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iPhone tops in U.S. as Android rules the world

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Just goes to show you. People who can afford quality buy quality.

-2 ( +8 / -10 )

Iphone is one of the cheapest smartphone options here in Japan with its generous kickbacks and subsidization.

5 ( +6 / -1 )

Just goes to show you. People who can afford quality buy quality.

Finally you start to make sense....now read the follow up:

Iphone is one of the cheapest smartphone options here in Japan with its generous kickbacks and subsidization.

-5 ( +3 / -8 )

Let's not forget the iPhone is ONE PHONE, whereas Android is a PLATFORM.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

Let's not forget the iPhone is ONE PHONE, whereas Android is a PLATFORM.

iPhone is not one just phone, it is a platform with one phone, two tablets and one music player (all of below average functionality, and no innovation in the past 3 years). Also, it is a very closes in system, and once you start using it, there are no easy ways of escaping from it and move to better alternatives.

Android on the other hand....

-5 ( +1 / -6 )

This headline is really good news. As an app developer I think Apple is winning this one or at least it's not losing. Android sales are concentrated in Asia and these people just don't buy apps, they want free stuff. A few interesting stats : most good iOS apps get a conversion rate of around 20% in the U.S market i.e people download a free app and 20% of them decide to do an in-app purchase when available. In China, this rate is around 1%. As long as the iPhone dominates markets (U.S, western Europe) where users are willing to "show the money" iOS will remain a popular platform for developers even if it's market share is 5 times less than Android.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Dutchduck - asking me to listen to the slanted opinion of an anonymous Internet poster with a strange grudge against a company? No thanks!

0 ( +4 / -4 )

Canadian, check your facts:

As long as the iPhone dominates markets (U.S, western Europe).

iPhone is nowhere near dominating the smartphone market in Western Europe. It actually nominates nowhere except USA and Canada right now. If Apple does not more smartly and very fast, they'll lose even these two remaining markets. Just facts...

PS: It would be a horrible idea to buy Apple's shares right now, they are dropping like a brick. Wait until they stabilize a little...

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

@ebisen wrong - iPhone is NOT a platform. iOS is a platform. iPhone is just one phone with 3 variants. Since you don't realize that, the rest of post can't be taken seriously...

That one company should achieve a majority of sales in ANY country with one product of 3 varieties against multiple vendors with multiple models and in Japan's case, unavailable on the biggest network Docomo at all - is pretty astounding.

And what "closes in system"? Apps built for iOS work on... iOS. Apps built for Android work on... Android (conditionally...) What's the diff? If you're referring to music - you don't have to buy from iTunes, you can buy MP3s from Amazon, you can use streaming apps... Books? Apple supports ePub for iBooks, there's a Amazon Kindle app for books...

5 ( +5 / -0 )

iPhone is nowhere near dominating the smartphone market in Western Europe

Ok, I may not have used the word "dominate" appropriately here. My point is that as long as Apple keeps a decent market share in developed markets there will be a constant supply of quality apps for the platform. U.S is THE market where users buy the most apps, for me as an app developer the fact that iPhone is no.1 in the U.S is great news.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

the rest of post can't be taken seriously..

Please tell me what serious innovation has Apple brought to the iOS platform in the past three years (that was not copied from a previously existing Android feature). Then we can take you seriously. Please don't tell me it's the "iMaps" :))

And what "closed in system"?

Have you ever accessed the files system of your iPhone, and freely taken any file you'd wanted out of there?

-4 ( +0 / -4 )

Kantar Worldpanel ComTech reported on Tuesday

Never heard of them, and they likely are too small to actually matter in rankings.

Meanwhile, apple had to cut manufacturing by over 40% for both the ip5 and ipad 4 due to poor sales.

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

Apple again will be the most valued US and world company in 2013, Forbes said this week. Even with copycats chasing iPhones, #5 is selling like candy. Apple recently dropped orders because #5 has reached a peak and Apple is going to use new technologies with iPhone6: new display, new design, new materials that require new suppliers.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Have you ever accessed the files system of your iPhone, and freely taken any file you'd wanted out of there?

That is why you buy Androids or Windows: to do monkeyish things you can't do with an iPhone.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

LostinNagoyaJan. 23, 2013 - 02:31PM JST

Even with copycats chasing iPhones, #5

Last I knew iphone 5 was the last major phone to offer 16:9 aspect screen, a whole half decade after competitors. They also added facebook integration, which was used by plenty of phones including old android 1.x phones.

LostinNagoyaJan. 23, 2013 - 02:34PM JST

That is why you buy Androids or Windows: to do monkeyish things you can't do with an iPhone

Only monkeys around are those who need a million apps to find where their files are, and another app just to move their files from their phone to their computer. You can just hook up an android phone and drag and drop files, no need to be connected to the internet or install crapware like itunes.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

That is why you buy Androids or Windows: to do monkeyish things you can't do with an iPhone.

I'm at a loss of words. If we were monkeys, then what would you be?

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Please tell me what serious innovation has Apple brought to the iOS platform in the past three years (that was not copied from a previously existing Android feature).

I could tell you about at least 3 completely new and innovative things Android introduced from 4.0 to 4.2 only, but I'm afraid you won't understand them. Please wait 1-2 years until Apple copies and introduces them with big fanfare, as invented by Apple (like it happened with voice search, with the notification bars and with the cloud sync, to name only A FEW).

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

And what "closed in system"?

Have you ever accessed the files system of your iPhone, and freely taken any file you'd wanted out of there?

Yes. It's very easy. In iTunes, just select the app you want to have access to your files and add (or remove) your files.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

As someone who is transiting from IOS to Android, I can say for sure that Android is pretty sweet. You will need some computer skills or a lot of searching on the web, since it is NOT as easy as the IOS, but quite cool. I still use the Ipad and download from Itunes. For me the deciding factor is in the hardware since both android and ios are quite good, I like using the Ipad better than the nexus and galaxy better than Iphone. Can't wait to put my hands on the recently announced xperia z waterproof and 5 inches.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Saulo AkazawaJan. 23, 2013 - 04:46PM JST

You will need some computer skills or a lot of searching on the web, since it is NOT as easy as the IOS, but quite cool.

To do what? As-is android is no harder to navigate than picking your nose. The settings are far easier to change, since you don't need a computer, unlike ios where you need to root your phone and install a ton of apps, or use shell commands just to know where you left you photo of yesterday's cheeseburger.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

basroil

The settings are far easier to change, since you don't need a computer, unlike ios

Wrong. iOS doesn't need a computer at all.

where you need to root your phone and install a ton of apps, or use shell commands just to know where you left you photo of yesterday's cheeseburger.

That would resemble Android, not iOS. iOS doesn't expose you to a daunting file system like Android. You just open the app and the files are there.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Dutchduck - asking me to listen to the slanted opinion of an anonymous Internet poster with a strange grudge against a company? No thanks!

no my man all I asked you was to read. fanboys are famous for their inability to listen so I won't even ask that.... the fact that the iPhone is the cheapest smart phone option here in Japan is a fact not an opinion. or is it?

0 ( +1 / -1 )

2020hindsights

Wrong. iOS doesn't need a computer at all.

How do you get content onto your iOS device, if it's not readily available on iTunes, iCloud, or whatever iBlahblahblah that is available? Like maybe the latest cd/movie you just ripped on your Mac. There will always be a computer involved to move content around.

Now if you simply don't care about the content, then ya. You don't need a computer. Don't need it for Android or Windows Phone either.

That would resemble Android, not iOS. iOS doesn't expose you to a daunting file system like Android. You just open the app and the files are there.

Huh? With Android, you just open the app and the files are there. If you want to go into the folder structures, that's there too. It's called options and I like having them.

I personally like setting up multiple folders, so that when I open up the Gallery, I'm not exposed to just a smorgasbord of content. It's nice and organized. That or I spend hours having to tag every mp3, video, picture, etc so I can sort via the app.

-4 ( +2 / -6 )

no my man all I asked you was to read. fanboys are famous for their inability to listen so I won't even ask that.... the fact that the iPhone is the cheapest smart phone option here in Japan is a fact not an opinion. or is it?

Ah my little man, I see your mistake. We "fanboys" may not listen well, but we can read well. The story is about smartphone sales in the US. Not Japan!

0 ( +2 / -2 )

My mp3 collection and movie collection is sitting on my computer, in CD form, or in DVD/Bluray form. How do I put it on a 100% independent iPhone or iPad?

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

Ah my little man, I see your mistake. We "fanboys" may not listen well, but we can read well. The story is about smartphone sales in the US. Not Japan!

Uh? No no my friend it's about sales of iphones and androids worldwide..... Iphone rules in Japan and the States...android rules in the rest of the world.

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

iPhones and Androids are simply the predecessors to Federation-issue communicators, which will be not only capable of transmitting voice messages thousands of kilometers, but capable of transmitting coordinates for beam-up!

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Sat phones can already transmit voice messages worldwide and with built-in GPS, it can transmit coordinates too. We just have no transporters.

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

"As someone who is transiting from IOS to Android, I can say for sure that Android is pretty sweet. You will need some computer skills or a lot of searching on the web, since it is NOT as easy as the IOS..."

You've basically summed up what is and has always been the greatest single difference between Apple products and, well, the rest of the tech world. Apple tailors its products to appeal primarily to those consumers who have limited or no computer skills. It's genius, really, from a marketing standpoint, because there are always going to be a lot of people who just don't get computers. Yes, even in this day and age.

Regardless of whether one is computer literate or not, at the end of the day, consumers want the toys they buy to work right out of the box. And Apple provides toys that do just that for a significant segment of the market that isn't into tinkering with their devices. Can't fault Apple for this approach. Like I said, genius.

With that said, it doesn't make me hate using Apple devices any less. I'm a PC person through-and-through. Started with the Apple IIc and soon moved over to an IBM PC. Never looked back. What Apple calls intuitive makes me want to rip my hair out, because in my experience, yes, with the push of a button, one can get the desired application to launch. But you can't do much else. You can't tweak it as much. You can't customize as much. You can't tinker. And you sure as heck can't fix it yourself. It's one-shape-and-size-fits-all with most, if not all, Apple products. Yes, the shape and size are most certainly very aesthetically appealing, but that kind of limited functionality drives me up the wall. (Hey, that's my baggage to wrestle with . . . or not).

Now as to the current debate over iOS versus Android, the same arguments apply. iPhone software is remarkably stable, so you don't see nearly as high the incident rate of a crashed system as you do with Android phones that balk at poorly coded 3rd-party apps. Which means the phone stays useable all the time. Can't say the same for Android phones which crash spectacularly. Android, while a spiffy OS, is still, IMO, a work very much in progress. Much like Microsoft Windows is and has always been. And like Windows, Android will become more stable as it makes the (sometimes painful) journey towards reliably being all things to all users.

But even with that, Android phones, without exception and while perhaps painful to hear, are just more versatile than iPhones. And that translates to sales.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

the original iPhone AT&T was great because you had unlimited data use service on your phone for $40 (data only), ~$65 total monthy (voice etc). Then that bill became $85 a month total. Before this data service on the cell phone was expensive (price per kb) and horrible (only mobile sites that were partly functional and poor). The iPhone changed all that (full internet on phone) plus the apps/store came later.

Now you have a ton of apps and excellent bandwidth with mobile. Apple is not the only game in town and the iPhone is only one size while Samsung/HTC has many larger and smaller devices. Apple still thinks people want a one size fits all phone. Even with the iPad, iPad Mini, and iPhone there is still not a device like the Samsung Galaxy Note (6"-5"-4.5") sweet spot that Android phones offer and you can get a good Android device for $150 without a contract and a unlimited "open" cellular plan for $35+ (Virgin Mobile, Walmart etc)

The iPhone historically was never a great phone either: -poor audio and the dock connector tends to fail (same part) -memory not expandible -battery not replaceable by user -reception (signal) issues -locked into AT&T only for years (then Verizon)

The positive with the iPhone: =you can get just about any product for it 10x easier than anything else to cover any short-coming.

i bought an HTC Android phone to get off the AT&T contract. =almost 6 years of iPhones, 3 contracts of 2 years. Original iPhone was released June 29, 2007 and I bought my first for $400 with a 2yr contract within a month of that date. (note: not a full 6 years, so I must have been able to upgrade a little sooner than the full 2 years of contract).

I like the louder audio of a Sony Walkman cellphone personally. And like a speaker-phone capability. Use a bluetooth headset with my iPhone to get around this. If the iPad mini was smaller like a Galaxy Note I would consider it (want that bigger screen to use like a computer more).

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Uh? No no my friend it's about sales of iphones and androids worldwide..... Iphone rules in Japan and the States...android rules in the rest of the world

.which begs the question; why are you going on about iphone prices in Japan when my original point was about iphone sales in the US? Oh dear...

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Holy cow! Look at those record sales and quarterly profits! I don't understand. So many Android fanboys on this thread predicted Apples demise. I'm perplexed....

-4 ( +1 / -5 )

Korlacan Khanthavilay

How do you get content onto your iOS device, if it's not readily available on iTunes, iCloud, or whatever iBlahblahblah that is available? Like maybe the latest cd/movie you just ripped on your Mac. There will always be a computer involved to move content around.

No computer required. Buy your songs/books/videos from Apple, Amazon or whoever. Download them from the cloud. Share photos on the cloud too.

My mp3 collection and movie collection is sitting on my computer, in CD form, or in DVD/Bluray form. How do I put it on a 100% independent iPhone or iPad?

Considering you are framing the question that your data is already sitting on a computer assumes that you need this computer in the first place, which defeats the question. It's like saying how do I use an iPhone without a computer with my computer. Silly.

In any case, all my media sits on my NAS which I can access from anywhere from my iPhone with WiFi or 3G. (Admittedly the video content still needs WiFi, but that will change in the next release.)

0 ( +0 / -0 )

@zichi

Yeah, I did the same. All media (music, photos, video) is on a 9TB RAID 5 NAS. The NAS manufacturer provide iOS apps to allow you to access this media from anywhere using their Dynamic DNS over 3G or over WiFi. Works well. The video app supports all formats and grabs metadata from the web. (Something that some fAndroids incorrectly assume is that iOS won't let you play any video format without conversion.)

0 ( +1 / -1 )

iOS won't let you play any video format without conversion

So when have you last time played FLAC, imported it to your iPhone using the native iTunes (with no stupid hacks), and played it with native iOS support?

PS:I'd suggest you to first learn what FLAC means...

0 ( +0 / -0 )

@zichi

I have an Acer W700 tablet that sports 128 gig SSD with a USB port that supports well...anything USB. Like my 1.5 TB USB powered external drive. Course I still plan on replacing my 128 GB with a 240 gig mSATA SSD, since the storage isn't enough and I dislike carrying around my external.

My gaming machine has 4 TB of storage, my backup gaming machine has 4 TB of storage, my websurfing machine has 2 TB of storage and my fileserver has 15 TB of storage. My 17" laptop has a pair of 240 GB SSDs, my 13" laptop/tablet has 500 GBs, I also have a 1.5 TB external, 1 TB external, and a pair of 500 GB externals.

Does any of that matter, not really, cause I want as much crap available on hand without the need of 3G/4G or Wifi, as I am a constant traveller. In the past month I've been to 4 different countries and I'm not going to buy a new 3G/4G biscuit for each country, nor pay outrageous data roaming charges on my phone to tether.

I guess when you aren't mobile with your mobile device, you don't care.

@2020hindsights

So repurchase everything on iTunes or have nothing. Ya...sounds like a good way to go about things.

Okay, how about I take out a portion of my question.

"My mp3 collection and movie collection is sitting in CD form or in DVD/Bluray form. How do I put it on a 100% independent iPhone or iPad?"

Also, iOS has horrible format support. Try opening an .mkv, .m2t, .divx, or the multiple multiple other video containers out there. Even the 4 video containers that iOS supports, only supports specific codecs or specific settings/sizes/etc. Outside of that support, you'll be stuck having to download additional apps to expand format support. More than likely, multiple apps to do it.

Me, I just run Mediaplayer Classic for every single video container and codec that's out there with vobsub to support non-hard encoded subtitles.

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

"My mp3 collection and movie collection is sitting in CD form or in DVD/Bluray form. How do I put it on a 100% independent iPhone or iPad?"

For an Android phone or iOS device, it will be the same. Rip it and then copy it to the device. To rip it you need a computer.

Also, iOS has horrible format support. Try opening an .mkv, .m2t, .divx, or the multiple multiple other video containers out there. Even the 4 video containers that iOS supports, only supports specific codecs or specific settings/sizes/etc. Outside of that support, you'll be stuck having to download additional apps to expand format support. More than likely, multiple apps to do it.

It's so simple and not a problem at all. GoodPlayer or VLC will play video in any format.

Me, I just run Mediaplayer Classic for every single video container and codec that's out there with vobsub to support non-hard encoded subtitles.

Me, I stream from my NAS using the Video Station app provided free from the NAS manufacturer. Supports everything.

Does any of that matter, not really, cause I want as much crap available on hand without the need of 3G/4G or Wifi, as I am a constant traveller. In the past month I've been to 4 different countries and I'm not going to buy a new 3G/4G biscuit for each country, nor pay outrageous data roaming charges on my phone to tether.

I also travel to many countries and I find that hotel WiFi and free hotspots suffice. In Hawaii I rented a biscuit for less than 1000 yen/day. Sure, before going on holiday I will preload videos etc. onto my iPad/iPhone. But in general I source from my NAS.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

2020hindsightsJan. 25, 2013 - 11:05AM JST

For an Android phone or iOS device, it will be the same. Rip it and then copy it to the device. To rip it you need a computer.

Not with dvds and bluray you aren't, not unless you want to break laws in every country.

It's so simple and not a problem at all. GoodPlayer or VLC will play video in any format.

VLC doesn't support acceleration in iOS or OSX. You try throwing a 1080p h264 level 5.1 with dts-hd file at your phone and it'll show you a slideshow, if it doesn't crash outright.

Me, I stream from my NAS using the Video Station app provided free from the NAS manufacturer. Supports everything.

No NAS supports h264 above 4.1, and very few support MKV. Almost all lack subtitle support, especially SSA and AdvanceSS types. And it won't work without compromises since icrap doesn't support DLNA

I also travel to many countries and I find that hotel WiFi and free hotspots suffice. In Hawaii I rented a biscuit for less than 1000 yen/day. Sure, before going on holiday I will preload videos etc. onto my iPad/iPhone. But in general I source from my NAS.

1000 yen/day is about 10x the normal price, to pay it as an individual is stupid at best, not to mention making the overall system larger and heavier than a real mobile device. But of course, your other option is to carry around a 5kg brick that makes a gaming laptop look light.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

For an Android phone or iOS device, it will be the same. Rip it and then copy it to the device. To rip it you need a computer.

Doesn't sound very 100% independent

It's so simple and not a problem at all. GoodPlayer or VLC will play video in any format.

Bet your iPad or iPhone won't do much of video playing with a few of my 20k bitrate 1080p mkv vids with 5 subtitle tracks built-in.

Me, I stream from my NAS using the Video Station app provided free from the NAS manufacturer. Supports everything.

See above comment

I also travel to many countries and I find that hotel WiFi and free hotspots suffice. In Hawaii I rented a biscuit for less than 1000 yen/day. Sure, before going on holiday I will preload videos etc. onto my iPad/iPhone. But in general I source from my NAS.

I find hotel Wifi blows and ends up being spotty, not to mention you get charged for it about 1/2 the time. I'm not going to bother getting a biscuit and you'd be lucky to even find a place that rents them out in Europe. I'll just preload everything before I roll out.

The past month I've been in Switzerland, Austria, France, and Germany. You think I'm going to bother with looking for a biscuit or randomly walking around searching for the hotel's wifi? No thanks. I'll just throw my tablet into airplane mode and just play with what's available on my tablet or on my usb key.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

Research: Androids are popular because they're cheap. Quality? Not a word that Android users can afford. Note: unlike some who links to obscure, run-by-his-cousin sites, this ones is from Gizmodo...

http://gizmodo.com/5977625/android-is-popular-because-its-cheap-not-because-its-good

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Think you need to read the article again, since Gizmodo themselves say that the Galaxy S3 and Nexus 4 are awesome (essentially what they said). Then they go to say that the much cheaper phones are making a killing. Well duh, do we need an article to show that users would rather save a buck or two, wherever they can.

Seeing the sheer number of Galaxy S3 sales, that doesn't seem to be the case all the time though. I can easily afford an unlocked 64 gig iPhone 5, but I don't buy one. I bought a $500 LG G2x 16 gig model. I just bought a $400 Sharp SH7218U 512 meg model to replace it. It's actually way worse than my LG G2x by a lot. I bought a $600 Acer A500 tablet 16 gig model, when it was new. It's now $350ish. I chose to go this route, cause it's the most open of the bunch. I don't like being locked down into something.

-4 ( +1 / -5 )

VLC doesn't support acceleration in iOS or OSX. You try throwing a 1080p h264 level 5.1 with dts-hd file at your phone and it'll show you a slideshow, if it doesn't crash outright.

Bet your iPad or iPhone won't do much of video playing with a few of my 20k bitrate 1080p mkv vids with 5 subtitle tracks built-in.

It has no problem playing any videos whatsoever. Why send 5.1 audio to a device with two speakers? Sounds pretty silly to me.

Me, I stream from my NAS using the Video Station app provided free from the NAS manufacturer. Supports everything.

No NAS supports h264 above 4.1, and very few support MKV. Almost all lack subtitle support, especially SSA and AdvanceSS types. And it won't work without compromises since icrap doesn't support DLNA

Supports MKV. Supports subtitles. No compromises. Even supports AirPlay. But you'll be happy to know it now supports Windows phones.

1000 yen/day is about 10x the normal price,

No it's not. And we tethered it to three devices most of the time.

not to mention making the overall system larger and heavier than a real mobile device

Actually very light and small. Kept it in my wife's handbag most of the time. Best of all, it was LTE. Very fast.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

It has no problem playing any videos whatsoever. Why send 5.1 audio to a device with two speakers? Sounds pretty silly to me.

Sure, it has no problem playing any videos, after conversion to meet the lower specs of the iPad or iPhone. Also why not send 5.1 audio to a device that has HDMI out, where I can hook it up to my friend's home theatre setup, so we can watch our movies?

Also a good set of usb stereo headphones with the virtual surround comes out very nicely. Not so nicely with non-5.1 audio. Course, why bother with the iPad or iPhone, when neither support usb stereo headphones anyways.

Supports MKV. Supports subtitles. No compromises. Even supports AirPlay. But you'll be happy to know it now supports Windows phones.

Yep, just requires you to buy a $7 app to support subtitles. It's still not going to properly play high bitrate videos, cause the hardware is lacking. All the software in the world isn't going to make up for crappy Arm based processors.

-5 ( +0 / -5 )

Also why not send 5.1 audio to a device that has HDMI out, where I can hook it up to my friend's home theatre setup, so we can watch our movies?

Yes, well I can send to my Apple TV wirelessly (and I do sometimes for convenience), but why stream it to an iDevice just to stream it back to a TV? I'll play it directly on my XBMC instead and cut out the middle man.

Course, why bother with the iPad or iPhone, when neither support usb stereo headphones anyways.

There you go again with pesky wires. I'd use Bluetooth headphones any day.

Supports MKV. Supports subtitles. No compromises. Even supports AirPlay. But you'll be happy to know it now supports Windows phones.

Yep, just requires you to buy a $7 app to support subtitles.

Don't have to pay anything for the app. Comes free with the NAS.

It's still not going to properly play high bitrate videos, cause the hardware is lacking. All the software in the world isn't going to make up for crappy Arm based processors.

As I said, no problems playing video. At all. I don't understand your point.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

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