When the iPhone was first introduced to the market, it was readily adopted. It’s touch-screen interface and multimedia capabilities were revolutionary in the smartphone market. But it left a lot to be desired.
Immediately, developers were eager to get their hands on the guts of the operating system and start fabricating their own apps for the platform.
At the time Apple was understandably reluctant to release their tools and open up to submitted applications. They wanted complete control over the platform. Their hardware + their software = seamless control.
This lead eager developers to hack into the platform to be able to load and run their own software. Out of this process arose the idea for a central database of applications available for installation by users. Users could search for and install applications on the fly.
As this trend caught on, Apple finally released the iPhone SDK (software development kit) and the App Store. This system allows developers to create applications using official Apple tools and submit their applications for inclusion in the App Store – through which users can search and buy programs. For each purchase, Apple takes a 30% cut. The developer gets 70%. That is… of course… assuming an application is accepted by Apple.
Recent months have seen just how arbitrary Apple’s app approval process can be. Perfectly good apps are flat out rejected while applications that should never have been made (enter stage left: “Asian Boobs”, iFart, etc) are welcomed with open arms – despite the fact that such material is a blatant violation of the developer agreement.
There is an alternative, however. Enter stage right: Android.
Android is an open source, Linux-based smartphone OS unleashed upon the world by Google and the Open Handset Alliance. It offers the same functionality as the iPhone OS – with some HUGE advantages.
Open Source Platform
Because Android is an open source system, anyone can access the code that drives the system. Wondering what makes the device’s mail client tick? Look at the code for yourself. You have complete access to the operating system’s heart and the Google API’s therein.
Due to the nature of being open source, Android is not limited to any device manufacturer or service provider.
More and more manufacturers are unleashing Android phones – including Motorola, HTC, Toshiba, Sony and Samsung. And whichever carrier you prefer – Verizon, T-Mobile, AT&T, etc – your Android device will work.
This is a welcome change from iPhone OS devices, which are manufactured only by Apple and are – at present – locked to AT&T.
Programming Language
For iPhone and Mac OS X development, Apple wants developers to use Objective-C. Objective-C is an object-oriented offshoot of the C language. Unfortunately, it is not widely used – or known – for anything beyond Apple development.
Android is based on Java. Java is a language created by Sun Microsystems in the 90′s. It drives a wide range of devices from PDAs, Blu-ray players, smart pens, complex computer software – and even the Amazon Kindle.
Unlike Objective-C, Java is a powerful, professional language that has a world of possibilities.
Because it’s so popular, the educational resources available for learning Java far outnumber those for Objective-C. Furthermore, the syntax for Java is far easier to learn than the hideous design of Obj-C.
Android Market
Like Apple’s App Store, Android has the Android Market. But unlike the App Store, the Android Market doesn’t require your app to sit in approval limbo for weeks – only to be rejected in the end. So if you’ve got a free bingo or recipe app that you think is going to change the world, you don’t have to sit around for ages waiting. The Android developer terms are clearly stated. There are no ambiguous gray areas like in the App Store.
Apps, once submitted, are quickly reviewed. Does it conform to the Market rules? If so, the app is approved. Only if the rules are broken is an app rejected.
Apps are not arbitrarily blocked.
So the Market is completely open to any and every application that obeys the terms to which every developer agrees.
And there’s another thing: while Apple charges $99 USD per year to sell in the App Store, you only need $25 USD to start selling in the Android Market.
In comparison to the iPhone side of the equation, you save $74 per year and have a far more open publishing experience.
Respect for Developers
The unexplained, arbitrary rejection of an app is enough to leave a bitter taste in the mouth of any developer.
Let’s not forget that Apple will immediately shoot down any app that they say “duplicates existing functionality.” That means a dev cannot submit a music player, email client, web browser, or anything of that sort. Apple gets itchy and shuts it down.
Android, however, gives developers full control over the OS. Not only are developers allowed to create apps that duplicate existing functionality, but they can even view the source of the stock applications.
Google has issued a challenge to developers. “Here’s what we’ve done. Now you build something better. We’ll even give you the tools.”
Developer-submitted applications can have the same functions and abilities as the stock Android apps – and even access the same resources.
A Challenge to Apple?
As the Android platform continues to grow in popularity and developers jump ship to join the Android Market, what will be Apple’s response?
Will they lose their draconian approval process? Will they lower the price for the iPhone Developer Program? The coming months should be interesting.
Could Android be an iPhone OS killer?