Mobile OSs If you could start over and only pick one ecosystem...

[jamezr]

Widgets on android is without a doubt better in my opinion. Able to resize them and put them wherever I want.

Very true...you can have as many pages of widgets and arranged anywhere you like to have them on Android.

Like something simple like weather on my home screen and or Google search.....
Point is on Android you have the choice of have a page full of widgets....or just on the home screen to show the current date and weather. In IOS you are very limited to how you use widgets.

 

[AustinIllini]

Which ecosystem would I choose? Hands down it would still be Apple. Superior hardware and software integration coupled with user friendliness are always a winner.I've never seen an Android phone do anything that I can't do on my iPhones.

Lot of marketing points here. Hardware/software integration on Apple is top notch, but you make some sacrifices because Apple simply isn't as good at software or services and won't admit it (except Maps long ago). Apple made iMessage, their one great mobile app. Android has gmail as the native emailing app, Google Maps, Google Voice, YouTube and Android phones (especially the good ones) are vessels for their apps. Even the better camera on iPhone pales in comparison to the superior Google Pixel 3 camera with post processing in software.

And here's the kicker: Apple does not let you change your defaults often. Jamezr as posted it already but it's worth reiterating: If you remove Apple maps and install Google Maps on iPhone and try to get Siri to open a location, it does not switch to Google Maps. Subpar software is the compromise for Apple's software/hardware integration.

 

[RootBeerMan]

Lot of marketing points here. Hardware/software integration on Apple is top notch, but you make some sacrifices because Apple simply isn't as good at software or services and won't admit it (except Maps long ago). Apple made iMessage, their one great mobile app. Android has gmail as the native emailing app, Google Maps, Google Voice, YouTube and Android phones (especially the good ones) are vessels for their apps. Even the better camera on iPhone pales in comparison to the superior Google Pixel 3 camera with post processing in software.

And here's the kicker: Apple does not let you change your defaults often. Jamezr as posted it already but it's worth reiterating: If you remove Apple maps and install Google Maps on iPhone and try to get Siri to open a location, it does not switch to Google Maps. Subpar software is the compromise for Apple's software/hardware integration.

I've never had an issue with any of those things. I use gmail on my iPhone all the time (just checked it a few minutes ago). I also have Google maps and have used it successfully for years, (although I use Waze much more often). Youtube? Never have had a single problem using it. They may not have been developed by Apple, but they work just fine on all our iPhones. As for removing Apple Maps and putting Google Maps on there...I can't see why you would. I have both and have used both with no issues. I don't use Siri with either, so it isn't likely to ever be an issue. Photos on my old 7 were great and they're even better on my new Xr. I haven't run into any issues with them. YMMV, but everything's fine in my corner of the garden.

 

[Klyster]

Very true...you can have as many pages of widgets and arranged anywhere you like to have them on Android.

Like something simple like weather on my home screen and or Google search.....
Point is on Android you have the choice of have a page full of widgets....or just on the home screen to show the current date and weather. In IOS you are very limited to how you use widgets.

I must admit, the only widget I use anymore is the clock/weather widget.

Control panel evolved enough for me to stop using the widgets I used to have as a staple.

 

[tbayrgs]

Lot of marketing points here. Hardware/software integration on Apple is top notch, but you make some sacrifices because Apple simply isn't as good at software or services and won't admit it (except Maps long ago). Apple made iMessage, their one great mobile app. Android has gmail as the native emailing app, Google Maps, Google Voice, YouTube and Android phones (especially the good ones) are vessels for their apps. Even the better camera on iPhone pales in comparison to the superior Google Pixel 3 camera with post processing in software.

And here's the kicker: Apple does not let you change your defaults often. Jamezr as posted it already but it's worth reiterating: If you remove Apple maps and install Google Maps on iPhone and try to get Siri to open a location, it does not switch to Google Maps. Subpar software is the compromise for Apple's software/hardware integration.

I feel like the default apps restriction isn’t as big a deal as so many here make it out to be. Yes, it’s a deficiency compared to having the freedom to set your default apps of choice on Android. But it doesn’t limit my ability to use any third party app. Maybe it’s me but I rarely bump into issues where I feel locked into using Apple’s apps.

The only places where I regularly click embedded links is in email but my email app of choice lets me dictate what apps I use for the web or maps. I use Google for web searches and any addresses I find open in the Google Maps app. I apparently don’t ask Siri enough that bumps me up into these limitations.

To be clear, I’m not resorting to the cliche ‘I don’t use it so it doesn’t matter’—I’ve been advocating for it for years now too and adding it to iOS would do nothing but improve the overall experience. But when I stop to think about my usage, I just don’t find it as an obstacle too often and wager most iPhone users don’t either. I use tons of third party apps every day and don’t feel like iOS is stopping me from doing so.