2010 Revenge of the Droids

[TapHappy]

the point I was trying to make is that, most developers do not work on Macs, and now, they can make applications without having to purchase a mac, regardless of the price..

LOL yes you are right, you can developer mobile apps without a Mac, JUST NOT iPhone apps!

So as a mobile developer (and you may be) with a GREAT mobile app idea that would sell say, 30,000 units, you would choose to ignore a market of 50+ million users (PC & Mac users I might add) in favor of a market of 3 million simply because you don't like Macs? Really?

 

[kdarling]

So as a mobile developer (and you may be) with a GREAT mobile app idea that would sell say, 30,000 units, you would choose to ignore a market of 50+ million users (PC & Mac users I might add) in favor of a market of 3 million simply because you don't like Macs? Really?

Ignore the biggest market by size? It's done all the time.

It's done when people make Mac apps instead of PC apps.

It was done when the iPhone first got apps.

It'll be done in the future. Especially if the smaller market actually pays for things

 

[megadon]

LOL yes you are right, you can developer mobile apps without a Mac, JUST NOT iPhone apps!

So as a mobile developer (and you may be) with a GREAT mobile app idea that would sell say, 30,000 units, you would choose to ignore a market of 50+ million users (PC & Mac users I might add) in favor of a market of 3 million simply because you don't like Macs? Really?

I know what you mean, but since android is free, you're going to see it on more phones, and if predictions are right, android will have more users than iPhone, giving developers more reason to develop apps.

 

[QCassidy352]

usually, this is a positive thing..

Not necessarily. Apple certainly doesn't think so, and they're doing a lot better than any other computer manufacturer.

Too many devices and options creates confusion. It's hard for tech-savvy people to understand why that's such a big deal, but for a lot of the general public, it is. They don't know what they want or need, so they a) have to do a lot of research, b) buy something that may be wrong for their needs and then aren't happy, or c) just don't buy anything.

Apple simplifies the choices. This drives many MR users mad because we generally know what we want and need, and we like to be able to pick and choose down to the last feature. But a clean, simple lineup makes life a LOT easier and more appealing for a lot of consumers.

If you like the iphone, you get an iphone. Ok, there are two choices: 3G or 3GS, and 16 GB or 32. But those are simple choices that most people can easily understand (3GS = faster. 32 GB = more space.).

To a not-so-tech-savvy person, android sounds techy (just look at the name!) and complicated. What do you buy? A lot of devices run android, but is it all the same? (no - see the motorola cliq with its motoblur overlay) Do they all run it equally well? (no) Do they all have the same capabilities? (no)

The iphone is simple. You go to an apple store and buy one of two models, which are frankly not that different anyway. You know it will work right because apple designed the hardware and the software. The interface is clean. There's one button to push. It's all but idiot-proof.

If this doesn't sound like a big deal to you, try having a conversation about android with a non-savvy friend or family member and see how they react.

 

[TapHappy]

Ignore the biggest market by size? It's done all the time.

It's done when people make Mac apps instead of PC apps.

It was done when the iPhone first got apps.

It'll be done in the future. Especially if the smaller market actually pays for things

Of course it's done but to base that decision on whether or not you "like" a platform is just stupid. You base that decision on other factors. PC vs. Mac is way down the priority list.

 

[BergerFan]

Not necessarily. Apple certainly doesn't think so, and they're doing a lot better than any other computer manufacturer.

Too many devices and options creates confusion. It's hard for tech-savvy people to understand why that's such a big deal, but for a lot of the general public, it is. They don't know what they want or need, so they a) have to do a lot of research, b) buy something that may be wrong for their needs and then aren't happy, or c) just don't buy anything.

Apple simplifies the choices. This drives many MR users mad because we generally know what we want and need, and we like to be able to pick and choose down to the last feature. But a clean, simple lineup makes life a LOT easier and more appealing for a lot of consumers.

If you like the iphone, you get an iphone. Ok, there are two choices: 3G or 3GS, and 16 GB or 32. But those are simple choices that most people can easily understand (3GS = faster. 32 GB = more space.).

To a not-so-tech-savvy person, android sounds techy (just look at the name!) and complicated. What do you buy? A lot of devices run android, but is it all the same? (no - see the motorola cliq with its motoblur overlay) Do they all run it equally well? (no) Do they all have the same capabilities? (no)

The iphone is simple. You go to an apple store and buy one of two models, which are frankly not that different anyway. You know it will work right because apple designed the hardware and the software. The interface is clean. There's one button to push. It's all but idiot-proof.

If this doesn't sound like a big deal to you, try having a conversation about android with a non-savvy friend or family member and see how they react.

+100.
Apple also knows that the 'not-so-tech-savvy person' probably outnumbers the tech-savvy crowd by a factor of 10-1(pure guesswork there).

 

[Goona]

I also think that the iPhone is going to hit a tough spot in the next year or two. The AppStore is what made the iPhone what it is and personally the only reason I own the phone. It is what will also hurt the iPhone in the future. All of those apps are designed to only work on the iPhone's screen size and resolution. Every single app would need to be changed for the iPhone to ever change it's screen. This is why people are disappointed with the iPhone's changes the past couple years. There isn't much they can do besides bump up the internal specs or make minor OS tweaks. They can never create another phone that runs the iPhone OS and uses the current AppStore. I'm not saying the iPhone is going to fail, there is just going to be some LEGIT other options for phone's with an app store within a year or two that have more flexibility then the iPhone will ever have.

I personally will never leave the iPhone until another phone can come somewhat close to the AppStore. My prediction is that in about a year from now, this will come true.

The iphone was still popular before the app store, many forget the iphone was out for a year before the app store and yet Apple was still selling millions of them even at 400 dollars. The price drop helped millions to adopt it. The app store played a part but to discount the other major factors including itunes and the ecosystem around the iphone is outright silly. The iphone was there before anyone mentioned the app store.

 

[Goona]

Ignore the biggest market by size? It's done all the time.

It's done when people make Mac apps instead of PC apps.

It was done when the iPhone first got apps.

It'll be done in the future. Especially if the smaller market actually pays for things

Studies have shown iphone users are more willing to spend than Android users, so I doubt developers will be getting any more money if they run off to Android.

 

[kdarling]

Studies have shown iphone users are more willing to spend than Android users, so I doubt developers will be getting any more money if they run off to Android.

The same studies show that Android users spend almost as much per month as iPhone users on apps. Something like $8 vs $9.

Of course, there are fewer Android users. Yet so far, even with millions more users, very few independent iPhone developers are making a living off apps. There's just too many app clones for the same 99 cents, or free.

Apple was right that 99 cents was the easy-buy price. But that benefits Apple, not the developers. In retrospect, they probably should have had a higher minimum.

 

[Goona]

The same studies show that Android users spend almost as much per month as iPhone users on apps. Something like $8 vs $9.

Of course, there are fewer Android users. Yet so far, even with millions more users, very few independent iPhone developers are making a living off apps. There's just too many app clones for the same 99 cents, or free.

Apple was right that 99 cents was the easy-buy price. But that benefits Apple, not the developers. In retrospect, they probably should have had a higher minimum.

Here is a survey showing more iphone and ipod touch users on average download more paid apps compared to Android apps.

http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/08/2...ehavior-with-android-users-but-buy-more-apps/

As for the price apps, I think it's better that the prices on the app store are cheaper than other stores. Prices of the same apps are cheaper on the app store than others and usually with more features. This is better for the users!

 

[kdarling]

Here is a survey showing more iphone and ipod touch users on average download more paid apps compared to Android apps.

Yep, I read it. That's where I got my numbers. Android users spend ~$8.60 a month, iPhone users ~$9.50. That's pretty close.

 

[Acronym]

Teflon > cheap plastic

excep tthat is an ugly phone, i dont like the curve at the end.

its like they are trying to get at the OCD by putting the lip there just so they can say WHY THE LIP?!?!?

its like buses that have the lights (with a middle divider thingy) and they put 5 horizontal and 1 vertical facing, there just isnt any point except to bug the OCD (people, no offense of course).

 

[vinay427]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 3_1_2 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/528.18 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/4.0 Mobile/7D11 Safari/528.16)

Just my 2 cents...

From what i've learned in using various distros of Linux and trying out Android, developers of an open source platform usually make their best apps free like the poster somewhere above said. On the iPhone/Mac line of things, it's not like that. The App Store is clearly full of junk, because these debs want to make apps to get money, not to actually make a good app. There is a bigger market for the App Store, so understandably all of these devs flock here. However, only the devs who really care will cone to Android, which is great for those consumers. They get the best apps for free and very little junk.

 

[Goona]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 3_1_2 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/528.18 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/4.0 Mobile/7D11 Safari/528.16)

Just my 2 cents...

From what i've learned in using various distros of Linux and trying out Android, developers of an open source platform usually make their best apps free like the poster somewhere above said. On the iPhone/Mac line of things, it's not like that. The App Store is clearly full of junk, because these debs want to make apps to get money, not to actually make a good app. There is a bigger market for the App Store, so understandably all of these devs flock here. However, only the devs who really care will cone to Android, which is great for those consumers. They get the best apps for free and very little junk.

The Android store is also full of junk despite it being a so called open source platform.

 

[KnightWRX]

The fact of the matter is, the App store is overcrowded. It may look like a gold mine, but your app will be drowned, cloned, given away and then forgotten. Most devs are lucky to see enough cash to pay for their expenses (1 mac + dev registration fee). The successful ones already had deep pockets and big budgets to make their apps stand out more.

Android Market won't be immune to this. It's ludicrous to think that one is better than the other for devs. If you know Java you can probably get your app to market quicker on the Android than on the iPhone. The thing is, there are tons more Java devs than there are Obj-C devs.

 

[MTI]

Android 2.0 Beta Screen Shots?

looks nice. I guess we'll have to wait and see.

 

[Kuddles]

I love my 3Gs, but I have to say that Android is taking over. Obviously, the OS is still in it's infancy. But seeing as Android is an Open Source development, and seeing how Google is one of the largest/most profiting companies in the world, opportunities are endless for Android.


Example: The SDK's. Once high-profile devs from the Iphone OS begin to work with the Android SDK, they'll realize that there are pretty much no limitations- it's not on lockdown. Endless opportunity.


Android is worldwide now and anyone can download the SDK and use it with relatively no experience.


Plus, Android is backed by Google, who is taking over the e-world one by one. (search engines to social networking to android to google music??)

 

[$ahil]

Over the 11 years that I've owned cell phones, I have never need to have a replacement battery.

But other people do need extended batteries.

 

[TapHappy]

Excellent point! So the reality is the gold rush is over. Now the hard part. You need a business plan, marketing dollars, and most of all, a compelling app that is well branded to survive. Gee that sounds too much like a real business!

Android Market won't be immune to this. It's ludicrous to think that one is better than the other for devs. If you know Java you can probably get your app to market quicker on the Android than on the iPhone. The thing is, there are tons more Java devs than there are Obj-C devs.

 

[greygray]

You clearly have no idea what teflon actually is. The underlying phone is plastic, it's just got a teflon coating - and in fact it might be that only the white one has that. Anyway, what use is it coating it in teflon? Making it easier to slide off tables when you knock it?

It prevents fingerprint stains and smears.

 

[montush]

Well said.
If it was just about a list of features, Nokia or Samsung or LG or HTC would already be king.

iPhone has always been about a small set of well refined, usable features.

I always find it interesting when people line up lists of features (iPhone vs. droid, iPhone vs. Pre, etc) and compare line item to line item. Interestingly, in many cases the iPhone loses the line-item feature war - but few people seem to leave it. I don't think this is entirely about the app store - although this is an element. I think it is about the total, integrated user experience. The iPhone looks and behaves like a system designed by a single cohesive team, unlike say, Windows Mobile. Pieces and parts of the iPhone generally behave exactly like you'd expect them to (with a few exceptions). I think that the real challenge to the iPhone will come when someone comes up with that same, seamless user experience (maybe this is droid, maybe not). The point is - until you hold it in your hand, make calls, make an appointment, send email, flip between apps, etc. - it is almost impossible to gauge a winner just from the features list.

 

[TapHappy]

Verizon has a invitation only press event next week. Here comes the Droids!

Article here

 

[matttye]

excep tthat is an ugly phone, i dont like the curve at the end.

its like they are trying to get at the OCD by putting the lip there just so they can say WHY THE LIP?!?!?

its like buses that have the lights (with a middle divider thingy) and they put 5 horizontal and 1 vertical facing, there just isnt any point except to bug the OCD (people, no offense of course).

The lip/chin points the microphone towards the mouth of the user for better sound quality.

 

[TapHappy]

The lip/chin points the microphone towards the mouth of the user for better sound quality.

Don't really think that is neccessary in today's age of advanced mic technology. It was a aesthetics design choice. Bad choice.

 

[uberamd]

I love my 3Gs, but I have to say that Android is taking over. Obviously, the OS is still in it's infancy. But seeing as Android is an Open Source development, and seeing how Google is one of the largest/most profiting companies in the world, opportunities are endless for Android.

Then explain to me why Linux has yet to take over?