Android Gaining Momentum Among Future Smartphone Buyers

[polaris20]

If Apple just fixed the issues with the App Store and opened the iPhone up to more carriers, they would have even more gains than they already do. Wake up iPhone fanboys: not everyone likes AT&T, and I personally hate it. No phone no matter how impressive is worth dealing with their horrible service.

The Droid is an excellent phone, and I find myself using it far more than my iPod Touch, even for that sort of functionality (music, video, PDA-type stuff). Anyone who says it's not competitive hasn't used it for more than 5 minutes.

The apps are gaining ground, and in my experience while there aren't as many apps, the apps that do exist are actually useful.

Sadly, I do not have my choice of 25 different fart apps. But I've managed to carry on.

 

[LagunaSol]

If Apple just fixed the issues with the App Store and opened the iPhone up to more carriers, they would have even more gains than they already do.

Obviously.

Wake up iPhone fanboys: not everyone likes AT&T

No kidding? (And you played the "fanboy" card - nice move!)

The Droid is an excellent phone, and I find myself using it far more than my iPod Touch, even for that sort of functionality (music, video, PDA-type stuff). Anyone who says it's not competitive hasn't used it for more than 5 minutes.

I admit I only used it for 5 minutes, but that was enough time to realize the pitiful hardware keyboard offered zero advantages over the virtual one (I liked the screen though).

And the lack of iTunes (you know, the place where untold millions of people have invested untold billions of dollars in digital media) integration does make the Droid "uncompetitive" for said untold millions of people.

The apps are gaining ground, and in my experience while there aren't as many apps, the apps that do exist are actually useful.

Newsflash: there are lots of "actually useful" apps on the iPhone as well. A lot more than on Android. It's true!

And your implication is that there are no useless apps on Android. Really?

Sadly, I do not have my choice of 25 different fart apps. But I've managed to carry on.

When are we going to retire the tired fart app argument? Seriously, it's reaching "Macs are gay!" levels of ridiculousness.

I have many, many apps on my iPhone. I don't have a single fart app.

 

[polaris20]

Obviously.

No kidding? (And you played the "fanboy" card - nice move!)

Illogical allegiance to a device or company while dismissing the competitors cannot be labeled as anything else. I didn't reference you personally as that, mind you. But some of the posts in this thread are downright comical.

I admit I only used it for 5 minutes, but that was enough time to realize the pitiful hardware keyboard offered zero advantages over the virtual one (I liked the screen though).

I do not disagree. The physical keyboard sucks.

And the lack of iTunes (you know, the place where untold millions of people have invested untold billions of dollars in digital media) integration does make the Droid "uncompetitive" for said untold millions of people.

Actually, the ability to NOT have to use iTunes is also a plus for many people, Mac and Windows users.

Newsflash: there are lots of "actually useful" apps on the iPhone as well. A lot more than on Android. It's true!

I know. I use many on my iPod touch. I never said they're all useless.

And your implication is that there are no useless apps on Android. Really?

You're good at drawing false conclusions. I said no such thing, nor did I allude to that.

When are we going to retire the tired fart app argument? Seriously, it's reaching "Macs are gay!" levels of ridiculousness.

Perhaps I chose the wrong example, but it's a great example of the number of useless apps in the App Store, and in my opinion and experience, the noise ratio is much higher in the App Store than it is in the Android Market.

I have many, many apps on my iPhone. I don't have a single fart app.

Neither do I, on either device.

 

[LagunaSol]

You're good at drawing false conclusions. I said no such thing, nor did I allude to that.

Actually, you said:

"The apps are gaining ground, and in my experience while there aren't as many apps, the apps that do exist are actually useful."

Yes, I'm being technical here, but you did imply, in that sentence, that all Android apps are useful. No false conclusion necessary.

Perhaps I chose the wrong example, but it's a great example of the number of useless apps in the App Store, and in my opinion and experience, the noise ratio is much higher in the App Store than it is in the Android Market.

I don't have any experience with the Android Market and I don't disagree that there is a lot of garbage in the App Store. But I'm fairly secure in my assumption that there is a lot of crap in the Android Market too, even if the noise ratio is lower. And for apps where there are versions for both Android and iPhone, reviewers generally state that the iPhone versions tend to be more robust and polished than their Android equivalents.

As for all the "noise" in the App Store, the free market system will eventually take care of that. Mostly.

There's also a lot of garbage software on the Windows platform, but that doesn't seem to have hurt its success much.

 

[Reed Rothchild]

The thing with smartphones is - they are very faddish. What was hot last year can look pretty limp this year. My experience is that hi-tech phone users can be very fickle indeed. The iPhone has the advantage of being built and designed by a company that is perceived by some as "cool", but even I (an Apple fan) am getting just a wee bit bored with the device.

Not sure that the Google contraption will be the one to fill my geekhole, but certainly there will be another great new thing waiting just around the corner, and it isn't necessarily going to have an apple logo on it.

 

[GeekGirl*]

I love the keyboard on my iphone, thats one reason i will not get a droid.

 

[Ammo]

The Droid has a lot to do with this.

Make no mistake...Verizon users who won't switch to at&t have been dying for a true iPhone substitute. This is it.

The only solution? Bring the iPhone to Verizon, Apple!

 

[ChazUK]

10:58AM HTC's Chou and Rubin are on the stage for Q&A. Motorola's Sanjay Jha is on the way but stuck in traffic.

10:59AM Q: "Why only 512MB for app storage?" In a future software release, we'll enable encryption for storage on SD card.

Full apps officially on the SD card? This should keep the "not enough app storage" crowd quiet.

 

[Reed Rothchild]

Full apps officially on the SD card? This should keep the "not enough app storage" crowd quiet.

I agree. Just watched the live blog on gizmodo and this nexus looks very sweet. Lots of power, lots of storage, and a really simple purchase model for unlocked devices - including for Brits like myself. Almost tempted to click "buy it now", but will wait until I've sold on my G3 iPhone first .

 

[polaris20]

Actually, you said:

"The apps are gaining ground, and in my experience while there aren't as many apps, the apps that do exist are actually useful."

Yes, I'm being technical here, but you did imply, in that sentence, that all Android apps are useful. No false conclusion necessary.

Oh, okay. Thanks for letting me know what I meant by my statement. I'll check with you in the future so that you can clarify what I mean, before I post it.

I don't have any experience with the Android Market and I don't disagree that there is a lot of garbage in the App Store. But I'm fairly secure in my assumption that there is a lot of crap in the Android Market too, even if the noise ratio is lower.

Wow, you gathered all that in 5 minutes? Impressive!

And for apps where there are versions for both Android and iPhone, reviewers generally state that the iPhone versions tend to be more robust and polished than their Android equivalents.

While that was initially true, that's quickly changing.

As for all the "noise" in the App Store, the free market system will eventually take care of that. Mostly.

That would be nice, but I'm not holding my breath. Meanwhile, truly useful apps are being denied by Apple.

There's also a lot of garbage software on the Windows platform, but that doesn't seem to have hurt its success much.

Bad analogy, since Microsoft doesn't tell you what you can put on your computer, and doesn't have an approval process.

 

[polaris20]

Full apps officially on the SD card? This should keep the "not enough app storage" crowd quiet.

No it won't. Because people don't understand how apps are installed now, why would they bother with this minor detail?

 

[BigHonkingDeal]

I'm generally happy with my iPhone..... That said, if the next iPhone does not

Multi Task, allow tethering, stream Sling Box over 3G without Jail Breaking; the 3GS will be my third and last iPhone....

 

[LagunaSol]

The thing with smartphones is - they are very faddish.

Dumbphones are very faddish. Smartphones, doubtful. Entire mobile computing platforms (iPhone, RIM, Android, etc.) aren't going to be dropped and picked up by consumers on a whim, not when they have a lot invested in that platform (i.e. iTunes purchases).

Apple has a very good head start against Android (and, of course, the eventual Windows Mobile 7) because a lot of consumers are now heavily invested in iTunes.

Oh, okay. Thanks for letting me know what I meant by my statement.

The logical understanding is you meant exactly what you wrote.

Wow, you gathered all that in 5 minutes? Impressive!

I gathered that the Droid keyboard sucks in 5 minutes, a point with which you agreed.

Are you going to argue that there is, in fact, not a lot of crap in the Android Marketplace?

While that was initially true, that's quickly changing.

Let us know when they get there.

That would be nice, but I'm not holding my breath. Meanwhile, truly useful apps are being denied by Apple.

Now that Google has its own official app store (as of today's announcement), I think you'll be surprised (disappointed) to learn over time that Google will not be selling/distributing any and all apps that are submitted/uploaded to its marketplace. One must protect its corporate image, you know. Not to mention the legal implications.

Bad analogy, since Microsoft doesn't tell you what you can put on your computer, and doesn't have an approval process.

Not really. I'm talking about volume of apps, not whether they have to be approved or not (or how they're sold or distributed). As volume increases, signal to noise ratio will decrease. That's a given. And my point is that even though Windows has far more software than Mac, I find most Mac software to be of higher quality than what I find on Windows (being a user of both platforms). Yet Windows still maintains 95% market share.

So "fewer apps but better quality" isn't necessarily a winning argument with consumers. In fact, "better quality" period isn't necessarily a winning argument with consumers, as Microsoft has so aptly proven over these many years.

And watch for some seriously craptastic apps to flood Google's new app store, what with the proclaimed free-for-all mentality. "I don't know jack about software design, so why bother with Apple's approval process - I'll just develop my garbage app for Android!"

Oh yes, you know where this is going.

 

[polaris20]

Dumbphones are very faddish. Smartphones, doubtful. Entire mobile computing platforms (iPhone, RIM, Android, etc.) aren't going to be dropped and picked up by consumers on a whim, not when they have a lot invested in that platform (i.e. iTunes purchases).

Apple has a very good head start against Android (and, of course, the eventual Windows Mobile 7) because a lot of consumers are now heavily invested in iTunes.

The logical understanding is you meant exactly what you wrote.

Again, you're telling me what I meant, which is absurd. Please do no such thing in the future. Thanks!

I gathered that the Droid keyboard sucks in 5 minutes, a point with which you agreed.

That was in response to this:

But I'm fairly secure in my assumption that there is a lot of crap in the Android Market too, even if the noise ratio is lower.

Are you going to argue that there is, in fact, not a lot of crap in the Android Marketplace?

Not nearly as much as the Apple App Store, in my experience. I've yet to install a dud.

Let us know when they get there.

Already arriving.

Not really. I'm talking about volume of apps, not whether they have to be approved or not (or how they're sold or distributed). As volume increases, signal to noise ratio will decrease. That's a given. And my point is that even though Windows has far more software than Mac, I find most Mac software to be of higher quality than what I find on Windows (being a user of both platforms). Yet Windows still maintains 95% market share.

And I find that while Android's app selection is smaller than Apple's App Store, the number of useful apps to crappy/useless/redundant apps is more in Android's favor at the present time.

So "fewer apps but better quality" isn't necessarily a winning argument with consumers. In fact, "better quality" period isn't necessarily a winning argument with consumers, as Microsoft has so aptly proven over these many years.

True, but that's how I feel the Android Market stands at the present time.

And watch for some seriously craptastic apps to flood Google's new app store, what with the proclaimed free-for-all mentality. "I don't know jack about software design, so why bother with Apple's approval process - I'll just develop my garbage app for Android!"

Oh yes, you know where this is going.

That's what was said about the Android Market when the G1 came out, and yet here we are.

 

[LagunaSol]

Again, you're telling me what I meant, which is absurd. Please do no such thing in the future. Thanks!

Not to beat a dead horse, but when you say "while there aren't as many apps, the apps that do exist are actually useful" you might want to clarify that with "some/many/most of the apps that do exist" by, you know, saying that to begin with if that is what you really mean.

I'm not putting words in your mouth, I'm quoting exactly what you said. And what you said is pretty hard to take out of context.

Oh, you're welcome.

I would be interested to hear your estimation of good/garbage ratio of Android apps, since you obviously didn't imply that there aren't garbage apps on Android. Or did you imply that? Who's to know, I can only read what you type.

And I find that while Android's app selection is smaller than Apple's App Store, the number of useful apps to crappy/useless/redundant apps is more in Android's favor at the present time.

Of course. As volume rises, so does noise. It's science.

That's what was said about the Android Market when the G1 came out, and yet here we are.

Too bad those G1 owners are still screaming to get Android v 2.0.

I guess this is Google's version of Animal Farm, where under Android, all devices are equal - but some devices are more equal than others.

As for garbage apps, the Nexus One/Droid will be the first devices to get Android any real traction in the marketplace. The amount of garbage for Android has been minimized the the general indifference (thus far) to Android by the developer community.

I hear Google has some pretty sweet apps of their own for Android though.

 

[polaris20]

Not to beat a dead horse, but when you say "while there aren't as many apps, the apps that do exist are actually useful" you might want to clarify that with "some/many/most of the apps that do exist" by, you know, saying that to begin with if that is what you really mean.

I'm not putting words in your mouth, I'm quoting exactly what you said. And what you said is pretty hard to take out of context.

Oh, you're welcome.

I would be interested to hear your estimation of good/garbage ratio of Android apps, since you obviously didn't imply that there aren't garbage apps on Android. Or did you imply that? Who's to know, I can only read what you type.

I did not imply there are no garbage apps. I did not say that there weren't. Let's move beyond your assumptions for what I mean, shall we?

Too bad those G1 owners are still screaming to get Android v 2.0.

I guess this is Google's version of Animal Farm, where under Android, all devices are equal - but some devices are more equal than others.

As for garbage apps, the Nexus One/Droid will be the first devices to get Android any real traction in the marketplace. The amount of garbage for Android has been minimized the the general indifference (thus far) to Android by the developer community.

I hear Google has some pretty sweet apps of their own for Android though.

Way to change the subject. We're not talking about what version of the OS is available to what phone, we're talking about the quality of the apps available.

 

[AidenShaw]

Not to beat a dead horse....

Keep going with your strengths!

 

[LagunaSol]

Way to change the subject. We're not talking about what version of the OS is available to what phone, we're talking about the quality of the apps available.

I changed the subject for two sentences and then returned to the primary subject for my final two paragraphs. Did that throw you off?

Keep going with your strengths!

There are a lot of dead horses around here that need beating.

Don't underestimate the power of Microsoft. If they think it is a strategic market, they can put a lot of money in the development of a new OS.

Microsoft has proven (Zune, Xbox, Bing) that throwing money at something doesn't necessarily make it good. Or lead it to dominate a market.

As for their power - without the Windows + Office lock in (The One Ring as it were, the only real source of power they've had), this power is greatly diminished. See Zune/Xbox/Bing example above.

 

[polaris20]

I changed the subject for two sentences and then returned to the primary subject for my final two paragraphs. Did that throw you off?

Not at all. It's just that the comment was completely irrelevant to the subject at hand.

Microsoft has proven (Zune, Xbox, Bing) that throwing money at something doesn't necessarily make it good. Or lead it to dominate a market.

As for their power - without the Windows + Office lock in (The One Ring as it were, the only real source of power they've had), this power is greatly diminished. See Zune/Xbox/Bing example above.

Agreed, and I think their time will eventually come to an end as the web-based stuff gets stronger and stronger. LA just switched to Google Apps, apparently, and other goverments around the world are switching to OpenOffice.

While I still think MS has a nice server platform, their licensing is retarded, and many people are sick of dealing with their growing complexity.

 

[burro]

Three Words for Continued Apple iPhone Dominance:

Global Keyboard Entry

 

[burro]

Let's not forget how much Verizon sucks

Verizon -- great reception -- lousy policies.

Verizon vies YOUR phone as a peripheral of THEIR network, *not* as a peripheral of YOUR computer.

You have to go through their network to transfer all kinds of data that their network should have nothing to do with.

That is a nuisance and creates LOTS of limitations.

At least with ATT you can quit the expensive "data package" the day after you buy your iPhone, and still have a fully functional device.

 

[ChazUK]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (Linux; U; Android 1.6; en-us; Archos5 Build/Donut) AppleWebKit/528.5+ (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/3.1.2 Mobile Safari/525.20.1)

Let's add some Microsoft fail to this thread.

Nexus One will struggle: Microsoft Robbie Bach says Google's bid to make software and"superphone" hardware will alienate handset manufacturers

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/google/6951330/Nexus-One-will-struggle-Microsoft.html

Nice to see Robbie Bach miss the HTC logo on the back of the Nexus One. He is probably pissed that HTC have embraced Android the way they have.

 

[megadon]

It's not about what's "favorable." It's about what's important. And what matters is profit. For example, Apple makes more money from their small share of Macs than most other PC makers earn even though "Windows" has a larger market share. (Remember, Dell does not care how many Windows machines HP is selling.)

Likewise, things like "Windows Mobile" and "Android" are actually split across multiple hardware developers. By making and selling both the software and hardware themselves, Apple can do far better than other companies even though it may appear that their numbers are smaller. They have a smaller pie but they own the entire pie.

ya, but apple's gross profit is around $13.6 billion, with revenue of $30 billion, while Google's gross profit is $13.4 billion, with revenue of $20 billion..

this means to make an extra $200 million, apple actually needs to make $10 billion more..
nothing to brag about.

 

[DakotaGuy]

Dumbphones are very faddish. Smartphones, doubtful. Entire mobile computing platforms (iPhone, RIM, Android, etc.) aren't going to be dropped and picked up by consumers on a whim, not when they have a lot invested in that platform (i.e. iTunes purchases).

Apple has a very good head start against Android (and, of course, the eventual Windows Mobile 7) because a lot of consumers are now heavily invested in iTunes.

You do realize that all of your iTunes purchases will transfer and play on Android unless you still have iTunes songs and videos with DRM. Everyone on the iTunes store now is DRM free and you can upgrade your DRM songs and videos with DRM free if you want.

You make it sound like iTunes songs won't play and that is not true.

 

[carlgo]

Alright Apple, time to wow us with the next big iPhone update! I'm thinking higher res OLED screen, more capacity, better battery life, faster proc, and (please oh please) Verizon availability! If the iPhone is released on Verizon, they will sell several million more in the first year... there are plenty of business people who would love the iPhone but need a more reliable network than AT&T.

Yup, we know the tech stuff will be cool if Apple even tries at all, but the network is the big thing. Clearly, AT&T just chases off too many potential customers and all these devices are going to require the resources of all of the networks together.