Lessons From Nexus One (For All Device Developers)

One of the hottest mobile devices on the market is no doubt the iPhone.  And with the new version potentially just 4-5 months away with the iPad looming, much of the work on the hardware has already been completed.

But the main component, the OS, can continue to evolve.  Macworld came up with a post on what the iPhone can learn from Nexus One.  But the underlying subtext is the power and versatility of Android.  Therefore, just about any other mobile OS can learn from exactly the same lessons taken from the post.

Flexible home screen is what Android has been known for.  Whether it's HTC or Motorola, they've been able to craft individual skins for the home screen, allowing users access information they typically find use and more quickly.  IM, SMS, and Facebook updates.

This is one failing of the iPhone OS, or strength by some.  The Home screen for the iPhone is static as it is for many other mobile OS.

The article goes on to talk about widgets and notifications as well.  It's a recommended read for mobile buffs but for regular mobile warriors, it is worth noting that this holy-grail device Macworld is talking about doesn't exist just yet.

Maybe it will be the next iPhone or another device from Motorola that comes closer to an even more seemless mobile device.  I wager that all mobile fans will be happy to see the next crop of offerings in the coming months even if none of them encompasses everything mentioned in the article.

The iPhone OS isn't likely to gain true multi-tasking but users will accept any scheme created by Apple to offer more flexibility in operating the apps (largely due to Steve Jobs' reality distortion field) while Android, Windows Mobile, and others will come closer to some of the iPhone's user experience and maintain a lot more flexibility in dealing with apps and customizations.

Regardless, give the article a read as it is longer than most Internet posts on this subject.  I'm sure many developers have thought about these issues and it articulates many recommendations and shortcomings that many of us have argued about.

More at Macworld.