Looking back in time, one can observe always that a great product or a great concept has a lifeline of its own. Ideas/Products which are oriented to touch people have a longer shelf period than the rest. Android based phones are not the only devices which area build on top of Android platform. Now there are cell phones, TVs, music players, cars, security system, cameras and a full phethora of smart devices which have housed android for their every day juice. Lets have a fair comparision with the product line of of android competitors.
| Product line | Apple iOS | Android | Windows |
| TV | Yes | No | No |
| Tablet | Yes | Yes | Well… |
| Ohones | Oh Yeah | Yes | Yes |
| Cable Box | No | Yes | What ? |
| Music Player | Yes | Yes | Remember Zune |
| Camera | No | Yes | Whats that |
While the comparision looks little weak against apple based competitors, we have certain other factors which will definitely distinguish android from its competition.1. Open Source : This has been the driving power of android all the while. While Jail braking is still possible in iOS devices, the stigma of the whistle blowing by apple makes it not a peaceful option. Look at Android, its completely open. In this category, it beats the competition pants down.2. Crowd Sourced : Android developers are you and me (common people) where as you need a mac system to even consider developing an utility or program for apple. So in no time you will see the apps in the google Play overtaking itune. Remember java ? the main reason Java as a programming language picked up the ride was bacause it was open and people can write their own libraries and understand the internals. The same is true for great programming language like C or C++. Strikingly different strategy was taken for VB fraternity and you can see the result.3. Re-invention : What has not worked for android is that its not an exclusive device(cult) unlike apple. But to its advantage, there is a version of android (flavour) every day.Don’t believe it ? go to forums.xda-developers.com. The only way a product gets a relife (or an extended life is when we introduce some innovation after some time and we keep on innovating). Android’s operating model makes it natural. Look at apple, it brought in 5.1, 5.1.1,5.1.2. Did you “mark any difference ?”. One thing we have to give it to apple, they have perfected the touch technology. But anything is reproduceable.There is so seemingly similar trend between rise of android platform like that of Java. In 5 years we will not be surprised if android is the defacto operating system for all portable devices.
Hi Tapan,
Would like to point out few things in your analysis ,
1. Though there are lot of devices which are based on android, the reality is they suck in communicating with each other. Every device has a new version of android modified by its manufacturer.
2. In that table apple has all yes except camera – remember apple tv(cable box) and who needs a separate camera when they have in in iPhone and iPod. But the main issue is how easily people synch data between these devices. Apple has done a great job in this. I have a movie in my iPad I can sync it to my apple tv without any settings required.
3. It’s a myth that for developing for apple we need Mac, apple accepts html5 based application and there are lot of tools available in the market which are open source – Sencha.com , phonegap.com.
4. The greatest pain in android is they have multiple form factors and is very difficult for a individual developer to produce a quality product that works in all the android devices.
5. Apple’s versions 5.1,5.1.2 …. Are just alterations of one major version 5. It brings version 3, 4, 5 .. Each year and they have significant differences. They important difference here is I can update my iPhone version immediately after apple releases a new version. But for android I can’t upgrade until my carrier allows me to
Nice article
Good one Tapan
but in 5 years Apple would reach the place where Android could take another 5 years to beat Apple that goes infinite 
I beg to disagree.. as we have seen, every product has its life time.. The world is too big to be dominated by one OS alone.. Blackberry ruled the Enterprise world then came Apple which ruled the world (still continues to do so) from 2005 (when they launched iPhone). Android is running on its peak now and there is a quite a bunch of possibility that Windows would bounce back with its Windows 8 – Mobile Version. The changes are too dynamic and have happened over a span of a decade alone. Mobile World is too big to be dominated by one OS or by a single vendor alone.
Rightly said, I believe Android will be in everyone’s everyday life soon. Similar to those who bet on next big markets India and China, I think android will rule those markets. As we seen already, Samsung is leader in Indian smartphone market. The openness and economical makes it suit for the market. In couple of years, android will be a base platform for most of our electorics – Phone , car electorincs , home control (smart electricity meter , TV remote ..etc), a account book for a small business owner who travels all day in a bike, a POS terminal for a street vendor (which already is), a tablet for student and a TV , entertainment console for everyone.
The best part is , once we achieve this, synchronizing, and intra-communication between these will be seamless which opens up a next level of business intelligence to emerge and make decision making based on multiple factors.