Taking aim at apple... again!

In a previous post we compared apples with oranges – MS Surface Pro vs Apple iPad Pro.

Now we’re taking aim at Apple again, comparing its operating system iOS to Android.

Apple is both a benchmark and target for tech success – it is an iconic brand, with 1.46 billion active users worldwide.

Apple’s iOS is an acronym for iPhone Operating System (and consequently iPad Operating System) and it is an integral part of the brand’s success.

Android, on the other hand, is an operating system designed by Google. Its initial objective was to promote the use of an open, free, multiplatform and secure system. Android is the operating system you will find in most “other” smartphones and devices, outside the Apple universe. 

Current stats show that Android has a definite edge over iOS in terms of market share outside of the USA. According to Statcounter, the global market share of Android vs iOS is:

  • Android: 67.56%
  • iOS: 31.6%

But in the U.S., that market share looks like this:

  • iOS: 62.13%
  • Android: 37.47%

Appearances can be deceiving!

The main reason why Android rules the global market is cost. In many countries (with significantly higher populations than the U.S.), people have far less disposable income. Because of that, the first factor in deciding on a phone is cost. In that arena, Apple simply cannot compete – and nor does it probably want to!

So don’t be deceived by the market share figures – if you eliminate the cheaper phones and focus on the top end of the market, then Apple wins hands down.

Quality v quantity

If you focus on performance, then it is also a totally different picture.

Here are some pros and cons if you are wondering whether your choice between Apple and Android has been wise, or if you are looking to jump the fence.

Keep in mind, many people who own top-end devices don’t know how to use them. So, the following may come as news to some! LOL

1. User Interface and Design

iOS: Known for its sleek and consistent design, iOS offers a more controlled and polished user experience. It’s often praised for its user-friendly interface and intuitive navigation.

Android: Provides more customization options and flexibility in terms of user interface, allowing you to personalize your device’s look and feel to a greater extent.

2. App Ecosystem

iOS: The App Store is known for its rigorous app review process, which tends to result in a higher quality and more secure app environment. Some apps might be available exclusively on iOS initially.

Android: The Google Play Store has a larger app selection due to its more open approach to app submissions, but this can sometimes lead to a higher presence of lower-quality apps or potential security risks.

3. Hardware Options

iOS: Available exclusively on Apple devices like iPhones and iPads. Apple offers a limited range of models with varying features and price points.

Android: Available on a wide variety of devices from various manufacturers, giving you more choices in terms of price, features, and hardware specifications.

4. Customization

iOS: Offers limited customization options compared to Android. You can arrange your apps, add widgets, and change wallpapers, but the level of customization is somewhat restricted – which is probably a good thing.

Android: Provides extensive customization options, allowing you to personalize everything from the home screen layout to default apps and system behaviours – that is, if you know how.

5. Ecosystem Integration

iOS: Works seamlessly within the Apple ecosystem, including integration with other Apple devices like Macs, iPads, Apple Watch, and iCloud services.

Android: Offers integration with Google services like Gmail, Google Drive, and Google Photos, and works well with other Google-powered devices.

6. Privacy and Security

iOS: Generally known for its strong emphasis on user privacy and security, with features like App Tracking Transparency and strong encryption.

Android: Has made strides in improving privacy and security, but due to the fragmented nature of the platform, updates and security patches might take longer to reach all devices.

The choice between Android and iOS depends on what matters most to you: design, customization, app availability, ecosystem integration, privacy, or simply affordability.

Consider your preferences and priorities, as well as the devices and services you might already be using, to make the best choice for your needs.

A final word

If you are in PNG, there are other considerations and limitations that affect both iOS and Android, unfortunately…

  • if you have bandwidth issues it may affect updates and your ability to get the most out of your device
  • certain features such as contactless payments are useless
  • all those fancy apps will soak up your power and data
  • high-end devices using either platform are more likely to be a target for thieves
  • harsh weather conditions in PNG can be brutal on tech products

With all that in mind, choose carefully, weigh up the pros and cons and, once you decide, take good care of your device, commit to it and enjoy!

 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Kickboxing: PNG’s national sport

Image
(by Glenn Armstrong  https://www.tlamediagroup.com/ ) Call it sport, discipline, or martial arts – when it comes to active participation and character-building, kickboxing wins hands down over every other sport in Papua New Guinea. According to Stanley Nandex, President of the PNG Kickboxing Federation , there are currently 21 provinces in PNG where kickboxing clubs and schools can be found. In Simbu province alone, there are more than two thousand active participants. In rural areas of PNG, the lives of young men and women are being transformed, providing a positive pathway for personal development. SP Sports Award  The commitment of the PNG Kickboxing Federation to providing youth with better life choices was recognised recently when it won the 2024 SP Sports Award for Community Sports Initiative of the Year . In accepting the award, PNGKBF President Stanley Nandex said “This award goes to all the hard-working people behind the scenes who give opportunities to k...
Read more

WW2 plane found in Madang

Image
The wreckage of a plane named ‘Marge’ belonging to famous US WW2 air ace Richard Bong has been found in Madang, 80 years after it went missing. Major Richard Bong is credited with shooting down 40 Japanese aircraft during World War II. He famously plastered a blow-up of his girlfriend Marge Vattendahl’s portrait on the nose of his Lockheed ‘Lightning’ P-38 fighter plane, as shown in our main photo. During WW2, Bong shot down more planes than any other American pilot. He was awarded the Medal of Honor, the U.S. military’s highest decoration, by Gen. Douglas MacArthur in 1944. But Bong wasn’t at the yoke when his plane went down. Another pilot, Thomas Malone was flying Bong’s plane in March 1944 when it encountered engine failure over Madang, forcing Malone to bail out before the plane crashed in the jungle. Bong’s aircraft wreckage was only recently discovered, on May 15, after two days of trekking by a search team led by Pacific Wrecks Director Justin Taylan. According t...
Read more

Ovu ga'hoe! Back cover reveal!

Image
  The following is the back cover text of Ricky Mitio's autobiography. “Ovu ga'hoe!” (I will not go!) These words of defiance were spoken by Ricky Mitio's mother, Mangkeo, as the dawn of a new age of Christianity swept through the New Guinea highlands, delivering its people from a long history of tribal warfare. It was this defiance that kept Mama Mangkeo and her family connected to their land, willing to accept the Light but not willing to go beyond it. It is of this Light, land and resilience that Ricky Mitio was born. In a fascinating story, Ricky Mitio was the first of his generation to gain an education and then lead a national organisation as the head of the lucrative coffee industry in Papua New Guinea. The son of one of the first native Lutheran evangelists in the Eastern Highlands Province, Ricky emulated his father's Christian pioneering spirit, only to find himself Papua New Guinea's most hired and fired state CEO, as his fledgling nation became a paradis...
Read more

Amazing! Parallel universes!

Image
Bang Bao, Koh Chang, Thailand (left) and Hanuabada, Port Moresby (right) In science fiction and fantasy, a parallel universe is a world theorised as existing alongside our own, which has similarities but is fundamentally different. The Cambridge Dictionary describes a parallel universe as:   “a world that exists in addition to, and is like, the world that we know, but that is also different from it in important ways.” And so, I entered a portal and was transported to the Kingdom of Thailand. Amazing Thailand When I arrived, I was amazed. I discovered that ‘Amazing Thailand’ is a promotional slogan of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) to promote tourism. Originally conceived in 1998, the slogan was then extended for several years. Since then, it has become a permanent, and very appropriate, trademark of Thailand. Once I had entered this parallel universe, I soon realised that Thailand was tru...
Read more

Ricky Mitio's book for the ages

Image
In this year of Papua New Guinea's 50th anniversary of Independence, there is no person more qualified to reflect on the highs and lows than Ricky Mitio. I hope you enjoy reading this autobiography of a man who is the son of a tribal warrior born in the Stone Age who later became a pioneer evangelist of the Lutheran Church despite being completely illiterate. Ricky Mitio was among the first people in the country to be educated, learn a foreign language, work for this new means of exchange called money, travel to all districts of the country, and explore five continents of the world.  Ricky Mitio’s name is synonymous with the coffee industry in PNG. When he claims in this book that he is the Papa bilong PNG kopi, he is right. No one can dispute this or take it away from him. It will be his legacy until the end of the world. (From Ovu ga'hoe! Foreword by Tiri Kuimbakul) Ricky's book is due for release in March 2025.   More...
Read more