Android is number one OS among US phone buyers over the last six months

Engadget ^ | Oct 5th 2010 | Vlad Savov

[PugetSoundSoldier]

BlackBerry OS? Dead! iOS? Dead! Symbian? Never stood a chance. Android's exponential growth has today been illustrated by Nielsen's statisticians who present us with the above chart of recent US smartphone purchases. It shows that over the six months leading up to August 2010, 32 percent of American new phone buyers had grabbed themselves a device with Google's OS on board, which is comfortably ahead of RIM at 26 percent and Apple at 25 percent. These results corroborate NPD's figures on the matter -- which peg Android at 33 percent of new US purchases -- and reiterate the idea that Android is headed to a place whose name starts with D and ends with omination.

[tacticalogic]

I'll be happy if Microsoft finds another way of doing a smartphone that really works. I love competition, and it has kind of sucked that Microsoft's effectively been asleep for the last few years.

I guess it depends on your perspective. I'm an Exchange admin, and from where I'm sitting they've been pretty busy.

[antiRepublicrat]

I'm an Exchange admin, and from where I'm sitting they've been pretty busy.

2010 is pretty sweet. I was referring Microsoft being asleep in the mobile business, with the exception of briefly waking up to pull off the Kin fiasco.

[MichiganMan]

Android does NOT have a subscription requirment ala Apple, correct? I have no need or desire the surf the internet from a cellphone.

I think you're referring to a data plan requirement? If so then No and Yes. No there is no requirement for a data plan that comes with Android. But Yes in that any Android phone is going to qualify as a "smart phone" and both AT&T and Verizon require a data plan with any smart phone on their network and will automatically add one to your account upon detection that you're using one. Success rates on evading detection have varied.

[PugetSoundSoldier]

Wait, just a few posts earlier you stated WP7 doesn’t multitask, now you admit it multitasks like the iPhone. Which is it? Does it multitask or not?

[antiRepublicrat]

Which is it? Does it multitask or not?

I've made that pretty clear. And, no, I did not say it multitasks like the iPhone. I said it multitasks like the iPhone used to -- showing it's clearly behind the times even on that issue.

[tacticalogic]

2010 is pretty sweet. I was referring Microsoft being asleep in the mobile business, with the exception of briefly waking up to pull off the Kin fiasco.

I'd be willing to bet that the Windows Phone will do better against the iPhone than Apple's mail and UM servers do against Exchange.

[big'ol_freeper]

Android if fine..but mother@#$%^&g Motorola Droid sucks. I’ve not even had it a year and I only get five hours on a charge even after continually forcing apps to quit.

Sucks balls.

[PugetSoundSoldier]

Try shutting down WIFI and GPS when not used. My M721 tablet lasts a good 9-10 hours when playing music from the SD card, reading a book, and a little light (~1 hour) browsing over WIFI.

Android has real multitasking, having extra apps running in the background usually does not degrade battery life, only if those apps are streaming WIFI, 3G, or GPS connections.

[EyeGuy]

Right. The Data Plan.

When I initially bought my AT&T Tilt Smart Phone, I wanted a Data Plan, but had it removed after about a year. I wonder if they just require the Data Plan with a smart phone UPON PURCHASE, but allow you to cancel it later. I know that is definitely NOT allowed with the iPhone- you MUST maintain a data plan subscription.

[big'ol_freeper]

RE: Try shutting down WIFI and GPS when not used

I don’t keep those on. I shut them off and several times a day force quit all apps.

[big'ol_freeper]

I would add that the battery life problem has only existed since the last Android OS upgrade.

All in all...give me an Apple product. My experience...they work. There are advantages to total product integration.

Verizon...you listening?

[MichiganMan]

Try shutting down WIFI and GPS when not used.

Its my understanding that GPS is only used when, well, its being used. IOW, unlike wifi its not sucking juice all the time, just when you're using an app that is using gps. So GPS actually gets a bad rap for battery use.

[PugetSoundSoldier]

A few tips about stretching battery life.

[MichiganMan]

Here's where I'm getting my info on GPS' relative effect on battery life. 

[PugetSoundSoldier]

Note that is for that single product only; if you use Google Maps, and leave the app running, then it will continue to access the GPS in the background and will quickly drain your battery unless you turn GPS off or kill the app.

[Mr. Blonde]

You shouldn’t use a task killer. That is harder on the battery, having to constantly restart apps. If they are running in the background they are using almost no battery.

A better idea would be to download something like Watchdog which keeps track of your processes and will alert you when one is using your CPU a lot so you can kill it. Most apps should not be using your CPU (and draining your battery) any at all in the background.

[big'ol_freeper]

Thanks