Android or Apple, Who’s App Market Really is Better

One of the main selling points of smartphones and tablets is the ability to download apps. Whether you are using an Apple or Android product, you browse what apps are available for download within a short time of owning the device. Although many apps are shared on both of these brands, some apps are tailored specifically to them. Some people will go as far as to buy a certain brand of tablet for no other reason than to obtain a specific app.

When it comes to determining which app market is better, the decision relies heavily on the fan-base of the product. The fans from both sides will attest that the app market on their device of choice is better than the other. In reality, what measurements do they take into consideration when claiming it’s better?

Android’s open development capabilities opens the door for a variety of innovative programming from anyone who has skill in coding. This could be greatly beneficial to college graduates who have yet to find a job or those needing a second income. With the open development market, all you really need to start creating apps is a computer and a solid internet connection like hughes net satellite internet. Once an app is developed, the programmer submits it to Google Play and can possibly make a residual income from it.

On the other hand, an open development system can also lay the ground work for those to upload and spread malware-infected apps. Although Google Play does take measures to reduce the damage, there is no 100% guaranteed protection from malicious software. And yes, even Apple operating systems have seen a few pieces of malware tailored for it.

When developing apps for the iOS environment, one of the requirements is, you must have an Intel-based Mac running Mac OS X Snow Leopard or later. This is severely limiting the development from those who own PCs. The same requirement is non-existent when developing apps for Android. As Android programming is JAVA-based, virtually any machine that can program in JAVA can develop an app. As long as you have the Android SDK, which is available for PC and Apple, you can build to your heart’s content.

Open development for Android devices has caused Google Play to surge past the apps available for iOS. While this creates greater competition between developers of specific tasks, it also creates innovation from superior programming. In an open market, developers are constantly trying to out-perform competition in order to make money. Google Play works much like how an open market should work in real life, save for the lawsuits.

What drives developers to program for specific operating systems when more money can be made by creating the same app for both? Are these developers so blinded by fandom that they truly don’t want the app available for the other OS? It’s not unheard of for a manufacturer to have contracts with developers to release titles specific for the device. It happens all of the time in the console gaming world.

After the dust settles for app development, it all boils down to which device is preferred by the consumer. They, in turn, are influenced by the marketing prowess of specific manufacturers. For instance, the mini iPad is Apple’s version of a 7-inch tablet. When it was put on the shelves, older Android devices were superior to it in nearly every way. The Google Nexus 7 has nearly twice the hardware capabilities in every category except for screen size for more than $100 less. Yet, millions will drool over the device despite its shortcomings.

• Android Security
• 5 Android Tablets to Buy for Business Purpose
• Top 10 Android Phones of Year 2012
• The Quality Of Games Available On Android Mobiles
• 6 Best Sites to Learn Android Programming Quickly