The story of Android vs. iPhone reminds me a lot of the story of Microsoft Windows vs. Apple Macintosh. In this version the part of Microsoft will be played by Google.
The similarities are striking. Apple was first to market and wowed everyone. Google followed close behind with a competitive, less polished product. Now is where it get’s interesting. In the original story Microsoft had success with the OS but it wasn’t until Windows 3.1 when everything clicked. I believe Android could be at a similar tipping point. A large number of hardware OEM’s are on board with Android and with a small number of adjustments the OS is primed to take off.
What needs to change?
- Apps are inconsistent, and hard to use. The design patterns and guidance that are available in iOS are missing and developers are left to come up with their own sets of best practices.
- Level of design and attention to detail is low. The OS works, but not well.
- App market is incredibly poor. No wonder dev’s aren’t making money. No excuse Google has to fix this. App Search is even worse, I expect more from Google on this topic.
Fix those three things and Android will take off faster like a rocket.
I never understood why people think this particular history should or even can repeat itself. In 1984 there was already a large installed base of DOS machines, Macs were rather limited and expensive, and all Microsoft had to do was sell into the DOS market, incrementally improve its product and play its dirty tricks. Now there are 100′s of millions of iOS devices (or soon will be), they aren’t as limited relative to the competition (this is an understatement), not much more expensive, and Google’s motto will haunt it as if tries to “play” as hard as microsoft did in the day.
I think that you are right on about what needs to change. However, the first two (inconsistent apps, low attention to detail) are deep cultural differences that are difficult to change.
Regarding the third one, the app market, Google can fix a lot of what’s wrong with it. However, they are unlikely to start curating it like Apple does. To many, this spells freedom. But we’re starting to hear about Android apps that are later found out to be uploading phone numbers, locations, and other personal info to servers, somewhere. At times, it feels like the Wild West on Android.
So back to the question: how far is Google willing to go to fix this? I don’t know.
I disagree for once. Apple provides a full-featured product, whereas Google is merely a supplier of an operating system (which must then be combined with hardware from others to make a complete product). This is a fundamental difference (horizontal vs. vertical approach) and is the same reason Microsoft has failed to get a foothold in the smartphone market. Microsoft has done it right with Xbox, where they make the console, the operating system, and the online service (Live). Apple has done it right with the phone (hardware, iOS, and iTunes). There is one and only one iPhone, yet what defines an Android phone? They are all subtly different and a nightmare for app developers (why do you think the apps are so bad?) that will only grow.
In addition, no retail store fully understands Android-based phones, but Apple has a dedicated retail store presence. If you’re not a tech geek, go check out what your average Verizon/AT&T/T-Mobile rep. knows about Android vs. what your average Apple store employee knows about iPhone. For a real laugh, have them compare the various Android phones for you. Tech people get Android, but my mom would pick the iPhone every time.
Your three bullets are also like saying if Google makes a completely different product they may win this war. Google is exactly like Microsoft but not because of your analogy, and that’s why they aren’t likely to win in the phone market. Google is as much a search and maps company as Microsoft is a Windows and Office company. So far only Apple seems to get it when it comes to consumer devices.