Apple iOS vs Android OS
Apple iOS and Android are operating system developed for smart phones, pads and tablets by Apple and Google. Apple iOS was first released in US Market in June 2007. Whereas Android is an open source operating system like Linux, developed by Android and the Internet Giant Google bought it in 2005.Android also supports for Smart phones and Tablets. Apple iOS is propriety operating system developed to run on Apple devices and Android is an operating system any one can customise and run on any devices. This is the most advantage in Android over Apple iOS. On top of these, there are other operating systems also available in the market for smart phones and tablets like Windows, Palm OS, Symbian and Blackberry OS.
Apple iOS
Apple iOS was originally developed for iPhones and now it’s being used in iPod, iPad and Apple TVs. Apple iOS is a proprietary OS by Apple and can be executed in Apple devices only. (iPad, iPhones and iPod Touch). Apple mobile operating system started with version 2 and current version is Apple iOS 4.2.1.
Later in June 2009 iPhone OS 3.0 was released, which supports cut, copy and paste, new youtube and many other features. The current iPhone OS commonly referred as Apple iOS or iOS version 4 was released in June 2010 specially supports multitasking, iAd, Game Centre and more.
Apple iOS 3 introduces attractive features like, Cut, Copy and Paste, Display address with drop PIN in maps, walking directions in map, more you tube features like login, commenting, rating videos, contact editable with recent calls, HD video recording, captured video trimmer, SMS function renamed as messages, MMS functionality with sending images, video and vcards, Find my phone option added in mobileMe, iCalender subscription support, improvements in Safari, Support HTML5, Press and hold to get open, open in new page and copy links, improved language support, Tethering over USB, Bluetooth and new voice memo applications.
The Latest version Apple of iOS is 4.2.1 has the following features:
(1)Multitasking
This is a method of sharing common processing resources such as a CPU to multiple applications.
(a)Background audio – Can listen to music while surfing web, play games etc.
(b)Voice over IP – Voice over IP applications can receive calls and continue talking while using other applications.
(c) Background location – Provides efficient way to monitor location of users when they move and in different towers. This is a great social networking feature to identify friend’s locations. (If they allowed only)
(d) Local notifications – Application and alert users of scheduled events and alarms in the background.
(e) Task finishing – Application will run in the background and finish the task completely even if user leave it. (i.e click mail application and let the mail app check mails and now you can message (SMS) to send SMS while you are on call, still the mail application will receive or send mails.)
(f) Fast Application Switching – Users can switch from any application to any so that other applications will be running in the background until you switch it back.
(2) Airprint
AirPrint makes it simple to print email, photos, web pages, and documents right from your iPhone.
(3)IAd – Advertising on Mobile (Mobile Advertisement Network)
(4)Airplay
AirPlay lets you stream digital media wirelessly from your iPhone to the new Apple TV or any AirPlay-enabled speakers and you can watch movies and photos on your widescreen TV and play music through the best speakers in the house.
(5) Find my iPhone
The MobileMe feature helps you locate your missing device and protect its data. This feature is now free on any iPhone 4 running iOS 4.2. Once you set it up, you can find your lost device on a map, display a message on its screen, remotely set a passcode lock, and initiate a remote wipe to delete your data. And if you eventually find your iPhone, you can restore everything from your last backup.
(6) Game Centre
It allows you to find friends to play or auto match someone to play with you in multiplayer games.
(7) Keyboard and Directory enhancement
iOS 4.2 supports for 50 languages.
(8) Messages with text tone
Assign custom 17 tones to people in the phone book, so that when you get SMS without looking at the text you can identify who sent it.
Android
Android is a Smartphone operating system developed by Android. Google, the internet giant acquired Android in year 2005. Basically Android did not start from scratch; it was developed from the versions of Linux kernel.
Android versions are difference in tastes which are Cupcake (Android 1.5, Based on Linux Kernel 2.6.27), Donut (Android 1.6, Based on Linux Kernel 2.6.29), Éclair (Android Version 2 and 2.1, Based on Linux Kernel 2.6.29), Froyo (Android Version 2.2 , Based on Linux Kernel 2.6.32) , Gingerbread ( Android Version 2.3, Based on Linux Kernel 2.6.35.7) and Honeycomb (Android Version 3.0 for Tablets). Next version is expected to be Icecream.
Android 2.2 Froyo was released in May 2010 and Android 2.3 the Gingerbread was released in the first week of December (6th Dec 2010). There are lots of improvements and new features in Gingerbread. Android 3.0 was released in Jan 2011 which has specifically optimized applications, like UI, Gmail, multiple tabbed web pages and many others for large screens and of course has added many new applications. The UI gives a total new look with redesigned widgets. With Honeycomb, the tablets do not need physical buttons; the soft buttons appear on the bottom of the screen regardless of which way you orient the device.
The new features include 3D transition, bookmark syncing, private browsing, pinned widgets – create your own widget for individuals in the contact list, video chat using Google Talk and auto-form fill. It has integrated the redesigned YouTube for 3D, tablet optimized eBooks, Google Map 5.0 with 3D interaction, wallpapers and many of the updated Android phone applications. The home screen can be customized and scrollable. The eBook widget on the home screen gives you access to scroll through the list of bookmarks.
Android fully optimized the large screen to provide smooth multitasking experience with multiple user panels that appear side by side. The redesigned Gmail displays the folders, contacts and messages side by side in columns. Also with the new Gmail application, you can open more messages from the inbox in new panes while keeping you active view intact on the screen. The new panes will appear side by side.
| Spec | Apple iOS | Android |
| Ownership | Apple Proprietary | Google open Source |
| Compatible Access Technology |
3G,3.5G,Wi-Fi,Bluetooth(HSDPA,HSUPA, UTMS) |
2G,3G,3.5G and 4G(GSM,EDGE,CDMA,EV-DO,UMTS,Bluetooth,NFC,Wi-Fi,LTE and WiMAX) |
| Compatible Devices | iPad,iPod Touch, iPhones | Any Devices |
| Messaging | SMS,MMS,eMail | SMS,MMS,eMail and C2DM |
| Web Browser | Safari | Open source Webkit layout engine coupled with Chrome’s V8 JavaScript engine |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and NFC |
| Multitasking | Supported | Supported |
| Other device connectivity | (Internet) Bluetooth | (Internet Tethering) Hotspot feature with Wi-Fi |
| VoIP Support | Supported | Supported |
| Skype Video Calling | Supported | Supported |
| Downgrade of OS Officially | Not allowed | Feasible |
| Airprint, AirPlay | Supported | No |
| 3D Google Map | Not Yet | Supported |
| Chrome to phone | Not supported | Supported |
| Application Store | Apple Store 300,000 | Android Market 200,000 |
| Gmail Client | Apple general eMail Client only | Gmail Specific eMail client |
| Exchange Server Sync | Supported | Supported |
| Outlook Sync | Supported | Supported |
| Email Attachments | Single file only | Multiple files |
| Google Talk | Web browser chat | GTalk Specific Client and Video Supported |
| Hardware Vendors | Apple | Samsung,Motorola,LG,Sony Ericsson, Dell,Huawei,HTC |
| 3rd Party Branded OS | No | Supported |
| SDK (Software Development Kit) | Available | Available |
| Contacts Sync | From Gmail,Facebook | No support |
| Multiple Exchange Account | Supported | Supported |
| Exchange Security Restrictions | Supported | Supported |
| Automatic App Update | Not Supported | Supported |
| Adobe Flash Support | Not Supported | Supported |
| No of Home Screen Panels | 11 | 5 |
Difference Between Apple iOS and Android
(1) Apple iOS is a proprietary operating system whereas Android is Google developed open source operating system.
(2) The latest version of iOS is 4.2.1 and Android is 3.0 (Honeycomb) as at today.(Jan 2011)
(3) Both Apple iOS and Android supports Multitasking.
(4) Android has one more short range communication technology NFC on top of Bluetooth.
(5) Apple iOS supports internet Tethering via Bluetooth whereas Android supports with Hotspot via Wi-Fi
(6) Address book share via MMS vcf is perfectly stores in Android with exactly same label of contacts whereas apple iOS doesn’t not support the perfect lebel.
(7) Google Native clients for Gmail,Youtube ,Google Talk,Maps and Search are perfectly designed in Android and Apple uses Apple Mail client to get emails which will not fully support for Gmail features.
(8) Android supports Social Network contact Sync whereas Apple iOS is not.
(9) Skype video calling is supported by Apple and Android.
(10) Viber VoIP Application is only available for Apple iOS at the moment but official site says android in roadmap.
(11) GTalk video is supported by Android whereas Apple iOS does not support.
(12) Both as user friendly and easy to use.
(13) Since Android could be installed on any hardware, so if you want to change the phone or tablet to other vendor will not make much difference is usage whereas Apple iOS runs on Apple devices only.
(14) Patches and bug fixes will be released by Apple only in Apple iOS whereas in Android there are lots of customised versions from 3rd party developers with immediate fixes.
(15) Android can be customised by Vendors or 3rd Party users but whereas Apple iOS is only developed and fixes by Apple. Downgrade is not possible in Apple iOS officially.