why are apple apps better than android apps?

[mmntech]

What are you talking about, some app on iOS are worse than Android, like Instagram and Snapchat where they don't care about iPad version (using the iPhone version), yet on Android tablets they are able to use it full screen...

It still blows my mind that there's no proper Instagram app for tablets. Mind you Facebook owns them and Facebook's own apps are utter crap.

 

[Red Storm]

Anytime I use Plex or Netflix (streaming to Chromecast) on the iPhone 6+ I want to throw the phone against the wall. Always loses connection, takes a while to get back into the app and it doesn't show what's currently playing or the controls. On any Android phone the controls are always up and ready right there in the notification bar. A good example of the type of multitasking that seems to only work on Android.

 

[Artdeco]

Simple answer is that developers make good money from the sale of apps in the Apple ecosystem, but as someone who uses apps in both iOS and Android, I have to say Android apps have gotten worlds better, except in the tablet market.

Complex answer is that Google didn't and still barely "cultivates" the submissions to it's OS, and the ecosystem has suffered as a result.

 

[cronos]

Anytime I use Plex or Netflix (streaming to Chromecast) on the iPhone 6+ I want to throw the phone against the wall. Always loses connection, takes a while to get back into the app and it doesn't show what's currently playing or the controls. On any Android phone the controls are always up and ready right there in the notification bar. A good example of the type of multitasking that seems to only work on Android.

Yeah, this is why I stopped using my iPod Touch to cast stuff. After the device went to sleep it always failed to bring the control back up. This puts you in a weird situation where the stream is playing, but you couldn't control it from the device you started the cast from. It is especially irritating when you are watching something, then needed to talk to someone or go to the bathroom, reach out to your device wanting to pause, and realized that you couldn't do anything and the stream keeps playing. Ugh.

I thought they fixed this though in one of the recent iOS update, but apparently not. I stopped trying a long time ago.

 

[PowerYoga]

a lot of droid apps are ports. Iphone app store makes more money so they develop for that first and port to droid later.

 

[Rakehellion]

It's not necessarily trolling, it's just an overly simplistic way to ask a complex question with complex answers. There are a few answers as to why.

Like people said, iOS is where you go if you actually want to make money on mobile apps. Apple has done a better job of encouraging people to pay for things they like... and on Android, same freedom that allows file browsers and emulators also promotes rampant piracy. I've seen a few interviews with major game developers who hate doing Android titles because they know most users will just steal the apps.

What hasn't been discussed: the tool set. It's a given that it's easier to develop for iOS due to the narrower range of hardware, but many will be quick to add that Apple's developer tool, Xcode, is superior to what you get on the Android side. Android Studio exists because the previous development method (Eclipse) was atrocious... and the consensus is that Xcode still has the edge. Want to know why seemingly every app release schedule starts with iOS, and promises an Android version later? This is why.

And as was mentioned, Google is terrible at promoting optimization for... any platform that isn't a phone, really. Tablets are the biggest problem, but just try and find the full selection of Android Wear-native apps, or those that'll work on Android TV. You can't! At best, you get a small list of hand-picked highlights that probably won't change for months. This could well help the Apple Watch steamroll Android Wear, at least in the short run; Apple has gone out of its way to support and promote smartwatch apps, while Google is seemingly ashamed of them (even launching them is a hassle).

Yeah, Xcode is way better than anything for Android dev.

Also iPhone users just have more money. If you have $700 to blow on a phone you're probably more likely to spend a few bucks on an app. The Android version of Angry Birds is free to play while the iOS version is still 99 cents.

 

[dainthomas]

Also iPhone users just have more money. If you have $700 to blow on a phone you're probably more likely to spend a few bucks on an app. The Android version of Angry Birds is free to play while the iOS version is still 99 cents.

This is repeated so often, and yet I've never understood it. New android phones cost just as much as iphones.

 

[LtMikePowelll]

It still blows my mind that there's no proper Instagram app for tablets. Mind you Facebook owns them and Facebook's own apps are utter crap.

I have both iPad mini 2 and Galaxy Tab S 8.4 and I can't stand the fact that Instagram and Snapchat aren't even fullscreen on the iPad - make everything look wonky yet on the Tab S it is fullscreen and work well. But yeah, Apple apps aren't always better than Android app

 

[shortylickens]

This is repeated so often, and yet I've never understood it. New android phones cost just as much as iphones.

yeah but people with money to burn tend to gravitate towards apple products.

iphones have more and more expensive accessories. iphone users are more likely to piss away 99 cents on a ringtone or ringback tone. They are more likely to spend 20 bucks on a music album. 20 bucks on a stream-only version of a movie.

 

[blankslate]

This is repeated so often, and yet I've never understood it. New android phones cost just as much as iphones.

There is at least one option for a "budget" android phone

Moto G

http://www.amazon.com/Motorola-Moto-2nd-generation-Unlocked/dp/B00MWI4HW0/ref=dp_ob_title_wld
less than $200 on Amazon.

the OnePlus One is another phone that is more expensive than the Moto G but if you can get an invite costs around $300 ($350 for 32gb storage) dollars much cheaper than a iPhone... just hard to get.


Also one doesn't have to buy new. Flagship phones have been good enough specs in the past few years that they'd serve anyone who isn't a power user for years.

....

 

[Zaap]

yeah but people with money to burn tend to gravitate towards apple products.

iphones have more and more expensive accessories. iphone users are more likely to piss away 99 cents on a ringtone or ringback tone. They are more likely to spend 20 bucks on a music album. 20 bucks on a stream-only version of a movie.

Ah, so the "Fool and his money" demographic.

 

[JohnAlmighty]

I think the Apple's marketi is more attractive so companies push a little bit their effort (read: money) on developing those apps.

 

[shortylickens]

Ah, so the "Fool and his money" demographic.

Which America is full of.
SUV sales went UP even when there was a recession and rising oil prices.
Americans are not smart with money.

 

[Rakehellion]

Amazon just released a game for Fire Phones. And iOS. (No Android version yet)

http://www.androidpolice.com/2015/04/16/amazon-brings-the-creepy-with-its-new-game-lost-within/

 

[Chris_Mackenzy]

hard to decide which one is better, most of the people in the list would recommend android apps due to ease of use, maximum compatibility and light in weight.

 

[nexus5rocks]

Games like CoC and MPQ feel the same on both platforms for me.

 

[purbeast0]

i make more money on my ios apps than android, by about 4-5x.

my apps also run better on ios and than android in general. they are just slicker with less hiccups and are more responsive.

both are written in native languages (objective-c and java).

/anecdotal evidence

 

[purbeast0]

What hasn't been discussed: the tool set. It's a given that it's easier to develop for iOS due to the narrower range of hardware, but many will be quick to add that Apple's developer tool, Xcode, is superior to what you get on the Android side. Android Studio exists because the previous development method (Eclipse) was atrocious... and the consensus is that Xcode still has the edge. Want to know why seemingly every app release schedule starts with iOS, and promises an Android version later? This is why.

yes, this is oh so true. the dev tools on android are so bad. i cannot stand eclipse in general, and i never used it to develop for android. i have always used netbeans (and still do, submitted my latest app to the store yesterday), which is a decent IDE.

but it's not just the IDE. it's the documentation and the rest of the tools. the docs for android are fucking terrible. they are so bloated and such a pain in the ass to navigate through. why they can't just use normal javadocs, i don't know. they have to use some stupid interface that just is not easy to navigate through and is extremely bloated. but let's be real, google has always been terrible at UI.

and xcode is also no gem. xcode is complete garbage too. and objective-c has the ugliest syntax i've ever seen. i haven't made the change to swift simply because the apps i write all pretty much use the same "skeleton" that i have evolved over about 4-5 years, and it started in objective-c so i just continue to use it. i can pump out new apps of the same nature pretty quickly, i just have to make new graphics and make new data sheets.

but the overall development process i believe is much easier on ios. the way you connect the models to the views and the controllers is a lot easier to do than in android IMO. well i don't know if i'd say "easier", but it was easier to grasp when i started, and the android stuff just seems so damn clunky.

 

[Naer]

Is this good enough reason for my next phone to be iphone in your opinion? Or will android catch up?

 

[mrochester]

This is repeated so often, and yet I've never understood it. New android phones cost just as much as iphones.

Android phones are far cheaper, on average, than iOS devices. The average selling price of an iPhone is $687 while the average selling price of an Android device is $254. Never underestimate just how many people are motivated by price. People will buy any old crap just because it's cheap.

 

[blairharrington]

I've used both OS's extensively. iOS apps in general are better designed and superior in performance IMO.

The only thing I miss at this point is a notification light/Moto Display.

 

[foghorn67]

There are a few apps that are better on Android. Amazon, B&H Photo and Yelp come to mind.

 

[QueBert]

Is this good enough reason for my next phone to be iphone in your opinion? Or will android catch up?

While the gap is closing somewhat, I doubt Android will ever catch up. Android people just don't like to spend money on apps. A lot of people laugh at iPhone owners about the "idiots and their money" thing when it comes to apps. But it results in iOS having much better apps that almost always get updated much more often when there's a cross platform version. Android clearly has more phones in the market and has for years and years now.

So unless Android owners strop being cheap, or stop settling for free apps which suck, the gap will remain. And it will stay pretty wide. I own both platforms and am probably more invested $$$ wise in both than anyone on here.

 

[mrochester]

While the gap is closing somewhat, I doubt Android will ever catch up. Android people just don't like to spend money on apps. A lot of people laugh at iPhone owners about the "idiots and their money" thing when it comes to apps. But it results in iOS having much better apps that almost always get updated much more often when there's a cross platform version. Android clearly has more phones in the market and has for years and years now.

So unless Android owners strop being cheap, or stop settling for free apps which suck, the gap will remain. And it will stay pretty wide. I own both platforms and am probably more invested $$$ wise in both than anyone on here.

It's one of the many benefits of a properly controlled platform. I wish more manufacturers would start operating the same way as Apple so that we can have more choices that are the same calibre as iOS.

 

[poofyhairguy]

It's one of the many benefits of a properly controlled platform. I wish more manufacturers would start operating the same way as Apple so that we can have more choices that are the same calibre as iOS.

What is this new controlled OS platform you speak of? Anything new now is not going to get a place at the table. It will hit the Windows Mobile app Catch 22.