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Android Sales Overtake iPhone in the U.S.

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Re: Android Sales Overtake iPhone in the U.S.

#121

Post by ZeroGravitas »

tvon wrote: post #42

I wonder how much of a dent the iPod Touch would put into the numbers if it were counted. On a related note, it seems an iPod Touch sized clone for Android would be a worthwhile device for a company to make (especially if it fit in all those iPod Touch running armbands). I hear news snippets here and there, but you'd think there would be a worthy competitor at this point... (there could well be one I'm not aware of,…

Google was preventing devices without cellphones from accessing their market for apps. Thus one of their big plays to prevent the "fragmentation" boogeyman has, until now, handed a big market to Apple. They seem to be relaxing this for a push into tablets so this area could become interesting in the near future.

Re: Android Sales Overtake iPhone in the U.S.

#122

Post by ZeroGravitas »

niccolop wrote: post #3

I suppose this isn't at all surprising based on the iPhone/At&t tie up. It would be interesting to compare other countries where carriers haven't locked up the iPhone (e.g. UK or France). No doubt android is an excellent platform, but the barriers to obtaining an iPhone seem relatively higher than android.

The big story in the UK over the last week has been phenomenal Android growth (up 350% in a single quarter). Obviously it's growing from a smaller base, and I don't know how close it is to catching either iPhone or iOS in installed base, but the trendlines look good for it.

Re: Android Sales Overtake iPhone in the U.S.

#123

Post by ergo98 »

Xixi wrote: post #107

Considering how much at&t seems to suck, this is hardly surprising. And indeed Android seems to be a very US-centric thing so far. Take France for instance, where all careers are selling the iPhone : * iPhone : 2.25 million units currently in service * Android : 220,000 units currently in service That's a 10 to 1 ratio ! (as of April 2010, so pre iPhone 4 launch) http://www.geeketchic.fr/geek-blog/admob-android-vs-ip…

>as of April 2010, so pre iPhone 4 launch

That's pre-almost every Android handset worth owning overseas, around the time that the Desire was starting to make an appearance.

The iPhone 4 was a big launch. Yet in that same time period a lot of very, very credible Android handsets have launched. The Samsung Galaxy S will be one of the most interesting of all.

Re: Android Sales Overtake iPhone in the U.S.

#124

Post by loewenskind »

cageface wrote: post #8
byoung2 wrote: post #2

I think part of the loyalty numbers for iPhone users is the substantial investment they make in other Apple hardware, software, and App Store apps. Unfortunately, I don't have any hard data to back this up, but I imagine a large percentage of iPhone users have at least one other piece of Apple hardware, such as a Mac, iPad, iPod Touch, etc., that works seamlessly alongside the iPhone and iTunes. That makes it tougher…

The integration point for Google's stuff is the cloud, not physical devices. I expect this to gradually become a key differentiating factor. Apple is riding the coattails of an old paradigm, and, like Microsoft before them, they're too invested in the money they're making in the old paradigm to make the sacrifices necessary to properly address the new one.

>they're too invested in the money they're making in the old paradigm to make the sacrifices necessary to properly address the new one.

Let's see what they do with MobileMe in the next couple of years before pronouncing them "dead from momentum".

Re: Android Sales Overtake iPhone in the U.S.

#125

Post by demallien »

dejb wrote: post #99
WilliamLP wrote: post #59

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's ironic that what developers hate about iPhone is precisely what makes it ideal for developers who want to make money. This being the walled garden, the inability to easily install free third party programs, and also the fact that there is a financial barrier to entry (a Mac, plus a dev fee) means that other developers are reluctant to make their apps free in the first place - meaning you don't have to compete wi…

> It's a brilliant, (albeit arguably evil), strategy by Apple to create a viscous circle where developers bind themselves to iPhone, which means the good apps wind up there and thus users buy the product The only problem with your theory is the 'Android Sales Overtake iPhone in the U.S' part. Perhaps Android will need a bigger market share (double?) to really start stealing the higher quality developers from iOS but…

Not really. Firstly, if you're going to count all Android device sales against the iPhone, you're going to also have to count all iOS devices, such as the iPod Touch and the iPad. At this point, iOS is still well ahead of Android in the US.

Secondly, the US is not the whole world. Here in France I don't know anyone other than tech geeks that have Android phones, but a majority of my friends have iPhones or Blackberries.

Thirdly, you have to take into account the fact that Apple has created a culture of users paying for content. They have also made paying for content as painless as is humanly imaginable - select item, enter password, and it downloads straight to your phone. Android devs have a long wait ahead before they start to see the returns that iOS devs are seeing.

Re: Android Sales Overtake iPhone in the U.S.

#126

Post by napierzaza »

palish wrote: post #111
nixy wrote: post #109

Earlier quoted context omitted.

And those iPhone 3G(S) that were being replaced were simply thrown in the bin? Or were they passed on to the second hand market?

My fiancee's 3GS was passed to me, and my iPhone 1 was thrown in the bin.

For sure iPhone 2Gs are being thrown out at this point. But are Android phones' stale dates any better? They much much worse.

Re: Android Sales Overtake iPhone in the U.S.

#127

Post by napierzaza »

WilliamLP wrote: post #59
gregholland wrote: post #36

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't think it will change anytime soon. 1, The marketplace sucks compared to the app store in many ways. There are few ways to feature your apps on the marketplace vs apple which has the "what hot", "new and noteworthy", "top paid", "top grossing" categories. In comparison, the android marketplace doesn't. 2, On the apple app store, you are given more promotion room on your app page itself for more descriptive tex…

It's ironic that what developers hate about iPhone is precisely what makes it ideal for developers who want to make money. This being the walled garden, the inability to easily install free third party programs, and also the fact that there is a financial barrier to entry (a Mac, plus a dev fee) means that other developers are reluctant to make their apps free in the first place - meaning you don't have to compete wi…

Evil circle of ...

Please stop. This is what every single company on the planet does. Few things are inter compatible and you'd be naive to hope that they would. Apple has solutions (implementations) to a problem which are different to everyone else's.

Re: Android Sales Overtake iPhone in the U.S.

#128

Post by WilliamLP »

steamboiler wrote: post #116
WilliamLP wrote: post #59

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's ironic that what developers hate about iPhone is precisely what makes it ideal for developers who want to make money. This being the walled garden, the inability to easily install free third party programs, and also the fact that there is a financial barrier to entry (a Mac, plus a dev fee) means that other developers are reluctant to make their apps free in the first place - meaning you don't have to compete wi…

by Apple to create a viscous circle where developers bind themselves to iPhone I think you mean a vicious cycle. Or a virtuous one depending on how you perceive Apple.

Yes, indicative of positive mutual feedback, not a round area of slow and sticky fluid flow:) Thanks.

Re: Android Sales Overtake iPhone in the U.S.

#129

Post by ergo98 »

melling wrote: post #20

This trend was pretty easy to spot. Almost 6 months ago: http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=1129465 The problem is that developers are making a lot more money on iPhone apps. I've heard several developers complaining that their apps don't sell on Android. Will this eventually change?

>The problem is that developers are making a lot more money on iPhone apps. I've heard several developers complaining that their apps don't sell on Android. Will this eventually change?

The monetary rewards for trivial apps on the iPhone have been very atypical for the industry in general, so if anything I expect the lucrative iPhone model to dissolve: The social value of having a lot of the latest apps is disappearing.

I do expect apps to remain lucrative, but not with the consumer paying for it. Instead the apps will be financed by brands and interests.

Re: Android Sales Overtake iPhone in the U.S.

#130

Post by ergo98 »

gregholland wrote: post #36
melling wrote: post #20

This trend was pretty easy to spot. Almost 6 months ago: http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=1129465 The problem is that developers are making a lot more money on iPhone apps. I've heard several developers complaining that their apps don't sell on Android. Will this eventually change?

I don't think it will change anytime soon. 1, The marketplace sucks compared to the app store in many ways. There are few ways to feature your apps on the marketplace vs apple which has the "what hot", "new and noteworthy", "top paid", "top grossing" categories. In comparison, the android marketplace doesn't. 2, On the apple app store, you are given more promotion room on your app page itself for more descriptive tex…

1. I really don't think this is the job of a marketplace with tens of thousands of entrants. In the Android world there has been a heavy push for QR codes to apps, so I seldom ever browse the market, and instead read reviews and blog entries on apps, following the QR codes to those that sound interesting. I'm not sure why developers think that someone else should do the promotion for them, and all classic promotion vehicles are still necessary.

3. So is the Apple market. There are 300+ fart apps (probably much more by now). It is absolutely true that the Android market is full of junk, but don't say that as if it's the exception. 99% of iPhone apps are make money fast garbage.

4. Spam is definitely a problem, and it should embarrass Google that they haven't dealt with that. On the "shady things with data", sorry but your iPhone is far more susceptible to this.

5. Bullshit. On the iPhone there was a novelty aspect that is quickly fading away. I remember having peers gushing every day about all of the apps they purchased. That has faded away and now they use a very small cross-section of top tier apps.

"On the other hand, I'm looking forward to what Meego and Win7MO will bring for us developers"

Indeed.

"I hope they will follow Apple's model of having tighter control"

This is such a bullshit myth. Apple's "control" is superficial and facile. That you promote it shows that you're a bit gullible I suspect.

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