Love and War – Android versus iOS

Android versus iOS – A mobile operating system platform war between Apple & Google is reaching boiling point as the search giant readies its tablet-friendly Honeycomb for a host of upcoming slates.

Should you be running Apple’s iPhone 4 or Android’s HTC Inspired 4G, Droid X, Droid Incredible, Nexus etc. What is the differences between the two operating systems and which one is going to give me the best buck for my Dollar?

The Android versus iOS platform war is heating up, with very little differentiating these two compeditors from each other. For example, just one day after Apple announced its new in-app subscription model (Apple is looking to take a 30% cut of all subscriptions sold on IOS devices), Google responded with a similar scheme. Google may soon launch its long-expected music service to compete with iTunes, and Apple may be trying to hone in on mobile social products such as Google Buzz with a revamped Mobile Me (allowing you to share photo’s with your friends).

Here’s a breakdown of some of the major features in the iOS and Android universes. Hopefully this will help you show who’s got what and which platform offers you the best features you are looking for:

• Third-party Apps

In a classic case of “mine’s bigger,” Apple, Google and the press spend a lot of time talking about how many apps the two stores have. The reality is that each store reached its critical mass a long time ago i.e. there is essentially an app for any major feature in both stores.
There are some gaps, such as Android’s lack of a Netflix streaming app, but for the most part each store has its fair share of apps. But in case you were wondering, iTunes has more than 350,000 iPhone apps plus a few thousand more specifically for the iPad. Android had more than 100,000 apps at last count in late 2010, that number has likely gone up dramatically since then. A recent study by security firm Lookout found the Android market was growing at a rate three times faster than the iTunes App Store.
In conclusion, both platforms are fairly evenly matched in the apps contest.

• Music and Video

Apple’s U.S. iTunes music store has more than 13 million songs and is the dominant player in the U.S. digital music business owning about 70 percent of the market. Google hasn’t got into the music game yet, but the search giant has been talking about a cloud-based music service for Android for close to a year. At Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Sanjay Jha, CEO of Motorola Mobility, said Google’s music service would be launching soon, according to the Guardian. Google and Motorola have a close working relationship on Android products such as the first Honeycomb-based tablet the Motorola Xoom.

As for video, Apple again has a wide selection of movies and TV shows on iTunes, while Android relies on third-party services such as Blockbuster.
To sum this up, Apple is still leading the multimedia game. However, Android has big plans in store for us and is sure to give iTunes a run for its money shortly.

• Mobile Hardware

Hardware is easily the biggest differentiator for the two platforms. Apple currently sells just two smartphone models, the iPhone 4 and iPhone 3GS (essentially the iPhone 4 is just a revampted iPhone 3GS, hence the same product). Both are available on two different carriers in the U.S (Verizon Wireless and At&t – see updates on this battle in following blogs). Apple also sells the iPod Touch and the iPad.

Android has nearly 40 Android phones available for sale in the U.S. at all four major U.S. carriers. And has more than eight iPad-like Android devices available, the Samsung Galaxy Tab and Dell Streak 7, but the Motorola Xoom and HTC Flyer are coming soon as well as devices from LG, Toshiba, a new Galaxy Tab and many others.
Hence, there is a much wider range of products to chose from for Android giving you a better chance at finding a phone that fits your needs. Having said that the iPhone is still very much a premier cell phone and is the popular, trendy phone amongst the multi media sect. The Android phones are catching, if not already caught up, with Apple in this respect and offers competing phones at a more competitive price.

• Set-top Boxes

Both companies are using their mobile platforms to enter the highly contested set-top box market (control the gaming and tv market). Google has made more of an attempt to enter this market with Google TV, which combines television, online video and the Web into one platform for set-top boxes and Internet-connected HDTVs. But Google TV has seen resistance from major television networks unhappy with Google’s multimedia mash-up.

The iOS-based Apple TV is a more humble offering than Google TV that includes Netflix, iTunes and PC-to-Apple TV streaming via AirPlay. Google plans on opening up Google TV to third-party apps, and Apple is expected to do the same for Apple TV.

• The Web

Both platforms making use of the latest coding (HTML 5) and support the highly functional Web apps available.
Adobe Flash is where the two systems differ (Adobe Flash video–the most popular format for Web video). Apple is pushing for Web sites to adopt their iOS-friendly mp4 format by refusing to allow Flash functionality to be built into iOS. Android, meanwhile, supports Adobe Flash 10.1 in Android 2.2 or greater.

Hence, this is a limiting function in the Apple platform, though a larege number of video content is also encoded using iOS-compatible formats.

• Extras

There are plenty of other extras offered on the two platforms. Google’s Android, for example, offers extensive voice commands for sending text messages, e-mail, placing phone calls, Web browsing, opening apps and search. The iPhone’s native voice commands include music playback controls and voice-activated dialing; however, you can use Google’s iOS app for voice-based search.

Both companies are trying to get into the social space, however, neither of their attempts have made any real impact on the likes of Facebook an Twitter.

My take on it:

The question is really which is better for you. As you can see there is very little in it when you compare Android versus iOS – both offer all the latest features and user experiences. The Android OS is still fresh out the box and when version 2 is released this tally might well skew a little in favor of Android. Apple’s iPhone still carries a more trendy status symbol than the Android phones. However, this is changing and if your ego is in check you will most likely get more bang for your buck with an Adroid phone which are well placed and offer all the latest features and more.

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Basic Mobile Phones Hardware Repair Troubleshooting Techniques Tutorial

Fixing hardware problems is not been easy and takes a lot of time to consume rather than software problems, it is because when it comes to software handling you don't really need to open or dismantle a mobile phone handset, because only few of them really need to. In most cases like this, many among mobile phones technician focus on software handling like especially unlocking, for it less time consuming and more flexible to do with. This is been true that mobile phone technicians were separated into two specialties, like Hardware expert and Software expert, that is what the term they called it; It because mobile phones is a combination of software and hardware mechanism.
But there are also many mobile phones masters that can manage and do both hardware and software specialty and skills. They gained this knowledge by years of experience, and not only that they also earned much more income rather than to those staying at one particular specialty.

Now, here is the basic step by step repair procedure on hardware troubleshooting on mobile phones. Various mobile phones have different circuits and components or parts layouts and designs. First thing you must learn and be familiar with is, how each circuit components or parts is being mounted, connected, assembled or designed.


First step in handling troubleshooting procedure.
1. Visualization Checkup- Before proceeding to anything always consider the fact that a mobile phones handset is fragile object. Check and have take a look around every inch of the handsets package and layout, In this manner you can identify if the handset is in repairable condition, something like checking the whole printed circuit board components and parts, if it is free from dust,corrosion, bended,breakage etc.
2. Know the Phones Status - Ask the the user or the costumer about the phones history before the problem occurs. Letting know the phones history like accidentally soaked into a liquids or water, dropped,throwned and etc.
In this manner you can get an idea where to start or begin with.
3. Do Software Check up - Use a certain flashing device for that particular handset product to be able to read logs, logs is a reading of mobile phones firmware programmed and installed unto it. This is a big help for most advance mobile technician this days, A logs reading can help you where the faulty line or parts occurs. If you are not familiar about how to read logs you can ask to that certain flashing device product supporters and creator.
You can do flash, reformat at first hand if found something wrong with the mobile phones firmware. If all methods of software already done and nothing happens, proceed to hardware troubleshooting.

4. Analyze The Circuit - After dismantling and do visualization check up,be patient and take your time to analyze the whole circuits layout, and think of a step by step plan procedure in your mind where or how to begin with. A Special Operation Procedure is good way and a reliable source of idea within yourself, not only by enhancing your skills but you are also practicing a self discipline method.

Now lets take one example of basic hardware troubleshooting methods in one particular mobile phone handsets. In this simple way you can then manage how to troubleshoot or been able on finding faulty parts or components within a mobile phone circuitry.

An example here is Nokia 6300, now assuming that this handset having a faulty microphone or mouthpiece.

Do the basic procedures mentioned above, assuming that you are familiar with the Mouthpiece or microphone circuit, and already know how to check a microphone or mouthpiece component.
you can now do this step below;

1. Find any available schematic diagram and locate the microphone circuit layout on it. Remember where each parts and components location and do a mapping like this.

2. Use a multi-tester and check the pads for a short circuit, this is not always happen but it is also unpredictable to a mobile phones short circuit might occurs, you are not checking the outer mounted components but the internal lines with it. Just set the tester to x1 resistance value, I preferred analog multitester in this lesson for it is cheaper to purchase rather than the digital. Now connect both test probe to the inner and outer layer of the mouthpiece terminal pads, then do it again in opposite manner, a short circuit have both readings closer to zero ohms.

3. Trace the line paths between the first or the closest component connected to each terminal pads.
The circuit diagram shows that there are coil filter in both lines, connect the tester across each coil terminal leds, your not just checking the lines here but also checking the the coil as well.

4. Now the next step is to leave behind the line paths between the coil to the EMI-Filter for it is uncheckable beyond that paths for the EMI- filter is an IC. you need to remove it first before you can check on that lines , which will be done later at the last steps of procedures. Now next to move on to the opening lines and component where the test probe can connect with, the two filter capacitors and both coils which are an open path where you can connect the test probe on it. now connect or attach both probes at the end of each line indicated in red.

5. Now check the remaining open path which is the Resistor, you can't check the line paths on those area for it ends up connected to Retu IC. So just then proceed to check its resistance value instead.

6. If all those mentioned lines above is all in good condition you may now proceed to suspect the EMI-Fiter is having a problem or faulty. You then now remove it from the Printed circuit board then do a line check up from the mouthpiece terminal to that EMI-filter terminal bumps where it is being connected.

You can refer to the schematic diagram for each terminal specification. You may now can check the IC itself by analyzing the internal circuitry inside it. I advice just replace a good and working one if not so sure about.

8. It this step is most complicated job to do with, specially for beginners.This is one of advance troubleshooters skills. If found all of those line paths and components above were in good conditions. The last part is to work a power management IC itself for the audio codec circuit is also within that chips.
Now, if the last and final suspected parts is the chips, you must need to rework it, Reheating it the first will do and might as well also work. But if the problem still remain, Reworking it is the best advice that suites out.
but also do not forget to check the line paths between the mouthpiece circuit area, while the chips is being remove and out on the PCB layout, it is a proper time to check the ball bumps terminal where that certain microphone is being connected. an example of tracing the ball bumps terminals below.

okay, that's it for a while, for there are lots of techniques we are going to tackle sooner, hope you do understand a little bit with this method.

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