Google activates 3.7 million Android devices over Christmas, but Apple still wins

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1. Zutronic at 10:46pm 28th December 2011 Apple has a higher demand in the U.S. market more so than any other market on a global scale. However, Android is not that far behind Apple.
2. Autumn Lokerson at 1:26am 29th December 2011 I still prefer Android. The only numbers that influence my purchases are on the price tag. I'd love to have the latest gizmo, gadget or whatchamacallit, but in the end, I'd really rather just have a big bank account and no debt :)
3. Brian Kohler at 10:16pm 28th December 2011 @ Sjaak Schulteis um, you can root an iphone as easily as you can an android. As an owner of both platforms, my iphone 4S is light years ahead of my galaxy s2. If nothing else, there are no lag or force close issues to deal with in ios like there is with androind. Plus, apple's apps just work.
4. Bob Bigellow at 12:38pm 28th December 2011 If you're just playing a numbers game because you like numbers, this is all fine and dandy.If, however, you're looking for trends that mean something in particular, these numbers are misleading.For instance, by combining iPods and iPads and iPhones... you end up double-counting (or even triple-counting) users who might own two or more of these devices. Nobody is going to use an iPhone at the same time as an iPad effectively. So, a single user is only going to be using one of these devices at one time.So, in terms of eyeballs, the numbers are likely to be inflated for iOS.Also take into consideration the fact that the Kindle Fire or the nook doesn't count as an "Android activation" even though it runs Android apps, and you end up with the Android activations figure being under-counted.This is important to developers because a developer can create an Android app once, then submit it to the Android Marketplace, the Amazon App Store, etc... So, Kindle and nook owners still benefit Android developers even though these devices may not benefit Google (since they use their own app stores).Combine the fact that the iOS figures are artificially inflated (due to the iPod and the early success of the iPad) and the fact that the Android figures are under-counted (due to the Kindle Fire and nook and others)... then an entirely different story is likely the reality.Consider that there may be a wave of Android-based music players in 2012 (now that Google Music has been released), that there is a wave of new Google-TV devices coming in 2012, the never-ending wave of Android phones coming in 2012, and the new wave of Android tablets coming in 2012, next year is going to paint a much clearly picture in regards to the trends happening right now.In the meantime, when a new iPhone or iPod or iPad comes out, there will be a bunch of new iOS owners, but there will also be plenty who are ditching their old iPhone or old iPod or old iPad for the latest version. This isn't going to help much to grow the overall base.
   1. NormanMaine at 3:33pm 29th December 2011 On the other hand, shouldn't you consider two for one Android give-aways with ALL the carriers and the fact that APPLE is one manufacturer and there are countless Android makers? It's one vs. 100 and if you look at it like that APPLE is more than holding it's own...IMHO.
      1. Bob Bigellow at 5:08pm 29th December 2011 I never meant to imply Apple wasn't doing a tremendous job at selling their hardware (beautiful hardware at that)... or doing an amazing job at their mobile OS (slaughtering Microsoft in the process)... I only commented on the fact that the headline suggests "Apple Wins" but fails to include some important data points which would suggest otherwise.Of course, maybe the title (or article) could have clarified which "game" it is that Apple is winning at the moment, because the answer could really hinge on which game that is.If it's the game of selling a combination of music players, phones, and tablets, then Apple certainly seems to be winning. Of course, comparing to Google would seem odd considering Google doesn't really sell hardware.If it's the game of profiting from the proliferation of music players, phones, and tablets outside of hardware profits, then it's a really tough call. Google is likely profiting considerably for every iOS device out there as well, though they keep these numbers to their chest. Of course, Google doesn't profit (or profits very little) from the sale of apps in the Android Marketplace because the profits are divided between the developer and the carrier, leaving Google little room to profit besides Google Wallet fees. Since these fees are very comparable to credit card fees, I suspect this is also currently a break-even venture as well. So, Google's profits from Android are likely based on the same ideals that they stand to profit from iOS sales as well. The exception, now, may be music sales, but their music service is still too new to determine its effectiveness just yet.If it's the game of winning over developers, it's becoming increasingly clear throughout this year that 2012 will likely bring in a huge shift of developers primarily developing for Android first, then iOS second. If the Android@Home initiative picks up steam in 2012, that will be another catalyst. Apple is still in a strong position to respond by acquiring important developers, but eventually this tactic will lose as more developers will want to remain independent and reap their rewards alone.So, again, I could look at the number of cotton swabs sold and compare this to the number of cotton t-shirts sold and declare one the winner, but it all depends on what game I'm looking at. Is it the amount of cotton pushed to the end user? The amount of individual items of any type pushed to the end user? The profitability of the market involved? And, what is my stake in this game? Is it just to watch two numbers and cheer for one? Is it due to being an investor in one? Is it due to being in a market that needs to respond to one? Is it due to being a consumer that benefits from one?
   2. Jeffrey Van Camp at 4:18pm 29th December 2011 Yes, but people may own more than one Android device too, no? You could easily own an Android MP3 player and tablet as well. And I understand the Kindle Fire thing, but is it really Android? Yes, it runs the base code, but it's not like any other Google device. There's actually no way to even access core Android services. Counting the Amazon Kindle with the Android pile is good if you need to boost Android's numbers, but I'd almost think we should count it as its own entity.I'd say Android owners ditch old devices too. It's hard to say. I'm not for either side, but it's looking like iOS had a damn good Christmas.
      1. Bob Bigellow at 4:49pm 29th December 2011 Like I said, it depends on whether you are just playing a numbers game... which is just fine. It's great to look at numbers and treat them like football teams. Then, you pick your favorite one and cheer when your numbers are winning and grimace when your numbers are losing.When it comes to real life, however, it helps to look at what your actual concerns are.For instance, if you are an Apple investor, your only concern is if Apple makes a lot of money and if Google can be prevented from stealing potential money away. Your concern isn't about whether developers are happy or customers are happy, unless these factors hurt your bottom line in the short-term or the long run. Of course, if you're only a short-term Apple investor, you may not care about the long run.If you are a developer, however, your concern is more about the numbers pertaining to user ownership. How often users install and buy apps is important for the short term, but in the long run it will matter which device ends up with a bigger slice of the pie, because the industry will generally shift in that direction. With Android, for instance, you can develop once and submit to both Amazon's App Store and the Android Marketplace. You won't be concerned, as a developer, whether or not Google fails to make money off of Amazon App Store purchases, because that's not your concern. It would only be your concern if you were a Google investor. Or, if this damage to the bottom line would suggest that Google gives up the game.As a user, your only concern might be the choices made available to you. For instance, talk of fragmentation hurts developers but is usually a good sign for users. Fragmentation means "choice" when concerning users. Power users who are always reading about new advancements in the OS and wants each new version can also be hurt by fragmentation when they invest in a device that eventually stops supporting updates, but more typical users who want their device to "just work" aren't too concerned about fragmentation. They have a tunnel vision focus which is only concerned with the device they bought.I look at this game from the standpoint of being a developer. As I see the number of Android devices skyrocketing and the trajectory is such that it will continue to skyrocket, this tells me I am better off developing for Android first, and iOS second.Someone who is an Apple investor would certainly want to see the upsides to how well Apple plays the business game.So, I suppose the question is, which viewpoint do you take? Are you an Apple investor, concerned about how much money Apple can make? Are you a developer, concerned about how big the OS-share is? Are you a user, concerned with choice? Or, is this just a numbers game to you, where you simply want one of the numbers to win and the other numbers to lose, without gaining any direct benefit other than bragging rights?
         1. Jeffrey Van Camp at 6:07pm 29th December 2011 I think we'd be users and casual observers. As I noted, it sounds like everyone had a great holiday season, but it is interesting to see how big of a jump the iOS devices appear to have made. The real trend here is that both companies are doing amazingly well, but Apple is certainly retaining a large market share even in the face of such diverse Android competition. I own a Galaxy Nexus myself, so I contributed to the Android numbers as of late.Interesting breakdown of the viewpoints though.
5. Mzz Tbaby at 12:19pm 28th December 2011 I'm not understanding why is it that everytime I try to download an app it says that there is no device associated with this acct. I checked the list of compatible phones and my Motorola Cliq is on there. Can anyone tell me how to fix this problem so that I am able to download apps to my phone?
6. Cameron Young at 8:17pm 28th December 2011 @Sjaak It's so easy to generalize and make assumptions, isn't it? Elegance and a focus on design doesn't automatically equate to simplicity. Sure, Android is more customizable, but it also has zero polish or refinement. The fact that it's designed to run on 500 different devices really becomes evident once you use it at length. I've owned both iOS and Android devices, and couldn't wait to return to iOS after a scant few months on Android. At the end of the day, I'm pretty sure most anti-iPhone folks are anti-iPhone more than being pro-Android. To your point about rooting, how many people do you honestly believe even know how to root their phones? It's such a moot point. I'd be willing to bet 90% of Android users only got one because there are so many available at little to no cost, not because they had a burning desire to use Android.
7. Tomasz Ku at 7:36pm 28th December 2011 i wonder how it looks in Poland..do You have any stats?
8. Ismil Shirafkan at 7:13pm 28th December 2011 Quality > Quantity
   1. everinm at 5:34pm 28th December 2011 Yeah and iphone quality sucks!
9. Sjaak Schulteis at 7:10pm 28th December 2011 Apple products are nice, but for those who want to be individual and revolutionary (that what Steve Jobs mentioned with his products) Android is the better system, because everyone who can root his device can change the way it works. With the many launchers one can change the way it works and Android users have a bigger choice in phones and tablets. IPhone, iPad etc is for people who want to have things simple. Ergo, they belong to the more simple people of society....
10. iMan at 8:12am 28th December 2011 Awesome title Jeff