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Are you looking into developing an app for either Android or Apple, but aren’t sure where to start? As more and more tech options become available, app developers have more and more to think about when designing for either platform — or for both.
While Android commands over 80% of the global smartphone market, there are more iOS apps on the Apple Store and Apple still boasts a smoother, glitch-free app experience due to a number of factors we discuss below.
Of course, when you’re putting together your app idea, make sure to plan out a list of considerations — the answers to the following will help you determine whether Android or Apple is your best bet.
- Target audience
- The technological needs associated with the development
- User interface details
- Development criteria, and ease (or difficulty) bringing your app idea to reality
- Security measures
- Viability of your app idea in relation to the market
- Device optimization
While there are many reasons to choose the Android OS, the iOS brings a number of advantages that developers won’t find anywhere else.
Security
While it is true that there are more Android users, which makes developing for Android appealing, the security features of the iOS are unmatched by any rival.
While Android uses open-source coding, Apple uses a closed source code.
Open-source software is generally cheaper to generate, but in the long haul, there could be extra costs attached as specialized knowledge or training may be required to operate the software. Also, open-source software doesn’t usually come with built-in customer service, and often times developers and users alike need to rely on community support or pay for additional supporting services.
Finally, the appeal of open-source software is that anyone can alter the code, but because this type of coding allows for more playroom, it also makes it more vulnerable to hacking and other security breaches.
The suite of coding tools used to develop iOS apps are more secure than their Android counterparts. For example, iOS development services from Guarana Technologies works so seamlessly because the iOS Development Kit allows direct, secure control of the UX, while XCode (the official IDE for iOS app development) brings all the tools necessary for a developer to create a fluid app experience.
Professional developers will use built-in text editor, compiler, and build system technology and compile them into one software package, which leaves less room for compromise.
Just recently, Apple announced that by 2020, all app submissions should be built with XCode 11, which will include SDKs and Swift 5 for app development, meaning increased security all around.
Ease of Use
Apple’s closed-source coding and software also make the design more streamlined, allowing developers a better opportunity to create apps that follow the three major rules of Apple iOS app design — depth, clarity, and deference.
Depth– This is the sense of exploration that good design fosters in users. It describes the feeling of diving deeper, of navigating through each screen, through smooth transitions, visual layers, and more.
Clarity – This is the design principle of keeping content bold and vibrant so that it stands out to users. The individual elements of the interface should highlight what’s important, driving users directly to the content they want and need.
Deference– This is the feeling of fluidity and intuitiveness that are ubiquitous with iOS apps. This concept is what drives so many users to Apple and keeps them coming back for more. Apple is user-friendly by design, and so every app should feel just as natural.
Exclusivity
Developing for Apple ensures exclusive applications for a specific user base. While Android may offer more raw apps, the iOS platform is constantly evolving and updating itself to suit the needs of its users. Apple has a loyal crowd of customers who view the iOS platform as far superior to Android, giving any apps available only to Apple users exclusivity on the market.
Apple’s cult marketing strategies (the ones that create long lines of raving fans waiting to get their hands on the next product) produce a fervor for new consumer items in ways few other brands could ever match. This means that once an app gains a significant amount of traction in the AppStore, other Apple users will flock to see what the fuss is about.
While there are benefits to both, iOS is far superior to Android when it comes to app development options and features. While Apple might be slightly less prevalent these days, you should be more aware than ever of the advantages for developing for the iOS platform — including security, ease, and exclusivity.