iOS vs Android: A developer’s perspective

By Elena Georgiou Strouthos

Did you know?Worldwide iOS & Android App Events

in Billions

Source: Flurry Analytics

Did you know?

Did you know?

• Apple owners appear to use apps more than Android owners.

• Apple leads in revenue.

iOS vs Android: Getting Started

• iOS looks more scary in the beginning• Objective C vs Java & XML

- (BOOL)application:(UIApplication *)application didFinishLaunchingWithOptions:(NSDictionary *)launchOptions;

-(BOOL)writeToFile:(NSString *)path atomically:(BOOL)useAuxiliaryFile;BOOL result = [myData writeToFile:@"/tmp/log.txt" atomically:NO];

• MVC vs Lifecycle of an Activity• iOS is older than you think (NSObject)• Android more of a moving target

iOS vs Android: Open vs Closed

• Android– Apps can publish data, other apps can

consume– Apps also broadcast notifications– Apps can also invoke functionality form

other apps

• iOS– Apps are sand-boxed– Apps can invoke another app by using a

URL scheme that the second app published (i.e. itms://).

iOS vs Android: Resources• developer.apple.com /

developer.android.com• iOS:

– Official Documentation– iTunes U – WWDC Videos

• Android:– Official Documentation– mobile tuts+ (http://mobile.tutsplus.com/)– Vogella

(http://www.vogella.com/android.html)

• Stack Overflow & GitHub

iOS vs Android: Development Enviroment

• Mac vs Mac OS/Windows/Linux • Xcode comes with iOS SDK &

iOS Simulator• ADT Bundle– Android SDK– Eclipse – Android Developer Tools

• Android Studio – Available in Early Access Preview

iOS vs Android: Version Distribution

iOS – June 20131 Android – September 2013

1: http://venturebeat.com/2013/06/21/apple-fragmentation-what-fragmentation/2: http://www.gottabemobile.com/2013/09/26/ios-7-sees-fastest-adoption-rate-ever-58-one-week/

iOS 7 hit a 33% iOS market share in just 24 hours, 58% after one week2

iOS vs Android: Screen Sizes

• iOS: 3 Screen Sizes for Phones, 2 for iPads

• Android:

iOS vs Android: Simulator vs EmulatoriOS Simulator

iOS vs Android: Simulator vs EmulatorAndroid Emulator

iOS vs Android

• Databases: Core Data vs SQLite• Interface Builder vs Layouts & Style,

Themes• Backward Compatibility• Debugging Tools

iOS vs Android: Publishing an App

• iOS Developer Program: $99 per year• Google $25 once off• Google Play Store: – Google Play Developer Console– Just submit the app & the app is available to the

world

• iTunes App Store:– iTunes Connect– Read the App Store Review Guidelines (often)– Submit the App Review– Be Patient!

iOS vs Android: AnalyticsiOS

• Downloads for –Free Apps –Paid Apps –In-App Purchases –Updates

• Information available per country

iOS vs Android: AnalyticsAndroid

• Current & Total Installs• Information by Android Version,

Device, Country, Language, App Version, Carrier

iOS vs Android: Conclusions

• iOS provides a mature SDK, a stable API and an IDE that contains everything you need to start developing.

• The learning curve to develop an Android app is much less steep than iOS.

• iOS major problems: – Review Process– Platform is closed

• Android major problems: – Major changes between major versions – Fragmentation – Emulator

Thank You!

elena@cocooncreations.netwww.cocooncreations.net

@elenageorgiou