they keep going after those devs that are making it better!!!!!!!!!!!!

[mr_strat]

For me, the real weakness is in Bluetooth functionality. There needs to be the ability to exchange files with a computer, and it needs to be more car-friendly...hands-free dialing.

[Deathwish238]

This article is crap. Quoting stuff from when the G1 launched a year ago? Things are completely different now. We've had exchange support for months now...there are free apps on the market.



It's as if people don't think about the fact that Android is less than 365 days old and they're comparing it to the iPhone which is almost 2.5 years old.

Where was the iPhone after almost a year?

Not surprising....there are still a handful of features that Android doesn't do that 5 or 6 year old handsets had as standard features. Bluetooth operability comes to mind here.

It's still missing a lot of the polish of the iPhone, but the function is there. Heck, I had a co-worker come show me his brand new iPhone 3GS. He was showing off the equivalent of the Google Sky app. I kinda shrugged and pointed out I'd had that on the G1 nearly from the outset. Apple was playing catchup here. But when I looked at it on his 3GS, I have to admit it simply looked better than the Google app. It had a lot of pop and polish to it. Performance was the same, the information was the same, but if I had to pick one I liked better, the Apple app took the honors.

Stuff like that is why reviews will continue to say that Android isn't "quite there yet".

What? There are apps to do everything you need with Bluetooth...mainly file transfer.

Sure, it's missing the polish. But what do you expect? The G1 has been out for less than a year and has not had a single hardware revision.

The iPhone 3GS is the third revision and it just finally got basic things like video recording. The G1 didn't launch with it, but had free video recording apps within a few months.

The original iPhone didn't have 3g. I had a cheap $100 Nokia N75 that had 3g...yet this hailed expensive as hell phone didn't?



In another 18 months, when Android will have been out as long as the iPhone has been out...things will be 200% different.



Plus, the iPhone lovers don't realize that the iPhone can only do one thing...apps. The G1 has apps, plus a desktop and widgets. As we all being Open Source which is pretty much always superior.

And the stock G1 is inferior to one of the many custom ROMs to choose from.

The reason that Android isn't there yet is simple. Hardware!! The handsets are inferior to the Iphone, mostly in the area of usable memory. The apps are better on the Iphone because they are bigger. Iphone users can download 2. 3. 5 MB apps without worrying about it slowing their phone down or getting a notice that they are nearing the limit of their memory. Its the reason I will switch to an Iphone when my contract is up. I love Android but as long as it continues to be put on substandard hardware, Apple will rule.

Memory? How are you on AndroidCommunity and didn't root your phone? I have like 500MB for apps...space is not an issue. It's not a reason to switch to the iPhone...but then again if you're not savvy enough to root your phone(seriously it's one button now...)...then the iPhone is designed for those that can't handle a little complexity.

The iPhone can't multitask...so of course it runs faster when it's only running one App versus Android that can run a plethora. Have you tried the multitasking apps for the iPhone? The phone becomes extremely slow. Of course if you run CyanogenMod or one of the other good ROMs, speed issues and memory issues are gone.

all i can say after flashing to Cyanogens Mod is that whoever reviewed this has not seen what the phone can really do!


I have run about everything on my phone and for the first time i am truely pleased with the performance. not to mention the themes are great too.

if Google is smart they will embrace Open Source Development even more and watch the competition melt away.

CyanogenMod makes a world of difference. The various Hero roms are really fun to use too. HTC did a pretty good job with SenseUI.

android is an open surce os and it will never get bigger than iphone because google is a pice of crap and is stopping every one who has made the g1 n g2 the best phone on the market. google is going after the developers who are making the os better than the one google gave us . google can go suck it and its so call OS. they say is going to be an iphone killer but in reality they wont make it close if they keep going after those devs that are making it better!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh please, Google is doing what they need to do. If Android couldn't make money, it wouldn't have been made in the first place...Google is doing what any business needs to do and protect their closed source ip. Nothing is going to really change, open source versions of the Google apps will be made and you won't even notice the difference. Cyanogen is still making ROMs and Android is still kick ass.

For me, the real weakness is in Bluetooth functionality. There needs to be the ability to exchange files with a computer, and it needs to be more car-friendly...hands-free dialing.

There is a free app on the market called Bluetooth File Transfer. I was surprised that we didn't have full fledged bluetooth to start with, but we do now. Compare that issue with the iPhone not having 3g to start with...