iPhone or Google phone?

[wakela]

which one should I get?
what questions should I be asking myself?


I Japan here we only got the iPhone a few months ago, and the Android phone is coming next month, so I've been totally out of it, buzz-wise.  It looks like the phone that run's Android here will not have a real keyboard, but a touch screen phone-style keypad -which is lame, though I may be able to get or make a full keyboard with software.

There seems to be more apps available for the iPhone, but I like the idea of being able to build stuff myself and not being tied to Apple and iTunes for everything. 

[eytanz]

I own an ipod Touch, and an android phone (G1). I love them both, but I think I have it right as far as functionality - the ipod touch/iphone is a really great multimedia device, but from what I've seen of my friends that own iphones, it's a mediocre phone. The G1 is a great phone and texting/internet device, but it's multimedia capabilities are pretty mediocre.

If you have to choose one (I was lucky as the iPod was a gift and the G1 came for free on my contract), you should ask yourself what your main functionality would be - if you want to just have a single device in your pocket that can do everything, or if you mostly want to use apps and are less concerned about texting/im/phone calls, go for the iPhone. If you want a good phone and don't mind using a seperate device for music/podcasts, go for the Android phone and keep your current mp3 player.

[wakela]

Thanks, eytanz.  I've been asking around, and you are the first person I've talked to who has experience with both.  However, the G1 will not be available in Japan.  Android is going to be on Docomo's HT-013A.  Rolls right of the tongue, doesn't it.  And it comes out at the end of the month, so I can't get my hands on it yet.

Most people have been recommending an iPhone -- but more people own iPhones.  Based on Lifehacker commenters, owners of Android phones like them, too. 

I don't actually talk on the phone that much, so mostly I am interested in internet access and apps.  I really like the idea of writing my own, though I have to admit that I probably do not have enough time to do this. 

[Listener]

Get the iPhone 3GS. It apparently will do almost everything people have been waiting for the iPhone to do. I've used both and the Android is a nice phone, but the iPhone is just better, IMO.

Except I learned today that it doesn't support bluetooth headphones for music listening. A little frustrating. Maybe iPhoneOS 3.0 or the 3GS will.