Difference between Android and Windows Phone

Key Difference: Android is an open source, free, Linux-based operating system for smartphones and tablets. The system was designed and developed by Android Inc., which was funded and later purchased by Google in 2005. Windows Phone is a series of proprietary software developed and marketed by Microsoft Corporation. Windows Phone is a closed-sourced, which means that it is solely developed by the company and protected by copyright. The company offers a bunch of new features compared to the older Windows Mobile OS.

Smartphones are a recent phenomenon and weren’t always this popular. Prior to the Android vs. iPhone vs. Windows debate, there would only be the Windows palm pilots or pocket PCs that ruled the market. These were also only popular for many businessmen keeping appointments and phone numbers in one place. Then Android was introduced to the market in 2007 and a lot of changes were made bringing technology to the point we are now. While, many people believed that Android was a just a rookie gearing up to fail, not many people saw that it would become one of the most popular smartphone OS in the market. This has also caused many other companies to step up and challenge Android. Windows has recently launched the Windows 8 Mobile systems and is currently a popular OS among Nokia fans. Android and Windows Mobile are two different operating systems that run on phones, smartphones and tablets.

Android is an open source software, which means that the code is freely available under the Apache License for modification and distribution by device manufacturers, wireless carriers and enthusiast developers. Android was first unveiled in 2007 and the first phone running on Android, HTC Dream, was sold in October 2008. As the Android is open source software, manufacturers can modify the operating system to suit their respective needs and phones. This becomes a cheap and feasible alternative for the manufacturer, as opposed to developing an operating system in-house or hiring a software company to do it.

Among the number of various companies, Google has also launched its own line of smartphones based on Android, called the Google Nexus. Each device in the Nexus line is produced via collaboration between Google and a leading original equipment manufacturer (OEM) partner. Traditionally, each new Nexus phone is launched with a new version of Android and provides the unadulterated Android experience.

Furthermore, as many manufacturers are running Android on their phones as well as the added benefit of Android being open source, many developers can develop content, apps and games for Android. The content, apps and games are then available in Google Play, the Android App Market, many at times freely.  Hence, developers get to showcase their talent on a widespread forum, and the availability of numerous and free apps and games, make Android popular for consumers.

Another popular feature of Android is the number of apps and the Google Play. Google Play, formerly known as the Android Market is an application distribution platform, where developers publish applications for the many Android users. The applications are also developed by an open community and many of them are free for downloading through Google Play. Android is also popular because of constant and frequents updates that are available by Google. Google releases major updates every six to nine months, with minor updates much faster. The latest Google update was the 4.2.2 Jelly Bean, which is Google’s 17th update since the launch of Android.

Windows Phone is a series of proprietary software developed and marketed by Microsoft Corporation. The software is the successor to the original Windows Mobile platform but it does not support it as the older platform has been discontinued. It is aimed at the consumer phone market rather than the enterprise market. The system was launched in October of 2012 and the company announced the software at the Mobile World Congress in February 2010. Microsoft released an updated version of Windows Phone 7 and showcased features such as: Internet Explorer 9, multi-tasking of third party apps, Twitter integration, Windows Live and Skydrive access. The latest release is the Windows Phone 8, which offers the new Live Tiles is currently being offered on the new Nokia Lumia series.

Windows Phone is a closed-sourced, which means that it is solely developed by the company and protected by copyright. The system offers new features such as: a whole new interface, text input by an on-screen virtual keyboard, threads messaging, Internet Explorer browser, organized contacts via People Hub, Email access (support for Outlook.com, Exchange, Yahoo! Mail, and Gmail), Xbox Music, Xbox Videos, Xbox Video Store, Games Hub, Bing Search Engine, Bing Maps, Voice recognition function, turn-by-turn navigation, Office Suite (Microsoft Office Mobile), Multitasking capability, syncing capability with Zune software, Windows Phone App and Windows Phone Store. The Windows Store is limited as there only a few number of apps. The company has yet to populate the store with the number of apps that is available on Apple Market or Google Play.

 

Android

Windows Phone

Company/ Developer

Google

Microsoft

Programmed in

Java, C, C++

C, C++

OS family

Unix-like

Windows

Initial release

September 23, 2008

October 21, 2010

Supported platforms

ARM, MIPS, x86, I.MX

x86

License

Apache License 2.0

Linux kernel patches under GNU GPL v2

Commercial proprietary software

Default user interface

Graphical (Multi-touch)

Graphical (Metro UI)

Working state

Current

Current

Source model

Open source software

Closed-source

Updates

Updates are provided by different parties in the consortium.

Updates are only done by Microsoft.

Applications

Applications are created by an open community of developers.

Applications are created by tie up companies and Microsoft.

Touch style

Capacitive technology

Capacitive technology

Offers native support for

Google Sync for Gmail, Contacts, and Google Calendar.

Mail, Exchange, Outlook Contacts, Calendar, Windows Market, etc.

Number of applications

Over 700,000 applications

Limited number of applications.

Language support

Multiple language support

Multiple language support

Image Courtesy: digitaltrends.com, windowsphone.com

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Comments

Both the android and windows is rubbish just a sucker phones.....

I'm a linux/android sys admin, programmer and ethical hacker. I know what I'm talking about. To those saying Android is insecure: "LMAO." Windows phones are built from the same source codes and Linux Kernels as Android phones; they can easily be reverse engineered by those who know how to find multiple exploits that nobody else will know about (they wont get patched.) As a professional hacker here's the truth (in my experience.) Windows phones and Android phones are equally easy to hack into as they often contain the same exploits. While Google disclosures them and patches them quickly with new updates; Microsoft denies them and most of exploits go unpatched or at best a "bandage" fix. Android's community of open-source developers (with checks and balances) leads to fast patches to 0-day exploits. Microsoft doesn't care; plus they imbed tracking software of their own (bordering on malicious) into their phones and even worse into Windows 10 desktop OS. Don't buy a Windows phone. Windows phone is built off AOSP (Android Open Source Project) code that's slightly modified and sealed off to public scrutiny (think of congress/NSA types here.) Go for straight Android (but beware buying a phone from a cell carrier, Verizon and AT&T phones are the worst offenders.) VZW/ATT phones lose their value fast as they are locked to their own networks and often have unlockable locked bootloaders (in English: the carrier forever controls the phone you paid for.) As far as iPhones/Apple being "safer" than Android; this is entirely false with the exception of user behavior. Android allows users to install apps from places other than the Google Play store; if you ignore the warning and install unofficial apps, you take risks. Other than that; iOS (although proprietary) runs the same linux based code as android, it is just as susceptible to the same exploits. Apple is very good with releasing security patches to new threats though. Do not be fooled into the mass thinking iPhone/Mac computers have no viruses... trust me; I make them myself (for testing, I don't spread malicious code, I work hard to prevent that.)

Windows phone only use genius.

Lumia 640xl was purchased on 5May16 It has not worked for even one day. Hanging of device is main issue & the phone is defunct

Windows is a highly secure phone. It will stop unauthorized site from opening. All apps are sandboxed so no virus. All windows apps are very compact and smaller in size than android hence even 1gb ram, 8gb internal memory and 2500 mAh battery windows phone is still performing super fast compared to android with 3gb ram, 16gb internal memory and 4000 mAh battery. This is a challenge from Windows to android. Tiles show live information and are customizable. Everything can be easily searched in settings compared to android. It is very very simple. Android only advantage is high number of apps. The day Windows has all the apps, android will be down in market. Those who say Windows is difficult then how are they able to operate computer because Windows mobile and computer are exactly same.

You are partly correct; but highly misinformed. Windows phone is built from android source code; they are equally secure for the most part (if kept updated.) As for performance; "Android" phones are a huge classification of phone operating systems. Windows Phone runs a modified android operating system (that Microsoft has closed the source to.) Billions of phones run Android (even Chinese phones run modified versions of android's source code.) Attacking "Android" phones as being bloated with useless apps that take tons of space is wrongly directed anger. This is the fault of phone carrier and manufacturer addons like Samsung apps and Verizon apps. If you root an android phone, unlock the bootloader, you can install many custom ROMs that are much faster and don't contain all the bloat apps. For example; I'm on a verizon Samsung galaxy S5; stock it sucks, but I was able to hack the eMMC chip to unlock the bootloader and now I have a custom recovery bootscreen that allows me to choose from several different operating systems (ROMs) I have installed. I like Resurrection Remix for features; but Lineage OS is the best as far as security updates and compatibilities. I also have ARM versions of desktop OS Debian linux and penetration testing platform Kali linux. I have in the past installed a ripped copy of iPhone iOS (yes that can be done.) If I had a Windows phone I could clone the ROM and install it to my galaxy (but I have no interest in Windows/Microsoft... they are not a fair playing company.) So please don't hate on android (especially since your windows phone is running a variant of it.) Anyone can fork Android and make their own custom OS... like Amazon does with the Kindle tablet; it is based on Android all the same.

Window phone is not meant for India and lack of apps in store.They donot have basic app in their store. It is not freindly to use.They have some useless app and few useful app haveing lack of features compared to android and it also hangs. I recommended android phone over window phone

windos pone 1gb ram play the game no problem but anddroid phone 1 gb ram play the game slow and hang problem i feel windos pone is the best for play any game i love game so that reason i like microsoft windos pone

I like window phone but it has a lack of apps....

I think Windows phone provide a secured platform for working rather than Android phones is easy and unsecured because it's a open source .but Android provide various types facility so this time Android is better than Windows....

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