Android catches up to iPad, iPhone in developer interest
updated 12:00 pm EST, Tue January 25, 2011
IDC shows developers liking Android as much as iOS
IDC in a new study discovered that Android tablets, not just phones, were catching up to iPads and iPhones in developer interest. Although interest in writing for the iPad was still up, climbing to 87 percent, Android tablet interest shot up from just 62 percent last September to 74 percent this month. Android phones also saw their demand go up to 87 percent, although the iPhone moved ahead again and kept the attention of 92 percent of developers.
Most other platforms trailed well behind, but key introductions gave Microsoft and RIM jumps in demand. The BlackBerry PlayBook's time at CES may have kindled interest as developer focus grew from just 16 percent to 28 percent in only three months. Windows Phone 7 helped Microsoft reverse years of sagging interest; the new platform left 38 percent of developers interested, up eight points.
Unusually, it wasn't Android 3.0 that drove interest. About 57 percent of those hoping to support Android tablets cited the tendency towards cheap designs. Only 33 percent valued the tablet-optimized OS update, and only 41 percent thought hardware features mattered. Nearly half, 49 percent, were willing to write for Android tablets on the hope that the OS would be less fragmented on larger screens than it has been on phones.
TV platforms, however, saw their app support drop. Both saw Apple TV and Google TV dropped 10 points in developer interest, to 30 and 33 percent each. Neither currently supports third-party apps, but the promise of a TV-optimized Android Market early this year wasn't enough to push developers.
The study further explored what developers would want out of a next-generation iPad. Most, 62 percent, pointed to the camera as the singularly most important feature wish, but a true USB port was tied with a Retina Display for demand at about 52 percent. About 46 percent wanted a new processor, but only 26 percent cared for different sizes despite Android tablet manufacturers trying to use this as a selling point.
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Aug 2009
Bad headline
Interesting story, but the headline contradicts what it says.
The story says Android tablet interest is catching up to iPad, 74% v. 87
and phone interest catching up to iPhone, 87 to 92.
Impressive!
But the headline says
Android catches up to iPad, iPhone in developer interest
which is, as Mark Twain would say, a stretcher, even if not by much.