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Is Android Only Surging Because Apple Is Letting It?

techcrunch.com

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Re: Is Android Only Surging Because Apple Is Letting It?

#3

Post by lzw »

This, and other coverage of the android vs. apple competition seems to alway miss an important point. For instance he says "if the iPhone didn't exist, I'd certainly use an android", and that they are much better than other phones that are out there.

But if the iPhone didn't exist, the android phone wouldn't exist in its current form.

Re: Is Android Only Surging Because Apple Is Letting It?

#8

Post by arnorhs »

I found very few factual things in that article. He's trying to make a point that android devices are worse or the only feature they have is that you're not forced to use Verizon. (where he's obviously forgetting that there's a universe outside of the US)

There are a dozen or more elements that are better about the iPhone. Everything from the big: the App Store versus the Android Market (from the consumer perspective) — to the little: the multi-touch and overall touchscreen responsiveness.

I would think Multi-touch/touch responsiveness has more to do with the devices and not the operating system.

I myself believe that Android will become the dominant OS on phones, because they've got developers on their side. All my hacker friends and developers are really excited to start hacking on android phones (as am I) and not so interested in developing for iPhone. I believe the biggest reason there are a lot of developers (more so companies) that flocked to iOS development is because of the marketplace, the opportunities it brought and that there wasn't any similar device available at that time.

A marketplace for apps will in the end become decentralized and the greatest apps will be for android because the smartest people will want to develop for it. History repeats itself.

Re: Is Android Only Surging Because Apple Is Letting It?

#10

Post by happybuy »

I think evidence points to this being true. For instance, in Australia - a technically advanced market where the iPhone is available on every major wireless carrier - the carrier exclusivity doesn't warp market share in Androids favour:

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/australian-it/surging-iphone...

As of May 2010, Android is at 2.1% smartphone market share, the iPhone is at 40.3% smartphone market share.

In the US, the iPhone's AT&T exclusivity gives Android protection from true competition. When the customer can select a phone on its own merits and not due to network availability I'm sure that the market share picture may be different.

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