[Macworld]

Post your comments for Analysis: How will Android compare to the iPhone? here

[filipiak]

"... build in device functionality, like VoIP via wireless ... that Apple would never allow to see the light of day."
I have a VOIP app on my iPhone 3G, that I purchased from the AppStore, and I know of at least one other one in development.

[Jon Seff]

@filipiak You're correct, and that's been fixed in the story.

[360NikonD300]

Apple can put a quick stop to all these supposed iPhone killers by simply opening the iPhone to other carriers besides AT&T. They better do this before it's too late. Apple would have already owned the smartphone market if they had done this from the start. I'm on Verizon and won't get an iPhone until I can stick with my curretn carrier.

[eaappell]

I guess this is on MacWork, but this article is obviously very biased, subjective/speculative, and even tries to predict the future. There is also at least one inaccuracy: The T-Mobile G1 supports up to 16gb memory cards, with the new release of Sandisk's new 16gb mircoSD card, last week. And a 32gb is under development.

The real keyboard on G1 is looked at a hindrance in this article, but I personally know a couple iPhone users who wish the iPhone had a real keyboard, as they're frustrated with the virtual keyboard.

As for comparing the iPhone 3G with the T-Mo G1, you're comparing a first generation device barely launched, with a second gen phone. What will the G2 look like? What will Android 2.0 add to the G2 functionality? The iPhone is not 2 steps ahead of the G1, it's only 1 step ahead, and that deals mostly with time. A year from now, this author will be singing a different tune, as there will be many carriers and hardware companies developing Android apps, while the iPhone is on AT&T, and maybe one other carrier.

In short, Apple is great at what they do, but they will eventually lose this battle with Android, and that's because Steve Jobs didn't learn the lesson he should have during the PC/Mac wars of the 80's and 90's. Android is the new Windows, and unfortunately due to issues of control, Apple will remain a quality product but with a lower market share. I'd feel bad about that, but have you actually seen what the Android G1 can do? It's going to be every bit as good as the iPhone, with the benefits of an open market. And users will love it.

[George3]

Hey! Where's the Blackberry killer??? Hahaha

[context]

A correction ought to include the entire original corrected portion, not the bland fictionalized misrepresentation appended to this article.

[macFanDave]

My feeling is that the Android Market will be clogged with many, many junk programs. Not just boring, unoriginal, redundant programs (how many flashlights can there be?), but stuff that crashes, or worse.
I'm not sure what exactly Apple does to approve something for the App Store, but I'll bet it involves some quality control. I've gotten some apps that crashed in their original incarnation, but got fixed after an update.
We'll see how G1 users like sifting through tons and tons of crap apps, especially at EDGE speeds.

[timefly]

[~100072] , if you think this article is bias, you're as bias as well, even more so, you're just making no sense.
The G1 is about at the level of the first generation iPhone, and is still lacking a lot. It just followed what iPhone did and added things that they believe people want.

I can say with confidence that today's G1 Andriod is still not an iphone killer.

That means, without the iPhone, there's no G1, G2.. or whatever... and you seem to believe iPhone is just that, like all the phone makers who do not have anything else coming.

The typical Apple is just the opposite. they have a lot under their sleeves. What they show today is the guide for them to polish what they have years to come. If you look at the 1st gen iPhone, you may have never thought that this is the first time for a computer maker to design a phone. It was just the 1st trial and it turned the Smartphone market upside down!

This is not a game for Apple or Google to play to lose; this is not even a fight between them. Here are two companies embarking to change the smartphone market where nobody else has a vision upon. It just so happened it caught onto the differences between open source and proprietry. And more so, people like you who have such a narrow mind about winning and losing.

And about the open source, I think it's really silly to think "open" means "unlimited possibilities". It's not. Look at Linux, what a mess. Even WIndows who has huge marketshare; they are just a big proprietry product (I hope you don't get mistaken WIndows is open source). How bad they manage the quality of developers and it affects the stability of the Windows platform. You'll say, well, even proprietry close platform is not your favorite. This is the best solution so far to make sure you have a high quality product in consumers' hand.

[timefly]

Also, I like to add one more point: I think a lot of people don't realise how bad it means if Android is actually doing what iPhone is doing, like right now.
Android have an incomplete touch interface (as on G1), an uninspire "desktop" metaphor on the phone, the reliance on non-touch keys is inadvertible. The excuse may be "some people do NOT like touch", but the truth is they just give in to that notion and get lazy about how to make touch work best.
If Google is being so innovative like how they see themselves, then I'll say it's not up to "google standard".
Adding more memory, more megapixel camera, have a tactile keyboard...etc is not improvement to iphone....
That said, you should appreciate the tremendous work Apple have done to bring you the iphone, it might seem easy, especially seems easy to copy, but to get to this point, it's a long road, think about before the day iPhone launch, there's no such thing in this world, and today everybody is making a version of iPhone knockoff and claim that they're the one who change phone history... haha..Let's see what the next version will bring you. My bet is, if Apple do not make any new things on the next iPhone, all phone makers will add another megapixel to the camera, and add more memory to the phone. If Apple make something new in the next iPhone, everybody will copy it right away.
That's why I have more faith in Apple to give you something more interesting and even more powerful then now. Android still not showing they has a vision.

[eaappell]

Here are the points I'm making:

1) This article is biased (again, it's on MacWorld, so I guess that makes sense)
2) It's factually incorrect (for example, maximum store is 16gb for the G1)
3) The author is comparing a 2nd gen iPhone with a 1st gen G1 that isn't even on the market yet (and pointing out perceived problems that have not been confirmed, see point #2)
4) The G1 doesn't have to be an "iPhone killer", it only has to match its features, which it appears it has successfully done
5) The G2 will improve on the design of the G1, and the Android 2.0 OS will improve as well, just as the iPhone 3G has improved (including a normal headphone jack that was absent from the 1st gen iPhone)
6) Android will eventually support Exchange (and even Blackberry Connect), just as the 1st gen iPhone did not support Exchange (see point #5)

Don't get me wrong -- the article makes a few valid points, but much of it is speculation and some are flat-out wrong. Consider the source. But what annoys me are the statements similar to this, which is just curious: "But iPhone users have grown accustomed to thinking about phone hardware and software as part of a unified whole." Really?? iPhone users are really looking for this? To be honest, I don't even know what this means. How is, say, a Blackberry, NOT about "hardware and software as part of a unified whole?"

And then this one: "For the foreseeable future, Apple’s seamless user experience gives iPhone the clear edge." How 'forseeable' are you talking about? 6 months?

My prediction: Within 18-24 months, we'll see more Android handsets on the market than iPhones. Most will have the same benefits as the iPhone. This worries Apple.

[People_Eater]

I found this very funny:
> will actually pan the first-person perspective screen image as you pivot the phone, helping you orient yourself with photographic landmarks.
[/quote]
Right, so instead of looking at the real world right in front of you, you look at it on your phone. That's a pretty potent symbol of how far we've become detached from the natural world, and how obsessed and dependant on gizmos we are.

[panicgirl]

@timefly
Well, looks whos biased.
1.) Only facts. Except the 8gb MicroSDHC, not all people know that it came out.
2.) Yeah you're right. But I had a phone from Softbank which doesnt support all capacity.
3.) People have tested G1, see some vids on youtube.
4.) Yes it matches. But no multi touch. Laggy internet browsing, bulky, not all people does want a physical QWERTY nowadays, plastic screen which scratches, Proprietary headphones,.
3 mp camera, micro SD slots thats good but doesnt mean its better.
5.) If android will have its 2.0, why not iPhone OS have its 3.0 =p.
Look how many crappy apps google android will have. if the apple app store had crappy apps how many more will the Android app store have. Its Open.
6.) iPhone supports exchange, it's not 1gen vs 1gen. It's all about the current phone.
And as time goes by, iPhone will get sleeker and smarter.
I agree with timefly, adding keyboard isn't an improvement anymore.
3mp camera is a good addition, for me is not much important at all. I have a dedicated digital camera to shoot high quality and much higher megapixels.
Who knows if apple will open it up to more carriers.
Call me bias, i love iPhone. If you think Android will improve, why not iPhone.
have you ever saw a bulky phone sell even better than a sleeker phone.
Give me a free G1, i'd still pay for iPhone.

[panicgirl]

sorry timefly, my post above is for "eeappell"