The nation faces tough questions in tough times, and there are people on both sides of every issue.
Arizona is no different. But who’s saying what about the issues important to Arizonans?
Each Sunday, ABC15.com debuts an Arizona issue - along with two opposing sides on the topic.
Don’t worry, you always have the opportunity to make comments at the bottom of the page. Yeah, your opinion matters too.
This week we're tackling the debate over which smartphone operating system is the best.
It's an argument that you'll hear often these days, between devoted followers who swear by their respective systems.
iPhone seems to get all the fanfare, Android is quickly becoming more popular and Blackberry remains the longtime market leader.
We asked three Arizonans why they think the smartphone OS they use is the best mobile platform available.
Click "next" to read the first of three positions -- Droid
GOOGLE ANDROID (AKA "Droid" phones): By Marc Chung, Chief Technology Officer, redPear
I bought my first Android phone in October '08 and I've been in love with it ever since. I've also built several applications for Android, so I'm lucky in that I've played (I mean worked) with different devices. I've also had the opportunity to use several applications which have had an impact on the way I think about education, communication, and the business of software.
In no particular order, here are a few reasons why Android is the best smartphone platform you can use today.
--Unleashing your imagination
Magical. That's how I felt when I launched Sky Map for the very first time. Ten years ago, few would have imagined a smartphone capable of scanning the night sky searching and identifying stars, constellations, and planets. But this is exactly what Google's Sky Map for Android does really well. It doesn't matter how old you are, exploring the universe from a phone unlocks your imagination which is what we need to inspire our next generation of scientists.
Check out Google Sky Map and let your kids use it. WARNING: Random acts of science may ensue.
--Better communication
Ever wanted to look up an elected official and keep up to date with various legislation? With Congress for Android, you can immediately access information about your elected officials and the laws they're introducing and voting on. Now you have the ability to learn which laws affect you and your community.
Check out Congress for Android and be a better informed citizen.
--Innovative products
Did you know that almost 10 percent of smartphones have malware on them? Before you shrug this off, keep in mind that your smartphone knows where you go, who you talk to, and which bank accounts you own. Lookout is one example of a company that created a product to defend against malicious mobile applications that are becoming increasingly prevalent.
Businesses choose to build products for the Android platform because they can innovate and grow while remaining unencumbered by complex rules and regulations.
Check out Lookout for Android and protect your phone from baddies.
--Final words
Android's reach is wide. Google has created a platform that's allowing all sorts of innovative applications to surface, ultimately improving the way we learn and communicate with each other.
And that's why Android is the best smartphone platform you can use today.
Do you agree with this opinion? Add a comment below to sound off.
Click "next" to read the second of three positions -- Blackberry
Blackberry OS: By Lindsay Hansen, LDH Consulting
In today's world of mobile devices and smartphones consumers have many choices. For me, the choice has always been simple. Each time, I think about switching to an iPhone -- Blackberry draws me back in. As a small business owner who offices out of our home, Blackberry offers me all the features I need to be a great public relations and marketing professional.
I can text, call and email clients from anywhere in the United States, post information to my Facebook page or tweet through UberTwitter.
I run five email accounts and LOVE the fact that Blackberry can handle multiple accounts. It's extremely easy to check and respond to multiple email accounts using the Blackberry. I never miss a beat with clients or media because I can respond night or day from my smartphone. (And as a public relations person, it really is night or day. When the media calls or a client needs something, I am conditioned to respond no matter what time.)
Being able to view attachments (PDFs, JPEG, Excel or Word documents) is also very important to my business. As a working mother of two, there are times that I answer emails or take calls during football practice. Being able to view documents and respond quickly is essential in today's business world.
Another nice feature is the camera -- it takes good enough pictures to print 4 x 6 photos. This also comes in handy when I am taking pictures at an event and need to post to Twitter or Facebook in a timely manner.
The Roxio Media Manager is great too. I actually didn't pay much attention to this feature until recently. But, I love that you can hook into a USB port and transfer video and photos from your phone to computer in a matter of minutes. Again, this is a great when you need to download pictures and send to a client or post to a social media networking site.
And how could I forget the GPS navigation? It's very helpful when I am trying to find a new client.
No two days are ever the same for me, but one thing is for sure my Blackberry will be in my hand all day. Whether I am in the office or running from one end of town to the other for meetings and media interviews with clients, my Blackberry is reliable and convenient. Having a smartphone makes my job easier and more efficient. I couldn't live without my "crackberry"!
Do you agree with this opinion? Add a comment below to sound off.
Click "next" to read the final position -- iPhone
Apple iPhone: By Tyler Hurst, Freelance Marketing Consultant
Apple fans are a proud bunch. We're a loyal bunch. And for good reason: our products just work.
You're heard it a thousand times before, that Apple products are overpriced and too simplistic. It's not easy to open an iPhone or overclock an Apple-product processor. Apple makes it tough for you to download non-approved software onto your iPhone.
Yes, Apple is restrictive. Yes, Apple charges a premium for their products. Yes, Apple wants you to do things its way.
And I'm all for it. My phone doesn't freeze, my software seldom crashes and the battery lasts over a day. Most of the apps I buy work well, the accessories advertised work as promised and there's only one vendor and essentially one model to learn.
But instead of what the iPhone isn't, let's focus on what it is. It's a device designed with one thing in mind: seamless information exchanging. Whether I'm checking Twitter on one of five-plus excellent Twitter apps, using it to log in to Google Docs and edit a document or entertaining myself during long waits, the iPhone does exactly what it's supposed to do, nearly every single time.
I don't worry about battery drain or background app usage, it's handled automatically, without my needing to constantly experiment with settings.
Some people will tell you that Android or Palm Pre or whatever Microsoft is making (except the Kin...hahahahaha) is the best because it gives you choices.
You can customize nearly any part of the interface, can download any app you please and can use nearly any carrier. Save that last point, you're completely wrong. Choices bring inconsistency and inconsistency brings problems.
When my iPhone won't make a call, I want to know exactly what it is (AT&T, of course, unless I'm holding it wrong) that's going wrong and don't have to investigate and deactivate system processes that don't make any sense to people outside of the IT field.
Everyone said the Mac would fail, too. And they thought the iPod was too expensive. They claimed that the iPhone and iPad were both too much and not enough. Apple proved them wrong, again. Compare Apple's market cap to any of their competitors and let me know how that worked out.
Now, I'm an Apple guy. I've been using Apple products since 1986 and have never owned or used anything but an Apple product for any regular amount of time. The Apple process makes sense to me, and if you stopped thinking like a computer, it would to you, too. I don't like my products to get in my way be giving me options or changing as I go.
Just like good referees, good products don't get noticed until they do something wrong. Apple's iPhone 4 doesn't get noticed, it gets me noticed because I can get stuff done without fighting it.
And makes me look cool.
Do you agree with this opinion? Add a comment below to sound off.
Copyright 2010 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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