iPhone 5 Launch Props Up Apple's Share of Smartphone Market as Samsung Keeps Rolling

[Chupa Chupa]

Despite Android devices having the greater marketshare, iOS has more of the browsing marketshare.

Does this mean iOS devices are used more and are more useful?

Or, does it mean that browsing on an Android device isn't as good as iOS?

I'm an iOS loyalist. The only time I've ever "used" Android is playing around with it in store. Personally, I find it a bit clunky. I'm not defending Android here, I'm suggesting Apple needs to stop resting on its laurels and pushing out increasingly boring incremental updates to iOS and hardware alike.

I don't think one can conclude that b/c Android users use their device less to browse the web they find their device less useful. Clearly the OS is still growing, so people buy it over iOS for some reason. And it's not just "open source" geeks anymore. I see moms, college kids, and granddads with them. You can't ignore the fact consumers of all demos are buying Android now.

Also, which OS gets more web browsing doesn't really affect Devs much. Just b/c Android users aren't browsing doesn't mean they are not d/ling apps from Amazon, Google Play, etc.

 

[Bezetos]

Is that a shortcoming of iOS or Dropbox app?

iOS of course.

 

[munkery]

I'm an iOS loyalist. The only time I've ever "used" Android is playing around with it in store. Personally, I find it a bit clunky. I'm not defending Android here, I'm suggesting Apple needs to stop resting on its laurels and pushing out increasingly boring incremental updates to iOS and hardware alike.

I don't think one can conclude that b/c Android users use their device less to browse the web they find their device less useful. Clearly the OS is still growing, so people buy it over iOS for some reason. And it's not just "open source" geeks anymore. I see moms, college kids, and granddads with them. You can't ignore the fact consumers of all demos are buying Android now.

Also, which OS gets more web browsing doesn't really affect Devs much. Just b/c Android users aren't browsing doesn't mean they are not d/ling apps from Amazon, Google Play, etc.

Several other factors contribute to less Android browser usage.

Users often get Android devices because of the lower initial costs.

Research also shows that Android users are on par with iOS for browsing on cellular networks but browse less than iOS users on other networks via wifi.

This could mean that cellular data is the only Internet service of many Android users which possibly correlates with prefering hardware with lower initial costs.

 

[chrisbru]

iOS of course.

I'm pretty sure its actually a Dropbox software issue since you could get it to work with a different app. Dropbox wants everyone to sign up for dropbox, so emailing a link "encourages" the recipient to join Dropbox so they can access the file.

 

[Dmunjal]

I'm pretty sure its actually a Dropbox software issue since you could get it to work with a different app. Dropbox wants everyone to sign up for dropbox, so emailing a link "encourages" the recipient to join Dropbox so they can access the file.

But Dropbox allows you to do it in Android.

 

[munkery]

Is there a reason why you couldn't just email the pdf from within Dropbox? Hit share button, pick email. How is that complicated?

This quoted post provides a solution for emailing from Dropbox on iOS.

Select item in Dropbox, click share button, and select from sharing options.

 

[NoMoreSony]

This quoted post provides a solution for emailing from Dropbox on iOS.

Select item in Dropbox, click share button, and select from sharing options.

Try it first and show us the result

 

[fuwafuwa]

iOS of course.

OTOH Android is the most persistent malware.

----------

What planet are you on, updating Android OS is just as simple as iOS. Updates are coming all the time to current and older version.

And I wonder you're on what planet, because on planet Earth Android users receive update 1 year after release, and many don't receive update even though bought less than 1 year ago.

 

[munkery]

Try it first and show us the result

I know that only a link is generated, but the email recipient doesn't require a Dropbox account to direct download the file so what difference does it make?

If the user wants to directly attach the PDF to the email within iOS, then export the file from the Dropbox app to iBooks and then email the PDF from iBooks.

 

[Ryan John]

If i throw a bunch of **** on a wall, some of it will stick.

Blind devotion or obsession, either way get down to a local store, pick up a high end Samsung or HTC for that matter, then you would realise that you are talking bull.

If Apple want to move forward they need to take the Samsung threat seriously, the court cases would suggest that they are, pretending the competition doesn't exist like you, is clearly naive.

 

[LagunaSol]

What planet are you on, updating Android OS is just as simple as iOS. Updates are coming all the time to current and older version.

Yeah, it's so easy that few people do it.

I guess the horde of Android users always ranting at Motorola/Sprint/HTC/whoever about not providing an upgrade path for their device are just a figment of our imagination. Maybe you're the one transmitting from another planet?

 

[Ryan John]

Yeah, it's so easy that few people do it.

Image

I guess the horde of Android users always ranting at Motorola/Sprint/HTC/whoever about not providing an upgrade path for their device are just a figment of our imagination. Maybe you're the one transmitting from another planet?

You can republish your little green pacman as much as you like, but Android phones get updated just as much as, if not more than IOS handsets.

Case in point, my Android devices

Galaxy S2: Gingerbread - ICS - Jelly Bean this month
Motorola Xoom: Honeycomb - ICS - Jelly Bean
Galaxy S3: ICS - Jelly Bean

Not a figment of my imagination, cold hard fact. Oh and contrary to your denigration of the upgrade system, it's as simple as saying "yes" when the upgrade is offered. So don't try to make out it's difficult.

Android devices only stop getting updates when the hardware can't handle it. Before the S2 I had a HTC Wildfire, low end phone started on Froyo got updated to Gingerbread but no more updates. Not because the software isn't available, but because the hardware was not capable of handling it.

The higher up the spectrum you go hardware wise, the more updates your devices get. With so many varied handsets of course some are going to be stuck on older versions of the OS, it's called end of life, and is exactly the same as when Apple stop supporting old devices.

Android's release cycle is also a lot shorter than IOS, so naturally newer phones and tabs get the newer OS and you will see a discrepancy of devices on different OS versions. If Android was only updated once a year /18 months like IOS, you would see a lot more phones upgraded at the same time.

 

[munkery]

Case in point, my Android devices

Galaxy S2: Gingerbread - ICS - Jelly Bean this month
Motorola Xoom: Honeycomb - ICS - Jelly Bean
Galaxy S3: ICS - Jelly Bean

Fully patched Android Jelly Bean is version 4.1.2.

Those devices are not running fully patched Jelly Bean despite running the most recent Android OS. For example, the Galaxy S III is on 4.1.1.

This means that those devices have unpatched and known vulnerabilities because the vulnerabilities were disclosed with the release of the update to the fully patched version of Android.

These devices not being fully patched is part of the reason Android is more liable to malware.

 

[Ryan John]

Fully patched Android Jelly Bean is version 4.1.2.

Those devices are not running fully patched Jelly Bean despite running the most recent Android OS. For example, the Galaxy S III is on 4.1.1.

This means that those devices have unpatched and known vulnerabilities because the vulnerabilities were disclosed with the release of the update to the fully patched version of Android.

These devices not being fully patched is part of the reason Android is more liable to malware.

S3 is 4.1.1 but Xoom at 4.1.2 as it's a Google Experience Device. If malware is a problem I've yet to experience it despite owning 4 android devices. Then again I use a virus checker as any sane person would.

 

[munkery]

S3 is 4.1.1 but Xoom at 4.1.2 as it's a Google Experience Device. If malware is a problem I've yet to experience it despite owning 4 android devices. Then again I use a virus checker as any sane person would.

Furthermore, despite even Samsung not keeping devices fully patched, it is ahead of the curve in terms of getting devices running the latest Android OS.

http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/10/17/samsung-android-update/

But, getting devices running the latest Android OS and keeping the OS fully patched are both important for security.

The delay in keeping devices fully patched is primarily caused by hardware manufacturers using a proprietary user interfaces instead of the stock UI provided by Google.

 

[JayJayAbels]

Look, I'm going to let you finish...but if you live in the US, UK, Australia, etc... (i.e. not Poland and a bunch of other non-English speaking countries) your Galaxy S3 doesn't have Jelly Bean. Why? Because carriers have not released it yet! So before you go and say, "hey guys, Jelly Bean ain't that great! I have it on my S3", please confirm that you live in one of these countries...for those of us who actually know both the Apple and Android markets backwards.

Otherwise, you can stop making false claims...fanboy.

Thank you.

THAT SAID, I switched from my iP4 to the S3. iOS is nicer to use, ICS (Android 4.0.4) has more functionality. It's like comparing a Mac to a PC (about 10 years ago, when Macs weren't as cross-compatible as they are now).

^ Kids like you are simply irritating. I never said that my S3 was running "Jellybean".
I said "The Android Operating System is clumsy... even WITH Jellybean."

How would I know? Well I was comparing my 3rd gen iPad with my friends Nexus 7. We both purchased tablets at the same time and were attempting to convince one another that each other had the superior tablet.

Jellybean IS a step up from ICS but it's still not as great of an overall experience as iOS. It just isn't.

Yeah they finally figured out how to create a smoother experience but the menu layout is still clumsy and difficult to navigate. (As compared to iOS.)

I wish I could speak a little more freely on here as I could convey my feelings about both devices better but if you like your S3 better... knock your socks off. I would agree that it's a better deal than having an iPhone 4... at least right now... but it's not a better deal than having an iPhone 5.

Have at it Frenchfry.

PS - My boy sold his Nexus to our mutual friend and bought a 3rd gen iPad after I let him borrow it for one night.

Ouch. That's gotta burn.

----------

I'm an iOS loyalist. The only time I've ever "used" Android is playing around with it in store. Personally, I find it a bit clunky. I'm not defending Android here, I'm suggesting Apple needs to stop resting on its laurels and pushing out increasingly boring incremental updates to iOS and hardware alike.

I don't think one can conclude that b/c Android users use their device less to browse the web they find their device less useful. Clearly the OS is still growing, so people buy it over iOS for some reason. And it's not just "open source" geeks anymore. I see moms, college kids, and granddads with them. You can't ignore the fact consumers of all demos are buying Android now.

Also, which OS gets more web browsing doesn't really affect Devs much. Just b/c Android users aren't browsing doesn't mean they are not d/ling apps from Amazon, Google Play, etc.

The adoption rate of the Android OS has more to do with the price point of the smartphone or tablet that it comes on.

Samsung is literally flooding the industry with cheap devices. I think there is over 100 different Android devices! I can hear software developers around the world screaming a collective "Oy Vey!"

The challenge for Samsung is to bring their OS up to date and have it be as intuitive as iOS... as quickly as possible. Right now... mainstream Android users are having a subpar experience.

 

[wedouglas]

OS upgrades are a retarded discussion because iOS proponents always ignore the fact that they don't get all the features of the update. The pie charts are dumb because Apple pumps out an iOS update to everyone regardless of what key features they may or may not be getting.

Take a look at the feature tables here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IOS

Notice all the N/A's in earlier phones? The 4S is pretty much the only phone that has most of the features. The biggest feature of iOS 5 -- Siri -- didn't even show up on the iPhone 4. No iOS 6 turn-by-turn navigation on the iPhone 4 either.

Thank God though that people got Calendar updates and a To-do List app. So sure, your About page says you have iOS 6, but let's not pretend that everyone with the latest OS is actually enjoying what it has to offer.

People get new phones every couple years with their contract renewal, thus the OS upgrade issue isn't even an issue.

 

[Gle55nn]

I think that the iPhone 5 will gain back some momentum against Samsung but well Samsung has a lot of hardcore religious fans now.

 

[munkery]

The adoption rate of the Android OS has more to do with the price point of the smartphone or tablet that it comes on.

Samsung is literally flooding the industry with cheap devices. I think there is over 100 different Android devices! I can hear software developers around the world screaming a collective "Oy Vey!"

The challenge for Samsung is to bring their OS up to date and have it be as intuitive as iOS... as quickly as possible. Right now... mainstream Android users are having a subpar experience.

Market flooding in relation to consumer electronics is a common technique employed by asian companies.

The exact same thing happened with color TVs in the early 70s.

----------

OS upgrades are a retarded discussion because iOS proponents always ignore the fact that they don't get all the features of the update. The pie charts are dumb because Apple pumps out an iOS update to everyone regardless of what key features they may or may not be getting.

Not getting features in a fully patched OS doesn't negatively impact security.

Having an OS that isn't fully patched is a security risk because the OS then contains known vulnerabilities that have been publicly disclosed. This makes it easier to produce malware targeting the OS. This is why Android has malware.

 

[divinox]

Not really.

Maybe if Samsung released actual SALES figures... the numbers here are guesstimates at how many units Samsung has SHIPPED. Samsung has a history of flooding the market with umpteen number of models. They make a model (copy) for almost every model/line their competitors put out.

So until we see some real sales numbers, then, meh. Besides, these percentage numbers don't translate into how well a company is actually doing. One could drop a percentage point, but actually have increased sales.

Quarter after quarter, year after year, stores keep asking for more samsung phones only to boost statistics like these. Tinfoil, much?

 

[wedouglas]

Market flooding in relation to consumer electronics is a common technique employed by asian companies.

The exact same thing happened with color TVs in the early 70s.

----------



Not getting features in a fully patched OS doesn't negatively impact security.

Having an OS that isn't fully patched is a security risk because the OS then contains known vulnerabilities that have been publicly disclosed. This makes it easier to produce malware targeting the OS. This is why Android has malware.

How many people you know of that have had malware/exploit issues with their Android phone? And then of those, how many of them got it from downloading and installing applications not from Google Play? The only reason there isn't 10x as much malware for iOS is because you can't just click a button that lets you install non-App Store apps.

I don't know of a single person who has ever had malware on their phone. No one. Zilch. Zero. Zip. When I hear about my friend's mom or dad getting a virus on their phone, I'll believe it. Until then, I'm inclined to believe that security is really not an issue.

Let's be honest, mobile OS updates are about cool new features, not about security, patches, and bug fixes. No one here would be posting pie charts of iOS adoption if all they the updates did was patch security and fix bugs.

 

[wedouglas]

Sucker logic.

Samsung and other OEMs keep recreating new hardware because their users can't get the latest release of the OS. They'd rather force them into buying brand new hardware. Android is being released at such a pace the OEMs and carriers can't keep up, so they ditch their current customers and just move on to new devices. And maybe, eventually put out an update... MAYBE.

I know a ton of people still using the 3GS as their phone. Why? Because over the passed 3.5 years, Apple has offered 3 OS upgrades; 3.0 - > 4.0 -> 5.0-> 6.0. Most people don't care about new hardware, they just want their phone to continue working.

People who do upgrade to new hardware may not be interested in how it looks but other aspects: better screen, faster performance, etc.

When I upgrade ANY product or device, it's not because of how it looks, but rather what it's capable of doing better than the current device I have.

Android phones still work, just like a 3GS.

Can you ask your friend with the 3GS how well the following things work:

Siri, turn-by-turn navigation, and video chat

Ah that's right, they don't work. It doesn't matter if Apple supports the 3GS until iOS 10, it still won't have any of the above major keynote features.

 

[xofruitcake]

What planet are you on, updating Android OS is just as simple as iOS. Updates are coming all the time to current and older version.

Except that the manufacturer will have to decide if they will even bother to test the latest Android on old device. Google policy is let manufacturer decide whether they will upgrade their Android device to latest version of Android. As of this month, 68+% of Android users are still on Android 2.2. and 2.3 and only 1.8% of Android device is on JB... And it takes Apple 1 month to move 60% of all IOS device to IOS 6. And it is "just as simple as IOS"? It is a ridiculous argument once you review the face. It is o.k. to be an Android fan boy but at least you need to know your stuff...

http://www.tomshardware.com/news/Gingerbread-Android-Google-Jelly-Bean-ics,18075.html

Google has revealed that Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) is still the most popular version for the platform with the OS being installed on 55.8 percent of all Android devices.

Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich), meanwhile, trailed in second place with a 23.7 percent share. As for the latest Android version, Jelly Bean, it was only able to claim a 1.8 percent share, with Android 2.2 (Froyo) beating the latest OS with a 12.9 percent market share.

To see Gingerbread still the market leader for Android operating systems is surprising to say the least, with it launching all the way back during December 2010. That said, its market share has shown signs of slow decrease; during the opening stages of September, Gingerbread's market share was 57.5 percent.

The Android market share data released by Google was based on number of Android devices accessing the Google Play marketplace through a 14-day period ended yesterday.

http://www.cultofmac.com/197280/one-month-later-ios-6-market-share-climbs-beyond-60-report/

Apple released iOS 6 to the masses on September 19th, and it was reported that 15% of all iOS devices had been updated to the new operating system within the first 24 hours of availability. Chitika Insights has been tracking iOS web traffic since the release of iOS 6 last month, and new numbers today confirm a particularly aggressive adoption rate.
According to Chitika, iOS 6 now accounts for more than 60% of all iOS device traffic on the web.

Read more at http://www.cultofmac.com/197280/one...-climbs-beyond-60-report/#PFWXzX298fkFHvu7.99

 

[CoolSpot]

A smartphone is probably the most "personal" electronic device anyone can own. Since most people with cell phones keep them within arm's reach 24/7, it's by far the device most of us interact with the most.

Apple has chosen to go one direction with respect to hardware and OS and Samsung has chosen to go another. Can't we all just accept that what works for me might not work the best for you and leave it at that?

I don't understand the bickering back and forth that ensues anytime one of these market share type articles is posted. You like your phone and I like mine. In two years or less, we'll probably both have different phones than we have right now anyway.

For those of you saying Apple is dated. . .clearly they're not hurting because they haven't completely overhauled iOS. RIM, on the other hand, is trying to reinvent its OS for the umpteenth time and they're still losing market share like crazy. I, for one, like the fact that there are certain fundamentals of iOS that I can count on regardless of new hardware.

Those fundamentals are largely absent on Android handsets. If you switch handset manufacturers, you're likely going to have to re-learn certain things because even though the OS could be the same down to the version, each handset manufacturer usually puts a different "gloss" on top of Android.

Being able to personalize and customize your phone to the max is nice; but at the end of the day, I personally don't care about that. If the technology we have now had been around 10 or 15 years ago, I would've been all about "oooh. . .look how I've modded my phone!"

However, now I really just have six requirements for a phone:
- Make/receive phone calls
- Send/receive text messages
- Have a good camera
- Don't reboot during phone calls
- Don't freeze
- Have an app ecosystem that's mature and diverse

On all counts, the iPhone wins for me. Like I said at the beginning, though, that's me. You probably have a different criteria for how a phone fits into your lifestyle and that's fine. Let's all go out into the marketplace and enjoy the fact that we have choices and can pick the phone that works best for us as individuals.

I could accept your sermon about personal choice if any of the things that you said about android were true. Android is a great OS, and there are great Android phones across every carrier, manufacturer, and price point. In no way is it a lesser system or a knock-off, and people that insist this are either ignorant of the current state of Android phones, or are nitpicking while ignoring the problems that exist in iphones and iOS.

Both systems are exceptional.

 

[munkery]

How many people you know of that have had malware/exploit issues with their Android phone? And then of those, how many of them got it from downloading and installing applications not from Google Play? The only reason there isn't 10x as much malware for iOS is because you can't just click a button that lets you install non-App Store apps.

I don't know of a single person who has ever had malware on their phone. No one. Zilch. Zero. Zip. When I hear about my friend's mom or dad getting a virus on their phone, I'll believe it. Until then, I'm inclined to believe that security is really not an issue.

Let's be honest, mobile OS updates are about cool new features, not about security, patches, and bug fixes. No one here would be posting pie charts of iOS adoption if all they the updates did was patch security and fix bugs.

Malware in Google Play infects users.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4815020...-android-game-apps-sneak-malware-google-play/

Over half of Android devices are vulnerable due to known vulnerabilities

https://blog.duosecurity.com/2012/0...ay-over-50-of-android-devices-are-vulnerable/

37% of Android malware utilize a known but unpatched privilege escalation exploit due to devices not being fully patched. This allows more malicious malware, such as banking malware and premium rate malware.

http://www.csc.ncsu.edu/faculty/jiang/pubs/OAKLAND12.pdf

I was given an HTC Hero for free due to the owner switching to an iPhone due to malware.

Even a factory reset didn't resolve the issue because the malware was installed on the SD card which wasn't wiped during the reset. It wasn't until I also wiped the SD card after being given the device that the malware issue disappeared.

This malware was ad related so the user didn't incur any financial lose but it was annoying enough for the user to switch to iOS.