Gap between Android Market and iTunes are closing in
Lookout’s App Genome Project released a report which shows that the number of applications available at Android Market have increased by over 125%. This means it is on pace to overcome iTunes applications with three to one . Although Apple has a good lead with applications provided through iTunes compared to Android Market, there is still hope with the gap slowly closing in.
Android developers are writing more applications per capita compared to developers writing for Apple who offer more paid applications with respect to free ones. There are many applications which require access to data such as contact information and location.
Kevin Mahaffey, CTO for Lookout said,
“If apps continue to be developed for each platform at this same rate, said Lookout CTO Kevin Mahaffey, “the Android Market will have more apps than the Apple App Store by mid-2012.”
Lookout are expecting the figures to drop based on reports as privacy advocates are putting pressure on developers. There are issues concerning the amount of malware that are attached to third-party applications in alternative application stores which raises the question- “Have application markets become targets for virus distribution for mobile industry?”
Source: AndroidCommunity
Category: General
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“Have application markets become targets for virus distribution for mobile industry?”
It has been for some time….
I don't see the same results. It isn't gaining ground, just the percentage is higher. If a stock goes from $1 to $2 it's a 100% increase! WOW, but is it gaining on GOOG? No, and never will. I'm an Android fan, and do believe it will eventually gain on, and perhaps even in the distant future surpass Apple's market in terms of numbers, but this data isn't convincing. Plus, there are so many "bogus" apps on the Android market because anyone can post an app, without Google's approval – whereas to post an App to Apple's market it has to be submitted and tested – and possibly rejected before it can eventually make it to the market. And yet, in term of actual numbers, iPhone apps still pour into the market faster than Android apps. It also be that the developer to app ratio is "better" on Android, but it doesn't speak to the number of new devs entering each market – there are still larger numbers of devs starting on iPhone than Android, and Android is not gaining ground, in fact, just the opposite. Personally, I don't think these reports are accurate, but that's just me.
What's at stake here for Lookout? Do they have a product for iPhone? No (at least not yet, according to their website). Do they have a product for Android? Yes. And there you have it. Scare everyone into buying your product. When you've made enough money to get the iPhone version out, yaaay, you're rich (so to speak).
Take all this with a grain of salt. Android will be (and already is for many, including myself) the better smart phone OS. It will at some point be like Windows vs Mac, but more level – and that's where it will stay, mark my words.
Is always fun to look at stats but i mean they are easily slanted and these stats could also be used as a pro apple stats as well, the android market is growing and fast which is great but until they pass apple really who cares and i do agree their are so many garbage apps also that eventually they will need to clean it up.
true with the junk apps……but I am happy to see that Android Market is gaining on Apple with applications and slowly with sales for paid apps……got to wait and watch…so fingers crossed.