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Perhaps it's because as a group, iPhone users are more lucrative than Android users, for example: Apple's iOS brings developers 5x more revenue per download tha

Perhaps it's because as a group, iPhone users are more lucrative than Android users, for example: Apple's iOS brings developers 5x more revenue per download than Android http://appleinsider.com/articles/13/11/27/apples-ios-brings-developers-5x-more-revenue-per-download-than-android http://appleinsider.com/articles/13/11/27/apples-ios-brings-...

untog 13y ago
Why make it an either/or argument? I didn't suggest making an Android app. A mobile-responsive web site would work great for both iPhone an Android. And desktop. That article doesn't really apply here - it's discussing in-app advertising, app purchase fees and in-app purchases. I hope for Luna's sake that they aren't going to charge that $6.99 delivery charge as an in-app purchase, because they'll lose 30% instantly.
- matthewbadeau 13y ago
  Here are a few reasons why they probably chose to write an iOS app: -Apple is known for rejecting apps that mimic the functionality of the website (even the mobile version) -The lead developer is probably more comfortable using Obj-C than web technologies -The business is designed specifically for mobile users. Services like Luna already exist; they're trying to tap into a different demographic -As such, iOS development is cheaper than both iOS and Android
  - untog 13y ago
    Apple is known for rejecting apps that mimic the functionality of the website (even the mobile version) "We should make an app because if we don't Apple might reject the app we didn't make"? The lead developer is probably more comfortable using Obj-C than web technologies That is a terrible, awful, no good reason to restrict your target market. If a web site is worth making then it's worth making. Any lead developer worth giving even 1% of equity should be able to adapt to that. If you can do Objective C you can do the web. The business is designed specifically for mobile users If it's iOS only then the business is designed for a specific subset of mobile users. That's fine, but let's be clear. A responsive web site is also 'designed for mobile users'.
    - sneak 13y ago
      You asked for the reasons. He gave you legitimate reasons. Don't complain now that you don't like them.
      - untog 13y ago
        "the lead developer doesn't know the web" is in no way a legitimate reason. (and I didn't ask for reasons at any point but hey whatever)
    - chc 13y ago
      Eh, it doesn't seem to me that "people in the San Francisco area with access to an iOS device" is much of a market restriction. Also, as you said, this is not either/or. If the lead was most comfortable with iOS but could also make a web app with a little more doing, then why not launch on iOS and then make a web app once the extra doing is taken care of?
enjo 13y ago
I fail to see how per-capita stats mean much here.
potatolicious 13y ago
That's a measure of app sales - that is not a measure of offline services or SaaS subscriptions generated via the app. That means straight-up app sales and things like in-game currency. It does not mean things like shopping via the phone or subscriptions like Spotify. The profitability of iOS vs. Android is highly variable depending on what you're doing - doubly so when you're not in the traditional in-app purchase model. It would be wise to find out where one's profitability stands independent of these numbers.

untog 13y ago

Why make it an either/or argument? I didn't suggest making an Android app. A mobile-responsive web site would work great for both iPhone an Android. And desktop. That article doesn't really apply here - it's discussing in-app advertising, app purchase fees and in-app purchases. I hope for Luna's sake that they aren't going to charge that $6.99 delivery charge as an in-app purchase, because they'll lose 30% instantly.

matthewbadeau 13y ago
Here are a few reasons why they probably chose to write an iOS app: -Apple is known for rejecting apps that mimic the functionality of the website (even the mobile version) -The lead developer is probably more comfortable using Obj-C than web technologies -The business is designed specifically for mobile users. Services like Luna already exist; they're trying to tap into a different demographic -As such, iOS development is cheaper than both iOS and Android
- untog 13y ago
  Apple is known for rejecting apps that mimic the functionality of the website (even the mobile version) "We should make an app because if we don't Apple might reject the app we didn't make"? The lead developer is probably more comfortable using Obj-C than web technologies That is a terrible, awful, no good reason to restrict your target market. If a web site is worth making then it's worth making. Any lead developer worth giving even 1% of equity should be able to adapt to that. If you can do Objective C you can do the web. The business is designed specifically for mobile users If it's iOS only then the business is designed for a specific subset of mobile users. That's fine, but let's be clear. A responsive web site is also 'designed for mobile users'.
  - sneak 13y ago
    You asked for the reasons. He gave you legitimate reasons. Don't complain now that you don't like them.
    - untog 13y ago
      "the lead developer doesn't know the web" is in no way a legitimate reason. (and I didn't ask for reasons at any point but hey whatever)
  - chc 13y ago
    Eh, it doesn't seem to me that "people in the San Francisco area with access to an iOS device" is much of a market restriction. Also, as you said, this is not either/or. If the lead was most comfortable with iOS but could also make a web app with a little more doing, then why not launch on iOS and then make a web app once the extra doing is taken care of?

enjo 13y ago

I fail to see how per-capita stats mean much here.

potatolicious 13y ago

That's a measure of app sales - that is not a measure of offline services or SaaS subscriptions generated via the app. That means straight-up app sales and things like in-game currency. It does not mean things like shopping via the phone or subscriptions like Spotify. The profitability of iOS vs. Android is highly variable depending on what you're doing - doubly so when you're not in the traditional in-app purchase model. It would be wise to find out where one's profitability stands independent of these numbers.