Really I don't see the iPhone or Android as suitable platforms for commercial development. It's too high volume, low cost, competitive and open to every Tom, Dick and Harry with an SDK. It's fine for big companies to devote some resources to releasing their product on the platform as even if it's unsuccessful they'd be largely unaffected.
For small companies or individuals focusing on iPhone/Android development solely though I don't think it's a wise move. They have limited resources and have to rely on their application staying afloat in an ever expanding ocean. The worst thing is that a lot of the time other developers can just come along and release an app that's similar (and maybe even better) for a lower cost or possibly for free.
My view is that the app market is in a position where if you want to dip your feet in you shouldn't quit your day job to do so. It's just too volatile to risk your livelihood on it.
I feel it. I have a number of applications on the Android Market, and even on the apps that I get good feedback on that I'm charging as little as 99 cents on, I'm not making nearly enough to pay for my time. I love Android and will keep Android as my primary phone platform, but I am thinking of abandoning any hope of ever making a profit on it... meaning that I'll just keep on maintaining what I have but not release anything new.
I do blame Google for not having a for-pay application framework in place at launch. If they did, all app developers would be doing much better right now.
i really wish app developers would stop bitching, its really getting old honestly. I understand some parts are not fun, but then go develope for symbian like you where for many years!?! why do you have to complain about the app store and android, personally i am glad you are leaving.
i am glad they are leaving because those people leaving don't seem to have what it takes to wait?! to make some money, Symbian doesnt even have a real "sdk" and just making an app is horrible!
Point being, i feel as the people complaining seem to be the people who just wanted to get a quick buck and realized it wasnt so easy, as far as the major devs getting pissed off. GAMELOFT SUCKS. all they did was poorly port apps to android, and they are slow, sluggish, and never updated, and mostly don't work, i bought one of there apps on android, and would never by another, and people seem to agree based on there reviews.
Part Duex? Prolly meant "Part Deux", I'm guessing.
Anyhow, the gist of this story is that Android doesn't have the large number of phone users to sell to, unlike Apple. I think we need to just give it time... time for a GSM Droid phone like Milestone to come to T-Mo (or so I hope).
@ninjagin: I think another big issue is what Android has been on so far.
Recently I tried out the moto Droid and it's a great phone. I'm not totally sold on it but it's really the first Android phone that impressed me (the G1 just seemed like a clunker to me. A friend of mine had it and he wasn't too happy with it).
But many times it just seemed that Andriod was on meh devices.
But that is changing. There are a few other Android devices that look pretty cool, but they aren't available here in the US of A.
I think now that Android is appearing on better phones, it will improve a lot. It wasn't necessarily Android itself but the hardware it was on (though they should have multi-touch by now).
@snoop_dizzle: Aye. I got about ten minutes with a Droid phone last week and it was pretty sharp stuff. The display is amazing. I don't want to change carriers, though. The GSM variant of Droid, sold in the UK as "Milestone", is what I'm waiting for.
It wasn't so clear from the article, so if I were to use an Android, my contacts would be downloaded to the device from the Google cloud?
i.e. if I happen to be in area with no access to the net from my Android phone, would I still have my contacts on the phone? (perhaps a silly question, but I just want to clarify). #iphone
I so desperately hate att, but I love my iphone. In kind, I so desperately want to love android, but I just don't see it serving me as well as my iphone, even with a better carrier. Android has potential though, I'm just waiting for the day android is ready for me. Oh dear sweet pastries, bake! #iphone
Salient points on both sides. I happen to have upgraded (and ported) last night from the G1 to the Droid, and am quite pleased with the result! My brother and his friends have iPhones, and I have concluded that much of my feelings about the debate are similar to ploopsy's: iPhones "just work" and are for those who prefer it to be this way. That does not by any means indicate that iPhones are not for techies: I am an IT consultant and many colleagues have iPhones. I prefer Android because I am a proponent of open-source and understand the architecture (and extensibility) of the Android "stack".
Android is a far different approach than iPhone's: it's multi-carrier, multi-platform, multi-tasking. You can see Android on not only dozens of handsets, but also book readers, netbooks, and even TVs. Apple has been able to control internal costs and quality by relying on a small set of devices (three models) via a consistent manufacturing specification.
No matter where you stand in the camp, let's agree on this: the more real competition Android vs. Apple can muster, the better it becomes for the consumers. Apple now has an even larger incentive to ensure Android doesn't take away from its market share, and Android has a large amount of momentum to chip away at Apple via multiple carriers and handsets, not to mention a much smaller App Market which can learn lessons from an already-established Apple iTunes market.
Again, this competition is a wonderful thing for us. The fierce Apple-vs.-Android battle will rage in 2010. Be prepared for both hardware and software surprises from both sides, as innovation will be the watchword for the coming year. #iphone
@sjfischr: "The fierce Apple-vs.-Android battle will rage in 2010. Be prepared for both hardware and software surprises from both sides, as innovation will be the watchword for the coming year."
Following that article, that got me all riled up. Now I want live sensationalistic battlefield coverage from big media when things heat up! #iphone
@Gordonium: I don't know about sensationalistic battlefield coverage from big media, but if you'd like, I could set you up with a stereo that loops "Eye of the Tiger" to set behind you while you read Giz. #iphone
did anyone else think it was absolutely ridiculous that a person using a android phone would/shouldn't be paying for something with food stamps? #iphone
I feel as though i have to give my 2 cents. on android. I bought a G1 near its release, And yes something things it did better then iphone, But honestly iphone OS 3.0 fixed most of that.
The iphone is ahead right now! in two years, or a year, i will decide and move on then. But i was tired of android sucking for so long, the first year was really lame, so i wanted something good now! not something with potential.
The gmail app i miss alot, but google sync with exchange is great. and honestly im happy now, i see myself switching back to android in the not so distant future, but right now i feel like it is still a teenager and an iphone can already go to bars. #iphone
Apples crushing dictatorial grip? How old are you?
Droid doesn't
256MB only for apps with Android
No multi-touch
Slow
Not as good a web browser
Poor app selection.
Lousy physical and onscreen Keyboard.
Mediocre camera.
Yeah. Don't think you will be seeing many switchers. But anything for page views right?
Edited by HeartBurnKid: Agent of R.O.A.C.H. at 11/06/09 7:25 PM
HeartBurnKid: Agent of R.O.A.C.H. was starred
HeartBurnKid: Agent of R.O.A.C.H. was unstarred
For all you guys suffering from crappy battery life, I recommend you get a program called APNdroid, it kills your 3g and 2g connections saving you a ton of battery life. When you want to go online just click on it and everything is back to normal. I forgot what the barcode is but it is easy to find in the market. #iphone
11/23/09
For small companies or individuals focusing on iPhone/Android development solely though I don't think it's a wise move. They have limited resources and have to rely on their application staying afloat in an ever expanding ocean. The worst thing is that a lot of the time other developers can just come along and release an app that's similar (and maybe even better) for a lower cost or possibly for free.
My view is that the app market is in a position where if you want to dip your feet in you shouldn't quit your day job to do so. It's just too volatile to risk your livelihood on it.
11/21/09
I do blame Google for not having a for-pay application framework in place at launch. If they did, all app developers would be doing much better right now.
11/20/09
i am glad they are leaving because those people leaving don't seem to have what it takes to wait?! to make some money, Symbian doesnt even have a real "sdk" and just making an app is horrible!
Point being, i feel as the people complaining seem to be the people who just wanted to get a quick buck and realized it wasnt so easy, as far as the major devs getting pissed off. GAMELOFT SUCKS. all they did was poorly port apps to android, and they are slow, sluggish, and never updated, and mostly don't work, i bought one of there apps on android, and would never by another, and people seem to agree based on there reviews.
11/20/09
11/20/09
11/20/09
11/20/09
Anyhow, the gist of this story is that Android doesn't have the large number of phone users to sell to, unlike Apple. I think we need to just give it time... time for a GSM Droid phone like Milestone to come to T-Mo (or so I hope).
11/20/09
Recently I tried out the moto Droid and it's a great phone. I'm not totally sold on it but it's really the first Android phone that impressed me (the G1 just seemed like a clunker to me. A friend of mine had it and he wasn't too happy with it).
But many times it just seemed that Andriod was on meh devices.
But that is changing. There are a few other Android devices that look pretty cool, but they aren't available here in the US of A.
I think now that Android is appearing on better phones, it will improve a lot. It wasn't necessarily Android itself but the hardware it was on (though they should have multi-touch by now).
11/20/09
11/08/09
i.e. if I happen to be in area with no access to the net from my Android phone, would I still have my contacts on the phone? (perhaps a silly question, but I just want to clarify). #iphone
11/08/09
11/07/09
11/07/09
Android is a far different approach than iPhone's: it's multi-carrier, multi-platform, multi-tasking. You can see Android on not only dozens of handsets, but also book readers, netbooks, and even TVs. Apple has been able to control internal costs and quality by relying on a small set of devices (three models) via a consistent manufacturing specification.
No matter where you stand in the camp, let's agree on this: the more real competition Android vs. Apple can muster, the better it becomes for the consumers. Apple now has an even larger incentive to ensure Android doesn't take away from its market share, and Android has a large amount of momentum to chip away at Apple via multiple carriers and handsets, not to mention a much smaller App Market which can learn lessons from an already-established Apple iTunes market.
Again, this competition is a wonderful thing for us. The fierce Apple-vs.-Android battle will rage in 2010. Be prepared for both hardware and software surprises from both sides, as innovation will be the watchword for the coming year. #iphone
11/07/09
Following that article, that got me all riled up. Now I want live sensationalistic battlefield coverage from big media when things heat up! #iphone
11/07/09
11/07/09
Smartphone Battle 2010: "This time the 'butt rock' is personal..." #iphone
11/07/09
11/07/09
11/06/09
[spanningsync.com] #iphone
11/06/09
The iphone is ahead right now! in two years, or a year, i will decide and move on then. But i was tired of android sucking for so long, the first year was really lame, so i wanted something good now! not something with potential.
The gmail app i miss alot, but google sync with exchange is great. and honestly im happy now, i see myself switching back to android in the not so distant future, but right now i feel like it is still a teenager and an iphone can already go to bars. #iphone
11/06/09
Droid doesn't
256MB only for apps with Android
No multi-touch
Slow
Not as good a web browser
Poor app selection.
Lousy physical and onscreen Keyboard.
Mediocre camera.
Yeah. Don't think you will be seeing many switchers. But anything for page views right?
11/06/09
11/06/09
[www.zindus.com] #iphone
11/06/09
11/06/09
11/06/09