Android or iOS? Android Analysis [Part 2]

In part 1 we had a discussion about the advantages of iOS as it pertains to Android. Now it is time to flip things around and discuss Android. Again, I want to try to keep this as unbiased as possible as well as keep my points as relevant as I can to the average consumer.

Google Android OS

Pros:

• User Defined Default Apps/Customization
• Different "Flavors"
• Always Listening
• Contextual Awareness
• Inexpensive Ecosystem

Customization

I know, you've heard it a million and a half times, you can customize Android more than iOS. However I won't lean on the normal widgets argument because I personally only use one and technically I don't even need it. What I am going to talk about is default apps because people take for granted their ability to choose. Apple's approach to certain apps is that they will give you the very best but you have to use it. There is a perfectly valid argument to support this as well as another that shows how it can be annoying. iMessage is probably the best example of what happens when you don't allow users to choose. With everybody on iMessage, iPhone users can quickly chat using the internet rather than using SMS (the whole green or blue thing). In group messaging this is especially nice because MMS messages take ages to send and receive. As I pointed out in part one iMessage stands as a legitimate reason to use iOS.

Android or iOS? iOS Analysis [Part1]

Some people are going to read the title as Android vs. iOS, but that's not what I am trying to do here. A friend of mine who is way less into technology than I am currently owns an iPhone 5S after owning a Samsung Galaxy SIII for a couple years. The SIII was his first smartphone and Android was his first mobile OS, but unfortunately he had some issues with the SIM card that were a known issue in some of those phones. Subsequently his experience was soured by that which caused him amongst other factors such as owning a Mac to switch to an iOS device. I've taken it upon myself to start a discussion here to convince him to come back to Android. While I will be attempting to persuade him to come to my preferred OS, I have to uphold a certain level of integrity. I will try my best to write this without a bias. I am far more knowledgeable with Android than iOS so if it seems I am more in depth about Android it's for that reason.

iOS and Android - A Discussion

The reason I've waited until now to discuss this is in order to wait for Apple to hold their WWDC '15 conference and for Google to hold I/O '15. Now that we've seen what is in store for both platforms we can hold a discussion with the inclusion of new features to come in the next year. Both conferences introduced some great ideas and features, some more exciting than others, but valuable non-the-less.

Why I Own a Smartwatch Rant

Finally, I'm getting around to publishing a rant (this has been waiting in my drafts to be looked over again) and what better subject than smartwatches. Just before millions of people buy the Apple Watch for all the wrong reasons and the complaining ensues, I want to tell you why I own one and continue to wear it everyday.

Truth be told, I did not buy my smartwatch, my girlfriend got it for me for my birthday/Christmas (very close together). However, I had my sights set on the Moto 360 since the day it came out. You can check out my full review of the Moto 360 for more details.

Moto 360

So why did I want it so badly? 

I am an early adopter of sorts, wearables are just getting started and I want to see them flourish. The reason I wanted one though was for the convenience of having everything on my wrist. I also don't own watches and the only ones I bought in the past were purchased from some sketchy guy in NYC. So I wanted a watch but I also wanted to have the ability to leverage my phone and my watch better.

Let me explain:
By having a smartwatch I can have a password on my phone but never type it in beca

use the phone sees my watch. I usually don't have a lock code because I think they're inconvenient and you end up telling people anyway. With the smartwatch I have the convenience of not having a passcode when my phone is with me and having it locked when I'm away from it. Pretty cool, right?

I can respond to text messages quickly with my voice or used the canned responses. I can also just look at my wrist and see if the notification I got is worth retrieving my phone for.

This is where most people tell me I'm just lazy and wasted money because I don't like the inconvenience of taking my phone out only to see that my friend posted something on Facebook.

And yes from the perspective of somebody who doesn't perceive the value of the watch that is a reasonable response. But let me ask you this, does your $250 watch from wherever do what mine does? No.

LG G Watch Urbane

Then they say, "but a regular watch looks nicer," again you are correct, but that's not why I got it. I got it because it does all those cool things with my phone. I got it because I wanted a watch with functions, not a fashion statement. You don't buy a smartwatch for what it looks like or for how good of a timekeeper it is. You buy it because it's a cool gadget.

The classic response I get as well is, "I don't understand, if it doesn't do anything your phone can't, or really do anything without your phone, what's the point?"

My reply is usually, "What does a $2,000 Rolex do that this watch and my phone can't do?" Nothing! I can get the time on my watch and I betcha in room full of people I will get more people to ask me about my smartwatch than an expensive Rolex, and you can bet the conversations will be longer too as I'll explain the cool stuff it does. That Rolex will look a million times better without a doubt but to me that isn't important.

To wrap up this rant I want to summarize. People see a new piece of technology these days and expect it to blow their minds. They want it to do something new, it's a sign of the times. We don't see a smartwatch as a big deal but tell someone in the 90's about your smartwatch and they'd be blown away. Apple knows that people think that way and that's why they packed so much stuff into the watch. Viewing your photo album on a watch is impractical but Apple is making it happen. If Steve Jobs was alive he'd go on a rampage, personally I think Steve Jobs would like Android Wear more.

And I'm going to stop there. I will post it rant theory in a future post so subscribe to updates so you can read about that. As always please leave a comment and +1 this.