When Choosing A New Phone, What’s A WebOS User To Do?

Android

Android has a lot of things going against it. The biggest is the opposite of my earlier point about the iPhone in that there’s an inconsistent user experience. Depending on what carrier you go with, you could end up with a totally different Android experience. I’m not just talking things like skinning. I’m talking about how a “pure Android” device like the Galaxy Nexus has Google Wallet crippled on Verizon or how there are currently three versions of the Android OS on phone handsets. As a power user, I can ignore the devices still running Froyo (Android 2.2), but the fact that those devices are even out there is just nuts.

Be ashamed, Samsung.

More annoying is how some devices are carrier exclusive. I would absolutely love a device like the Motorola Razr Max, with an insanely long lasting battery. However, it would mean switching to Verizon, which adds to my monthly bills significantly. I wish Motorola would would follow the model of the LG Optimus, the Samsung Galaxy line, or even the HTC One and release phones across companies with slight tweaks. I was going to make a general complaint about companies not doing this, but at this stage, Moto is the only major maker who doesn’t do this with at least one product line.

To be fair, this is likely due to Verizon, not Moto.

Then there’s the wishful thinking aspect. In the event that Open webOS does get released, the fact that it is based on the Android kernel means it is far more likely to get ported to an Android device than anything else. My choice is further webOS influenced in that Matias Duarte, designer of the UI that I loved from Palm is the guide for the look and feel of Android now. Add that Google has basically snatched up HP’s entire Enyo group and absorbed a ton of what made the OS I got addicted to great. Looking forward, an Android device is my best bet.