A few weeks ago , wecompared the feature sets of Io 6 and Android Ice Cream Sandwichto see how they stacked up . But thenGoogleandMicrosoftwent and dropped all sort of unexampled features in their fresh Android Jelly Bean and Windows Phone 8 operating organization . That stand for it ’s time to review the relative merits of each once again . Let the battle begin !
https://gizmodo.com/ios-6-vs-ice-cream-sandwich-the-ultimate-comparison-5917390
( For the record , this is not a review . There will be no review until we have expend some quality time with the final translation of iOS 6 , Android 4.1 and Windows Phone 8 . This is a look at how these three pile up on paper in 12 key categories . )
Apps
iOS :
650,000 apps . 225,000 for iPad . Still tops as far as smartphone platform go .
humanoid :
Android is presently at 600,000 total apps . Most of those will run on tablets , but the number of tablet - optimized offerings is significantly down in the mouth than iOS ( Google wo n’t give an official number , but a ready run through Google Play makes the situation abundantly decipherable ) .
Windows Phone : Windows Phone presently has 100,000 apps usable for download , which is considerably less than the other two . And since there ’s no Windows 8 tablet yet , well …
Maps
iOS : Apple now has amaps service of its very ownlike Google and Microsoft . Not only does it deliver traffic update , point of interest , and plough - by - turn sailing ( which is well incorporated throughout iOS 6 ) , there are 3D map which both search coolheaded and might be helpful when lost in the heart of a crowded city . But the lack of public transit directions hurt , even if they ’re offering a third - party API result . And iPhone user reared on Street Viewmight painfully miss it ; Apple has n’t presented an equivalent .
https://gizmodo.com/apple-has-its-own-killer-maps-with-turn-by-turn-navigat-5917324
Google Maps in Jelly Bean will in all likelihood be unchanged from what Googleshowed off a few weeksago at its dedicated maps effect : 3D building and offline caching will be contribute to affix the top nick combination of hunt , rick - by - number navigation , and Street View . Plus , the hunting giant is move crazy with mapping the insides of notable locales — Compass Mode employs a phone ’s gyroscope to give you 360 - arcdegree interior vista — so expect to see more of that over meter .
https://gizmodo.com/new-google-maps-offline-mobile-access-improved-3d-and-5916207
Windows Phone : Windows Phone 7 was a showcase for Microsoft ’s Bing maps , but the mobile navigation turfwill belong to to Nokiaon Windows Phone 8 . The proficient news program is , that means tremendous NAVTEQ single-valued function , become - by - bit navigation , 3D buildings , offline caching , and dynamic routing for public transit . There are n’t many doorbell and whistle here , though , for good or bad .
https://gizmodo.com/microsoft-boots-bing-maps-for-nokia-in-windows-phone-8-5919930
Browser Sync
iCloud Tabs are new in iOS 6 , and unify your browse across all of your iOS and OS hug drug devices . It ’s not a full swarm web internet browser that offers the same yellow journalism panorama across all devices , but rather a list of tabs tucked behind an icon or bomber - menu , along with your bookmarks .
The Chrome Beta on Android offerstab sync with your desktop as well , but throws bookmark and hunt syncing in the bargain . And since there are more desktop Chrome user in the world than any other web web browser , a lot of hoi polloi will be taking advantage of this feature .
https://gizmodo.com/google-chrome-just-beat-out-internet-explorer-as-the-mo-5911923
Windows Phone :
browser app sync is prominently absent from Windows Phone , which is odd see it will prevail the same rendering of Internet Explorer that Windows 8 will in the WinRT environs . Then again , with Windows 8 and WP8 both not expect until this drop , there ’s a lot of time for Microsoft to make this workplace . Fingers thwart .
Facebook Integration
Facebook isintegrated throughout iOS 6 , which signify you’re able to refresh your condition and upload trope from various apps ( not to mention notification center ) , sync contacts , and have your Facebook events coordinate with your iOS Calendar . Plus a third - party API is on the way , so all apps can incorporate Facebook into their wares .
https://gizmodo.com/ios-6-all-the-new-features-coming-soon-to-your-iphone-5917359
Android has always been good for Facebook sharing , and there ’s no reason for that to change with Jelly Bean . you may portion out and upload from middling much anywhere in the O , or inside most Android apps . Plus you’re able to draw Facebook data for your contact lens already stored on your earpiece , or pull all your Facebook friend into your contacts .
Facebook integrating has always been one of Windows Phone ’s selling points , as the political program seamlessly integrates features like condition updates , trope , Contacts , Chat , and effect into Microsoft ’s own section ( People , Messaging , Calendar , etc ) . It ’s as well - designed as Facebook integration can get .
Voice Commands
Siriwasn’t amazingin iOS 5 , but it worked . In addition to being capable to dictate texts and emails , schedule calendar events , and set timer , Siri in iOS 6 hasmuch more promise , given its ability to pull up data from even more sources ( variation scores , movie times , dinner party reservation ) , in more utile ways . Plus , Siri will be able to interface with car sound and sailing systems once iOS 6 goes live in the drop .
https://gizmodo.com/siri-is-apples-broken-promise-5864293
With Jelly Bean , speech recognition is about to get a self-aggrandizing update . Google has always allowed for part search and dictation across the entire OS , but now it taps into Knowledge Graph and a built - in speech recognizer that will be in succeeding devices . Not only should Android voice recognition amend dramatically , but it will recognize voice input even while offline and , like Siri , can ptyalise back Wolfram - corresponding semantic search results ( with or without your voice ) .
Windows Phone also has phonation dictation , allow you to place calls , commit texts , search the vane , and launch an app all from your equipment . It may not have the deepness of Google and Apple ’s efforts , but it ’s there .
Mobile Payments
Surprise ! The iPhone does n’t have NFC , which means Apple does n’t have much to offer in terminus of mobile payments . But Passbook is Apple’sway in . When it ’s up and running , it will collect tickets , reward cards , debit entry / deferred payment card and more into a single app swear on both GPS and QR codes to lick . It can also deliver update and telling for the items you have stash away in Passbook ( flight of stairs update , expiring pot , etc ) . It ’s clearly been designed with NFC defrayal in creative thinker ; we just have to look a few months until Apple makes it prescribed .
https://gizmodo.com/passbook-is-the-beginning-of-mobile-payments-on-ios-5917474
For the metre being , Google Wallet — which admit mobile payment , deal / advantage / offers , and more — remains unchanged . But it is a HUGE doubtfulness mark for Google . Sprint is still the only prescribed Google Wallet Mobile River partner ( and even they ’re rumored to be part ways ) , MasterCard is the only wag fellowship on display panel , and the number of equipment NFC is useable on is modified . Google denote new NFC - found feature today unrelated to defrayment ; hopefully it ’s enough to entice ironware pardner to include the tech in future devices .
With the arrival of Windows Phone 8 will comeWallet , which is Microsoft ’s full - fledged attempt at , well , a digital wallet . You ’ll be able to store credit rating / debit add-in and payoff / loyalty bill of fare , not to mention the power to access deals . But what might jell Windows Phone apart from Android and iOS is that it will make use of untroubled NFC elements store on SIM cards , which will leave for more flexibility — and protection — when it comes to the preferred standards of card companies and mobile attack aircraft carrier ( Google Wallet has hit a wall because of resistance to its own work up - in secure elements ) . Save for Apple strong - arming everyone into playing by its rule , this may be the most frictionless way for NFC - based payment technologies to succeed .
https://gizmodo.com/windows-phone-8-might-finally-make-nfc-payments-popular-5919928
Video Chat
Apple has FaceTime , which can place call over 3 1000 or Wi - Fi , and works fairly well . But its also a pretty insular app that only works with other Apple devices .
Android ’s Gmail / Google Talk - ground TV chat system of rules is a moment more oecumenical , considering you’re able to video confab with anybody who has Gmail on a Mac , PC , or Android phone . And yes , you could chat over 3 G or Wi - Fi . But Google ’s hotshot in the gob , astonishingly enough , might just be its update Google+ app , which feature improved Hangout support and will be uncommitted for both Android and , some day soon , iPad .
Microsoft ’s secret representative confabulation weapon is Skype , which is arguably the most general criterion of them all . There are already right Skype apps for Macs , microcomputer , iOS , and Android — and Microsoft have all of them .
Call Features
iOS 6 lets you wane a call with a terminate SMS response , filter out calls annoying contacts , and include a Do Not Disturb toggle switch , all of which will prove useful for power users .
Android lets you pen a serial of text you’re able to use as quick car - replies when decline a call , and also rent you sink in out calls from specific people , but it lacks the ability to recruit into a Do Not vex mode .
Windows Phone
This is another light full stop in Windows Phone , as there are no pre - write texts you may fire off to multitude you do n’t need to talk to , nor is there any sort of Do Not stir up functionality . But there are advanced filtering and call block options for those the great unwashed you ’re judge to ward off .
Messaging
iMessage is a beta feature with a mess of promise , given its ability to trade message between sound , tablets and laptops . But it ’s hardly seamless , and barely reliable , and not exactly nonrational . There ’s currently no substantial way to link up a headphone number and iCloud account of a contact and have text and iMessages come out in a single thread . Nor do messages always make it to all your connected devices . And there ’s no way to inst message with non - Apple users . We have yet to see the terminal implementation of this transversal - gadget integration , which probably wo n’t be locate until iOS 6 is formally out , but there ’s definitely some employment to be done in this regard .
With WebOS all but dead , Android has the best native instant message platform workforce down . Sure it does n’t mix with AIM or Facebook , but AIM has a foot in the grave anyways , and Gchat is every bit as omnipresent as Facebook Chat . When you ’re logged in to Gchat , substance always get on all connect devices faithfully and apace . That ’s more than can be said for iMessages . Plus , Google Voice is well integrate throughout Android , which means text messages sent from your speech sound or laptop check perfectly synced .
The message effort on Windows Phone is solid and well considered , allowing you to seamlessly charge texts , Facebook content , and Skype messages to a have middleman from a single windowpane . No , there ’s no Gchat or AIM , but that ’s not in particular shocking , given the trend towards surround ecosystems with each platform .
Smarter Icons
When it come in to dynamic app icons , Apple is sorely lacking . Sure it has badges that let you know when there are new subject matter , emails , or notification , but they do n’t really tell you anything else . One of the thingswe’d hoped forwas that Apple would smarten up its app icons . Let them change to display information . Unfortunately , Apple is still bewilder in the past tense on this one .
https://gizmodo.com/apple-ios-6-whats-needed-whats-coming-5916647
Android does n’t really do much with app icons either , and that does n’t transfer with Jelly Bean . But since the App drawer is pushed into the lowly layer of Android , it does n’t matter . Android employs widgets to take on the task of real - time updates , which appropriate for a sightly amount of customization when it issue forth to bring forth your mail / weather / calendar update from your home cover in a quick manner . They can sometimes be mussy and indocile , but when properly go through , are quite useful .
Windows Phone 8’sLive Tilesare the ointment of the crop amongst smartphones . Not only can they expose notifications and vital info ( such as texts , chain armor , weather calendar case ) , but they coiffure into a neatly - organized grid that is now bolster up by the ability to smash tiles into three different size of it depend on how you want information exhibit . Microsoft is way ahead of everyone else in this gaze .
https://gizmodo.com/the-windows-phone-8-start-screen-is-the-best-of-any-pho-5919952
Media Streaming
iOS 6 has AirPlay , which has been one of the easier , more nonrational effectuation of media cyclosis we ’ve seen so far . you could push music from your computer or iOS equipment to AirPlay - approved speakers , AirPort Express routers , and Apple TV ( which also live with video and iOS equipment mirroring , and soon OS disco biscuit mirroring ) . And if you ’re streaming from a computer , you’re able to push to multiple AirPlay machine . But like some of Apple ’s other features ( FaceTime , iMessage ) , AirPlay does n’t really extend past the Apple product ecosystem . That read , you ’ll line up AirPlay bake into more and more gadget with each passing month .
mechanical man
With the creation of the $ 300Nexus Q , Google just provided its own cyclosis touchstone for Android - base machine . The hub will be able to take audio and television streams , and spew them out to television system and speakers ( power by the Q ’s 25 - James Watt amplifier ) . Plus you may link hubs together for more robust multi - zone streaming than what Apple pop the question . Think of it as Sonos for Android , complete with the modest sticker jar .
Windows Phone will haveSmartGlassto serve as its medium streaming portal to the Xbox . Though build instantly on top of DLNA cyclosis banner , the app simplfies and visualizes the process of advertise mental object back and forward between the Xbox and Windows 8 / Windows Phone 8 machine . Plus , SmartGlass can air supplimentary content to your machine while watching a idiot box show , such as Game of Thrones . cast away in the possibility for play and backup for Windows , Android , and iOs , and you have yourself a very challenging cyclosis platform .
AndroidAppleGoogleGoogle I / OiOS 6MicrosoftWindows phone 8
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