7 ms·

While this is generally true, it's a little more nuanced. For example: Android has a larger market share (by a lot globally), but apps are frequently developed

While this is generally true, it's a little more nuanced. For example: Android has a larger market share (by a lot globally), but apps are frequently developed for iOS first. Why? Because it's easier. Device fragmentation plays a large role in that, but part of the cost of the project is dealing with the development ecosystem (good or bad). As Apple makes the development less appealing (because of sub standard hardware / OSX) android will seem like a better option.

memmcgee 10y ago
iOS apps are also more profitable than Android.
- Touche 10y ago
  No one makes money selling phone apps.
  - nstj 10y ago
    You don't have to sell an app to make money from it
  - simonh 10y ago
    "Apple's App Store has paid over $50 billion to developers"[0] [0]http://www.theverge.com/2016/8/3/12371006/app-store-50-billion-paid-to-developers-apple http://www.theverge.com/2016/8/3/12371006/app-store-50-billi...
- Touche 10y ago
  No one makes money selling phone apps.
cocktailpeanuts 10y ago
My point is not whether Android or iOS is better. It's that the key to keeping iOS developers around is NOT to make a better laptop but by putting more effort into iOS so that its market share grows. No matter how great XCode becomes, if everyone starts using Android, people will all jump ship to Android, which means many iOS developers will change to windows.
hodder 10y ago
Developers don't develop for iOS first because it is easier. They develop there first because iOS users pay money for things/apps. Android users do not.
- yabatopia 10y ago
  I'm an Android user and I pay for things (?) and apps. Are you saying that I'm the only Android user who pays for apps and "things"? Or is your statement just a gratuitous cliche?
  - ido 10y ago
    Statistically the average revenue per android user is lower than per iOS user. It's not a binary either/or. Source: have been a mobile developer for 6 years.
    - lokedhs 10y ago
      Is the average revenue per user a relevant number though? When it comes to choosing what platform to develop for, wouldn't total revenue be a more important number?
      - iNate2000 10y ago
        The difference between total revenue and average revenue per user is important, but I think the answer is still iOS. http://bgr.com/2016/07/20/ios-vs-android-developers-profits-app-store-google-play/ http://bgr.com/2016/07/20/ios-vs-android-developers-profits-...
      - deleted 10y ago
        [deleted]
  - danielhooper 10y ago
    It's well understood by many startups and established companies that developing for iOS often takes priority because there's a larger group of users willing to pay more money than their android counterparts
mathw 10y ago
Sadly that's more a race to the bottom since Google still don't seem particularly interested in actually making the experience for Android developers any better.

memmcgee 10y ago

iOS apps are also more profitable than Android.

Touche 10y ago
No one makes money selling phone apps.
- nstj 10y ago
  You don't have to sell an app to make money from it
- simonh 10y ago
  "Apple's App Store has paid over $50 billion to developers"[0] [0]http://www.theverge.com/2016/8/3/12371006/app-store-50-billion-paid-to-developers-apple http://www.theverge.com/2016/8/3/12371006/app-store-50-billi...
Touche 10y ago
No one makes money selling phone apps.

cocktailpeanuts 10y ago

My point is not whether Android or iOS is better. It's that the key to keeping iOS developers around is NOT to make a better laptop but by putting more effort into iOS so that its market share grows. No matter how great XCode becomes, if everyone starts using Android, people will all jump ship to Android, which means many iOS developers will change to windows.

hodder 10y ago

Developers don't develop for iOS first because it is easier. They develop there first because iOS users pay money for things/apps. Android users do not.

yabatopia 10y ago
I'm an Android user and I pay for things (?) and apps. Are you saying that I'm the only Android user who pays for apps and "things"? Or is your statement just a gratuitous cliche?
- ido 10y ago
  Statistically the average revenue per android user is lower than per iOS user. It's not a binary either/or. Source: have been a mobile developer for 6 years.
  - lokedhs 10y ago
    Is the average revenue per user a relevant number though? When it comes to choosing what platform to develop for, wouldn't total revenue be a more important number?
    - iNate2000 10y ago
      The difference between total revenue and average revenue per user is important, but I think the answer is still iOS. http://bgr.com/2016/07/20/ios-vs-android-developers-profits-app-store-google-play/ http://bgr.com/2016/07/20/ios-vs-android-developers-profits-...
    - deleted 10y ago
      [deleted]
- danielhooper 10y ago
  It's well understood by many startups and established companies that developing for iOS often takes priority because there's a larger group of users willing to pay more money than their android counterparts

mathw 10y ago

Sadly that's more a race to the bottom since Google still don't seem particularly interested in actually making the experience for Android developers any better.