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Developers go where the users go (and pay). Until the Windows and Android stores start bringing devs the same type of money, it's still always worth it to "tak

by ry0ohki 14y ago

Developers go where the users go (and pay). Until the Windows and Android stores start bringing devs the same type of money, it's still always worth it to "take the risk" of Apple's store. The only way I see this changing is if users themselves cared about an app being pulled, and this app doesn't seem big enough for people to care (maybe if Instagram was taken down).

fauigerzigerk 14y ago
Most developers go where users go, most of the time, until some of them have a reason not to. Luckily for those who don't always follow the money, demand sometimes follows supply instead of the other way around.
clarky07 14y ago
I recently decided to port some apps to Android and Windows 8 to lower my Apple only risk. Diversification is good right? It's been a really mixed bag so far. 1 of my apps is doing better than it's iPhone counterpart, the rest might as well not exist. [1] [1] - http://www.entrelife.com/2013/01/case-study-of-android-vs-iphone-app.html http://www.entrelife.com/2013/01/case-study-of-android-vs-ip...
- cageface 14y ago
  Very interesting. Thanks for sharing numbers. Are you using something like Mono to share code among platforms or are you doing total rewrites for each port?
  - clarky07 14y ago
    So far I've done native rewrites. Initially everything was designed specifically for iOS, so when porting I've just gone with native. I may consider some kind of cross platform option for the next completely new app. I haven't decided yet. (In general I think native is better, but there are obviously benefits to writing one version.)
- jmspring 14y ago
  Thanks. The interesting math is the intersection of "what app" and "what platform". Popularity of platform is played off with discoverability of the app on said platform.
gbog 14y ago
> Developers go where the users go You are aware that, except in a tiny fraction of the world, users are going massively android, right?
- lemming 14y ago
  It's probably fairer to say that "Developers go where the users are willing to pay". As I understand it, iOS currently wins hands down in that category.
- DeepDuh 14y ago
  Either your parent edited after your post or you conveniently skipped the '(and pay)' in your argument. I'd like to see some solid comparison of revenue numbers between Play store and Appstore. I'm pretty sure iOS would still come out ahead in that regard, until I get disproven on this. Of course I'm not saying that one should ignore Android, since this will quite possibly change in the (near) future, but still, from an economic standpoint it IMO still makes sense to target iOS first.
  - ry0ohki 14y ago
    I didn't edit for the record.
  - gbog 14y ago
    When something is conveniently enclosed in parenthesis, it means it is an extension or addition, right? Anyway, yes I replied to the "where users go", and not to the "where users pay" thing, because I think it is two problems. So apparently, by the numbers, users go Android, but iOS users are currently more willing to purchase apps, right? Maybe. But not sure. I don't think Android users would be that reluctant to pay a small amount of dollars for an app they really want, if it were convenient. I paid happily for Minecraft, Machinarium, GTA and 4/5 utilities. The problem is probably that the main source of data, the Google play market, is currently not open to transactions in China and maybe other big countries. So, for me, to buy an app I need: a rooted device, the "fake US location" app (market enabler), a working VPN installed on the phone, and a credit card. I would like to know the numbers for local Chinese markets, but given that they try very hard to attract user it should probably be juicy, or at least very promising.

by ry0ohki 14y ago

fauigerzigerk 14y ago

Most developers go where users go, most of the time, until some of them have a reason not to. Luckily for those who don't always follow the money, demand sometimes follows supply instead of the other way around.

clarky07 14y ago

I recently decided to port some apps to Android and Windows 8 to lower my Apple only risk. Diversification is good right? It's been a really mixed bag so far. 1 of my apps is doing better than it's iPhone counterpart, the rest might as well not exist. [1] [1] - http://www.entrelife.com/2013/01/case-study-of-android-vs-iphone-app.html http://www.entrelife.com/2013/01/case-study-of-android-vs-ip...

cageface 14y ago
Very interesting. Thanks for sharing numbers. Are you using something like Mono to share code among platforms or are you doing total rewrites for each port?
- clarky07 14y ago
  So far I've done native rewrites. Initially everything was designed specifically for iOS, so when porting I've just gone with native. I may consider some kind of cross platform option for the next completely new app. I haven't decided yet. (In general I think native is better, but there are obviously benefits to writing one version.)
jmspring 14y ago
Thanks. The interesting math is the intersection of "what app" and "what platform". Popularity of platform is played off with discoverability of the app on said platform.

gbog 14y ago

> Developers go where the users go You are aware that, except in a tiny fraction of the world, users are going massively android, right?

lemming 14y ago
It's probably fairer to say that "Developers go where the users are willing to pay". As I understand it, iOS currently wins hands down in that category.
DeepDuh 14y ago
Either your parent edited after your post or you conveniently skipped the '(and pay)' in your argument. I'd like to see some solid comparison of revenue numbers between Play store and Appstore. I'm pretty sure iOS would still come out ahead in that regard, until I get disproven on this. Of course I'm not saying that one should ignore Android, since this will quite possibly change in the (near) future, but still, from an economic standpoint it IMO still makes sense to target iOS first.
- ry0ohki 14y ago
  I didn't edit for the record.
- gbog 14y ago
  When something is conveniently enclosed in parenthesis, it means it is an extension or addition, right? Anyway, yes I replied to the "where users go", and not to the "where users pay" thing, because I think it is two problems. So apparently, by the numbers, users go Android, but iOS users are currently more willing to purchase apps, right? Maybe. But not sure. I don't think Android users would be that reluctant to pay a small amount of dollars for an app they really want, if it were convenient. I paid happily for Minecraft, Machinarium, GTA and 4/5 utilities. The problem is probably that the main source of data, the Google play market, is currently not open to transactions in China and maybe other big countries. So, for me, to buy an app I need: a rooted device, the "fake US location" app (market enabler), a working VPN installed on the phone, and a credit card. I would like to know the numbers for local Chinese markets, but given that they try very hard to attract user it should probably be juicy, or at least very promising.