Why I love Android

Look, all these arguments over "open" versus "closed" and "polish" versus "customization" are, quite frankly, all bull shit. The only question you as either a first-time smartphone buyer or someone considering jumping platforms should consider is this one: On which platform will my needs be met and will I be most productive and happy?

For me, the choice is Android. For you, maybe it is iOS, or BlackBerry OS, or even Windows Phone 7. Heck, you might be a-OK with that RAZR you have had since 2005. As long as it suites your needs and makes you happy, don't listen to all this chatter from the fanboys and tech elite trying to convince you that one company or another is "good" or "evil." They have their heads too far up in the clouds to see that not everyone down below agrees with their opinion. Shocking, I know, but some people actually have different likes and interests!

Personally, I like flexibility. I like tinkering. I like making things do stuff that they probably shouldn't be doing. And, probably most of all, I don't like wasting time. I hate going through a million menus to find the button to turn off my WiFi (iOS and to a lesser extent Windows, that's looking at you). I hate being told my desktop or home screen must look a certain way. I cannot stand being told I can't do something on a device I purchased because it might "confuse" other users. Android lets me have complete control over my device and I love it.

With widgets (as shown in my super easy-to-get screen capture from my Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1), I can access the information I used most often - what is the time, what is the weather, and what is my schedule - without opening a single app. In 2 seconds I have all the information I need 80% of the time. Sure, I probably trade some battery life and perhaps get occasional lag, but overall I save a ton of time and I am happier because of it. With my WiFi on/off widget, it is literally ONE CLICK to toggle my WiFi. And you can do that for nearly any system setting - mobile data, Bluetooth, GPS, brightness.

Those are the kinds of things that are important to me as a user. Not having the sleekest transitions or the most mind-blowingly creative UI. But hey, you might disagree. Good thing not one company (*cough*Apple*cough*) dominates the smartphone market anymore so there is real choice for consumer. You don't like widgets, guess what, buy something else. I promise I won't flame you for it.

Half a million Android devices activated daily

Or, 3.5 million per week or 15 million per month. Absolute insanity when a year ago we were at 100,000 per day. 

Just wait until Android tablets (and maybe iPod Touch competitors?) hit their stride. 

[Twitter]

Half a million Android devices activated daily

Or, 3.5 million per week or 15 million per month. Absolute insanity when a year ago we were at 100,000 per day. 

Just wait until Android tablets (and maybe iPod Touch competitors?) hit their stride. 

Android 3.0 Honeycomb impressions

Google has finally shown off their tablet-centric version of Android, and it is quite a looker. As opposed to what we have seen from Apple or even Microsoft in the tablet space, Honeycomb represents a complete UI overhaul of Android. Not only that, it may change what image people associate in their mind with the word "tablet."

While we are still waiting on HP and Palm to show off what they are doing to webOS for tablets, it is clear that Honeycomb will be far better at multitasking than anything else on the market. Honeycomb one of the best features of OS X - the menu bar across the top of the screen that updates dynamically based on what program you are using - and put an Android twist on it. Now you will see things like copy & paste options or share links at the top of the screen, rather than hidden past a menu button press. You also have buttons for your apps and homescreen customization along the top-right.

Along the bottom there are back, home, and multitasking buttons. The multitasking button is similar to the "preview" feature in Windows 7 when you hover over an active application in the taskbar. It also is somewhat similar to what RIM is doing with the PlayBook, but seems much quicker and more useful as it only takes up one side of the screen and can be accessed at any time without leaving an app. This feature finally brings quick and easy multitasking to mobile devices.

Also completely redone are notifications. Again, Google seems to have taken a couple cues from the Growl notification service in OS X but expanded it significantly. Notification pop up in a manner similar to phone versions of Android but are now located in the bottom left. They also allow larger previews than before and can even allow direct user interaction. Google showed the notification for the music player bringing up a set of controls for quick play/pause or fast-forwarding.

I have been very hesitant to jump on the tablet bandwagon because I have seen them as merely a content consumption device rather than a content creation device. But I think that the changes and improvements made to the Honeycomb UI open the door for it to become the first true tablet OS capable of content creation. All I need is for someone to make a robust text document editing program so I can write on the fly while being able to switch back to my browser or other apps in no more time than it would take me to alt-Tab in Windows or command-Tab in OS X.

So, Google, how about that native Google Docs app?

Check out the full video of Google's Honeycomb event here.