Re: [android-beginners] Iphone development versus Android

2010-01-17 Thread Kevin Duffey
Keep in mind there are a number of factors for a less populated market than
iPhone/app store. First.. app store has almost 2 years head start. Even when
there wasn't app store (until 3G came out), people were jail breaking and
building apps for the original iphone. Second, a LOT of developer are both
iPhone and Android.. and have come away with the knowledge of what is pure
crap on the app store. More likely you see less "bad" apps than on app store
right now. That's not to say tho with the ease of development, no
restrictions on apps (for the most part) and lower cost to entry barrier
that you wont see a flood of bad apps sooner than later, but so far it seems
that there are less crap apps on the market.

Next up is the differences in platforms. A lot of developers, myself
included, realize that Android has quite a ways to go to catch up to the
iPhone capabilities. Presently, it is very difficult if not impossible to
build similar apps. For example, the low latency real-time music apps on
iPhone are top notch... impossible to do on Android right now. High end
games as well are impossible right now. There is an expected Open GL and
Open CL updates along with a JIT coming soon we all hope that will
substantially help Android take off. The JIT will boost performance quite a
bit for most apps, and the hardware level audio and video libraries once
they are part of Android should allow for much more robust/real-time low
latncy games and music apps. A large population of the content on app store
are high end video games.. as I think something like 30% of their sales come
from iPod touch sales... mostly for video games use. I forget the number now
tho..but it was quite a bit. So until Android is as capable, I think you'll
see a lot less high quality games and music apps.

As well, Android is still new, and only the past couple months has seen
devices of iPhone caliber (moto droid, nexus one) arrive on the market. It
will take some months for developers to really tap all the Android 2.0 and
later features.

I would give a fair bit of time, maybe another year, before you can compare
fairly the two devices, and by then iPhone will be working on their 5th
version... their 4th, rumored to be a dual-core beast, is due out in a
couple months.

On Thu, Jan 14, 2010 at 9:39 AM, Kenn Lisudza  wrote:

> Thats a really nice good insight. Me particularly being a java developer
> for a while now must agree Android development is quite intuitive. Not to
> say that Objective C is any harder just depends on YOU.
> Well I must say that the android platform (market) isn't well stocked with
> lots of apps like the apple store but with psyched up developers and more
> people getting onto the bandwagon slowly we will get there.
>
>
>
> On Thu, Jan 14, 2010 at 2:18 AM, Kevin Duffey  wrote:
>
>> There are a number of factors I think you run in to for a fair answer. As
>> Danny said, the market is MUCH larger on iPhone...for now. But you run in to
>> some issues... which if you already developed for iPhone you may not have
>> yourself. The primary one being forced to use mac hardware to develop on.
>> The cheapest hardware for Mac is not very cheap and for most of us 1-off
>> developers doing this on the side, most likely out of reach. Therefore, the
>> choice is easy in that case, Android. I suppose it depends on the actual
>> device you own too. If you already have iPhone and can't break contract to
>> grab an Android device.. or don't want to pay either full price just for the
>> hardware, or sign a 2nd contract with Verizon, T-Mobile or Sprint, then you
>> may have to weight that in on your decision.
>>
>> For me, the other day I read a post on here (or another forum..can't
>> remember) that I already knew, but it sort of woke me up. The biggest pain
>> point of the iPhone for end users is the issue of switching apps. You can't.
>> Any time you launch an app from another, you most of the time can't go back.
>> I think there are a few cases where you can go back to FaceBook from the
>> browser, for example. But most of the time, you have to completely restart
>> the app and often times navigate your way back to where you were when you
>> launched another app. Or, you hit their one "home" button, which effectively
>> closes the app you were running, and start another. Then go back..and you
>> just started it again. Again there are some apps that may save state between
>> runs, I've not found one myself that does this.
>>
>> I asked my wife... a sort of anti-computer person who loves her iPhone,
>> what her biggest complaint with it was. Without me saying anything to her,
>> she said she hates having to switch to another app because she loses her
>> place in the first app and has to start all over.
>>
>> I am gong out on a limb to guess that Apple, in their soon to be announced
>> iPhone 4 might address the multi-tasking issue. But if they do, they are
>> either going to have to make the underlying OS do true multi-tasking between
>> mu

Re: [android-beginners] Iphone development versus Android

2010-01-17 Thread Kenn Lisudza
Thats a really nice good insight. Me particularly being a java developer for
a while now must agree Android development is quite intuitive. Not to say
that Objective C is any harder just depends on YOU.
Well I must say that the android platform (market) isn't well stocked with
lots of apps like the apple store but with psyched up developers and more
people getting onto the bandwagon slowly we will get there.



On Thu, Jan 14, 2010 at 2:18 AM, Kevin Duffey  wrote:

> There are a number of factors I think you run in to for a fair answer. As
> Danny said, the market is MUCH larger on iPhone...for now. But you run in to
> some issues... which if you already developed for iPhone you may not have
> yourself. The primary one being forced to use mac hardware to develop on.
> The cheapest hardware for Mac is not very cheap and for most of us 1-off
> developers doing this on the side, most likely out of reach. Therefore, the
> choice is easy in that case, Android. I suppose it depends on the actual
> device you own too. If you already have iPhone and can't break contract to
> grab an Android device.. or don't want to pay either full price just for the
> hardware, or sign a 2nd contract with Verizon, T-Mobile or Sprint, then you
> may have to weight that in on your decision.
>
> For me, the other day I read a post on here (or another forum..can't
> remember) that I already knew, but it sort of woke me up. The biggest pain
> point of the iPhone for end users is the issue of switching apps. You can't.
> Any time you launch an app from another, you most of the time can't go back.
> I think there are a few cases where you can go back to FaceBook from the
> browser, for example. But most of the time, you have to completely restart
> the app and often times navigate your way back to where you were when you
> launched another app. Or, you hit their one "home" button, which effectively
> closes the app you were running, and start another. Then go back..and you
> just started it again. Again there are some apps that may save state between
> runs, I've not found one myself that does this.
>
> I asked my wife... a sort of anti-computer person who loves her iPhone,
> what her biggest complaint with it was. Without me saying anything to her,
> she said she hates having to switch to another app because she loses her
> place in the first app and has to start all over.
>
> I am gong out on a limb to guess that Apple, in their soon to be announced
> iPhone 4 might address the multi-tasking issue. But if they do, they are
> either going to have to make the underlying OS do true multi-tasking between
> multiple apps.. at the risk of potential battery life draining.. or update
> their SDK and require iPhone 3gs and previous apps to be recompiled to take
> advantage of say, some new lifecycle requirements in order to work in the
> new multi-tasking iPhone. I had a hard time understanding the one Activity
> running while all others are paused situation with Android, but now I
> understand that is due to battery concerns that this is done. It will be
> interesting to see if iPhone 4 will offer multi-tasking and if it does, how
> it handles it. My understanding is the new iPhone will be dual-core with
> more memory, dual cameras and some other things. We'll find out in April.
>
> I also consider the coding barrier. I did C a long time ago, been doing
> Java for years. Java to me is far easier to work with than Objective-C,
> although, to be fair, Android is a ways off from being nearly as capable as
> iPhone in areas like high-quality video games, high-quality music apps and
> so forth that you can find on the iPhone right now. But I think the Java vs
> Objective-C (for most things) is far easier for most to get in to.. and you
> can pretty much develop and test on any platform. Once you get into NDK
> native code, it may be a bit more level playing field.
>
> Anyway..that's my .02.
>
>
> On Wed, Jan 13, 2010 at 11:17 AM, Danny Pimienta wrote:
>
>> I would say do both. But if youre looking for a bigger audience then
>> iPhone is the way to go for now. But the Android market will catch up.
>>
>> Sent via my Google Android device...
>>
>> On Jan 13, 2010 12:14 PM, "gony"  wrote:
>>
>> Hi,
>>
>> I developed an iphone app about 6months ago and due to time
>> constraints hadn't managed to write anymore.
>> I would like to start work on a new app but I would like to consider
>> developing on Android instead (esp after seeing the announcement of
>> "Nexus One" in the UK).
>>
>> I was hoping that group members would consider sharing their views on
>> what platform would be best to develop on.
>>
>> Thanks,
>>
>> --
>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google
>> Groups "Android Beginners" group.
>>
>> NEW! Try asking and tagging your question on Stack Overflow at
>> http://stackoverflow.com/questions/tagged/android
>>
>> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to
>> android-beginners+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com
>>
>> F

Re: [android-beginners] Iphone development versus Android

2010-01-13 Thread Kevin Duffey
There are a number of factors I think you run in to for a fair answer. As
Danny said, the market is MUCH larger on iPhone...for now. But you run in to
some issues... which if you already developed for iPhone you may not have
yourself. The primary one being forced to use mac hardware to develop on.
The cheapest hardware for Mac is not very cheap and for most of us 1-off
developers doing this on the side, most likely out of reach. Therefore, the
choice is easy in that case, Android. I suppose it depends on the actual
device you own too. If you already have iPhone and can't break contract to
grab an Android device.. or don't want to pay either full price just for the
hardware, or sign a 2nd contract with Verizon, T-Mobile or Sprint, then you
may have to weight that in on your decision.

For me, the other day I read a post on here (or another forum..can't
remember) that I already knew, but it sort of woke me up. The biggest pain
point of the iPhone for end users is the issue of switching apps. You can't.
Any time you launch an app from another, you most of the time can't go back.
I think there are a few cases where you can go back to FaceBook from the
browser, for example. But most of the time, you have to completely restart
the app and often times navigate your way back to where you were when you
launched another app. Or, you hit their one "home" button, which effectively
closes the app you were running, and start another. Then go back..and you
just started it again. Again there are some apps that may save state between
runs, I've not found one myself that does this.

I asked my wife... a sort of anti-computer person who loves her iPhone, what
her biggest complaint with it was. Without me saying anything to her, she
said she hates having to switch to another app because she loses her place
in the first app and has to start all over.

I am gong out on a limb to guess that Apple, in their soon to be announced
iPhone 4 might address the multi-tasking issue. But if they do, they are
either going to have to make the underlying OS do true multi-tasking between
multiple apps.. at the risk of potential battery life draining.. or update
their SDK and require iPhone 3gs and previous apps to be recompiled to take
advantage of say, some new lifecycle requirements in order to work in the
new multi-tasking iPhone. I had a hard time understanding the one Activity
running while all others are paused situation with Android, but now I
understand that is due to battery concerns that this is done. It will be
interesting to see if iPhone 4 will offer multi-tasking and if it does, how
it handles it. My understanding is the new iPhone will be dual-core with
more memory, dual cameras and some other things. We'll find out in April.

I also consider the coding barrier. I did C a long time ago, been doing Java
for years. Java to me is far easier to work with than Objective-C, although,
to be fair, Android is a ways off from being nearly as capable as iPhone in
areas like high-quality video games, high-quality music apps and so forth
that you can find on the iPhone right now. But I think the Java vs
Objective-C (for most things) is far easier for most to get in to.. and you
can pretty much develop and test on any platform. Once you get into NDK
native code, it may be a bit more level playing field.

Anyway..that's my .02.

On Wed, Jan 13, 2010 at 11:17 AM, Danny Pimienta  wrote:

> I would say do both. But if youre looking for a bigger audience then iPhone
> is the way to go for now. But the Android market will catch up.
>
> Sent via my Google Android device...
>
> On Jan 13, 2010 12:14 PM, "gony"  wrote:
>
> Hi,
>
> I developed an iphone app about 6months ago and due to time
> constraints hadn't managed to write anymore.
> I would like to start work on a new app but I would like to consider
> developing on Android instead (esp after seeing the announcement of
> "Nexus One" in the UK).
>
> I was hoping that group members would consider sharing their views on
> what platform would be best to develop on.
>
> Thanks,
>
> --
> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google
> Groups "Android Beginners" group.
>
> NEW! Try asking and tagging your question on Stack Overflow at
> http://stackoverflow.com/questions/tagged/android
>
> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to
> android-beginners+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com
>
> For more options, visit this group at
> http://groups.google.com/group/android-beginners?hl=en
>
>
> --
> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google
> Groups "Android Beginners" group.
>
> NEW! Try asking and tagging your question on Stack Overflow at
> http://stackoverflow.com/questions/tagged/android
>
> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to
> android-beginners+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com
> For more options, visit this group at
> http://groups.google.com/group/android-beginners?hl=en
>
>
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Re: [android-beginners] Iphone development versus Android

2010-01-13 Thread Danny Pimienta
I would say do both. But if youre looking for a bigger audience then iPhone
is the way to go for now. But the Android market will catch up.

Sent via my Google Android device...

On Jan 13, 2010 12:14 PM, "gony"  wrote:

Hi,

I developed an iphone app about 6months ago and due to time
constraints hadn't managed to write anymore.
I would like to start work on a new app but I would like to consider
developing on Android instead (esp after seeing the announcement of
"Nexus One" in the UK).

I was hoping that group members would consider sharing their views on
what platform would be best to develop on.

Thanks,

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google
Groups "Android Beginners" group.

NEW! Try asking and tagging your question on Stack Overflow at
http://stackoverflow.com/questions/tagged/android

To unsubscribe from this group, send email to
android-beginners+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com
For more options, visit this group at
http://groups.google.com/group/android-beginners?hl=en
-- 
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Groups "Android Beginners" group.

NEW! Try asking and tagging your question on Stack Overflow at
http://stackoverflow.com/questions/tagged/android

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For more options, visit this group at
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[android-beginners] Iphone development versus Android

2010-01-13 Thread gony
Hi,

I developed an iphone app about 6months ago and due to time
constraints hadn't managed to write anymore.
I would like to start work on a new app but I would like to consider
developing on Android instead (esp after seeing the announcement of
"Nexus One" in the UK).

I was hoping that group members would consider sharing their views on
what platform would be best to develop on.

Thanks,
-- 
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google
Groups "Android Beginners" group.

NEW! Try asking and tagging your question on Stack Overflow at
http://stackoverflow.com/questions/tagged/android

To unsubscribe from this group, send email to
android-beginners+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com
For more options, visit this group at
http://groups.google.com/group/android-beginners?hl=en