But for the past few months I have had Android-envy. First I wanted the Motorola Droid and then/now the HTC Incredible. I am interested in the Motorola Droid X, but it may be too big – I need to see one in person. I love what I see of the HTC Evo, but I have no desire to leave Verizon.
Recently, though, it has occurred to me that when I am finally able to get my new phone, Windows Phone 7 devices will be very close to hitting the market. Being a Zune user, and knowing Zune is built in, I want to take a long look at this product.
So what will they offer out of the gate, and how does it compare to Android phones? I looked at Android 2.2 and tried to make a comparison.
- Multitouch – Both
- Multitasking – Android has full capability, Windows Phone 7 will be limited to start
- Default browser – Android has Chrome, WP7 has IE
- Tethering – Android does Wifi and USB, WP7 Unknown at this point
- Copy and Paste – Android is yes, WP7 is no (initially)
- Keyboard – Both support on-screen and physical
- Music Store – Android is third-party, WP7 is Zune
- Music Streaming – Android is yes, WP7 is unknown
- Flash – Android is yes, WP7 is no
- Maps with Turn-by-turn – Android via Google, WP7 via Bing
- Games – Android is yes, but not great, WP7 has Xbox Live
- Books – Both are no (but Android has a beta of Audible available)
- Office suite – Android has Google Docs, WP7 has Office Mobile
So, based on this, Windows Phone 7 wins in a couple of places – namely Office Mobile over Google Docs, and Zune over no particular music store (but, even though I have a Zune, I use Amazon MP3). However, the Zune streaming service is a great deal, especially because of it’s 10 free downloads per month. The fact that I don’t use it may says more about my penny-pinching than anything else. I just want to buy the occasional song, and I use Amazon for that. I am not a gamer, but if I were I would think the nod here would also go to WP7.
Where does Android come out on top? Well, multitasking, default browser, copy and paste, Flash, and probably books.
There are a few unknowns in WP7. Namely tethering and music streaming. But since WP7 is unknown the nod would have to go to Android for being the known quantity.
The only draw I see is in Maps and turn-by-turn directions. I have to say that Bing is every bit as capable as Google in this area.
So, my bottom line? Well, November is still a ways off and I assume we’ll learn more about WP7 in that time…but as of now, I have to think I’ll be buying an Android. Two years after that it may be a whole different story, but, for now, Android has this battle under control. I don’t ever count Microsoft out though.