Game Developers Scaling Back Android Efforts as iPhone Continues to Dominate

[Andronicus]

What, like 1.5, 1.6 or 2.0 ? Vs.. oh... 2.0, 3.0, 3.1 ? Seems about the same to me

Not to mention can I use GPS ? Video camera ? Faster GPU ? Compass ?

The iPhone is as cobbled up as the Android platform. Either you develop for a small subset of features available everywhere, or you're stuck not supporting some of the devices.

Wait, you were going to mention screen resolution ? Android's API takes into account that you might be or not running on different resolution screens.

There will be about 18 android phones by years end....compared to 3 different versions of the iPhone.... Doesn't sound like the iPhone is as nearly "cobbled up" as the Android platform. Plus, don't even mention the version numbers, that argument doesn't even make sense.

 

[skate71290]

I think their app submission system is pretty bad. But, that aside, it's not that there needs to be something wrong. Competition prevents Apple from resting on their laurels and it forces them to innovate. That's a good thing for consumers like us.

exactly why there is no real innovation in the iPods anymore

 

[cmaier]

exactly why there is no real innovation in the iPods anymore

iPod Touch isn't innovative? If you're referring to the classic ipods, the reason there isn't any innovation is that the whole category of dedicated media players is going away. Before long ipod touch-like devices will be the norm.

 

[Shasterball]

Apple used an old model that made McDonalds globally successful. Everybody wanted hamburgers and there were plenty of businesses selling them in the early 60s. The problem was, at that time, nobody new what to expect from store to store. Some people like anarchy. Most do not. Like McDonalds, Apple created a familiar ecosystem with better options for their products AND the people who buy them. That's the real power behind Apple's success. Brand loyalty and being pro consumer. Competition in products will do nothing to change that.

OK, but I assume you are not arguing that, e.g., Burger King as a rival to McDonald's has done nothing to force McDonald's to find better ways to compete. I think it has -- new food products, healthier food options, streamlines operations, improved advertising, etc...

 

[KnightWRX]

Plus, don't even mention the version numbers, that argument doesn't even make sense.

Why wouldn't I mention version numbers ? That is exactly what the poster I was replying was talking about :

Very minor issues for iPhone compared to all the various hardware and OS version android developers will face.

So please, if you want to argue with my posts, at least read them in context.

OK, but I assume you are not arguing that, e.g., Burger King as a rival to McDonald's has done nothing to force McDonald's to find better ways to compete. I think it has -- new food products, healthier food options, streamlines operations, improved advertising, etc...

Not to mention arguing McDonald's became so big on the quality of its product is kind of ludicrous. They made their fame and money off of Kid's advertising and targetting. The kids dragged their parents to McDonald's and yesterday's kids are today's adults.

 

[kdarling]

(re: multiple devices, hardware and speed) Very minor issues for iPhone compared to all the various hardware and OS version android developers will face.

Android developers are already facing, and handling, the multiple device issues. The Android SDK specifically addresses resolution independence techniques, for example.

The iPhone development community has no such experience.

 

[cmaier]

Android developers are already facing, and handling, the multiple device issues. The Android SDK specifically addresses resolution independence techniques, for example.

The iPhone development community has no such experience.

Actually, we are supposed to be checking resolution and their are SDK functions to allow us to do so.

Further, if Apple's next iphone has higher resolution, presumably the plist file will just contain an entry stating that the app wants higher resolution, and, if not, it will be scaled by the OS.

 

[kdarling]

Actually, we are supposed to be checking resolution and their are SDK functions to allow us to do so.

Yes, I know, but a lot of sample code out there doesn't, and I'd bet very few developers check sizes and/or totally avoid hardcoding sizes.

Moreover, Android has multiple screen resolution emulators to test on. The iPhone SDK does not.

Further, if Apple's next iphone has higher resolution, presumably the plist file will just contain an entry stating that the app wants higher resolution, and, if not, it will be scaled by the OS.

Automatic's a nice idea, but as I'm sure you know, scaling up doesn't always work well with bitmaps, and scaling down doesn't always work well with UI elements.

Some apps will work, but I suspect a lot will not look good if the screen size, resolution or aspect ratio changes. I suspect there'll be a lot of rewriting. Of course, that just means more app store upgrade sales.

 

[gflinch]

iPhone vs Droid/Android

I am a verizon subscriber so being tied to a contract, my choice of a real smartphone is an Android product, actually its comparable (IMHO) to an iPhone in features. I think that HTC has a decent interface on the Eiros model. But, BUT, there really lacks the continuity of the whole MAC/Apple experience. This is the problem with having and OPEN system, it turns into a Free-for-All in standards and overall user experience. Besides that, the developer has to watch what they program for as it could be broken on one phone to the next (this is my guess).

Off topic a little, development, though not a huge problem, but the developer that does NOT adhere to standards on any platform will get bitten and so will the users. i.e. Snow Leopard and some devs. not keeping up and changing there old ways. It seems that Apple warned devs that if they didn't ride their code of older ???? when the tidier Snow Leopard was released some where caught either with no future or broken code that needed fixed

Back on topic, Apple has done a great job marketing the iPhone for what it DOES and with the help of "there is an app for that" showcasing the value of dev support for the platform it has been a great success. In contrast Google, just let the horse out of the barn, It may be a stallion in some respects, but it has no or little direction.

This is why I may purchase a Android product for now, but as soon as Verizon gets an iPhone (one hopes!) I will drop it like a hot potato, unless by then things REALLY improve, but I think Google has become a bit like Microsoft, huge and cumbersome tripping over their own feet.

Just my thoughts, Greg

 

[DMann]

Interesting how even after all this time, all this publicity, all the mindhsare it's garnered, there is still such ignorance about the iPhone. Frankly, I think it's just deliberate obfuscation.

Either that, or wishful thinking. Be it the underdog, or the briefly resurrected, (Pre) those who dislike Apple tend to gravitate toward companies which provide variations on the model forged by the iPhone.

Since its overall success is largely due to the integrated solution of hardware/OS/innovative multi-touch implementation/iTunes Appstore, others who follow suit have an extensive trail to chase.

Competition is good for all, but downplaying the impact that the iPhone has made on the cell phone industry, is simply denial.

 

[Andronicus]

I'll have to rock my g1 to sleep now. It's so unloved by the world.

Hahahaha! Hilarious.

 

[polaris20]

According to the majority of consumers who have voted the iphone into the phone with the highest consumer satisfaction. The iphone also has the highest satisfaction amongst business users.

Oh, I'm sorry. I was under the impression that the Droid just came out earlier this month. I didn't know they had time for a comprehensive study already between Android 2.0 and iPhone OS 3.1. Do you have links to these studies?

 

[cumanzor]

Yeah I'm sure the iphone doesn't offer free apps, the majority of apps downloaded on the iphone are free!

he never implied that there aren't free apps on the iPhone. He just said he prefers open source apps, and I guess many people would agree with him.

According to the majority of consumers who have voted the iphone into the phone with the highest consumer satisfaction. The iphone also has the highest satisfaction amongst business users.

For one thing, since those customers have an iPhone in the first place, they are obviously going to rate it positive. Nobody saying the iPhone is a bad device.

Now, you are making a awful assumption, a terrible logic flaw, saying that since X product is selling more or being rated better than product Y, product Y must be an inferior product. There are many reasons why people prefer an iPhone (including service provider, apps, or just brand name) and there are many reasons why others prefer a Droid.

If the iphone is at 60 percent, Android must be one hundred since developers aren't making any money there and their users except everything for free, still better to develop for the iphone.

if the apps are actually being released for free by the developers, how in the ****ing world is this piracy?

Right but it's still 100 times better than the situation developers in Android world are facing, and more hardware is coming out

Regarding having multiple android devices, well there is an Android SDK for a reason. It will take care of issues like different phone capabilities , resolutions, etc.

 

[cmaier]

Regarding having multiple android devices, well there is an Android SDK for a reason. It will take care of issues like different phone capabilities , resolutions, etc.

Well, not exactly. It takes care of telling the developer what capabilities are present, etc., but the developer has to do a lot of work to support multiple devices. For example, a device may or may not support multitouch. This means the developer either has to do double the work providing two cohesive UIs (one that takes maximum advantage of multitouch, and a fallback for people who can't multitouch), or, more likely, just code to the lowest common denominator. Since there is such a great difference between the lowest common denominator and the most featured Android device, apps are likely to be fragmented into little islands of supporting one or two devices but not others, or are will tend to support the LCD and not take full advantage of any particular device.

 

[rstansby]

Yup. I'll take an open-sourced program over something else any day. Since there are a ton of free apps on Android already, it's going to be tough to charge anything unless you create something that's unique.

There are a ton of free apps on the iPhone as well, that hasn't made it difficult for people to sell apps.

 

[Digitalclips]

The Android revolution is taking a while . . .




Alright. But in Apple's case, why specifically? Is there something wrong?

Apple *is* the competition. Without any real competition to drive them Apple released the iPhone, and kept improving it . . . and is still doing it, in the absence of any real competition.

Agreed. The continual comments about Apple needing competition are misplaced IMHO. Apple are driven by a desire to make the best and improve on what went before ... period. Let's face it when you create paradigm shift after paradigm shift what else can be your competition?

 

[kingtj]

False comparison ....

When you're looking at customers for smartphones, the traditional groups and their preferences don't really come into play.

It's not necessarily Apple's computer customers buying iPhones, nor is it Linux users all lining up to buy Android phones.

Sure, there's crossover ... but what's more relevant is that most cellphone owners are trained to pay for their software, period. When I had a Motorola Razr phone, for example, with U.S. Cellular, you weren't going to get much of any software add-ons downloaded to it without paying at least $3.95 or so for them. Same situation with the Nextels we use at work. Everything has a cost attached to it.

I think one reason the iPhone has done so well is because it actually encourages the downloading of far MORE applications than what cellphone users are accustomed to downloading. So many programs have a "lite" edition available for free, if a given app isn't just plain free ... and many paid apps are under $2.00 each too. Before the iPhone, I can't ever remember ANY cellphone featuring downloadable apps as the main focus of a commercial!

With the Android, it's simply going to have to play "catch up". Everyone knows the iPhone has "hundreds of thousands of applications" available for it. With Android, they don't have any idea, but they're all pretty sure it's "a lot less than the iPhone, since it's still new".

Apple's customers are trained to pay for their software.
Android/Linux/Windows customers are trained to get stuff for free or "free".

It is something that few people seem to get but has a huge impact in software sales.

When a developer hears about a "free, open" platform they think, great, no one will interfere with me selling my app. When the Android users hear "free, open", they think "great, I don't have to pay for my apps".

 

[Chupa Chupa]

Agreed. The continual comments about Apple needing competition are misplaced IMHO. Apple are driven by a desire to make the best and improve on what went before ... period. Let's face it when you create paradigm shift after paradigm shift what else can be your competition?

If you think that Apple has reduced prices and bumped up features in the past out of altruism I have a 2008 Model T to sell you.

Apple's management is driven to primarily do one thing: make boatloads of money. Everything they do is in that regard. Everything. What you seem to be saying is that Apple's management pushes itself to improve for improvement's sake, which goes against every basic human psychology and motivation theory. Apple improves, because they are familiar with the Tortoise and the Hare fable.

 

[polaris20]

I think a lot of people here are making a big assumption that Android is for Linux users. There are a lot of Linux users that aren't big fans of Google at all, and would prefer something like the Nokia N900. Now THAT is a geek's phone.

 

[DMann]

When you're looking at customers for smartphones, the traditional groups and their preferences don't really come into play.

It's not necessarily Apple's computer customers buying iPhones, nor is it Linux users all lining up to buy Android phones.

Sure, there's crossover ... but what's more relevant is that most cellphone owners are trained to pay for their software, period.....

With the Android, it's simply going to have to play "catch up". Everyone knows the iPhone has "hundreds of thousands of applications" available for it. With Android, they don't have any idea, but they're all pretty sure it's "a lot less than the iPhone, since it's still new".

For this reason, developers find the iPhone platform more attractive than the Android, as there is more profit to be garnered from the App Store - this being the greater incentive.

 

[jimmyjoemccrow]

How ironic that on a site called Macrumors the news of a developer leaving the Android platform is considered worthy of the frontpage, and news of devs leaving iPhone are relegated to being reported by users.

 

[KnightWRX]

How ironic that on a site called Macrumors the news of a developer leaving the Android platform is considered worthy of the frontpage, and news of devs leaving iPhone are relegated to being reported by users.

At least someone understood. Yeah, Macrumors reports on negative things by burying them 3 pages deep. The competition having problems is worthy of the main page though.

The only fail in your and my pointing this out is that we aren't just drinking the kool-aid.

 

[dpw2atox]

I feel the success of the Android Market and the iPhone Market both will depend on how Google and Apple address and resolve any issues.

Google needs to work on getting phone companies to quickly update the phones to Android 2.0. They also need to work on adding features, improving the SDK more so it is easier to write apps for multiple Android devices. Android 2.0 finally brings OpenGL 1.1, but in reality they need to hurry up and release OpenGL 2.0 support like the iPhone has so App writers can start making the same quality games on Android devices that are on the iPhone. Google also needs to update their app market, since there are so many different types of hardware, there need to be various parameters added so say if you have a Droid, you can only see apps certified on the Droid by default (there can always be a see all apps option with a warning).

Apple needs to really pull its head out of its butt and fix their app approval process. Ive seen countless stories of developers waiting 3 months just for a minor app update to just find it was denied. Apple also is clearly the leader in the current smart phone world, but in order to stay the leader they need to continue to innovate and blow everyone away with new features and an even better phone than the 3GS. The big thing that sticks out in my mind is multitasking, i mean even make it as an option that says "WARNING THIS WILL KILL YOUR BATTERY FASTER" but its about time they add it to the iPhone.

 

[*LTD*]

At least someone understood. Yeah, Macrumors reports on negative things by burying them 3 pages deep. The competition having problems is worthy of the main page though.

The only fail in your and my pointing this out is that we aren't just drinking the kool-aid.

You think a couple of devs leaving the iPhone means anything in the grand scheme of the app store market? Not a chance. For every one that leaves, hundreds (thousands) more join, some who are high profile, and some who will be.

Impact of some devs leaving the iPhone (and NOT going to other mobile platforms, too boot!) is virtually ZERO. The iPhone has too much momentum, too much popularity, too much mindshare, and too much promise to be derailed by that. The devs live with the app store or they don't. The vast majority (and there are many of them), have chosen to live with it. And most importantly, Apple is improving the App Store processes. It isn't perfect, but it sure as hell is the best out there. So a few devs leaving the iPhone isn't really news, and is at best, an indication that the app store is imperfect, something we've known for a while. Apple has been working to improve it, and that's something that the competition should fear.

So why is it big news when devs leave Android, or just aren't interested in the platform? It's big news because Android has received a great deal of publicity, has been spun into the Next Big Thing, is desperately in need of developers and some serious attention, and here's a high profile developer that just isn't interested. Android is the one platform that has been singled out by pundits as the preeminent iPhone rival, and it is in dire need of developers. Given all the hype, the disinterst of Gameloft (and likely others) seems to run counter to all the hype, especially the hype about Droid, which surprisingly, enjoyed at best a lukewarm reception. The trials and tribulations of iPhone competitors are always big news, for obvious reasons.

 

[jfanning]

Before long ipod touch-like devices will be the norm.

Not without a serious price drop