Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

iOS Tops Android For Number of New App Projects From Developers

Posted by Soulskill on from the easier-to-code-for-just-the-one-button dept.

Analytics firm Flurry recently posted a report comparing the new projects being undertaken by developers for mobile apps on Android and iOS. According to their data, significantly more projects are started for iOS than for Android. The gap has been slowly shrinking over the past few quarters, but it's still bigger than it was a year ago. "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." The iPad's dominance of the tablet market is one of several reasons for the gap. "In Flurry’s estimation, the fragmentation of the Android platform is increasing the cost and complexity of app development, perhaps curbing third-party investment in software."

10 of 122 comments (clear)

  1. ??? This makes no sense... by Tharsman · · Score: 1, Insightful

    Ok I love my iPhone, I tend to be "on Apple's side"... but this sounds like BS... I mean, there is an absurd number of apps for Android, I think it dwarfs iOS App Store app count... what are they using as their definition of "project"?

    Perhaps the real news here is that a huge chunk of Android developers don't care for Flurry as their analytic solution, at least relatively speaking compared to iOS developers.

    1. Re:??? This makes no sense... by MobileTatsu-NJG · · Score: 2, Insightful

      What's so hard to beleive? Apple had trained their customers to pay for apps.

      --

      "I like to lick butts!" by MobileTatsu-NJG (#32700246) (Score:5, Informative)

    2. Re:??? This makes no sense... by LordLucless · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Probably because it's another cherry-picked statistic to support the previously-determined answer they want. Who cares about "projects started" as a metric? How many of those projects are going to even be completed? The reason they picked such a meaningless metric is because it supported the view they wanted to present. I wish /. would stop with these stories. I think it's obvious by now that both Android and iOS are feasible mobile platforms, we don't need fanboys from either side posting their stat-of-the-day that demonstrates that their choice is the best.

      BTW, in the interests of full disclosure, I love my Nexus S and tend to be "on Google's side".

      --
      Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean there isn't an invisible demon about to eat your face
    3. Re:??? This makes no sense... by noh8rz3 · · Score: 1, Insightful

      I would say that apple has trained their developers to write apps that are worth paying for.

    4. Re:??? This makes no sense... by obarthelemy · · Score: 4, Insightful

      There's a huge number of apps for both platforms, way beyond what any individual could possibly use. It's time journos grew up moved from a "size" contest to a "quality" contest: it's not about who has the most apps anymore, but about who has the best amongst the 20 that real people actually use (mail, web, maps, FB, twitter, ebooks, video, music, office...). Too bad that's soooo much harder to do articles on: it requires research, tests, hands-on experience....

      --
      The Cloud - because you don't care if your apps and data are up in the air.
  2. Surprise? by DogDude · · Score: 3, Insightful

    The customer base for I* stuff is obviously much more willing to part with their money than other people (their gadgets are significantly more expensive than others). If you've got to choose one platform or another, it only makes sense to develop for the I* customers.

    --
    I don't respond to AC's.
  3. Follow the money by willoughby · · Score: 2, Insightful

    iOS users have been conditioned to pay for apps, and (I would think) are more likely to pay. I would expect a developer to consider iOS first just because it's more likely to show a return.

    1. Re:Follow the money by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Insightful

      Android users have been condition to stealing to them according to a study I read not long ago stating that something like 30% of Android apps
      are widely available on pirate sites.
      Dont turn your back on your wallet with an adroid user around !!

      *This comment will probably be deleted according to posts i made in the past,
      good to know that slashdot dose not believe in freedom of speech.

    2. Re:Follow the money by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

      "I would expect a developer to consider iOS first just because it's more likely to show a return."
      Damn straight, sounds like Android users have been conditioned to believe that 99c is far too much to reward developers for their work. Damn cheapskates, buy a phone worth hundreds and expect all their extra games and apps to be free.

  4. Re:Self-perpetuating by Tharsman · · Score: 3, Insightful

    More developers concentrate on iOS, leading to better monetization on iOS.

    Apple touts better monetization, and developers continue to concentrate on iOS.

    It's not some big mystery.

    I can't believe this. I am a developer, I focus first on iOS, but I don't buy more developers focusing on iOS.

    I believe more developers that are willing to invest time and money on polish do go for iOS first. I believe there is more money on iOS. But ignoring quality, just looking at sheer numbers, there are more Android developers out there.