iOS Still Holds Significant Lead in Developer Interest

(reference)

For every 10 apps that developers build, roughly 7 are for iOS. While Google made some gains in Q1 2012, edging up to over 30% for the first time in a year, we believe this is largely due to seasonality, as Apple traditionally experiences a spike in developer support leading up to the holiday season. Apples business has more observable seasonality...

At the end of the day, developers run businesses, and businesses seek out markets where revenue opportunities are highest and the cost of building and distributing is lowest. In short, Android delivers less gain and more pain than iOS, which we believe is the key reason 7 out of every 10 apps built in the new economy are for iOS instead of Android.Flurry

Reliable and thorough MacRumors.com also points out the following that relates directly to developer interest (and helps validate the source of the data):

Most notably, seven months after the launch of Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, Google's own data reveals that only 7.1% of Android phones are running the latest operating system, a number in line with that observed by Flurry. In contrast, iOS 5 is reported to be installed on 75-80% of active devices as measured from a sample of downloads from the popular Audiobooks application.MacRumors

This is what I feel to be iOS' greatest strengths, and is a direct result of a graph I posted long ago regarding how much developers make on Apple's App Store vs other platforms mobile application markets.

Pretty telling numbers. Keep paying for apps, my friends, it will improve your end-user experience!

I take it this is in response to Gambler's blatant attack on Apple regarding the S III preorders :P

Now do you see how much better these types of threads would be in System Wars? You know the place where fanboys go to battle it out.

I take it this is in response to Gambler's blatant attack on Apple regarding the S III preorders :P

Now do you see how much better these types of threads would be in System Wars? You know the place where fanboys go to battle it out.

NVIDIATI

This is most likely why iOS gets all the great exclusives, in terms of games and even apps.

Also explains why 3DS and Vita are doing horribly

Yes but the problem is android is just to big now for devs to ignore it. But pretty much any app is on android now. imprezawrx500

im eligible for a new phone. if i want to portable game and talk should i get iphone then?? hmmm its a tough battle i face. any suggestions. i used to have ipod with like 15 games. but whens iphone 5 coming? ya by that chart i should get iphone 4s lol

But not all apps are created equally. Delving deeper into the retention and user metrics, iPhone and iPad users are 52% more loyal to their apps than Android users. A healthy 35% of Apple iOS users launched an app more than 10 times after downloading, compared to 23% of Android users. The average Android app also suffers from 24% one-time usage rate compared to just 21% one-time usage rate for iPhone and iPad, Ruby reports. iPhones far greater app retention rates is also an echo of the 94% retention rate of iPhone itself compared to 47% for Android (Piper Jaffray).Localytics

[QUOTE="imprezawrx500"]Yes but the problem is android is just to big now for devs to ignore it. But pretty much any app is on android now. musicalmac

Here's another recently released report that's directly related to app quality.



[quote="Localytics"] But not all apps are created equally. Delving deeper into the retention and user metrics, iPhone and iPad users are 52% more loyal to their apps than Android users. A healthy 35% of Apple iOS users launched an app more than 10 times after downloading, compared to 23% of Android users. The average Android app also suffers from 24% one-time usage rate compared to just 21% one-time usage rate for iPhone and iPad, Ruby reports. iPhones far greater app retention rates is also an echo of the 94% retention rate of iPhone itself compared to 47% for Android (Piper Jaffray).musicalmac

Do you now realise how much all that skews the results?

The problem is Android is getting bigger and bigger and at its current rate will so have well over half the market and many of those phones are highend ones such as the s3 and one x, no matter how many people buy your apps if you aren't selling it to 70% of the market you are seriously limiting your sales. Would Adobe only develop for Apple these days? no way, the same is going to happen in the mobile market and there is an app for everything on android anyway. Apple's big problem is wp8 and endless money from ms to make sure it gets a decent user base. The only way Apple is challenging android phones these days is through constant law suits (which the lawyers are now getting sick of) Android is where all the innovation is happening and wp7 is also better than ios in every way besides apps. ios is just copying now and it has by far the worse ui of the three mobile os. If Android updates were released on all phones within a few weeks Apple would be in big trouble and they should be scared if MS buys Nokia or starts making their own phones. imprezawrx500

Do you now realise how much all that skews the results?

Gambler_3

They may port some over to Android, but the funtionality (and stability) is not quite the same.blanewarlock

And someone who hasnt used android has no idea just how much dev support the personalisation and customization aspect of android has it's just amazing. I didnt like the default google music player no problem there are some amazing music players on the android market. I got myself poweramp which is like the best music player ever on a phone the amount of hard work went into making it shows the second you start using it.

People talk about gaming support indicative of general dev support for a platform which is not true at all, there is so much more to a smartphone than games.

Those are your perceptions and are in no way based in anything concrete. Android has more to fear from WP7 than Apple does, statistics citing end-user satisfaction between iOS and Android devices will back up my point here.musicalmac

Do you?musicalmac

[QUOTE="musicalmac"]

Do you?Gambler_3

[QUOTE="Gambler_3"]

[QUOTE="musicalmac"]

Do you?musicalmac

The report isnt wrong it's just that the comparison cant be done like that because android has vastly more versatile selection of apps available and a certain portion of users who frequently have to uninstall apps to create space for something else.

What is "quality" of an app? Apps can do 10x more on android than what they are allowed on iOS. Thats quality for me and quality of the OS. This just is!!!

You just couldnt deal with my analysis which destroyed the conclusion you were trying to make from that report. :lol:

The report isnt wrong it's just that the comparison cant be done like that because android has vastly more versatile selection of apps available and a certain portion of users who frequently have to uninstall apps to create space for something else.

What is "quality" of an app? Apps can do 10x more on android than what they are allowed on iOS. Thats quality for me and quality of the OS. This just is!!!

Gambler_3

[QUOTE="Gambler_3"]

You just couldnt deal with my analysis which destroyed the conclusion you were trying to make from that report. :lol:

The report isnt wrong it's just that the comparison cant be done like that because android has vastly more versatile selection of apps available and a certain portion of users who frequently have to uninstall apps to create space for something else.

What is "quality" of an app? Apps can do 10x more on android than what they are allowed on iOS. Thats quality for me and quality of the OS. This just is!!!

musicalmac

And while gaming is second best it is pretty damn good in it's own right, I only need a smartphone to kill time not to take it in my basement. PC/PS3/Xbox serve that purpose very well. I have such a huge backlog of quality games on my phone it almost seems pointless to me that iOS has more games.

Booo booo nothing you guys say is stopping the app growth on android. There is absolutely nothing wrong with the quality of the non-gaming apps and support for them.

And while gaming is second best it is pretty damn good in it's own right, I only need a smartphone to kill time not to take it in my basement. PC/PS3/Xbox serve that purpose very well. I have such a huge backlog of quality games on my phone it almost seems pointless to me that iOS has more games.

Gambler_3

[QUOTE="Gambler_3"]

Booo booo nothing you guys say is stopping the app growth on android. There is absolutely nothing wrong with the quality of the non-gaming apps and support for them.

And while gaming is second best it is pretty damn good in it's own right, I only need a smartphone to kill time not to take it in my basement. PC/PS3/Xbox serve that purpose very well. I have such a huge backlog of quality games on my phone it almost seems pointless to me that iOS has more games.

musicalmac

And no you people really means you in particular and kid-atari who constantly bring up some random articles about android dev complains and how android is doomed when no such thing can be seen in real life where android and it's apps continue to grow.

What are you even trying to say? When buying a smartphone you think about other people not yourself? :?

And no you people really means you in particular and kid-atari who constantly bring up some random articles about android dev complains and how android is doomed when no such thing can be seen in real life where android and it's apps continue to grow.

Gambler_3

If ios is so strong why is it Apple can hardly go a month without taking either htc or samsung to court trying to stop their phones being sold for so called patent infringements? Apple has copied just as much from Android as Android has copied from ios. imprezawrx500

[QUOTE="musicalmac"][QUOTE="Gambler_3"]

You just couldnt deal with my analysis which destroyed the conclusion you were trying to make from that report. :lol:

The report isnt wrong it's just that the comparison cant be done like that because android has vastly more versatile selection of apps available and a certain portion of users who frequently have to uninstall apps to create space for something else.

What is "quality" of an app? Apps can do 10x more on android than what they are allowed on iOS. Thats quality for me and quality of the OS. This just is!!!

Gambler_3

And while gaming is second best it is pretty damn good in it's own right, I only need a smartphone to kill time not to take it in my basement. PC/PS3/Xbox serve that purpose very well. I have such a huge backlog of quality games on my phone it almost seems pointless to me that iOS has more games.

If ios is so strong why is it Apple can hardly go a month without taking either htc or samsung to court trying to stop their phones being sold for so called patent infringements? Apple has copied just as much from Android as Android has copied from ios. imprezawrx500

I believe the 3DS or PSP take second bestKid-Atari

[QUOTE="Kid-Atari"]I believe the 3DS or PSP take second bestGambler_3

[QUOTE="Gambler_3"]

[QUOTE="Kid-Atari"]I believe the 3DS or PSP take second bestmusicalmac

http://www.gamespot.com/forums/topic/29220202/the-official-android-vs-ios-thread-56k

ie. In System Wars...

[QUOTE="Gambler_3"]

[QUOTE="Kid-Atari"]I believe the 3DS or PSP take second bestmusicalmac

I dont bother with PSP for 2 reasons,

1. I dont want to carry a separate device other than my phone

2. The games are too damn expensive

It is utterly foolish to suggest that smartphones provide a superior gaming experience.

[QUOTE="musicalmac"][QUOTE="Gambler_3"]Haha so you really thing iOS is superior to PSP and DS?? The only reason iOS is more popular is because it's cheaper. Yes toyota corolla is more popular than ferrari how shocking!!!

Gambler_3

I dont bother with PSP for 2 reasons,

1. I dont want to carry a separate device other than my phone

2. The games are too damn expensive

It is utterly foolish to suggest that smartphones provide a superior gaming experience.

I agree with the above. Neither iOS or Android come anywhere close to being able to provide the games PSP has to offer. The best games we get are what, Inifinity Blade, Nova 3 and crap like that? PSP VIta gets REAL console titles where Android and iOS gets some dumbed down mobile wanna be copies. The comparison is laughable. As for Kid Atari's comments about not able to find players for MP on Android, all I have to say is the games I play MP for I have no issue whatsoever finding players when I ever decide to. Which I admit is pretty rare considering smartphone games can only hold my attention for about 10 minutes at a time theyre so bad. The graphics are here but unfortuntely all the mechanics, gameplay elements, etc are no where to be found.

[QUOTE="Gambler_3"]

You just couldnt deal with my analysis which destroyed the conclusion you were trying to make from that report. :lol:

The report isnt wrong it's just that the comparison cant be done like that because android has vastly more versatile selection of apps available and a certain portion of users who frequently have to uninstall apps to create space for something else.

What is "quality" of an app? Apps can do 10x more on android than what they are allowed on iOS. Thats quality for me and quality of the OS. This just is!!!

musicalmac

So what app can you get on ios that you can't on android? You don't really need that many apps either. You can find a android equivalent for everything besides maybe a few old games. imprezawrx500

Let the widescreen iphone come you all gonna see that too much unification can be such a bad thing as the ecosystem will simply be caught unprepared. Apple has always kept the same aspect ratio and quadrupled the resolution to make it a non-issue. Neither is an option now with the next iphone unless ofcourse they want to pull off another 3.5" screen phone.

Let the widescreen iphone come you all gonna see that too much unification can be such a bad thing as the ecosystem will simply be caught unprepared. Apple has always kept the same aspect ratio and quadrupled the resolution to make it a non-issue. Neither is an option now with the next iphone unless ofcourse they want to pull off another 3.5" screen phone.

Gambler_3

[QUOTE="Gambler_3"]

Let the widescreen iphone come you all gonna see that too much unification can be such a bad thing as the ecosystem will simply be caught unprepared. Apple has always kept the same aspect ratio and quadrupled the resolution to make it a non-issue. Neither is an option now with the next iphone unless ofcourse they want to pull off another 3.5" screen phone.

musicalmac

"a number of developers who said that they trust Apple will not make it more complicated to design applications for a number of different iPhone screen sizes."

"Ken Soto, CEO of Massive Damage Inc., which makes iOS games like Please Stay Calm (iTunes link), told Ogg he doesn't think Apple would introduce a new aspect ratio, as that would require developers to redesign their application's user interface."

If apple doesnt change the aspect ratio you either have a small screen or an uncomfortably wide phone. There is no magical solution here!! For a large screen phone 16:9 is the only ratio which makes sense, if apple doesnt adopt it then clearly the unification is holding back progress which is pretty sad if you ask me.

A 4" phone with 3:2 aspect ratio is going to be wider than something like the galaxy S2. That obviously wont go well with alot of people that like the iphone for it's one handed friendliness.

You obviously did not even read your own link.

"a number of developers who said that they trust Apple will not make it more complicated to design applications for a number of different iPhone screen sizes."

"Ken Soto, CEO of Massive Damage Inc., which makes iOS games like Please Stay Calm (iTunes link), told Ogg he doesn't think Apple would introduce a new aspect ratio, as that would require developers to redesign their application's user interface."

If apple doesnt change the aspect ratio you either have a small screen or an uncomfortably wide phone. There is no magical solution here!! For a large screen phone 16:9 is the only ratio which makes sense, if apple doesnt adopt it then clearly the unification is holding back progress which is pretty sad if you ask me.

A 4" phone with 3:2 aspect ratio is going to be wider than something like the galaxy S2. That obviously wont go well with alot of people that like the iphone for it's one handed friendliness.

Gambler_3

[QUOTE="Gambler_3"]

You obviously did not even read your own link.

"a number of developers who said that they trust Apple will not make it more complicated to design applications for a number of different iPhone screen sizes."

"Ken Soto, CEO of Massive Damage Inc., which makes iOS games like Please Stay Calm (iTunes link), told Ogg he doesn't think Apple would introduce a new aspect ratio, as that would require developers to redesign their application's user interface."

If apple doesnt change the aspect ratio you either have a small screen or an uncomfortably wide phone. There is no magical solution here!! For a large screen phone 16:9 is the only ratio which makes sense, if apple doesnt adopt it then clearly the unification is holding back progress which is pretty sad if you ask me.

A 4" phone with 3:2 aspect ratio is going to be wider than something like the galaxy S2. That obviously wont go well with alot of people that like the iphone for it's one handed friendliness.

musicalmac

Primary platform \\=\\ best platform. Consoles are the primary platform for most games yet PC provides better experience. Ya sure you get a bad port here and there but for most games PC is the way to go. Similarly with android the punny little iphone screen is no match for most high end android screens and hence you get a better gaming experience with 95% of the games. The likes of GTA3 and max payne feel a bit cramped on a 4" screen let alone a 3.5" screen.

Android tablets lack support so far and are really no match for ipad in tablet optimized apps. But phones are a different story I dont know of a SINGLE app that is incompatible with galaxy S2 and galaxy nexus.

But for some time alot of apps will be incompatible with the new iphone, that'll be pretty interesting to see about the worlds most unified smartphone OS. ;)

Primary platform \\=\\ best platform. Consoles are the primary platform for most games yet PC provides better experience. Ya sure you get a bad port here and there but for most games PC is the way to go. Similarly with android the punny little iphone screen is no match for most high end android screens and hence you get a better gaming experience with 95% of the games. The likes of GTA3 and max payne feel a bit cramped on a 4" screen let alone a 3.5" screen.

Android tablets lack support so far and are really no match for ipad in tablet optimized apps. But phones are a different story I dont know of a SINGLE app that is incompatible with galaxy S2 and galaxy nexus.

Gambler_3

[QUOTE="Gambler_3"]

But for some time alot of apps will be incompatible with the new iphone, that'll be pretty interesting to see about the worlds most unified smartphone OS. ;)

Primary platform \\=\\ best platform. Consoles are the primary platform for most games yet PC provides better experience. Ya sure you get a bad port here and there but for most games PC is the way to go. Similarly with android the punny little iphone screen is no match for most high end android screens and hence you get a better gaming experience with 95% of the games. The likes of GTA3 and max payne feel a bit cramped on a 4" screen let alone a 3.5" screen.

Android tablets lack support so far and are really no match for ipad in tablet optimized apps. But phones are a different story I dont know of a SINGLE app that is incompatible with galaxy S2 and galaxy nexus.

musicalmac

And what I was saying above is that better developer support does not always mean better experience when there are inherent limitations in the hardware.

So what are those significant apps that are not on android? Because if you cant show that then all your claims about developer interest blah blah is completely irrelevant.

And what I was saying above is that better developer support does not always mean better experience when there are inherent limitations in the hardware.

Gambler_3

[QUOTE="musicalmac"][QUOTE="Gambler_3"]

But for some time alot of apps will be incompatible with the new iphone, that'll be pretty interesting to see about the worlds most unified smartphone OS. ;)

Primary platform \\=\\ best platform. Consoles are the primary platform for most games yet PC provides better experience. Ya sure you get a bad port here and there but for most games PC is the way to go. Similarly with android the punny little iphone screen is no match for most high end android screens and hence you get a better gaming experience with 95% of the games. The likes of GTA3 and max payne feel a bit cramped on a 4" screen let alone a 3.5" screen.

Android tablets lack support so far and are really no match for ipad in tablet optimized apps. But phones are a different story I dont know of a SINGLE app that is incompatible with galaxy S2 and galaxy nexus.

And what I was saying above is that better developer support does not always mean better experience when there are inherent limitations in the hardware.

[QUOTE="musicalmac"][QUOTE="Gambler_3"]

But for some time alot of apps will be incompatible with the new iphone, that'll be pretty interesting to see about the worlds most unified smartphone OS. ;)

Primary platform \\=\\ best platform. Consoles are the primary platform for most games yet PC provides better experience. Ya sure you get a bad port here and there but for most games PC is the way to go. Similarly with android the punny little iphone screen is no match for most high end android screens and hence you get a better gaming experience with 95% of the games. The likes of GTA3 and max payne feel a bit cramped on a 4" screen let alone a 3.5" screen.

Android tablets lack support so far and are really no match for ipad in tablet optimized apps. But phones are a different story I dont know of a SINGLE app that is incompatible with galaxy S2 and galaxy nexus.

Gambler_3

And what I was saying above is that better developer support does not always mean better experience when there are inherent limitations in the hardware.

"Claims?" These aren't claims. They're facts backed by solid evidence that were conveniently provided to you. However, you refuting empirical data backed up by just you saying "I don't see it," THAT'S a claim. One that you can't back up other than using "self-experience" as your anchor. facepalmKid-Atari