After having an iPhone 3G (and subsequently an iPhone 3GS) on AT&T for 2.5 years I have switched to T-Mobile to get service for my new Nexus S.
Hardware: Nexus S vs. iPhone 3GS
The Nexus S has a bigger/better screen, camera, flash, and is noticeably lighter to hold (which I like but some people think it makes the phone feel flimsy). I also like the standard mini USB connector over the proprietary Apple connector on the iPhone.
I think I prefer the iPhone’s positioning of the power/lock button and the headphone jack. The power/lock button on the Nexus S is exactly where I put my index finger when naturally gripping the phone so I can’t grip my phone too hard or I will unintentionally lock it. I also would prefer the headphone jack on the top.
Software: Android Gingerbread vs. iOS 4
The best part about Android on the Nexus S is the fact that it is not controlled (i.e. gimped) by a carrier. Free tethering? Check. Native SIP support for VOIP calls? Check. Android also provides more customization and good integration with my Google account.
There are two things that I think iOS does better than Android: user interaction, and music.
iOS devices rely on the touch screen for all navigation within an application and which leads to a better mental model of the application because every action has a visual cue. On Android devices there are 4 hardware buttons that behave differently depending on the context. Hitting the back button might take you to the previous screen in the application, or it might exit the application if there is nowhere to go back to. The context menu and the search buttons may or may not be used by a given application and there is no visual clue if they are or not; you just need to hit them to find out. Same problem with the long touch paradigm; there is no visual clue to indicate that a UI element can be long touched for more options. As a result the user has to memorize what buttons/touches are useful for each application.
When it comes to music Apple is king. iTunes provides effortless purchasing, syncing, and backup of music and podcasts; Android does not. iOS also lets you control playing music (play/pause/fast-forward/rewind/volume) without unlocking your phone; Android does not.
Carrrier: AT&T vs. T-Mobile
I had dual service for about 3 weeks so that I could compare AT&T and T-Mobile at the places I visit the most (my apartment, my workplace, my parents’ house). Fortunately for me, T-Mobile appears to have better coverage of my apartment and their 3G data network is at least as fast, and often faster than AT&T’s.
T-Mobile provides the best value of all the carriers and it is the only carrier that offers a no contract plan.
T-Mobile Even More Plus Plans
- $30/month for 500 minutes
- $10/month for unlimited texting
- $10/month for 200MB data*
- $25/month for unlimited data*
- $60/month for 500 minutes, unlimited text, unlimited data* ($5 discount for buying unlimited text and data)
- No contract but phones are unsubsidized
*Free tethering with Gingerbread
AT&T Individual Plans
- $40/month for 450 minutes
- $5/month for 200 text messages
- $15/month for 1500 text messages
- $20/month for unlimited text messages
- $15/month for 200MB (NO tethering)
- $25/month for 2GB (NO tethering)
- $45/month for 2GB and tethering
- 2 year contract but phones are subsidized
Doesn’t really matter how you slice it, with T-Mobile you get more for less; and that is why I switched.
FWIW, Doubletwist solves both the backup/syncing (even over wifi if you are willing to shell out a couple bucks) and, in 2.3, the ability to control your music without unlocking. It + Amazon MP3 on the phone (the Amazon MP3 store is integrated on the desktop version) completely replaces iTunes.
Cool, will check it out.