Notification Center Is Superior

Prior to the launch of iOS 5, Apple was criticized for not offering a reliable notification system to users. When they would try to look up friends on Facebook or write an email, they would be interrupted by alerts, text messages and other annoyances. However, Apple fixed that issue with a new Notification Center in iOS 5. And although it was late to the space, it’s a cleaner, more reliable option than Android’s own notification system.

Looking around the mobile market right now, it’s hard to find a single device that can match the iPhone 4S. Apple’s latest smartphone comes with a dual-core processor, 8-megapixel camera, high-quality Retina Display and, perhaps most importantly, the Apple branding. The closest competitor to the iPhone 4S is probably the Samsung Galaxy S II, which does trump Apple’s offering in a few ways—notably with the larger screen—but it still falls short. Android owners looking for the best smartphone will need to get an iPhone 4S.

One of the nice things about Android is that it’s running on dozens of smartphones that fit into any budget. However, the cheaper Android handsets tend to be running outdated software and come with obsolete hardware features. But despite the launch of the iPhone 4S, Apple is keeping its iPhone 3GS, which first launched in 2009, on store shelves. Even better, mobile carriers are offering it to customers for free with a two-year service contract. For those on a budget who were forced into free Android smartphones, there’s now another option out there—a free iPhone. How nice is that?

Apple’s decision to jump into the cloud space with iCloud is an important part of its growth strategy. And for users, it’s an integral component in their lives. The service syncs content, including emails, events and other information, across iOS-based devices, PCs and Macs. But it’s not available on Android. Those looking for a free, cloud-based solution to manage their lives must have an iPhone to take advantage of what amounts to be the best offering in that space.

The launch of Siri on the iPhone 4S might very well be enough for many people to jump from Android to Apple. Siri is a virtual personal assistant that can do everything from crafting emails and sending out messages to setting reminders after being commanded to do so. Android has several third-party options available, but they all fall short. Siri doesn’t. For busy people, this application alone might be enough to persuade them to switch to the iPhone.

When the iPhone first launched in 2007, the device was available only to AT&T customers. Android, however, was running on several different devices available to every major carrier at its launch, making it the default choice for those who didn’t want to be an AT&T customer. But now that the iPhone is available on Verizon and Sprint networks, as well as AT&T’s, customers have a choice of carriers to work with.

Security is one of the biggest issues Android has faced as of late. Earlier this year, Google was forced to face the slings and arrows of the security community over complaints that third-party applications were carrying malware to the platform. Apple’s iOS, on the other hand, hasn’t been hit so prominently by security woes. So, for those who want to keep their data secure, Apple’s iPhone seems like a better device than an Android alternative.

The enterprise is still heavily invested in RIM’s BlackBerry platform, but it’s starting to come around to iOS. Android, on the other hand, hasn’t proved popular in the corporate world because of security issues and the fact that it’s built for consumers. Some companies, like Cisco and Motorola, have tried to change that, but so far, they haven’t been successful. At this point, enterprise users looking to break away from the BlackBerry would do well to move to the iPhone.

The nice thing about the iPhone is that it makes it easy for those consumers who haven’t yet jumped on the tablet craze to do so. After all, the iPhone is running iOS 5, the same operating system that is now available on the company’s iPad. On the Android front, however, most users are running Android 2.3 on smartphones and Android 3.1 on tablets. Although they’re both Android, they’re quite different. It makes the leap to tablets that much more difficult.

The nice thing about the iPhone is that customers know what they’re getting when they buy the device. They know that they’ll have the same operating system, a great design and the same level of quality regardless of which iPhone or which mobile carrier they choose. But in the Android ecosystem, that’s not the case. There are too many smartphone options. The operating systems aren’t always the same, and the quality level isn’t uniform. All these issues taken together make the iPhone even more attractive.