Journal: iPhone to Android - Sacrificing Usability for Idealism?

Many of us at ThinkGeek are gadget whores - it's practically a job requirement, and one I've got down cold. If it's small and electronic, chances are good I probably own or at least fondled it. I'm particularly vulnerable to smartphones, having played with everything from Treos and Windows Mobiles to Zaurus and iPhones. The last year-and-a-half, I've been pretty stable on the iPhone platform, but recently I've switched from the Jesus-phone to the Android platform's G1 "Google Phone."

Don't get me wrong - I love the iPhone, but the draconian measures by which Apple blesses or condemns iPhone apps is insulting. The lack of choice in base apps like email clients, and web browsers locks into one experience. Granted, the iPhone's out-of-the-box experience is already very high. In contrast, the Android experience is somewhat lacking. Email lacks the ability to delete from IMAP folders. The browser's zoom-in/out functionality is clumsy. However, where the Android G1 really shines is that the stock-apps aren't the only ones available! There are alternative email clients, like K-9, and browsers, like Steel (both available from Android's Marketplace for free) that are excellent replacements that help alleviate those limitations.

I won't hold any conceit that Android would ever "beat" the iPhone. It's like the age-old Windows vs. Linux flamewar. Open-source zealots insist that Linux will prevail one day due to its open nature, and I don't think that's realistic. Usability and familiarity will always trump choice, IMHO. We all *hope* Windows will someday die a painful death, but it just hasn't happened yet. So, why do we do it? Why bother with the G1 when the iPhone is awesome and familiar?

Because creativity needs an outlet. With Android, we can write weird and wonderful apps with very few limitations. No committee saying we can't, SDKs that are open and accessible, and a decent hardware platform all gives us choice. I'm certainly not the best programmer, but I find coding for Android far easier than coding for the iPhone. YMMV.