Affiliation
Google Android Vs Apple’s IOS Operating Systems
An operating system is software that enables the computer to carry out its operations and tasks as commanded by the user. There are two types of operating systems that more or less perform the same function but their background or composition varies due to the manufacturer and competitive task performance. These are the Apple’s IOS and Google Android’s operating systems (Begun, 2011). The Apple IOS operating system was designed and manufactured after going through a series of evolution by the company Apple Inc. The Google Android operating system was manufactured by the company Android Inc (Begun 2011).
Google Android and Apple IOS operating system offer the same products but the branding and packaging is what varies. They might be said, in business terms, to be in a monopolistic type of market competition since their product is just differentiated to suit the same market niche and can act as substitutes of each other. There manufacturing companies are both incorporated in California (USA) and they both had a change of name during the venture into mobile computer and electronic devices. Android Inc. was taken over by Google Inc. while Apple computer Inc. was changed to Apple Inc. to signify the intended expansion and penetration into mobile devices especially the phone (Begun, 2011). The two systems are user friendly hence in operation easy to use, and both operating systems try to address the market demand through highlighting the location of their clients with regards to preferences of the users. Location is purely geographical like different continents or countries, whereby, different needs arise due to variations in ways of life. These cultural or situational ways of life create unique preferences that the two market leaders try to address while they compete with each other. Android and Apple systems through virtual partitioning of the screen or minimizing active windows allow users to carry out more than one task at the same time if need be. In addition, both operating systems effectively support video communication through Skype and support electronic mail usage even though android does this via Gmail client while Apple does the same via Apple mail Client.
Apple IOS and Google android operating systems physically differ by the functions each handles on command. Besides both having the short range communication technology known as Bluetooth, Android contains an extra short range application called NFC (Near Field Communication). Apple IOS enables sharing of the internet connection through Bluetooth while Android ensures the same through Wi-Fi (Begun, 2011).
Apple IOS and Google Android have varied composition that gives one an advantage over the other in varied situations or circumstances, mainly preferential differences by the consumers in the ecosystem. The major point of contrast between the Android operating system and apple IOS operating system arises from the fact that Apple system is customized to only function with software and hardware products from apple Inc. This implies that they don’t operate with any third party software or hardware, which are defined as those originating from other manufacturers in the same industry. Android operating system however is referred to as an open source operating system. This means that it is made to be used with various software and hardware available from players in the same industry to achieve any intended task as long as the required process of synchronization is adhered to (Parsons, & Oja, 2011).
In my opinion, Android operating system is the better one compared to Apple IOS because this operating system because of its ability to be installed in any hardware and can work with any software from any other company. So one can on impulse replace a part or the whole of their hardware or software set and is sure of compatibility. This is very important in high performance and urgent tasks that lead to breakdowns, with little room for specific adjustments. The last bit of worry should arise from fear of failure of the whole system because of not finding a specific replacement from a certain manufacturer as in the case of Apple Operating System, which operates in Apple gadgets only (Sosinsky, 2011).
The Ecosystem best suited for my preference is in Apple for the basic fact that Android unlike Apple system enhances social contact synchronization, yet their ability to supports communication across varied networks universally as applied in social sites, ensures a huge number of users with varied technological level with regards to updating and shifting to latest and newer; versions, platforms of hardware, varied screen sizes and different applications. This large number of users rarely updates their components to match with the latest version of Android Operating system hence a rift is bound to occur when using or sharing certain aspects via this system. The sole production and regulation of Apple Operating system ensures uniformity and same standard of the software and hardware products to match. Despite the restriction in open usage with third party hardware, users of Apple IOS are assured of a constant standard in operation (Pearce, 2011).
When it comes to phones in reference to the two operating systems, one should be able to pick an android phone over an iphone because of a variety of reasons, some previously mentioned. At the moment, Apple operating system does provide a wide range of options in multitasking, but rather lets its applications like iPod and Phone to function at the back. Apple has developed far more applications than Android thus the huge disparity of these applications provides a wide variety of tools to use in tackling many more internet based activities and it is much more reliable. Apple has185,000 applications while the Android one has slightly got past 50,000 applications (Pearce, 2011). Android is growing and expanding its application options fast and the vast acceptance in use provides an environment which may enable it to catch up with Apple application store, but this is not guaranteed and Apple may have by then moved a step further.
The operating system in iPhone is fast and reliable in opening of the images captured or imported as opposed to android operating system, which on occasions is very slow in viewing images and hangs forcing the user to reboot it, or sometimes remove the battery then insert, in order to see the images (Begun 2011). Therefore it is clumsy and time wasting as compared to iPhone which takes a standard time of not more than ten seconds.
Chances of getting counterfeit accessories with iPhones are very slim hence their products give one confidence when buying and using them. The strict self production of accessories makes it possible to regulate the availability and verification codes for genuine Apple products. They also offer guarantees and longer warranty periods for replacement incase of faulty operational issues. The Android scenario of using a variety of accessories from third party companies exposes users to counterfeit goods risk and non uniformity in period of guarantees and warrantees if lucky to get one (Begun, 2011).
The operating system in iPhones is tiresome because one has to go through a series of commands to be able to view a video download or one imported, but the level of quality satisfaction is high. This cannot be said of Android which is easy to use because the videos more often than not leave the user dissatisfied. Android system in phones has tried so much to make the phone user friendly by having icons of application readily visible on the screen and of course the system of notification is better and one can view multiple notifications at once. This makes the pop-up system in iPhones which restrict the user to one pop up message at a time seem inconveniencing. However, this ensures more concentration of the user and the longer process of launching application increases attentiveness of the user.
In conclusion, Android operating system is basic and can be associated with many types of software that are available in the universe and so would easily be understood in terms of use. It is also true that one can be able to operate with Android operating system with proper instructions even for the very first time due to their user appeal and visibility of features. The interface is made to allow for easy navigation on the screen giving a simple approach to roaming and trying out the available features and application. Apple operating system on the other hand, is restricted in terms of usability with other software and hardware, but performance wise guarantees a standard and uniform delivery of expected results through every generation of newer version because the manufacturers of the upgraded versions are the same who adjust the latest type of software and hardware to accommodate the improvements done to latest versions. Therefore, the view of any user should be based on whether one is interested in the operating systems’ physical abilities or how it interacts with other software and hardware whether from the same or different manufacturer.
Reference
Begun, D., A. (2011). Amazing Android Apps for Dummies. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley Publishing Inc.
Pearce, J. (2011). Professional Mobile Web Development with WordPress, Joomla! and Drupal. San Francisco, CA: John Wiley and Sons.
Parsons, J., J. & Oja, D. (2011). New Perspectives on Computer Concepts 2012: Brief
New Perspectives Series. Stamford, US: Cengage Learning.
Sosinsky, B. (2011). Cloud Computing Bible. San Francisco, CA: John Wiley and Sons.
