I am fascinated by Google’s new mobile, the Nexus One. But I’m also fascinated by the iPhone!. I wanted to compare their icons to see which of the two is better.

What makes a better icon? For me a better icon is a clearer icon. A better metaphor. Why only compare the icons? Because to be able to compare other functions I would first have to get my hands on a Nexus. Icons are a fundamental part of any interface. For both phones the interface is critical, great lengths have been gone to and it is interesting to compare them.

Telephone:
Both icons are good because the metaphor is simple: a telephone. But there are some differences. Whilst for Apple this function is represented by the colour green (more positive, cheerful), for Google it is blue (relaxation, tranquillity). I think green is a better choice. And whilst for Apple the telephone should be “off the hook” (facing up) and in the normal talking position (as though placed to the ear) for Google it is facing down (slightly inclined) as if being lifted at that moment (or it could even be seen as being hung up). Personally I think the position of the telephone in the Nexus One icon is the better choice, but not as far as the colour is concerned. Apple’s choice of colour makes more sense. For that reason I’ve left is as a draw, because neither is particularly more outstanding than the other. It was a very obvious icon.

Browser:
Yes, Apple hasn’t really got it right with the Safari icon. It’s perfectly interchangeable with the iPhone’s compass icon. Google hasn’t done much better. The image of the globe of the earth is perfect for its Google Maps and well…it can also be used for an Internet browser. For this reason I’ve made the Nexus One proposal the winner, but my favourite icon is still Netscape’s.

Maps:
Both could be improved. Confusing, with too much detail… The iPhone adds a traffic light which doesn’t make much sense (Google Maps is a difficult tool to use whilst driving). However, the metaphor of the unfolded map which Nexus One presents is interesting, but it is still confusing due to the small size of the icon. I was going to leave it as a draw, but I think that in general Apple’s icon is somewhat better for representing this function.

Photographs:
The image of a sunflower is a daring proposal. It’s more usual to represent a photograph with a landscape, or another type of flower (a daisy?). The rival icon uses the idea of a horizon, but it’s a bit strange. The frame around the image however, makes it easier to understand as a metaphor. It’s close but I think Nexus One deserves to win this round.

E-mail:
The image of an envelope is the standard e-mail image since the beginning of time (well, of the Internet). Apple gives it a twist by making it float over a blue sky. I love it. It’s poetic, it’s clear, e-mails fly through cyberspace; they are ethereal. I’ll take it. The Google icon isn’t bad but….it’s not that good either. iPhone wins!.

YouTube:
The YouTube logo is a dead weight if you want to incorporate it into an icon. This is almost inevitable if you are the owner of both. Apple on the other hand didn’t have to promote YouTube and furthermore it made the most of this to develop, in my opinion, an excellent icon. Taking a classic design and giving it a retro feel achieves two things: it won’t go out of fashion, it romantically identifies the idea of the television, and it is friendlier. We’ve seen these kinds of solutions in other situations, like in futuristic films such as Gattaca or Matrix. Stylish retro objects are very cool.

AppStore:
A shopping bag is an excellent metaphor for an applications store. With textures which make it look like a newly unfolded paper bag. Wow, I’m backing this idea. Apple’s idea is incredibly confusing, it doesn’t mean anything, it is perfectly forgettable. Visually attractive, yes. But it just won’t do.

SMS:
Both are based on an idea which may seem obvious, but which isn’t really. But the first time you see it and link it to its meaning, you won’t forget it. Google took Apple’s original idea and I think improved on it. Adding a smiley makes it nicer as well as making a stronger link to the purely textual nature of SMS

Conclusions:
iPhone 3 – Nexus One 4

Apple iPhone’s level of graphics is extraordinary. Vibrant colours, designs which incorporate texture, depth…using an iPhone is a great and very gratifying experience. Google’s telephone is not on a par in this sense. But the metaphors it uses for its icons achieve their purpose better: they are easier to link to the action they represent. However, the Nexus One doesn’t give me the same levels of satisfaction that the daily use of an inherently beautiful phone as the iPhone does. I must confess I haven’t been able to play around with the Nexus One much, and this initial perception may change. But Google is more rational, less emotional. Apple is the opposite and this is shown in both of their products.

Developing icons for these actions is not an easy task. I think it is fair to point out that Apple avoided being inspired by Nokia, and tried to find its own visual language. Google on the other hand has taken many ideas from Apple, with less style but ticking more boxes.