I've owned an iPod Touch since the month after they were released.
I now own a Droid and I think I have enough credibility to compare both devices, even though I've never owned an iPhone. I'm going to make this as unbiased as I possibly can, so I'll leave out factors that are different between the iPod Touch and the iPhone such as signal and SMS.
Everything I list is going to exclude any thoughts of jail breaking. You shouldn't have to risk voiding your warranty in order to have a better performing phone.
iPhone
Pros:
- UI is simple and seamless, my grandmother could operate one sufficiently if she had about a week or so to get used to it. Transitions are awesome and there's no lag at all, for the most part.
- The brand. Hate to say it, but because it has an Apple logo on it people feel it's superior. Like Abercrombie vs. K-Mart clothes - some are exactly the same but the label makes all the difference.
- iTunes Store (NOT the app store). I'd choose the iTunes store over Amazon any day.
- Better accessory-buying experience. Because it's so popular you can buy accessories almost anywhere without worrying about compatibility.
- Much better music UI without downloading a third-party music app. It's amazing, and I mean AMAZING. Genius is a gift from god and I just love its functionality in general.
Cons:
- This is probably its biggest downfall in my opinion - no multitasking. Life is so much easier with multitasking.
- If you like the UI, you're stuck with one model. You can't have the iPhone UI with any other phone. If Apple made a UI for the Droid and added multitasking I'd consider using it until Android works out certain bugs on the Droid's version of the OS.
- Apps are basically locked out of the OS, meaning they cannot operate outside of themselves unless you consider push capability.
- No LED light on the bezel to help notify the user of messages, low battery life, etc.
- No physical keyboard. This is a big turn-off for a lot of users because some people can't type on the software keyboard without throwing their phone into a wall, or throwing it out of a moving car.
Android (using Droid as a reference)
Pro:
- Multitasking, multitasking, multitasking. Most of you argue that the iPhone DOES multitask, but it really doesn't unless you consider stock apps. Yes, you can have music playing while you send a message and post a tweet, but forget about it if you want to listen to Pandora along the way. Last night I was listening to Pandora, posting a tweet, checking e-mail, browsing the web, and playing solitaire all at the same time flawlessly.
- Different models for different users. Want a physical keyboard? No problem. How about just a plain touch-screen? Well, you have several choices!
- Apps. Android is an open platform, so apps can do a lot more than they can on the iPhone. I have an app that turns my phone on silent whenever I enter a certain radius of my work office, or at certain times like when I go to sleep. Even an app that can change my UI completely or an app that replaces my default messaging app.
- LED light and Flash. Flash really comes in handy in dim light, and there's even an app that utilizes it as a flashlight. The LED light makes it much easier when looking to see if you have messages. No need to unlock the phone.
- Notification bar. This is so helpful; I really don't know why the iPhone doesn't have a pull-down like this.
Con:
- Music interface is, in lack of a better word, crap. I still haven't found a music interface app on the app store that even comes close to the iPhone's.
- Because the Droid is relatively new, there are some bugs and flaws in its version of the Android OS. The same can be said for other Android phones. They're fixable, but it takes a while for carriers to send out OS updates which is very annoying.
- Less compatibility. If a third-party creates a device that's meant to be used with smart phones there's a 99% chance it's compatible with the iPhone, but not so much with Android. I've yet to find a dock with speakers that works with my Droid.
- Like someone mentioned before, the iPhone has an OS designed FOR it. Android phones are designed for the OS. This makes bugs unavoidable, but I really don't think it's decent to compare it to Windows. Windows isn't designed for specific hardware...Android is, in a way. There are variations in the Android OS for each phone. HTC phones have different needs than Motorola phones, etc.
Overall, I think that the iPhone and Android both have their advances and drawbacks. If I had a choice between the two I'd choose Android just because it's available on Verizon and I wouldn't feel comfortable leaving my service because I've been with them for so long. If I had AT&T I'd get an iPhone without hesitation. If they were both available on the same network I'd choose an Android phone simply because of the multitasking capabilities, and the open OS. I don't NEED a physical keyboard, but it's a plus. Put that on the iPhone and I'd buy one before you can say guacamole.
