Android doesn’t provide the same API as iOS does and requires that the lock screen to know the app first before being able to show a notification for it.
Android 4.1’s advanced notifications don’t seem to be in all apps
Fragmentation
Default Android apps overridden by manufacturer customisation (e.g. Samsung camera app / S Planner instead of the standard camera / calendar app found on Nexus devices)
Responsiveness & Web Browsing
iOS generally has a better snappiness and responsiveness but with Project Butter in Android 4.1, Android seems to be on par (at least on newer devices)
iOS seems better in terms of performance and responsiveness for web browsing and PDF viewing
Older iOS devices will probably be better than current mid-range and budget Android devices
File System
Android has a full file system that all apps can read all files.
iOS has a limited file system. All apps have their own file system readable by their own app but there are some shared file systems ‘folders’ such as the photos
iOS has certain files grouped/tied into different apps: photos in Gallery, PDFs in iBooks. Simple but provides easy access vs Android that requires a file manager.
Sharing
Android sharing intents allow passing files from one app to another via a standard sharing method. Makes workflows simple and straight forward
iOS can only share to limited apps (Twitter, Facebook, Email)
Advanced iOS sharing doesn’t seem to be fully implemented properly in all apps (open a PDF in Safari has an “Open in…” button which doesn’t show if the PDF is opened in iBooks)
Android easier to develop on actual hardware: you can develop and copy files to any device
iOS requires a jailbreak or USD$99/year for a developer account just to use / test it on a physical device
iOS requires a Mac, Android is cross platform (Windows, OS X, Linux)
Other things not mentioned
Default Apps
Android can define default apps and keyboards, e.g. you can download a new browser and set it as your default browser when opening any link.
iOS it can’t be changed at all
Android keyboard customisations are very powerful and you could download a keyboard that suits your needs more. Personally I like Swift Key due to their arrow keys on the keyboard which I find easier for editing typos.
Direct File Transfers
Possible without specialised apps
NFC, WiFi direct, Bluetooth enable it via “Share option” in file managers
Updates
iOS has a solid and better OS upgrade path
Android upgrade path is slow especially for non Nexus devices. Even for Nexus devices, the update is not instant (can take a few weeks to roll out)
Credits:
The Android robot is reproduced or modified from work created and shared by Google and used according to terms described in the Creative Commons 3.0 Attribution License.
Actions straight from notifications. No need to open app
Call person from missed called
Email all attendees for meeting
+1 or share straight from the notifications
Different views: normal (text snippet), bigger view (with lots of text), picture view (with images)
Google Now
Siri / S-voice competitor
Based on knowledge graph to show results based on context
Card based interface with each card showing information
More than just text as text answers: photos as well. With Google search at the bottom
Natural sounding voice
Proactive digital assistant giving automatic reminders / information based on context. Example: reminds you that you should leave in 5 minutes in order to meet your appointment due to traffic on the highway. It has your scheduled information in the calendar, it knows the route and traffic you should take and calculates the time it would take to reach destination.
Google now creepy knowing your behaviour but gives relevant results
Offline voice typing: core engine shrunk to work offline, but if there is an Internet connection it works better
Homescreen improvements: when placing new widget on a screen it will automatically reflow icons to fit it or shrink the widget in order to fit it on the screen
Predictive keyboard. New keyboard layouts and languages. User installable keymaps
Android beam: initiate transfers via NFC and now allowing larger transfers via Bluetooth
WiFi network and WiFi direct service discovery: find services available via device son the network (e.g. printer) or via an app on another Android device (direct P2P without a need for a network)
Developer Related Features
Update over the air for Galaxy Nexus, Motorola Xoom & Nexus S in mid July
SDK available today
App encryption: all paid apps encrypted with a device-specific key before they are delivered and stored on a device to prevent piracy
Smart / Delta updates
Automatically handled by the Play Store
Support for Android 2.3 Gingerbread & above
1/3 the size of regular updates
Android Device Messaging C2DM now called Google cloud messaging
Multi-casting
Free. No quota limits
Android Platform Development Kit
For hardware manufacturers
Given new version 2-3 months before release (for better / faster updates)
It seems that bdfone has finally released their first Android phone: the bdfone A2W. I previously mentioned them having a prototype over 1.5 years ago but it seems that they have finally got a production unit. From their Facebook page it seems to have started selling in December (in my last of connectivity, I must have missed it). It is currently priced at B$290 on QQeStore
They have hit a good price point, but with an older version of Android (not even 2.3) and a relatively old and slow CPU, it seems to lose out to the competition. There is also no mention of resistive or capacitive screen, just a “touch screen”. I also wonder how they will support Android updates or if they will at all. For the price I would recommend the Sony Ericsson WT19I Live with Walkman for B$308 (which has better specs) or even the LG Optimus Net P690 for B$268 (which has very similar specs).
Good
Brunei made Android phone
Decent Price
Bad
Competitors with better specs in the same price range
Old slow 600MHz CPU (other budget phones use 800MHz)
Ugly?
Unknown screen type
Unknown Android update possibilities
Unknown available space for apps
Specifications
Android 2.2
CPU: 600MHz (based on Wikipedia’s entry on the MSM7227)
Along with the Huawei Ideos X5 we managed to take a look at the Huawei S7 Slim which is an updated version of the Huawei S7. A more budget friendly (B$499) 3G tablet with phone capabilities, it has a similar UI to the original S7 which is a more landscape oriented and also has a lot of space for apps (2.7GB+). The original Galaxy Tab is currently going for B$575 at Shopping.com.bn and thus the S7 Slim may be a hard sell at the current price (the Galaxy Tab has less space for apps 1GB+).
A decent Android tablet at B$499 with ample space for apps
Support for Flash
On customer request the device will be rooted and upgraded to Android 2.3 running CyanogenMod
The Bad & the Ugly
May not have Android updates
The Galaxy Tab is less than B$100 more
Specifications
Android 2.2 / Android 2.3 (upgrade to 2.3 upon customer request)
7″ WVGA 800×480 capacitive multi-touch screen
1GHz CPU
2.7GB+ space for apps
400MB+ RAM
Rear and front facing cameras
Full SIM slot
microHDMI, microUSB, microSD card slot, propetariy dock
Connectivity: WiFi, Bluetooth, GPS
Note: We would like to thank TenTen for allowing us to film this at their shop in Kiulap. TenTen offers many Huawei and they also have battery packs for your iDevices or generic battery packs with a USB output to charge for your phone
Sample Photo (max resolution: VGA, 640×480)
Rear camera
Front camera
Sample Video (max resolution: 352×288, 3gp file with h263 and amr mono encoding)
Rear camera (YouTube link to video)
I managed to take a look at the Huawei Ideos X5 that I first laid hands on at the TechXpo 2011. It is a very decent device at an affordable price of B$399. My only gripe is the lack of a front facing camera which means you will not be able to do normal video chats. If it had a front facing camera, this device would be one of the best budget Android phones. It has a bigger and higher resolution screen compared to the Sony Ericsson Live with Walkman and the Sony Ericsson Xperia Mini Pro and thus makes it a good size for thumb typing, even for those with fat fingers like mine. Overall a very decent device, with 450MB+ for applications (a lot of space for a budget device), but I fear that there will be no official Android version updates.
A decent Android device at B$399 with larger and higher resolution screen compared to some cheaper phones
High resolution 3.8″ WVGA (800×480) screen
Support for Flash
On customer request the device will be rooted and upgraded to Android 2.3 running CyanogenMod
The Bad & the Ugly
No front facing camera
There are cheaper phones with front facing cameras
May not have Android updates
Specifications
Android 2.2 / Android 2.3 (upgrade to 2.3 upon customer request)
3.8″ WVGA (800×480) capacitive multi-touch screen
1GHz CPU
460+MB available for apps
RAM 350MB+
5 megapixel camera with flash (no front facing camera)
microSD card slot
Connectivity: WiFi, Bluetooth, GPS
Micro-USB connector
Note: We would like to thank TenTen for allowing us to film this at their shop in Kiulap. TenTen offers many Huawei and they also have battery packs for your iDevices or generic battery packs with a USB output to charge for your phone
The bmobile Pure is a budget Android phone running Android 2.2 and has pretty device specs but a pretty good 3.8″ high resolution screen. The high resolution 3.8″ screen makes it nice to read and surf the Internet but the 256MB RAM may be limiting for multi-tasking and general smoothness of the device. I was not able to get the Flash apk to try install and test Flash on the device but the 600 MHz CPU may not be capable of Flash, so I wouldn’t expect it to run.
Sadly there is no Android Market or Google apps such as Gmail, YouTube, Maps and the Market. Not having the Market means that the device needs an alternative Android app store. The Pure is bundled with the local grown Widget Warehouse for apps, however it seems that the Widget Warehouse doesn’t even work with the Pure. So I guess there is a need to rely on other 3rd party app stores such as GetJar, Soc.ia Mall (previously AndAppStore), SlideME, Opera Mobile Store. Side loading apps via downloading apk files (Android installer files) work well and that was how I installled apps to the device.
I love the fact that Android is able to scale down to a device as cheap as B$199 and with that device, although having limitations such as not having Google apps, it still has all the full functionality of a smartphone.
Android Wear
