Face off: Apple iOS 5 vs. Windows Phone 7.5 Mango

The challenge

Two frantically awaited mobile operating systems Apple iOS 5 and Microsoft Windows Phone 7.5 Mango have just realized. Apple iPhone 4S and next generation iPod touch are about to arrive in stores, pre-installed with iOS 5. HTC Titan, Radar and some other phones from Samsung and others are to come up on Windows Phone 7.5 Mango in next several weeks. As the entire tech world is looking to see the products on these two belligerent operating systems, it is the best time to compare iOS 5 and WP7.5 Mango. Here is a comparison of the latest OS versions from Apple and Microsoft, renowned rivals each other.

Apple iOS 5 vs. Windows Phone 7.5 Mango

Comparison attributes

User Interface

Even before the release of Windows Phone 7.5, Microsoft execs have been showing off its distinct-in-the-industry interface feature, Metro UI. The innovative UI of WP7.5 Mango promises an enhanced home screen with the classy tile-based icons. Different from the traditional home screen and icons, WP7.5 Mango phone’s icons are in rectangular shape. The much-hyped benefit of the feature is that it offers ample space to add updates of each app on home screen. For example, your weather app will show you brief weather updates on the home screen icon itself. Moreover, the WP7.5 Mango UI is with great social media integration thanks to social Hubs.

Apple iOS 5 is never a runner-up to anyone in regard user interface. Apple has designed its popular operating system with an incredible UI. It is simple and highly user-friendly. Handling an iPhone, iPad or iPod touch with iOS 5 is a marvelous experience with the awesome interface. But the thing is that Windows Phone 7.5 Mango remains unique from the entire industry, not just from iOS 5.

Winner: Windows Phone 7.5 Mango wins with Metro UI and social Hubs.

Multitasking

Multitasking has been there on Apple iOS since iOS 4, which was unveiled in June 2010. Apple has certainly upgraded multitasking capabilities of its OS on its most recent version that has just debuted on iPhone 4S. On the other hand, WP7.5 Mango will be the first Windows Phone version to feature multitasking. Microsoft adds the much-wanted feature very late on its mobile operating system.

Winner: Apple iOS 5 with a simple and high performing multitasking capability.

Web browsing

A new Safari browser with smooth web browsing experience, HTML5 and great facilities for bookmarks and others is one of noted features of iOS 5. The former Apple CEO Steve Jobs highlighted this feature at the company’s WWDC 2011 in June. On contrast, in Windows Phone 7.5 Mango, you are going to enjoy the mobile version of one of the world’s leading PC browsers, Internet Explorer 9. The new IE version is definitely with some incredible web browsing features and capabilities.

Winner: Windows Phone 7.5 Mango wins here thanks to the latest IE 9.

Multimedia

You won’t be able to watch Adobe Flash-enabled web sites in good order on both WP7.5 Mango and iOS 5 products. Both Apple and Microsoft have yet approved Adobe’s landmark video streaming facility. Instead of Flash, iOS 5 and WP 7.5 Mango offer HTML5 and JavaScript. As far as other multimedia features are concerned, WP7.5 Mango is incredibly great with its Zune media player. Apple iOS 5’s media players cannot easily beat Zune player in quality and performance.

Winner: Windows Phone 7.5 Mango with Zune player.

Product distribution

You have only iPhone, iPod and iPad on iOS 5. It is not the case with Windows Phone 7.5 Mango, however. Microsoft has tied up with more than half a dozen of hardware makers to produce smartphones for its new OS version. Thus, HTC, Samsung, Acer, ZTE, and, of course, Nokia will manufacture smartphones on the platform. HTC has already uncovered two devices – Titan and Radar – on WP7.5 Mango.

Winner: Windows Phone 7.5 Mango with profound product choices for customers.

Processor performance

So as to extend battery life of its products, Microsoft has set single core processor as standard for its WP7.5 Mango devices. Apple iOS has no such stricture, so products like iPhone 4S are with dual core processors.

Winner: Apple iOS 5

Verdict

Products on iOS 5 and WP7.5 Mango are just to land in shelves just in days. The smartphone industry is going to get a new thrust with Microsoft’s well-planned and resolute decision to become a top player in the industry. More hardware solutions and groundbreaking features like tile-based home screen benefit WP7.5 Mango over iOS 5 and others. At the same time, iOS 5 is the successor to iOS 4, the firmware of iPhone 4, one of the world’s mostly sold-out consumer electronics products.