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Why I'm investing in Windows Phone and skipping Android

blog.cubeofm.com

21–30 of 52 posts

Re: Why I'm investing in Windows Phone and skipping Android

#21

I think he has a point in that I pretty much have the impression that windows phone and iphone users will be more likely to spend a dime on something, as compared to android users I know :)

Hmm, the economical success of the iphone apps was always linked to the high number of pre-existing itunes accounts. Said that, android and w7 phones looks the same from the app dev point of view. In my opinion, currently the problem with android users is that they are still more "educated" than their iphone counterpart and less prone to spend money on one of the multitude of the copycat/not-polished/useless apps the the average iphone user throw money at. And we could also discuss about the maturity of the android market offer as a whole... Still hard to find application comparable to the iphone best ones (see games).

Re: Why I'm investing in Windows Phone and skipping Android

#23
post #13

Was he paid by MS to write that (Microsoft cares that he makes money - in more then one way)?

If this were about Apple, I don't think anyone would even think that the person were being paid. No, Microsoft did not pay me, just the same as Google did not way me to write my article about Google Wave.

It's just that it sounded very one-sided in a very weird way. For example pointing to the countless .NET developers. There are countless Java developers, too. Same with the "they'll throw money at it to make it successful" - so will Apple and Google.

Many of the other points are mostly a matter of taste, I suppose.

Why does Microsoft care that you earn money?

Good luck with Windows Mobile!

Edit: I just remembered another thing - smart people can rationalize everything. Maybe you are just trying to rationalize your decision for yourself, that is why it sounds a bit weird to the outside.

Re: Why I'm investing in Windows Phone and skipping Android

#24

I think he has a point in that I pretty much have the impression that windows phone and iphone users will be more likely to spend a dime on something, as compared to android users I know :)

I think that the Windows Phone market (>30 crowd) are a great market. They have money, small amounts don't matter to them, they are not so jaded and have not already seen everything on reddit. They also are not aware that they can do a lot of the things they buy for free on some website. That's the problem with Android - it targets the nerd market, which is the worst market to sell software to.

> They also are not aware that they can do a lot of the things they buy for free on some website.

Or alternatively (in my case) they know a free alternative exist, but they are ok to pay on a paid version if it saves them some time to be spent with their friends, kids, hobbies or sideprojects.

Re: Why I'm investing in Windows Phone and skipping Android

#25
As an Android user for the past several months there is not a single app that would compel me to stay on the platform.

I've been patiently waiting for the Android Market to start filling up with polished apps, fun games, and tools to help me at work. Unfortunately, I'm several months in and the best-selling games are Bejeweled knock-offs, and a $3.99 version of Doodle Jump. I didn't make my choice of phone platform based upon game selection, but it definitely seems that iPhone developers are focused on building businesses and making money, while Android developers are mainly hobbyists, tinkering on niche projects.

To the author's point, if the existing .NET development community can leap-frog Android in terms of app output and app quality, then they would make a believer out of me.

Re: Why I'm investing in Windows Phone and skipping Android

#26
post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If this were about Apple, I don't think anyone would even think that the person were being paid. No, Microsoft did not pay me, just the same as Google did not way me to write my article about Google Wave.

It's just that it sounded very one-sided in a very weird way. For example pointing to the countless .NET developers. There are countless Java developers, too. Same with the "they'll throw money at it to make it successful" - so will Apple and Google. Many of the other points are mostly a matter of taste, I suppose. Why does Microsoft care that you earn money? Good luck with Windows Mobile! Edit: I just remembered ano…

Obviously, deluding myself into believing what I want to believe is a big problem that we all face. But I'm well aware of this, and I've factored it in into my decision. I'm here for the money, not for any misguided loyalty to open or free software or any company. It appears to me that Microsoft is going to do the right thing. It has the prerequisites for this.

Re: Why I'm investing in Windows Phone and skipping Android

#27
post #19

This blog post is sooo bad and uninformed, it's hard to believe he is making money with mobile software. So, to his points: Google does not care about me. Google does not give me any mode of getting in contact with them. With both Apple and Microsoft, I have access to their developers Mh, what? Freenode irc channels, google code open issue trackers? a LOT of forums and blogposts to learn from? Official "support" on s…

> Current Hardware (Droid & Nexus One) is fast and responsive, no doubt about that.

I have a variety of current generation smart phones sat on my desk. I can assure you Android is still the least responsive OS :)

My personal choice is an iPhone and I dont agree. :)

> Last time i checked finding iPhone dev information was rather hard due to NDA stuff

Just as a point I think max was talking about getting in touch with developers at Apple, Google and Microsoft. Not just getting in touch with other developers on the platforms. (Google are people notoriously hard to get hold of at times :D So I am guessing that's what he means). Though I make no comment on if he is right or not.

Re: Why I'm investing in Windows Phone and skipping Android

#28
Apple won this round because they already had access to people's pocketbooks through existing iTunes users.

It will take years (5?) for any other company to build up a marketplace like iTunes. Honestly, Amazon or eBay could out-compete Google or Microsoft in this area right now, because they have regular paying customers. Hell, Amazon already has some experience with mobile devices (Kindle).

Re: Why I'm investing in Windows Phone and skipping Android

#29

The downside of Windows Phone 7 is that it is the most limiting and sandboxed development platform of all mobile operating systems. No native code execution like Android, no multitasking, no direct access to the camera, no sockets support and more. Even Silverlight has less restrictions.

no sockets support? sounds like a dealbreaker. does it have something similar to take up the slack, like a web access framework or something?

Re: Why I'm investing in Windows Phone and skipping Android

#30

The downside of Windows Phone 7 is that it is the most limiting and sandboxed development platform of all mobile operating systems. No native code execution like Android, no multitasking, no direct access to the camera, no sockets support and more. Even Silverlight has less restrictions.

Android has native code execution via the NDK:

http://developer.android.com/sdk/ndk/index.html

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