Posted on by Frank - Follow me on Twitter

4261707598 f01173c92a Which Platform For Mobile Devices Do You Prefer?

credit attributed to http://www.flickr.com/photos/dannysullivan/

Do you have a cell phone?  Of course you do.  At this point, I think almost everyone has jumped aboard that train.  However, what I am more interested in finding out is what your favorite platform is for mobile devices.  You know what they are, right?  In case you don’t, they are Palm OS, Windows Mobile, iPhone OS, Blackberry OS and Android. Regardless of the phone you have, your phone contains one of the listed platforms.

I have had the opportunity to use four of the five listed above.  The only one I haven’t used is the Palm OS.  Let’s just say, I have no desire to use it in the first place.  If I ever get to, great, but I’m not desperate.  I will not give my opinion on the Palm OS either since I haven’t used it, but if anyone reading this has used it, please leave a comment below and tell us what you think.

Let’s start off with the worst platform, Windows Mobile.  The navigation pane has way too many categories to choose from and some of these categories have sub categories.  Finding what you are looking for can become an absolute pain.  The user experience is simply missing here and the platform could really use a re-design.  Also,  the apps for Windows Mobile almost seem to be non existent.  How can any platform not have a decent selection of apps?  That is the reason why we have winners and losers in the market.

The Blackberry OS I have been able to use because many people in my family have a Blackberry. I know many people like this phone and operating system, but I don’t.  I don’t care for the usage of colors with the majority of everything being black and white when accessing the menu bar. The color scheme of black and white is common when doing something like text messaging or email, but for some reason it looks so bad on the Blackberry.  It is not aesthetically pleasing at all.  The one positive I can talk from this platform is the ability to store apps right on the desktop of the platform.  It allows for easy access for frequently used applications and you don’t need to go searching around for what is needed.

The iPhone OS is by far the most popular one out there.  No question about it, it also looks the nicest.  Apple has always been known for their craft with developing great technology.  When using the iPhone OS, the simplicity for adding, locating, and the usability of applications is second to none. It’s one of those platforms that continues to get better and better with age. Apple listens to their customers and when updates to the platform are made, those suggestions are included.  I also believe what makes them the most desired platform is the huge selection of applications.  There really is an app for almost everything.

Finally, the Android platform is considered to be second behind the iPhone OS.  I can’t disagree with that, but I have been a lot of articles floating around the web saying that Android is better for reasons beyond its platform.  That’s quite interesting to me, but it is a known fact that Apple has always been a hard ass with anything the company creates.  The Android Platform is second in terms of the selection of applications and their usability is quite simple as well.  There are updates also sent out frequently for the platform due to consumer demands.  Listening to the customers is the most important thing any of these platforms can do to achieve success.

If you have any thoughts on my opinions mentioned in this post or you have a rebuttal against what I said, please let your voice be heard.  I don’t think I missed any of the platforms for mobile devices, but if I did, let me know about that too.  Do you have a mobile platform that you prefer over another?  Is everyone typically an iPhone user?

Further reading:

Apple iPhone OS 4

Motorola Cliq Cell Phone Review

Will Google Voice Revolutionize Technology?

Which Cell Phone Is The Best Tech Gadget?

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Posted in Technology | Comments (11)

  • http://www.vigthegeek.com VigTheGeek

    Palm OS has been gone almost 2 years. Palm’s platform is called WebOS and it’s not Palm anymore either. They are mid buyout from HP.

    In Windows are you talking about actual Windows Mobile, like 6.5? Or the forthcoming Windows Phone 7 that will be the true Windows mobile platform?

    I was a Palm user for over 10 years until the iPhone came out (this was when it was still Palm OS) and I never would have left if it wasn’t for the iPhone. Then again with the change to WebOS and Palm selling to HP… who knows?

    Android will taper off and be moderately successful in the end. It’s open source. PEople who support the open source movement, by and large, are not big business, heavy capitalist types. Open source started from a “damn the man” perspective. Not much of it turns a buck. It’s new. It was another “apple killer” and it had the weight of Google behind it. So it took off. It’ll slow down. Look carefully, it already has.

    The death grip Steve keeps over the app development for the iPhone is also it’s success. Windows and Palm phones were notorious for crashes and reboots. You had one person manufacturing the OS, another with the hardware and a 3rd with apps – none of which was regulated by any of the others. Apple’s control keeps consistency. It sucks for developers but it works for the primary customer – the end user.

    BlackBerry tried to enter the consumer market with the Pearl but that didn’t work. it’s not their bread and butter. Corporate was/is. They don’t make their phones look fancy and attract people but they are powerhouses. That is by the standard we used to measure smartphones with. Now we have the Apple/iPhone standard and BB/RIM needs to evolve or die (like Palm).

    Each platform has its core users and not everyone is going to be an iPhone guy, I get that. But anyone marketing AWAY from the iPhone, is in for a surprise.

  • http://www.socialtechzone.com Frank

    Great points made here, Jay. In regards to Windows, I was referring to Windows Mobile. I actually didn’t hear about the Windows Phone 7 that will be taking over. That’s new news to my ears and it will be interesting to see if that helps Windows in the mobile department at all. I kind of doubt it will.

    You enlightened me a lot more on the “ins and outs” of Palm. I didn’t realize it has fallen off so quickly. It just goes to show that some platforms just don’t belong in the mix and that’s how consumers themselves weed out the good products from the poor ones.

    Realistically, I don’t think anyone can keep up with the iPhone. I do believe that Android will always be a close second and I stick to that opinion. However, I eventually want to own an iPhone and I hope eventually that iPhones will be available for all mobile carriers once Apple’s contract with AT&T expires. (That was a rumor I heard.)

  • http://www.VigTheGeek.com VigTheGeek

    Palm was a pioneer in the industry. Their fate is not entirely their own fault. US Robotics was bought by 3Com. The lead developers took off and formed Handspring which made the Visor and original Treo. Then 3Com cut the Palm division loose and Palm, Inc. was born. They did well until smartphones started to grow. They bought Handpsring to bring the original developers back and get the Treo in their lineup. All of this caused a lapse in OS updates. Palm, Inc split into PalmOne for hardware and PalmSource for software and lost control of the OS to a company called Access after the split. By the time they got it all back it was too late. WebOS was a big push but it came after the iPhone and was another failed Apple killer.

    Here is a video i did on Windows Phone 7 initial reactions – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j4-W9YDr1MU. It was big news at Mix this year. We’ll see what happens with it given the reactions of people initially and their launch of the kin series phones.

    As for the iPhone on multiple carriers, it’s still just rumor. iPhone on Verizon doesn’t make sense for Apple given the need for reengineering to work on CDMA. Now, next year when Verizon and AT&T do full rollouts of the 4th generation LTE networks things may change.

  • http://www.socialtechzone.com Frank

    Wow! Thanks for the further education on the Palm OS literally through the ages. I notice that anytime any company tries to compete with Apple, they eliminate themselves. It is expected though because Apple is an extremely large empire and they have the smartest individual in Steve Jobs running the show.

    I do hope that the iPhone rumor of being available for all mobile carriers becomes a fact one day. I heard it would take about two years, but with the way Apple rolls, I wouldn’t be surprised if this does happen and they then control all carriers and become the most dominant phone in the mobile market.

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  • http://bluetinko9.tumblr.com Laurin

    I have used two of the five you listed, and I would have to prefer Android.

    I use the iPhone OS on my Touch and when I “steal” my friends iPhones. I like how the touch screen works and the overall experience with it. The major thing I like about it are the apps. I still think that overall Apple has the best ones.
    Now, I like the Droid, because of the freedom you get with it. I love the HTC droids!!! I like the store that Android runs and most of all like how it take things further then Apple. I like how you get more control over it then Apple.

    Good Post!!

  • http://dkangel09.tumblr.com Bailey

    I prefer Blackberry OS, because that is the one I have used the most, but I also like Android.
    I got a BB when I started HS and have been using one ever since then. I really like my Storm, but now with all the cool stuff with the Droids, I think that will be my next phone.

    I just like how you can use 3rd party apps and its seem to be easier then dealing with the iPhone/Apple Store. Plus unless you have Bell, you can’t get the iPhone.

  • http://www.socialtechzone.com Frank

    There are some really great features within the Blackberry OS. However, the phone just never appealed to me at all. Although, there are many users who really enjoy the phone and I can’t blame them. It does everything you would want a Blackberry to do. I agree with you, the Droid phones have some really cool capabilities as well as some features that you can’t get with an iPhone. Interesting enough, I still want an iPhone and hope it comes to T-Mobile as rumored. I’m not too thrilled with the current issues surround the iPhone 4, but I think with the type of company Apple is, those issues will be resolved and updates to the iPhone 4 will be made.

  • http://www.socialtechzone.com Frank

    Its funny. I really like the Droid phones. The designs are really unique and users seem to be really into what is being created. However, when it comes to the app stores, I prefer the iPhone. I think its easier to navigate around and it obviously has a larger selection of apps. I think Android does offer more control and freedom than Apple does, I agree. That little thing alone is something that frustrates many people.

  • http://bluetinko9.tumblr.com Laurin

    Frank, did you see/hear about the new i2i Chat for the apps store. It is basically Apples answer to BBM from Blackberry.

    As for the iPhone 4, by the time it does come to the others (Verizon and T-Mobile) Apple will have the problem fixed.

  • http://miicko9.tumblr.com Mick

    I like the Apple OS basically because it is the only one I am currently using. I have a 1st Gen iPod Touch and well it has gone lots of places with me. It def helps to make a Friday night with friends tons of fun. I agree that it does have the best suggestion of apps and the Store is very easy to look for new ones to try. Plus you can’t go wrong with Apple, most of the time.

    I do like and want to try Android. Every time I go to the mall I stop into the AT&T store and play with the HTC Aria. I swear once I get a JOB, I am getting my own contract and that phone. I just like the ability to use different apps and I am a big Google fan. I can’t wait to see it evolve more and see what other cool things come from Droid.