Google I/O Fanboy Duel

As always, we posted up for yesterday's slew of announcements during the Google I/O keynote. If you missed it, might we recommend The Verge's at-length recap. But more intriguing are the opinions of our resident critics and zealots here at PRPL.Inherent to any digital agency are the tech brand allegiances, namely Google vs. Apple fanboys. This division becomes ever-apparent on big announcement days, like the recent Android-bashing WWDC; so today we've captured the I/O reactions of a rep from both sides: Adam Boerema (Google) vs. Adam DePasqua (Apple). Here are the highlights with their input.Feel free to leave your own two cents below. Play nice.

Android One Phone

Google Adam (GA): I feel like Google’s core goal with Android has always been about getting their phones into as many hands as possible. Unfortunately, this was at the cost of quality, up until around Jelly Bean version 4.2, where Google got serious about its design.Android One targets countries where smart phones are scarce, by selling an under-$100 phone that runs the latest Android version and focuses on features that are needed for phone carriers in those areas. How long will iPhone users be able to sit in their gated community?Apple Adam (AA): The world didn’t want a $549 iPhone 5c?This is not Apple’s game. They don’t make lower quality products…OK, they did make Maps and MobileMe. I do applaud Google for bringing technology to more people at a lower cost.

New Android OS: L

GA: Google is getting serious about uniformity in design and functionality throughout the app community. The core feature they focused on was design “depth,” or in technical terms the “z-index.” To do this, they are releasing a type of “design bootstrap” that allows developers to easily integrate uniform animations and interactions throughout not only your apps, but your web apps as well. This is huge for creating seamless experiences from native Android apps to Web apps.AA: The new design is beautiful. I don’t care who you are, what allegiance you have, the new Android UI is very pretty. I feel bad though. Because if you don’t have a “pure Google” phone, or know how to root your device, good luck getting this software upgrade. Why is that? Because your carrier controls your software upgrades.

Updated User Experience

GA: Android’s main focus on user experience is the improvement of the interaction between all of their services and app ecosystem. They’re definitely taking a card from Apple on this point, but Google knows you better than Apple knows you. They played into this to enhance your phone experience based on where you are, what you’re doing, and how you’re doing it. Google is trying to close the gap between web and phone in an all encompassing way, while Apple welcomes you into their ecosystem with open arms until they have you locked in the iPrison.AA: I like Project Volta, which is the battery optimization. Ultimately, it does some nifty things that increase your battery life by 90 minutes. The lock-screen features were pretty cool as well, but is it better/quicker than your finger-print?

Android Wear

GA: I was skeptical of Android Wear, I’ll admit. Currently I own a Pebble watch that syncs to my phone and provides many of the proposed features of Android Wear, but Android Wear really takes the concept that Pebble popularized and expands on it vastly. Where Pebble acts as a one-way street for notifications for your phone, Android Wear is a two-way street that allows for not only notifications, but seamless interaction with Google on your phone, in your car, on your television, and everywhere else. If you compare this to Apple’s smart watch… wait never mind.AA: As a Braun watch fan and owner, the Moto 360 is by far my favorite smartwatch to ever grace this Earth. That being said, with a ton of hirings from Nike, the medical field, and the fashion industry, I can't wait to see what Apple does with wearables. It needs to be different—more than just notifications and alerts from your device. My question is, would you spend $200+ for a watch that is feeding you the same info as the device that's a pocket reach away? I will give credit where credit is due, because I’m not a soul-selling Apple guy. Google has the best wearables available. Period... for now.

Android Auto

GA: Let’s get serious. It is 2014 and our car dashboards still have CD players and clunky user interfaces. Android Auto, along with Apple’s CarPlay, both try to solve this problem. What makes them different is that Android Auto is an experience for everyone, while Apple’s CarPlay is a solution for someone looking to shell out a nice sum of cash on a new car with supported hardware. Since Google knows you best, it knows when you are driving and will automatically switch your phone to a specialized interface that focuses on your phone’s essentials while driving. If you’re fortunate enough to have a nice dashboard screen, you can plug in your phone just like Apple’s CarPlay. If you do not, go out and buy a $20 phone mount and enjoy.AA: Not going to lie. This is way nicer than CarPlay, which was non-existent at WWDC. Anyways, it brings the beauty of Android L to the car, and I like it.

Android TV

GA: Control your TV with your phone, tablet, and watch? Play Android games from your phone to your television? Wait, wait, it even works with Chromecast, Android TV boxes and supported smart televisions? I can’t seem to find the place where I can insert my dollar bills.AA: If it comes with my future TV that is pretty awesome, but this is another avenue Apple, Roku, Amazon, and even Google have been down before. No one has wildly succeeded. It will be interesting to see what developers do, but much like the competition, this product is ANOTHER solution to put apps on your big screen.

Chromecast

GA: Who would have thought that spending $35 dollars would result in canceling my cable? The Chromecast is already a great product that has allowed me to turn my ancient TV into a fully functioning smart TV. With the new updates to the Chromecast, there are highly demanded new features that only make it better. Taking note from Apple’s desktop and mobile streaming feature, Airplay, you can now stream your phone, tablet, and watch directly to your Chromecast. This means that users can stream content, apps, games, and everything else to the big screen. With Apple TV and Chromecast almost on par with each other, you only need to look at the price tag.AA: They added screen savers to Chromecast. (crickets)

Chromebook Laptop

GA: Watching Google release new features for the Chromebook and Apple release new features for OSX was like watching two students cheat on a test. Who copied whom? Both are releasing features that integrate your phone calls, texts, and apps into your laptop and desktop. I will admit that I was more impressed with Apple’s OSX releases, but it may be due to the fact that I am biased and still have not found a good use for my Chromebook. As a developer, if Google gave me full access to Chromebook’s Linux underbelly and allowed me to code in something that was not cloud based, I would be so happy.AA: This isn’t a product I would buy for myself, but I like it. I think the L design consistency across all devices is a very good thing, and it only makes the Chromebooks better, especially with the ability to run Android apps. The new features are great additions for all Chromebook users, which are mainly educational institutions and grandparents.

Google Fit

GA: I have a strong feeling that both Google and Apple do not have a great idea of how they want their fitness functionality to fully interact. During both conferences, they spent a lot of time throwing around generalities. If WebMD has taught me anything, it is that I should be dead at least 12 times by now. I have a feeling that these fitness services are going to make similar assumptions, and give you health instructions based on the number of steps you have taken or how fast your heart beats. My health was 6,582 yesterday!AA: Google didn’t dive too deep into this, but it’s like the Apple Health Kit. I think what gives Apple the upper hand in this area was the partnership with 20 medical partners, including the Mayo Clinic. Apple also stressed the importance of your health privacy. Google may target you with ads about your frequent urination, or reference the nearest Dunkin Donuts when it sees your caloric intake.

Killer Robots

GA: No comment.AA: What?! I couldn't hear the question over all the protestors.Big thanks to Adam Boerema and Adam DePasqua for sharing their thoughts with us. In a few months, we can let the data speak for itself. Props to Google for some impressive design shifts and goodies! We love you too, Apple.