Talk:Comparison of mobile operating systems/Archive 1

Incomplete list

You should call it "present" mobile OSes because you lack other systems like Symbian, Bada, webOS, Windows Phone... There should be a list of ALL mobile OSes, including those that were discontinued or in deprecation! — Preceding unsigned comment added by 195.245.189.166 (talk) 09:21, 26 October 2016 (UTC)

Market Share

You might want to list both installed base numbers (which is challenging) and sales figures for previous year

For 2013, Android was about 450 million, Nokia was 288 million, and Apple was 152 million to list the top 3

Nokia's figure is mostly whatever mobile OS is in the Asha

Also Windows 8 is a mobile O/S with sales in the same period of about 200 million. That's tricky of course since a percentage of that is desktop units but the numbers will still be too large to keep out of market share

Just roughly 450 - 300 - 150 - 100 yields market share of 45% Android, 30% Nokia ??, 15% Apple and 10% Win 8 which would all adjust downward a bit when the outliers are included.

These numbers are so different to the ones currently in place that I'm puzzled.

I will make an attempt to check back at some future date if you want help sourcing numbers but gut says it's easy since 2013 figures were recently spewed out everywhere - (just ignore sources that say "smartphone" since they are by definition incomplete)

I really hope I'm helping out here... — Preceding unsigned comment added by 184.145.91.144 (talk) 09:20, 28 February 2014 (UTC)

Tizen

Bada should be replaced with Tizen. Bada is now discontinued.

Done — Preceding unsigned comment added by 2.137.194.3 (talk) 11:09, 25 September 2013 (UTC)

?

I am using my phone now and don't know my password as I seldom logged in, if my laptop can be persuaded to boot up, I will do future comments under my username. I noticed that the part of the comparison dealing with Windows Mobile is missing a lot of information or failing entirely to show features that do exist, either from the start or with software from third parties. Is that done with the intent to make Windows Phone (which is right next to the Windows Mobile column) look better and create the impression that the user has more options on WP7 compared to WM or was the comparison made by someone who didn't know much about WM? For example, on WM I could play ALL sound files, except for mb4/m4a, even FLAC files, which neither WP nor iPhone allow. There is not only Non-English speech recognition available, but also TTS software. The browser I had a the start was Internet Explorer, the free Opera browser I added could download anything, the limitations are the space you have available and the time you want to spend downloading. I have downloaded video files 300-400 MB and larger with no problem. Watching flash video is no problem and there are several backup solutions available, quicker than on an iPhone and moreover customizable, the possibility for backups is, except for updates, completely missing in Windows Phone. SD or microSD card can also be encrypted and are then only readable by the encrypting device (for example with RESCO Explorer, but there are others as well.) Bluetooth on WM is unrestricted and offers a lot more possibilities than iOS or WP. You can choose to hide or show your device, assign names to paired devices, gives special authorization to devices, exclude non-paired devices from connecting, send files, use it as a remote control etc.. The ability to be used as a WLAN hotspot was there on my devices from the start, but there is also third party software. Sending files over WLAN is also possible, I would have to look up the program's name, but it was a few hundred kB in size and all you had to do was to enter the IP and confirm it, but I seldom used it because when connected to a PC, one can choose between several modes, ActiveSync (software for syncing like iTunes or Zune) or USB mode (like an external hard drive) which I most often used because data transfer was a LOT faster than with the sync mode (sending the same files by the sync mode took at least ten times longer than direct copy or transfer and no files would be rejected, but were still accessible on the phone. Playlists I always created on the phone, but I very seldom used the Windows media player, there are many players available that are easier to use, play more formats and the most capable ones are the free ones (TCPMP for example). I have a program for uploading data to cloud storage, but I only tried it. I never saw a need for it. I had e.g. a 16 GB microSD card in the phone and one or two in my pocket, that gave me more storage space than skydrive and even more important, completely independent from internet access and without adding to my phone bill. Microsoft or the US government can see my data on skydrive, but nobody could read my data then. So privacy is definitely worse with the newer OS. There are at least two facebook programs that I know of for WM, none preinstalled though. TOMTOM, or copilot are available (copilot preinstalled in my case), others probably as well. Photo managing software is available, I almost never used it, so I can't make comparisons. Bluetooth Audio lets you choose between the headset mode and a better one and works fine, but you might have to change settings in the player, windows media player is not what I would recommend using, for music or audiobooks the S2P usually was ok and remotely controllable others like Nitrogen Player or TCPMP I had to control on the phone. AND bluetooth audio also worked when watching video, something that doesn't work on WP and Microsoft didn't bother to take care of. Handwriting recognition software is available, but I'd say you have to invest time in "training" it. Downloading videos from tubes and saving them is no problem on WM. The file explorer is almost like on a desktop, but there are unofficial improvements available as well as explorers that are more easily to use with fingers and/or more abilities like encryption and virtual folders or ftp support. I have two Pocket PCs with Windows Mobile 6.5 and a HTC mini with WM 6.5 as well as a HTC Mozart with Windows Phone 7.5 and except for games (with the possible exception of strategy games), I would prefer the older OS, since file transfer is possible and easy, I am not forced to upload my personal information to a cloud and it allows users to use their own programs etc., thereby giving them the chance to solve problems Microsoft doesn't bother do fix (more or less all problems; Although there is a special Microsoft Update button in the system menu, in all those years it never worked and I never got any update from MS). The newer Windows Phone has a nicer surface, although one can customize the WM surface very nicely, but restricts the user in some ways even more than iOS (without offering the same quality of customer service than Apple). For example, to buy apps you are forced to use a credit card and have the credit card details stored. There are no points like for iTunes. Recently MS also removed the possibility to use the PC to install apps, which means that people that do mot have access to WLAN are now unable to install apps larger than 20MB (it may be a little more or less, I can't remember the exact limit), even if they bought them. I haven't been notified about that change or given an explanation from Microsoft, nor did I know of a WP user who has. My user name is either Noricus or Noricus80, as I wrote at the beginning, I'll try to log in on my PC, but since I don't know when or if it will work, I wanted to let you know some points about Windows Mobile, maybe it helps or interests someone. One more thing, it is also possible to boot Android from a memory card without changing the WM installation and it is possible to boot different WM surfaces (e.g. HTC, WM standard, SPB) Noricus — Preceding unsigned comment added by 91.113.12.233 (talk) 04:59, 4 January 2013 (UTC)

iOS allows multiple mobile phone numbers per contact, I added 10 without any problems (iPhone 4, iOS 6; it was definitely possible under iOS 4 and iOS 5 as well).

A Windows Phone supporter was not happy to know that Windows Phone does not support this (among other things) and there were no references for the other operating systems. Please provide a reference.

This chart is unbearably large. Either the column headers should float at the top while the page scrolls, or they should be repeated after a number of rows. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 199.60.226.253 (talk) 21:50, 27 September 2012 (UTC)

There are solutions like http://datatables.net/release-datatables/extras/ColReorder/fixedheader.html but I do not know how to use this in MediaWiki. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 2.137.161.225 (talk) 20:48, 10 October 2012 (UTC)

Why is iOS first and Android second on the table?. At least sort it by market share: Android is crushing iOS globally :P. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 88.23.249.61 (talk) 17:56, 1 December 2012 (UTC)

Need to modify Windows Phone column to Windows Phone/Desktop or add another column for the Windows 8 release and the devices it covers since they now share a common kernel. Many of the cells under Windows Mobile and Phone require updating since the official Windows 8 release and activation of the Microsoft App Store. Ronsonntag (talk) 15:54, 3 January 2013 (UTC)

multi-user capability on Android

The legend specifies tablet-only support as being a light blue, but the box explaining multi-user support on Android is green (represented on the legend as a full "yes", but it says "4.2+ (only for tablets)". I think at least the color should be fixed to reflect correctly its contents according to the legend, just for some self-consistency. 67.174.75.217 (talk) 21:32, 26 December 2012 (UTC)

Thanks, I used the tablet only template. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 80.30.123.181 (talk) 09:53, 9 January 2013 (UTC)

Footnote Errors

Footnote 20 results in a "page not found" on the Apple developer site. Ronsonntag (talk) 15:54, 3 January 2013 (UTC)

Apple removes the old pages when they release a new version of the operating system. I changed the reference to another (non Apple) page. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 80.30.123.181 (talk) 09:50, 9 January 2013 (UTC)

Add the new Linux distribution for Smartphones : Ubuntu

Hi, Announced beginning of 2013, Canonical Ubuntu is launching its OS on the smartphones. It is a really good alternative to Android and much more powerfull because all apps from the Ubuntu normal desktop distribution are available.

I suggest to add this Ubuntu on wikipedia. Source : http://www.ubuntu.com/devices/phone — Preceding unsigned comment added by Svergeylen (talk • contribs) 12:16, 3 January 2013 (UTC)

Ubuntu Phone is not yet released so there is no easy way to know what features are supported. But, when it is released I will try to list all the features supported. If you are going to Consumer Electronics Show or Mobile World Congress you can try to know what features are supported by the people showing the phone. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 80.30.123.181 (talk) 09:44, 9 January 2013 (UTC)

Third big purge attempt

We have reached the day that I've warned you about. The table has become an unmanageable mess. This table has been harassed by fanboys which has stopped every attempt to make the table nice and readable. I think we you aim to provide a usable table based on these concepts.

• The table should be short and apprehensible
  • Why do you want to reduce the main table size by creating multiple tables? What are you going to win with that? -- 79.150.96.250 (talk) 09:32, 18 March 2013 (UTC)
• The table should stick to the topic and only feature important aspects. You can't have all differences in one table.
  • Yes, we can. And it is manageable. -- 79.150.96.250 (talk) 09:32, 18 March 2013 (UTC)
• The table should focus on modern OSes or OSes of historic value.

By learning from previous attempts to purge this table I know that you we can not win by deleting unnecessary categories directly. We will have to do this in two steps. The first step is to create a separate table with categories we want to save and a table for the rest. Step two is to convince people to agree to deleting the other table. Alternativly we can have separate tables. One for the operating system, one for ondevice software and one for webbrowser etc.

We have to discuss and agree before we can start so that we work towards the same goal. We have to agree upon which categories that are important and also which OSes to keep and how that will be arranged. -- Immunmotbluescreen (talk) 12:39, 3 March 2013 (UTC)

Some of the categories may not be important to you, but are important to others. If there are references they are important to others. I will not allow any category removal because you think it is not important. -- 79.150.96.250 (talk) 09:32, 18 March 2013 (UTC)

Categories of the table

I suggest that the main table should consist of the following categories. Only keep the important and try to constrain the number of categories:

• Company
• Version
• First release date
• OS family
• CPU architecture
• Programmed in

• Cut copy paste
• Multitasking type
• Tethering
• Package manager
• File browser
• Default webbrowser

• GPU acceleration
• Official SDK platform(s)
• Extra cost to develop

That is 15 categories. What do you thing I've missed? -- Immunmotbluescreen (talk) 12:39, 3 March 2013 (UTC)

Operating Systems

The listed operating systems should be sorted in market share(once) and we should keep every OS except Maemo(just outdated MeeGo), Windows Mobile(?), Bada(now replaced with Tizen) and replace Symbian 2 s40 with Symbian 2 s60. Symbian s60 is the first real smart OS when mobile OSes began to matter -- Immunmotbluescreen (talk) 12:39, 3 March 2013 (UTC)

Ordering the operating systems by marketshare data, would need to have to reorder them every three months. Better would be alphabetically. But I do not have any problem with the current ordering. We could agree to an alphabetical order, but I would like to wait until we remove discontinued operating systems and add new ones. I would like to do that if we agree.

Some operating systems are discontinued (like webOS, Windows Mobile, Symbian, Maemo and bada), but may still have devices in sale. I think we can wait until new operating systems like Firefox OS and Ubuntu Touch have devices available to replace discontinued operating systems, and be able to list the features of the new.

Is anyone against the removal of webOS, Windows Mobile, Symbian, Maemo and bada? -- 79.150.96.250 (talk) 09:32, 18 March 2013 (UTC)

I agree, those OS are now superceeded or no longer in production. I would also submit that BB10 should be either added, or it should replace BB OS. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 76.10.151.152 (talk) 16:59, 29 March 2013 (UTC)

Just an idea: how about moving OSes not in production any longer such a table? Like creating [historical operating systems] and add a category like (date of the last known development/contribution) or (moved to historical OS on date of). This is only an idea. Ocexyz (talk) 23:19, 17 February 2016 (UTC)

Sailfish

What about Sailfish_OS? 66.233.156.4 (talk) 08:39, 29 April 2013 (UTC)

As stated in the previous section, where it is released so we can know what features are available, we will include it. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 83.35.231.96 (talk) 10:27, 15 May 2013 (UTC)

Order

Can someone please arrange the names of the operating systems in alphabetical order in the main table, at the moment the operating systems are just jumbled up! — Preceding unsigned comment added by 114.76.246.181 (talk) 02:20, 5 May 2013 (UTC)

I am waiting for new mobile operating systems to be released, to include them, remove obsolete operating systems and reorder all in the process. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 83.35.231.96 (talk) 10:29, 15 May 2013 (UTC)

App revenues and Downloads for Feature.

I suggest App revenues and Downloads for Feature.

For example,http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/appsblog/2012/dec/04/ios-android-revenues-downloads-countryManzzzz^(talk) 08:54, 7 June 2013 (UTC)

Bada and S40

Hello.

Where have you data for Bada and S40 from? Source used in article is not talking about them. I think it is talking only about smartphones. Here you can see both Samsung and Nokia sold in Q1 2013 tens of millions other phones. I propose don't say any shares for these systems.

BR, Zagothal (talk) 13:32, 11 June 2013 (UTC)

Blackberry 10 OS

Blackberry has practically discontinued development for the Blackberry Mobile OS and has focused on the Blackberry 10 OS for the longest while. To give a fair comparison of the major Mobile OSes this article should include BB10 OS. There is even an article here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BlackBerry_10 on it. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Triniboyfella (talk • contribs) 00:14, 14 October 2013 (UTC)

Series 40 removal

I am going to remove Series 40 unless someone disagrees.

http://mobile.theverge.com/2014/7/17/5912289/microsoft-kills-feature-phones-in-favor-of-windows-phone — Preceding unsigned comment added by 87.216.167.189 (talk) 19:44, 28 July 2014 (UTC)

License Criteria

In the licensing section, some (including Ubuntu) are listed with the "Limited" color and the phrase "except proprietary components". What criteria is being used to determine when that should be added and when not? For Ubuntu, the OS itself is all open source, there are some proprietary drivers for devices, but as far as I know that's the case for Android and Firefox OS too, which don't have this disclaimer. The only other item that I know of which might cause this is the Nokia HERE location service, which is planned to be added by default.

The criteria applies to the OS itself, not to the drivers used in the devices. So, I am going to fix it. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 85.48.244.170 (talk) 21:54, 3 September 2014 (UTC)

In the same vein, it's getting to the point where calling Android "open source" is a major stretch. Google has been encouraging app developers to become dependent on the Google Services Framework, to the point where it's essentially part of the "OS" now; it provides functions you'd think of as "OS" functions, it's basically universally present on Android devices, and apps almost universally need it to run. And GSF is not open source. 76.10.176.53 (talk) 23:29, 27 September 2014 (UTC)

Programming languages for OS AND for apps

There are 2 things to distinguish: The programming language(s) used to program the operating system and the languages used to program the applications ("apps") for this operating system. Unfortunately the comparison table does not distinguish CLEARLY between both and does not provide sufficient information about both, but especially for the apps. Since this is crucial information for a developer this should be added as a separate topic to the table! --46.103.163.225 (talk) 11:08, 26 August 2015 (UTC)

Device independent system updates

How can your write "no" for Sailfish OS? There is only ONE device with this OS !

93.232.114.31 (talk) 23:11, 19 September 2015 (UTC)

I have updated it. But you can update it yourself. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 84.13.68.120 (talk) 23:43, 27 October 2015 (UTC)

There are two devices at last with Sailfish OS at last. Ocexyz (talk) 23:23, 17 February 2016 (UTC)

Custom Vibration patterns

I have a Nexus 6 running stock Lollipop, and in the textra app, you can change that vibration pattern per person, or overall. — Preceding unsigned comment added by BlendeLabor (talk • contribs) 01:05, 5 October 2015 (UTC)

Having a different cell colour to denote when the firdst released version is unknown does not help and it is confusing

I propose to make them the same as it was in previous versions. Please, let me know if anyone disagrees or I will make the change in a few days. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 84.13.68.120 (talk) 23:46, 27 October 2015 (UTC)

Split screen apps available for android

Split screen is available through 3d party software like touchwiz(samsung's built-in android distribution) and CyanogenMod 13 for various devices(WIP). — Preceding unsigned comment added by 2601:84:8A00:4006:F859:5BAE:9B68:DE92 (talk) 18:56, 27 December 2015 (UTC)

Privacy of synchronization for Android

For Android I am using private ownCloud server and sync over SSL/TLS with ownCloud app for files, cardDAV and calDAV for contacts, calendars and tasks (or DAVdroid for all three). So I believe it should be written "Possible with 3rd party apps" 109.229.210.247 (talk) 10:17, 13 January 2016 (UTC)

I already applied your suggestion. Thank you! Dncmartins (talk) 22:43, 19 January 2016 (UTC)

Semi-protected edit request on 27 January 2016

if I understood correctly everything I have some reports for the ubuntu touch column:

change Current version: OTA-9 source1:Ubuntu Wiki source2:softpedia article

What is the relation of the version 15.04 and the OTA-9? Why is the OTA-9 not mentioned on Ubuntu Touch? Dncmartins (talk) 09:21, 30 January 2016 (UTC)

It means that the 15.04 framework is used in the OTA-9 version. source1: Release Notes (see under "important features")I don't know why OTA-9 is not mentioned on the Ubuntu Touch wikipedia page... probably they forget to update the page sometime (there is a new OTA every 6 weeks) Spacearcangel (talk) 18:27, 7 February 2016 (UTC)

change Current version release dates: 2016|01|27 source1:softpedia article

add    Supported CPU architecture:  x86-64  Source1:built

add Programmed in: GO JavaScript source1: official site tutorial for developers

change Device independent system updates: partial (some OTA are device dipendent) source1:OTA-9 release Note explanation : every device has separate versioning but some OTA (like the last:news softpedia ) land on every channel so it land on any device

change Per-application background execution: partial(only trough system services) source1:softpedia article about media-hub improment 

add    Do not disturb mode: 3th party source:app description 

change Application groups: aggregator scopes source:Official ubuntu developers site source2:Release Notes about OTA-9

add    Non-discriminatory stores: Open Store, Ubuntu App Store (at publisher discretion) source:link to openstore

change Default web browser/engine: Oxide (a Blink/Chrome webview customized for Ubuntu) source4Oxide: Oxide Launchpad

add    Browser/email save PDFs: yes (from OTA-9) source: see browser save any file

add    Browser save any file: yes (from OTA-9) source1: released BugFix for OTA-9

add    Offline web apps: yes source:developer istruction

add    Non-carrier-based integrated messaging: yes Source1:telegram app

add    Voice over IP: 3rd party software 

Could you provide a reference? Dncmartins (talk) 09:39, 30 January 2016 (UTC)

add    Turn-by-turn navigation: 3rd party software (uNAV) source1:softpedia article source2:full circles magazine article(with video inside) source3:the App page on the market 

 	 Not done:add    Wired video out: HDMI trough slimport source:ubuntu wiki about ConvergenceDemo

Could you provide a better reference? I do not see support for working HDMI output. Dncmartins (talk) 09:46, 30 January 2016 (UTC)

source:Ubuntu convergence Setting it up istructions by a developer It's useful as a reference also for the bluetooth keyboard.

add    Bluetooth keyboard: yes source1:Released BugFix for OTA-9

add    Interchangeable external memory cards: yes

Spacearcangel (talk) 18:47, 27 January 2016 (UTC)

Not done for now: Can you provide reliable sources that claim the changes you want to make? Re-open this once you have found those. --allthefoxes ^(Talk) 19:40, 27 January 2016 (UTC)

Could you make a video of each feature and try for some reliable source to link to it? — Preceding unsigned comment added by 2.97.146.192 (talk) 07:31, 29 January 2016 (UTC)

Sorry, but I really don't understand what is the problem with the linked references...why do you need a video? you don't trust bugfix commit, release notes, Canonical official site, app official webpages, market app description and dev-community articles of an already released OTA? By the way the answer is no: I'm not able to make any video, neither I've time to search a video for each features. If you want you can find something on youtube and on Google+ where the canonical/community developers post their works and the users post their thoughts . You can use my link to help find whatever you want.Another curious thing: I don't see reference (reliable or unreliable) neither video for every single feature on the others systems...so why all this distrust on an almost completely (and almost based on official websites )referenced change request?RegardsSpacearcangel (talk) 17:42, 29 January 2016 (UTC)

I have applied most of your suggested changes, but for the ones with missing or dubious references. Could you provide references for them? Thank you for your suggestions! Dncmartins (talk) 09:56, 30 January 2016 (UTC)

You are welcome! thank you for your edit. I'm still searching the last references (internet is a mess XD ). I was informed by a developer and I trust him, but I don't find anything at the moment as a valid reference. Cheers Spacearcangel (talk) 19:25, 30 January 2016 (UTC)

Semi-protected edit request on 7 February 2016

In Maps and navigation tab, under the Ubuntu Touch column

add    Offline maps:     3rd party software  Source1:OSMScout market page 

Spacearcangel (talk) 18:19, 7 February 2016 (UTC)

Thank you. Your change has been applied. Dncmartins (talk) 11:39, 13 February 2016 (UTC)

MER in comparison

Hi all. I've noticed the MER ( the Mer (software distribution) has been added, removed, added, removed and so on. I have not reinstated that as this is hopeless until all interested in will reach reasonable compromise, so will understand and accept arguments of the opposite side. In case of MER it is not easy. As it can be recognised as on OS or as the MER stack so the middleware for building the OS - and both are correct. Meddleware here mean all software above kernel and below UI. This is themerpoject.org philosophy and also one of the main advantages. As an open source it is for building OSes by vendors who can take and use the established MER standard in own products. So it can be settled on any compatible kernel, compatible with a particular hardware and the MER. This allow UI to have foundations of standard used by MER. MER can be used without UI, only with console so is bootable and useable as Linux. When a Linux (lets see Sailfish or Ubuntu) is launched on a different hardware it must use a kernel for a particular hardware. And still everybody recognise this is such and such OS, not paying any attention what a kernel was used. So, MER can be treated as complying definition of Linux, however it is for a different purposes, where I mean building full distribution by adding a kernel and eventually an UI (modified or not, with or without added an operator services etc.

MER definitely is notable, as eg. it is essential for OSes like Sailfish. It also can be lunched on several HW platforms which makes it one of the most flexible, if not the most flexible one.

MER is the first software of this conception of middleware establishing standard for any vendor interested in. It contains the whole MeeGo Linux code (MER means MeEgo Reconstructed in fact), and all this was developed further with added code and ideas in frames of merproject.org.

My point is MER can be recognised as OS. With adding more and more open source development it is growing as special kind of OS as such. OS don't have to use graphical environment or UI. And still it will the OS. Ocexyz (talk) 22:36, 17 February 2016 (UTC)

Chris Ssk (talk) removed Mer stating that it is part of Sailfish OS. Unless you can find a phone that runs Mer instead of Sailfish OS, it is going to be difficult to add it back. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 2.137.144.57 (talk) 08:45, 6 March 2016 (UTC)

@Chris Ssk Hello.This way you start here a disqussion what is and what is not an Linux OS. It was already achieved as fair compromise that any distribution that is bootable and shows it is ready for user further actions is recognised as the OS. And MER with proper kernel can be booted on any device that is this kernel compatible. Literally you can take ANY mobile from list at merproject.org and you can run it with MER, without using UI that makes it Sailfish OS or without UI of NEMO or without a number of other UIs which can be settled on the MER core distribution. However I assume your good will you don't have deep enough understanding or insight in what is MER and what are consequences of what it is. Above I have proved a number of mobiles (and consequently following number of tablets etc.) which can be used to launch the MER - hence you ought to reinstate MER by yourself, as condition you mentioned is complied. All Sailfish phones can run MER by its nature, and there are others also, all which are non-Sailfish devices originally and to which Sailfish was ported already. I hope this is clear and obvious. Ocexyz (talk) 15:57, 22 March 2016 (UTC)