Ever since Apple released the iPhone in 2007 and then the iPad in 2010, the newly dubbed “iOS” has been dominating the mobile and tablet market. Google released its highly anticipated Android Operating Systems in 2008. Choosing between these two competing phones or tablets can be a tough decision, here is some information that will help you get started on picking the right one for you.
Software

Apple’s iOS cannot currently be licensed for devices other than Apple’s. However Google’s Android platform is open-source and anybody is allowed to use it. Because it is open source it even allows handset makers to customize the experience for its device better. Apple updates iOS once a year on average with 2-3 minor updates in between. Apple’s updates are given through iTunes to all devices it is supported on at once and can be easily installed through their iTunes client. Google Android releases new versions of the OS more frequently than Apple. The problem with it is that the OS isn’t given to all Android devices at once. Because it runs on more than one device, handset manufacturers usually customize the OS to their device. When a new Android OS comes out the manufacturer must make it compatible with their device before letting devices upgrade. Some manufactures even ignore their older models and only release upgrades their newer models. Their is a great deal of hassle upgrading a Android device as upgrades are all released at different times and sometimes not even released at all compared to Apple’s streamline process. More about the operating systems will be explained in the user interface section below.

Device

Apple’s iOS runs on only two devices currently. Their iPhone line and the iPad tablet. Android runs on many devices as it is open source. Because Android is open source to have a vast option of devices compared to Apple’s 2 options. Also because Android lets any device use it, you can usually see greater specifications in Android devices. Also Android devices usually let you upgrade internal memory and replace the battery while Apple’s closed design doesn’t let you do either. However it can be rather convenient to have Apple’s built-in memory.

User Interface

The user interface for iOS revolutionized touch screen interaction. iOS using multi-touch allows zooming by pinching which is a very popular feature. iOS has a very basic home screen design with a grid of 12 apps on each page, with 4 apps in the dock. The apps in the dock are the ones you use the most frequently. The home screen can be customized to move apps as needed. Through menu’s and other UI features the iOS does a great job in a intuitive design. Android, can have a multitude of different looking home screen through installing apps or the manufacturer’s customization. Android unlike iOS can have widgets on the home screen which can be very handy. The Android has a drawer of apps very similar to the iOS selection. Other UI features of Android are very similar to the iPhone’s as while but the iOS UI flows much better, and is a clear winner between the two.

Apps

Apps on iOS are distributed through the App Store. Apps on Android are distributed through the Android Market however they can also be installed from 3rd party sources. Apps on the App Store are regulated, and go through approval through Apple. This ensures that they maintain quality, and fit in well with the devices. This usually creates top of the line apps. The Android Market is un-regulated so you are likely to find many spam and junk apps on the market. Because Android runs on multiple devices it is very hard to get apps that preform well on the multitude of screens with the different processors and processor speeds. In comparison to iOS’s quality apps some pro’s of using Android are not having to worry about not getting a app because Apple didn’t approve it and Android’s apps have greater access to the system allowing them to do interesting things like read your SMS messages.