Will Android operating system phones challenge the iPhone for control of the consumer market? Maybe it the final quarter of 2010 was any indication. But merely beating the iPhone with computing power or reliability of service is not enough. People want apps and not just Angry Birds. Android phones might not have quite as many apps as the iPhone yet, but the Google-backed upstart is on its way to claiming a share of the smartphone market.
One of the reasons to stick with Apple products is to maintain continuity between entertainment devices. Phones sync with MP3 files, and for most users this means iTunes. Apple has a virtual monopoly on the MP3 marketplace, but thanks to the DoubleTwist app this does not mean that music lovers must choose between their Android and their music files. By installing the DoubleTwist on their computers and then on their phones almost instant access to iTunes via the Android is achieved. The DoubleTwist might not be the long awaited iPod killer, but it shows that days of exclusive MP3 players are numbered.
Streaming radio has been around since the early days of the Internet. Android fans have access to a high quality radio station by downloading the Slacker application. Slacker is Internet radio for the smartphone. Serious music lovers can pay for a premium account to cache stations and not worry about any interruptions from their favorite songs. More casual fans can download a free account if they are willing to put up with some advertising.
Entertainment does not have to be limited to music. The Android also has features that will make book lovers cheer. The Kindle for Android shows the color covers of books in a user’s Kindle account. The app also lets readers adjust their screen for the best readability.
The Android might be the future of smartphones, but it has enough apps already to provide owners with hours of entertainment.