>>Right. This is the entire fanboy argument: It is all about the apps. I don't know what the percentages are, but IF Android takes the market share, they're going to take app developers, too. Because AAPL has foolishly chosen a development environment that will make porting apps difficult, it may be that Android developers will just say to hell with it -- I'd rather spend my time writing something else for Android than porting to target a much lower market share. This, of course, is years away from happening.<<
The app porting that's happening these days goes the other direction.
Seriously, Apple's already got the developers, and while they will certainly develop for Android, too, they aren't just going to abandon iOS, because it will continue to represent a huge base of affluent buyers.
It's not going to be a question of numbers of apps. Once a platform has reached critical mass, as Android clearly has, it's going to be fine. There are more than enough apps for Android, and more than enough for iOS. Some important apps have yet to make the leap, but they will.
The quality of the apps that are available on each platform will be important, going forward. That, I believe, is where Apple is in the driver's seat.
Take a look at Garage Band. It turns your iPad into a freaking 8 track recording deck for chrissakes. And a sequencer, and a sampler, and some really cool instruments. It's really amazing.
There is nothing even approaching it available for Android. Apple could probably get twenty or thirty bucks for that app. But greedy bastards though they are, they're asking for five.
Compete with that. |
