Most customers don't know, much less care about, the exact version number of their phone's operating system. They care about what the operating system can do for them. But I suppose if Gruber were to compare the actual capabilities of currently available Android systems vs. iOS 4, he would have much less to be snarky about on Apple's behalf.
actual capabilities of currently available Android
systems vs. iOS 4
I buy an android phone, and it doesn't have built in mifi, I am going to be annoyed (I am ok, I have a nexus one).
An even better questions is... who cares? I have an N1 with 2.2 on it. I was happy with it with 2.1 on it. I'm slightly happier with 2.2 on it. I know people with Droids with whatever is on it, and they're happy with it. I know people with Droid Incredibles, and they're happy with what's on that.
Why do you assume that the average smartphone user is always chasing the most recent version of software that may or may not be available for their particular handset? It's all just hypocritical argumentation. On one hand we have the people who say "well you can install CyanogenMod on it" get shot down by others who say "your average user won't install CM," while these same "others" claim that the average user actually gives a damn that they don't have 2.2 yet. I don't think they do. And I think minority who actually does will be informed enough to decide if they want to take the leap and install CM. Probably most won't, but that's their choice.
I have no idea how many of those devices shipped with 1.x and were upgraded, or shipped with 2.1 installed.
Browser runs like crap. Try loading a page with a bunch of graphics and text. It will run like a flip book cartoon.
The music player is laughable. It doesn't even match up to an ipod classic.
The exchange syncing does not work correctly, especially calendar syncing.
And a laundry list of other 'features' which exist in Android but are woefully inadequate.
I would switch back to an iPhone in a heartbeat if it wasn't on ATT.
- Free turn by turn navigation that's better than any dedicated gps device.
- Wifi or bluetooth tethering. I recently was travelling with my girlfriend, and we both could access the internet on our laptops routed over WiFi through my phone. The hotel even had free wifi, but it was easier to not bother with figuring out how to set that up, and just use my phone.
- Fully integrated Google Voice.
Other than the turn by turn every other feature you said is available with jail broken ios. So you get the best of both worlds: slick usabe interface and powerful features.
I honestly don't know why more people don't jailbreak their iPhones.
- Wifi or bluetooth tethering.
Biggest for me is file browsers, being able to copy content onto the device from across the network, not needing to deal with iTunes.
I've replaced the default media browser, video player etc.
And I can use my phone in bed with auto rotate disabled without having to jailbreak.
To me, the primitive nature of iOS stands out. It has a lot of polish, but it is simply less functional, less useful.
It isn't about using the phone as a mass storage device, dummy! It's about being able to e.g. add and remove music, movies, photos etc. to and from the device and a network location, over the air, without ever having to plug into another computer.