At the risk of agreeing with my father, this I would say this assessment 
is accurate.

In particular I am running a community version of the android software 
with various enhancement, called cyanogenmod 
(http://www.cyanogenmod.com/). I therefore benefit from various 
additional features, such as native linux USB tethering (plug phone into 
laptop and get internet), pdf manipulation abilities, and extended video 
and audio format support. I also pay the penalty associated with 
occasionally unstable builds. Although I would be at pains to point out 
that this is not the case with the standard software shipped with 
android phones.

Notably, misguided individuals such as myself who opt to live on the 
bleeding edge (this may be hyperbolic; cyanogen is mostly quite stable) 
are of great benefit to the wider eco-system as testers and refiners of 
the software. Apple and it's iphone development model is incapable of 
fostering such a development enviroment as android (much of the credit 
here is to android's linux base system), and even more than that, having 
worked for an iphone app developing start-up, some of their practices 
are excessively protectionist, such as critically delaying the release 
of applications that do not conform to apple brand image in relatively 
minor ways.

There is a palpable sense in which things are 'coming together' for 
android: a variety of planned android-equipped  netbooks, and some 
brawnier, more beautful handsets, perhaps most notably (on publicity 
grounds at least) is google's own Nexus One:

http://www.google.com/phone

This will be the first consumer device directly sold by google; really 
their first tangible product. Another android 2 based (the latest 
incarnation, boasting a satnav-like version of google maps, amongst 
other things) handset worth considering is the Motorola Milestone:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2010/jan/14/motorola-milestone-mobile-phone-review

While mentioning handsets I would like to distinguish the enthusiasm 
around android from that around the iphone. The iphone is a sexy device, 
not only made to inspire techno-lust but to also be something easily 
wantable. It is easy to know that you 'want' an iphone without worrying 
about the details of model, make, or contract. Apple's domineering 
approach simplifies this. In the case of android, there are a variety of 
software versions with various amounts of network operator modifications 
across a range of devices with differing input technology and displays. 
What is cool about android, is not the devices (although I hope the 
newer handsets will have some pizzazz) themselves, but the potential 
elegance, usability, and diversity of software that may be delivered by 
the conglomeration of the open source community and a muscular 
corporation (google and the open handset alliance). Hopefully such a 
marriage can capture the strength's of both approaches, and if it does, 
apple doesn't stand a chance.

Excuse the slightly excessive spiel for a GP mailing list, but I was on 
a bit of a roll.

By way of temperance: if you are looking for the current maximum of 
unity, integration, and polish then *right now* the iphone has it by a 
few whiskers. However, I don't expect that to be the case in 3 or 4 months.

Silas

On 07/02/10 13:23, Ewan Davis wrote:
> Hi,
>
> I am holding out for an Android Phone, although I have just bought by my
> daughter an iPhone. She thinks it is lovely and that the iPoo application
> has changed her life - IMHO this says more about Art Students than the
> iPhone - But there are a myriad of amazing apps for everything.
>
> My son has an early Android Phone (a G1) it is underpowered and slightly
> flakey (although the later may have more to do with what he has done to the
> OS) - It also has a myriad of amazing apps for everything, less choice at
> the moment than the iPhone, but still too many to choose from.
>
> Like many apple products the iPhone is a great piece of hardware and user
> interface design, but it's closed and expensive - Much more closed than its
> PC products.
>
> The android platform is open and there are already a number of compatible
> devices with the latest ones looking more powerful than the iPhone and
> capable of being equally lovely.
>
> Apple, seek to retain a strangle hold over the apps that it will allow on
> then iPhone as it has demonstrated in its reluctance to allow a Spotify App,
> which challenged iTunes (it eventually had to bow to user pressure) and its
> banning of iPhone applications based on Google Voice.
>
> In November the FT reported:
>
> "But in the last month or so, there has been a rush of support for Android.
> Eric Schmidt, chief executive, said on Google's third-quarter earnings call
> that there were now 12 handsets with 32 carriers in 26 countries. The
> platform was "about to explode", he added"
>
> My view is that in time open platforms like Android will leave Apple in a
> similar niche position in with it phones as that which it enjoys with its PC
> (not a bad place to be) or maybe worse, because at least anyone who wants
> can write application for a Mac.
>
> However, *Now* and knowing Mary as I do, I would suggest that an iPhone is
> the right choice, but for me I'd rather hold out for a few weeks when
> hopefully I can get the Android phone I want.
>
>
> Ewan Davis - Director - Woodcote Consulting
>
> See our website at www.woodcote-consulting.com
>
> [log in to unmask] Voice +44(0)8456 170100 Mobile +44(0) 7774
> 272724
>
> Treasurer British Computer Society - Health Informatics Forum
>
> Member of British Computer Society Primary Health Care Specialist Group
> Visit... www.phcsg.org for membership details
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: GP-UK [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Jeff Green
> Sent: 07 February 2010 11:17
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: Should I upgrade to a Blackberry?
>
> Mary Hawking wrote:
>
>    
>> What can a Blackberry do that an iPhone can't - and vice versa - and are
>> there any apps useful for GPs that run on one but not the other?
>>      
> The iPhone is the best gadget in the world - however it's not a very
> good phone - the battery life is too short. If you carry a laptop with
> you for recharging the iPhone it works though!!
>
> The Android - at the moment isn't mature enough - for apps to be easily
> made i.e. the teams preferred software doesn't support it - and we
> aren't looking to go down that route.
>
> Blackberry - and keyboards - they are small keyboards not proper ones.
> You still end up having to type with thumbs.
>
> Declaration of interest - Assyria Game Studios has made some iPhone apps
> (none GP specific - but one was commissioned by a doctor)
>
>    
>> Any advice?
>>      
> Get a phone and use the savings to get an iPod Touch:-)
>
>
> Jeff
>
>