Good article on App Dev and where people turn to first and why. http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/appsblog/2012/jun/10/apple-developer-wwdc-schmidt-android "Despite writing it to run on 707 Android devices, they said that 99% of the emails requesting support were actually complaints that it wouldn't run on the user's particular phone model or version of Android."

I read something similar on Tech Crunch few days ago. Kinda coincides with your article. http://m.techcrunch.com/nock/2012/06/06/seven-point-one-percent/

nice articles. it's not even sure it's the APPS the drive it - i think it's the hardware. every Android owner always griping about battery life and how 'this phone is nice but not as good as my last iPhone...." i've had 3 dead Androids - 2 LG's and 1 HTC. cracked screens, non functioning charging ports, random reboots, weak battery life, etc... Every time they die - I go back to the wifes old iPhone3 which is still working great. I want ANDROID, i love open source - just make me a phone that is as durable as an iPhone!

I agree with you mate, even as an Apple man I still want open source to succeed but Google make it tough with their 10,000 handsets and 5,000 OS versions. I don't believe the phones are, on the whole, as well built as the iPhone. Still have a working 3G as well as my 4s and just gave original working iPhone, albeit a lil shabby, to a friend.

No doubt both authors drink kool-aid. Understanding the iOS vs. Android issue one must first understand that both started at different points in time, therefore iOS market has greater maturity. As for the amount of payout of either platform that's nice, but I'm not rooting for the top 1% of either platform. They take the lion's share of all the money. After them the pickings are slim and that's where everyone using Buzztouch is. So what does it matter to us, Buzztouch users, if iOS pays out more or less (currently more), if we're not invited to the party. For the average Buzztouch user it's most likely that you're developing for a niche market and that market is not necessarily iOS. So basing you choice on whether to start with iOS or Android on the average payout is pure folly. Your investment into either platform in terms of time will be greater than the money invested, but the upfront capital investment required for iOS may be prohibitive for some. I believe that as the Android market matures you'll see the tables turn, but then again that's not my concern as I'm not rooting for the top 1%. As for fragmentation I believe it's a flawed analysis as has been pointed out in many articles discussing the issue. Certainly both platforms have their points, but the question is where will you fit into the picture. For the average users it'll be Android because the average user has an Android device. Yes the average developer is currently iOS but the average new developer will be Android. When Metro finally gets going the picture will drastically change. So don't think it only iOS or Android. We're into a post PC world and most users will no longer have or use a PC. Without jailbreaking iOS has a distinct disadvantage. Metro is completely bluring the PC vs device line and will bring a huge knowledge base to the device world completely changing the current situation. Apple's advantage over Android has been the developer's knowledge base, but that advantage will disappear. Then Apple will face a situation where it has no advantage and many self imposed limitations. Hence I believe that in a few years the walled garden will be torn down not from without (jailbreakers), but by Apple itself. The walls must not survive for Apple to remain relevant. Ask yourself how many people can create a iOS app. Now ask yourself how many people can create a Facebook page. Now you can see what knowledge base means for future app development and why the current mix is rapidly changing even if current developers (primarily iOS) don't get the picture. Most developers in the near future will not be willing to pay $99 per year to Apple for the privilege of creating apps. Fred

Some really good points from the average developer's standpoint, Fred. But in my opinion one of the biggest advantages that Apple has over Android right now is in their hardware. Apple has the advantage of creating both the hardware and the software for their devices. Whereas with Android, results vary. I snicker every time I read a review in the Google Play store (yes, I own an android phone, myself). A lot of reviews include "worked on my Samsung SuperCool 4G phone" or "Crashes on my LG YadaYada phone". As a developer, I would get very frustrated if I spent precious time creating an app and having its results vary on the hardware platform used by the end user. And don't even get me started on screen resolutions. But my intent is not getting into an Apple vs Android debate. Just adding my opinion. (And for me, the $99 per year gets passed along to my clients) (Several times over) :)

@Stobe, glad you're making $$ many times over, and I'm sure you'll agree that you're in a niche market within the iOS world. You got in early and your knowledge base has been fruitful for you. The Android vs. IOS debate is about as relevant to us as the inner or outter bellybutton debate. (Yes, it's serious to some people.) The real issue to Buzztouch users is expanding our knowledge base thereby allowing us to succeed. Fred

If this is as important as belly buttons why have you posted 10 or 12 paragraphs on it? Seems anytime Apple gets mentioned Fred becomes the prophet of doom for them, quite bizarre really, this deep rooted hatred of Apple. Was just posting an interesting article for folk to either read or ignore but once again Fred decides to mention Jailbreaking, the walled garden and $99 issue all the while saying he doesn't care. Fred - please don't tell us what we can or cannot talk about, it's a forum about App development, no need to high jack these kind of posts with your anti Apple 'they're gonna fail' stock answer. Ps As for the post PC world you have nobody else to thank for pushing that forward other than Apple. The demise of the PC is also greatly exaggerated.

@MacApple, you miss my point. My post is not a anti-Apple rant, but a why the 1% are not relevant to us, whether it's the top 1% of Apple or Android. To understand where one fits into the picture jailbreaking, walled garden and 99/yr is relevant as is your current ownership of a Intel based Mac. Be more importantly where you fit, is your niche market, which may very well be iOS. My point was understand your niche and don't get caught up in the Android vs iOS issue because that's not the issue that's important. And no I'm not telling you what you can discuss, but it does seem like you're telling me. The post PC world is being brought to us by many including Apple. Fred

Fred you are 100% correct, as always. The Windows v Apple OS v other Linux flavours has raged for years. "The Android vs. IOS debate is about as relevant to us as the inner or outter bellybutton debate. (Yes, it's serious to some people.) " Maybe some don't always share your view Fred and believe some of these healthy discussions are relevant., maybe even a touch more than your belly button analogy. I find that statement to be both unneccessarily dismissive and offensive.

I made the statement not to be dismissive or offensive but to point out that some debates are highly important to some but that it's not necessary to get caught up in every debate because that may not be relevant to us. Your post is in the Buzztouch Forum, and brings up the comparative points of the respective operating systems and how developers are responding (iOS first), and I'm trying to put that into context for Buzztouch developers. As I noted @Stobe is doing well with iOS, that's his niche, and that's fantastic for him. The next Buzztouch user may or may not need or wish to be iOS (or Android) Perhaps their niche is BlackBerry, or Nook, or Kindle, or Metro (Yes, we'll have that option soon, no not next week but soon). Fred

Hey gang, I am really new to this and just love the discussions I am finding on here. I am learning a lot fast from all of you! Just for reference, I just converted from a long time android fan to apple! Which, I swore I would never do. Thanks for the articles, I am glad to see them. So, since you all seem to be further along than me, can you point me to a good reference to learn from? I would like to do both IOS and android apps. thanks for all the tips!

Hey @Renlee Welcome to BT, you'll not look back. Keep doing what you're doing oin the site, do the BTU classes, browse the forums and have a read at @GoNorthWest tutorials, he's put many on the right track. Post back with any sticking points you encounter.

@Renlee, there's many good resources in Buzztouch's How-To section plus my online guide, MySkylla's Guide to Buzztouch: www.MySkylla.com will get you started. I recommend you read The Buzztouch Process for a quick start. Fred

Thanks for the tips!!!!