Does iOS still outdo Android OS?

"Both Google and Apple are the next generation IT players after the golden era of Microsoft! There is a stiff competition between the two and it is obviously common. Apple’s iOS is designed keeping the high end user’s demand and perspective whereas Google’s Android is for all and sundry. There are many factors through which we can differentiate their core business plan; but at the end of day, it sounds odd that iOS outdoes Android especially considering the recent scenario. How? Let’s check it out."

User Experience: User experience is the key feature of every operating system to decide its fate! If today, Windows operating system is going to lose its grip from the industry then it's only due to its not up to date user experience; though it ruled the industry for many decades due to its upmarket user experience in the DOS era. With time, Apple's iOS and Google's Android understood the user demand and made their operating system quite user friendly to penetrate into the market. Now between these two rivals, Apple's iOS has better user experience than that of Android. Apple understands customer requirements and latent needs and designs products accordingly. On the contrary, Google's Android L and now upcoming M are aggressive enough to change the whole things in a single shot. Android Lollipop has received tremendous support from around the users for its iOS looks like in design. Now, with Android M, it is going to repeat again. In fact, experts believe that, this time Android M might beat iOS9!!

Cost effective: Apple gives better user experience and quality and reliable hardware devices but at a premium cost. It produces both the Operating system along with the smart phone (iPhone) and tablet i.e. iPad and those cost much higher than that of Android devices which are built by different manufacturers of the industry. So, there is no comparison between them in the cost effectiveness point of view. In fact, Google is quite ambitious to provide android device in everyone's hand at an affordable price of just $100 with its Android One project. Here Apple will not be able to outdo Android in any manner.

App population: There was a time, when the industry had a great respect for Apple device and iOS; but things have changed a lot since then. Now, with the introduction of Android, the industry got an amazing platform as an optional way to reach the user in a seamless manner. App developers are also encouraged to develop smart apps for Android operating system. To become an iOS app developer, you need lots of effort to put a quality app in the Appstore. On the contrary, Google's android play store is absolutely free for the android app developers to put and launch their app in the platform. Indeed it works like a heaven for the android developers. No need to struggle for permission from Apple. You just need to put your app in Google play store and make it live for your customer; you have enough time to modify and enhance your app later on. This made the population of android apps much more larger than life and expectation. Though you will get only good quality apps in iOS; you will also get similar or even better quality of apps in Playstore with many optional apps. Again, since there are a huge volume of apps in Playstore now, the new apps that are being developed by the android developer will be of better quality to sustain in the market. So it’s a win-win situation for both android developer and users. No way, here iOS can outdo android.

App Quality: Yes, undoubtedly iOS has much more quality apps; but the situation is getting reversed with time. With increasing volume of apps in Playstore, it becomes a challenge for the android app developers to develop better quality apps for the user to get accepted. Though, iOS app store is filled with extremely quality apps but the volume is limited; whereas you will get much bigger volume of android apps in the Playstore which will trigger better quality apps from the developers to fulfil the user demands. In future, the quality of android apps is supposed to be of much higher standard to compete with a larger number of apps already available in the Playstore.

Up-To-date: Yes, this is the only issue with Android. Android does not produce devices instead it only focuses on the quality of its operating system. As a result, many manufacturers get associated with android in developing devices for smart phone users. Now, these devices are not of uniform hardware specification in any manner. As a result, it is next to impossible to design an operating system that can run smoothly in all standards of hardware. In fact, many manufactures are producing budget smart phones that cost one tenth or even one fifteenth of the latest iPhone 6. So in that case, it is not possible for the manufacturer to provide up-to-date operating system to its user at such a low amount. Though high end devices like Samsung, LG, Sony, and Moto will get immediate update from the manufacturer; on the contrary, apple produces both device and OS from its in-house building. There are some issues with the compatibility with the Operating System and device. So, an apple user will get instantly updated version without any fail.

Finally, market penetration: When iOS started its venture into the industry, it received exceptional response from the users. But, the price and limited hardware has been always a great concern for Apple since its inception. The in-house smart phone i.e. iPhone and the tablet i.e. iPad is extremely premium and isn’t affordable to everyone. Now, on the contrary, Google’s Android has the benefit of the same i.e. budget smart phone or tablet for everyone. As a result, over the years the market share of Google’s Android is making a new milestone with every passing year. Now, Google’s Android Operating System is around 800 % -900 % ahead of that of iOS. Still the market share is in favour of Google. The cost effectiveness, quality service and better design have made it possible though. Anyway, after all, it’s entirely win-win situation for both Google and the common user altogether.

And while the battle is on as to who would dominate the scene, it would be beneficial to bring to your notice an offshore development company that boasts of the best mobile app development talent. They have designed apps that have been a rage on Appstore, Playstore and both. If you have an app in mind and need help to create it, just send in your requirements to sales at Mindfire Solutions dot com and we will get back to you in 72 hours.

Mobile app Development in 2015

“Industry had never estimated the potential of mobile devices before a decade!! In fact, things get changed so rapidly that no one could catch the grip of the change!! Industry gets flooded with smart devices due to their unmatched usability and quality. It became a hand held device for every user throughout the globe. The most important concept behind its success is its portability nature and web browsing ability. No need to sit down in front of your desktop for web browsing; do it from your palm that too at any place around the globe with mobile network connectivity like 2G, 3G or WiFi. As a result, the way of web application development get a new look and shape; now it’s more smart-user centric. The term website transforms into smart sites. The popularity, the demand and the market penetration of smart apps or mobile apps are increasing at an exponential rate! It is already predicted that, the Year 2015 will be even more and grander for the smart app developer’s point of view.”

2015- The Year will take a giant leap for a smarter world: With the overnight popularity of smart devices in the industry especially in the developing countries like India and China, this year is going to be a grand one from the mobile aap development point of view. Smart phones and tablets including phablets have a wide range of screen size and resolution starting from as small as just 2 inches to 10 inches will make the industry tremble with the demand for responsive mobile apps that can impart similar user experience in all those devices. To fulfill the demand, there will be an astonishing change in the smart app development process.

Mobile apps will be more interesting with modern features: The mobile apps that were only focusing on Opera Mini browser will no more exist and will extinct from the industry. Because, there are lots of new and advanced mobile browsers in the industry like UC browser, Dolphin browser, Android Chrome, Android Mozilla and Safari etc. Now, the mobile app development process will be more critical; because the mobile developers need to focus on a wide range of browsers.

Smart apps will be smarter by losing their weight and getting slimmer! Yes! Due to small device memory and bandwidth issues, now mobile developers will be forced to develop light weight mobile apps that can run smoothly in these constraints. Light weight means faster loading, efficient event handling, optimization and better management of resources. The new generation mobile apps or smart apps will be lighter enough to provide better user experience irrespective of device memory and mobile network bandwidth.

Smart apps now focus more on cross platform app development: Platforms like Google’s Android, Apple’s iOS, Microsoft’s Windows and Mozilla’s Firefox are making the situation even complicated for the mobile app developers. Was a time then, when web developers focused only on the Windows operating system and IE browser! Now, in 2015 the web developers or mobile app developers must consider all these market players to reach at more number of customers without much hassle. Making a cross platform application is really challenging especially when there are considerate numbers of players brawling in the industry. But, they have to because they have no other option left!

Every industry will be App Only: Understanding the potential of mobile app development and mobile platform, now almost all industries are trying recreating their web application fit for the mobile devices. In fact, they are not hesitating to opt for an absolutely different and attractive smart version of their original website with all functionalities intact. Recently, we are finding a tremendous change in the e-commerce domain; they are forcing their customers to use their apps by offering better discounts and offers for app users. This is really challenging and seems that the nest generation industries will be App only to reach at every palm without much effort and in a effective manner.

Virtual memory to be the first choice of mobile app developer and user: Memory term is getting loose over period. The KB got replaced by MB followed by GB and now by TB. Still, human want is endless. So, the born of Virtual memory i.e. Cloud storage by major IT giants of the industry like Google, Apple and Microsoft etc. Now, keep your users data on cloud storage at an affordable cost and in an extremely secure environment. Moreover, the size or volume of the storage is simply beyond our imagination. Though it is not yet used over a large scale; but 2015 is going to be a golden year for Cloud technology. Mobile apps are going to be served from cloud i.e. server is on cloud, the database is on cloud and the application will run from Cloud!!

The volume of smart apps under Playstore and App Store: With the increasing popularity of smart phones and smart operating systems in the industry, mobile app developers will be forced to create more and more quality apps for these platforms. Well, the Google’s Play Store and Apple’s App store is already having a huge volume of smart apps i.e. both web app, native app and hybrid app; still user demands more!! To fulfill their demand, more numbers of smart apps are going to be launched this year i.e. 2015. Needless to say, the new apps are of higher quality considering their challengers being already available in the industry. The older apps will get transformed into smarter one too.

Microsoft is going to focus more on OS and smart apps instead of hardware devices: Now, about the Microsoft!! After failure from the hardware mobile industry with Nokia; now, Microsoft has decided to focus more on its Operating System i.e. smart operating system Windows 10. It is already cleared that Microsoft is going to revive in the industry with the help of its flagship product i.e. Windows 10 again and keeping the hardware device manufacturing unit for a later consideration. Again, 2015 is going to be a fortunate year for Microsoft; because it is now boosting the mobile smart app developers to build apps for its platform i.e. Windows. It has kept the door open for android and iOS developers to make their app available for Windows users with minimal modification. On the contrary, it enables smart app developers in building quick cross platform smart apps that is really a wonderful thing for the industry.

Mindfire Solutions has a strong development team that is vested only in mobile app development using a gamut of platforms. Its certified team of developers has created extremely user-friendly mobile apps that have been greatly cherished by clients. We suggest you take a look at our mobile app development expertise and let us know if you would be interested to partner with us for you next app development.

iOS 6 to iOS 7 - Keep These Factors in Mind

In September 2013, Apple announced the full release of iOS 7 with several new features and a completely redesigned user interface. According to the statement made by Tim Cook at the Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference in 2014, version 7 of the mobile operating system was installed on more than 89% of all active iOS devices. So you can always upgrade from iOS 6 to iOS 7 to avail new features like new camera interface, wireless sharing feature AirDrop, and full multitasking for mobile apps. However, you must not forget to consider some simple factors before upgrading from iOS 6 to iOS 7.

Factors to Consider while upgrading from iOS 6 to iOS 7

Check the Devices Supported by iOS 7 : You can completely change your device’s look and feel by installing iOS 7. But you must remember that iOS 7 is compatible with specific Apple devices. At present, iOS supports iPad 2, 3 and 4, iPad Mini, iPhone 4, 4S and 5, and the fifth-generation iPod Touch. However, the new devices come with iOS 7 preinstalled. Therefore, as an iOS app developer, you must check if your current Apple device is compatible with version 7 of the mobile operating system or not.

Get Required Permission: You don’t need any permission to install iOS 7 on your personal Apple device. But you must seek permission to upgrade to the operating system if device is provided by your employers. There are also chances that you have to upgrade the operating system through the IT department of your company. So it is important to install iOS 7 on your company-owned device only after obtaining the required permission, and following the right procedure.

Make Room for the New Operating System: Before upgrading your mobile operating system, your device must have adequate free space. So you must check the documents, files and photos stored on the device. It is also a great idea to transfer all these files to your computer. You also need to check the videos and photos that you don’t want to revisit. Likewise, you can consider uninstalling some of the apps that you have not used since a long time. When you have adequate free space, it will be easier for you to upgrade to iOS 7.

Backup Your Data: Along with making room for iOS 7, it is also important to backup your device fully. You can simply create a backup using iTunes, and label it with the backup date. The label will make it easier for you to know when you backed the device up last. You can even consider creating a backup folder in iCloud. The backup will ensure that contacts, apps and settings remain unaffected in case the installation of the new operating system in not successful.

Update Your Apps: Each time Apple upgrades iOS, it releases a new version of iTunes. So you must upgrade iTunes before upgrading the operating system. Likewise, you can consider updating your apps to take advantage of iOS 7’s new features. As most app developers update their products to make them compatible with the latest version of iOS, you have option to upgrade many apps. However, you have option to upgrade only the frequently used applications.

Understand the Installation Process: It is always important to understand the process to upgrade from iOS 6 to iOS 7. Also, you must remember that the process will require 15 to 30 minutes of time. However, as iOS 7 was released in 2013, you can complete the process without requiring additional time. You still need to ensure that you have adequate time to complete the installation process without any interruption. You need to ensure that the installation process is not paused or abandoned halfway through.

While upgrading from iOS 6 to iOS 6, you must focus on the hidden features of iOS 7. For instance, iOS 7 enables users to navigate settings through Siri. So you can ask Siri to open the Settings folder, and then perform actions like turning Wi-Fi on or off through voice command. Once you know the new features of iOS 7 it will be easier to experience a completely different mobile experience.

At Mindfire Solutions, we have a team of senior iPhone app developers, who have developed over 100 custom iPhone and iPad Apps to our esteemed clients. If you want to outsource iOS Development tasks or hire iPhone App Developers, please feel free to write to sales at MindfireSolutions dot com and we would revert back in one business day.