What would be their option Anonymouse? Apple doesn't license their OS, win7 mobile was just released and neither Nokia or Blackberry has shown they can keep up. Creating yet another OS sounds like a lot of effort for little return. There's a limited number of players with the resources to design an OS from the ground up and with the market recognition to give it a chance to be successful.
That's why I'm missing the point you're trying to make. If Android was being chosen over other options based simply on it being free you might have one. It's not. It's not a reflection on value. On the contrary, instead it's the best available option in the view of many manufacturers.
No, it's my responsibility to sell my Apps, not Apple's. I understand that.
But I also understand that even _I_ don't want to buy apps from small devs, and I'm a small developer myself. And the main reasons I don't want to buy them are the reasons I outlined in those two posts. Seriously, If you're a small dev, there's basically 0% chance your app will get loaded onto my device.
And it's probably not just me that feels that way, as most people don't buy from the small developer. That's why most of the revenue generated by iOS goes to only a few developers.
Edit:
BTW, if Apple decided to cull apps and mine got culled, I'd be happier as a consumer that they were culling apps than I would be disappointed as a dev that mine got culled. That said, I agree that there would be devs complaining their apps got culled.
The key to doing it right would be for Apple to put out a statement saying they were going to cull apps in the near future and listing the criteria they would use to do so. For example, they may say that redundancy, time of entry into the App Store, and # of purchases are the criteria. So if you're selling "FART APP #627" and have zero sales, you know ahead of time your app will probably get culled. And it will be culled based on criteria applied to everyone, you're not being singled out by Apple.
"....as people don't buy from the small developer"
That's the problem with geeks. We think 'everyone' thinks like us. People could give a rat's ass about how huge the developer is or isn't. I do agree that the App Store is a mess. The issue for a dev is "how do I get eyes on my product?". Then...... reviews. Culling is limiting, which isn't a good thing. Everyone likes to use 'fart' apps an example. But, what about 200 motorcycle game apps. Is that too many, should it be culled back to 150? What about the next one which may be 2 steps better than that 150 and (gasp!), it's from a small developer?
"....as people don't buy from the small developer"
That's the problem with geeks. We think 'everyone' thinks like us. People could give a rat's ass about how huge the developer is or isn't. I do agree that the App Store is a mess. The issue for a dev is "how do I get eyes on my product?". Then...... reviews. Culling is limiting, which isn't a good thing. Everyone likes to use 'fart' apps an example. But, what about 200 motorcycle game apps. Is that too many, should it be culled back to 150? What about the next one which may be 2 steps better than that 150 and (gasp!), it's from a small developer?
I have no idea how long the Angry Birds developer has been in business if it?s their first app or 50th; if it?s one developer or 100. I only care that I enjoyed the game immensely taking up way too much of of my time for $4.99.
There are a few other things that encourage more paid apps on iOS.
1. To set up an account on iOS, you have to create an account and attach a credit card to it. This even if you want to download any free apps. On the Android phones, you don't need to have a credit card on file to start downloading free apps. On my Android phone, if I come across a free app, I download it. But I've yet to attach a credit card to my account. If there's a paid app I'm interested in, I will pass on it and find a free alternative, just because it would be more effort to pay for the app. On my iPod and iPad, if there is an app I want, it's VERY easy to just buy it, since my credit card is already on file. I'll admit I've bought more than I probably should have just because of this.
2. The pricing model on iOS is more retail friendly. Every app ends in .99. On the Android market, the prices are just random. Some apps are $1.02, or $1.63. When working in retail, customers are more likely to purchase an item where the price is familiar. When a customer sees a price, if the price is what they expected, they are more likely to make the purchase. An item priced at $1.99 would generally sell better than one priced at $1.83. It's a psychological trick that gets totally missed on the Android market.
3. People are more comfortable with purchases on the iOS because they know the apps can be transferred to a new phone or OS if they upgrade. With the Android phones, if you switch models or update the OS, your investment in apps could be wiped out. I've been through a few Android upgrades and phone swaps, and it's never been a smooth experience. With iOS, you back up your system and restore to a new one. Painless. I feel my investment is safe there. On the Android, not so much.
I fully recognize it's a positive thing. It was Steve's plan back before he rejoined Apple, the idea he said would save the company.
Dude, I've been buying Macs since '87, so obviously I like 'em. If you read my posts with open eyes you'll find they generally only take exception with specific Apple policies, esp. those that hurt devs, and I very regularly draw attention to the bizarre double standards that characterize so may of the posts here. But that's not about Apple, that's about this new generation of jackbooted fashionista fans they've acquired in recent years.
Projecting your insecurities/fantasies/prejudices onto the vast, multi-headed beast that is Apple's customer base isn't a great way to convince people you're being reasonable.
The new explanation for Apple's success (expanding on the old "crazy cultists" meme, which has become unwieldily what with the hundreds of millions of users) is that somehow huge numbers of these people are posers and "fashionistas" and the like (although I have no idea what a "jackbooted fashionista" is, are iPad users stomping naysayers in the Starbucks parking lot, or something?).
So we've gone from "weirdo with a toy" to "needs something shiny to flash at Starbucks." I've even seen the claim (hereabouts, I think) that the iPad isn't a proper 7" because iPad users like the idea of having something big enough to show off (whereas of course modest, decent Android users prefer stealth mode).
All of which is contemptibly idiotic, so don't be surprised if you get dismissed as a crank. Railing against "jackbooted fashionista" is just too stupid to be taken seriously.
Comments
That's why I'm missing the point you're trying to make. If Android was being chosen over other options based simply on it being free you might have one. It's not. It's not a reflection on value. On the contrary, instead it's the best available option in the view of many manufacturers.
What would be their option Anonymouse? ...
No, for once you are right, Androd fits the niche I described perfectly.
No, it's my responsibility to sell my Apps, not Apple's. I understand that.
But I also understand that even _I_ don't want to buy apps from small devs, and I'm a small developer myself. And the main reasons I don't want to buy them are the reasons I outlined in those two posts. Seriously, If you're a small dev, there's basically 0% chance your app will get loaded onto my device.
And it's probably not just me that feels that way, as most people don't buy from the small developer. That's why most of the revenue generated by iOS goes to only a few developers.
Edit:
BTW, if Apple decided to cull apps and mine got culled, I'd be happier as a consumer that they were culling apps than I would be disappointed as a dev that mine got culled. That said, I agree that there would be devs complaining their apps got culled.
The key to doing it right would be for Apple to put out a statement saying they were going to cull apps in the near future and listing the criteria they would use to do so. For example, they may say that redundancy, time of entry into the App Store, and # of purchases are the criteria. So if you're selling "FART APP #627" and have zero sales, you know ahead of time your app will probably get culled. And it will be culled based on criteria applied to everyone, you're not being singled out by Apple.
"....as people don't buy from the small developer"
That's the problem with geeks. We think 'everyone' thinks like us. People could give a rat's ass about how huge the developer is or isn't. I do agree that the App Store is a mess. The issue for a dev is "how do I get eyes on my product?". Then...... reviews. Culling is limiting, which isn't a good thing. Everyone likes to use 'fart' apps an example. But, what about 200 motorcycle game apps. Is that too many, should it be culled back to 150? What about the next one which may be 2 steps better than that 150 and (gasp!), it's from a small developer?
"....as people don't buy from the small developer"
That's the problem with geeks. We think 'everyone' thinks like us. People could give a rat's ass about how huge the developer is or isn't. I do agree that the App Store is a mess. The issue for a dev is "how do I get eyes on my product?". Then...... reviews. Culling is limiting, which isn't a good thing. Everyone likes to use 'fart' apps an example. But, what about 200 motorcycle game apps. Is that too many, should it be culled back to 150? What about the next one which may be 2 steps better than that 150 and (gasp!), it's from a small developer?
I have no idea how long the Angry Birds developer has been in business if it?s their first app or 50th; if it?s one developer or 100. I only care that I enjoyed the game immensely taking up way too much of of my time for $4.99.
Whatever, Mr. 100 mile location data. LOL
This from the guy that is clueless on the difference between a cell tower an a phone and can't interpret data.
1. To set up an account on iOS, you have to create an account and attach a credit card to it. This even if you want to download any free apps. On the Android phones, you don't need to have a credit card on file to start downloading free apps. On my Android phone, if I come across a free app, I download it. But I've yet to attach a credit card to my account. If there's a paid app I'm interested in, I will pass on it and find a free alternative, just because it would be more effort to pay for the app. On my iPod and iPad, if there is an app I want, it's VERY easy to just buy it, since my credit card is already on file. I'll admit I've bought more than I probably should have just because of this.
2. The pricing model on iOS is more retail friendly. Every app ends in .99. On the Android market, the prices are just random. Some apps are $1.02, or $1.63. When working in retail, customers are more likely to purchase an item where the price is familiar. When a customer sees a price, if the price is what they expected, they are more likely to make the purchase. An item priced at $1.99 would generally sell better than one priced at $1.83. It's a psychological trick that gets totally missed on the Android market.
3. People are more comfortable with purchases on the iOS because they know the apps can be transferred to a new phone or OS if they upgrade. With the Android phones, if you switch models or update the OS, your investment in apps could be wiped out. I've been through a few Android upgrades and phone swaps, and it's never been a smooth experience. With iOS, you back up your system and restore to a new one. Painless. I feel my investment is safe there. On the Android, not so much.
Android users = poor, cheap and want free stuff with ads.
There are a few other things that encourage more paid apps on iOS.
1. To set up an account on iOS, you have to create an account and attach a credit card to it. This even if you want to download any free apps.
Not true. You don't have to enter credit card information for buying free app. Just select "None" in CC field.
I fully recognize it's a positive thing. It was Steve's plan back before he rejoined Apple, the idea he said would save the company.
Dude, I've been buying Macs since '87, so obviously I like 'em. If you read my posts with open eyes you'll find they generally only take exception with specific Apple policies, esp. those that hurt devs, and I very regularly draw attention to the bizarre double standards that characterize so may of the posts here. But that's not about Apple, that's about this new generation of jackbooted fashionista fans they've acquired in recent years.
Projecting your insecurities/fantasies/prejudices onto the vast, multi-headed beast that is Apple's customer base isn't a great way to convince people you're being reasonable.
The new explanation for Apple's success (expanding on the old "crazy cultists" meme, which has become unwieldily what with the hundreds of millions of users) is that somehow huge numbers of these people are posers and "fashionistas" and the like (although I have no idea what a "jackbooted fashionista" is, are iPad users stomping naysayers in the Starbucks parking lot, or something?).
So we've gone from "weirdo with a toy" to "needs something shiny to flash at Starbucks." I've even seen the claim (hereabouts, I think) that the iPad isn't a proper 7" because iPad users like the idea of having something big enough to show off (whereas of course modest, decent Android users prefer stealth mode).
All of which is contemptibly idiotic, so don't be surprised if you get dismissed as a crank. Railing against "jackbooted fashionista" is just too stupid to be taken seriously.