It's time to swap my dumb phone for a smartphone. Seems more marine app's are currently available for the iPhone but momentum is with Android.
Since the carriers tend to lock us in longer than many marriages, if you had to make a fresh platform decision today and live with it for the foreseeable future, which one would you choose?
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Certainly there is a big component of taste in the hardware selection. Lots of Android devices, only one iPhone. The biggest weakness of the iPhone is limited battery life even on the newest generation (I have one and speak from experience). This could outweigh all other considerations depending upon how you use the phone. As for the app development, the installed base of iPhones is so big when combined with the iPad which runs the same apps that it is hard to see Android catching up let alone surpassing the Apple apps in diversity.
In reality when it comes to quality apps worth having, both iOS (apple) and Android are likely to end up at similar 'water levels'. Most developers nowadays use cross platform tools enabling them to write once but release for both. Apple iOS and Android are the only shows in town. So it's down to two issues: personal preference for hardware, and how important iTunes is or is not to you.
Battery life issues are the same for leading Android devices such as HTC, Samsung and iPhone (I use both). Also both OS's work with popular 'cloud' services (eg google). iPhones can be simpler to use for 'civilians' as apple have restricted the level of customisation to their user interface, whereas techies like the way Androids user interface can be customised with loads of widgets, etc, especially the home screen. It's really down to personal taste, both are equally good IMHO. Beware the few 'fanatics' with an almost religious preference for one or the other. They are just 3rd generation smart phones not the answers to lifes big questions! :)
I'm still quite happy about switching from an iPhone 3G to a Verizon Android Incredible:
https://www.panbo.com/archives/2010/05/verizon_droid_incredible_indeed_it_is.html
A key factor for me is that I can USB tether the Android to laptops without any extra cost beyond the $30/month unlimited data plan. I can also turn on and off WiFi tethering for my iPad at $20 extra per month for 2 gigs. But some of that may be different for a new account, unfortunately.
Also, while there are battery extenders for iPhones, I think it's less expensive for many Android phones as the batteries are generally replacable. I got a triple size battery (and modified back piece) for my phone for about $65. It makes a huge difference in terms of how free I feel to use the phone for streaming radio via Bluetooth to my hearing aids (really!.. http://goo.gl/bIOwO ), doing GPS navigation, etc. But you're right that there are much fewer Android marine apps than IOS ones.
Android and iOS both now support creation of local hotspot negating the need for USB. In Europe some networks don't apply tethering charges for this as it included in data plan.
I'm squarely in the 'civilian' camp. Despite having a 'Big Blue' heritage, we use iMac's and Mac Air's at home and as my wife points out, all of our music is iTunes-bound. So I guess if the goal is simplicity, integration, music and bluetooth communications on-board (through Fusion) and the best availability of marine app's for the '11 New England boating season, the iPhone is probably a good choice....especially since I need to buy two...one for my wife as well.
We spend a fair amount of time video Skyping and visiting with family in Europe. For that reason, am I correct to think AT&T's GSM/4G for the iPhone is a better choice than Verizon? Any problems with AT&T coverage along coastal New England?
Thanks for the fedback guys. I realize this isn't rocket science but the only app's I care about are marine/navigation related.
personally i like the iphone/pad for non road navigation. i simply havent found a better general mapper than motionx gps (precacheable topo road and noaa, active location sharing, and a cost of 99cents)
the ipad has the only faa approved charts currently. and several good nautical maps.
android is catching up but i dont think they'll surpass the iphone in quality navigation apps in the next 12 months.
i've yet to see anything like the lifeproof (ip-68 and MIL-STD-810F-516.5) case or magellan toughcase (ipx7, extended battery, additional gps receiver) for any android phone. the iphone is still a good year ahead of andoid for accessories. and the big software companies are still mostly iOS only.