Blackberry vs. Droid – Which is Really Better?

The smart phone war has steadily escalated over the last two years. As of this writing, the iPhone is still the most popular smartphone on the market, but it is limited to using either AT&T or Verizon’s network. For users who do not want a long-term contract, getting an iPhone is not an option. People on other networks such as T-Mobile or Boost have to choose between a Blackberry or Android if they want a smartphone. The question of which one is better depends on which features matter the most to you.

Email

Blackberry is the long time king of mobile email. Many reviewers praise the Blackberry’s full QWERTY keyboard and claim that it is easier and faster to use than the Android’s touch screen typing. However, some Android models do offer a slide-out QWERTY keyboard. Blackberries synchronize with all kinds of email accounts, such as those from unique domains like a company’s website or webmail accounts like Gmail. Android phones can synchronize with multiple types of email accounts too, but the Android requires different apps in order to access each one. For example, accessing pop email and a Gmail account requires using two different applications. The Blackberry can access multiple email accounts using the same application. For mobile professionals who need to read and respond to emails quickly, a Blackberry is the best choice.

Web Browsing

Traditionally speaking, the Android has had a huge advantage in the area of web browsing thanks to most models’ larger screen and touch screen controls. However, the Blackberry is competing aggressively in this area with the release of the Blackberry Torch, which offers a larger screen, and touch screen controls. Although, many consumers and reviewers have pointed out that the Blackberry Torch’s web browser is significantly slower than the Android’s. Another drawback is that the Blackberry Torch is only available through a very limited number of carriers. Users who want a better web browsing experience will be happier with an Android phone.

Apps

There are a growing number of applications being developed for both platforms on a daily basis. However, with the exception of the Blackberry Torch, the track pad navigation of Blackberries makes using some applications, like eBook or eComic Book readers, more difficult. Users looking for a more iPhone-like experience will appreciate the Android’s touch screen navigation.

Conclusion:

A look back at the original design intentions of Blackberry and Android phones determines a lot about their best uses. Blackberries were developed as a PDA device for mobile professionals, while Google developed the Android as a consumer competitor to the iPhone. Both scenarios are still largely true. Blackberries are better smart phones for business productivity, but many consumers feel that Android phones are a lot more flexible and fun.

=== About the Author ===

Miranda S. is a medical student who enjoys blogging and writing about technology in her spare time. She contributes not only to tech sites but to the Guide to Medical Billing and educational/career sites as well.

iPhone, Android or Blackberry? The right smartphone for doctors

Lately, I’ve often been asked the question, “What type of smartphone should I get?” by my medical peers.  I’ve been asked this by physicians, residents, medical students, and others. Many of my friends are entering residency and plan on upgrading to a smart phone, while others already entrenched in residency have phone contracts finishing up.

The answer to this question is not easy. Rather, as Facebook nomenclature would demand, “it’s complicated”. From the title you can see I’ve excluded the Palm platform and Windows mobile phones. Palm is currently restructuring since being bought by HP, and Microsoft is in the process of rebooting their mobile division – so both currently do not possess vibrant ecosystems for app development – and won’t be included in this discussion.

How you use your mobile phone is key in choosing the right smart phone, and obviously, not all medical professionals use their phone in the same way. I’ll break down a few different scenarios, and hopefully this analysis will help you make a more informed decision about the right mobile platform for you.

Do you need a smart phone?

First off, you have to decide if you will actually use a smart phone. If you need to check your e-mail at multiple times throughout the day, or feel a mobile reference tool in the palm of your hand is something that would improve your workflow, then you should seriously consider getting a smart phone. However, if you find smart phones cumbersome, too complicated, and don’t ever feel the need to use mobile reference devices such as PDAs, then you probably don’t need a smart phone.

If all you plan on doing with your phone is making calls, then getting a smart phone will only complicate your work flow. To make a phone call on an iPhone can take up to 3 or more gestures – a waste of time for those who don’t plan on using all the other features the iPhone affords.

What is your contract situation?

When it comes to my medical peers, this can often times be the sticking point when making a decision about the right smart phone. Currently, the iPhone OS platform is only available for AT&T, so if you’re on a Verizon family plan or can’t switch carriers, the best option for you is an Android phone or a Blackberry.

Do you use your phone in a rural settings – and how important is a dedicated internet connection?

It’s no secret Verizon has been bashing AT&T for the quality of it’s wireless service. AT&T has 3G service in cities, but the service can literally come to a standstill at peak hours. I’ve experienced this in New York City, Washington D.C., San Francisco, New Orleans, and Las Vegas. In mid-sized cities, I’ve actually had a pretty good experience with AT&T’s 3G connection.

In those big cities I mentioned, my peers who have Verizon service almost all had a good 3G experience, unlike my own. Recently, I undertook a long road trip, and realized the 3G coverage maps of AT&T’s service that Verizon so aptly pokes fun at in commercials are true. As soon as you leave a city, AT&T’s 3G service drops off and you get the dreaded “EDGE” connection – a significantly slower internet experience. My peers with Verizon phones usually did not suffer the same fate.

This is important if your healthcare work requires you to visit remote clinics and a dedicated Wi-Fi connection is not available. You don’t want to be stuck in a remote clinic with shoddy service. Granted, most mobile medical reference apps are native to your phone and don’t require an internet connection – but if you don’t have good service, looking up key information via the web is going to be a exercise in patience.

Also, many electronic health records can be accessed via the web, and if you health care network has mobile access to these records, having a mobile phone with a strong internet access is essential.

So if you need a phone with a strong internet connection in rural settings, stick to your Verizon service, and consider an Android or Blackberry phone.  Android phones have a superior browser in relation to the Blackberry, so if you need to use the browser to access patient data via portals, go with an Android phone.

How important is security and an “enterprise” ready phone to you?

We’ve mentioned before some of the security issues with the iPhone platform. With the upcoming iPhone OS 4.0 software, Apple hopes to address many of these issues, and is promising a more robust enterprise ready platform.

However, Blackberry has dominated the enterprise market, and if you ask most IT managers at your hospital they will tell you they prefer Blackberry due to the greater access to control they have using the Blackberry Enterprise Server. On top of this, the lack of 3rd party medical applications available for the Blackberry can also be seen as a plus for those concerned with hospital IT security. These applications can be a portal to security breaches – not something a hospital system wants to deal with when they have sensitive patient information stored on their servers.

Blackberry also has a fantastic native e-mail client. It can thread together your e-mails, in a similar fashion as G-mail on your desktop browser. Again, Apple promises to deliver this functionality with the upcoming iPhone OS 4.0 release this summer, but Blackberry has had it for awhile now.

So if security is of upmost concern to you, you want a mobile phone with a great e-mail client, and you don’t mind a lack of medical applications, then going with a Blackberry would be a good choice here.

I hedge the above by saying patient data shouldn’t be stored on a mobile phone – rather, almost all patient data that is accessed is done via a cloud system – accessed from a secure server. You should be fine using an Android device or iPhone when accessing information via these systems.

Do you use medical reference apps or use a PDA often?

If you use one of those old Palm PDA’s, you could definitely save some pocket space by having a smart phone. Many forget Palm was at the forefront when it came to having medical apps – physicians and medical students loved their Palm PDAs because they could download custom designed medical apps from the internet, upload them onto their PDA, and use them as mobile medical reference tools in practice. I can speak for the medical community at large when I say we’re all hoping Palm makes a comeback under the leadership of their new parent company HP.

Just as Palm was at the forefront of medical apps back in the early 2000s, its clear Apple is taking the lead now. They literally have thousands of more legitimate medical applications than the Android and Blackberry platforms. Apple certainly didn’t create the App Store with the mindset of developing an ecosystem for vibrant medical apps – they didn’t even have a medical apps section on the launch of the App Store.

Rather, the set up of the App Store and the tens of millions of iPhones and iPod Touches sold can be given credit for this huge success. Developers are given a seventy percent cut of the sales of their Apps, and with the huge number of potential customers – one can see the huge incentive to develop quality apps on the iPhone OS platform.

The key difference between the iPhone and Android App eco system is the lack of a streamline operating system on the Android. The Android operating system is severely fragmented, with certain apps only working on certain phones and certain versions of the operating system. Apple has avoided this by having a uniform operating system on their iPhone and iPod Touch. Even the iPad can run apps that are on the iPhone and iPod touch – although not on a full screen.  It’s easy for Apple to do this since they make both the operating system and the actual hardware, while Google (Android) does not.

A developer I recently spoke to who has popular applications on both the Android OS and iPhone OS said the following:

I know what to expect when I develop an app for the iPhone. I know the devices it will run on, and I know I’m instantly reaching millions of customers. With Android, I don’t know how my applications will run on all the different types of phones, and I know my some of my applications won’t run on the older versions of the software. When Android updates its operating system again, there is a good chance my applications won’t run on the newer phones. So when it comes to spending time developing applications, it makes financial sense to focus on the iPhone.

Just look at our top 10 list of free medical apps on the iPhone verse the top 5 list of free medical apps on the Android. We struggled to find quality free applications on the Android. We set out to find 10 free medical apps for the Android, but had to stop at 5 because of the lack of quality free apps.

Granted, you can access Epocrates, Skyscape and other large medical reference companies on your Android and Blackberry, but if you look at our top 10 list of free medical apps for the iPhone, you’ll find extremely useful apps that are almost all only available on the iPhone, such as iRadiology. Even with Epocrates, only recently did they come out with a free version for the Android – and they still don’t have premium versions of Epocrates available for the Android! Further showing the issues the Android platform presents for medical developers.

So if you want a smartphone that delivers quality medical apps, then the iPhone is clearly your best bet. Notice how Blackberry wasn’t even mentioned here – if you ask developers they will tell you Blackberry doesn’t make it easy for them to develop apps for their phones, plus their user interface isn’t as dynamic as the iPhone or Android operating systems.

Do you want to use your phone as a multimedia tool?

Medical professionals are often on the move, going to conferences or giving talks in different cities. If you have music you want to access, then the Android and iPhone devices are your best bet. The iPhone is great because it allows syncing with your personal iTunes library – just like an iPod, but you can access your music relatively easily on Android devices as well. When it comes to navigating a new city, I would go with the iPhone or Android. There are a plethora of third party applications on these platforms that can make a new city experience fun and both offer a great Maps / GPS function built in.

So what smartphone is best for medical professionals?

Again, the decision is complicated because it depends on your circumstance and what you’re looking for. First, determine if you would actually use a smartphone or not.

The case for a Blackberry: If you want a phone that has a great e-mail client and great security, and don’t mind a bare medical apps selection, then go with this phone. Plus, the tactile keyboard is essential to some – touch keyboards can drive people crazy.

The case for Android: The Android operating system is fragmented with different versions of their operating system, this leads to many medical apps being incompatible on older devices.  However, if you’re stuck with a carrier that is not AT&T, an Android phone is your best bet if you want to have your choice of medical applications. Plus, in Androids newest iteration of their operating system, Flash capability is being built in, while Apple has made it clear their mobile devices will not have Flash support.

The case for the iPhone: The iPhone offers a huge choice of quality medical applications. Once you buy a medical app, you don’t have to worry about it being compatible down the line, unlike the other smart phones I’ve mentioned. Just by looking at the list of our top 10 free medical apps for the iPhone, you can tell there are plenty of quality medical apps available in the App Store. The knock on the iPhone is it’s exclusive nature with AT&T and the lack of a strong dedicated 3G internet connection, possibly problematic for medical professionals who work in or visit rural clinics.

At the end of the day, go the store, and play around with different smart phones. It’s important to understand the roadblocks to quality medical apps that I mentioned above, along with reception and security issues.  Each of the phones I’ve mentioned has its pitfalls.  Take all this into account and make a decision that reflects what you hope to gain from having a smart phone in medical practice.

Iltifat Husain is founder and editor of iMedicalApps.com.

Submit a guest post and be heard.

IOS, Blackberry, Symbian and Microsoft vs Android a fair fight?

Based on research and current trends, it is forecast that Google's Android operating system will have runaway market dominance over the next four years

According to research firm Gartner, Android will become the number one operating system for newly purchased smart phones during 2011. At the same time the once dominant Symbian OS will slide into obscurity and the history books, as the next generation leave it behind, with handset manufacturers discarding it from their future plans.

The continued rise of HTML5

It is predicted (by ABI Research) that there will be over 2 billion mobile devices with HTML5 Browsers by 2016.

HTML5 is revolutionizing iPhone, Android, Windows Mobile and Blackberry apps, with even the mighty Microsoft dropping Flash from their Windows 8 mobile OS  in favour of HTML5.

Generally Flash is being discarded from the plans of mobile OS architects, due to its heavy drain on processor cycles and hence battery life. HTML5 is capable of animations, drawing and video. Given the ability to allow HTML5 access to hardware accelerated effects, the standard will be increasingly capable of delivering smooth animations and video, with greatly reduced power drain. HTML5 has now become the only standard that can be implement consistently across different mobile operating systems.

Market diversity and variance

There are currently around  6,500 different models of mobile internet device, this includes the whole spectrum  of mobile phones with internet access, smart phones, tablets etc.

By 2015 it is expected just under half of new sales will be based on the Android OS, but perhaps more surprisingly, and thanks to the paring of Windows mobile with manufactures such as Nokia, it is currently forecast that Microsoft mobile OS sales will overtake those of Apple's mighty IOS.

  

Interesting Mobile Facts

In February 2011,  15% of Google's searches were on mobile devices, which is nearly one in seven

Social Networking is an area where mobile apps are really moving ahead fast, with over  250 million users currently accessing Facebook through their mobile devices

There are more than 200 mobile operators in 60 countries working to deploy and promote Facebook mobile products

48% of Smartphone Users Watch Video on  their devices

Over 70% of smartphone users search because of an ad they've seen either online or offline

Nearly 80% of large online advertisers still do not have a mobile optimized site

References

In addition to references already given, adappt would like to acknowledge the use of information from

Ref http://mobithinking.com

Ref http://www.gartner.com/it/page.jsp?id=1622614

Ref http://www.google.com/events/thinkmobile2011/presentations.html

Ref  http://www.google.com/think/insights/topics/think-mobile.html

Smartphone OS Survey: iOS 5 vs. Android 2.3 Gingerbread vs. Windows Phone 7.5 Mango vs. Blackberry 7 OS

Apple iOS 5 is here. Cupertino's mobile operating system brings advanced, centralized notifications, cable-free setup, wireless iTunes syncing, and other enticing features to the iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch. It's certainly attractive software, but it isn't the only new smartphone OS packing a wealth of goodies; Android 2.3 Gingerbread, Windows Phone 7.5 Mango, and BlackBerry 7 OS are also very competent competitors.

Using the recent Apple iOS 5 release as the baseline, we've highlighted several of the operating system's most exciting features and compared them to its rivals. Below we've charted the results as simply as possible, but be advised there are nuances to particular comparisons. For example, in all cases there are plenty of third-party apps that may fill in gaps found in the base operating systems. Furthermore, when it comes to Android, OEMs tend to skin the phones (albeit with mixed results), often adding additional functionality to the stock version of Android. In order for any sort of comparison to work, we're looking at what potential smartphone purchasers get out of the box on stock versions of each mobile OS. Yes, all of these OSes can be expanded with downloadable apps; no, that's not the point of this story. Check out the table first, and then take a look at our explanations of each category and the caveats that go with it.

Please note: Apple iOS 5 is only compatible with certain iOS devices. These are iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, iPhone 4S, iPad, iPad 2, and iPod touch (third and fourth generations). iPhone, iPhone 3G, and iPod touch (first and second generations) are not compatible.

Unified Notifications

When it comes to unified notification systems, Apple's newly-minted Notification Center bears quite a resemblance to that of Android. As with Android, iOS 5 lets you access notifications from the lock screen or, when using the phone, pull down a tray of notifications from the top of the screen. Blackberry 7 OS pins updates to the home screen. Windows 7.5 Mango uses live tiles, which is a bit less unified, but works within the context of the operating system.

Location-Based Reminders

All four mobile platforms allow users to set basic reminders, but no one can touch iOS 5's Reminders tool on account of its geo-fencing location-based notifications. With Reminders, iOS users can set alerts that activate when they enter or exit specified locations.

Quick-Camera Access

If you're using your mobile phone as your camera—as more and more people are beginning to do, for better or worse—quick access counts. Both Windows 7.5 Mango and iOS 5 let users jump directly into camera mode from the lock screen without entering passcodes (if enabled). Blackberry 7 OS allows users to map a side button to launch a camera, but unfortunately you'll still need to unlock your device. Certain Android phones (such as the HTC Sensation) have quick-camera access, but stock Android handsets do not.

Advanced Photo Editing Tools

When it comes to photo editing on the go, iOS 5 is a clear winner out of the box. While Android allows some editing (crop and rotate), iOS goes a step further (crop, edit, red eye reduction, composition controls, and auto-enhance). BlackBerry 7 OS and Windows 7.5 Mango can't compete here.

PC-Free Setup

Desktop-free setup and updates is one area where Apple played serious catch up with iOS 5. It now joins all the other platforms in the (sort of) post-PC world as you no longer need a Mac or PC to activate an iPad—it's used out of the box as a standalone device.

Wireless Sync

Apple has delivered a powerful wireless sync solution: Everything in your iTunes library—including photos and video—can sync over the air if your iPad and computer are connected to the same Wi-Fi signal. In this respect, iTunes Wi-Fi Sync tops Blackberry 7 OS, which handles music, but not video. One caveat: In order to activate iTunes Wi-Fi Sync, you must first connect the iPad to a Mac or PC to activate this feature. Mango phone owners can now sync Office 365 and SkyDrive documents. Gingerbread lags behind the competition in this category.

Voice Commands

Voice Control isn't new to smartphones, but Apple's Siri implementation takes the feature to a new level. You can use the "intelligent personal assistant" to look up information, calculate tips, launch a handful of compatible apps, and other useful activities simple by speaking a question or command; it will even ask you follow up questions in order to correctly cull information. It's not perfect—it sometimes doesn't recognize words or phrases—but it's pushing voice control in a way that its competitors can't match.

The Best Smartphone OS?

Let's be frank: This article is measures everyone else by iOS 5's standards—after all, we're comparing its features (many of them unique) to what other operating systems have to offer. That doesn't mean that iOS is the right mobile OS for everyone. Android 2.3 Gingerbread is tweaker-friendly; BlackBerry 7 OS has a strong enterprise focus with its data security and built-in Microsoft Office editors; and Windows Phone 7.5 Mango is great for social networkers with its smart, intuitive Groups feature. Still, Apple iOS 5 does push the envelope, features-wise, and is one that continues to innovate in the mobile operating system space. But the release of Android Ice Cream Sandwich could be only days away; once we've had a good look at it, we'll update this article from the point of view of Google's smartphone OS, and that might be a different story.

Blackberry vs. Droid vs. iPhone76

With so many great new phones on the market, it is challenging at times to figure out which one to buy. As a long time Blackberry owner myself, I will admit that it took me a while to warm up to the newcomers. I was very comfortable with what I was using and didn't really even take the time to learn about the Droid or the iPhone.

That started to change when I bought my first iPod Touch (essentially an iPhone without the service contract) to use at the gym. What I originally thought would be a workout device quickly caught my attention as I started to realize the power of the device. What started out as downloading a few fitness related applications quickly grew into a new obsession with addicting games, schedule management apps, and high quality video content. I started to wonder if perhaps I was missing out on something that my handy Blackberry couldn’t deliver. I have now reached a point where I have owned and used each device. Hopefully my experience will be beneficial to those of you who are still deciding which Smart phone should earn your business.

Blackberry Phones

I have owned several Blackberry phones including the Curve, the World, and the Bold. The biggest thing that kept me loyal to Blackberry for such a long time was the reliable carrier service. I had a contract through Verizon and in over 4 years, never experienced a single dropped call. I was able to send text messages from remote trails and mountain tops (literally) and the network coverage was outstanding.

Another area that offered some comfort was the great battery life. There were times when I accidentally forgot to bring my charger for a 2 day weekend trip out-of-state and my phone was able to survive the entire trip without going dead on me; that was impressive! In addition to the reliable service and strong battery life, I was always a fan of having a real keyboard for quick dialing and text messaging. Call me a traditionalist but I still like to use a physical keyboard, especially when I need to send a message quickly.

Even with all the pluses, my Blackberry devices did leave me wanting more in certain areas. Web browsing was slow and the lack of a fully functional web browser was maddening at times when all I wanted was a quick sports score or news update. The lack of available applications also meant that the possibilities for expanding functionality were fairly limited. I was able to carry out basic work-related productivity tasks like checking email, making calls, and responding to text messages but functionality beyond that required a laptop in most cases.

The Droid and Other Android Phones

I got excited when I found out that I could get a Droid on my existing Verizon network and jumped at the opportunity to try a phone with expanded capabilities. I have to admit that the first couple of days were a bit frustrating as I had to learn a new system and get used to texting with a touch screen.

After the adjustment period, I found that I was actually more productive and could send text messages even faster as I learned to take advantage of suggested spellings and prompting for frequently typed words. Once the basics started to flow a bit more naturally, I was able to start taking advantage of some of the extended features that really make Android phones stand out. I loved the extensive library of downloadable apps (many of which are free) that covered everything from tools to help me manage my finances to GPS navigation, up to the minute news, and weather updates.

My favorite feature is the web browser which allows you to select between a mobile version and traditional view with the ability to support JavaScript and pages requiring a login. Having the ability to view web pages with full css support is really a blessing after several years of looking at skewed web pages on a mobile phone. This has opened up a whole new world of information gathering which to me makes the phone worth having just for that alone. If having access to personal media such as photos, an audio library, and video content is your thing; chances are you will really like the Droid as it allows you to carry everything in one device instead of having a phone, MP3 player, and laptop all jammed into a bag.

The three models getting the most attention are the Droid Incredible 2, the Samsung Galaxy and the Samsung Epic. The biggest drawback for me so far has been the battery life. All of those powerful features do drain a charge in a hurry so it is important to charge your phone nightly and buy a car charger for it as well. To me though, that certainly wouldn't drive me away from using it. Once you get used to all the features, it is very difficult to convince yourself that you don’t really need them. I just can’t find enough positive things to say about it and would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a great smartphone!

The iPhone

I bought my iPhone shortly after an iPod Touch which I quickly fell in love with. I couldn't get enough of the app store and was constantly adding new games, productivity applications, and whatever else looked like it would be fun. I thought it would be wonderful if I could combine all of my media, apps, movies, and games with my phone so I decided to give it a shot. The phone was very easy to learn how to use and the touch screen technology was second to none. While other phones do have touch screen capabilities as well, Apple seems to have figured out how to keep their screens super responsive and calibrated to near perfection.

The other area where they stand out is in size. The slender phone fits easily in a pocket or purse without taking up much room at all. I know I've touched on this before but battery life is pretty important to me and the iPhone performs well in that category, especially when you consider how much it does.

Just when I started to think that I had found the perfect phone for me, I started to dread being tied to an AT&T network started to set in. The 3G coverage was spotty at best making it almost useless in areas lacking coverage. The dropped calls were also frequent and annoying to the point where I eventually ended up going back to the Droid. I am still looking forward to testing out the newest version of the iPhone 4G which is already a top seller heading into the holiday season this year.

My Decision

Now that Apple offers Verizon service, look out! They have an amazing device along with one of the best network providers in the business. I have found a nice comfort zone by using a Droid as my primary phone and having my iPod Touch on the side for added fun. In the end, a great, full-featured phone combined with a consistent and reliable carrier made the Droid Incredible my phone of choice.

Ultimately, the choice of which smartphone to buy will depend on what’s important to you and what kinds of tasks you rely on most. If simplicity is your thing and you need a business workhorse, a Blackberry phone is probably a good choice. For those of you who are in need of full web connectivity and rendering along with access to extensive applications, the Droid is probably one you should seriously consider. Last but not least, the iPhone is still an amazing device and is well suited for people who want to stay connected to media such as music, video, and pictures. As long as you can tolerate a carrier with less than perfect service, the phone itself is great! While there is no clear-cut winner that will be perfect for everyone, one thing is certain;technology keeps getting better and better and all three of these options will give you faster access to data than ever before.

iOS vs. Android vs. BlackBerry OS vs. Windows Phone

Right now the mobile operating system wars have only two main combatants: Apple's iOS and Google's Android.

IOS is well-known as the platform Apple uses for its ever-popular iPhone and iPad devices. Android appears on a huge range of devices from different vendors, ranging from Motorola's Droid series to Samsung's Galaxy phones and tablets to HTC's Thunderbolt LTE smartphone. According to the latest Nielsen numbers, Android-based devices now account for 43% of American smartphones in use today while the iPhone accounts for 28% of American smartphones in use today and RIM's BlackBerry OS devices account for 18% of the market. What's more, Android's adoption rate has been accelerating as 56% of users who reported buying a new smartphone in the past three months purchased an Android device. By comparison, 28% reported purchasing an Apple iPhone while just 9% of recent smartphone buyers reported purchasing one of Research in Motion's BlackBerry devices.

So since Android is currently the top dog, let's look where it's headed in the near future. Google will soon release its Google Nexus Prime smartphone that features Android 4.0, a.k.a. "Ice Cream Sandwich," that is designed to unify the Android platform for use on both tablets and smartphones. Scott Main, the lead tech writer for Google's Android Developers Blog, last month started prepping developers for the impending release of Ice Cream Sandwich and reminded them that the new Android will "support big screens, small screens and everything in between." Main also emphasized that Android would maintain "the same version ... on all screen sizes" going forward. Put another way, this could mean that the era of Android fragmentation will soon end if Google is successful.

As for iOS, Apple just released its iOS 5 update this past month to go along with its new iPhone 4S. Key features include Notification Center, a new app that lets you manage all your notifications "in one place and without interruption" and the iMessage service that can be used to send SMS, pictures and videos to fellow iOS 5 users. Apple is also touting improvements to iOS's photo editing capabilities, its Safari browser, and its integration capabilities with Twitter. Apple's mobile operating system is also now supporting the iCloud online data storage and syncing service, and Siri, a voice-enabled "personal assistant" that can interpret your speech patterns and provide you answers to your questions just by asking it in a natural voice.

So we know now how the two mobile OS titans have been doing, but what about their competitors? RIM has been taking its time in developing its new QNX operating system for its next generation of smartphones, due to be released next year. RIM gave QNX a test spin on its BlackBerry PlayBook tablet, although the general consensus has been that the PlayBook was rushed to market and that it lacked even basic features such as access to corporate email that isn't dependent on owning a BlackBerry smartphone. RIM has seemingly learned its lessons and is making sure that when it releases its QNX smartphones they'll be ready from Day One.

Microsoft, meanwhile, has rolled out its Windows Phone 7.5 platform, a.k.a., "Mango," that features new multitasking capabilities, Bing's Local Scout feature and a new messaging system that integrates text messages, Facebook chat and Windows Live Messenger. While Microsoft's mobile OS is expected to get a boost once Nokia starts pushing out its Windows Phone devices in the near future, the operating system seems stuck in fourth place behind iOS, Android and BlackBerry for the foreseeable future. There are worse fates than this, of course, since Microsoft's muscle will probably prevent Windows Phone from going the way of other defunct mobile operating systems such as Symbian and WebOS.

Android vs BlackBerry: Mobile OS Pros and Cons

In the ongoing battle between mobile operating system giants like Google’s Android and Research in Motion’s (RIM) BlackBerry OS 7, it seems that would-be smartphone owners will find it hard to choose the best mobile OS for their everyday lives.

Many people are still considering whether to go with an Android-powered phone or a BlackBerry device.  Thus, in this article, we provide a guide about the pros and cons of each platform to assist buyers in making informed choices.

Android

From the looks of it Android seems to be the new kid from on the block. Introduced by Google way back in 2007, Android has grown tremendously in just a short time.  Here is a shortlist of why Android is so great, and not-so-great.

Android Pros

• Open Source.  What makes Android shine out from the rest of the crowd is its being open source. This attracts many programmers and developers from all walks of life, as Google freely distributes its source code for the Linux kernel and other publicly licensed code for anyone who wants to contribute to the development of the software. In short, programmers and developers alike can easily whip out their own versions of Android custom-tailored whatever pleases them.
• Applications.  There’s an app for almost every situation, and since its inception, Android primarily focuses on enhancing user experience with the use of applications. With hundreds of thousands of apps in the Android Market, users will be overwhelmed by truckloads of apps that easily integrate with the Android OS to cater to their needs.

• Hardware.  In terms of hardware, Android by far has the most numerous choices of smartphones to date. Mobile phone manufacturers like Sony Ericsson, Samsung, HTC, and Motorola offer customers a wide variety of smartphone choices to choose from.  Android is flexible enough to run on almost all smartphones as long as it matches the minimum requirements.

• Software.  When it comes to software, Android can run multiple apps at the same time as it has swap-space management–a luxury that not all mobile devices support due to hardware limitations. It also has ActiveSync built in natively, which allows you to easily synchronize contacts, mails, and personal information once the device is paired to a desktop computer. BlackBerry on the other hand requires some installation of software and a server.

Android Cons

• Poor Battery Life.  Most Android devices experience poor battery life and this is one of the major issues that Google and Android handset manufacturers are still addressing. A typical Android smartphone dies down within a day of normal use compared to BlackBerry’s corporate design that could handle even after a day’s heavy use.
• Crapware.  The Android Market may have an extensive array of applications free to download, but many of them are crapware (i.e., useless apps) as Google doesn’t screen applications before they go online. You have to go through a lot of poorly designed apps before finding a decent one that matches your criteria.

• Hardware Limitations.  Since Android virtually runs on most smartphones, there’s great chance that your phone may not live up to its potential. Some phones are limited to their hardware, Android may lag and cause the phone to freeze and restart itself to free up additional memory.

BlackBerry

The veteran BlackBerry has seen its fair share of ups and downs in the market. Geared towards the corporate world, BlackBerry has adapted new strategies matching close rivals such as Google’s Android. Here is a shortlist of what makes BlackBerry a perfect and not-so-perfect choice among corporate professionals.

BlackBerry Pros

• Push Email Technology.  Proud owners of BlackBerry devices are always up to date when it comes to messaging.  BlackBerry easily integrates push email technology in a breeze, allowing you to instantly receive messages as soon as they start showing up in your inbox. With BlackBerry’s push email service, you can easily receive and send messages in just a matter of seconds.
• Hardware.  BlackBerry’s elegant keyboard still remains the number one choice for many of its customers. The elegant QWERTY keyboard allows faster typing and accuracy that is not normally found in many of its competitors. BlackBerry also is known for being rugged yet sexy, making it durable and resistant to many forms “abuse.”

• Data Management.  The lifeblood that makes BlackBerry phones a stable choice for many corporate officials would be its handling of data compression. BlackBerry phones are capable enough for compressing data down to half the size, saving you the cost of expensive bandwidth.
• Battery Life.  Amongst other competitors, BlackBerry seemingly has the best battery management providing users optimal power consumption in just a single full charge.

BlackBerry Cons

• Applications.  RIM has managed to follow in the footsteps of Apple by introducing their own BlackBerry App World. With much hype, the app store lacked decent amount of applications and it failed to attract developers with its poor interfaced leading to its demise.
• Slow Web Browser. Unlike its competitor, BlackBerry has the most sluggish response time when it comes to browsing the Internet. Although BlackBerry features data compression, it still can’t keep pace in loading Web resources like wallpapers and pictures.

• Business-oriented.  Achieving its success by bridging the gap to the corporate world, BlackBerry failed to realize how important the average user can be.  BlackBerry is looked upon as a corporate tool rather than an average device for the everyday person.

Your Choice

Despite the limitations of both mobile platforms, Android and BlackBerry are still solid and extremely convenient operating systems.  The user experience on either platform may differ in a lot of ways, but the two pretty much offer similar functionalities.  While Android has a wider appeal, BlackBerry mostly has its charms towards corporate users and business professionals.  Platform loyalty and personal sentiments aside, the two operating systems do have a lot to offer to those that choose them.

Are you on Android or on BlackBerry?  And, why?

Photoshop or Illustrator – What should I use?

Which one should I use Photoshop or Illustrator? Which of the two is better Illustrator or Photoshop? I am looking for a cheaper version of Photoshop, can I use Illustrator? I have both Photoshop and Illustrator and do not yet know anything about either of them. Which one should I learn first?

I have come across these and similar questions on various forums and websites. The answers to these questions are simple only if you understand the purpose of each program. Though there are some common features, each is designed for a specific purpose and hence there is not question of one being better than the other. It is like asking which one is better, a pizza or a burger.

In this tutorial, we will understand the purpose of each program and help you choose the right one for your use.

Adobe Photoshop

Photoshop is a ‘Bitmap’ (raster) image processing and manipulation program. It is a pixel based program primarily suitable for enhancing, retouching and manipulating digital photographs and paintings. Raster graphics are made up of pixels.

Photoshop can be used for following projects:

a. Photo retouch and manipulation (Modify images too)

b. Digital paintings

c. Web and Poster Design

d. Special effects and Photo realistic illustrations

e. UI Design and Web graphic design

f. Projects that do not required size manipulations in future.

Adobe Illustrator

Illustrator is a vector-based drawing program. It is suitable for creating high quality vector graphics that are scalable to the infinite power without any loss of the quality.Vector graphics are made up of Bezier lines and curves.

Illustrator can be used for the following projects:

a. Logo / Logotype / Monogram design

b. High quality Print Media / Stationary

c. Web / Motion Graphics

d. Vector Illustrations and Drawings

e.  Ads, Brochures and Menus (Though ideal program for creating Brochures is Adobe Indesign, Illustrator too does a commendable job)

Bottom Line

Use Photoshop for digital media and web graphics. Do not use it for creating logos or stationary like Business cards. For logo design and stationary or any print media always use Illustrator. You can always work with both Photoshop and Illustrator, by importing and modifying artwork in either of the programs. For instance, export images from Photoshop to Illustrator as vectors (paths and anchor points) and modify them using Illustrator. Similarly vector graphics can be exported to Photoshop as layers.

Both Photoshop and Illustrator are the best programs in what they do. So I suggest you to choose the program based on your project. Ideally as a designer you should have and use both the programs to create best and stunning art work.

NOTE: If you are looking for a cheaper option for Photoshop, try Photoshop Elements. Since I have not used it, I cannot provide you any more details about Photoshop Elements.