Android’s Gingerbread December 6th update was not too far behind iOS 5’s October 12th release date. Seeing that phones running on Android, especially the Samsung Galaxy line, are Apple’s main competitors, how do the two new updates compare and which is better?
Gingerbread Features:
- Improved user interface
The user interface was simplified making navigation and learning to navigate easier and more user-friendly.
- On-screen Keyboard Redesign
The keyboard redesign allows users to easily and accurately type text; it also has a suggestion feature for misspelled words.
- More efficient power management
This new feature allows users to see which processes and applications use their battery the most; it also allows users to easily kill unwanted processes and applications.
- Near-field communications integration
The new NFC app lets users locate and save tags.
- SIP calling over the Internet
Instead of using minutes, users can use their data package or Wi-Fi to make phone calls.
- New camera app
Users can now access multiple cameras in camera mode.
iOS 5 Features:
- Centralized notifications
Android phones had this feature for some time, but Apple finally heard the demand for such a feature. iOS 5 gives users the ability to access notifications easily from either a pull down tray (like on Android) or from the lock screen.
- Location Reminders
As usual, Apple’s innovation goes beyond what many of us can could imagine in our wildest dreams. iOS 5 brought about a new feature that allows users to set up reminders that alert the user when he/she reaches a certain geographical location. For instance, if you have a tendency to forget to pay your apartment rent, you can set up a reminder to alert you as soon as you drive into your apartment complex.
- Easier Camera Access
Users can now directly and quickly access camera mode from their phone’s lock screen.
- Advanced Photo Editing Tools
iOS 5 goes beyond the typical editing tools to include everything from composition controls to auto-enhancing features.
- Wireless Sync
iOS 5 allows users to automatically sync all of their iTunes Library to all of their Apple devices.
- Siri Voice Command
Siri is only available for the iPhone 4s, but it has to be mentioned. It takes voice command to a whole new dimension. Siri can do pretty much anything; she can calculate your tips, look up information for you, etc. The only thing Siri can’t do is tell you the answer to the universe; although if you ask enough, she’ll tell you 42.
The Bottom Line
When it comes down to deciding which operating system to go with, and ultimately which phone, it’s probably the iOS 5 and the iPhone 4s. The iPhone 4s comes with iOS5, and its features go so far beyond those of Android or any other Operating System for that matter. The geographical notification system, Siri, photo related features, and easy photo and document share features on the new iPhone 4sare jaw-dropping amazing and highly useful; not to mention the phone is far more intuitive than any Gingerbread-run smart phone, has a new 64 GB capacity option, and supports CDMA and GMS global roaming.
The only reason to choose Android Gingerbread OS and an Android phone would be ifyou want a phone that you can deeply personalize to your every whim. Android based phones go so far beyond iPhones in this regard because Apple products are very restricted. Androids out of the box are already more capable of personalization than Apple products; with hacks, they are the ultimate personalization. However, keep in mind that the most comparable Android phone to the iPhone 4s is the Galaxy S II; operating on 4G LTE, this phone eats data for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, leaving even unlimited data users with very limited data speeds towards the end of the month.
Allison Dean jumped at the chance to bring us a guest post comparing Android’s Gingerbread OS to iOS 5. A blogger and writer who saw the need for an educational resource that laypersons could depend on when they had legal problems, Allison spends her professional life writing about medical malpractice lawyers.
