Blogs
Michael Grothaus
15:01, 25 Nov 2013
Michael takes a look at Eric Schmidt's rather bizarre Google+ entry on why Android is better than iOS
In what is probably the weirdest post from a tech big cheese ever, over the weekend Google chairman Eric Schmidt posted a lengthy “how to” guide on his Google+ page that tells iPhone users how to switch from iPhone to Android.
There are so many things wrong with this guide, not the least of which it’s posted to Google+, which ensures that 99.99% of the internet population will never see it. It’s odd that a brilliant man like Schmidt would take the time to write such a basic post (and it would be considered basic even by people who write the “For Dummies” books). After reading the post, I got the impression that Schmidt’s account was hacked by a well-meaning teenage Android fan who thought he was doing the company a favour.
The entire thing generates as much excitement about moving to Android as reading a few pages from your old phone book does. However, there are some gems that really stand out. Like this one:
“Many of my iPhone friends are converting to Android. The latest high-end phones from Samsung (Galaxy S4), Motorola (Verizon Droid Ultra) and the Nexus 5 (for AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile) have better screens, are faster, and have a much more intuitive interface. They are a great Christmas present to an iPhone user!”
And this one:
“Make sure the software on the Android phone is updated to the latest version (i.e. 4.3 or 4.4).”
Let’s start with that first example though. Particularly where Schmidt says Android has “a much more intuitive interface” than the iPhone.
You’re laughing at this line right now because you know how moronic of a statement that is. Matter of fact, there are exactly between zero and ten people on the planet that would agree with Schmidt. And that’s it.
To be sure, Android does have some benefits over iOS. It is, for the most part, much more customizable than iOS—and if you love porn apps, then its your smartphone OS of choice.
But to say Android is more intuitive than iOS is just wrong. And by the way: the “intuitiveness” of an OS has very little to do with the design (ie: iOS 7’s flat design) as it does with the arrangement of the OS’s elements on the screen. With iOS, the primary screen elements are square icons with rounded corners. It’s blatantly obvious that you tap one of these to get into the app you want. With Android however, it’s a whole other story.
For starters, there is no guarantee an Android user on one device will know how to use Android on another device. That’s because manufacturers can skin and customize Android how they see fit. Is that a good thing? For the manufacturer, sure. But for an Android user—especially one who isn’t tech savvy—it’s a bad thing as with each new device you may have a new learning curve. Also, Android uses a more modular interface, which, though it has its benefits, does not make it more intuitive to use than rows on simple icons.
As for that second example: “Make sure the software on the Android phone is updated to the latest version (i.e. 4.3 or 4.4).” There Schmidt was trying to be helpful for people setting up a new Android phone. But it’s a great example of the primary drawback to Android: fragmentation.
Even Google Chairman Eric Schmidt can’t tell users with an Android phone which is the latest Android OS with 100% certainty, because it depends on what Android device you have. For some Android devices 4.3 might be the latest OS, but for others, it might be 4.4 Kit Kat.
For a modern OS, this is unacceptable—but it’s the unavoidable consequence of trying to build a mobile OS that works on hundreds of different handsets—all with their own varying capabilities.
With Apple’s iOS, there is virtually no fragmentation. All iPhone’s from the iPhone 4 (an almost four-year-old device) up run iOS 7. And even the iPhone 3G and 3GS runs all flavors of iOS 6 (iOS 6.1 for those keeping tabs).
Now, before anyone accuses me a bashing Android (too late?), I will say it is a very good mobile OS. It does allow you to do much more than iOS because it is open. But the general population cares about a phone that is easy to use and just works—and there the iPhone owns the crown.
Of course, an even larger percentage of the general population cares about price—which is why Android has taken over, as cheap Android handsets are everywhere. But with a cheap, open ecosystem, Android owners are also much more prone to viruses, trojans, and bugs—and that’s something that is, for many, a deal breaker.
So perhaps the next time Eric Schmidt wants to write a switcher’s guide, maybe he should instead put his brilliant mind to work fixing the flaws with Android to make it a true iOS competitor—then he might see even this Apple fan switching.
Think I’m being too hard on Schmidt? Think I’m just another stupid Apple fanboy? Abuse me on Twitter.
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