Mobile Phone operating systems: Which is the right one for me?
Recombu – Fri, Aug 24, 2012- Recombu - The four main operating systems
With a uniform black rectangular shape, touchscreen, smattering of buttons and a rear camera, you’d be forgiven for thinking that all phones are the same.
In fact, the majority of smartphones use four distinct operating systems (or OS for short): Apple (iOS), Google’s Android, RIM’s BlackBerry and Windows Phone. Despite some common features - like access to an app store and push mail - each OS has specific traits that will suit different users. Whether you are a beginner, business user, social networker, media consumer or simply price savvy, there is an operating system for you.
Beginner
Apple (iOS): If you’ve never used a smartphone before, pick up an iPhone and within minutes you’ll feel comfortable using it. Each screen consists of rows containing apps, shortcuts and features, which you can move around. The slick transition animations between screens give a real sense of navigation - it’s immediately obvious whether you have gone forward or back in menus. Couple this with the single Home button and it’s impossible to get lost in iOS.
Windows Phone: Consisting of a homescreen and main menu, Microsoft's Windows Phone OS is a fantastic choice for beginners. It features ‘tiles’ that cascade vertically down the homescreen, some of which update automatically. These tiles can be moved around, so you can have features you use most near the top.
Business user
BlackBerry: Business users need secure and reliable email - particularly when travelling so for many big businesses RIM’s BlackBerry OS is first choice. BlackBerry email is deservedly renowned for its secure encryption, along with remote wipe and device locate capability.
Apple (iOS): BlackBerry is losing ground to iOS. The iPhone includes Exchange Support for setting up corporate email, but surpassses RIM with its superior browser, usability and app support.
[Related: Shop for mobile phones]
Social networker
Android: All operating system have Facebook and Twitter apps, but Android offers social networking widgets. Put the Facebook widget on your homesceen and your news feed will update automatically.
What separates Android from iOS, is its tighter integration with Twitter, Facebook and other services like Instagram, so you can quickly upload a photograph, share a URL or YouTube video.
Android phones can easily synchronise contacts from online accounts, like Gmail and Facebook, into a single manageable list.
BlackBerry: BlackBerry smartphones offer BlackBerry Messenger, or BBM for short. BBM enables BlackBerry owners to send instant messages to other users - worldwide - using a pin number. Many BlackBerry tariffs include unlimited BBM use, making it a cheap way to stay in touch.
BBM only works between BlackBerry phones, though with support for other IM services like WhatsApp and Google Talk and a QWERTY keyboard, BlackBerry phones have the messaging edge.
Media consumer
Apple (iOS): The crown jewel of iOS is the Apple App Store, which offers the biggest selection of apps and games - over 650,000 - many of which are free and exclusive to iOS.
iTunes is also packed with movies, TV series and music, which are downloadable directly to your phone. iTunes in the Cloud even lets you share media between iPhone and iPad automatically.
Android: The Google Play Store offers over 500,000 apps, movies and books, with music downloads on the way. The store is rapidly growing, but lacks the choice of Apple’s store and it’s not as user friendly.
Unlike iOS, there are hundreds, maybe even thousands of handsets that run Android, all with different screen sizes and processors, so the user experience varies tremendously. Some games, movies and services will therefore only run smoothly on high-end phones.
[Related article: How Everything Everywhere got ahead in the 4G network space race]
Price savvy
Android: Android is an open operating system, so any manufacturer can create handsets that run it and consequently it has more phones than any OS. With prices starting from £50, there is an Android phone to match any budget. Cheaper phones like the ZTE Kis (£50) and Huawei G300 (£99) have a slower processor and smaller screen than the Samsung Galaxy S3 (£499), but the overall feel is similar, with a web browser, widgets and access to Google Play Store apps like Angry Birds.
Windows Phone: If you want to save money but want a simple operating system, opt for Windows Phone. Microsoft is really pushing Windows Phone so there are some real bargains like the Nokia Lumia 710, which is currently £99 on pay as you go - amazing value for a 1.4GHz processor (the same speed as Android phones double the price) and 3.7-inch screen.
So whether you’re a novice, workaholic, social network addict, movie buff or simply a price-conscious buyer, there’s an operating system and a phone out there just for you.
In fact, the majority of smartphones use four distinct operating systems (or OS for short): Apple (iOS), Google’s Android, RIM’s BlackBerry and Windows Phone. Despite some common features - like access to an app store and push mail - each OS has specific traits that will suit different users. Whether you are a beginner, business user, social networker, media consumer or simply price savvy, there is an operating system for you.
Beginner
Apple (iOS): If you’ve never used a smartphone before, pick up an iPhone and within minutes you’ll feel comfortable using it. Each screen consists of rows containing apps, shortcuts and features, which you can move around. The slick transition animations between screens give a real sense of navigation - it’s immediately obvious whether you have gone forward or back in menus. Couple this with the single Home button and it’s impossible to get lost in iOS.
Windows Phone: Consisting of a homescreen and main menu, Microsoft's Windows Phone OS is a fantastic choice for beginners. It features ‘tiles’ that cascade vertically down the homescreen, some of which update automatically. These tiles can be moved around, so you can have features you use most near the top.
Business user
BlackBerry: Business users need secure and reliable email - particularly when travelling so for many big businesses RIM’s BlackBerry OS is first choice. BlackBerry email is deservedly renowned for its secure encryption, along with remote wipe and device locate capability.
Apple (iOS): BlackBerry is losing ground to iOS. The iPhone includes Exchange Support for setting up corporate email, but surpassses RIM with its superior browser, usability and app support.
[Related: Shop for mobile phones]
Social networker
Android: All operating system have Facebook and Twitter apps, but Android offers social networking widgets. Put the Facebook widget on your homesceen and your news feed will update automatically.
What separates Android from iOS, is its tighter integration with Twitter, Facebook and other services like Instagram, so you can quickly upload a photograph, share a URL or YouTube video.
Android phones can easily synchronise contacts from online accounts, like Gmail and Facebook, into a single manageable list.
BlackBerry: BlackBerry smartphones offer BlackBerry Messenger, or BBM for short. BBM enables BlackBerry owners to send instant messages to other users - worldwide - using a pin number. Many BlackBerry tariffs include unlimited BBM use, making it a cheap way to stay in touch.
BBM only works between BlackBerry phones, though with support for other IM services like WhatsApp and Google Talk and a QWERTY keyboard, BlackBerry phones have the messaging edge.
Media consumer
Apple (iOS): The crown jewel of iOS is the Apple App Store, which offers the biggest selection of apps and games - over 650,000 - many of which are free and exclusive to iOS.
iTunes is also packed with movies, TV series and music, which are downloadable directly to your phone. iTunes in the Cloud even lets you share media between iPhone and iPad automatically.
Android: The Google Play Store offers over 500,000 apps, movies and books, with music downloads on the way. The store is rapidly growing, but lacks the choice of Apple’s store and it’s not as user friendly.
Unlike iOS, there are hundreds, maybe even thousands of handsets that run Android, all with different screen sizes and processors, so the user experience varies tremendously. Some games, movies and services will therefore only run smoothly on high-end phones.
[Related article: How Everything Everywhere got ahead in the 4G network space race]
Price savvy
Android: Android is an open operating system, so any manufacturer can create handsets that run it and consequently it has more phones than any OS. With prices starting from £50, there is an Android phone to match any budget. Cheaper phones like the ZTE Kis (£50) and Huawei G300 (£99) have a slower processor and smaller screen than the Samsung Galaxy S3 (£499), but the overall feel is similar, with a web browser, widgets and access to Google Play Store apps like Angry Birds.
Windows Phone: If you want to save money but want a simple operating system, opt for Windows Phone. Microsoft is really pushing Windows Phone so there are some real bargains like the Nokia Lumia 710, which is currently £99 on pay as you go - amazing value for a 1.4GHz processor (the same speed as Android phones double the price) and 3.7-inch screen.
So whether you’re a novice, workaholic, social network addict, movie buff or simply a price-conscious buyer, there’s an operating system and a phone out there just for you.
NOW you can make the smart choice!
Bibliography
Reference Cited
MOBILE PHONE OPERATING SYSTEMS:
WHICH IS THE RIGHT ONE FOR ME? (2012) [Online] Yahoo! Available from:
[Accessed: 27 AUG 2012]
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