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Seems like Apple really knows what consumers want. I spend about 90% of my iPhone time in Safari/Chrome. Advanced 3D graphics are nice and all but I rarely take

Seems like Apple really knows what consumers want. I spend about 90% of my iPhone time in Safari/Chrome. Advanced 3D graphics are nice and all but I rarely take advantage of them, I'd expect that most users are the same.

jonknee 12y ago
The top apps include many graphic heavy games, your usage is most likely not typical (which should be fairly obvious considering what site you're on). Currently top grossing for the US: Clash of Clans, Candy Crush Saga, Pandora, Game of War - Fire Age, Farm Heroes Saga.
- scott_s 12y ago
  You're assuming, however, that the top downloaded apps represent top phone usage. I have no data on it, but I doubt that's the case. Like Igglyboo, I suspect most users spend most of their phone battery on the "boring" stuff, like listening to music, looking at web pages and email. edit: I'd also like to point out that there are two interesting metrics here: time and battery usage. It's possible for me to spend the majority of my time on boring stuff, but the majority of my battery on non-boring stuff. I'm guessing, though (again, without data and purely based on my own biases) that most people spend most of their time and battery on the boring stuff.
- nmcfarl 12y ago
  I'm not certain there is a direct correlation between the apps that make the most money in the App Store, and the apps that people spend the most time in. It would mean that all the built in apps, and all the free apps in the App Store relatively unused, and that advertising models are a fools errand as no-one spends enough time in the apps. I suspect companies persuing these kinds of apps, including apple, are seeing enough usage to make a business case for their actions.
  - jonknee 12y ago
    Of the free apps in the US store right now are keyboards (new for iOS 8 and don't really count as "apps") and Facebook Messenger, iTunes U, Amazing Thief (game), The Maze Runner (game), Instagram, Facebook, Beach Buggy Racing (Game), etc. Games are extraordinarily popular on iOS. I see people gaming constantly on planes, trains, busses, etc.
- Igglyboo 12y ago
  Top downloaded apps are not the same as top used apps. I'd be willing to bet that many users are completely oblivious to (or simply dont care about) the app store and are perfectly satisfied with the default iPhone apps, I know both of my parents are.
- Igglyboo 12y ago
  Are those really graphically heavy? When I think graphically heavy I think of games like Infinity Blade. Candy Crush has extremely simple 2D graphics, same with Farm Heroes Saga and Clash of Clans.
dan1234 12y ago
I'd be interesting if those benchmarks were re-witten make use of the new Metal graphics API https://developer.apple.com/metal/ https://developer.apple.com/metal/
- Cthulhu_ 12y ago
  If they weren't, would performance (score, battery usage) go even higher?
- rsynnott 12y ago
  Highly unlikely, at this point. They're commercial benchmarks, and the Metal APIs have been under beta NDA until a week or so ago.
Cthulhu_ 12y ago
I doubt it, the iphone is the handheld console of today, lots of people use that more than the browser. It's a shame that there's not really any good games for the iphone though (I'm looking at you, every IAP game ever).
- nicholassmith 12y ago
  Infinity Blade, Monument Valley and Year Walk are 3 I've played that have been frankly excellent. Year Walk was without a doubt one of my favourite games of 2013.
- possibilistic 12y ago
  How is it the handheld console of today when there are so few good games on the platform? I personally find the touchscreen a terrible input device for most game genres and play styles. I can't imagine Smash Bros. on a phone. Not unless the phone gets analog sticks, face buttons, and shoulder triggers. Maybe there will be a shell that gets wide support, but given the fact that cases come in so many form factors and that Android phones have no standard shape, I doubt that will happen. I don't mean to be negative, but phones utterly suck at the kind of games I enjoy most. 2048 is genius, but it's a phone thing. Does anyone foresee a non-casual, non-contol limited future for mobile gaming? What changes could give it the ability to compete with the 3DS and Vita?
- Igglyboo 12y ago
  >iphone is the handheld console of today >there's not really any good games for the iphone You're contradicting yourself unless you're saying that you personally don't like any of the games.

jonknee 12y ago

The top apps include many graphic heavy games, your usage is most likely not typical (which should be fairly obvious considering what site you're on). Currently top grossing for the US: Clash of Clans, Candy Crush Saga, Pandora, Game of War - Fire Age, Farm Heroes Saga.

scott_s 12y ago
You're assuming, however, that the top downloaded apps represent top phone usage. I have no data on it, but I doubt that's the case. Like Igglyboo, I suspect most users spend most of their phone battery on the "boring" stuff, like listening to music, looking at web pages and email. edit: I'd also like to point out that there are two interesting metrics here: time and battery usage. It's possible for me to spend the majority of my time on boring stuff, but the majority of my battery on non-boring stuff. I'm guessing, though (again, without data and purely based on my own biases) that most people spend most of their time and battery on the boring stuff.
nmcfarl 12y ago
I'm not certain there is a direct correlation between the apps that make the most money in the App Store, and the apps that people spend the most time in. It would mean that all the built in apps, and all the free apps in the App Store relatively unused, and that advertising models are a fools errand as no-one spends enough time in the apps. I suspect companies persuing these kinds of apps, including apple, are seeing enough usage to make a business case for their actions.
- jonknee 12y ago
  Of the free apps in the US store right now are keyboards (new for iOS 8 and don't really count as "apps") and Facebook Messenger, iTunes U, Amazing Thief (game), The Maze Runner (game), Instagram, Facebook, Beach Buggy Racing (Game), etc. Games are extraordinarily popular on iOS. I see people gaming constantly on planes, trains, busses, etc.
Igglyboo 12y ago
Top downloaded apps are not the same as top used apps. I'd be willing to bet that many users are completely oblivious to (or simply dont care about) the app store and are perfectly satisfied with the default iPhone apps, I know both of my parents are.
Igglyboo 12y ago
Are those really graphically heavy? When I think graphically heavy I think of games like Infinity Blade. Candy Crush has extremely simple 2D graphics, same with Farm Heroes Saga and Clash of Clans.

dan1234 12y ago

I'd be interesting if those benchmarks were re-witten make use of the new Metal graphics API https://developer.apple.com/metal/ https://developer.apple.com/metal/

Cthulhu_ 12y ago
If they weren't, would performance (score, battery usage) go even higher?
rsynnott 12y ago
Highly unlikely, at this point. They're commercial benchmarks, and the Metal APIs have been under beta NDA until a week or so ago.

Cthulhu_ 12y ago

I doubt it, the iphone is the handheld console of today, lots of people use that more than the browser. It's a shame that there's not really any good games for the iphone though (I'm looking at you, every IAP game ever).

nicholassmith 12y ago
Infinity Blade, Monument Valley and Year Walk are 3 I've played that have been frankly excellent. Year Walk was without a doubt one of my favourite games of 2013.
possibilistic 12y ago
How is it the handheld console of today when there are so few good games on the platform? I personally find the touchscreen a terrible input device for most game genres and play styles. I can't imagine Smash Bros. on a phone. Not unless the phone gets analog sticks, face buttons, and shoulder triggers. Maybe there will be a shell that gets wide support, but given the fact that cases come in so many form factors and that Android phones have no standard shape, I doubt that will happen. I don't mean to be negative, but phones utterly suck at the kind of games I enjoy most. 2048 is genius, but it's a phone thing. Does anyone foresee a non-casual, non-contol limited future for mobile gaming? What changes could give it the ability to compete with the 3DS and Vita?
Igglyboo 12y ago
>iphone is the handheld console of today >there's not really any good games for the iphone You're contradicting yourself unless you're saying that you personally don't like any of the games.