Smartphone Operating System

Field Guide:

 What's the Best Smartphone Operating System?

 

Sure, a smartphone's specs matter—you'll want one with a fast processor, bright screen and decent camera. But the horsepower is wasted if the phone is difficult to use. When it comes to user experience, nothing is more important than a phone's operating system (OS). Here's what you need to know about the five top smartphone platforms.

 

	Android	BlackBerry OS	iPhone OS	Palm webOS	Windows Phone
YOU'VE SEEN IT ON:	Motorola Droid, Google Nexus One, HTC Hero	All BlackBerry phones	Apple iPhone 3G, Apple iPhone 3GS	Palm Pre, Palm Pixi	Samsung Omnia II, HTC Imagio
WHAT WE LOVE ABOUT IT:	The Google-­developed Android OS has a plethora of apps (free auto navigation!) that are absent on the iPhone. Android is available on many different phones, and on all major carriers.	Its unrivaled business acumen extends from solid e-mail and messaging services to its appearance on phones with famously thumb-friendly keyboards.	Unparalleled usability and as intuitive as they come. The Apple App Store defined the field and still has the most (and the best) apps—particularly when it comes to games.	Extremely fast and easy to use, with topnotch multitasking. Phone-wide “universal search” makes it very easy to find files and contacts across programs.	The platform is powerful and filled with features—as long as you can navigate its archaic interface. A ray of light: The upcoming Windows Phone 7 (due in late 2010) should improve the experience.
DRAWBACKS:	Its app store is still a distant second to the iPhone’s—particularly when it comes to games. The multitude of Android phones means some of them could have issues supporting some apps.	The OS feels a bit dated next to the flashier competition. Its app store can't compete with the iPhone's.	The platform is notoriously closed—Apple restricts what sort of apps developers can create for it. Minor differences aside, there is really only one phone to choose from. No multitasking.	Its app selection is very thin, as is the roster of webOS phones. Palm’s uncertain financial future means there’s a real risk that webOS will be a short-lived platform.	Notoriously sluggish and the most difficult OS to use. Finding simple functions on the frustrating interface can involve digging through multiple menus.
BOTTOM LINE:	If you’re reluctant to buy into Apple’s ecosystem or AT&T’s over-stretched network, Android is a strong alternative.	A great choice for the business class and heavy e-mailers, but it falls a bit short in the fun department.	The gold standard when it comes to usability and app selection. But if you want to play, you have to play by Apple’s rules.	In terms of sheer usability, webOS rocks. But without many apps, there’s little that allows it to shine in a crowded field.	Our advice: Wait for Windows Phone 7—a promising update that should act as a much-needed reboot for the OS.