iOS vs. Android vs. Windows Phone [part 1]

The biggest players in the field are Apple with iOS, Google with Android, and Microsoft with Windows Phone 7 (WP7) when it comes to app development, smartphone sales, and the future outlook of each OS. But which is the best? We compare to find out.

User interface

iOS:

Apple's mobile OS has long been considered one of the cleanest interfaces in every way, from general software functions to adjusting basic settings. Built-in apps have straightforward names (calculator, mail, clock, etc.), the settings menu is clear and easy to use, and apps are built with navigation options closer to the bottom so users can reach them easily. Menu navigation and nearly all OS functions have slight graphical chimes, like sliding between home pages or smooth scrolling. More recently iOS has been updated to include more social media applications like Twitter, and cloud storage and backup through iCloud. Almost all functions of the iPhone are very clear and straightforward, and require minimal (if any) prior knowledge to operate. The new notifications bar, which is very similar to Android’s notification bar, is customizable and shows all of the latest app notifications.

For the iPhone 4S specifically, with Siri users can voice commands and the phone will open applications, type dictated messages, provide internet searches, and do it all with everyday speech. Not the robot-talk you use when speaking to automated tech support.

iOS, however, does have some severe limitations. Ringtones and notification sounds must be in the list of available sounds or purchased directly through iTunes. Some functions just aren’t available, like opening driving directions from locations listed in the calendar. Multitasking, which Apple touts though in reality isn’t true multitasking, has serious limitations for users.

Android:

There are a number of Android OSs in the wild today, anywhere from Android 1.6 to Android 4.0. The UI differs only slightly between these different versions, but because Android is highly customizable, phone manufacturers and cell providers (AT&T, Verizon, etc.) all have their own design preferences. This makes Android a mess of differing UIs. Simple tasks like moving apps are different between not only different versions of Android, but different phones sharing the same Android firmware. This fragmentation means updates to Android phones, and thus UI improvements are sparse and sometimes simply unavailable. Android is the only mobile OS with phone and software fragmentation.

The general OS functions are very similar to iOS. It uses home pages with apps, while also including a full menu of apps so users can choose which apps appear on a home pages. Menu navigation (in the US) relies on four hard buttons: home, menu, back and search. Android 4.0 eliminates the back menu and search button, replacing both with an apps-open button. Built-in functions act differently across all overlays; HTC’s TouchSense, for instance, includes a built-in phone button, while Samsung’s TouchWiz is more similar to iOS’s four bottom apps which are the same on every home page.

Android is the first and currently only OS to feature widgets. Android also has live wallpapers, which are interactive wallpapers for the home screen, completely adjustable ringtones and notification sounds, and even adjustable lock screens. There is no limit to the level of customization available on Android, from ringtones to virtual keyboards. Social media integration is limited to Facebook and Twitter.

Windows Phone 7:

Microsoft's mobile OS is a far departure from the app-centric designs of both iOS and Android. Everything about WP7 is different from its competition thanks to a feature-centric design. Like Microsoft’s desktop OS, WP7 is based around centralized apps (like Internet Explorer and Office) and folders (like Xbox Live, which opens a list of owned games). This UI is so different from iOS and Android that critics like PC World have called it “refreshing”.

The home screen uses large tiles that act like Widgets. Any app can be added to the single home screen, and they act either as a shortcut to the app or open the folder to the apps. Xbox Live, for instance, houses all games; Pictures stores all photos in sections based on what’s on the phone, what’s in the cloud, etc.

The general layout of apps, and the build quality, is superb. The Metro UI uses subtle pictures or visual cues to hint that users should slide to the right to see the next screen, or slide up to unlock the screen. This implementation is unlike any OS available, and is far more intuitive than iOS or Android. WP7 uses three hard buttons – back, start, and search – which help users navigate between menus or activate features like speech recognition.

Built-in apps like Internet Explorer feel great, and feel as though they’re designed for both one- and two-handed use. Options are a simple tap away, and navigation is easy thanks to the option selection staying near the bottom of the screen. The keyboard is almost as precise as on iOS, but with word prediction it is the best virtual keyboard available.

Winner: Windows Phone 7

Microsoft's mobile OS takes the cake with the most intuitive and easiest-to-use user interface. It’s not app-centric, but it is the most functional and the most convenient mobile UI to date.

Part 2