I've opted for Android to make some cash, and from what I see, the android market keeps growing but for some reasons, android users seems to not care much about apps, or at least spending money for apps, at the other hand iphone users spend a lot. Android will shortly probably have the biggest market share, but iphone users will keep spending money, as Business men (not developper, we are talking about money, not the ToS of apple), where do you think the most money will be? Care to share your views?
Ask HN: Android or iPhone Os, where do you think the money is for developers?
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Re: Ask HN: Android or iPhone Os, where do you think the money is for developers?
#2Platform debates aside, I think the easy answer is to follow the money.
iPhone users have a track record of spending money - the iTunes App store is a huge success. I have seen more stories of iPhone developers making scads of money than I have for Android. Having said that, that is a catch-22. The successes represent around 1% of all of the apps in the store.
The one emerging problem with the iTunes App store, however, is discoverability. It is damned hard to get discovered within the iTunes App store. Clearly to be successful, you have to get a lot of good buzz outside of the App store.
Re: Ask HN: Android or iPhone Os, where do you think the money is for developers?
#3I don't want to be "this guy", but if you have an idea capable of producing revenue and the execution and marketing skills to put it into peoples hands; there's no reason you shouldn't be able to release it to both platforms.
It sounds like your after "code a weekend and get paid millions". Which is a statistically non-existent market on either of the platforms.
Re: Ask HN: Android or iPhone Os, where do you think the money is for developers?
#4Short term definitely the iPhone, longer term probably the android.
Re: Ask HN: Android or iPhone Os, where do you think the money is for developers?
#5I don't want to be "this guy", but if you have an idea capable of producing revenue and the execution and marketing skills to put it into peoples hands; there's no reason you shouldn't be able to release it to both platforms. It sounds like your after "code a weekend and get paid millions". Which is a statistically non-existent market on either of the platforms.
> It sounds like your after "code a weekend and get paid millions".
What gave you that impression? Or has the submission been edited?
Re: Ask HN: Android or iPhone Os, where do you think the money is for developers?
#6These numbers are a few months old, but they may help you make your decision:
http://tech.fortune.cnn.com/2010/02/25/6-ways-iphone-and-and...
Re: Ask HN: Android or iPhone Os, where do you think the money is for developers?
#7I remember seeing a study not too long ago that examined how many apps a typical user on each platform downloaded and how many they paid for. The iPhone users were just a little more spendy than the Android users.
Now, there is a whole lot more competition in the App Store and Android is growing a lot faster. So I suspect the real answer is Android, but that is just conjecture and doesn't take into account the iPad.
I wish I could remember where that study was.
Edit: Magneus linked to what I was thinking of
Re: Ask HN: Android or iPhone Os, where do you think the money is for developers?
#83 years ago I bought my first Apple computer. Coming to the Apple platform, I was amazed by all the apps my fellow co-workers would buy for their Macs. Most of them were just simple stupid things that cost only a few bucks but I could never see an average non-Apple user buying. I have no statistical evidence, but it seems like Apple users are more susceptible to buying apps, ring tones, songs, and other junk. My advice would be build for the iPhone and if you get something that is very popular or making you a ton of money, then port it over.
Re: Ask HN: Android or iPhone Os, where do you think the money is for developers?
#9I don't want to be "this guy", but if you have an idea capable of producing revenue and the execution and marketing skills to put it into peoples hands; there's no reason you shouldn't be able to release it to both platforms. It sounds like your after "code a weekend and get paid millions". Which is a statistically non-existent market on either of the platforms.
> It sounds like your after "code a weekend and get paid millions". What gave you that impression? Or has the submission been edited?
I second this question.
Re: Ask HN: Android or iPhone Os, where do you think the money is for developers?
#10I don't want to be "this guy", but if you have an idea capable of producing revenue and the execution and marketing skills to put it into peoples hands; there's no reason you shouldn't be able to release it to both platforms. It sounds like your after "code a weekend and get paid millions". Which is a statistically non-existent market on either of the platforms.
> It sounds like your after "code a weekend and get paid millions". What gave you that impression? Or has the submission been edited?
The fact that he thinks it's a one-or-the-other choice. My employer has an iPhone, an Android and a BlackBerry app. My personal project (Phonalyzr) is available in both Android and BlackBerry flavours (no iPhone due to SDK restrictions).
All three platforms have pretty big market shares, focusing on one exclusively seems like bad business.