I was looking for a definitive comparison site re the phones but find them
all a little -what.. biased ? incomplete? something like that..
http://www.redmondpie.com/ios-5-vs.-android-4.0-ice-cream-sandwich-vs.-windows-phone-7.5-mango-comparison/
My experience has only been with winmobile, though I've a few friends who've
got iphones, and I've heard some of their grumbles and complaints.
Generally though they seem happy to have an iphone and accept whatever
limitations they experience or imagine they experience. (bills aside).
Win mobile is based on Windows CE which has been around since forever and is
definately not as limited as they state in th above link. I know for a fact
cloud backup is available for Win mobile, and while I don't know the precise
OS they speak of above, I'd be amazed that the statement about the OS not
being customizable were true given a plethora of skins available to change
the appearance of every earlier incarnation of the OS, and the nuts and
bolts nature of windows to change settings. And yes, I have a flashplayer
so I know not what they talk of .
I hear Android has had some security issues, but phones are inherently
insecure.. loose one once and you'll know what I mean, irrespective of the
operating system.. There are some third party programs and Windows offers
one free that allow you to locate lost phones or even lock them (or 'brick'
them in iSpeak), and some can allow you to silently call your missing phone,
have it report it's location to you via GPS AND let you listen to what is
happening where the phone is located. Sounds like a plus until you realize
that someone can install this by stealth and use it to spy on you.
security.. hmmm.
Irrespective of all that, all modern phone hardware is good these days
(exploding batteries or screens not withstanding) so you might find other
features help make the decision. As has been mentioned, SD card support,
gps modules, accelerometers, interface facilities such as standard earphones
and USB, bluetooth, wifi, IR communications - not all phones have
everything. Being able to 'backup' all your TV and AV remotes to your phone
and use the phone to control all your appliances is pretty cool if the phone
has IR capabilities (not to mention being able to take control over TVs in
waiting rooms )
I love that I have a true Sirf GPS module in my particular htc, which means
it's fully functional without psudo-gps network support - and having tried
over a dozen GPS programs I'd highly recommend Igo over all the others,
unless U-turns are something you enjoy. It's a lot more adaptive than any
other and takes hints exremely well. Not a Big Name in the game here, I was
kind of impressed to find a Hungarian program beat the stuffing out of
programs specifically designed for my country. I found a freeware gps
program for my travels in Laos too, windows /CE developers tend to write
lots of software for obscure applications and Laos is off the map for all
the big name gps mappers.
Integrated or sliding keyboards, clamshell, touchscreen only - different
physical layouts suit different people, the rise of the touchscreen-only
type phones has seen the other styles slide a bit but they still have their
followers. If you find yourself typing lots on phones then keyboards can be
handy - although some users find Swype and similar programs better.
Software wise, the SPB suite of programs are well coded and very usefull,
specifically Traveller - a killer program which is now available for iPhones
as well. well worth a look at if you travel and their source for weather
data seems more accurate than some other sources.
I confess to not using my phone for entertainment purposes much, but the
standard MP3 and video player programs have been handy on the odd occasion
when I find myself locked in a cupboard and I don't use any e-reader
functions, that's what the kindle is for. All phones seem capable of
entertaining people, and yes, plenty of games there if you are into that.
On the whole everyone I know seems happy with their phones and will defend
them furiously - that's a sign they're happy, right? Well, up until they
scream and hurl them at a wall or start uttering dozens of reasons why their
phone is no good, but this is usually just prior to purchasing the newest
model.
I didn't mention blackberry as the only people I know who have them were
forced to carry them by their employers and they always seem reluctant to be
seen using one.
