After surveying over 3,600 Appcelerator Titanium developers, Apple’s phone and tablet devices have a 16% lead over Google’s Android platforms. The results show that Apple’s iOS is now the preferred choice for both, business-focused developers and consumer-app focused developers. This lead is interesting considering that they were even less than a year ago, but it does not come as a surprise for many developers.
“Enterprise mobile app developers are quickly souring on Android,” said Scott Ellison, VP of Mobile & Consumer Connected Platforms at IDC, because there is “too much fragmentation, too much malware and a sense that Apple is better suited to the enterprise.”
Apple has been very successful in the mobile arena by appealing not just to their customers, but to the developers as well. They have lots of useful resources online for people who are interested in learning how to deploy their iOS app and even have case studies on companies that have done so also. Apple has provided the Human Interface Guide to give developers professional advice on making their iOS app intuitive user experience and tips on design strategies. The rising demand for the iPad may have also played a role in the growth of iOS development.
The gap in development does not necessarily mean bad things for Google. Interest in the Android platform in the last year has started to pick up and Google has become a viable competitor against Apple, despite initial concerns. Android’s advantage is in its large collection of devices, which happen to have lower prices than it’s main and only competition. By “outgunning” Apple’s devices, the playing field is leveled for consumers to make their own judgment calls on which platform is right for them.
Many developers, including the ones here at Shockoe, believe that the Android can make a comeback if it can slow down its rapid fragmentation the platform has been going through. The platform needs to be scalable and consistent to reduce the headache for mobile app developers. The long term picture is still unclear and unpredictable for developers, Google’s recent adoption of Motorola has not had enough time to make an impact and we have yet to see the potential for Windows-based mobile devices.