2010 witnessed one of the grandest preparations of battles of the mobile operating systems, all the players have been working hard to bring into their arsenal the best available out there. Apple one of the prominent players in the mobile phone industry, since its inception of the Apple iPhone in 2001, launched the fourth generation of the legendary device, and on the other hand the internet giant, which never liked to develop their custom hardware, instead provided the software around which different hardware manufactures could frame their specific devices.
They came out with the 2.3 version of their Android operating system, interestingly called the gingerbread. Rest mobile operating systems seem to have been abandoned by the public, like once very popular the symbian operating system developed primarily by Nokia seems to have lost the game. On the other hand the Microsoft's windows mobile platform is counting its days to the end. Rest all seems to have been wiped out in the competition.
The arrival of all the new players with all new designs and plans, seem to take the market by storm, and we will have to evaluate that how are they doing in the year 2011. Primarily we are seeing only two major players on the scene, the Apple's iOS (found only in the iPhone, iPods and iPads.) and the Google's Android (found in many phones in the market, primarily because its open source and easily implemented)
Cracks in the iOS
Undoubtedly the iOS in the iPhone and other Apple mobile devices have ruled the market, even when the first version with so many bugs and flaws were launched, still it was the favorite amongst the users, some people bought as a style statement, some as loyalty towards Apple, and some found the design too interesting. Still the flaws are as follows:
Inflexibility in the software: the iOS by default does not allow you to tweak or customize the user interface; it's only possible by hacking of the OS, called Jailbreak.
The devices are not productive: they are good for those who are willing to consume information rather than create it. You can easily read a newspaper on any iOS device, but writing a mail could be so more cumbersome.
Limited hardware: the Apple has always been strict in supplying limited hardware with limited software; you will have to suffice your lust for power, with what Apple gives it to you.
Cracks in the Android:
Android was an initiative of a group of companies which named themselves the "open-handset alliance" the operating system has gone through a very high number of transitions in a very short time. Moreover since the operating system is open-source any one can use the source to build his custom Android version. Still there are flaws in this too:
Market fragmentation: any manufacturer can use any version of the operating system and unveil its own device running on the Android, which does not maintain the contingency in the market.
different flavors by the manufacturers: there is a set of buttons that is used by the Android operating system, but keeping the design in mind, each of the manufacturers launch their own specific models, which gives user a different handling while running the same operating system anywhere.
No leads: Google certainly refrains from showing leadership towards the marketing and publicity of the operating system.
What can the consumers expect out of this?
Keeping this war in mind, only the consumer will be the ultimate beneficiary. Not only will they get better priced, but when the rivals start banking on the shortcomings of their enemy operation system, that will ultimately lead to the invention of the refines operating system. The Smartphone market which is already ablaze with the latest entrants in the market, has also sent out sparks to the tablet market, where yet again the guru Apple launched its first tablet the Apple iPad around an year ago, and soon we are to expect tablets based on the Google's honeycomb operating system unveiled at the CES-2011, Las Vegas.
Our verdict
The race is too close, and the winner might come out with just a hairline difference, Apple with its charisma, brand value and consumer likeliness, will remain dear to the consumer. On the same hand the Google's Android is too customizable and adaptable to almost any device, holds much more potential, but requires a leadership at the moment.
I'm the biggest Apple fan I know and would love to have other Apple fans come in and join the topics we post.
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