The biggest problem with Android? The users.
Stephen Hackett, on The Next Web’s withdrawal of its magazine offering for Android:
I’m starting to think that the biggest thing holding Android back isn’t the carriers and Google, but the users of the platform.
It occurred to me a few months ago that most of the rabid Android fans I know aren’t good friends, and never will be (for unrelated reasons).
There might be more to that anecdotal correlation than I thought. It looks like Android users tend to be content-thieving if-it-ain’t-free-I-don’t-want-it types, for example.
Interesting.
Or perhaps you are swayed by the big corporation and just don’t get the whole mission of freeware? (I’m probably a fence sitter on this one, although my anarchist leanings make me love the mission of freeware, which I suppose means you would put me smack bang in Android land… do you like me? are we friends?)
After a lifetime of swearing I would never buy Apple products, now I swear I will never go back the other way.
Are you rabid, Cecily? I don’t think you are.. quite ;) So, I think we’re friends. Aren’t we? :P
And I totally get the mission of “freeware”/open source (which Android isn’t, by the way). At the same time, I totally get the mission of being able to eat as a result of the work you do. My suggestion here is that Android users are significantly less likely to participate in the second mission than Apple users.. which is borne out time and again by developers and content creators reporting on the struggle to monetize Android users. Net result: Android apps, content and overall ecosystem weaken over time. That’s bad for everyone (even Apple).
One more thing: Android is Google’s baby. Who’s the scarier corporation, Apple or Google? I’ll back the one that charges a fair price for its products because it’s not planning to use YOU as a product.
I wonder though if android will swamp iPhone by shear numbers…..
and ope after market
I doubt it, Tom. The stats bear out the fact that the bulk of smartphone / tablet web traffic comes from iOS devices, even though more Android devices have been activated. That means a significant majority of Android users aren’t using them for more than phone calls, text messaging and free games. Hardly a good monetization base..
….hm i just feel that mac/betamax shot itself in the foot even though being a better product, by being to closed, eg thier should be an optional built in jail brake.
I hardly think you can call a platform that’s attracted hundreds of thousands of third-party apps, and distributed billions of dollars to developers, “closed” :D (I do understand what you mean in a technical sense – I just don’t see it being meaningful to users or developers. If anything, Google’s inability to get OS updates to non-geeky end-users in a timely fashion makes it feel more “closed” than iOS.) As for shooting itself in the foot, have you not seen Apple’s profit results? Busy stores? The news? There’s no foot-shooting happening here ;)
..yeah point….but it really hits home when for example i can not use DLNA but am stuck with Airplay, so just rulled out a lot less speakers, like 5 – 6 speakers for air play…infack it cheaper to get a apple tv and low end flat screen tv then just speakers….this closed system, while providing stability and updates, cuts back on application innovation…so i think apple will do the hard yards then android will just gobble/copy all the good bits, apple and its developer/iser base is almost a free testing platform for android
Interesting take on it, but your scenario doesn’t apply to the masses, and if you’re THAT much of an audiophile, I wouldn’t be suggesting the iOS / Apple TV platform for you anyway ;)
um…audiophile no…just want to be able to get my music wherever….dlna is for auido and digital and for example my synology nas (which i highly recommend as the cheapest solution to storage and a new “desktop”) use dlna. Also I have to concert to mp4 video before i can stream to apple tv (un jailbroken)….why cant apple have a switch on/off jailbreak?
Ahhh now I get it … yup I agree that direct integration between storage and media endpoints would be a big win for Apple … this annoys me too …
(I thought you were talking about a super-fancy squillion-speaker surround system :D)
” Android is Google’s baby. Who’s the scarier corporation, Apple or Google? I’ll back the one that charges a fair price for its products because it’s not planning to use YOU as a product.”
So which corporation are you backing?
It’s not obvious, Nat?
Not if your stipulation is fair price, and not using the consumer as a product.
Kindly defend your claim, Nat.
This will be fun :)
Sigh. I’m pretty sure the majority of corporations use their consumer as product. There doesn’t seem to be much escape from it Luke. I’m wary of both Apple and Google… but gotta be stuck with one or the other or be a Luddite. Personally I’m going back to writing letters more… no one can use me then. Except Australia Post I guess.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/apple/8464122/Apple-iPhone-tracks-users-location-in-hidden-file.html
http://richwatch.net/apple-profit/
http://www.crikey.com.au/2011/05/13/crikey-readers-respond-yep-were-being-gouged-a-lot/
@cecily I love the idea of freeware as well. Open office is a good example. I can see that programmers need to eat as well. I get annoyed with people who refuse to pay more than 99c for an app, and think that it is okay to pirate it otherwise. I love the fact that apps in the App Store are affordable and am happy to pay up to 30 dollars for one. I have huge issues with companies charging huge amounts for software though.
Nat:
1. Debunked in a very detailed release by Apple at the time. Try to keep up.
2. Yes, Apple price their hardware for profit. Exactly my point. Google loss-lead on hardware and aggressively collect your data for profit from advertisers and others.
3. Have you checked Apple’s U.S. vs. Australian pricing lately? Also, have you heard of GST? The point is fair when applied to TV shows etc in the iTunes Store, but that’s about the distributors of the content, not Apple. Otherwise, it’s bunk. Apple are quicker than most vendors to respond to exchange rate variations.
Do you have an actual argument, or did you just Google some random (old) stuff you thought might help you make your point?
Cecily:
I don’t think you fully grasp just how different Apple and Google are on this point. Google want your life. Apple just want your money. This makes a BIG difference throughout their respective businesses (and terms of use).
Carey:
OpenOffice survives through corporate sponsorship, which is a great model for large open-source projects, but isn’t necessarily applicable to smaller products. Agree fully re: paying a fair price for software, and also re: corporate extortion with software pricing (Adobe being the Very Worst in this department).
Yes adobe are terrible I would never pay for one of their products. In the early days gaming wise it was exciting seeing all of the new apps coming out. Sadly I have found there are just as many whingers on ios as android complaining if they have to pay more than 99c for a game. I think it is a real shame and means instead of quality games and apps we are stuck with horrible freemium FarmVille style games and not much else.
Ahh the old Apple vs Android. Lets do Canon vs Nikon next? I hate everything Apple except iPhone, and while iPhone drives me nuts, Android drives me even crazier.
The magazine didn’t appeal to people there failure not android users. He should man up.
http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=–TTCsj6oXs&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3D–TTCsj6oXs
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Without competition there is no innovation.