What Do Mobile Operating Systems Have In Common?

There are quite a few mobile smartphone operating systems around out there and with Android firmly established, Windows re-emerging from the mobile OS doldrums, Apple charging ever onward, as well as a few manufacturers developing Linux based systems for their own devices.

We though it might be worth taking a look at the things that all of the main operating systems can do, rather than the differences.

Apps

All of the features of the main smartphone operating systems make use of apps to support their function. These usually come preinstalled and allow you to boot the handset straight into a fully functioning unit.

Most often they will include a music player, a web browser, and an assortment of file viewers and editors. They also support the download and installation of additional free or paid apps that can add more functions or enhance existing functions.

Customizing

All of the main smartphone operating systems allow you to customise the appearance of the start screen as well as some way of changing the order that the app icons appear.

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Voice Commands

All of the main operating systems provide some way for the user to be able to control certain functions through the use of voice commands. One example of this is that the universal search function that searches through all folders and directories on the phone can be operated via voice commands.

Photography

All of the main operating systems have made provision for the inclusion of at least one built in digital camera including such features as digital optical zoom and autofocus. Generally these will also include image stabilisation and flash photography. Some of the latest high-end smartphones feature up to a 16 megapixel camera which virtually negates the need for any other type of digital camera.

Digital Video Capture

This is another feature that comes with all operating systems and gives you options for capturing and streaming video. One important application for this technology is that I can be used for video chatting alongside voip applications like Skype.

QWERTY Data Input

All of the smartphone operating systems provide and accept data input from a QWERTY keyboard. How the keyboard is presented. Some like the Blackberry have a physical keyboard under the touch screen, some have a slide-out keyboard and others will have a touch screen keyboard.

If you have been spending time trying to establish what the differences are between certain makes, models and operating systems only to find the whole thing confusing, this list may give you some reassurance that in terms of functionality, they are all very similar.

  Eric Underhill

About the Guest Author:

The author of this article Eric Underhill, has recently been considering whether the lack of iPhone deals around means that he should shift from Apple to a different operating system