How Can Google Improve Android

There are plenty of articles detailing why some people think iOS is superior to Android. Sure, iOS can be technically better in some ways but not in others. Where I think Android lags behind iOS is the initial experience. First impressions mean everything.

The greatest downfall for Android is also a strength and that's customizability. Apple can push an iOS update that will be pushed to majority of users within matters of months. Right now, 75% devices are on iOS 9 and 18% on iOS 8.

How far behind is Android?

Only .7% of devices are on the latest Android Marshmallow. 33% are on Lollipop, 36% on KitKat, and 25% on Jelly Bean. More devices are on Gingerbread (3%) than Marshmallow and it's 5 versions of Android behind.

So this bring where Android fails to bring an ideal initial experience. Google does not have the control of their Android devices as Apple has with iPhone/iPads. So cell phone manufacturers include their own applications, often useless and/or unwieldy, by default (Just look at what comes with the Note 5). The experience between Android devices is not consistent.

Pre-installed applications are key to presenting the best initial experience possible. Just how significant is offering default applications? Apple Maps is now used 3 times more often than Google Maps on iOS. It was just a few years ago when Apple Maps was one of Apple's biggest blunders. Now, having Apple Maps as default (and having improved the application a bit), it's being used more often than Google Maps.

Many Android devices (including some Nexus devices) do not even come pre-installed with one of the best services that Google has to offer, Google Photos. Instead, it comes with Gallery or the cell phone manufacturer's application.

Sometimes, Android phones do not come with Android Pay (though Samsung does have their competing service, Samsung Pay). How can you not include a default mobile payment application on a device is capable? Particularly with the growth of mobile payments and its potential revenue.

Google has slowly made progress though. Their Chrome web browser is becoming the default in many phones; though, it can be confusing as an "Internet" application is often included as well. Another confusing aspect is that Android devices often come with Gmail and a "Mail" application. Then, they may have Google Photos and Gallery to further confuse the user. There is also the perplexing concept of having Google Hangouts and their Messenger app. Google seems to be have difficulty trying to promote their platform while trying to be platform-neutral.

Apple manages the user's experience right from the box; Google cannot do the same. Apple has to continually make sure their applications are the best (or least good enough for users not to abandon). Though, it can be quite annoying that users cannot default third-party applications on iOS; it forces users to use Apple's default apps in most use cases. It is definitely one of weaknesses in iOS; though, the average consumer may not care.

Google needs to eliminate the multiple applications that serve duplicate functionality that come preinstalled on Android devices; there should be only one messenger app, one photos app, one email app, and so on.