Learning Activity 3: Android Versus iOS

Comparison Table

	Android	iOS
Development Flexibility—Consider supported programming languages (e.g., Kotlin, Swift), development environments (e.g., Android Studio, Xcode), customization capabilities, and open-source availability.	* Uses Kotlin as the primary language to develop but Java and C/C++ can also be used * Can also use React Native to develop apps using JavaScript * Android Studio is mainly used for application development	* Uses Swift as the primary language to develop * Uses Xcode as a coding environment * Can also use React Native to develop apps using JavaScript, or you can use Flutter to develop apps * Even if you use something else, you need XCode to deploy your app
App Deployment Process—Investigate app store policies, approval timelines, submission fees, update processes, and restrictions.	Apps can be published on the Google Play Store as well as alternative app stores like Amazon or your own website To host an app on Google Play, it has to follow certain policies related to content, privacy, and not copying other apps * For Google Play there’s also a $25 USD fee that’s paid once * To update your android app you have to sign a certificate, update the version code	* You have to create an account to publish on the App Store which costs $99 a year * iOS apps are published and distributed through App Store Connect * Apps need to be reviewed before they are added * They can be published on the App Store as well as other alternative stores like AltStore * Most are reviewed in 24 hours
Hardware Dependency—Look into device variety, manufacturer differences, compatibility challenges, and platform fragmentation.	* Flexible hardware-wise Supports many different types of devices besides smartphones like TVs and watches * Developers have to support many different screen sizes, OS versions * If a phone is too old you may not be able to update it to a new version of Android which can block you from using certain apps	* Can only be run on Apple phones, ipads and macs * Watches use a different OS * Similar to Android old phones will not be able to get newer apps
User Reach and Market Share—Examine global usage statistics, regional popularity, user demographics, and device penetration.	Has a global market share of 70% There are almost 4 billion Android smartphone users * Most users are male and are between 25-34 years old	* There are more than 2.35 billion iOS users * Most users are female and are between 16-24 years old

Questions

The most appealing features of each platform’s development ecosystem.

The most appealing feature of Android development is that it’s more flexible. You can develop your app in many ways and publish it in many different places. For iOS, the most appealing feature is that the devices your app can run on are more limited, so you have less to worry about.

The biggest challenges or limitations you observed.

The biggest challenge with iOS is how expensive it is to publish your app and keep it running. It costs over $100 per year. For Android and iOS, another challenge is that older phones may become locked out of using apps. It forces the user to upgrade their phones every couple of years.

Which platform you would choose, and why, if you were planning to develop your first app.

If I were planning to develop my first app, I would choose iOS for several reasons. Since it’s my first app, I would like to limit it to a small number of devices in case I make mistakes. It would help with testing and limit bugs.

How market trends or user demographics influenced your platform preference.

Ideally, when developing an app, someone would probably want the most users possible, but since it’s my first one, I’d like to start with a smaller audience, which is why I chose iOS.