With my defection from the iPhone to the MyTouch now complete, I have the ability to give my initial comparative thoughts between the two devices.  As much as one who reads the blog may expect me to be biased in my initial thoughts – and trust me, I would love to me – that will not be the case.

Visual

The iPhone was just flat out sexy when the device came to market.  No other device really captured that “oh, wow” sex appeal in a long, long time. With the iPhone owning roughly 11% of the smartphone market it’s hard to get away from the device – or copycat wannabe designed device.  The MyTouch does not attempt to copy Apple’s design; however, there is no groundbreaking sex appeal either.

HTC manages to make a phone that is smaller in width and length but slightly thicker.  Due to a number of variables, including the lack of a glass screen, the MyTouch weighs a bit less than the iPhone as well.

My problem with the visual aspect of the MyTouch is the comparison one can make to the Blackberry Storm. Not being a huge fan of Blackberry products, one could see how this would be a slight turn off for me. So, the winner of the Visual aspect – Apple

Interface

The iPhone has the “First Mover” advantage when it comes to user interface.  Apple set the standard as to what one would expect when dealing with touch screen devices. As a results it takes a bit of “thinking differently” when using the MyTouch.

The major difference in the interface between the iPhone and the MyTouch is the use of buttons to perform certain navigation functions.  With the iPhone one simply uses the giant button at the bottom of the device if they use to exit/navigate away from an application.  The MyTouch requires a person to use one of three small buttons.

Again, the iPhone/First Mover mentality was in full force.  I had to keep reminding myself that I was not using the iPhone.  Once I overcame that hurdle the device became second nature.

Winner of the interface – Tie.  One really does not outperform the other, it’s just a matter of perspective.

Applications

MyTouch – COPY AND PASTE, BABY!

Sorry.  I had to get that out.

The advantage the iPhone has going for it is the developer community.  It’s large.  The disadvantage is that Apple tells the developers what it can and cannot do.  While the Android market is small (Android being the OS the MyTouch runs on) it is open source, allowing developers more flexibility in what can be accomplished.

I’ve installed a Twitter application called Twidroid on the MyTouch.  The user experience is seamless with Android where as Twinkle or Twitterific feel as if they are applications simply utilizing the iPhone OS for functionality.

Likewise, the Google Voice application can be fully integrated into the MyTouch – and done so in a really slick fashion – the iPhone won’t allow Google Voice related applications because they compete with iPhone functionality.

Winner of the Application showdown – MyTouch.  Applications are part of the phone, not an extension of the phone and developers are not limited to what they can do.

Overall first impressions

As I noted before I would love to be biased and say the MyTouch kills the iPhone.  I cannot.

Apple has set the standard for design and all other devices must overcome this hurdle. Just from a sex appeal stand point the MyTouch falls short. On the other hand, the MyTouch has a superior user experience once one utilizes applications.

I’m sure as I use the phone over time I will continue to pick out features that I like and dislike but, as of right now, there is no clear winner between the two.

A Google alert came through yesterday with this little gem – a $99 3G iPhone may be coming to Walmart.  I followed the link to Gizmodo, but the story was removed from the site. Interesting, no?  After another search I was able to find the same info over at hothardware.com. 

Both Apple and Walmart had nothing to say on the rumor, but, if true, finding shelf space within Walmart will provide the iPhone with a whole new market – a market that may have never thought about stepping foot into an Apple store (and possibly a market that couldn’t afford to step into the store, either).

Assume for a moment the iPhone does hit Walmart – RIM and Blackberry will have an even bigger market share problem on their hands. In less than a year and a half, Apple has managed take over 30% of the Smartphone market share within the United States, roughly 10% behind RIM, and Apple does not even compete in the business space, where RIM has the majority of their customers.

The Blackberry Storm release was more sound and furry than actual substance, and as a result, RIM has already cut sales forecasts.  If Apple does manage to put the iPhone in Walmart, RIM will have an even bigger fight on their hands.

Aware the device in question has been on the market in Asia and Europe for almost a half a year, I find it interesting the device hasn’t made it to the U.S. shores on any major scale.  Samsung used a triband 3G chip set, rendering the phone useless on American networks but I have to wonder why.

Look at the features this thing has to offer:

• 7.2Mbps HSDPA 2100
• 5 megapixel autofocus camera
• 3.2-inch screen
• WiFi
• 8 or 16GB of Flash with microSD expansion

And yes, it looks like an iPhone too (hmmm… by chance?)  While the device is running Windows Mobile, it seems like it could have been a winner.

On another note, why do mobile OS developers feel the need to cover every inch of usable space on the screen?  Less is more!

I read two stories yesterday about “long lines” at Verizon stores for the Launch of the Blackberry Storm. The devices supposedly sold out within a few moments of the stores opening and police needed to come to one Manhattan location because people became so agitated when supply ran short. As Gizmodo points out, there were lines but nothing like Apple. 

Before you call me a fool for saying that “RIM doesn’t get it with the Blackberry Storm” let me point out something.

From all that I’ve been able to determine Verizon stores were allocated roughly 200 Storms for the product launch. Compare that to Apple’s roughly 2300 per store and one can easily see that the Storm isn’t even in the same league – yet. It has the potential, but RIM needs to change their approach.

Until RIM expands their focus from a business user base to a business / consumer user base and opens up the platform for independent developers they will be hard pressed to overtake the iPhone.

Apple has a hit with the iPhone (both the Edge and 3G version) and since the touch screen, music playing, game capable device came onto the market competitors are trying to match Apple’s efforts.

Enter RIM’s Blackberry Storm.

Everyone knows Blackberry to be the De facto accessory for business and IT workers worldwide, even after the release of the iPhone.  People are constantly check emails in meeting, working from remote locations, and, yes, playing brick breaker.  While the iPhone is the largest selling smart phone on the market, Blackberry trying to fight back with the Storm.

The new Blackberry device has a few advantages the iPhone does not have, including:

• Removable battery
• Expandable memory
• Tactile feedback
• Copy and paste
• Verizon 3G (AT&T’s network is a liability for the iPhone)

Who knows, the Blackberry Storm may be a superior device but it is unlikely to take over the iPhone in terms of popularity.  Why?  Easy – the cult of Apple.

Apple is popular for making sexy devices, be it iPhones, iPods or computers, and they know how to market their products to the consumer.  As a result, a growing (and vocal) group of dedicated users buy and promote Apple’s products.  It’s almost like a self-fulfilling circle of home grown marketing.

While sales of the Storm may be significant in the business world, RIM is not known as a retail consumer company and they do not have a fanatic retail consumer user base to support them.  Add on other limitations, such as a lack of integration with an established music retailer and no independent application developers for their platform, the Blackberry Storm will have a number of disadvantages right at the start.

I’m sure RIM understand the challenges they face, so I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Storm open up from an app dev standpoint, but I just do not see the company becoming a retail consumer company with this strategy.