Need a new phone: iOS, Android, or Windows Phone?

[hellojustinr]

In my opinion, Windows Phone is the best operating system yet (Operating System of the Year award to prove it!) since iOS (iPhone OS). Fluid user interface, intuitive menus, outstanding design, and it's just very... innovative. A step out from the usual 4x4 (or 5x4) app grid layout that most operating systems seem to be using nowadays.

It's also a lot more smoother than Android, being that it's fully hardware accelerated. Even with Ice Cream Sandwich bringing hardware acceleration to the table, it still can't beat Windows Phone in terms of fluidness. Windows Phone has that same fluid feeling that iOS has when you use it. That's why to me, it's the only alternative I would ever choose from my iPhone.

One thing Windows Phone is lacking though is, apps. Apps are one of the most important parts of an ecosystem and Windows Phone is still growing, there are some good apps in the Marketplace, but some like Square, Tiny Wings, Pandora, and such are notably missing. I can definitely live without it and there are alternatives but I still prefer using these services most.

[hellojustinr]

Actually iPhone OS use to crash so much back in 2007-2008, it was only in iPhone OS 3.0 that it fixed that, and iOS 4 solidified it's stability (excluding of course the iPhone 3G... which performed a lot better on iPhone OS 3.1)

[Drillbit]

Changing recommendation from Galaxy S2 to Galaxy Nexus. The multitasking approach beats any system I've seen, but what can make a difference to a lot of people is that it has many built in controls to reduce the use of mobile data. This is especially if you are in a tiered data plan.

[T Bong]

T Bong,

I really appreciate the detailed information on the GS II vs the iPhone, but I do wonder if you read everything I wrote. You didn't compare either to any Windows Phone device. Do you have any thoughts on any of the WP7 devices?

Also, could you compare getting a GS II now versus waiting a bit on a Galaxy Nexus?

I'm not in the US (in Norway), so the AT&T stuff is irrelevant.

As far as having multiple batteries or revamping the layout of the home screens, I can't picture myself doing either. I have never had multiple batteries and I doubt I'll start lugging them around now. I also tweak OS's a bit, but not a ton. I'd prefer to have it work really well right off the bat.

Ryan S, thanks for the info on the google products in WP7. I'm strongly considering the 800, but I'm not sure if I can hold out until its unknown release date (beginning of 2012 is what they're claiming for Norway, but that could be Jan 1 or Feb 28 or even Mar 15). I really like the looks of that phone though.

I am sorry I never had a Windows phone so I cannot speak to them I do have a (now unused) Itouch 4 and tried an iphone for a couple weeks. I never warmed up to Windows because

1. I am Google centric and Android is seemless with regard to Google.
2. I am not sure if the same developer support will be there for W7 in as much as Android has really taken off. I am not sure if the W7 can be changed. I don;t like the blocky Home Screen
3. Being a Nokia fanboy I was disappointed they did not adopt Android.
4. I SUSPECT Windows will be more closed like iOS and I am a tinkerer.

But all in all I cannot speak for a device with an OS I never held in my hands and never had the desire to.

Regarding the GN vs Galaxy II. I now prefer the SGS II after doing some research and .....(well in the US, ATT sees it as a Dumb phone giving me $10 unlimited MediaNet 3G+ data.)

Also the biggest advantage of the Nexus is its NEWER and comes with ICS which is better than the Gingerbread Stock Samsung touch Wiz but I realized I don't use either or the native browser or keyboard all of which are better then the stock SGS II

I use Go Launcher, Dolphin Browser and FlexT9 keyboards and would on the ICS OS as well. The camera is said to be better on the SGSII though. I don't care for the ICS launcher as much as I prefer the customization of GoEX. The speaker is said to be better on the SGS II as well as battery life (which means nothing to me as I carry batteries and charge every night)

So much of the Nexus advantage is left on the table for me. Which is why I say go with the now less expensive i1900 Besides the developers will be writing custom ROMS with ICS when it is released so I will have it anyway. I WILL SAY THE 32GB INTERNAL STORAGE IS NICE...lol but the actual processors seem to be equal although I do like the Dual core, 1200 MHz, Exynos on the SGS II as it is said to be faster.


http://www.extremetech.com/computing...4s-galaxy-s-ii
This may help in that regard
http://www.phonearena.com/reviews/Sa...xy-S-II_id2921

Nexus is nice but I'm looking at the International Galaxy Note for that Tablet /Phone combo as my next device

If you decide on Windows You cannot go wrong with Nokia... I was a huge Nokia fanboy..LOL

[Drillbit]

Exynos vs. OMAP4460 - they are really the same speed when it comes to computational ability, although I detect a slight uptick on the Exynos side running Sunspider when I test both using Firefox mobile (made sure both are on the same browser). Otherwise, the browser on the Galaxy Nexus is much faster than on the S2.

Where the Exynos is clearly better than OMAP4460 is in the GPU. So if you do plan to do a lot of gaming, like play Shadowgun or NOVA 3, the SGS2 is for you. You plan to do a lot of web browsing, the Galaxy Nexus is better for you.