The best OS for a smartphone. Mobile operating systems for smartphones. iOS is the best data protection system
More recently, in order to get through to another subscriber, it was necessary to be at home. Sometimes the devices standing on the street were rescued. And a little earlier, we had to contact the girl who was heard on the other end of the line, as soon as we pick up the phone. Her main business was to connect with the right subscriber. Not very practical, you must agree. But in the 21st century, we have absolutely no communication problems. With the advent of mobile phones wherever we are, we are always available to people who know our number. And it seems that if a person does not have a mobile phone, then he is cut off from life and from progress.
Lots of possibilities in a small gadget
Today, such a device is absolutely impossible to surprise anyone. After all, smartphones - smart phones - have replaced conventional mobile devices. With the help of such a device, you can not only call or write SMS messages. These gadgets provide a ton of amazing possibilities. You can listen to music, watch videos and even whole films, go online, visit social networks, use the navigator, alarm clock, calculator, flashlight and many other useful and interesting things. In the world of modern technology, almost everyone has a smartphone. Most often, the capabilities of the device depend on the model or manufacturer. But the operating system plays a much larger role for the user. for smartphones allow us to unleash the full potential of the gadget. The quality of its use depends on them. In the article we will talk about smartphone and understand their main versions.
Types of operating systems
The operating system has another name - "firmware". When they talk about installing an operating system, they use the term "reflash". But these words are used more when talking about versions of operating systems, rather than their types.
There are three most popular, well-known and used operating systems for smartphones, namely: Android OS, IOS and Windows. There are others, but they are quite rare and mainly on Chinese models of dubious origin. An experienced user can determine the quality of a product from the first glance at an operating system.
OS, which we have named, now and then compete with each other. Smartphone owners note that the developers copy the elements of the "operating system" from each other.
In addition to the three main competitors in the operating system development market, there are also those that are created for a specific company or gadget model. For example, Blackberry OS for Blackberry phones or Nokia.
Now let's talk more about the three giants. So, here are the main operating systems for smartphones.
Windows Phone OS
This "operating system" is simply recommended for people who strive to try something new. Let's say right away that there are far fewer smartphones based on this platform than on Android or Ayos, but it can also please its owner. For example, in comparison with the same "Android", the system works much faster and more productive, but if you compare it with IOS, then the products are much cheaper. And the familiar interface of the last two systems is already a little fed up to users.
Windows advantages
The second advantage of WP is the application in its own store. The fact is that Android has a store under its auspices. Google applications Play, IOS - App Store, but the brainchild of "Windows" - Windows Phone Store. The number of applications in the latter is relatively small, but because of this, it is much easier to understand them. Owners of smartphones running Android have access to thousands of paid and free apps and sometimes, when it is necessary to find important software, they simply drown in the abyss of the proposed applications. But with Windows Phone it's much easier. And there are many more high-quality free applications, but their counterparts in competitors' stores are quite expensive.
Moreover, almost all software is working and lacks system errors... In this case, we see a vivid example of when quantity does not mean quality at all. This operating system has a lot of "native" applications, and therefore sometimes it is not necessary to download any add-ons at all. Windows is a closed stand-alone and self-contained platform that will appeal to many users. They will also like the speed of the device based on this OS.
It's all about intelligent work with RAM. The system is programmed to unload little-used applications and actively work those that you use often. Therefore, everything loads very quickly and hardly slows down. Another beauty of this OS is the tiled interface. The interface of the other two operating systems has a similar structure, but the tile has a radically different approach to rational use of the screen.
So, Windows 8, designed for computers, is rightfully considered a failed operating system, and for the most part this is due to an impractical interface. Not all users are accustomed to clicking on tiles on the screen, and few, in general, have understood this idea. But for phones, such a system is perfect. But which operating system is the best for a smartphone? Let's figure it out further.
Smartphones with the Android operating system
The most famous operating system for gadgets in the world. This operating system was originally destined to be popular. The fact is that all the rights to "Android" are owned by the Google corporation and it is also engaged in its development. Perhaps, everyone who has smartphones is familiar with this operating system. is the undisputed leader in its category. Other operating systems for smartphones can not even come close to the indicators of "Android". So, according to recent studies, about 75% of smartphones released over the past year have this "firmware" and even such a popular brand as IOS is content with its 15 percent.
Disadvantages of "Robot"
Of the shortcomings of the operating system, we can only note that it has become boring for everyone for a long time, and even despite the fact that updates and new versions of the system are regularly released, its interface itself and the "little green men" on the screen are annoying. Plus, users too often complain about lags and system errors. It is not perfect at all, although the developers made sure that updates were released quite often, respectively, errors and errors were fixed in them.
This system is also highly susceptible to attack by a variety of viruses. To avoid this, you have to download additional antivirus programs. The reason for this problem is most often the applications ordered from unverified sources, and even the brainchild of "Google" - Google Play, does not always thoroughly check its products. Now it remains to discuss only the advantages of the system.
Best smartphone operating system
It can be safely argued that Android has eclipsed virtually all mobile operating systems. A smartphone based on this OS perfectly reveals its capabilities. The first thing to do if you decide to install "Android" is to create your own account in Google. It is not difficult to do this: you only need to have Gmail, enter your password and payment information. Another advantage of owning account- it is the same for all Google services, and if you want, for example, to synchronize your smartphone with other devices, it will not be difficult at all.
Google Play is a great app store where you can find whatever you like. It breaks records for the number of high-quality and free applications than Android and has won the hearts of many users.
Versions of operating systems for smartphones based on "Android" proudly bear the names of sweets, and experienced users know where to find the "Easter eggs" hidden in each of these systems.
IOS
All owners of Apple products are familiar with this name and, despite all the shortcomings, are devoted to this operating system. The fact is that it is of excellent quality, hence the price of the gadgets. The system is not familiar with such a concept as lag and does not know what "slow down" is. Yes, exceptions do happen sometimes, but they are so rare that no one pays attention to them. The OS is very fast and easy to understand, which won the iPhone owners. But now about the bad. If, for example, there are more than enough variations of models and manufacturers of phones for "Android", then "Ayos" is sharpened strictly for "apple products", that is, no one has the rights to use this OS for other equipment.
For Apple users
It is quite obvious that the system did not gain momentum in popularity due to the high cost of Apple products. This "operating system" is not plagued by viruses thanks to its unique software code based on Linux. All Apple devices are perfectly synchronized with each other, however, work with other operating systems for IOS is difficult. It is also very difficult to install the operating system yourself. A smartphone on "Android" can even be "reflashed" at home, but with Apple it is almost impossible to do it.
All smartphone operating systems have their own advantages and disadvantages, but the choice is always yours.
With the abundance of offers on the smartphone market, it is very difficult for a novice user to make a choice, having decided first of all on which OS the device should work.
The team from Digital Trends tried to help the newcomers, trying to get to the truth, comparing the "three pillars" of modern mobile operating systems:
- Android 4.4;
- iOS 7;
- Windows Phone 8.
The results of their research can be safely put into service when comparing the capabilities of various smartphones.
Hardly anyone would argue that the most expensive smartphone on the market is the iPhone. The cost of the 5s model starts from $ 650, the expected new items of the 6-series are even higher.
Up to Windows mobile version 6.5, a fairly wide range of phones worked on this OS. Now, after only Nokia produced phones in the G8, devices from LG, Samsung, Lenovo, ZTE, Huawei and others will work on this platform.
However, Android far surpasses its competitors in scale and customization. Most mobile gadget manufacturers release their Android gadgets in all price categories. In addition, PlayMarket offers a huge number of free applications, which adds to the popularity of the "green robot".
Winner: Android
2. Interface
All three operating systems are designed with a trendy flat design, their interface is slightly different. However, for Android, third-party widgets significantly change the look and feel of the system.
The emerging Android L follows the idea of “material design and it is not known exactly how the general animation of third-party and system applications will be combined.
IOS 7 is modern, it looks quite stylish. The animation is beautiful and straightforward, but somewhat tedious. The undoubted advantage is the ability to disable unnecessary visual effects.
The basis of Windows Phone is the tiles, which, as in the PC version, are simply customizable for the user. The OS looks better than the competition, but it is somewhat sluggish.
Outcome: Draw
3. Applications
Here iOS is in the lead, Android is almost not lagging behind it. Windows is far from being an outsider. This can be seen by looking at the number of applications:
- iOS - 1.2 million;
- Android - 1.2 million
- Windows - 245K
The leaders have approximately equal numbers, but the quality of Apple's mobile operating systems is superior to the rest. It is on it, thanks to the convenience for developers and protection from piracy, that the hits of mobile applications are first released. And then they are ported to Android. However, there is much more free software out there for Android.
Winner: iOS
4. Application store
In terms of ease of use, it is difficult to single out any of the stores. There are many steps to take to select the desired application. But AppleStore makes it much easier to navigate the recommendations. Windows Store performs worse in this regard.
Winner: iOS
5. Alternative stores
Developers Microsoft and Apple strongly discourage the use of third-party stores. Google is more loyal in this regard: the program can be downloaded from PlayMarket, installed from a large computer, or found on any of the third-party stores.
Winner: Android
6. Battery
One of the main problems with modern smartphones is their short battery life. It is difficult to give an objective assessment of which of the three systems has the best energy saving - one cannot use the same comparison methods. Traditionally, iOS is considered to be less power-hungry, but Android and Windows smartphones are equipped with powerful batteries. Another advantage of Android is the ability to do it yourself and by disabling unnecessary programs that increase battery consumption.
All three systems are updated regularly. However, Google is less closely monitoring its software, so Apple and Microsoft patches are easier. Even old iOS devices still have good support, while Android can only be updated by installing new firmware from vendors who periodically forget about old devices.
Winner: iOS
8. Additional decorations
Here, each mobile OS is good in its own way:
- Android ... You can personalize the system in different ways: change the launcher, reflash, set the lock screen, mix widgets. Additionally, you can install various keyboards from third-party developers.
- Windows ... Customization is rather meager: changes color scheme and the sizes of the tiles.
- iOS ... Widgets seem to be enough, but they are tied to the notification center.
Winner: Android
Breaking
A rather complex function allows you to fully access all the capabilities of the phone. With its help, you can set any settings and update your gadget regardless of the release of the update by the manufacturer.
This idea does not find support from Apple and Microsoft. For smartphones on iOS, there is a special jailbreak utility, after which you can install any software from third-party stores.
Winner: Android
10. Calls and sms
Dialers are good for all three platforms. The exchange of SMS e-mail is also conveniently organized for everyone, but Windows does not have the ability to install a third-party client.
Outcome: Draw
11. Accessories
For "apples", far ahead of competitors in this respect, the vast majority of all kinds of accessories have been released. At the same time, Apple still refuses to use the standard MicroUSB connector, which makes their gadgets dependent on the use of "native" cables.
When choosing a smartphone, of course, first of all, you should pay attention to its hardware characteristics, so that the device does not disappoint with a dull display immediately after purchase or does not slow down due to a weak processor. But an equally important aspect when choosing a smartphone is its software platform - a mobile operating system. The overall performance effect will largely depend on the well-coordinated operation of the operating system and the hardware components of the smartphone.
In addition, is it possible to consider a full-fledged use of a smartphone if only the standard functionality of the mobile operating system is used? Of course not. Maximizing the potential of modern mobile devices is possible only with the help of applications for a particular operating system. Small programs for smartphones will tell you about the weather, exchange rates, sights of various cities, order cinema or plane tickets, book a hotel room, help pass the time with simple unpretentious games, etc.
Despite the huge variety of models of mobile devices on the market, the choice of their operating systems is small. Symbian and MeeGo - there are practically no mobile devices on the market based on these two operating systems. But smartphones based on Bada OS are still found. Leadership in the smartphone market belongs to the three mobile operating systems - these are Android, iOS and Windows Phone.
iOS, Android or Windows Phone - a smartphone based on which platform is better to choose if you focus primarily on the software component of the device?
Android
Android is the brainchild of Google, which the search giant offers smartphone manufacturers for free, if only they take it. After all, the more smartphones will be based on the mobile platform from Google, the more people will use the company's services. Companies such as Samsung, LG, Motorola, Sony, HTC, Lenovo and others are releasing their flagship smartphones based on Android today.
Android is the most popular mobile operating system. 85% of smartphones sold in the second quarter are Android devices. Because Android is free and open source, the platform benefits mobile device manufacturers. Users will be able to install on smartphones various applications from the Google Play Market, which is updated daily with new content. What remains for the manufacturers of mobile devices is to come up with their own proprietary launcher add-on, so that the model has such a branded completeness.
Samsung GALAXY S line based on Android OS / bilisimhaberi.com
Android is ideal for enthusiasts who like to explore new programs and games, as well as active users of various Internet services. A mobile client for Android is available not only for every Google service, but also for a host of other Internet services, social and trading platforms. True, such online activity can result in a pretty penny for the user if Internet traffic is limited. After all, almost all Android applications automatically connect to the Internet to synchronize data. If the Internet connection is not unlimited, it is better to turn off the automatic connection of applications to the network in the Android settings right away.
Android smartphones are the most affordable. A mobile device with a touchscreen display based on this platform can be bought not only from well-known brands, overpaying for the sometimes completely unnecessary power of the hardware, but also at a reasonable price from little-known Chinese manufacturers who offer assemblies of smartphones from budget hardware components.
iOS
The iOS operating system has the greatest number of advantages when compared with all mobile platforms - from the well-coordinated organization of the software component and hardware filling to the global idea that iOS was invented not by anyone, but by Steve Jobs himself - the charismatic leader of Apple, unfortunately , now deceased. But you cannot use iOS on any other device if it is not an Apple product.
Choosing an iPhone. Choosing an iPhone, you are parting with an impressive amount in your wallet. But it will not be wasted money - together with the iPhone we get a fashion device and the full potential of applications and games for iOS on the App Store. Content for iOS is mostly paid, but by paying, the user can be sure that he will be able to use the purchased application, and it will not crash and will not refuse to work due to the lack of support for one or another hardware, as can often be observed with applications and games for Android.
iPhone 6 with proprietary OS iOS / bhartiads.com
iOS is a secure operating system, all content for it posted on the App Store is thoroughly tested by Apple. So iPhone users, installing the application they like, can be sure that they are installing the application they like, and not a virus, an auto-dialer for premium numbers, or a Trojan that steals confidential data.
The main task that Steve Jobs set himself when he created the iPhone based on iOS is to make using the smartphone as simple and convenient as possible. And he succeeded.
The downside to iOS is that it is a closed platform only for fans of Apple products. The user may only use what Apple authorizes. If you don't agree, hack the firmware, void your iPhone warranty and risk the security of your data.
Windows Phone
As a product of software giant Microsoft, Windows Phone did not inherit the desktop Windows versions- XP, Vista, 7 and even 8 / 8.1. Windows Phone, like iOS, is a closed operating system designed for software own store and promotion of Microsoft services. Like iOS, Windows Phone is safe, stable, and does not glitch or lag.
In terms of the number of applications and games, the store for Windows Phone is seriously inferior to both iOS and Android, nevertheless, everything you need to fully use your smartphone is available. Some social media apps are even preinstalled.
Unlike both iOS and Android, where standard smartphone functions and applications can be launched using small neat shortcuts, the appearance of Windows Phone stands out with a unique design solution - "live" tiles of the Metro interface. The latter, we recall, became the concept of both the mobile platform and the Windows 8 / 8.1 operating system for computers and tablets.
HTC 8s based on Windows Phone / t3n.de
Windows Phone is demanding on the hardware components of smartphones. On smartphones with a weak processor and small volume random access memory Windows Phone may not run as fast as it does on more powerful devices.
Windows Phone will outperform Android not only in terms of stability and security, but also due to the ability to synchronize data with any other Windows-based devices - PCs, laptops, tablets. And against iOS, Windows Phone will win in terms of a variety of device choices. So, already on sale there is a variety of models of smartphones Nokia Lumia, HTC, Prestigio based on Windows Phone versions 7.5, 8 and 8.1. Manufacturers Acer and Sony are preparing for the release of smartphones based on Windows Phone.
So Windows Phone has a future. Perhaps this will not be such a rapid development as Android had, nevertheless, the mobile platform from Microsoft will be able to conquer its audience - for the most part it will be employees of companies accustomed to the products of the software giant.
Comparison iOS, Android, Windows Phone
Photo on the main page: Smartphones based on iOS, Android, Windows Phone
It's no secret that Android is the leader in the mobile device market: according to the latest statistics, more than 80% of users around the world use Google's operating system. The dominance of Google is primarily due to the availability and the widest range of mobile gadgets. Apple's iOS has long been at the forefront of usability, stability, and superior design. However, over time, the situation has changed: Google, consistently modernizing the Android OS, introduced important updates and adapted it for a 64-bit system. Apple has implemented only a few groundbreaking amendments in iOS 8, but has brought back some restrictions, increased connectivity and added numerous but small options to the system. Microsoft also wasted no time in providing Windows Phone 8.1 with important improvements that will allow this mobile OS to keep up with the competition in the future. All of the above was the reason for writing this article on the comparison of the three operating systems.
Android 5 Lollipop has a new user interface that has never been seen in any previous update. The updates were so significant that Google had to change the name of the interface - Material Design. Icons are now flat and colors are more saturated. Especially worth noting are the new notifications, which can now be responded to without being distracted from the currently running application. In addition, users have more options to customize the display of information on the lock screen.
There are few changes in iOS 8 regarding the user interface, Apple remains faithful to the development of iOS 7. The so-called minimalistic flat design (Flat Design) is clear, functional and visually attractive - not least thanks to animation. There are transparent and three-dimensional effects, which, by the way, can be turned off.
General view of the desktop Microsoft also did not dare to make major changes in the interface. However, you can now select a wallpaper for your Start screen. Also useful is the ability to create folders that integrate into the tiled Desktop home screen. To create a new folder, just drag the icon of one application to another, as in Android and iOS. One of the innovations in Android 5 Lollipop is the notification center: important information and reminders appear as a window that pops up on top of other applications, and depending on the settings, this can even happen on the locked screen. The notification system allows you to perform some typical actions, for example, to archive letters.
For comparison: iOS 8 even has the ability to reply to SMS and iMessage right in the notification window. On Windows Phone, toast notifications have been around for a long time, and version 8.1 finally has the long-awaited Notification Center. It opens in the same way as on iOS and Android - with a swipe down from the top edge of the screen. It displays information and quick links to system functions.
Autonomy and energy saving
New features in Android 5 Lollipop are designed to improve battery performance and improve security. So, in the power saving mode, the device will work much longer. It is convenient to manually activate the mode when the battery is fully charged or change the parameters so that at a charge level of 15% this mode is activated by itself. In the first case, my XPERIA Z2 lasted about 3.5 hours longer, in the second - almost 30 minutes. Google's OS showed good results thanks to the limitation of background processes, processor performance and display brightness. In addition, Android informs the user about how much time is left before the battery is completely discharged, or - when connected to the mains - how much time is left to fully charge. Alas, there is no automatically activated power saving mode in iOS 8, but a new battery usage menu has appeared, where it is convenient to track the activity of applications and turn off the most resource-intensive ones. If desired, you can separately limit the most energy-consuming background processes. However, when it comes to power saving settings, Windows Phone 8.1 should be especially noted, which offers the most extensive configuration options.
iOS is the best data protection system
In terms of data protection by mobile OS, iOS from Apple is in the lead. Before installing the application, the user is not informed of the requirements for the access rights of the programs, but unwanted ones can be disabled separately after installation. In addition, Apple uses automatic encryption and protects the device with a robust Activation Lock feature, making it difficult to continue using your iPhone and iPad in the event of theft. Google gadgets are not yet equipped with this method of remote control ("Kill Switch"), but there are default services from certain manufacturers. As you can imagine, locking the smartphone during the boot process by setting a PIN does not exclude the possibility of resetting the device to factory settings in recovery mode. However, the memory encryption function of new machines with Android system 5, designed to prevent unwanted reading of user data stored on them, is enabled by default. In the struggle for the leadership in the number of applications between iOS and Android, at the present time, in fact, there is a draw: more than 1.3 million programs are offered in the official stores of both systems. In turn, the App Store offers a greater number of applications optimized for tablets compared to the Play Market store.
Windows Phone, which entered the market later, is clearly inferior in the variety of programs: the system from Microsoft with its 560,000 applications lags far behind its competitors. A closer look reveals a large number of vulnerabilities, although Microsoft is honestly trying to fix bugs. So, in the Windows online store, you will not find the updated Wikipedia application, there are not even Firefox or Chrome browsers, as well as the ability to install third party keyboards... In addition, management Windows programs Phone is quite inconvenient. There are only a few features for organizing downloaded utilities available, and the proprietary app store is pretty confusing. Also, Microsoft does not notify before installing free software about the presence of in-app purchases and does not allow refunds for purchased applications that you did not like.
Accessing applications on a smartphone Optimizing Android Multitasking
Unlike iOS and Android, there is no change in the Windows Phone multitasking menu. Apple is introducing a useful option: access to your favorite contacts from the multitasking menu above the three open apps.
However, the new Android 5 multitasking menu is, in my opinion, a step backwards. Google OS displays open applications in the form of a "stack of cards" - the menu turned out to be less visual than in Android 4.
In the eighth version, the strict regulation of iOS is slightly relaxed. Apple now allows installation of third-party keyboards - Touch Pal and Swift Key, while also providing its own word prediction function. IOS 8 also provides an extension interface that third-party developers can use to exchange data between applications. Unlike Android, on iOS you can enforce which programs are allowed to use a particular feature. An important innovation in iOS 8 is also the automatic synchronization of devices using Apple ID: now it is possible to make phone calls from a tablet or Mac in one wireless network in case the iPhone, for example, is in the bag. A " family access»Allows you to buy apps and install them on multiple devices at the same time, and even create a family photo album and calendar. Apple, monitoring the status of iCloud, provided the cloud with the function of synchronizing data with iOS and Mac OS like Dropbox.
Voice control
Of the voice assistants, today only Google Now for Android is fully localized, which perfectly recognizes Russian text. Among other things, it helps you plan routes, set reminders and alarms, call contacts and get information about weather or points of interest. Russian version voice assistant Cortana in Windows Phone is still in testing, and the localized Siri assistant for iOS in Russian will appear only in iOS version 8.3 in the summer of 2015.
New Mobile OS Features
The three mobile operating systems in their current versions offer updates that improve usability, security and energy efficiency. Below we will take a closer look at some of the useful features.
Notifications
Android and Windows Phone have optimized their notification systems: Android 5 now uses useful pop-up notifications that can also be displayed on the lock screen, Windows Phone 8.1 introduced a notification curtain that opens with a swipe from top to bottom.
Autonomy
Google has provided Android 5 with a useful power saving mode that slightly reduces the performance and brightness of your gadget's display.
In the system menu for monitoring battery performance, the iOS operating system displays energy statistics for individual applications and allows you to limit various background processes. In this aspect, the Windows Phone B system is more advanced: it offers not only automatic, but also manual settings.
Security
Android 5 offers to "pin" applications to the user (1 - this function is very useful when your device is, for example, in the hands of a friend. Apple iOS only allows you to protect the gadget from "nosy" programs: privacy settings and utilities that request access are available, for example , to your photos.
Multitasking
The new menu of recently used applications Android 5 presents tools in the form of a "stack of cards", which can easily confuse the user Ts. The "Apple" multitasking menu with a list of favorite contacts looks more convenient and pleasant compared to it.
Cloud technologies
iCloud Drive now synchronizes data between gadgets running iOS and computers running Mac OS X. The user decides which applications to give access to the cloud. The option to exchange data with third-party programs is also useful.
Menu structure
Android 5's settings menu is conveniently categorized and presented with a white background. Windows Phone menus are less clear: options are not listed alphabetically or by function. The iOS layered menu also raises questions.
Output
With a minimum gap from iOS 8, the leader among operating systems for mobile devices is Android 5 with a modern design, convenient use and a fairly high level of security. iOS 8 is a well-thought-out milestone for Apple's OS with a ton of small improvements. Windows Phone 8 with important updates - notification center and folders - provides a worthy alternative to both leaders, but it still lacks the finesse and wide range of apps in the store.
| A place | 1 | 2 | 3 | ||
| Manufacturer | Apple | Microsoft | |||
| Overall assessment, points | 87,7 | 85,6 | 72,9 | ||
| Ease of use (40%) | 88 | 87 | 78 | ||
| Functionality (40%) | 84 | 79 | 73 | ||
| App Store (20%) | 96 | 97 | 62 | ||
| THE CONVENIENCE OF USE | |||||
| Customizing Desktops | ■ (advanced) | ■ (extensive) | ■ (simple) | ||
| Configuring Applications | extensive | satisfactory | satisfactory | ||
| Quick access to settings | ■ | ■ | ■ | ||
| Unified interface in OS and applications | □ | ■ (intuitive) | □ | ||
| Using gestures | ■ (limited use) | ■ (system-wide and app.) | ■ (very limited) | ||
| Widget support | ■ (advanced) | ■ (limited by the system) | ■ (limited by the system) | ||
| Voice assistant | Google now | Siri | Cortana * | ||
| Geolocation services | ■ | ■ | ■ | ||
| Access from the locked screen | camera | camera | camera | ||
| PC connection | ■ access via Explorer | □ (iTunes) | ■ access via Explorer | ||
| FUNCTIONALITY | |||||
| Online backup | ■ (applications, data, contacts) | ■ (applications, data, contacts) | |||
| Free network storage | 15 GB | 5 GB | 15 GB | ||
| Multitasking support | ■ | ■ | ■ | ||
| Do Not Disturb Mode | ■ | ■ | □ | ||
| Automatic energy saving | ■ | □ | ■ | ||
| Data encryption | ■ (on smartphones ate, generations) | ■ (automatically) | □ | ||
| Application Rights Management | □ (with Root rights) | □ | □ | ||
| APP STORE | |||||
| Number of available apps | about 1.3 million | about 1.3 million | more than 500,000 | ||
| Categories | apps, movies, music, books, magazines | apps, movies, music | |||
| Password protection when purchasing apps | ■ | ■ | ■ | ||
| Refunds in case of refusal to purchase software | ■ (within two hours without explanation) | ■ (within 14 days without explanation) | □ | ||
| Information about in-app purchases | ■ | ■ | □ | ||
| Payment Methods | credit cards. PayPal, gift certificates | credit cards, PayPal, gift certificates | |||
Probably everyone knows that Android is the most popular operating system for mobile phones in the world. More than 90% of all devices run Android. Another popular system is iOS. But what if you are tired of Android and want to try something new, stop being part of the proprietary ecosystem, get the maximum privacy and security of your data?
There is a solution for this problem. You can install a Linux-based mobile operating system on your smartphone. You get not only an open source system, but also improved security and privacy of your data. In this article, we have collected operating systems for smartphones. Some are Linux based, some are not. Android is also based on the Linux kernel. But there were a lot of changes in it, so it cannot be considered a full-fledged Linux.
1. Ubuntu Touch from UBports
Although Canonical has dropped support for Ubuntu Touch, the system is still supported by the community and developers from the UBports project. This means that the mobile operating system Ubuntu is still alive, as is Unity. Ubuntu Touch has a very interesting approach to work. Although there are not many applications here, many of the functions that applications perform in Android are natively built into the operating system. Another interesting point is the lenses - separate home screen pages that display news, weather, apps and social networks. The system works reasonably well on supported devices.
But the main advantage of Ubuntu Touch is convergence. This capability is similar to Microsoft Continuum. As soon as the device is connected to the computer via HDMI, as well as the mouse and keyboard are connected, you get a full Linux desktop that runs on an ARM processor.
There are not many devices currently supported by Ubuntu Touch, these are the ones that came with the system preinstalled, the OnePlus One, Fairphone 2 and Nexus 5. Many others are actively porting now, including the OnePlus 2 and OnePlus 3 / 3T. It is the best smartphone operating system after Android.
2. Sailfish OS
This operating system is being developed jointly by several companies Jolla, Mer (middleware developer), the Sailfish Allliance group, and the Sailfish OS community. It is a continuation of the already closed MeeGo project, based on Maemo and Mobilin.
Officially, Sailfish OS only ships on the 2013 Jolla smartphone, but community developers have added support for many more devices as well. These are Google Nexus 5 and 7, HP Touchpad, OnePlus One and OnePlus X, and Samsung Galaxy S3. You can also install Sailfish OS on your Raspberry Pi 2 or 3 and some older Nokia devices.
The huge advantage of SailfishOS is that the operating system is compatible with a huge number of Android applications... So if you don't like Android, then it is definitely worth giving it a try.
3. Plasma Mobile
This is a new operating system for smartphones that appeared at the end of 2016. The most interesting option is the Plasma Mobile operating system. It is a smartphone-focused implementation of KDE Plasma and mobile devices... There was a lot of buzz around it in 2017, one of the reasons for this could be Canonical's refusal to develop Ubuntu Touch. Plasma Mobile is now positioning itself as a complete and open platform for mobile devices.
The operating system is now compatible with Nexus 5 and Nexus 5X. Plasma Mobile is based on Kubuntu and Intel-based computers and tablets are also available. There is also a version based on ArchLinux. On Nexus 5, the system supports multiple firmware installations. You can install Plasma Mobile as well as any version of Android.
The advantage of the system is that you can run Plasma desktop applications and widgets, just like Ubuntu Touch programs. This gives you a freer choice of applications compared to Ubuntu Touch.
4. Halium
This system is positioning itself as the future of mobile Linux operating systems. Halium's goal is to unify hardware abstraction layers and APIs for GNU Linux software on devices with Android preinstalled. It's a great effort to standardize software and improve Linux access to audio, camera, GPS, and other hardware on smartphones. The project is under development and if the guys succeed, it will make it very easy to install Linux on any Android smartphone.
5. PureOS
PureOS developers are trying to create a complete mobile Linux platform that will focus on privacy and maximum security. At this point, the operating system is not yet ready to download and install. They recently just launched a fundraising campaign to create their own rugged and secure Librem 5 smartphone.
6. MediaDeb
This development can hardly be called a full-fledged operating system, and nevertheless it will be of interest to many users who have old phones based on MediaTek processors. One of the owners of such smartphones has built a Debian ARM version that can run on MT6589 and MT6592 processors. Currently, two devices are supported: UMI-X2 and iOcean X8. But on these processors, just a huge amount was released budget smartphones that are still in use today. In theory, the system can be assembled with a minimum of problems for each of them.
MediaDeb is not just a layer for Android, but a pure operating system. Yes, so far many things are not working, for example, the camera, but at the same time, basic functions such as screen, wifi, usb and so on are working.
conclusions
In this article, we have covered the best Linux-based smartphone operating systems. Some of them you can install on your smartphone, while others are still in development. It is a pity that you cannot install the system you like on any smartphone, as we are used to doing this with a computer. But this is a long-standing problem of driver compatibility and many are trying to solve it, for example, the same Halium project or a project from Google Project Treble. Let's hope the situation improves in the future. What operating system is better for a smartphone in your opinion besides Android? What are you using? Write in the comments.
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