Still only half the number of people on iOS 11, and it's been out longer.
Anyway, the fragmentation is the issue. Fragmentation = small user base = less interest from devs = less competition = detriment to the industry as a whole.
I really don't understand why there are people supporting such horrific fragmentation, trying to dress it up as "the users are happy" when a) They don't know that and b) Isn't the point anyway.
Yes, it is the point. If users are happy (with whatever device they are not upgrading from) then Apple's premium product gets more expensive as all of it's 'new' technology becomes less and less relevant to real every day users, otherwise known as the masses.
It's already happening - the margin between a high end Android device costs less than a high end iOS device. Android is more ubiquitous and easier to access at the lower end of the market - into a (albeit 'fragmented') more universal eco system that is more easy to integrate across platforms (i.e outside of Apple's notorious Walled Garden). All of those people running different fragmented versions of the OS don't care right now as long as they've got an icon driven touch smartphone. When they do start caring, they're more likely to buy something more high end android, but they are less likely to buy into an even more expensive iOS device if they already own android devices.
This is extended into Homekit, Siri vs Alexa, iCloud vs any other cloud, Not being able to play Spotify on a HomePod natively, and eventually MacOS vs Touch Hybrid Operating Systems, whether you like it or not, and even hardware e.g surface studio vs iMac and so on.
I used to be against fragmentation too, but I was locked in to that walled garden and probably needed to convince myself that this was the best way to operate. It turns out that in 2018 fragmentation (otherwise known as 'Open' systems) licensed out to whomever wants to implement the software, is a good thing. It means that a universal, cross platform standard can be achieved with creating a monopoly on hardware sales. Devices, Home assistants, speakers, cars, entertainment, internet, apps, cloud, pretty much anything you can think of can be tweaked to fit the required usage.
There's nothing wrong with having different access points. There are more categories than ever before, and it's now a network of thousands or more smaller niches. Apple's approach of slicker, prettier, more expensive, and aclosed eco system for higher profits is one way and that's fine, but it doesn't actually mean that they make
better products - there's plenty of a history of mistakes there too.
And one more thing about security that people like to talk about.
You don't think Apple have had problems with security in the past? What information of yours is Google using against you? Have you got a facebook/twitter/instagram/bank account? Do you think you're not being watched every time you go shopping? Have you got a credit/store/library card? Just what are you doing to keep your passwords safe? What is happening with ANY of your digital online presence? How do you know that using your Apple device is any better than anything else? Did you hear a rumour? What's that? Google take all of your information and store it just in case they need to bust you (for something, I don't know what) or sell it to evil advertisers!
Give me a break...
