iOS Developers Embracing Alternative Mobile Platforms, Shying Away From Mac

[*LTD*]

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Oh dear...

Image

There's nothing really negative or unexpected in the (poorly executed) survey.

I think people have more of a problem with how the survey was performed than with the results.

 

[beg_ne]

How do you go to a weeklong conference where 5,200 people are attending and get less than 100 to participate?

I guess the majority of devs were smart enough to stay away from the riff rat and just ignore them.

Seriously I can't believe MacRumors (and other Mac sites) is just regurgitating these numbers without calling out the fact that the numbers are basically worthless.

 

[miografico]

I have tons of people who want me to port my one app to Mac. The trouble is that Mac OS X apps are much more complex to get started. I think it's because of the age of the platform, so there is so much to learn. I want to go to Mac, but in the meantime...

The other thing to consider is that these are "mobile" developers. That means that when you write an app for iPhone, you are going to have your clients or business want an Android version, plain and simple. It has no bearing on how much we like to develop for that platform. Let me tell you, I'd rather right iOS code all day long, but here I am debugging an Android version of the app.

In the enterprise space we counsel companies (it's mostly small companies who have this issue) to stick with one mobile platform. In most larger organizations this is a no brainer because they don't want devices they do not control accessing the corporate network: so they choose one either iPhones, Android based phones or BB's etc.

The smaller organizations are the ones that tend to have too much device scattering (dif. brands) and cannot make up their mind about what platform to stick to.

When security is key as a company you control your mobile devices as you are the ones handing them out to your employees.

 

[NightFox]

As well as the ridiculously small sample size, I'm not convinced WWDC is the place to get an accurate picture. I'd have imagined that the proportion of iOS developers to Mac developers is increasing every year.

 

[hugothomsen]

Yawn ...

This is a crap survey. Only 20 people in 2007 and 45 people this year? Thats a TINY sample size.. not even big enough to make these statistics significant.

Agree. Red Top level of news - completely irrelevant.

 

[dacapo]

Less concerning is the sample size, more is the lack of inclusion of if this is the respondent's first WWDC. (many hands were raised when some session audiences were asked if this was their first WWDC).

I wouldn't draw the conclusion that people are shying away from Mac development. Standing in line waiting for the keynote, I found many first timers.

Sure, but neither does being a first time attendee of WWDC necessarily imply that the developer is new to iOS development.

Regardless of the (in)validity of the survey and the article, it's definitely easier as an iOS developer to branch out into Android than to take up Mac programming, so the low number makes sense to me. (Whether it's "shying away" or "seeing Android as having a lower entry barrier" or whatever spin you put on it, from a technical perspective, that's just the way it is.)

 

[Atlantico]

Apple cares a little more about what is next, than what is now. They don't hold a static position with a paradigm for too long. When others are seeking to maintain and extend the paradigm (often in redundant, poorly conceived ways) like MS, Apple is looking to take us to the next one.

It's up to you to make the costs vs. benefits analysis.

Excuse while I vomit (... goes and vomits) .. I lose my breakfast when someone uses the word "paradigm" and expects to be taken seriously at the same time as he blatantly explains *what* Apple is thinking and *why*. Sad.

Hahaha your explaination is a complete fabrication and fantasy. Apple sure went for the next big thing when they started offering webmail for money (aka dotMac/mobileMe) or when they broke ground with on-line movie rentals in the USA (how's that for also-ran??) or when Apple made the G4 cube, now that was a prescient move... how's that amazing Cube market doing these days?

Apple is pretty decent at making sucessful products, but it doesn't make a lot of them. The Macintosh, the iPod and the iOS are the only successful Apple products. Everything else, every single thing made by Apple has been a failure. Even while Steve Jobs has been at the helm. Both times.

Apple isn't taking us anywhere in particular or inventing new "paradigms" (I feel a bit dirty myself when I use that marketingspeek) it is just into making money and milking every cent out of its current success.

Everyone must have a credit card and an active Apple App/Music store account to be Apple users now. Is that your paradigm shift? Good for you.

(golfclap)

 

[dustinsc]

I've only taken one statistics class in my life, but I can tell you that this doesn't mean a whole lot due to sample size.

 

[gnasher729]

Apparently developers supporting both MacOS X and iOS were so busy with one session after the other that they had no time to fill out any survey questionnaires.

 

[*LTD*]

Excuse while I vomit (... goes and vomits) .. I lose my breakfast when someone uses the word "paradigm" and expects to be taken seriously at the same time as he blatantly explains *what* Apple is thinking and *why*. Sad.

I'm sorry you don't like the reality of the situation. iPod, iPhone, iPad. ALL major paradigm shifts. To a lesser degree the Mac + GUI.

Hahaha your explaination is a complete fabrication and fantasy. Apple sure went for the next big thing when they started offering webmail for money (aka dotMac/mobileMe) or when they broke ground with on-line movie rentals in the USA (how's that for also-ran??) or when Apple made the G4 cube, now that was a prescient move... how's that amazing Cube market doing these days?

You forgot iTunes, iPod, iPhone, iPad. Not only were they successful, the entire industry changed pace right along with them. Apple has had some unsuccessful products. However the ones that were/are successful, have changed the entire game and how a lot of us think about tech. All these mobile developers, app stores, smartphones that we see today, would not have been possible without Apple. Some of the biggest shifts have been instituted single-handedly by Apple - almost out of nowhere. In fact, some people couldn't even comprehend what was happening at the time. I remember what these forums were like when Apple demo'd the iPad. A mixture of total confusion, excitement, everything. Planet of the Apes. Some people had no idea what this was for. And now . . . the iPad has become a market staple and everyone else is following suit.

Apple is pretty decent at sucessful products, but it doesn't make a lot makingof them. The Macintosh, the iPod and the iOS are the only successful Apple products. Everything else, every single thing made by Apple has been a failure. Even while Steve Jobs has been at the helm. Both times.

See above. their successes have been so great, and so far-reaching, that most of their failures have been forgotten. We tend to chuckle about them - the hockey puck mouse, the Pippin. But that's all anyone really does. They're good for a chuckle. Because the face of the industry today in terms of rich mobile platforms (which is a major chunk of the industry) has been designed and brought to you by Apple. And Eric Schmidt's crib notes.

They're unique in the industry. Which is why a lot of normal industry rules either don't apply to them or fall apart completely.

Apple isn't taking us anywhere in particular or inventing new "paradigms"

They already have. Several times. And they're doing it as you and I type on this forum.

Everyone must have a credit card and an active Apple App/Music store account to be Apple users now. Is that your paradigm shift? Good for you.

As you type away on your Android phone's touchscreen, say "Thanks Steve." Just once. That's good enough.

 

[illitrate23]

disgusting that these analysts get paid the big bucks, and the world listens to what they say and markets rise and fall on their (usually quite random) predictions... and despite all of this, he could only put in enough effort to survey 45 people. in any other industry you'd be having to explain to your boss why you performed such a shoddy job.

 

[kalsta]

Apple cares a little more about what is next, than what is now. They don't hold a static position with a paradigm for too long. When others are seeking to maintain and extend the paradigm (often in redundant, poorly conceived ways) like MS, Apple is looking to take us to the next one.

Excuse while I vomit (... goes and vomits) …

Apple is pretty decent at making sucessful products, but it doesn't make a lot of them. The Macintosh, the iPod and the iOS are the only successful Apple products. Everything else, every single thing made by Apple has been a failure. Even while Steve Jobs has been at the helm. Both times.

Apple isn't taking us anywhere in particular or inventing new "paradigms" (I feel a bit dirty myself when I use that marketingspeek) it is just into making money and milking every cent out of its current success.

…says one religious follower to the other. Sigh.

 

[Grimace]

Seriously? 45 respondents? Statistically, it is not significant or even close to a sample size where you could draw any conclusions.

 

[kalsta]

I'm sorry you don't like the reality of the situation. iPod, iPhone, iPad. ALL major paradigm shifts. To a lesser degree the Mac + GUI.

To a lesser degree? Are you serious? I'm guessing you're too young to remember DOS.

 

[nwcs]

The sample size is more than plenty if this was truly a random sampling of attendees. But it likely wasn't so the results will be skewed. I'd also be hesitant to take anything meaningful away from such a survey.

 

[Atlantico]

I'm sorry you don't like the reality of the situation. iPod, iPhone, iPad. ALL major paradigm shifts. To a lesser degree the Mac + GUI.

It's not what you say, it's how you say it. Either way, the reality of the situation has nothing to do with your opinion. See.

You forgot iTunes, iPod, iPhone, iPad.

Nope, I mentioned them, you just have to be able to read instead of making guesses as to what I wrote. The Macintosh, the iPod and the iOS are the only successful Apple products. That includes iTunes/iPod and iOS includes iPhone/iPad.

Read. Comprehend. Post. ... I'm sure that's the oldest rule of forums.

See above. their successes ha e been so great, and so far-reaching, that most of their failures have been forgotten. We tend to chuckle about them - the hockey pick mouse, the Pippin. But that's all anyone really does. They're good for a chuckle. Because the face of the industry today in terms of rich mobile platforms (which is major chunk of the industry) has been designed and brought to you by Apple. And Eric Schmidt's crib notes.

Haha yes we have forgotten them so much, we both seem to remember them quite clearly! Fascinating.

The fact is, Apple screws up a lot, and yes it probably doesn't matter much - however, spare us the bullpucky that just because you want to forget Apple's mistakes that Apple is thus *incapable* of making mistakes again. Plenty of them.

DotMac wasn't a success. Did Apple learn from that? No. They made MobileMe. Was that a success? No. Did Apple learn from that? Who knows. Perhaps?

Thus you're full of it when you claim to know that Apple always (to paraphrase) skates where the puck is going to be, not where it is at the moment .... problem is, sometimes there isn't a game of icehockey going on.

They already have. Several times. And they're doing it as you and I type on this forum.

No, not really.

As you type away on your Android phone's touchscreen, say "Thanks Steve." Just once. That's good enough.

I don't have an Android, I have a Mac and an iPod touch. What are you recommending Android phones? And here I was, thinking you to be the stereotypical, non-critical, overpraising, blatant Apple fangirl.

My mistake.

 

[gctwnl]

This is a crap survey. Only 20 people in 2007 and 45 people this year? Thats a TINY sample size.. not even big enough to make these statistics significant.

Yes. I'd be interested to see a true statistician produce some numbers about the reliabilities of these results. Especially the 20 or so surveyed (and we must assume this was a true random sample) do not give one a feel of confidence in these numbers.

Lies, big lies and statistics, baby!

 

[jmoore5196]

Considering the source - and the small sample size - this story should have been a non-starter.

Were it up to Forbes and Fortune, Apple would have tanked under Gil Amelio. Today on Fortune Tech, for example, you can find pieces on Michael Dell, Bill Gates and dire portent about Apple's stock share price. There's also a gloating bit about the stock price drop after Job's iCloud keynote.

Bottom line: These guys don't get it. The world has moved on from Microsoft. Time to stop living in the past - and hoping for a return to glory that will not materialize - and embrace change. But change is the very antithesis of what these folks stand for, isn't it?

 

[Atlantico]

…says one religious follower to the other. Sigh.

I'm pro-Macintosh .. hello?

 

[ratzzo]

At the end of the day, the developer will invest his time in whatever platform yields the most revenue, be it iOS, Android, RIM.. you name it. Apple have it easy, take less of a cut on the App Store profits and more devs will feel attracted. 2 x 5 is the same as 5 x 2.

 

[jmpnop]

Takeaways from the article:

• If you want to make money, iOS is your platform of choice
  
• iOS has highest potential for future growth (see above for one of the main reasons) even among an ocean of Android devices that are based on an "open" platform, but other platforms are growing as well. There will always be a market for other platforms, even if they're total junk. The race to the bottom is always happening.
  
• iOS growth faster than Mac/OS X. Suggests (more evidence to add to the pile) that we are definitely in the Post-PC era.

Post PC era? lol'd

FFS stop posting this post-pc crap in EVERY SINGLE THREAD. iPad (and tablets in general) are just fancy toys which are meant for basic things. They can't do anything productive. And how the hell do you think a fancy toy can replace a real computer? Unless you're a 10 year kid playing casual games and trolling on forums, I don't see tablets replacing anything.

 

[Mr.damien]

The only thing I will remember is that 100% of developers said that iOS SDK is the best and iOS is the best place to earn money.

Something that has been greatly ignored by this article ...

 

[Popeye206]

Wrong interpretation.

Higher iOS developer ratio doesn't mean they are "Shying Away From Mac"

Example

3 iOS dev
1 mac dev
25% mac developer

With an increase in both developer count it could be like this:

95 ios dev
5 mac dev
5% mac developer

Omg Mac is doomed. In reality, the ratio between the two don't tell anything.

+1

I actually think some of the other data is more telling. The fact that they feel the iOS platform is profitable. The fact that iOS is the easiest to develop for, etc... I can also see why they think Android is the biggest opportunity. It's a huge growing market, but I think it's a developing opportunity because there is not as much organization as there is on iOS and most consumers have to be lead to the water to drink.

 

[*LTD*]

Post PC era? lol'd

FFS stop posting this post-pc crap in EVERY SINGLE THREAD. iPad (and tablets in general) are just fancy toys which are meant for basic things.

Wrong. They are markers. Guideposts that point us in the direction tech is headed. They form the basis of the strategies of a lot of major tech players (i.e., Motorola, Samsung, HTC, RIM.) The iPad demo (and its current success) is really a watershed moment for the industry at large.

LOL, that's some "toy." For some reason they seem to do more and more with each passing month. It's quite astounding.

 

[Mr.damien]

Post PC era? lol'd

FFS stop posting this post-pc crap in EVERY SINGLE THREAD. iPad (and tablets in general) are just fancy toys which are meant for basic things. They can't do anything productive. And how the hell do you think a fancy toy can replace a real computer? Unless you're a 10 year kid playing casual games and trolling on forums, I don't see tablets replacing anything.

Told that to SAP that brings iPad to all of its employees, or deutsche bank or ... *a lot of company here*.

That's funny because now that Apple are releasing all thoses toys, their market share in corporate environment has never been so strong.