Today we are going to address what is undoubtedly one of the debates hottest in the mobile device sector. The two dominant platforms, iOS y Android, they have recently released an important update and we will compare some of their most characteristic features to see which of the supports offers best solutions. It is a complex subject, obviously, but at least we are going to try it.
On the other hand, we are neither capable, nor do we aspire to hold a chair. We are entering the field of the most absolute subjectivity and there are inertias inherent to each user, generated by prolonged use of the devices, which will make the experience with one or another alternative easier or more pleasant. So "which is better?" it is simply a rhetorical question to which no conclusive answer can be given.
For this comparison, we have relied on a previous publication of Phone Arena and we have approached the different sections in a similar way, although expressing our own opinion.
Unlock screen
This point is important because it represents the first picture that a user faces, either on iOS or Android. An obligatory point of passage towards any application or content.
Both platforms They have evolved a lot over the past 12 months, yet both Android and iOS still have room for improvement. Google incorporated the widgets to this area almost a year ago and, in general, its customization capacity is much greater. In the Apple system we can access the camera, the notification area and the new control panel, after the update to iOS 7. However, the alternatives are minor.
Starting screen
On the home screen little more of the same. Android 4.3 allows you to set icons and widgets to your liking, however, the cover of iOS 7 is much more static. Either on the iPhone or on the iPad, the number of icons that we can have on each desktop is a maximum of 24, although with the folders we can give it more depth and subdivide. In Android the icons are usually less close together and, for example, in the Nexus 4 they only fit 20. Even so this depends a lot on the manufacturer. We also have folders.
Although the theme of widgets It gives Android a plus, there is also an aspect in which Google is below Apple: the visibility of the text on the home screen. iOS always looks for the good contrast between the color of the text and the wallpaper, so that the names of the applications are readable.
Quick settings, control panel and notifications
The new control panel iOS 7 it was a much needed improvement to the system. Android had integrated the quick settings for a long time and, certainly, access to the basic controls of our tablet or phone is very important. In this sense, Apple's solution is perhaps more elegance and visually appealing.
Regarding notifications, now iOS shows our calendar notes and other interesting information, while in Android this space is more limited but has the option to Google Now and your cards to organize the same information, either through the app or through the widget.
The interesting thing about iOS 7 In this sense, both the control panel and the notification panel are accessible from any screen. In Android, if we are watching a movie and we want, for example, to deactivate the WiFi, we have to go to multitasking. In iDevices, all these operations result less cumbersome after upgrade.
Typing and keyboard
Android probably has some advantage here. Many of their devices are larger, at least the phablets, and offer more space for the pulsation. The influence of manufacturers must also be taken into account. For example, the Galaxy keyboard seems more efficient in the section predictive, because it stores in its memory words that we have written previously. The Google keyboard is not that powerful in this regard, but the "Swype”Is more refined and functional.
Multitasking and multi-user
Both platforms have a good multitasking system. Note that iOS 7 has changed profoundly compared to previous versions and now also shows a preview of the current application. Some users, however, have complained that the process of browsing the apps that we have running or closing them has become slowest traveller. It's possible.
Regarding the support multi-userAndroid 4.3 presents an obvious advantage over the rival platform. The possibility of sharing the same device between different people and that each of them has your own sessions and being able to customize the desktop to your liking is an important plus.
Personal assistant
The philosophies of Apple and Google in this sense they are completely different. Crab he only comes when you call him. In iOS 7, his voice has changed and his artificial intelligence has been fine-tuned to recognize and interpret user wishes more effectively. Today, he is able to perform numerous tasks: set an alarm, call one of our contacts, give us navigation instructions and even, in the US, get us movie or table tickets for a restaurant.
Google Now it also recognizes our voice and can respond to some of our requests, but its evolution and use is much more oriented to predicting what we want before we even know it ourselves. In this sense, it is a good technology although a bit inconvenient at times. It is true that we can configure it to show us only the data we want, but being always active it consumes more energy and in many cases it becomes a bit repetitive. That, not to say that in Spain your chances are scarce yet.
Conclusions
As we say, it is impossible to affirm categorically that one is better than the other or vice versa, since each one takes better care of certain aspects of his own. Some say that iOS is more elegant and responsive but on the other hand, if we use a Nexus without the software layer of any manufacturer, the controls are also extremely smooth, and the elegance is something that can be gained (or lost) with the customization.
And you, which one do you prefer?