Tech Talks Today
Android OS: A User’s Perspective
Long Time User With A View
Hands up anyone that knows somebody without a mobile phone, or more precisely, a smartphone. I know of one, and I am sure there others, but billions of people have at least one handheld smart device.
Is it is pure corruption or necessity? I think it’s more of the latter, but there will always be a debate on it.
Out of those, the stats show that almost three-quarters use an Android device of some sort.
I am one of those people, and after using Android for more than 10 years, I have a few thoughts to share.
The Battle With Apple’s iOS And Windows Mobile
Even if Android is the dominant mobile OS now, Apple was the first to launch the “smartphone” model. At that time, a phone with touch input and some apps.
Some might want to disagree, as Microsoft already had a mobile OS that could be used on handheld devices way before Apple. They even launched an updated version of it, Windows Mobile 6, in the same year the first iPhone came along.
I did have a Windows Mobile device at that time, the Sony Ericcson Xperia X1, which for a tech nerd as I was, and am, was a nice piece of kit. I loved that device, but after using both iPhone and Android devices, one thing was clear.
Windows Mobile 6.x was way more complicated and cumbersome to use than it needed to be. In the end, it was not as practical. I think this is the main reason it has not caught mainstream attention.
I think I should also mention Blackberry, just because for a while, they were on a roll with their QWERTY keyboard devices that had a limited number of apps, such as e-mail, BB chat, and a few others. They were great for business users. Having owned one of those as well, I can tell you they had a great keyboard but horrible battery life.
Android launched in the same year as the first iPhone. This was a Beta release, but it was probably an attempt to steal some thunder from the iPhone release. A year later, the 1.0 version got released, along with the first Android phone, the HTC Dream.
As I recall, back then, I thought the phone was cute with its somewhat unusual shape. Even though Android showed some promise when it comes to customizability and the more “advanced” notification system, it was clear that both the OS and the phone itself were behind its iPhone counterpart.
The first iteration is always rough around the edges, especially when you are hurrying to put something out.
A year later, Google started to put things together. Android 1.5 Cupcake, Donut, and Eclair brought numerous improvements that added and refined the first version.
Why Android?
Well, multiple reasons, and here’s a few that come to mind.
Diversity:
Simply put, you have hundreds of options to choose from when it comes to buying a new smartphone. They pretty much arrive in all shapes and sizes, and all of them run a custom or “improved” version of Android.
To put it simply, Android itself is open-source at its core, so any manufacturer could choose to use it on their device. The one with Google services, however, is subject to various conditions. Manufacturers need to adhere to multiple standards and requests set by Google to get a free license and use the Google Play Services.
This is a big deal for most people, as they would want to use Google Services such as YouTube, Maps, Gmail, etc. For those that don’t want to do that, Android is still an option, usually a less connected one, but which is more private.
Customizability:
Funny word. If you are in the mood to overhaul your entire visual experience Android is the way to go. If you are a tinkerer or like to adjust every single little thing on your device, Android is still the way to go.
Apple has learned and copied some of the features Android has. There are also Apple-inspired features that Google or phone manufacturers have baked into the OS. We, as users, have only had to gain from it. Still, even today, Android is the more customizable interface.
Price:
For most of us, the price of a device is one of the most valued aspects, if not the most important one. With Android, you can find a device at any price point, from 50$ to 3.000$ or more.
Not all of them will have the same level of performance, but not all people require it. Some people need a phone that just does the job. A phone that allows you to chat with family, maybe shop something online and listen to some music or check your bank balance.
Gaming enthusiasts or power users, that require top-level performance can always pay more to get more.
It’s Up To You!
I think it’s the best thing I can say about the modern digital age we are currently living in.
If I think back just 10–15 years, times are considerably different. Today if you aren’t connected in some way to the digital community, you are losing out.
You can find jobs online, make money on the web, take classes and courses, have fun and interact with new people from all corners of the world. Android or iOS, it doesn’t matter. They’ve evolved too much. Both offer more than we would need. Now, it is only a matter of preference.
Writing pen letters to your sweetheart is delicious, but writing a quick text si much more efficient, and the world is moving so fast. Access to the Internet and general human knowledge is now always at your fingertips. It is pretty hard to imagine going back 15 years back and wiping smartphones from existence.
Could you do it? How would you feel or do without your phone?
If you were to live on a deserted island and choose the classical three things, would one of them be your smartphone? I’m moderately sure we will have signal coverage on those islands soon as well. :)
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