Which one is the better mobile operating system?
I will answer with regards to iOS and Android, as I have worked with these systems.If we go by the definition of what an OS is supposed to do (memory management, file handling, multi-programming support etc...), iOS and Linux(Android) both stand toe to toe.But, if you are asking which one is better for making apps, it gets complicated a bit. Let us take a few Points of views.Look and feel:This is very poor way to pick an OS. Windows Vista had nice look and feel but failed to do more important things. Besides what looks good changes from person to person, we can achieve the same look and feel on both platforms for a particular app.Development:iOS apps are tailor made for the device. The dev is aware of the exact specs of the device and user can be assured of the quality. But unfortunately, the programming (until now) is done with Objective-C. It is a very old technology (Apple has recognized this and is launching a newer language "Swift").Android on the other hand, has been built to be versatile. It will run on microwaves, cameras, watches, and a wide range of phones. Java is a well studied and understood language, and devs can be trained to use best programming practices. It doesn't fall too far behind on performance (most mordern languages use JIT wthich has been proven to be as efficient as pure compiled code). But the advantages of supporting many form factors is huge. It is no wonder that it has become the most popular mobile OS, even though the apps are criticized to not look as good.User Testing:For Android, it is as easy as giving a beta copy of your apk to a bunch of users. Apple makes it more complicated. If you are doing a proof-of-concept, better wrap up a basic prototype on android to get quick feedback.Maintenance and support: Google usually provides "support libraries" to let most of the older devices use the newer features. Apple on the other-hand ensures that the users upgrade their software and mobiles so backward compatibility is a non-issue. This helps to give good customer support. But Apple also sometimes breaks things and you need to rework things after some updates.Dev tools:Xcode is an OK tool to work with, but the iPhone simulator is simply the best. Android simulator is slow and frustrating to work with. But, the android studio is one of the best, most complete development suits available. If you can work with a test device (to avoid the simulator) you will enjoy Android Studio.Hope this helps you with your query.