Smartphone OSes compared (photos)

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Smartphone OSes compared (photos)
by ZDNet Author July 12, 2011 10:00pm PDT Image 1 of 15

More and more people are adopting smartphones these days, and we live in a great time where there's a great variety to choose from, not just in terms of design but also in mobile operating systems.
Of course, all this choice can also make the buying decision a bit confusing and overwhelming, so to help you out, we've put together this photo gallery of the different OSes--iOS, Android, Windows Phone, WebOS, and BlackBerry. In it, we offer a look at how each platform's home screen, notifications and multitasking system, mobile Web browser, and app store, so you can compare and contrast in one place.
Though we still recommend going into a store to try out the devices firsthand, hopefully this will help give you a better idea of what to expect from the OSes and help you in your buying decision.
Home screen: iOS vs. AndroidiOS (shown left throughout slide show): Ease of use is one of the hallmark features of the iPhone and iOS. As soon as you turn on the phone, you're presented with a simple but beautiful grid view of all your different apps. A quick tap of an icon and you're off and running.
You can rearrange the icons by doing a long-press and then dragging it to the desired spot; iOS also supports folders so you can group similar apps together. That said, aside from the ability to change wallpapers, iOS doesn't offer much in the way of customization out of the box.
Android (shown right throughout slide show): On the other hand, the openness of Android allows for a lot more customization, not just on the user's side but on the handset manufacturers' and carriers' side as well. This is why you'll find different user experiences on Android phones, depending on whether you get an HTC handset, a Samsung phone, LG, etc.
Shown here, however, is the stock Android experience on the Samsung Nexus S 4G. Android usually offers five to seven home screens that you can personalize with various app shortcuts and widgets. There's a bit of a learning curve, but nothing to be afraid of.

http://www.zdnet.com/photos/smartphone-oses-compared-photos/6258563