iPhone 4.0 vs Android 2.1

[jsh1120]

For the overwhelming majority of consumers the new iPhone operating system brings the iPhone at least on par with Android phones. Whether that will be true when the new hardware is released remains to be seen.

The increase in the number of apps a user can have on the phone effectively eliminates any realistic limitation. The fact that third party apps can be "suspended" and restarted provides essentially the same user functionality as the more extensive multitasking capabilities of the Android O/S. And the limited extension of support for running simultaneous applications effectively meets the needs of 99% of users while avoiding issues of lagging performance and memory swapping that the Android must contend with.

A side benefit, and it's not insignificant, is that there won't be any discussion of the need for "task killers" in the Apple O/S environment. With the O/S in charge of running apps as well as managing memory combined with Apple's iron-fisted control of application functionality, there will be no need for "task killers" to manage performance.

 

[New2u]

For the overwhelming majority of consumers the new iPhone operating system brings the iPhone at least on par with Android phones. Whether that will be true when the new hardware is released remains to be seen.

The increase in the number of apps a user can have on the phone effectively eliminates any realistic limitation. The fact that third party apps can be "suspended" and restarted provides essentially the same user functionality as the more extensive multitasking capabilities of the Android O/S. And the limited extension of support for running simultaneous applications effectively meets the needs of 99% of users while avoiding issues of lagging performance and memory swapping that the Android must contend with.

A side benefit, and it's not insignificant, is that there won't be any discussion of the need for "task killers" in the Apple O/S environment. With the O/S in charge of running apps as well as managing memory combined with Apple's iron-fisted control of application functionality, there will be no need for "task killers" to manage performance.

I'd agree with just about all of that. I wouldn't so much agree with the multi-tasking part, because on ours we just set it in the background and it continues to do what it was doing.. finishing something if it needs finishing or whatever. But i do think this will make them super happy. I think this is the update for the new phone that is supposed to be unveiled at a later date. What i mean by that is, that it will go out to more devices then that one, but the true nature of the beast will be unleashed with the new phone.

But as already stated, this is a HUGE jump for apple, 3.0 to 4.0 is not a 2.0.1 to 2.1. We got a few minor botox injections to where apple got a whole new face lift. Two seperate beasts here. But this will entice many more people to get the iphone as it comes out for verizon.

 

[Darkseider]

android 2.1's multi-tasking is already like that. If you aren't downloading something your program just sits in memory and does not use cpu cycles. Linux is very good at doing this.

Do we have to kill task? Some people say yes, but some people say no need to kill any tasks. :motdroidhoriz:

OK. Having used task killers, both manual AND auto kilers, letting Android do its' thing without any task killers AND finally letting Android do its' thing without any task killers BUT tweaking the memory management using AutoKiller, I can say a few things. First is that task killers regardless of type are absofreakinlutely USELESS. I have experienced a broad range of screw ups from FCs, to shorter battery life to the phone locking up and NOT turning back on. Second JUST Android not task killers or memory management tweaking the unit runs incredibly well, is snappy and stable and much better battery life. Lastly, just Android w/ memory management tweaks. I can say that minor tweaking did improve performance some without loss to stability at all and the same can be said of battery life. So all in all Android multi-tasks VERY well and has very good memory management in stock trim and doesn't need to be mucked with.

 

[Darkseider]

For the overwhelming majority of consumers the new iPhone operating system brings the iPhone at least on par with Android phones. Whether that will be true when the new hardware is released remains to be seen.

The increase in the number of apps a user can have on the phone effectively eliminates any realistic limitation. The fact that third party apps can be "suspended" and restarted provides essentially the same user functionality as the more extensive multitasking capabilities of the Android O/S. And the limited extension of support for running simultaneous applications effectively meets the needs of 99% of users while avoiding issues of lagging performance and memory swapping that the Android must contend with.

A side benefit, and it's not insignificant, is that there won't be any discussion of the need for "task killers" in the Apple O/S environment. With the O/S in charge of running apps as well as managing memory combined with Apple's iron-fisted control of application functionality, there will be no need for "task killers" to manage performance.

What makes me laugh is the no need for task killers. There is NO need for task killers on Android as it does a stellar job all by itself. What do you want to bet that someone comes out with a task killer app for iPhone OS 4.0? The only thing is that it WILL NOT be on the market because Uncle Steve won't allow it. So someone will jailbreak the device and then throw it on there. It's only a matter of time.

 

[speed4tu]

I have had a couple iPhones in the past and this upgrade seems kinda lame for an x.0 update. Would make more sense for it to be a 3.x update for what they are releasing. I mean come on, it's a half assed multitasking that stuff can't even run in the background. At least let stuff be accomplished in the background while the user does something else.

 

[papy72]

It's a close call... I do like the way iPhone OS4 multitasks though (not having the processes run in the background, it just freezes them where they are, so it saves battery and performance)

How can Apple claim their OS multitasks when the processes DON'T run in the background? Did you mis-state that in your message?

 

[jsh1120]

I'd agree with just about all of that. I wouldn't so much agree with the multi-tasking part, because on ours we just set it in the background and it continues to do what it was doing.. finishing something if it needs finishing or whatever. But i do think this will make them super happy. I think this is the update for the new phone that is supposed to be unveiled at a later date. What i mean by that is, that it will go out to more devices then that one, but the true nature of the beast will be unleashed with the new phone.

But as already stated, this is a HUGE jump for apple, 3.0 to 4.0 is not a 2.0.1 to 2.1. We got a few minor botox injections to where apple got a whole new face lift. Two seperate beasts here. But this will entice many more people to get the iphone as it comes out for verizon.

You're right, of course, that Android takes a more conventional approach to "multitasking" and I'm definitely on the "no task killer" side of the fence. But Apple's compromise design gives most consumers the benefits of multitasking while preserving the predictable performance of the device.

And speaking as someone who has designed user-interfaces for a lot of years, it's painfully obvious that predictable performance is more important than fast performance. In other words, if it always takes two seconds to open an app, that's much better than having a system vary between 1 second and 3 seconds, depending on what the o/s has to deal with. True multitasking (such as the Android) leads to the latter condition. And when it happens, users complain about "lags" and worry that something is "wrong" with their system. That, in turn, tempts them to "kill" tasks to achieve the best possible performance....And the vicious circle continues.

Apple's approach won't achieve optimal performance. And the extent of multitasking by third party apps is inherently limited. But it will achieve more "consistent" and "predictable" performance. And that will make users happy.

 

[kenbarnum]

Only way I dump my droid for it is if it is on VZW AND it is 4G...
Those remain to be seen.

 

[jsh1120]

It's a close call... I do like the way iPhone OS4 multitasks though (not having the processes run in the background, it just freezes them where they are, so it saves battery and performance)

How can Apple claim their OS multitasks when the processes DON'T run in the background? Did you mis-state that in your message?

The confusion is that Apple supports what amounts to multitasking for a selected group of "favored" applications, mostly those owned by Apple and integrated into the O/S. For other third party applications, (and this is new), it will support "suspension" and "restart" of all other third party applications.

Thus, email updates can continue to run while you're doing other things. That's a "favored" app. So is iTunes so you can listen to music and do other things. But most third party apps cannot continue to run when you switch to another app. Instead, they will be "suspended" and "restarted" when you return to them.

As noted in another post, this is a "compromise" design. Android devices avoid the complexity by simply allowing all third party apps (up to the limits of memory) to compete for attention from the O/S and continue to run (if they need to.) That makes sense for Google since they don't have a set of applications they want to link into the o/s. Apple does. And with the exception of the Nexus Google doesn't have a single device to design for. Apple does.

So much like the difference between PC's and Apple computers, the latter can be designed to provide a more consistent user experience while the former must contend with a much greater range of third party apps on radically different platforms.

 

[LordKastle]

as a potential ipad [android, windows 7 for that matter] tablet customer... adding multitasking seemed very clutch. unfortunately, and disagreeing with many in here, the multitasking is not multitasking. it is very disappointing. if apps are frozen in the background with various apps allowed to stream music or allowed to finish a process before halting, then this is not true multitasking.

saying multitasking on the iphone 4.0 is the same as android is just wrong. it's not even about being picky and trying to slight apple. it's the truth. this is not true multitasking. if i implemented the iphone 4.0 os multitasking on your pc or mac computer, you would be bewildered.

 

[88g]

Adobe Flash 10.1 is coming to Android but not iPhone OS.

 

[KevinJ]

Adobe Flash 10.1 is coming to Android but not iPhone OS.

Yeah, but the iPhone people are just parroting what Jobs says that Flash is old, worthless tech, and html 5 is the way to go.

The thing that gets me is that some people I know are so in bed with iPhone that they are literally salivating over this news, and stating "this is going to kill Android." Heck, they don't even know what Android-powered phones can do.

 

[Darkseider]

Adobe Flash 10.1 is coming to Android but not iPhone OS.

Yeah, but the iPhone people are just parroting what Jobs says that Flash is old, worthless tech, and html 5 is the way to go.

The thing that gets me is that some people I know are so in bed with iPhone that they are literally salivating over this news, and stating "this is going to kill Android." Heck, they don't even know what Android-powered phones can do.

I have a few friends that work for AT&T Labs and all have iPhones. They are very aware of what Android can do but are stuck right now seeing that they all refuse to pay the unsubsidized price for the AT&T N1. That being said they won't go to another carrier because of the discounts they get on their wireless plans as employees. Hopefully if/when the Galaxy S hits AT&T it won't be locked down and rootable. If so I know a bunch of folks ready to jump ship.

 

[slinky]

Android 2.1 was a very, very lame update. It did nothing but add a little refinement under the hood, no new controls, and adding a few more pre loaded applications.

The real test will be when Android 2.5 or 3.0 is released and actually launched. I'm not saying the Droid will be able to run it, which is why the 2.1 update bothered me. It seems like it took forever just to get live wallpapers, a new weather and gallery application and Goggles preloaded. If Google can put out a new update that cleans up the look and feel and adds refinement, Android will soon outpace Apple. I really hope we'll see it on the Droid.

The phone war is now very much in Google's hands. HTC is coming out with some great looking devices that match or exceed the iPhone and it's up to Google to figure out ways to make that software work with the phones. I really like my Droid. I'm hoping I'll get something better.

Right now, the only items that I can see that the iPHone has that really make a difference are as follows:

1) Music. It's 2010. Are you telling me that NOBODY can come up with a good player with a simple, efficient interface, the ability to edit playlists (one does) and can use the headphone control button properly?

2) Battery Life: At least on the Droid, it's horrible. Not sure if it's all those pixels or they just need a little more room for a bigger battery. I'll still carry it. With brightness all the way down, I barely make it through a business day.

3) Jerky/Lag: There are many times where the phone lags now, even more with 2.1. It's almost like it is coming out of sleep mode. At times I'll press the voice dial button and I have to wait several seconds for it to work.

4) A better standard /built in home screen. This is more Motorola's fault. Manufacturers have the ability to put in a hardware button to answer calls. I hate this swipe mechanism that doesn't always work the first time and calls go to VM. Needs to be a better way to assign buttons or for each manufacturer to be provided with a standard "front end kit" that has the optional docking bar like Home++ to be included as stock.

Other than the above... I'm very happy I'm no longer using the iPhone OS and being subject to doing whatever Jobs wants me to do. I LOVE K9 and the open development system. Many of the apps have the promise of being MUCH better than Apple's stock. Let's start with Calendar, Today Screen, Email. No looking back.

 

[Johnly]

I have a droid, some of my friends have an iphone. I won't trade in my droid, even if verizon gets an iPhone, and My iphone friends are sticking with theirs. What is better? That depends on who you are, really.