Comparison of the advantages and disadvantages of Android and IOS

Comparing Android to IOS is a personal matter.

It's like for me, I use both. I am well aware of the pros and cons of both platforms. So, I decided to share my views on these two mobile platforms. Also, then talk about my impressions of the new Ubuntu mobile platform and its advantages.



The Pros of IOS



While I'm a full Android user these days, I must admit that IOS does some things well. First of all, Apple has a better track record when it comes to updating their devices. This is especially true for older devices running iOS. On the other hand, Android, if not Google's own Nexus, is at best a higher-end carrier-supported phone, and you'll find them with few or no updates.



Another area where IOS does a great job is application usability. Expanded, iOS apps almost always have a clean look. That's not to say Android apps are ugly, but they probably just don't have the same constant controls and consistent user experience as they do on iOS. Two good examples, Dark Sky (weather) and Facebook Paper, are good examples of iOS-specific layouts.



Then there is the backup process. Android can back up, by default to Google. But it doesn't do much for application data. Compared with IOS, iCloud can basically make a complete backup of your iOS device.



Where IOS disappoints me



The most indisputable problem with IOS is that its hardware limitations are greater than software limitations, in other words, storage capacity.



You see, with most Android phones, I can buy a phone with a smaller capacity and then add an SD card later. This means two things: First, I can use the SD card to store a lot of media files. Second, I can even use an SD card to store "some" of my apps. And Apple can't do that at all.



Another IOS let me down is that it offers very little choice. Backup your device? Hope you like iTunes or iCloud. But for some Linux users like me, that means my only option is to use iCloud.



To be fair, if you're willing to jailbreak, there are some other solutions for your iOS, but that's not what this article is about. The same goes for unlocking root for Android. This article is for the native setup of both platforms.



Lastly, let's not forget this seemingly small thing - iTunes will delete a user's music because it thinks it's a duplicate of Apple Music...or because of some other similar rule. Isn't this an IOS-specific situation? I don't agree because that music is just not there on IOS in the end. I can say this with absolute certainty because I don't tell lies like that anywhere.



Advantages of



Android Android's biggest advantage to me is what IOS can't: choice. This includes choices about how apps, devices, and phones work as a whole.



I love desktop gadgets! To IOS users, they may look silly. But I can tell you that they allow me to see the data I need without opening the app without extra hassle. Another similar feature, I like to install a custom desktop interface instead of the default one on my phone!



Finally, I can add full computer-level functionality to my smartphone with tools like Airdroid and Tasker. AirDroid allows me to use my Android phone as a computer with file management and communication capabilities - which allows me to use a mouse and keyboard with ease. Tasker is even more powerful, I can use it to make my phone reachable or unreachable according to the environment, when I set it up, when I get to the meeting room, my phone will go into meeting mode by itself, and even turn into power saving mode . I can also set it to automatically launch an app when I reach a specific destination.



Where Android Lets Me Down



Android backup options are limited to specific user data, not a full clone of the phone. Without root unlocking, you're either going to have to let it go, or you'll have to work it out with the Android SDK. It's obviously a joke to expect normal users to unlock root or run the SDK to do a backup (I mean everything backs up).



Yes, Google's backup service backs up data from Google apps, as well as other related customizations. But it's nowhere near as complete as the Apple services we've seen. To do something similar to what Apple does, I found that you either have to unlock the root, or connect it to a PC that uses some software I don't know what to do with it.



To be fair, though, I know people who use a Nexus can benefit from the device's unique full backup service. Sorry, but Google's default backup scheme doesn't work. The same goes for backing up by using adb (Android Debug Bridge) on the PC - it won't always restore as expected.



Wait, it will get better. After a lot of failed disappointment and frustration, I found there is an app that looks like it "may" offer a tiny bit of hope, it's called Helium. It doesn't have the misleading and frustrating limitations of other apps I've found, and Helium initially looked like the backup app Google should have been offering all along -- just "looks like", mind you. Sadly, it tripped me up. Not only did I need to connect it to my computer the first time I ran it, even using the Linux script they provided didn't work. After removing their scripts, I got a good old-fashioned adb to back up to my Linux PC. What you probably need to know: you need to open a bunch of stuff in the dev tools, and close it if you're running a Twilight app. It took me a while to get this right when adb's backup option didn't work on my phone.



Finally, Android also provides the option for non-rooted users to easily backup simple things like contacts, text messages, etc. However, for deep phone backup, in my experience, it is still through wired connection and adb.



Can Ubuntu save us?



In the mobile arena, by comparing the pros and cons of these two players, we can expect to see better performance from Ubuntu. However, its performance so far has been rather lacklustre.



I love what the developers are doing based on this OS, and of course I would like to have a third option outside of IOS and Android phones. But unfortunately, it wasn't popular on phones and tablets, and there were a lot of bad rumors due to the low-end hardware and poor demos on YouTube.



To be fair, I've used low-end IOS and Android devices before, so this isn't a dig at Ubuntu. But when it wants to show a functional ecosystem that is ready to compete with IOS and Android, that's another story, and it's not something I'm particularly interested in right now. In the days to come, maybe, I'll feel that Ubuntu Phone will meet my needs.



Android vs. IOS: Why Android will win in the end



Ignoring Android's painful shortcomings, it at least gives me a choice. It doesn't limit me to only two ways of backing up my data. Yes, some of Android's limitations are actually due to its focus on letting me choose what to do with my data. However, I can choose my own device and add more RAM if I want. Android allows me to do a lot of cool things that IOS simply doesn't have the ability to do.



Fundamentally, Android gives non-rooted users greater freedom to access the phone's features. For better or worse, this is a freedom that people want. Now many of you IOS fans should be thankful for the impact of projects like libimobiledevice. Look at what Apple is doing to stop Linux users...then ask yourself: Is it really worth it as a Linux user?

Share your thoughts on IOS, Android or Ubuntu with Band of Brothers (www.lampbrother.net).