Ok. I admit it. I'm an Android Snob

My second generation iPod Touch is currently getting the iOS 4 treatment. Despite its name, I haven't touched it in months. I haven't had any reason to. In fact, the only reason that I'm upgrading it now is to make it just a little more like my sheyne Android (after all, Apple did go out of their way to copy as much of Android as they could - it's the least I could do as a long-time fan). Those of you who have undergone an iOS update know just how long it takes. (Nu, Apple, I'm not getting any younger here.) So I've had some time for personal reflection and, in that time, I've determined that I have become an Android snob.

I'm careful to use the term snob and not fanboy. A fanboy tends to live in an odd world where the object of their affections can do no wrong. We all know the type. I'm not like that. I like Android a lot but I can clearly see room for improvement and compliment the competition when they are due.

No, I am more of a snob. When I see people using their iPhones, I just kinda smugly smile at them with the same expression one usually reserves for small children when they proudly displayed the arts and crafts project that they've been working on. A kind of "Oh, you genuinely believe that you're using a big-boy phone. How cute!" smile. I patiently listen to people kvetch about all the things that Steve won't let their phones/pads do with the same bemused tolerance that one who drives a fine imported car listens to his friends complain about their domestic's constant need of repair. Sometimes, in a moment of snobbery, I will forget myself and innocently suggest things to my iPhone friends like "you should just use the free Google turn by turn navigation", "Don't bother typing use Swype or your voice", or "if you can't understand it, just use Google goggles to translate it for you". I forget myself and accidentally point out something or other that reminds them of just how antiquated their little iPhone is. I know, I'm not being much of a mensh and I'll probably have some extra slichot  to say come Yom Kippur. It's just so hard to remember that most people aren't sophisticated enough to "get" Android and would rather have a dumb smartphone that limits their experience to only the safe and easy. Shame but true.

That isn't to say that Android is perfect. Far from it. There are many improvements that I would love to see in it. All I'm saying is that, for now, it's easily the best of the bunch. So I apologize if I have belittled you and your choice of phone in any way. Forgive me for my chutzpah. Please feel free to continue using whatever platform appeals most to you. Hopefully, the competition in the mobile OS space will continue to lead to improvements in all platforms. Until then, why don't you take your phone (whatever platform it may run) and call your mother!