I am not a smartphone or tablet user myself but that doesn’t mean I don’t follow the development of these devices and associated trends. I was interested to see that, as far as market share is concerned, the well respected NetMarketShare has the two mobile operating systems pretty much neck and neck as at the end of June this year.
What’s interesting is that the two combatants began 2014 with iOS holding a quite substantial advantage over its rival. Here is a month by month break down of market share for the first half of this year:
As you can see, iOS started off 2014 with a handsome 18.86% lead but that has now been cut to a mere 1.86%, which represents a whopping 17.00% turnaround in just 6 months.
It appears another day in computer and technology history may be just around the corner as Android draws ever closer to surpassing iOS’s market share and taking over as top dog… certainly one to keep an eye on.
My wife actually owns both Apple devices, a 3rd generation iPad as well as an iPhone 4S and I must say, both are high quality products. If I were to take the mobile route though, I’m pretty sure I’d choose to go with Android. Even though big brother Google is involved, I much prefer the more open and free eco-system to Apple’s more closed and proprietary one.
Which do you prefer and why?
I use both android and iOS devices regularly. My favorite is iOS. I reboot my android tablet on a weekly basis, while I’ve rebooted my iOS device once since I’ve had it. This may sound minor, but it is frustrating. The software for the iOS device is more polished. And of course, as you’ve already mentioned, the Apple hardware is in its own class. My next device will be an iPad to replace my tablet.
Apple is primarily a hardware company whereas Google primarily software. So the comparisons of the two operating systems are distorted by default, since Google are promoting the OS but while Apple make their OS it is to promote the hardware. The only way this could be a level field is if Apple opened iOS to third party products and opened up the eco system. Apple do not offer any solution to users who want freedom of choice in hardware and apps which is exactly why Android gained its place in the market.
Much as I hate to admit it, if apple had been more open with the distribution of its iOS and if they had allowed other companies like Amazon to sell apps for it, then I would suggest that Android may never have got off the ground – it had a pretty shaky start after all. Samsung would almost certainly have put iOS on it’s devices and the two companies would still be friends!