Since the beginning of time, there has been a flame war between the fans of Android and the admirers of iOS. As users argue which software is better, novice developers choose which side their app belongs. All joking aside, let’s look at the fundamental differences between developing iOS and Android applications.
First things first, let’s start with the required equipment. Android enthusiasts can begin developing apps any time they want to. Any android smartphones and any computers come in handy. Programmers who create applications for iOS keep iPhones and MacBooks. So, the apparent advantage of starting your career in the field of Android is a lower start-up budget.
Most programmers notice that Android gives you more possibilities. For example, other alternative stores exist except for the Google Play Market; meanwhile, users can download
apps for iOS only from AppStore. There is no possibility to install some game on iPhone, just downloading it from the web. But on the other hand, the Android operating system is quite vulnerable to software viruses. The defense which is provided by iOS is more robust.
Moreover, almost no viruses are intended for any apps eveloped for iOS.
Testing the application is a responsible stage in the process of product creation. QA engineers claim that iOS apps are more convenient to test. It could be explained by the fact that Android has a vast system fragmentation and different manufacturers make too many devices.
You have come a long way and finally are ready to place your application in the store. Both Play Market and AppStore first check your product. Android apps usually check for 2-3
hours; if all main rules are kept, the store will expose your product for selling. The procedure of controlling apps in AppStore, on the contrary, can last for two days. The security system has to ensure that a new application works correctly and is stable, that there is no copyright violation and forbidden content, and so on.
It’s all about money. We have already found out that developing iOS apps require pretty expensive equipment. The other financial disadvantage is the relatively high price for developer account registration. It costs about 100 USD annually, while Android asks for a nominal one-off payment of around 30 USD. Anyway, there is a good relief for iOS fans. You can still make up for your expenses and even gain more. The statistic shows that Apple
gadgets’ users tolerate paid apps and are ready to spend money on an excellent application.
Android customers prefer free products.
Almost all applications nowadays are developed for Android and iOS platforms, so there is no need to worry about making the right choice. Probably, picking a particular alternative is just a matter of personal habits and tastes. The third option is to try one of the modern open-source frameworks, which allows the development of applications for all operational systems (PhoneGap, for example).
