Why I’m switching from webOS to Android

Posted by on 26 May 2010 17:04 Leave a comment (5) Go to comments

HTC Droid IncredibleI’ve been using the Palm Pre Plus on Verizon Wireless since February this year. I really enjoy the operating system, webOS. And the hardware (once I got used to it) isn’t bad. It’s relatively lightweight, easy to hold, and overall a nice-looking device.

But the more I think about it, the more I’d rather have an Android. Here’s why.

The app paradigm

webOS is stuck in the app paradigm. So is the iPhone. Android isn’t, especially with the HTC Sense UI.

When I turn on my phone, I’m looking for information, not apps. My phone comes with me everywhere and ought to know my context. I’m not turning on my phone to open an app. I’m turning on my phone to accomplish something–to get some information from my friends, to see what my next tasks or calendar items are, to determine whether I need to bring an umbrella.

In the app paradigm, I have to open a Twitter client and read updates. Then I open a Facebook client and read updates. Then I open my calendar and look at appointments. Then I open a weather app and check the day’s forecast. All I really wanted was the information, not all the overhead of opening and closing apps, scrolling through and searching for the relevant things I wanted to know.

I don’t want to see minimized cards with some apps. I don’t want to see an array of pretty icons. The app paradigm is simply too inflexible and too siloed to provide me the information I want in the way I want it.

Hardware

Let’s be honest. As cool an operating system as webOS is, it’s confined to hardware that is all but antiquated. Small screen, slow processor, a finnicky keyboard that was only recently fixed.

Current Android devices are so much faster and more capable than current webOS devices. While rumor has it that hardware improvements are coming, I want a phone that’s up to snuff in the market today. A 500 MHz processor powering a small 3G phone can’t compete in this market anymore.

Geolocation

This is both a hardware and a software issue. Admittedly, the GPS experience on non-Verizon apps is spotty at best. It’s the unfortunate truth that the missteps of the carriers of webOS devices have tarnished its image in the location realm. Whether it’s caused by hardware limitations or carrier restrictions, the fact remains that geolocation on the Palm Pre leaves much to be desired.

Turn-by-turn navigation is only available on the Pre if you’re willing to shell out a few extra dollars a month for a subscription fee. Android phones come with turn-by-turn navigation by default at no extra charge. That, combined with the inherently better location capabilities of Android hardware, is compelling by itself.

Innovation and community

webOS has a very strong community. I have no complaints there. But the platform hasn’t garnered the attention of many developers outside that community, meaning that the app selection is extremely limited. There’s no Yammer app, for example (something that I desperately need). There are few Google apps for webOS (Maps and YouTube are the obvious exceptions).

Google is innovating incredibly fast with the Android platform. Android 2.2 brings incredible speed improvements across the board. Palm is in the middle of an acquisition by HP, so I’ll forgive them for the time being. But acquisition notwithstanding, innovation in webOS has been a slow process. Some are optimistic that innovation will improve with the better corporate backing that Palm will get from HP. I’m more inclined to run and develop for a platform that already has a proven track record of adoption and improvement.

Conclusion

Perhaps I’m being pessimistic. Perhaps I’m too easily distracted by new, shiny toys. But I’m more than likely going to make the switch to Android and devote my energies to that platform.

I still hope for the best for webOS. It is an awesome operating system with a lot of potential, but that potential has yet to be realized. Hopefully the new deal with HP will provide the necessary boost to get webOS onto its next wave of innovation.

UPDATE: I should note (as is duly apparent in the comments now) that I’m not yet completely sold on the idea of switching to Android. Feel free to leave your thoughts about either platform. Why should I or shouldn’t I switch?

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  • http://www.webosroundup.com/ DanR

    Hi Steve,

    It's funny that you would post this today, as I posted the exact opposite with regards to the HTC EVO on Sprint (same platform, obviously, with even more perceived advantages.)

    http://www.webosroundup.com/2010/05/yeah-ive-se…

    Your points are all excellent. You've clearly thought this through and had me nodding in quite a few spots. Me personally, I still find Android's OS rather clunky, with a mish-mash of widgets, icons, and of course apps (of which you don't know which are open, which are closed). If you want to get a sense of what the Android system is like, download the app ActiveCard. It's basically a widget-based card that works much like Android would.

    The disparity of OS versions among devices (fragmentation) is also a very frustrating concept I don't think I could live with. Palm's averaging monthly updates to ALL devices. Most updates have been substantial, such as improvements in battery life (since 1.0) and video recording.

    Finally, I don't wanna sell my soul to Google just yet… ;)

    Best of luck and enjoy! Just remember: no one will judge ya if you come back to webOS. Heh heh. :p

  • http://twitter.com/aboutpalmpre Mark Coppock

    I agree with DanR. You make some relevant points (particularly regarding the Verizon version of the Pre Plus), but for me, webOS stands out as so much more productive and with so much more potential. The kicker for me is that when HP Palm releases a webOS tablet, I'm hoping to be able to access the same information and applications on both devices by virtue of their being from a single vendor. Android devices are spread out across vendors, with some version fragmentation and definitely with some tablets supporting the Android Market and some not.

    Really, for me, HP Palm represents the best of both worlds. Even more so than Apple, HP Palm will be able to produce a very wide variety of different form factors all supporting the same ecosystem and all integrated. And like Google/Android, webOS is largely an open system and Palm has done a great job of both creating a nice App Catalog and allowing alternative means of app distribution.

    I imagine that folks like you will be back eventually. :-)

  • http://globalconstant.wordpress.com/ Steven Nay

    DanR,

    I actually read your post this morning, and it was (ironically) part of the impetus to write this post.

    You also bring up some excellent points, and I agree with you on all of them. Except for the selling-your-soul-to-Google part–I've pretty much already done that, so I have no qualms going with an all-Google ecosystem at the moment. :)

    I actually haven't had a whole lot of experience with Android yet, so some of the things I said may have been uninformed. I still have to do a bit more research before I decide that I do indeed want to switch.

  • http://globalconstant.wordpress.com/ Steven Nay

    Mark,

    I agree with both of you. webOS and Android are both strong platforms, and I think in the end it's just a matter of personal preference.

    I'm very interested to see what HP-Palm turns out, and there's a good chance that I might be persuaded to come back (or stay–I haven't fully decided yet to leave webOS). HP and Palm both bring very strong portfolios and histories. I have no doubt they'll turn out a solid line of devices. And especially if they are well-integrated–which I'm sure they will be, coming from a company like HP–it will be a very powerful ecosystem indeed.

    Thanks for your input!

  • http://globalconstant.wordpress.com/ Steven Nay

    Mark,

    I agree with both of you. webOS and Android are both strong platforms, and I think in the end it's just a matter of personal preference.

    I'm very interested to see what HP-Palm turns out, and there's a good chance that I might be persuaded to come back (or stay–I haven't fully decided yet to leave webOS). HP and Palm both bring very strong portfolios and histories. I have no doubt they'll turn out a solid line of devices. And especially if they are well-integrated–which I'm sure they will be, coming from a company like HP–it will be a very powerful ecosystem indeed.

    Thanks for your input!