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Apple Increases Dominance of Mobile Shopping

bdking writes "If you purchased something online from a mobile device in December, there's a 92% chance you used an iPad or iPhone. And if so, you probably spent more money than someone making an online purchase with an Android or a desktop computer."

136 comments

  1. android market sale...? by SpiralSpirit · · Score: 2

    this statistic seems unlikely.

    1. Re:android market sale...? by jhoegl · · Score: 2

      I agree, and I quote the Simpsons for my logical reasoning
      "You can make statistics prove anything Kent, 15% of all people know that" - Homer Simpson

    2. Re:android market sale...? by arkane1234 · · Score: 2

      Not necessarily, since Apple customers by very demographic have more money.

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    3. Re:android market sale...? by Lexx+Greatrex · · Score: 2

      this statistic seems unlikely.

      TFA labels RichRelevance as a "retail analysis company" giving the reader the impression that the statistics arise from an impartial survey of global consumer behavior such as provided by organisations like Forrester Research. RichRelevance is neither independent nor impartial. It is a company that provides e-commerce, advertising and marketing services to "retailing partners sites" and by this very nature cannot cited as an authoritative or reliable source.

    4. Re:android market sale...? by ifiwereasculptor · · Score: 2

      The numbers across our retailing partners sites

      From TFA. That could be an explanation - a biased sample, especially if the Apple store is one of the partners. They sell a lot and mostly to iOS devices.

      Maybe they only track "apps" and Android owners tend to use their browsers more or they are redirected to it from an app (which is forbidden in iOS, if I recall correctly).

      Could it be that Android on a tablet doesn't identify itself as a mobile browser? (this is easy to check, I just can't since I don't own a tablet)

      It's hard to take statistical data seriously when you don't know how it was generated. Especially when it looks suspicious like this. iOS users spending 19% more seems not that farfetched, but for them to account for 92% of all sales is hard to believe.

    5. Re:android market sale...? by msauve · · Score: 1

      I don't think they're including "app store" purchases, but web purchases through on-line retailers (Amazon, Target, Walmart, etc.).

      --
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    6. Re:android market sale...? by narcc · · Score: 2

      Not necessarily, since Apple customers by very demographic have more money.

      Actually, that distinctions belongs to Blackberry users.

      Rich Smartphone Users Opt for Blackberry over iPhone: Survey September 26, 2011:

      Most affluent smartphone owners prefer BlackBerry over the iPhone, and Android remains the people’s choice in the middle or upper-middle income group, according to a survey.

    7. Re:android market sale...? by meerling · · Score: 1

      (You knew this was coming) "There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics."

      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lies,_damned_lies,_and_statistics

    8. Re:android market sale...? by jonbryce · · Score: 1

      I don't think that's the case in the UK. Most Blackberry users here tend to be teenage girls who like the fact you can send unlimited free texts using Blackberry messenger.

    9. Re:android market sale...? by narcc · · Score: 3, Interesting

      That is true. BBM is one of the main reasons that Blackberry is so popular with the youth. (That and the most amazing keyboard on the market -- it's a pleasure to type on, and has only improved with time. Try out the keyboard on a 9900 sometime, you'll be astonished.)

      Really, Blackberry has something for everyone. From teens and rioters to wealthy business persons and celebrities, RIM has the software and hardware that most optimally meets their needs.

    10. Re:android market sale...? by OvERKiLLsFFT · · Score: 1, Informative

      I do not have an Android tablet (yet), but I am pretty sure they usually identify themselves as an iPad (So admins don't have to make 50,000 profiles) or a Desktop (Because an android can actually render a desktop version of a page properly), dramatically skewing these results. Not to mention that 3rd party browsers can report themselves as whatever the hell they want, while an iOS device has no option.

    11. Re:android market sale...? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Your money is waiting on the office, narcc, good job!

      --RIM

    12. Re:android market sale...? by SomePgmr · · Score: 2

      Really? I wasn't surprised. There's been quite a lot written lately about the platform differences and spending. Applications in the android market simply don't make anything near the kind of money that iphone apps do. That's why all the apps you see in googs market have ads... android users don't buy and developers want to bring in some revenue.

      Some big name developers have been saying that the Kindle has had a major impact on sales though. It seems Fire owners are much more likely to purchase apps from the Amazon store than other android users from google's market.

    13. Re:android market sale...? by RDW · · Score: 1

      RichRelevance is neither independent nor impartial

      ...and (FWIW) this is the only time I recall following a link in a Slashdot story (second link, TFA) to find the site blocked by Web of Trust:

      http://www.mywot.com/en/scorecard/richrelevance.com

    14. Re:android market sale...? by jbolden · · Score: 2

      I've liked the 2 Blackberries I've had. And as far as a texting phone, they are amazing.
      But the web experience on an iPhone is incomparably better.

      Really I think Blackberry should drop down to 200mb data plans with unlimited texting and emails. That seems to be their sweet spot. The problem is right now I have to pay the same (essentially) for a Blackberry as an iPhone.

    15. Re:android market sale...? by narcc · · Score: 0

      The web on BB has been fantastic since OS6 -- The old Torch (9800), for example, had better support for HTML 5 than the iPhone until iOS5 Take look.

      That is to say, the browsing experience is so vastly improved from the old days that it's really worth taking a second look at what RIM has to offer.

    16. Re:android market sale...? by Vrtigo1 · · Score: 1

      It may have been better in terms of standards support, but as someone who's spent considerable time with all three of the devices, Android and iOS blow BB away when it comes to web browsing. It's not even close.

      BB's strengths are security, battery life, keyboard, Exchange integration, BBM. Android's strengths are openness, wide variety of handsets, social networking integration (through HTC Sense, TouchWiz, etc). iPhone's strengths are polished UI, the App Store, facetime, and out of the box compatibility (I.E. iCloud, iTunes, Apple TV, etc).

    17. Re:android market sale...? by ynp7 · · Score: 1

      And less sense.

    18. Re:android market sale...? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1
      No, they identify themselves as Android. The Motorola Xoom, for example, provides this user agent string.

      Mozilla/5.0 (Linux; U; Android 3.0; en-us; Xoom Build/HRI39) AppleWebKit/534.13 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/4.0 Safari/534.13

      While the iPad 2 provides this.

      Mozilla/5.0 (iPad; U; CPU OS 4_3_1 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/533.17.9 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/5.0.2 Mobile/8G4 Safari/6533.18.5

    19. Re:android market sale...? by AmiMoJo · · Score: 1

      Indeed, you could equally conclude:

      - only rich people can afford Apple products

      - some retailers don't count Android browser hits

      - Apple users try to justify their purchase to themselves by using it for everything while Android users pick the best tool

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    20. Re:android market sale...? by 517714 · · Score: 1

      How is an iPad not perfectly suited to the task? If an Android user must choose another tool to make online purchases, then that is a poor reflection on the capabilities of Android. I do not believe that to be the case. I suspect a lot of Android users are savvy enough to set their browser so it appears as a desktop browser so that they do not get the streamlined/reformatted feed.

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    21. Re:android market sale...? by mollymoo · · Score: 1

      > Not to mention that 3rd party browsers can report themselves as whatever the hell they want, while an iOS device has no option.

      An iOS _device_ has no option? Safari on iOS may not have an option to spoof the user agent but 3rd party iOS browsers do.

      --
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  2. In other news by Colin+Smith · · Score: 3, Funny

    Apple iPad and iPhone users are found to have had their personal sense of values warped by the Jobs reality distortion field. Retailers are said to be intrigued.
     

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    1. Re:In other news by AmiMoJo · · Score: 1

      Apple customers tend to spend more. It is a triumph for Apple and a rip off for consumers.

      --
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    2. Re:In other news by sonicmerlin · · Score: 1

      Jobs is dead. Get over yourself.

  3. Wrong! by chinton · · Score: 1, Funny

    I just checked, and I have found that I have a 0% chance of making a purchase using and iPad or iPhone.

    1. Re:Wrong! by arkane1234 · · Score: 1

      You're a 1%'er ;)

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    2. Re:Wrong! by meerling · · Score: 1

      He doesn't have an iphone/ipad.
      That's my guess.
      Either that or his phone service has been disconnected, or he has no money to make said purchases.

      I'm in one or more of those situations myself. :)
      One of my sisters just got a Galaxy Tab, she's very happy.

    3. Re:Wrong! by rbgaynor · · Score: 1

      Maybe he just doesn't get any signal in his parents basement?

      --
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  4. What are they buying? by will_die · · Score: 3, Insightful

    With average orders being over $100 what are people buying that they would use a tablet or phone for instead of a desktop?
    I have tried ordering a few things uses a smart phone it kind of sucks unless it is a known item.

    1. Re:What are they buying? by Frankie70 · · Score: 4, Funny

      With average orders being over $100 what are people buying that they would use a tablet or phone for instead of a desktop?

      IPad was the #1 purchase on the IPhone & the IPhone was the #1 purchase on the IPad.

    2. Re:What are they buying? by medv4380 · · Score: 1

      It's not so much that they couldn't buy it using a PC. They are just a different group of people who tend to spend more money then average people. I could have told you that about any Mac or Apple Addict 10 years ago.

    3. Re:What are they buying? by arkane1234 · · Score: 2

      You haven't used one, I imagine.
      It's quite easy to surf the net, and buy stuff when the need comes. I've done christmas shopping through the ipad & my desktop. Through Amazon, Absinthes.com, and a couple of other sites that escape me at the moment. The screen on my iphone is too small for my use like that, but I have added things to my Amazon wish list when on the iphone.

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    4. Re:What are they buying? by timeOday · · Score: 1

      $475 ipad cases, of course.

    5. Re:What are they buying? by Lehk228 · · Score: 1

      The amazon.com app for blackberry is quite nice

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    6. Re:What are they buying? by Trogre · · Score: 1

      Android tablets.

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    7. Re:What are they buying? by Idbar · · Score: 1

      And in related news, people seen spending money were seen spending more money.

  5. excellent! by TechnoLuddite · · Score: 5, Funny

    Android phones are obviously money-saving devices!

    1. Re:excellent! by UBfusion · · Score: 2

      +1, I think this is the most important result so far.

    2. Re:excellent! by RogerWilco · · Score: 1

      What I've seen between myself anf a lot of colleagues and friends that own smartphones is that those with an iPhone buy the applications, while those with an Android phone use illegitimate copies.

      I think the main reason people buy more stuff on the iPhone, is that it's much harder to put illegal copies on an iPhone than it is to put something on an Android.

      The biggest purchases I've made on my iPhone are various TomTom applications. These have been very useful during business and holiday travels. Most of my friends and colleagues with Android phones all have illegal copies of map apps and trade them a lot.

      Android is the new Windows.

      I think it might be good news for Google, but bad news for software developers.

      --
      RogerWilco the Adventurous Janitor
    3. Re:excellent! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      while those with an Android phone use illegitimate copies.

      FYI, google maps and navigation is hardly illegitamte.

    4. Re:excellent! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      That's complete bullshit. Nobody I know with an Android device uses pirated copies of applications. There's no need to - anything worthwhile is already free!

      All this study shows is stuff that everyone knows already - Apple users have more money than self control.

    5. Re:excellent! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I used to be a Windows user (read: thief) but the huge amount of free software is why I haven't spent a cent on Android software yet It's far more functional than the iPhone I had that I downloaded everything in sight for. What programmes would I or could I buy for Android excluding games (3DS)? I can do everything (albeit not as well) that I can do in Linux on a desktop. I imagine the Linux software sale statistics would look the same: Surprise!

    6. Re:excellent! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Funny, the people I know that use android never use illegitimate copies of apps, and the people I know that use iOS devices do use illegitimate apps.

    7. Re:excellent! by AmiMoJo · · Score: 1

      It's true, just compare the cost of USB/dock charcgers and cables. The common bits everyone needs are cheaper.

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    8. Re:excellent! by jon3k · · Score: 1

      I have no idea how to load an Android app that's not from the market but I sure know how to jailbreak and use Cydia.

  6. Right, because IOS is 15% of the market by sl4shd0rk · · Score: 0

    FTFA: "iPad and iPhone shoppers account for 90% of all mobile purchases; " Quite a bit different than the summary, eh?

    All this means, dear summarizer, is that 90% of all mobile purchases are done by people with iphones. It's no indication that the iphone is dominating anything, except maybe people with money to burn.

    [0] - http://articles.businessinsider.com/2011-11-15/tech/30400455_1_ios-iphone-smartphone-market

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    1. Re:Right, because IOS is 15% of the market by arkane1234 · · Score: 3, Informative

      Thats... kinda.. what ... this.. article.. says...
      Thus the title... "Apple Increases Dominance of Mobile Shopping".

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    2. Re:Right, because IOS is 15% of the market by sydneyfong · · Score: 4, Insightful

      How is "90% of all mobile purchases" not "dominating mobile shopping"? It's exactly "dominating the market of people with money to burn", that's what is claimed and no more.

      The fact that you somehow read it as "dominating mobile devices market share" or the likes, is your own comprehension problem.

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  7. I bought an ironic t-shirt ironically by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    tweeted from my iPad

  8. Self-fulfilled research by UBfusion · · Score: 5, Informative

    If you can afford an iPhone 4Gs 64GB (€898.99 in my country, no contract) or an iPad 2 Wi-Fi 64GB ( €719.00), it's evident you have plenty more to spend online.

    1. Re:Self-fulfilled research by arkane1234 · · Score: 1

      In my country (USA) an iPhone 4s 64GB is $849 (no contract), and an iPad 2 Wi-Fi 64GB is $699.

      Of course, that's nearly maxing out each of those devices, though.
      You can get an iPhone 4s 16GB for 649 and an iPad 2 Wi-Fi 16GB for $499.

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    2. Re:Self-fulfilled research by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I see lot of poor people with iPhones, since they can get it with a credit ("subsidized" by an operator). It's a poor financial choice, but it's very common. It's pretty popular because it's a shiny status symbol.

    3. Re:Self-fulfilled research by UBfusion · · Score: 1

      If a difference of 849-629 = $220 is really such a deterrent to a prospective US buyer, whose average income is 6+ times our income, he shouldn't be buying an iPhone in the first place.

      The main issue is that purchases made with iDevices are gossip/tweet/facebook newsworthy, while purchases made with lowly Android devices are doomed to be scuffed upon.

    4. Re:Self-fulfilled research by SvnLyrBrto · · Score: 1

      6+ times? I think your math is off.

      According to averagesalarysurvey.com, the median income here in the US is $46,300. And the median income in the EU (Well... I'm assuming bit. But you did use the â in a previous post.) is â38,000 which converts to $49,605 at the current exchange rate; a somewhat higher income, actually.

      Now, I know that taxes are higher in Europe so your actual take-home is probably lower. But you do get services for those taxes (better schools, public health care, mass transit that actually works) that are inadequate, for-pay, or entirely unavailable here.

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    5. Re:Self-fulfilled research by SvnLyrBrto · · Score: 1

      Crud. Apparently, what my computer thinks is the symbol for the Euro and what slashdot thinks is the symbol for the Euro do not agree.

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    6. Re:Self-fulfilled research by dward90 · · Score: 1

      Legitimate question: are you exaggerating? Average household income in the U.S. 31,000 dollars (in 2007). The countries I see with 1/6th of that are Turkey and Mexico. Are you from either?

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    7. Re:Self-fulfilled research by Synchblade · · Score: 1

      Ditto. In fact, exactly what I was thinking when reading this article. I mean, a comparably priced ($499) tablet (Asus Transformer Prime) is quad-core vs. the iPad's dual-core processor, and a 12 hour battery vs. a 10 hour battery. Thanks to Amazon.com for the technical info. The only reason you would get an iPad is if you have a MacBook ($999) and/or an Apple TV ($99) and you want to synchronize and link stuff to other stuff and have all manner of compatibility with other Apple products. If you have all these, you probably have enough money to buy some pretty expensive stuff, online or otherwise.

    8. Re:Self-fulfilled research by Otter+Popinski · · Score: 1

      Yes. He is getting paid in euros in Mexico. And Turkey.

    9. Re:Self-fulfilled research by mollymoo · · Score: 1

      The EU is not a country.

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    10. Re:Self-fulfilled research by jon3k · · Score: 1

      He doesn't know where the author is from so he's generalizing.

  9. Re:Apple Fanboys have more money? by king+neckbeard · · Score: 2, Interesting

    The amount of money one spends and the amount of money one has aren't inherently linked. I seem to remember reading once that Apple users were more likely to have their accounts overdrawn than others. I'm far too lazy to try and dig that up again, so please feel free to consider it unsourced speculation.

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  10. So Why is this News? by Nom+du+Keyboard · · Score: 3, Insightful

    ...you probably spent more money than someone making an online purchase with an Android or a desktop computer.

    But if you're an Apple fanboi you've already proven that you like spending lots more money, so why is this news?

    --
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    1. Re:So Why is this News? by horza · · Score: 1

      I was thinking the same. If you like over-priced hardware then why not over-priced software too? Why get something for free on Android when you can pay for it via iTunes and get that "spending buzz" shoppers can get addicted to.

      Phillip.

    2. Re:So Why is this News? by UBfusion · · Score: 1

      You are in the right direction, but you have to consider that most Apple fanbois don't know they are fanbois - they just do it subconsciously.

    3. Re:So Why is this News? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Hmm...

      This sound's like a butt-hurt Android fanboi

  11. Different demographics by HideyoshiJP · · Score: 2

    I'd imagine that with the iPad being seen as more of a luxury item and most iPhone users having a bit more disposable income than the 1 cent Android phone owners, it's only natural that this would occur. In other news, Volkswagen owners are 3 times more likely to wear beanies or recycle.

    1. Re:Different demographics by Daniel+Phillips · · Score: 1

      I imagine that mePhone owners are more likely to buy the latest Apple product while Android owners are more likely to buy shares on the stock market with their disposable income.

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    2. Re:Different demographics by HideyoshiJP · · Score: 1

      Actually, I doubt many traders use Android phones. The general public has the impression that Apple products "just work," so naturally the trading types would want to use that as they're just "too busy" to deal with something like Android. I've found Android attracts the tinkerers, the engineers, the geeks and the people who can't justify the cost of an iPhone. All but the latter likely have more disposable income, but they're also not the type that spends their money on sweaters, living room decor or jewelry. They'd rather spend their money on new toys to play with, and often times they don't want to spend a lot on them. I realize this is a HUGE generalization and there are a million and one exceptions to this, but that's been my perception of the user base for each platform.

    3. Re:Different demographics by Daniel+Phillips · · Score: 1

      "Buying stocks" is not "trading". I should know :-)

      Yes, your generalization is huge. I can say I'm seeing more Android phones in the hands of cab drivers these days, and corporate executives too. I suppose it's all just part of a shift in perception of where the value and utility is. I can also say that on my most recent plane trip I didn't see any iPads and most laptops stayed in their bags but there was a massive amount of interest in the Xoom I was using with a bluetooth keyboard, which turns out to be a workable combination on the teensy dinner tray even when my seat is up and the seat in front of me is reclined. Something I was never able to do with a laptop. It's the portfolio case ($23) that makes this work, and the battery bump on the back of the keyboard, which just happens to hook over the portfolio case in such a way that I can touch type without contorting or dropping everything on the floor. So I'll call this progress, and hey, value. I don't really mind using the touchscreen instead of a mouse, but a lot could be done to reduce the number of times I have to take my hands off the keyboard. What's nice is, with Android I can easily fix a lot of this myself, and I don't need anyone's permission to share it. Last time I brought along a netpad just in case, but I never used it, so next trip I feel I only need two gadgets: Xoom and G2. Either one gives me full connectivity including ssh to my home server, which has been a big help on several occasions. Basically the Xoom gives me a full size keyboard and screen and a front facing camera, otherwise these gadgets provide equivalent functionality. Hmm, now that I'm thinking about it I guess I want to dock one to the other. Both already have a microsd card so that gives some minimal level of file transfer, but you have to pull the battery on the G2. Emergencies only. I tried Bluetooth pairing between the Xoom and G2 just now and it works. You have to make one or the other discoverable. It should also be possible to connect them by USB cable, I think the magic word is "Micro USB Male to USB A Female Adapter", $1.35 on Amazon. This might even charge the G2, then I don't even need to take a charger for the G2 on the road. The Xoom is another story, I forgot to bring its custom charger last time and as a result needed to conserve power by putting it in standby, then it made it through the 3 day trip OK. Next time I will bring at least the car charger ($32 on Amazon) and probably that's it - no sense risking leaving the AC adapter in some hotel room. Anyway, this is turning into an Android advertisement which I didn't intend. What I did intend is to say something about why Android devices satisfy my needs. The flip side of that is, Apple's devices satisfy my needs only if I lower my expectations and spend a lot of money.

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    4. Re:Different demographics by HideyoshiJP · · Score: 1

      I have no doubt about the utility of an Android device. I have an Acer A500 and I love the thing to death. I realize Android's user base is expanding, but I'm also playing upon stereotypes (just like the marketing companies!). Also, I totally know the whole forgotten charger experience. I went without my tablet for a week.

    5. Re:Different demographics by jaysones · · Score: 1

      Or pet kittens or perhaps donate to charity. Android just makes you better!

  12. iPhone and iPad owners spend more freely? by erice · · Score: 0

    Who would guess that owners of expensive devices marketed for style rather that practicality would be less careful with their money?

    1. Re:iPhone and iPad owners spend more freely? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      It's true. Rich people have no conception of value at all. That's how they got rich!

  13. The Future by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    "Please connect to our online store using a preferred device" or "To take advantage of our special discount please use the appropriate device"

  14. Re:Apple Fanboys have more money? by Galestar · · Score: 1, Informative
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  15. Re:its quite simple by Galestar · · Score: 1

    All merchandisers know that iUsers have more money than sense and price accordingly.

    Note: this is not to say that they have a lot of money, but rather that they don't have much sense.
    There is a myth that goes something like "Macs are expensive, therefore only the wealthy can afford them.". Not the case - in fact it is the opposite - these people simply do not know how to manage their money.

    http://www.neowin.net/news/one-in-five-iphone-users-constantly-overdrawn>

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  16. People with more money than sense. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Apple fans love spending unnecessarily large amounts of money on pointless crap. Film at 11.

  17. Re:its quite simple by arkane1234 · · Score: 1

    Dude, it's the same sites that you shop through... just a different device.

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  18. I am the 8% by swillden · · Score: 1

    I like that much better than being the 99%.

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    1. Re:I am the 8% by UBfusion · · Score: 1

      I like the way you think, that's called artificial scarcity.

  19. Translated by lennier1 · · Score: 1

    "The majority out there consists of idiots who'll pay more than necessary."

    Seems about right.

  20. Re:Apple Fanboys have more money? by Animats · · Score: 0

    The amount of money one spends and the amount of money one has aren't inherently linked.

    Very true. Read "The Millionaire Next Door".

    Use it up
    Wear it out.
    Make it do.
    Or do without

  21. Conclusion is... by Daniel+Phillips · · Score: 1

    Apple device owners are spendthrifts, Android owners are frugal. And the news is?

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  22. Hit a Nerve? by Wingsy · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Boy, just reading through the comments shows that this article really hit a nerve with the Android "fanbois".

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    1. Re:Hit a Nerve? by Daniel+Phillips · · Score: 1

      Actually, this troll article hit my funny bone.

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    2. Re:Hit a Nerve? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      I think slashdot should be renamed to AndroidFanLayer. The Android fans are relentless here.

    3. Re:Hit a Nerve? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yes, and anyone who uses the word "fanboi" is, in fact, a fan-boy themselves.

      There has always been some serious e-peen insecurity here on slashdot but this Apple/Android crap is ridiculous.

    4. Re:Hit a Nerve? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      its not an epeen thing. There is a fundamental difference in the founding culture of slashdot and what is now an acceptable mainstream perspective on hardware, software, intellectual property: slavery.

    5. Re:Hit a Nerve? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I think slashdot should be renamed to AndroidFanLayer. The Android fans are relentless here.

      It's a technology site. People who are into technology have a better grasp of what effect technology has and don't like the walled garden, lock down and lock in.

      (P.S. Walled garden = victimization. You're too dumb to take care of yourself so nurse Apple has to come and spoon feed you)

    6. Re:Hit a Nerve? by AmiMoJo · · Score: 1

      You assume it's a bad thing. Not getting ripped off on accessories is good for consumers. At best all this shows is thar Apple hardware is popular with rich people.

      --
      const int one = 65536; (Silvermoon, Texture.cs)
      SJW, n: "Someone I don't like, and by the way I'm a fuckwit" - AC
    7. Re:Hit a Nerve? by Wingsy · · Score: 1

      Rich people? None of the people I know who have Apple products would I call rich. In fact, the few rich ones I do know use ole timey flip phones. Maybe, just maybe, it shows that people who prefer Apple devices know quality when they see it. And quality is usually priced higher than junk.

      --
      If I didn't have absolutely NOTHING to do, I wouldn't be here.
    8. Re:Hit a Nerve? by AmiMoJo · · Score: 1

      WHOOOSH

      I'll explain it for the couple of other people who like you completely missed the point in their rush to be outraged and defend their lord Jobs. I was not saying those things are necessarily true, just that the rather useless statistics in TFA could be interpreted to demonstrate pretty much anything you like.

      --
      const int one = 65536; (Silvermoon, Texture.cs)
      SJW, n: "Someone I don't like, and by the way I'm a fuckwit" - AC
  23. Speaking as an apple guy by arcite · · Score: 1

    I just bought a cheap 4 gig Philips MP3 player at Radio Shack..cost me $100 and came with an arm band and headphones. The interface sucks, the ergonomics suck, and the colour is boring black...but it was 1/3 of the equivalent ipod (atleast here in Egypt). Anyhow, the only reason why I bought it was because I was having a cheap day and it was a present. Otherwise it would have been Apple premium all the way.

    1. Re:Speaking as an apple guy by narcc · · Score: 1, Informative

      Odd, I bought a cheap 2GB Sandisk MP3 player for $30 and added a 4GB SD card. The interface is simple and the ergonomics are great (It's comfortable to use, and you don't even need to look at it at all to operate it.) It comes in several different colors, and mounts as a drive under Windows, Linux, Macos, and even MS-DOS with DOSUSB installed. (No need to install iTunes crapware. I can also optionally use any one of many different programs to manage my files, if you like that kind of interface.)

      It was way cheaper and MUCH more versitile than buying the equivalent Apple product (Oh, wait, Apple doesn't have an equivalent product! My bad.)

      "Apple premium" costs more and does less.

      I'm sorry that your Philips MP3 player was a waste. Perhaps you should do a bit more investigation before you make your next purchase?

    2. Re:Speaking as an apple guy by kyrio · · Score: 1

      That's interesting because the SanDisk Sansa Clip, which is a highly recommended product, is only $40 and it has everything working great for it.

      Also interesting because you can get a huge selection of Cowon PMP, which are infinitely more powerful and useful than any Apple product, for much less than the cost of an Apple product.

    3. Re:Speaking as an apple guy by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      lmfao... you went to Radioshack? HAHAHAHA

    4. Re:Speaking as an apple guy by RogerWilco · · Score: 2

      What I really like about the modern smartphones is that instead of a lot of gadgets I only need to carry one. It's all of the following rolled into one: Map, TomTom, MP3 player, phone, address book, calendar, alarm clock, compass, portable gaming device, portable email device, portable browser, music tuner, metronome, noteblock, etc.

      I used to carry an iPod, PDA, mobile phone, metronome/tuner, compass, TomTom, Gameboy, and sometimes even more stuff. I used to buy coats with a lot of big pockets.

      Now I just carry a smartphone.

      --
      RogerWilco the Adventurous Janitor
    5. Re:Speaking as an apple guy by narcc · · Score: 1

      Yeah, my phone does all those things as well. Still, sometimes a special-purpose device is a better match. ("works" and "works well" are often worlds apart.)

      I have GPS in the car, because it's better suited than a phone for long trips. I have an MP3 player because it's easier to use without looking at the display. (It's also nice for travel, as I'm not worried about conserving my phone battery on long trips where I may not have access to an outlet for a long time). I have a kindle because the eink display is much nicer for reading than a tablet or smartphone screen.

    6. Re:Speaking as an apple guy by MichaelSmith · · Score: 1

      He did say in Egypt. Maybe they really are the place to buy consumer electronics in that part of the world.

    7. Re:Speaking as an apple guy by lexman098 · · Score: 1

      Wouldn't the pda be capable of what the ipod does? Also, who carries a compass?

    8. Re:Speaking as an apple guy by arose · · Score: 1

      Sansa Clip+ plus with Rockbox is a great combo. Sure, a smartphone also plays music, but it's huge (phones were shrinking nicely before people decided to do things that need big screens on them) and you can't make calls after you listen the battery empty.

      --
      Analogies don't equal equalities, they are merely somewhat analogous.
  24. So which is better to own? by Dennis+Sheil · · Score: 1

    I develop for Android and own a Samsung 10.1" Galaxy (Android) tablet. I know someone who owns an iPad.

    Several months ago, I wanted to give them SSH access to a server. So I looked at what iPad had to offer. I could find no free SSH client (as of a few months ago). Not even an ad-supported one. The best I could come up with was a nagware one - it allowed you 500 or so SSH keystrokes and then logged out and asked you to buy the client.

    Meanwhile on my Android tablet, I have a free SSH client. It doesn't even have ads, it's open source! ConnectBot. There are other free Android ssh clients as well, but ConnectBot works for me so that's what I know.

    Admittedly, I know more about Android than iPad. But the one thing I ever needed from iPad, I couldn't get for free. On Android I could. So which would I want to own more?

    And as I said, I develop Android apps. If there was no good free SSH app for Android, I could have developed one. But there was one - ConnectBot. ConnectBot has no ads, but I would have been perfectly happy to have used a free SSH app with ads.

    There are many revenue models for applications. Most of the top free apps have various alternative methods of getting revenue - and not just the apps like Facebook or ESPN Sportscenter. Ads are just one method, there's also upselling, and other revenue models.

    At the end of the day, the real question is not what's good for the developer, but what's good for the customer? We have a platform that is developer-friendly but not user-friendly, it's called the Linux desktop. I like platforms that are good to developers, but there are many ways Android is good to developers that Apple is not. It costs me $25 for life to publish and Android app, without any application approval process (not $99 to $299 a year like Apple). I can publish the app anywhere, not just Apple's walled garden App Store. I can write and compile my app on Linux, Windows, Mac or whatever - I don't have to buy a Mac and then get Xcode. And it's not no one ever buys Android apps - some apps have made millions of dollars in sales (that we can see - in-app sales, ad revenue etc. is less visible). The revenue model just depends on the particular app.

    1. Re:So which is better to own? by LDAPMAN · · Score: 2

      You didn't look very hard. There are quite a few, there are even more that $.99 to $3.99. Two bucks is too much for you to contribute to some developer who did a great job of implementing a useful utility?

    2. Re:So which is better to own? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I ran smack into this problem myself. For an app, I spent $10 on iSSH, a commercial app that is decent. However, I ran into this problem again when wanting to do gpg/PGP stuff. No apps on the iPhone allow you to generate keys! So for this stuff, I had to jailbreak (and with iOS 5.0.x, most apps don't run, and the JB available are tethered, and the sole JB for the iPhone 4S won't be released until Apple gets iOS 5.1 out. Even before that, the terminal program on a jailbroken iPhone would crash on startup and had to be replaced by manually finding and installing the .deb file. At least the ssh and gpg stuff installs well in Cydia, but with iOS 5.x so difficult to work with, even this route is almost useless.

      So, I ended up getting an Android device. Connectbot is great. I paid for Better Terminal Emulator Pro, and that has been working well. SSH isn't an issue, nor is signing/encrypting with PGP. To boot, an OS update is not going to put me out of business, especially if I choose to re-ROM and go with CyanogenMod. If my next phone can't be rooted, I'm still fine.

      This shows the iPhone developer mentality. For most tasks, it works well. However, if you don't/can't do it "their" way (S/MIME E-mail comes to mind as it wasn't included until iOS 5.x), you are out of luck.

      A good example of this is the task of ssh-ing into a box, grabbing a document, PGP encrypting it, and mailing it to a friend of mine. On Android, I fire up BTEP, scp the file to the SD card, fire up APG, then mail it off. On a new iPhone 4s, this is an impossibility. No jailbreaking, so the command line ssh and gpg programs are not usable, and you can't really copy a file from the remote server to the phone, then let another app have the file to encode and mail. The only way I can do this on my iPhone is to spin up a VM on linode.com, then use iSSH to ssh in, and from that VM, do the scp, gpg, and email out.

      Symantec would take this market by storm if they put out a version of PGP for Android and iOS. In fact, they are sitting on mobile versions of PGP for Windows Mobile and other mobile operating systems. I definitely would buy a PGP app that could do files and clipboard signing/encryption/validation/decrypting.

    3. Re:So which is better to own? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      posting anon to preserve moderation. but there are at least 2 free SSH clients for the iPad now.

    4. Re:So which is better to own? by jbolden · · Score: 1

      Or instead of hacking your device, you can just go legit...

      Get the Apple SDK, and install whatever you want on your phone with no headaches or hassles.

    5. Re:So which is better to own? by ImFrom4Chan · · Score: 1

      There are many revenue models for applications. Most of the top free apps have various alternative methods of getting revenue - and not just the apps like Facebook or ESPN Sportscenter. Ads are just one method, there's also upselling, and other revenue models.

      Don't you just love it when amateurs spout how the professionals should go about feeding themselves?

      there are many ways Android is good to developers that Apple is not.

      /me spews latte all over his Mac Pro. (I kid, I'm on my Windows box)

    6. Re:So which is better to own? by narcc · · Score: 1

      Or instead of hacking your device, you can just go legit...

      Legit? Are you saying that jail breaking is illegitimate now?

      Shame on you! Someone with a user id as low as yours should certainly know better!

  25. Re:its quite simple by meerling · · Score: 1

    Amazon is know for quoting different prices for different people. It's also rather easy to identify what platform/browser is being used, unless they are spoofing their info. (But who does that with mobile devices?)
    It is possible that Amazon doesn't give iphone/ipad browsers the same price/discount they give to others. Note, this is not an accusation. I have no idea if they are doing that, but it is rather easy to do.

    If you want to test this, use a computer (not a mac), to check the prices on some things on Amazon. Don't use an account, you don't want it linked to you personally, just the machine being used. If possible, a machine that has never been to Amazon before would be best, since it wouldn't have any other user data for them to use to mess with the pricing.
    (Note, Amazon has been caught giving different prices to new visitors vs returning visitors.)
    Then look up the same stuff on and iphone. Again, don't log into an account or anything, just browse to the item.
    Are the prices different?
    Please tell us your results.

  26. Not so much by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    If you can afford an iPhone 4Gs 64GB (€898.99 in my country, no contract) or an iPad 2 Wi-Fi 64GB ( €719.00), it's evident you have plenty more to spend online.

    That the average iPhone/iPad owner probably has more money than the average smartphone owner is not news.

    That the (relatively small) number of iPhone and iPad owners collectively spend much, much more than the (relatively large) number of other smartphone owners collectively spend is big news.

    And in many countries, the iPhone 3GS is free, or available for the price of a Coke, with contract.

    1. Re:Not so much by kyrio · · Score: 1

      That the average iPhone/iPad owner probably has more money than the average smartphone owner is not news.

      Actually, that is news. From the articles that have been posted in the past, it seems more like Apple product owners are constantly overdrawn due to their lack of sense and lack of money.

  27. Re:its quite simple by Darth+Snowshoe · · Score: 1, Troll

    Statistics prove it! Also, I've read that Apple users have poor personal hygiene, poor grammar, and they tend to be poorer than Android users at sports involving any kinds of mittens or gloves. They have poor depth perception and have less tolerance to squeaky chalkboard noises. They are congenitally incapable of playing trombones, and as a class of people have flatter arches and more brittle cuticles than their non-walled-garden counterparts. SUCK IT apple-heads, revenge is suh-weeeeeee-et!

  28. Re:its quite simple by Galestar · · Score: 1

    They are congenitally incapable of playing trombones

    Not anymore! There's an app for that!
    http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/ibone-the-pocket-trombone/id306629300?mt=8

    --
    AccountKiller
  29. Congrats... by stevenfuzz · · Score: 1

    You have been iScrewed.

  30. Carrier IQ data has verified this . . . by PolygamousRanchKid+ · · Score: 1

    See, this information that Carrier IQ collects is very useful to the folks where it ends up. It is good for retailers to know if you are ordering something from an iPhone/iPad, so they can adjust the price accordingly.

    In this case, up. And they know that you will probably buy more expensive stuff, so they can direct more advertising to you.

    All this makes the markets and economy more efficient, so this is good for everybody.

    Probably.

    I think.

    --
    Schroedinger's Brexit: The UK is both in and out of the EU at the same time!
  31. $123 for Apple, $101 for Android, but $87 for PCs? by G3ckoG33k · · Score: 1

    $123 for Apple mobile devices, $101 for Android devices, but $87 for desktop PCs?

    Sounds very unlikely, to me, that mobile devices would average more expensive purchases than the desktop, even on average. I guess they don't count all the small apps for Apple devices, and ignore larger purchases typically done from your home PC, like used (an new) cars and hi-fi equipment etc.

    Very strange numbers.

  32. that's why by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    If IOS slogan is "There's An App For That" (it really should be "There's An Expensive App For That") Android slogan must be "There's An Free App For That"

    1. Re:that's why by gatkinso · · Score: 1

      That is pretty damn good.

      --
      I am very small, utmostly microscopic.
    2. Re:that's why by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Or the Android slogan, "There's A Free App For That" (virus included)

  33. Wife uses an Acer Iconia by gatkinso · · Score: 1

    And she does all the shopping.

    So there.

    --
    I am very small, utmostly microscopic.
  34. Actually, by pgpalmer · · Score: 1

    given that I don't HAVE an iPad, iPod, or iPhone, the chances are closer to 100% (I DO have an Android phone).

    Oh, you meant "you" as in everybody averaged? Then use proper grammar.

  35. In other news iOS users are Lazy by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Get off the couch and go shopping you lazy jerks.

  36. hmmm? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    var agent=navigator.userAgent.toLowerCase();
    var is_iphone = ((agent.indexOf('iphone')!=-1);
    if (is_iphone) {
                            price *= 10;
    }

  37. Not the same by SuperKendall · · Score: 1

    FYI, google maps and navigation is hardly illegitimate.

    That's all network based though. TomTom, and various other nav apps carry the maps with you on-device - so when service gets spotty you still have navigation.

    Network based maps are fine for city use but for longer road trips (especially in less populated states or along lots of side roads) it's a must to have a real navigation application. On any device.

    --
    "There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
  38. Phones are special purpose. by SuperKendall · · Score: 1

    Still, sometimes a special-purpose device is a better match. ("works" and "works well" are often worlds apart.)

    The thing is almost no devices fall into the "works well" category. Applications on a phone can however reach that status, because software can become excellent in a way a dedicated device fails to reach.

    I have GPS in the car, because it's better suited than a phone for long trips.

    I REALLY prefer Navigon or TomTom iPhone software to a few different dedicated GPS devices I have had.

    I have an MP3 player because it's easier to use without looking at the display.

    If you have inline controls with an iPhone/Touch you don't need to look at it either - just click to advance/pause/go back. Or even better, use one of the many car integration solutions.

    I'm not worried about conserving my phone battery on long trips where I may not have access to an outlet for a long time

    That made no sense to me. A USB adaptor for a lighter plug is what, $5? Then the phone just stays charged. I have a dashboard cradle for the iPhone (really universal, not tailored to any device) and it works great at holding maps up for display and also having someplace I can run a charging cable to for ease of use.

    I have a kindle because the eink display is much nicer for reading

    That is one area where I think a dedicated device is truly an improvement because eInk is hardware you cannot replicate with software.

    --
    "There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
    1. Re:Phones are special purpose. by narcc · · Score: 1

      That made no sense to me. A USB adaptor for a lighter plug is what, $5?

      Think airplane. This is to say nothing of pleasure travel that may also put you out of reach of electricity for an extended period. (Though the user-replacable battery on Blackberry and some Android phones does mitigate this problem quite a bit.)

    2. Re:Phones are special purpose. by SuperKendall · · Score: 1

      Think airplane.

      For domestic flights, use as a music for 2-4 hours player hardly moves the iPhone battery.

      For the occasional 9-10 hour international flight, you can also easily use it as a music player while having at least half a charge when you arrive. Even for movies you can use it for three or four movies, and if you are concerned simply attach a battery pack (I've never needed one, even for the longer 14 hour flights to Asia).

      This is to say nothing of pleasure travel that may also put you out of reach of electricity for an extended period.

      Yeah, I have a solar charger for that. But I've almost never needed to use it, even in Africa we had chargers in cars. It broke and I didn't bother buying a replacement.

      (Though the user-replacable battery on Blackberry and some Android phones does mitigate this problem quite a bit.)

      Annoying compared to external battery packs since they generally are not charged when you need them and do not last nearly as long as a good external battery pack (even ones that take up the same amount of space).

      Devices with sealed batteries last much longer too, so it's a double win.

      --
      "There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
    3. Re:Phones are special purpose. by narcc · · Score: 1

      It's not easy to defend non-user replaceable batteries. Especially knowing that batteries lose their ability to hold a charge over time.

      This makes your statement "Devices with sealed batteries last much longer too" difficult to believe.

      Of course, no matter what options or solutions you can offer, the fact remains that using a dedicated device instead of my phone means that I'm not using my phones battery for that purpose -- none will always beat out some.

      On external battery packs, I've tried tons of the things from the cheap $20 models to the high-end $100 models. I've found them just slightly less than useless. I went through four of the things trying to get my wife's Android phone to last through a work-day before just giving in and buying an extra battery. She would charge one in the evening and swap them out before bed (to have two charged batteries at all times). [In the end, she switched to a Blackberry to avoid the hassle altogether. Though this isn't relevant.]

      We're not likely to come to any middle ground on the above, but I would like to revisit a point you made earlier:

      Applications on a phone can however reach that status, because software can become excellent in a way a dedicated device fails to reach.

      This is where we really differ.

      The software is only a part of what makes a device usable. Take my Kindle, for example, eink we already agree is an advantage in that dedicated device, I'll also add that the position and size of the page turn buttons is a big advantage in terms of usability that swiping a screen to turn pages. (Less effort, etc.).

      In the case of the mp3 player, it's smaller size, less fragile hardware, and tactile buttons (more than just skip/back/pause/play) mean I can carry it on me in more ways than I can my phone, I'm less worried about damaging it from where it's placed, I can access almost every function without looking at the display. These are all advantages that software simply can't address where the hardware is lacking.

      In the case of the GPS, I much prefer a larger screen than the one on my phone. Granted, I like the GPS software I have on my phone -- it's very nice and super easy to use -- but, again, the dedicated device simply suits my needs much better. We can revisit this when we have software-resizable hardware :)

      None of these points can be addressed by software. In short, software can never make up for hardware that isn't well suited for the task.

      That's my take anyhow.

    4. Re:Phones are special purpose. by SuperKendall · · Score: 1

      It's not easy to defend non-user replaceable batteries. Especially knowing that batteries lose their ability to hold a charge over time.

      Sure it is. They are better in every conceivable way.

      They may lose charge over time, but here's the thing; because they start out with a far higher capacity, AND they do not lose the ability to charge as quickly, after two or so years you merely have battery life that is as bad as it would have been with a replaceable battery - and then you can simply pay a one-time fee for a new battery that is only slightly higher than a new battery would have been to start with.

      I had phones with replaceablle batteries for years. I was having to get a new battery once or twice a year. That's two - four batteries over two years so why is that a BETTER scene than one where in two years I pay the same amount as 1.5 batteries to get a whole new battery with a vastly better charge?

      You are confusing the ability to do something you might need to do once every two years with something you have to do DAILY with a phone - make use of the charge that it holds.

      , the fact remains that using a dedicated device instead of my phone means that I'm not using my phones battery for that purpose -- none will always beat out some.

      Two devices to keep charged and powered is always worse than one.

      Again, I have to point to me own experience. I also used to have separate devices (GPS, MP3 player). Like you at the time I thought that situation was better...

      Perpahs then it was. But now, the way things are I can assure you it is not. Instead of having a GPS for hiking and a GPS for driving, I just have two different apps (which BTW both are greatly superior to the dedicated devices at the tasks for which they are made). Instead of an MP3 player I have my phone. Meanwhile I have to charge the iPhone only once every three days or so, vs. making sure the GPS units had batteries and/or were plugged in when using.

      It's simply better in every way now.

      On external battery packs, I've tried tons of the things from the cheap $20 models to the high-end $100 models. I've found them just slightly less than useless. I went through four of the things trying to get my wife's Android phone to last

      And here's the real problem. For whatever reason, you will not get devices built with an all-consuming drive to reduce battery life. So it's no wonder you have these feelings and issues.

      I can use an external battery pack with my iPhone and then get another three days of light use, 15-20 hours (!) of music, six or so hours of video. Those are not bullshit marketing numbers, those are real world use numbers - even after more than a year of use.

      The software is only a part of what makes a device usable. Take my Kindle, for example

      Yes, dedicated CAN be superior, I did agree the Kindle is once case.

      But connection adds a huge degree of advantage that is hard to overcome even with good hardware. There are enough hardware buttons on the iPhone that it makes as good a music player as anything, plus of course it can have your whole music library on demand with something like iTunes match. A GPS unit can be OK but nothing beats one with instant map updating all the time and very purpose dedicated map sets.

      Lastly of course, the iOS world has a ton of accessories that provide the hardware needed to make use easier for specific tasks - like cases for cameras or easier music controls for cars with in-line headphone attachments.

      Even the screen issue can be addressed with something like an AirPlay enabled screen in a car... there are lots of ways you can extend a mobile device that bring it up to par hardware wise with dedicated solutions, and with the added degree of connectivity and better battery solutions, it brings the experience as a whole past the dedicated devices.

      --
      "There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
  39. price manipulation through apps. by ruckerz2k · · Score: 1

    probably spent more money than the equivalent purchase on Android / computer?

    I'd believe it. If you purchase through an app, the prices displayed are at the mercy of the provider. I once tried to price match Amazon's prices on its iOS app vs amazon.com .. you'd be surprised. I'd swear they were manipulating their prices based on what device you were viewing it from.

  40. Buying something in Googles appstore is a PITA by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    A lot of people here in Germany use debit cards, not credit cards: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Debit_card#Germany
    And since I can't pay with my debit card -- that I can use in the whole EU --, I don't buy anything.

  41. Re:$123 for Apple, $101 for Android, but $87 for P by DarkXale · · Score: 1

    PC users are probably more likely to use multiple stores for their needs. So an iOS user or Android user files a single purchase for $400, a PC user files 4 for $100 each (or more likely, $95 average each, saving $20).

  42. What about ereaders? by Fizzol · · Score: 1

    Does this study take into account the number of people buying ebooks from their e-ink devices? There are an awful lot of Kindles, Nooks, and Kobos out there (Sonys too, but I don't think they let you buy books directly off the device).