APPeal: Whose Game is it Now? |
 Written by Allison Wahl |
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Ah, the age-old debate: Android or iPhone? Well, maybe it’s not age-old, but it certainly is a pressing issue in the mobile community — and one that continues to increase in intensity. While you may think the answer, at least for this blog, is simple — considering this is IPHONEapplicationlist.com — revelations from Google’s recent I/O conference make it not as clear of a choice as it might have once been. Maybe I am behind the loop in writing about this, but I think it’s interesting to consider what the imminent Android updates will bring, especially as Summer looms ever closer, and particularly what Android’s additions and advancements will mean for the iPhone.
Following the conference, it has become clear that many major improvements will be made to Android operations — not just for users, but perhaps more importantly, for developers as well. For instance, many technical improvements will be made to make the Android system easier for developers, such as a more robust version of App Engine (a tool that allows developers to build and host business apps using Google’s network infrastructure) and more support for Go programming language (which enables Android devices to communicate with other household electronics). With these changes in place, will Android be able to tackle the hurdle of app inferiority to the iPhone? Will we see Android take the lead when it comes to multi-platform support and business-specialized functionality? Surely Apple and the iPhone will have something up their sleeves to counter these moves, but will these alter, or perhaps add to, an increasingly popular Android face?
Furthermore, the updates will address entertainment concerns that the Android has faced — specifically with music and movies. Google Music will be introduced which will allow users to manage and sync music libraries on all devices and access music from anywhere via the cloud, and Android’s App Marketplace will make digital movie rentals available for all Android-powered devices. Furthermore, version 3.1 will introduce further desirable capabilities such as task switcher (a feature that automatically turns off any features you’re not actively using), widget resizers, Google TV integration, a “state of the art UI”, and apparently a software that listens, really listens, to what you’re saying (TechCrunch has a great play-by-play here). Yes these additions are intriguing — but do will they be the push to overcome the iPhone? What will this mean for app developers — are more multi-platform apps in the works, as the mobile playing field gets, at least somewhat, leveled? I am a firm believer that as state of the art as Android’s UI may get, the user experience is one domain where Apple will always reign supreme, but what about these other features that, let’s face it, do add some appeal to the Android — is the mobile monopoly slipping out of the iPhone’s reach?
