How, Why Apple Overtook Microsoft

[MTI]

How, and Why, Apple Overtook Microsoft - NDTVProfit.com

This week, both Microsoft and Apple unveiled their latest earnings, and the once unthinkable became reality: Apple's market capitalization hit $683 billion, more than double Microsoft's current value of $338 billion.

At Apple's earnings conference call Tuesday, its chief executive, Tim Cook, called the quarter "historic" and the earnings "amazing." Noting that Apple sold more than 34,000 iPhone 6s every hour, 24 hours a day, during the quarter, he said the sheer volume of sales was "hard to comprehend."

cue spdrun in 3 . . 2 . .

[spdrun]

They both make crap mobile OS's -- the only decent mass-market OS out there right now is Android, because it offers full file access and allows you to load whatever software you want without giving much trouble.

It's reflected in market share, too:
Android: 52.5%
iOS: 42.5%
Microsoft: 3%
Other: 2%

I actually prefer OS X to desktop Windows. And given a choice between mobile OS's between Apple and Microsoft, I'd probably pick OS X over Windows Phone. It doesn't try nearly as hard to lock you into Apple's version of cloud-hell as Microsoft does.

[JamesDean]

I prefer Window Phone over iOS and Android. I was surprised to find out that the bulk of our R&D team here at work have Windows Phones.

Microsoft just announced that Windows Phone will be getting Windows 10 sometime in the future too.

And that hololens thing...which is pretty amazing from what I've seen/read.

[spdrun]

Out of curiosity, why do you prefer locked-down crippleware over as flexible of a platform as Android? Other than the ugliness factor of Android apps and Java.

[MTI]

As the article mentions, consumers (as opposed to phonegeeks) will pay more for tight integration, simple and familiar interface and luxury. Again, this being a Mercedes forum, the concept should be instantly understandable.

[JamesDean]

Originally Posted by spdrun

Out of curiosity, why do you prefer locked-down crippleware over as flexible of a platform as Android? Other than the ugliness factor of Android apps and Java.

My needs are very simple and basic for phones, calls, text, some messaging/email, maps, and pod casts. All of that is available across pretty much all platforms. I don't really spend a lot of time on my phone. I prefer to do everything on my PC's. You just cant compare working on multiple monitors, keyboard and mouse with a 5-6" touch screen.

I previously had Windows Mobile devices--not that Windows Phone and Windows Mobile are anything alike but I also felt that interface wise Android and iPhone were pretty similar. iOS on the iPhone reallly hasnt changed that much since its inception--at least not as much as Android. I thought that Windows Phone took a wholly different approach that made sense to me. I would much prefer to have things centralized rather than have a bunch of different apps for everything.

I chose the Windows Phone platform because I had somewhat meh experience with Android--granted this was at least 3-4 years ago when Android was very fragmented and hardware varied wildly. Friends would bring them to me to root or put different roms on, etc, which was fun and interesting.

I've had two Windows Phones so far. The HTC Trophy and HTC 8X. Both have been good phones, neither have had any significant problems. The Trophy ran as well on the last day I used it as it did on the fist. I know a few people who had Android phones (again 3-4 years ago) that after 6-8 months would experience noticeable performance issues.

I really don't use any of the cloud stuff at all outside of contact storage/sync so I don't particularly know/care about it.

I generally just don't like Apple and their products

[MTI]

[Hatterasguy]

As I have said again and again Apple is the Lexus of computer products, they just work!

I'm upgrading to an Iphone 6 this month and getting Apple TV this week.

[iwrock]

Originally Posted by Hatterasguy

As I have said again and again Apple is the Lexus of computer products, they just work!

I'm upgrading to an Iphone 6 this month and getting Apple TV this week.

Get out of here you silly Apple user!

Actually, I've got an iPhone 6 now (previously had a Nexus 5), and it works well. After using both back to back, Android has better voice command functionality, and the file browser was awesome; but the iPhone plays better with a wider range of device (like my car/bluetooth headphones), sound output via headphone is better, and has a nicer set of built in apps for things like the camera, books, etc. No bloatware like a bunch of the Samsungs/HTCs I had, and nice/easy to use UI. Not to mention the huge aftermarket for things like cases, and support from the apple store.

[MTI]

Apple's iOS tops Android to take first U.S. market share lead since 2012 | VentureBeat | Mobile | by Chris O'Brien

Apparently, Samsung's S5 got a lukewarm reception from their user base.


It’s a slim, but significant lead considering that the conventional wisdom two years ago was that Apple would cede market share and settle into second place over the long term. Just a year ago, Android had 50.6 percent market share in the U.S., compared to 43.9 percent for iOS.

[spdrun]

Originally Posted by MTI

Apple's iOS tops Android to take first U.S. market share lead since 2012 | VentureBeat | Mobile | by Chris O'Brien

Apparently, Samsung's S5 got a lukewarm reception from their user base.


It’s a slim, but significant lead considering that the conventional wisdom two years ago was that Apple would cede market share and settle into second place over the long term. Just a year ago, Android had 50.6 percent market share in the U.S., compared to 43.9 percent for iOS.

Proof that the US has a lot of dumb sheep -- Europe is something like 70-75% Android.

[MTI]

ahem . . . dumb wealthy sheep, thank you very much . . . however:

Across Europe, Android’s share declined by 3.8 percentage points year-on-year to 66.1% while iOS rose by 6.2 percentage points. Great Britain had the biggest impact on the decline as iOS grew its share of sales by 13.1 percentage points compared to this time last year with Samsung, LG and Sony all losing market share both year over year and over the previous quarter. “Italy was the only European market where Android grew,” said Dominic Sunnebo, strategic insight director at Kantar Worldpanel ComTech Europe.

[spdrun]

Originally Posted by MTI

ahem . . . dumb wealthy sheep, thank you very much . . .

Who pay more for a device that's LESS functional than an Android device and often of poorer quality.

I can afford an iPhone. Had one for years in fact. Once I started using Android devices and saw the level of flexibility offered without playing the idiotic jailbreak game, I didn't go back.

My Android phone has:
* expandable/removable storage. Even if the phone dies, I can still get data off the SD card.
* replaceable battery without going through heroics
* ability to sideload software not approved by Nanny Apple (or Nanny Google) without jigging and poking
* standard micro-USB connector, meaning cheap and robust charging cables

[MTI]

Enjoy your phone. I understand that Android "Lollipop" is starting to appear. There's a joke in there somewhere . . .

it looks like Apple is going into the electric car business to chase Google . . . or just filed a patent for an iPad holder for golf carts.

http://money.cnn.com/2015/02/03/technology/apple-electric-car/

[spdrun]

Originally Posted by MTI

Enjoy your phone. I understand that Android "Lollipop" is starting to appear. There's a joke in there somewhere . . .

I'm still on 4.2. 4.4 aka KitKat did a lot of bad things regarding SD card access (still better than iPhones, which of course have no SD slot nor file access by default). Lollipop gets it right by allowing for user-selected permissions. So "Sucker" will actually be de-sucked.

As far as Apple Electric Car, no way that Apple would be caught dead patenting something so fugly.