With Optus releasing Googles their much anticipated HTC Dream phone last Tuesday, we at Technation Australia thought it was time to see how Google’s first foray into the cellphone market stacks up with the pioneering market leader – Apples iPhone.

I’ve structured the post to focus on four main topics - Usability, Internet browsing, Application Platform and Cost.

- None of us here at TNA have had much experience in product writing,  so if we’ve missed a few points please leave them in comments and we will amend

Stats

Weight:
HTC Dream = 158g
iPhone = 133g

Battery life:
HTC Dream = 5 hours talk time, 130 hours standby
iPhone = 5 hours talk time, 300 hours standby

Screen size:
HTC Dream = 3.2in
iPhone = 3.5in

Camera:
HTC Dream = 3-megapixel
iPhone = 2-megapixel

Capacity:
HTC Dream = 2GB, expandable to 8GB
iPhone = 8GB or 16GB

Usability

Dream
-    Qwerty slide-out keyboard
-    Touch-screen
-    Roll ball navigation nub
-    4 button control panel

iPhone
-    Mulit-touch screen
-    On Screen Keyboard
-    Singular Home button

Verdict – iPhone
I just can’t pass up Apple’s free flowing user interface.  Yes I am an Apple lover, but after spending several days using both phones, performing identical tasks, the iPhone wins out due to small things. Such as being able to use the keyboard when the phone is upright, which allows you to message with one hand.  The iPhones multi-touch interface which allows you to zoom easily was a big deciding factor, you have to touch the screen then press on a + or – to zoom with the Dream. I am in no way writing off the Dreams’s UI because it is extremely intuitive and practical, but Apple’s focus on design shines through with the iPhone, it would be a tough ask for anyone to top it currently.  So I think it comes down to personal preference, some people like touch-screen keyboards, others prefer Qwerty keyboards.  Touch-screens win with me.

Internet browsing

HTC Dream
-    Web-kit based browser
-    Text resizing
-    Magnification Window
-    Multi page view

iPhone
-    Web-kit Based Safari Browser
-    Multi touch zoom
-    Multi Page View

Verdict – HTC Dream

The Dream wins out here for some very important pieces of smart technology.  When viewing pages through the Dream, the text of the page or article content resizes to fit comfortably into your screen.  If you zoom in closer, the text will resize accordingly.  This is an extremely helpful feature as you don’t have to muck around with the zoom to find the right text size to browse with.  The iPhone definitely gets points with its larger screen, sometimes when trying to touch links with the Dream, the screen will pick up another link, which can get annoying.  Both phones have similar multi page views when you are wanting to go between different windows.  The Dream also has a small magnification window which can be employed to have a closer look into a page.  Great when your viewing a site through full page view.  It seems to me that Google has taken all its knowledge and familiarity of the internet, its pages/content and built a sleek mobile Web-kit based browser that allows the user to easily digest that content. While on the other hand, Apple has stuck with Safari, which has had mild reviews since its inception a few years ago.

Applications

HTC Dream
-    App Market

iPhone
-     iTunes App Store

Verdict – iPhone

So, the topic that everyone is saying will make or break smart phones in the future.  Apples iPhone App store has been around since July last year  and is already turning well over tens of millions in revenue a month.  The Dream’s App Market has been running since late last year, coinciding with its release in the US, I cant find info regarding revenues generated but will add when I do.

So its basically a battle of a closed application platform in Apples App Store versus an open source application platform in the Dream’s App Market.   The iPhone App store wins out ‘at the moment’ mainly because it’s been around longer and developers are more comfortable with the code associated to the platform which allows for more refined apps.  However, there I am in no way writing off the Dream’s App market.  It’s basically still an infant and will mature and grow over time, the fact that its open source allows for a lot more creative freedom for developers which I predict will be a tide turner in the future.   The controlled nature of Apples App store, where App’s have to be first approved by Apple before going public ensures that all the App’s reach a certain standard of usability and relevance -  a welcome difference to that of open source platforms, which can be wonderfully chaotic or horribly confusing at times.  iPhone wins the App race for now, but my advice would be to keep a keen eye on how the Dream’s App market evolves, it’s only going to keep growing, into what? - we’ll wait and see.

Cost and Pricing

HTC Dream
24 Month Optus Contracts
$74 for 500MB
$92 for 700MB
$122.95 for 1.5GB – free calls to any Australian number
$132 for 3GB – free calls to any Australian number

iPhone
24 Month Optus Contracts
$79 cap for 1GB

$99 cap for 3GB

Verdict – HTC Dream

The pricing plans for both phones are very limited, both work on 24 month Optus contracts and include access costs among other minor conditions.  The Dream has a few more options than the iPhone which makes it more flexible however the pricing for data still has the iPhone on top in that respect.  The fact that swings the result in the Dream’s favors is that calls made to Australian phones on either the 1.5GB or 3GB plans are free.  Depending on what you use your phone for is going to determine what phone and plan is better for you.

Result – Draw

So, both phones come out even.  This is a good result as I think both phones are on an equal footing. They both do different things better than one another and in some ways serve different purposes.  The best way to find out which one is for you is take a test-drive with a showroom model.  The one that feels the most natural to you and has the plan that suits your mobile habits will obviously be the winner.

What the arrival of the HTC Dream does kick start is the monumental battle that will be waged for many years to come in the smart phone market.  The iPhone holds the crown at the moment, but with real competitors like the HTC Dream coming through, it’s going to be fascinating to see how this battle plays out.