Android Smartphone Sales Exceed iPhone in the U.S. for First Time

yg17 said:
It gives the user more software choices. Don't like the default Android SMS application? Go to the market place and download a different one. Do you frequently find yourself turning WiFi on and off? Go to the marketplace and download a widget for your homescreen to toggle it with one click. There are no unauthorized APIs and Google won't block an app from the app store for using those APIs. And the fact that it's open source allows developers to dig through the Android code to discover ways to code those tweaks so they can be packaged into an app.
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Now that Android is more than just a tiny minority "iPhone foil," expect the carriers to soon change their "do anything you want on your Android device, we don't care" mentality.

It's naive to believe that the wild, wild west days of Android will continue unfettered when there are carriers involved.
 
yg17 said:
It gives the user more software choices. Don't like the default Android SMS application? Go to the market place and download a different one. Do you frequently find yourself turning WiFi on and off? Go to the marketplace and download a widget for your homescreen to toggle it with one click. There are no unauthorized APIs and Google won't block an app from the app store for using those APIs. And the fact that it's open source allows developers to dig through the Android code to discover ways to code those tweaks so they can be packaged into an app.
Click to expand...

I think App Store gives pretty much everything normal people need and others jailbreak for additional capabilities.


Your argument to dust ;)
 
LagunaSol said:
Now that Android is more than just a tiny minority "iPhone foil," expect the carriers to soon change their "do anything you want on your Android device, we don't care" mentality.

It's naive to believe that the wild, wild west days of Android will continue unfettered when there are carriers involved.
Click to expand...

100% with you on that one.

Orange UK on the HTC Tattoo? They REMOVED the Google Mail APP.
Orange UK on the HTC Desire? Full of REALLY UGLY Orange customisations (Boot screen, Orange Web Browser , Orange Maps). More on the HTC Desire Orange UK branding here.

I cried a little when I saw my workmates Orange branded HTC Desire. I'll be sticking to sim free handsets for now. :(
 
uber_nerd said:
Lying is not the concern, instead I am concerned that their surveys rely on connivence sampling. From the NPD webpage:

Methodology: The NPD Group compiles and analyzes mobile device sales data based on more than 150,000 completed online consumer research surveys each month. Surveys are based on a nationally balanced and demographically-representative sample, and results are projected to represent the entire population of U.S. consumers. Note: Sales figures do not include corporate/enterprise mobile phone sales.

In all their blathering about "nationally balanced and demographically-representative sample" - no where do they mention its a random sample, which is a major methodological problem. I suspect its some sort of systematic or connivence sampling method is used.

Unless you magically know all the potential biases your methodology may encounter, without random samples all you have is junk. Even the US Government is having serious problems survey the population as less and less people have land lines, and it is illegal to use random dialers on cell phones.

That said, it doesn't mean the survey is outright wrong, it may be correct(ish) by luck. I just want to point out that there are likely some serious caveats with the methods employed.

And for the trolls, yes I am perfectly qualified to assess statistical methodology.
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If you were that well educated to assess statistical methodologies... you should know that NPD is a company... and I don't think they are going to publish the data neither the methods without someone paying for them... because as you know... it costs money doing all this.

Yes, you point out the lack of that essential data but again, the news link to a press release which should have a short amount of information... if you want those details, ask NPD directly; once you pay, you'll get what you're looking for.

There are NO serious caveats here, sorry. And no need to be an engineer, a genius or an expert to know this...

Oh... I am also perfectly qualified to assess statistical methodologies too :) among other things which require qualified assessment ;)
 
Like I've been saying for quite some time... Google is the new Micro$oft!

I don't care if Google does lead the way with Android. Competition will keep Apple's products the best, and even in that case Apple would be a very strong second place.

It will be like the computer market where Apple is not the majority but they offer a far superior product. The difference this time is there are more players, and most people know Apple's products really are better. Even if Apple isn't the number one, they will still have a HUGE share, much bigger than in the computer market!

It doesn't matter what Google really does either because their business model and platform model is inferior and makes a lot of the same mistakes the Windows Mobile did! :rolleyes:

One word... FRAGMENTATION! :D
 
Lord Vader said:
I think App Store gives pretty much everything normal people need and others jailbreak for additional capabilities.


Your argument to dust ;)
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So "normal people" shouldn't be allowed a choice in things such as SMS apps or additional features without hacking?
 
Brian Hickman said:
I wonder... How many Android phones are on AT&T's network? Just wondering that, if given the choice between the iPhone and an Android phone, how would the percentages fall?

Hickman

edit: I don't have either...I have a BB...
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It's hard to tell. The Droid isn't as nice aesthetically, but it does more in terms of functionality. And a lot of people don't even have a choice as they live in an area with no AT&T coverage, so the Droid is the obvious substitute.
 
ChazUK said:
100% with you on that one.

Orange UK on the HTC Tattoo? They REMOVED the Google Mail APP.
Orange UK on the HTC Desire? Full of REALLY UGLY Orange customisations (Boot screen, Orange Web Browser , Orange Maps). More on the HTC Desire Orange UK branding here.

I cried a little when I saw my workmates Orange branded HTC Desire. I'll be sticking to sim free handsets for now. :(
Click to expand...

That's why we have the Nexus One. From Google directly.

I'd hate to call the AT&T Backflip an Android device. It's been neutered beyond recognition.
 
I feel like this will continue to happen. Apple simply cannot compete on 1 network. I would love an Iphone, but I love my network quality. I have a Droid and love the phone. This weekend I had the opportunity to play with the new Incredible and was quite impressed. The phone is very fast and responsive. The 1GHz Snapdragon processor is quite nice. The camera is one of the best I have seen on a phone. If Steve confirms no Verizon Iphone, then I will be getting an Incredible.
 
yg17 said:
So "normal people" shouldn't be allowed a choice in things such as SMS apps or additional features without hacking?
Click to expand...

What he's saying is that Lord Steve knows what kind of SMS apps people want and that's the only opinion that matters. Damn the idea of choice!!

Lord Vader said:
That's only what your twisted mind thinks. Come back tomorrow.
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Good grief.... You're not only drinking the KoolAid, you spiked it.

Posted from my iPad
 
RazHyena said:
It's hard to tell. The Droid isn't as nice aesthetically, but it does more in terms of functionality. And a lot of people don't even have a choice as they live in an area with no AT&T coverage, so the Droid is the obvious substitute.
Click to expand...

The Incredible's Sense UI is both nice aesthetically (and quick), so it wouldn't be surprising if it sold even better than the earlier Droid. It'll be interesting this summer to see the second quarter results that include Incredible sales.

Some posters keep repeating that Android isn't as "user friendly" as the iPhone. I disagree. Yes, it has a menu and back button. So do all Blackberrys and they outsell everyone.

The button arrangement saves screen space for apps and limits thumb movement. It also just takes a few minutes more to learn, which is nothing compared to how long people own and use a smartphone.

Everyone has a favorite style, of course. Plenty of market for all smartphone types.
 
SPNarwhal said:
i doubt apple would release multiple models, aside the differences in memory.
keeps things simpler that way.
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Well, they're doing it with the iPad (6 different models already). I'm sure they're getting a good deal from AT&T to retain exclusivity, but can they afford to cede market share to Android? Android is really the only threat to Apple's dominance (I consider RIM devices to be somewhat of a separate category even if technically they're not)? At some point, probably soon, they are going to need to give up a bit on their profit margins to grow market share.

There's only 3 reasons I can see for Apple delaying opening up to Verizon:

-- Verizon isn't giving them a good deal on sharing revenues. Again, I think it's worth it to give up a little profit in per-phone sales for this vast market.

-- Would require a separate model. Not a big deal IMO, but they may be waiting to produce an LTE (4G) model, where all the carriers are going anyway, but it's not ready yet.

-- Verizon is demanding too much control over the phone's software. This, I think, would be an absolute deal-breaker for Jobs. If Verizon wants to install their own crapware apps on the phone, wants to control over the air updates, or wants a control the app store and/or take a cut of profits from it, I think that would absolutely be unacceptable to Jobs and I don't see him giving in on this point.
 
mj1108 said:
What he's saying is that Lord Steve knows what kind of SMS apps people want and that's the only opinion that matters. Damn the idea of choice!!



Good grief.... You're not only drinking the KoolAid, you spiked it.

Posted from my iPad
Click to expand...

I think you should stop smoking that stuff right now. If one wanted something else he has it already and if not means he's fine with it. Android looks great on the paper just not in the wild. Wnat less restriction in the app store buy androidm but don't say it doesn't lower overall security. There is a trade off to deal with and in my opinion iPhone is at perfect balance here when OS 4 goes live.
 
Craiglorocks said:
I feel like this will continue to happen. Apple simply cannot compete on 1 network. I would love an Iphone, but I love my network quality. I have a Droid and love the phone. This weekend I had the opportunity to play with the new Incredible and was quite impressed. The phone is very fast and responsive. The 1GHz Snapdragon processor is quite nice. The camera is one of the best I have seen on a phone. If Steve confirms no Verizon Iphone, then I will be getting an Incredible.
Click to expand...

1. iPhone users are documented "data hogs" -- if you released the iPhone to Verizon, you'd see their network take a performance hit due to the increased data consumption of iPhone users.

Though, on the plus side, it might mean a migration away from AT&T and performance improvements for me.

2. How much of the issue is Apple's 1 carrier stance, and how much of it is the fact that Verizon is literally giving the Droid away for free? The Droid is no iPhone, but it isn't a bad knockoff -- with the current state of the economy, you don't think getting a free almost-iPhone is enticing to a good many consumers?
 
kdarling said:
Some posters keep repeating that Android isn't as "user friendly" as the iPhone. I disagree. Yes, it has a menu and back button. So do all Blackberrys and they outsell everyone.
Click to expand...

It's not just "some posters" - it seems to be the general consensus of tech reviewers everywhere.

And it's not limited to menu and back buttons.

In my own Android experimentation, I found it far less intuitive than iPhone OS.

Throw in UI inconsistency between various Android skins (http://whalesalad.com/blog/incredible-vs-nexus-one/) and you have a real jambalaya of mediocrity.
 
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