Apple Apps vs Android Apps no comments
Industry analyst firm International Data Corporation (IDC) and Appcelerator, an iPad, mobile and desktop application development platform, recently conducted a survey of 2400 international app developers.
The Appcelerator-IDC Q4 Mobile Developer Report found that developers see a long-term strategic advantage in using Android over Apple iOS.
Some of the interesting findings from the survey:
- 72% of developers say Android “is best positioned to power a large number and variety of connected devices in the future”, compared to 25% for iOS. As a result, 59% of developers now favor Android’s long-term outlook, vs. 35% for iOS. This gap has widened 10 points since the June survey.
- However, Apple iOS continues to dominate in all categories relating to market/revenue opportunity and current devices. iPhone continues to lead overall developer sentiment with 91% saying they are "very interested" in developing for the device compared to 82% for Android phones.
- Developers show enthusiasm for connected TVs, with 44% saying they are ‘very interested’ in developing for Google TV vs. 40% for Apple TV. Explained Scott Ellison, VP Mobile & Wireless, IDC, “Apps are poised to help remake the television viewing experience just as they have remade the mobile experience. Television needs new and more effective ways to create immersive experiences, engage audiences with advertisers, integrate social networks, and drive viewership of original broadcasts,” he added. “The television players who most effectively integrate app developers into their connected TV strategies are poised to potentially remake the television experience as we know it.”
- Android tablets are poised for developer lift-off: At 62% expressing strong interest, Android has similar enthusiasm to the iPad at an analogous point in time (last January pegged iPad at 58%). This is great news for Android tablet device OEMs. On the other end, new research shows webOS and BlackBerry tablets currently have little interest from developers (16% for both), indicating HP, RIM, and other tablet platform challengers need to generate significant developer enthusiasm well in advance of upcoming launches.
- Fragmentation remains a key concern for Google, with 74% of developer respondents describing iOS as "least fragmented" but only 11% describing Android as such.
Concerning Oracle’s lawsuit against Google (claiming that Android infringes on its Java related patents), 93 percent of developers surveyed thought it had little or no impact on their enthusiasm for Android. When asked about Apple’s recent easing of iOS development restrictions, 83 percent of respondents said the move has little or no impact on their enthusiasm for iOS.
You can read a summary of the survey at Appcelerator.com.
