Windows Mango vs Android : Which is the best os for your Smartphone

 Windows Mango vs Android : Which is the best os for your Smartphone

A lot of times I come across people who think a phone is a smartphone only if it is powered by Android. Any one having a WP (windows phone) has supposedly wasted his hard earned money. So is this the case? Before we come to any conclusions let us first understand what an OS on a phone means.

Just like your computer a phone also requires a platform to run. An ecosystem is required on which you can install any application or play your favorite games like Angry birds. What windows(xp,vista, 7 or 8) is to a laptop or pc, Android or Windows(mango is the latest version) are to a smartphone. These are the basic software on which any additional software can run. So the question is why has two different OS when they basically do the same thing?

Well for one having a choice is always good. Just because some prefer chrome over Firefox doesn't mean Firefox shouldn't exist. Every one has a different taste and while Android may suite to some not all may find it similarly pretty or useful. Though Windows and Android basically do the same thing they do it in a totally different way. Some users may find tile system on the windows appealing while others may prefer the customization on Android.


Android

Android has been in the market for quite a while now and Google has made has proved that their little monster is not only here to stay but to dominate. One can find a slew of Android powered phones in the market from various manufacturers like Samsung, Sony, LG, HTC. So what makes Android so special?

Well the number of applications you can find on Google market( the online store where you download your apps from) is one of the major reason for the success of this platform. There are over 400000 apps available on the market( though you probably wouldn't download more than 100-150 of those but still its good to have a choice). One can find apps for anything from getting latest stock updates to monitoring your heart beat(not sure if it gives accurate results).

The problem with Android is fragmentation. Presently there are phones with Gingerbread, Ice cream Sandwich or Froyo available in the market. Every version of the android is named after a dessert. Ice Cream Sandwich (Android 4.0) is the latest version available. One can still find phones Gingerbread (Android 2.3, the predecessor to Ice Cream Sandwich on phones). It is all good as long as you get the lastest and greatest version of the software on your phone. But usually the manufacturers drop support after one or two updates and you are left with an older version on your phone that makes it somewhat obsolete.


Windows Phone

Windows is relatively a new comer to the market. The number of devices available with Windows are relatively less as of now but with Nokia joining the bandwagon recently this number is only going to increase in the future. The greatest difference between Android and Windows is the interface. While the Android offers the conventional interface with round icons and widgets, the Metro interface on the Windows uses live tiles as icons.

It is a breeze of fresh air from the conventional system and many may find it appealing. The core idea is to make things simple and provide live feed on the tiles rather than having to open them individually. Social media like facebook and twitter come intergrated out of the box.

Windows has got its own marketplace. Though the number of applications aren't anywhere close to that on Android; Microsoft & Nokia are personally taking care of that. Presently there are around 70000 apps available to choose from and that number is definitely gonna increase in the near future.

Now the big question comes what to choose? Both OSes have their own pros and cons.

Android
Pros

1. Number of applications
2. Customization
3. Internet tethering (sharing) over wifi or usb
4. Removable battery and Sd card support
5. More number of devices available to choose from

Cons

1. Due to a large number of devices available some application may be incompatible on some phones
2. Fragmentation( you can never be sure whether your phone will get the next version of the os or not)
3. Poor battery life


Windows Mango
Pros

1. Facebook and twitter integration
2. More fluid and responsive than Android
3. Multitasking
4. Social gaming on xbox live account
5. Simple user interface

Cons

1. No external sd card support(though windows phones come with 8-16 gb of inbuilt memory)
2. Bluetooth file sharing only with other windows phones
3. No internet tethering (an update to fix this problem promised by Nokia though)
4. File sharing with pc requires Zune

Bottom line being it all depends on your own preference. Both OS have their pros and cons. While there are a lot of sites and a lot of people on the forums over the web who will defend on one OS or another, the truth is both of them are equally good. If you already have an Android tablet or you are looking for an upgrade from your old android phone, Windows mango can provide you with that fresh change. For users who are getting their first smartphone it depends on what you want. Even though windows doesnt support dual core processors, that is because it doesn't need them. It is equally(or probably more) fluid and responsive on a single core as Android on a multicore.