Market share is not the same as installed base.

These stats also do not count iPhone Touch nor iPads, which are selling quite well.

As a market, the App Store is still healthier. The installed base of iOS devices is ahead, and iPhone users are more willing to dish money for applications.

I don't doubt that Android will eventually surpass iOS in installed base, but IMO it will take more than that to make the Android ecosystem healthier or more profitable to developers.

Daigomi

South Africa4316 Posts

September 09 2010 23:11 GMT

#82

I've also got an HTC legend, and I absolutely adore it. I do think that the Galaxy S is probably the best and most balanced Android device out though, so if you can get it I would go for it over the Desire.

I've been messing around with my phone for quite some time, but since I was content with the Sense UI that comes with the phone I never really spent too much time customizing it (other than shuffling widgets around and what not). Last night I decided to delve a bit deeper into it, and it is absolutely amazing how much you can customize your UI. I don't know how to screenshot my own UI, but here are a few examples from XDA-Developers.

+ Show Spoiler [Examples] +

Standard HTC Sense UI

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dudebro's UI

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optykal's UI

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Ajone's UI

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GXFX's UI

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Nixxez's UI

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Andrewtst's UI

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Obviously setting up most of these UI's will take some time, but it's not particularly difficult. Still, I think it's pretty awesome how much you can personalise the UI.

Regarding the quantity of apps, by and large you won't notice it. 99% of the useful apps are available on both platforms. Android might even be ahead in useful apps simply because Apple blocked quite a few very useful apps. This included things like customization apps, alternate keyboards (such as Swype, which is awesome), and things like Google Voice. Where you will feel the difference in applications is with games, where Android is definitely still lagging behind. It doesn't bother me too much, because I mostly play game emulators (everything from Atari up to PS1 is available right now), which you can't on the iPhone, but with games made specifically for the platform, Android is still behind. They are slowly catching up though.

If however, you are more concerned with a highly polished UI, a mature App marketplace, a user experience that focuses more on the task rather than how to do it, best display (IPS with highest DPI), and top notch customer support (including not having to wait for your specific model to get the latest OS), iPhone is a good choice.

I disagree with most of this to some extent. The marketplace I've already touched on, so I won't go into it again. OS wise there are differences, but I tend to think that iPhone users exaggerate them. It's like the Mac vs Windows debate, you're constantly being told how much more user-friendly and polished a Mac is, but as a Windows user you really don't feel like you're missing out. I don't know about the other UI's, but HTC's Sense can definitely just be picked up and used.

With regards to waiting for updates, it's true that you usually have to wait a bit to get the android update (I'm currenty waiting for Froyo to be made available on the Legend), but the updates come out quite regularly and they are always significant so it's not a big deal. Also, all the Google services get updated separately (and very frequently), which is different from iOS as far as I know. I would guess that the average android (especially with a top-end model like the Desire or Galaxy S) gets updates at least as frequently as the average iPhone user.

All that said, the iPhone is definitely still leading in terms of hardware. The iPhone4 has a stunning screen, and it runs incredibly smoothly. The camera is also amazing (I occasionally wish my Legend had an iP4 camera), but I read somewhere that the Galaxy S actually has a better camera. Either way, I think iPhone just about leads with hardware.

I think the phone options you have to choose from are so similar in terms of quality, that it simply depends on which philosophy you prefer. You'll love whichever phone you get.

Najda

United States3765 Posts

September 09 2010 23:32 GMT

#83

On September 07 2010 19:05 NB wrote:
iPhone will be old after 1 year and you will v to constantly replace it so dont. Either get android or palm and try to mod them yourself. Palm is better than android btw

Same with any phone you get from anybody.

I would definately get the iPhone if you plan on getting apps just because the selection there is so much bigger, and a lot of good app makers only make them for the iPhone.

But then again, the Android OS does have a lot of good apps too, so I don't really know.

The only thing I know for sure is that any phone you buy, there will be a better one in 1 year for sure.

Neverhood

United States5388 Posts

September 10 2010 01:08 GMT

#84

I'm not a big fan of apple but I have an iPhone and I have to admit that its great. The app market is amazing even if you don't jailbreak it, and if you do it can pretty much do anything the android can do except its more polished.

theonemephisto

United States409 Posts

September 10 2010 01:17 GMT

#85

On September 10 2010 08:11 Daigomi wrote:All that said, the iPhone is definitely still leading in terms of hardware. The iPhone4 has a stunning screen, and it runs incredibly smoothly. The camera is also amazing (I occasionally wish my Legend had an iP4 camera), but I read somewhere that the Galaxy S actually has a better camera. Either way, I think iPhone just about leads with hardware.

I actually think the Galaxy S has a better or at least comparable screen to the iPhone. If you've ever seen a Galaxy S screen, it's phenomenal. I think less pixels than the iPhone, but bigger and with much better color.

Jibba

United States22883 Posts

September 10 2010 04:57 GMT

#86

It depends what you want. iPhone's screen is definitely tighter, although I'm not sure how obvious it is on normal viewing. The formfactor on both phones bugs me. :/ iPhone is kind of annoying to hold, but the Galaxy is way too large for my tastes.

only.her0

Singapore78 Posts

September 10 2010 05:44 GMT

#87

I have the HTC desire on telstra, absolutley the top of the market phone available in aus atm. There is a free app for almost everything you need, my fav prob being the mobile ventrilo app. Telstra 3g network speed is super fast, barely ever drops out.

LuMiX

China5757 Posts

September 12 2010 22:14 GMT

#88

If anyone still looks at this, I am debating between the iPhone 4 and the Samsung Captivate. They will both cost me the same price so that isn't really an issue. Anyone here have a captivate?

theonemephisto

United States409 Posts

September 13 2010 01:38 GMT

#89

On September 13 2010 07:14 Metal[x] wrote:
If anyone still looks at this, I am debating between the iPhone 4 and the Samsung Captivate. They will both cost me the same price so that isn't really an issue. Anyone here have a captivate?

Yes, it's amazing, I highly recommend it. No complaints whatsoever so far. And it's getting froyo sometime this month, which will only make it better,\.

Thuw

United States18 Posts

September 13 2010 12:50 GMT

#90

I love HTC, so I voted that one.

I have the Verizon Droid Eris by HTC, and it simply owns.

If you haven't choosen yet, get one with the "Sense UI"; it's the best.

Wala.Revolution

7583 Posts

September 18 2010 17:20 GMT

#91

I don't want to create a thread for such a minor question, but I just got a Galaxy-S; what's a good site to learn about smartphones in general, the Galaxy, and app downloads/information?

Any particular advice?

CosmicAC

United States238 Posts

September 18 2010 18:32 GMT

#92

Dude, flash support is everything, seriously. Apps will be cool for one month, maybe two at most, but games and stuff will get boring quickly on the iPhone. Pretty soon you'll realize the most useful feature of any phone is just to go on the internet... and it's really annoying getting that "no flash plugin" thing.

JodoYodo

Canada1772 Posts

September 18 2010 19:22 GMT

#93

I'm not annoyed by the no Flash thing at all. I've had my iPhone for 2 years and I love the thing. My friend got an Android Nexus One and says if he could go back he'd buy the iPhone because app support sucks and Flash is just not that important.