In a recent interview, Google's CEO Eric Schmidt clearly identifies Android and iOS as the only two top competitors when it comes to the mobile market and even calls it as the industries “defining contest.” With a small jab, Schmidt also claims that Google and Android are currently winning the battle and points out that there are four times more Android phones than iPhones and with 1.3 million activation's per day, the company should reach a billion total by the end of this year. Quite mind boggling don't you think? Especially for the early adopters as myself that were there since the beginning of this wonderful OS. Eric also couldn't help but take another jab at Apple with their decision to go away with Google Maps and replace it with the far less superior iOS Maps. Eric was stated saying that Apple is now discovering that “maps are really hard,” opining that “Apple should have kept our maps… They're better.”
Schmidt also pointed something out that I think Apple clearly needs to realize. While Schmidt likes to see Android on top, he admits that this intensifying rivalry between the two platforms does nothing but benefit the consumers at the end of the day.
In an interesting take, Schmidt also stated what he thinks are currently the top 4 companies in what he calls the “gang of four.” He states that Facebook, Amazon, Apple, and Google are the top 4 companies at the moment because they are all different and are all “making enormous investments.” When questioned as to why Microsoft wasn't on the list, Schmidt said it was “intentional” because Microsoft has not brought any “state-of-the-art products” to the market as of late.
What do you guys think about Schmidt's top 4 company list? I'd also suggest we take some time to reflect on the fact that Android is nearing its 1 billionth activation! I think it's quite an impressive feat in such a short amount of time. So with this, I'd like to hear your guys' Android story. How did you get into Android and when? Also, what Android device made you fall in love with the OS? It may or may not be the first Android device you owned. Let us know in the comments!
source: The Verge
It was actually the fault of Apple and AT&T with their exclusivity contract that got me into Android. I REALLY wanted an iPhone, but my entire family was using Verizon, and didn’t want to activate anything on another carrier. Besides, Verizon had the superior network. So I begrudgingly got an HTC Incredible instead, and I immediately noticed what a superior product it was. It ran beautifully and smoothly, had an unrivaled display, was packed with features the iPhone had never seen (and to this day, it still lacks many of them), and it was overall a much nicer experience than anything I had seen on my friends’ iPhones. Since then, I have owned a Samsung Charge and a Galaxy Nexus, and I still don’t plan on EVER switching to Apple.
I wonder if the 1 billionth activation will win any kind of prize?
All I can say is Android made me love Apple!
I had an HTC Hero and later an EVO 3D. I loved the EVO a lot more than the Hero. But, I have an iPhone 5 now because all my family members do, and I want to be able to give my parents step by step directions when they get stuck, which do do all the time.
I know by experience with my iPhone that Android has a superior User Interface, but the iPhone 5 has all the things that I need on a smart phone and it works very well (except the map, which is truly bad).
As long as you have a device that works best for you, that’s all that matters. But hopefully we see you back in Android land for your next device. :)
But it really was about about Microsoft all along. Imagine if Google had to deal with an SGS3 that had Windows and all Google could do was put up a Nexus phone?
My first was the HTC desire, I’d already had an iPod and hated it because of how the whole ecosystem was locked down, was instantly a fan and no looking back for me…
Currently rocking a GNex and loving it, Android just gets better and better, though it could do with some better games like secret of monkey island or sam and max but I know they will come unless Apple changes the App Store terms so that you can’t publish to any other OS (this will happen, probably with iOS 7)…
I doubt that APPLE will HAVE an. OPEN PLATTFORM W/iOS_7 EVER! They WILL STAY CLOSED-MINDED! THE_ANDROIDFANBOYS_HTC_MOTOROLA_SAMSUNG_@TMOSENSATION habe SPOKEN!
We agree, but you need to learn some online etiquette before you can be respected.
I think it would be great for Android tablets to take off and for developers to get on board and back Android tablets its not good for Apple to dominate the tablet market
What has Facebook done/created/released to be ahead of Microsoft? Absolutely nothing besides lose billions of dollars and still have no native mobile apps.
They have the #1 app on android and iOS. Just sayin
ICS and JB on the Galaxy S3 and the Galaxy Note 2. Everything before these were just full of too many imperfections. Now of they could string together a pattern of reliable updates. I think iPhone jumped the shark, and there are going to be widespread defections if Samsung keeps things up the way they are going.
I trust the former Be Inc developers who are on the core android team. Even though they could easily say that Android has zillions of apps and music is a niche market, they understand what that market needs.
Good point. :)