In part one we covered what could be considered the ‘old school’ smartphone operating systems, which essentially paved the way for those featured here in part two.  While Palm may have also been there right at the start, webOS has much more in common with its two main competitors, Android and iPhone OS, than it does with the original Palm OS.  Let’s take a closer look at the three biggest names in mobile operating systems today.

Android.

Google’s Android operating system was huge news from the moment it was rumoured and has remained in the limelight ever since.  It’s an upgradeable open-source OS built around a Linux kernel and initially appeared on a single mobile phone, the T-Mobile G1, but has since made it to various other handsets from different manufacturers.

Key Advantages of Android.

• Its open-source status allows considerable customisation and freedom.
• Integration with Google’s suite of online tools.
• Excellent web browser.
• Widgets used for quick feature access.
• Regular updates to the OS bring new features and bug fixes.
•  Android Market contains thousands of applications.
• Manufacturers can add skins to improve usability.
• Many manufacturers bring their own style to the hardware, giving a varied choice for consumers.

Google’s less intrusive business practices when it comes to control over the hardware and applications in the Market makes Android popular with those who dislike Apple’s opposite approach, plus as time moves on, we’re beginning to see far more exciting hardware featuring the OS than any of its competitors.

Disadvantages of Android.

The updates don’t always make it too all devices, plus early builds did not inspire confidence.

• Android 2.0 will feature Exchange support, but previous versions don’t.
• Multi-touch is not native on early versions.

Android has taken a while to get going, with only the latest builds and hardware drawing almost universal admiring looks.  This doesn’t seem to have hurt Android though, and 2010 looks to be a very strong year.

webOS.

It is almost hard to believe that Palm’s webOS was released to the public inside the Palm Pre in June this year.  Before the launch there was plenty of hype and much excitement from dedicated Palm fans, but afterwards, it died away a little too quickly.  The Pre’s European launch did little to inspire either, coming several months after its US debut, leaving the question of whether webOS is still a genuine competitor so early in its life?

Key Advantages of webOS.

•  One of the slickest user interfaces available.
• Excellent control over multi-tasking.
• Synergy’s contact integration is also better than any other similar option on the market.
• Palm only devices ensure compatibility and stability.
• Widgets used for quick feature access.
• Palm’s App Catalog contains applications for the OS.
• Backwards app compatibility.
• Multi-touch and gesture control.
• Exchange support.

Palm’s webOS is very much a competitor and is a joy to use, however it’s currently let down more by the hardware than anything else.  With the underwhelming Pixi about to be launched in the USA, Palm may need to consider licensing webOS to pre-determined manufacturers if it is to gain further exposure.

Disadvantages of webOS.

•  Late SDK introduction has hurt app creation.
• Palm seemingly concentrating on the US market rather than Europe doesn’t stimulate sales.

Using webOS will convert many to its wonderful mix of intuitiveness and online connectivity, however with a single, high priced device and little of Apple’s brand awareness in the UK, it seems doomed to be the underdog.

iPhone OS.

This is the big one.  The one which revolutionised the touchscreen mobile phone and showed the world that an app store done properly could make a hefty amount of money.  Did it do anything that other phones didn’t, not really, in fact it did less in some areas, but the attraction of that logo and the lifestyle it seemed to offer was too great to ignore.

Key Advantages of iPhone OS.

• The iTunes App Store contains tens of thousands of applications.
• Simple to operate user interface.
• Regularly updated firmware versions bring new functionality and bug fixes.
• Apple make their own hardware optimised for their own operating system.
• Exchange support.
• Native multi-touch and gesture control.
• Easy syncing with iTunes and Mac OS features such as Mail and Calendar.

There is no denying the iPhone OS is fabulous to use, but interestingly some of its advantages are often also considered disadvantages, depending on your point of view.  In fact, out of all the OS’s we’ve featured, the iPhone’s is the only one which can be viewed in this manner.

Disadvantages of iPhone OS.

• The locked-down nature of the iPhone and its OS stops any approved modification.
• Virtual keyboard only.
• The iPhone forces users to adopt iTunes as their phone sync software.
• No multi-tasking outside of a select few such as the iPod music player.
• Strict guidelines for the App Store sometimes see interesting applications unable to get approval.
• Like Android, several key functions didn’t appear until later firmware builds.
• No native document viewing or editing without the purchase of an app.

It’s amazing that the iPhone’s OS has this many distinct disadvantages and is equally as hardware-challenged as Palm, yet remains so popular.

Conclusion.

Of these three operating systems, only one can go through to part three.  Remember, we’re looking for the best all-round consumer smartphone OS here, which means we must consider everything from usability to hardware choice, and it has to be for the majority.  WebOS won’t be going through, mainly due to it not being as established and only available on a single, expensive handset.  We also won’t be taking the iPhone OS any further either, although we appreciate that for many people it’s a perfect package, others dislike that packaged feel intensely, and that polarisation is too great to ignore.

But is Android better?  We feel it’s almost too difficult to choose between them, each having similar pros and cons, therefore we have to consider the choice of handsets available as a tie-breaker.  Ultimately consumers want choice, and they will get that if they choose Android, hence it’s our choice of part two.