Beatweek calls Android platform "sinking ship", VZ needs iPhone

[TruckdriverSean]

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Android doesn't look like a sinking ship from my perspective. Looks more like a very viable mobile OS for the consumer market, possibly the next majority stakeholder in that space. Android simply offers too much in terms of carrier add-on and modification for carriers to pass up. Remember, carriers don't want to be relegated to interchangeable "dumb pipe" status and would basically become just that if the Apple smartphone model "took over."

Even if Android disappeared tomorrow, there would be new competitors. Apple clearly demonstrated that focusing on a consumer-friendly UI and ecosystem can bring a "geek-only" product category out of obscurity and into every pocket. (which Android still needs to improve on, but I digress)

That's a lot of profitable market to just leave it all to Apple.

Sean

 

[samcraig]

These threads are funny. As if knocking down the competition will make you feel better about the phone or platform you use.

Pretty shallow.

Not to mention - most of the people here are/were squealing like stuck pigs the minute anyone dared to say anything negative about Apple in regards to the Antenna issue.

The hypocrisy is hysterical.

 

[marksman]

Apple needs vzw more than vzw needs apple now.

1) You are wrong.

2) Neither one is going to have the other one.

 

[yg17]

These threads are funny. As if knocking down the competition will make you feel better about the phone or platform you use.

Pretty shallow.

Not to mention - most of the people here are/were squealing like stuck pigs the minute anyone dared to say anything negative about Apple in regards to the Antenna issue.

The hypocrisy is hysterical.

QFT.

If it wasn't for competition, the iPhone wouldn't have MMS, tethering, copy and paste, 3rd party apps, multitasking or many of the other features you guys love so much. Face it, the fanboys who have blind, unfounded hatred for Android don't realize that they need Android if they want the iPhone to ever have any new features.

 

[ReallyBigFeet]

I'd like to see a comparison of new and established AT&T users who are choosing the iPhone over any one of the Android models that AT&T currently carries.

In the Verizon/Sprint/Tmobile world, you've got two basic choices for smart phones....Android or a Blackberry. You could go with the semi-smartphones from LG, etc. but those don't really count.

The success of the Android at Verizon/Sprint is simply a case of "In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king!" I speak as BOTH a Verizon and an AT&T customer. We chose an Android for my wife's current VZW contract because it was the closest iPhone experience we could get. Functionally, hers can do everything my iPhone can do. Everything. It just does it the way Eileen dances from Seinfeld....kludgy and uncoordinated. But my wife refuses to leave Verizon as her family is all on Verizon and so its free to talk to family, etc. OK then, if you gotta stay, Android will have to do.

That should be Android's tagline: If you can't have an iPhone, we'll have to do.

Does anyone know of any statistics for AT&T iPhone versus Android sales? Without switching carriers, that is the only valid comparison you can have.

 

[Rhonen]

http://www.canalys.com/pr/2010/r2010081.html

Android shipments grew 900% year over year, complete opposite to sinking ship.

 

[rwilliams]

It is, but it has a strong backing by a group of die hards that feel, however misguided that belief may be, that the chaos instilled by carriers and phone vendors wishing to mold Android into their own image is worth the "freedom" it gives them.

That's the part I don't get. All of these custom Android ROMs and phones getting Android updates at the discretion of the carriers just makes the entire platform look like a mess and in disarray. Why Google allows this to happen is beyond me. If Froyo is the current version of Android, there should be no new phones shipping with version 2.1, and certainly not 1.6. It makes no sense.

 

[darngooddesign]

Beat Street thinks Android is breakin.

 

[brayhite]

http://www.canalys.com/pr/2010/r2010081.html

Android shipments grew 900% year over year, complete opposite to sinking ship.

Just because something is being made at an increased rate doesn't mean it's not a sinking ship. In fact, quite the opposite could be implied, as with so many being in production (and no sales being quoted to support the demand), the ship could only begin sinking even faster.

These threads are funny. As if knocking down the competition will make you feel better about the phone or platform you use.

Pretty shallow.

Not to mention - most of the people here are/were squealing like stuck pigs the minute anyone dared to say anything negative about Apple in regards to the Antenna issue.

The hypocrisy is hysterical.

I sincerely hope you're not referring to me. If you read my actual post, I was arguing AGAINST my thread title.

 

[tigress666]

QFT.

If it wasn't for competition, the iPhone wouldn't have MMS, tethering, copy and paste, 3rd party apps, multitasking or many of the other features you guys love so much. Face it, the fanboys who have blind, unfounded hatred for Android don't realize that they need Android if they want the iPhone to ever have any new features.

I say BS on the third party apps statement. iPhone had those before android and there really wasn't any good competition before android. I do think though the third party apps were a good move though cause otherwise the iPhone would have been just as crappy as the other phones around it. What made the iPhone really stand out was the many apps you could get for it (and therefor configure your phone to be the ultimate device for you) and the ease of finding these apps and installing them on the phone. Yes, there were other features that helped make it stand out but I really do think when apple did that was when it really took off.

 

[samcraig]

I sincerely hope you're not referring to me. If you read my actual post, I was arguing AGAINST my thread title.

I'm referring to anyone that feels the need to make themselves feel better by putting down someone or something else. It wasn't directed at you. It was directed to threads like this and posters who ring death knells for things like Android, the Kindle, etc.

 

[maflynn]

Just because something is being made at an increased rate doesn't mean it's not a sinking ship. In fact, quite the opposite could be implied, as with so many being in production (and no sales being quoted to support the demand), the ship could only begin sinking even faster.

That makes absolutely no sense

I mean its selling more so you're postulating that its actually could be sinking faster? Why not make the same argument with the iPhone then. Its selling like hotcakes therefore it will be failing much faster

Android is increasing marketshare, and depending on who's statistic you're reading/believing will dictate how fast its growing.

 

[nunes013]

i think if apple brought iphone to verizon soon they could easily take out most android users. the only ones they wouldnt are the android fanboys. every android user i know said they would switch to iphone if it came to verizon. The users just dont like the android os. its not as clean as ios and also the common user doesnt care about all the little things like wireless hotspot and hdmi out. They want a clean simple os and thats what apple gives them.

 

[samcraig]

That makes absolutely no sense

I mean its selling more so you're postulating that its actually could be sinking faster? Why not make the same argument with the iPhone then. Its selling like hotcakes therefore it will be failing much faster

Android is increasing marketshare, and depending on who's statistic you're reading/believing will dictate how fast its growing.

Don't try that crazy logic stuff here!!!! lol

 

[yg17]

i think if apple brought iphone to verizon soon they could easily take out most android users. the only ones they wouldnt are the android fanboys. every android user i know said they would switch to iphone if it came to verizon. The users just dont like the android os. its not as clean as ios and also the common user doesnt care about all the little things like wireless hotspot and hdmi out. They want a clean simple os and thats what apple gives them.

I guess you don't know me then.

I don't have an Android because I'm stuck on Verizon. I have AT&T and have no problems with them. I have Android because it's a better OS.

 

[thetexan]

Verizon can get the iPhone if they get rid of CDMA.

You do realize that GSM is "dying" just as fast as CDMA is "dying". The next generation, LTE, is not compatible with GSM or CDMA and will require a complete network overhaul for both Verizon and AT&T. Why'd Verizon switch to GSM just to get the iPhone which they don't need considering their numbers have been fantastic.

 

[thetexan]

I don't think android ever hit ship status, pool raft maybe

Well Android is the #1 smartphone platform in the US at 34%, followed by RIM at 32% and Apple at 21.7%.

 

[maflynn]

i think if apple brought iphone to verizon soon they could easily take out most android users. the only ones they wouldnt are the android fanboys. every android user i know said they would switch to iphone if it came to verizon. The users just dont like the android os. its not as clean as ios and also the common user doesnt care about all the little things like wireless hotspot and hdmi out. They want a clean simple os and thats what apple gives them.

I guess you don't know me then.

I don't have an Android because I'm stuck on Verizon. I have AT&T and have no problems with them. I have Android because it's a better OS.

+1,
I opted for android because I prefer the features, over what the iPhone offers. I was on AT&T, first with the iPhone, then with the nexus. I just recently moved over to verizon, because of the droid x. Coverage/service of AT&T in my area was and is fine. In fact my wife is still on AT&T/iPhone, its just that I prefer something different then what the iPhone offers.

 

[ohaithar]

Well Android is the #1 smartphone platform in the US at 34%, followed by RIM at 32% and Apple at 21.7%.

Android took over blackberry as the #1 smartphone? wow. that's kinda surprising (to me)

 

[brayhite]

That makes absolutely no sense

I mean its selling more so you're postulating that its actually could be sinking faster? Why not make the same argument with the iPhone then. Its selling like hotcakes therefore it will be failing much faster

Android is increasing marketshare, and depending on who's statistic you're reading/believing will dictate how fast its growing.

Way to completely miss the point. Did you not see the parentheses? That poster said that Android shipments are increasing. Doesn't necessarily mean it's selling. If you show me the sales statistics, then sure, you'd have a point. But I specifically addressed only the shipping statement, which you apparently were blind to.

 

[Rooskibar03]

Android is a mess, period.

Different versions, are one thing, but letting anyone do what they want with it has created dozens of little variations that mostly suck.

+1,000,000

I can't stand people who won't buy Apple products because Apple is so closed and won't let you do what you want with your products. Thats the whole reason they work.

If you buy an Andriod phone because you truly like the way it works that fine, but don't badmouth Apple products because they are to controlling over the things they sell.

 

[wirelessmacuser]

Android is just the kick in the ass that Apple needs to wake them up, that's all. Apple is now such a mainstream company, they occupy the space formerly taken by Microsoft. iPhones are everywhere, a dime a dozen these days. Good news, competition makes everyone better.

 

[SnowLeopard2008]

Android is NOT #1 in US marketshare. It's #3. RIM is #1 followed by Apple at #2. At a global scale, Android has a smaller presence. These are the facts that can be proven with data from many reputable sources.

I would not buy an Android device again because of the poor foundation the platform has. They try to have everything all at once and not build it up bit by bit like iOS. I remember each iOS version has a distinct new set of features that were well thought out and implemented. Multitasking, copy/paste, App Store, etc. all come to mind. Now look at Android. I just remember the version number and some kind of corresponding nickname (Donut, Cupcake, Froyo, etc.). And then factor in that many companies have their own version (like the Sense UI or Motoblur) and different hardware specifications. It's a mess. From bottom up.

 

[zacharace]

Well Android is the #1 smartphone platform in the US at 34%, followed by RIM at 32% and Apple at 21.7%.

BlackBerry OS still has the market lead at 35%.

http://blog.nielsen.com/nielsenwire...-as-smartphones-grab-25-of-u-s-mobile-market/

 

[maflynn]

I would not buy an Android device again because of the poor foundation the platform has. They try to have everything all at once and not build it up bit by bit like iOS. I remember each iOS version has a distinct new set of features that were well thought out and implemented. Multitasking, copy/paste, App Store, etc. all come to mind.

So you're knocking the platform for providing all of these features at once

Many of these features you mentioned that were not part of iOS early on were excluded/omitted by apple because they felt they were not needed. They left out cut/paste and ignored people's ranting for it, for 3 versions. Multitasking was assailed as evil until apple opted for a hamstrung version. The app store wasn't a gleam in apple's eyes until cydia. my point is apple added them on piece meal because they didn't think people wanted/needed them initially.

And then factor in that many companies have their own version (like the Sense UI or Motoblur) and different hardware specifications. It's a mess. From bottom up.

That's a bit of mis-information. Companies don't have their own version of android, they have a custom UI on top of android. SenseUI is probably the most ingrained UI, but its not that its a different OS.

What you criticize is actually one of the benefits of android, its extensible, customizable ability. I'm running a separate launcher, then that of motoblur, and it allows me to alter how I run, and organize my apps in a way that fits my needs better then what motoblur did.