Hmm Apple or Android? This is a common difficult choice many individuals face on a daily basis! However, as an avid Android user myself, the answer to this question seems pretty clear to me. In my opinion, my Android phone is better looking and has better functions. Of course, there is me being quite superficial and bias towards the Android phone. Moving beyond the surface, the inherent differences between the Android phone and iPhone all comes down to their open vs close softwares.
The Android system is a more open, generative and user-friendly platform which gives users more freedom to change and modify its operating system. For example, Android can be used on different phones i.e. HTC, Samsung, Sony etc. Furthermore, on my Samsung s 6, I can download whatever apps I want on my phone. Similarly, I can install different programs to modify my keypad or change the way I use my phone. Consequently, I have full control of what content I create, how I create it and overall, how I use my phone.
In contrast, the IOS system features a digitally exclusive yet restricted and locked environment. This can essentially be seen by the fact that IOS only runs on the iPhone. Thus everything about the way individuals interact with the iPhone is deliberately tethered to Apple. For example, the centralised App Store is a monopoly point for users: it is the only way users can access content. This reflects Apple’s “walled garden” approach of providing its users with a more consistent, focused and protective user experience at the expense of flexibility and innovation. Indeed, some people may prefer this stable and consistent user experience as the centralised software is more accessible and easy to navigate around. For example, Apple users can easily sync their phones, ipads and laptops which allows their content to be centralised.
Nevertheless, with the popularity of Android phones rising at rapid rates, it seems people prefer having their freedom rather than being restricted by a “walled-garden” approach. In fact, it seems Apple is beginning to realise the benefits of allowing greater freedom and access to their operating systems as in June 2016, the company announced that it would open up some of its platforms (i.e. Maps, Siri and Messages) to other software developers, “marking another step away from holding a vice-like grip on how people should experience the iPhone.” As an Android user myself, I do appreciate the greater flexibility i’m allowed on my phone. I feel as if I have more options and I can truly cater the phone to my own needs. So perhaps Apple taking this strategic move isn’t so much of a bad idea and will boost their sales even more.
Jyotsna Singh 
I found it interesting to discover that you are an android user! I haven’t found many posts that aren’t bias toward apple like myself, so it’s interesting to get a different point of view about why open sources are good! I think it would be interesting to elaborate on what might be good about apple’s system and what could be bad about Androids, but I like that you have mentioned in great detail the reasons why Andriod is the superior operating system for you!
Great post and I laughed at your meme. I remember when the majority of my friend group had Android smartphones and would then jailbreak them to make them look like an iPhone because iPhones were way too expensive when no one had a job and had to rely on their parents to buy things for them haha. I think Apple’s competitiveness is something that will continue to grow as Android increases the freedom users are allowed. It’s super interesting and I can’t wait to see if one platform will take over the other by a really large margin. Here’s a cool article written by a guy who switched from Apple to Android for 2 months, you might enjoy the read and his results: https://www.cnet.com/news/i-switched-from-android-to-iphone-for-two-months-heres-what-i-learned/ maybe you as an android user could try this sometime!
Hey,
Nice post. You mentioned briefly the pros of the structured environment of the ‘walled garden’, and I think that’s a really interesting concept. Specifically, I think this is an extension of the social contract. Essentially, people are willing to exchange freedoms for stability, functionality and social cohesion. People are still willing to give up the more expansive freedom of Android in exchange for the tailored, simple and stable iOS model.
Thanks for your post!