The Perception
iPhone apps are beautiful and exhibit consistent user interface conventions while Android apps are functional, but lack elegance, polish and consistency.
The Truth
iPhone apps are beautiful and exhibit consistent user interface conventions while Android apps are functional, but lack elegance, polish and consistency.
The false promise of Android is that any day now, we’ll see those rough edges smoothed out and we’ll have nice polished, consistent apps with elegant interfaces like iPhone apps (but more 
open 
).
It ain’t gonna happen. The apps on each platform are exactly what we should expect.
Apple rules the user experience on the iPhone with an iron fist, including the apps. They provide tools1 and guidelines, and enforce them rigidly via app store rejections. There is a single, consistent iPhone interface, which is reinforced as the apps confirm to those conventions.
Conversely, the Android ecosystem is fragmented at its core. Each manufacturer starts with some version of Android, then changes the UI, the styling, the home screen, the keyboard, etc. until it’s their own unique flavor.
Compare the stock home screen for the Nexus S, the Samsung Galaxy and the Droid Incredible. They look like three totally different platforms. Different UI styling, different layouts, behaviors, etc.2
How can developers be expected to identify and follow consistent UI guidelines and patterns when the very basics of the OS user interface change from manufacturer to manufacturer and device to device?
Add in the different types of hardware (touchscreen only, slider keyboard, candybar with keyboard) and the different screen sizes and resolutions, and it’s amazing that Android apps work as well as they do.
This is a problem that is going to get worse with time, not better.3
- iPhone dev tools launch and put you in interface builder. Android’s dev tools launch and show you a blank text file in Eclipse. Go figure… [back]
- The Samsung Galaxy S home screen looks and acts like an iPhone home screen, and there is heavy iPhone-inspired visual styling throughout the interface in the phone. [back]
- Unless Google drastically changes the way they work with their manufacturing partners, which would require significant changes to the “open” licensing of Android, or at least as it’s implemented in practice. [back]
[…] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Mobile Feeds. Mobile Feeds said: iPhone vs Android Apps http://dlvr.it/D36Hf […]
There is some merit to what Android is doing, and there are good looking Android apps out there.
It’s much easier to find a good free app on the Android platform than on iOS, probably because developers don’t have such a high barrier of entry into the Android Marketplace (which is also why there’s so many bad apps out there).
I prefer the way Android does things because I can find a quality app for free. Plus, with the ones I do have to pay money for, I have the opportunity to get a refund for a short time after downloading the app, something I think iOS desperately needs.
The Android launcher is itself just another app. It is not
part of the Android OS, users and OEMs are free to replace it with
something else they prefer. This is no different than Windows users
choosing to use another file manager, Linux users choosing to use
another X desktop manager, or WordPress users deciding to use
another theme. Android is not unusual in this respect, both PalmOS
and Windows Mobile supported custom launcher applications. It a
common mobile device customization, just one not allowed by Apple.
If you don’t like the HTC, Samsung, or Motorola launchers, you are
free to buy another device, or you can go to the Market and buy
another launcher app. If you don’t like the Apple launcher, your
only choice is buying another device. Both Android and iOS have UI
guidelines and patterns, the difference is that Android developers
are free to diverge from the guidelines to accomadate all of the
different devices that run Android. Most Android users consider
this an advantage of the platform.
You’re missing the point. The UI customizations extend far beyond the home screen. They encompass the default apps, the keyboard, the dialogs and alerts, etc.
You realize that you posted a picture of the HTC and Nexus S on the home screen and the Galaxy S on the apps screen right?
If you compare the launcher that comes with Nexus S gingerbread and Galaxy S Froyo they aren’t that much difference…
a less biased post would be appreciated…
Incorrect statment, try again. Thanks for playing though.
you say on post: “Compare the stock home screen for the Nexus S, the Samsung Galaxy and the Droid Incredible.” but the picture you put of the Galaxy S is not the Home screen… it’s the Menu applications!
The Galaxy S and Nexus S are pretty similiar on the homescreen (yes one has GB and other has froyo, but still)
Sorry, you’re just wrong. That *is* the home screen for the Galaxy S.
not it isnt…
http://farm5.static.[...]ba6e30_z.jpg
Interesting. I recommend walking into a local Verizon store. You’ll see the home screen I show here.
That actually illustrates my point here beautifully. Not only is the home screen and UI different from device to device, I guess it’s also carrier specific.
What a mess.
m8, i OWN a galaxy S, and I’m telling you that the homescreen is not the one you have on the picture.. but hey.. it’s your opinion.. it worths what it worths…
Well I have to say it,, if you don’t like the launcher on your android then simply change it to one that fits your style. and I hate to say it, if that’s to much for someone to do then maybe a DUMB PHONE would fit the bill, and leave the truly SMART PHONES to those a little more tech savy.
and as far as being stuck with the same boring launcher everyone else has,, can I say, no thanks that’s just LAME!
War is peace.
Freedom is slavery.
Ignorance is strength.
And customization is bad, apparently.
Sorry, the reading comprehension level here is too depressing. I’m closing comments on this post.
[…] Mac. The hardware is more and more iPhone-like. The manufacturers and carriers are adding iPhone style UI touches on top of the base Android OS. But while it’s a very functional OS, it lacks a personality. […]