4 ms·

(App Store - iPhone) != App Store

by mrshoe 17y ago

rtrunck 17y ago
It is humorous that the article mentions the "fragmentation" of app stores... Apple is unilaterally dominating the app store concept, maybe the others are fragmented, but Apple owns it.
- pyre 17y ago
  I think it's kind of stupid to talk about 'fragmentation' of stores in general. If this was just generic retail space, would all this talk about 'confusing' the customer still sound smart or just laughable? The idea that we need a single supplier of something or a single marketplace from which to purchase things is laughable -- to me, at least. To carry this analogy outside of the 'phone app' space, should we just give up on all generic retail space so that consumers just go to Wal-mart for everything but furniture (Ikea for furniture). Then consumers won't be so confused about where they should go to buy their furniture or groceries.
colonelxc 17y ago
I know the iPhone app store has been very successful, but I wouldn't completely discount other ones. What makes the iPhone's app store so great? Is it the humongous supply of apps? Androlib [1] suggests that the Android Market is approaching 30K apps. Many of them may be crap, but then again, I think many of the iPhone ones are too. Is it the exclusive iPhone only apps? Yes, there are a lot of them (considering app store sizes alone), but I'm guessing most "popular" apps exist in both stores. Anecdotal evidence: When my dad got a Droid, he asked me about all the apps I used on my iPhone. Most of them were on the Android store too. In the few cases where the apps didn't exist, there was usually a comparable replacement app from some other app maker. Now that doesn't necessarily translate to games, but I don't really play many games on my iPhone (and can't comment on the store differences there). Now, the Apple App store has been a huge success. If I was a mobile app developer, I wouldn't hesitate to develop for the iPhone (even being aware of the sometimes unpredictable approval process). I also don't like the idea of a network owned app store and the complications and restrictions it will probably bring, but we'll see what their announcement entails. I just don't think that Apple's app store is the only viable one, and certainly isn't the best fit for all people (nothing ever is). [1] http://www.androlib.com/appstats.aspx http://www.androlib.com/appstats.aspx
- brisance 17y ago
  Human nature is to focus on the negative. Say whatever you want about draconian App Store policies but Apple does a reasonably good job in promoting third party apps. They get featured in TV ads, writeups etc. And third party review sites serve a niche in reviewing and recommending. So an entire industry forms up around it.

(App Store - iPhone) != App Store

by mrshoe 17y ago

(App Store - iPhone) != App Store

It is humorous that the article mentions the "fragmentation" of app stores... Apple is unilaterally dominating the app store concept, maybe the others are fragmented, but Apple owns it.

pyre 17y ago
I think it's kind of stupid to talk about 'fragmentation' of stores in general. If this was just generic retail space, would all this talk about 'confusing' the customer still sound smart or just laughable? The idea that we need a single supplier of something or a single marketplace from which to purchase things is laughable -- to me, at least. To carry this analogy outside of the 'phone app' space, should we just give up on all generic retail space so that consumers just go to Wal-mart for everything but furniture (Ikea for furniture). Then consumers won't be so confused about where they should go to buy their furniture or groceries.

colonelxc 17y ago

I know the iPhone app store has been very successful, but I wouldn't completely discount other ones. What makes the iPhone's app store so great? Is it the humongous supply of apps? Androlib [1] suggests that the Android Market is approaching 30K apps. Many of them may be crap, but then again, I think many of the iPhone ones are too. Is it the exclusive iPhone only apps? Yes, there are a lot of them (considering app store sizes alone), but I'm guessing most "popular" apps exist in both stores. Anecdotal evidence: When my dad got a Droid, he asked me about all the apps I used on my iPhone. Most of them were on the Android store too. In the few cases where the apps didn't exist, there was usually a comparable replacement app from some other app maker. Now that doesn't necessarily translate to games, but I don't really play many games on my iPhone (and can't comment on the store differences there). Now, the Apple App store has been a huge success. If I was a mobile app developer, I wouldn't hesitate to develop for the iPhone (even being aware of the sometimes unpredictable approval process). I also don't like the idea of a network owned app store and the complications and restrictions it will probably bring, but we'll see what their announcement entails. I just don't think that Apple's app store is the only viable one, and certainly isn't the best fit for all people (nothing ever is). [1] http://www.androlib.com/appstats.aspx http://www.androlib.com/appstats.aspx

brisance 17y ago
Human nature is to focus on the negative. Say whatever you want about draconian App Store policies but Apple does a reasonably good job in promoting third party apps. They get featured in TV ads, writeups etc. And third party review sites serve a niche in reviewing and recommending. So an entire industry forms up around it.