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Devs Say Android is Future-Proof. iOS? Not So Much.
While at the moment iOS is favored over Android, developers are saying that may change, if a recent study is to be believed.

The study, carried out by Appcelerator, in partnership with IDC, shows that 52 percent of developers believe the Android platform is “best positioned to power a large number and variety of connected devices in the future,” while only 25 percent said the same of iOS.

Out of over 2,400 developers polled, 91 percent said they were “very interested” in developing for Apple’s mobile platform, compared with only 82 percent who feel the same about the little green robot.

When the devs were asked which platform they thought had the best “long-term outlook”, 59 percent answered Google’s platform and only 35 percent said iOS. This gap has widened 10 points since Appcelerator’s last survey, carried out in June of this year.

Appcelerator says this gap has widened mainly because Android has the edge over iOS in the TV market. Developers noted that they were more interested in developing for Google TV than Apple TV. This isn’t surprising, since Apple TV doesn’t even have official app support yet.

Finally, almost all the developers said that the Oracle / Android lawsuit had very little impact on their enthusiasm for Android development, and the removal of restrictions on Apple’s part made no difference to the developers’ views of iOS.

Personally, I think the gap between Android and Apple, while it has widened, is still too small to provide any useful conclusions. All these developers were chosen for the poll because they used Appcelerator’s Titanium development kit, which lets devs code native applications using web-based languages. It could be that developers who use the official Google and Apple development tools feel differently about their chosen platforms.

Also, I’m not sure the phrasing of the question isn’t predisposed toward Android. More people said that Android will “power a larger number and variety of connected devices” than iOS in the future, but that’s obvious; iOS is designed to only be run on Apple’s hardware. Android is made for all sorts of manufacturers’ devices, so there are clearly going to be more running the platform.

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Apple 17th in Best 100 Global Brands for 2010
Apple was the biggest gainer in this year’s Best Global Brands survey by Interbrand, a brand management company. It ranked 17th overall out of 100 listed companies, rising from the 20th spot last year. It saw a 37 percent increase in value overall during 2010.

It wasn’t the only big winner, though. Hot on Apple’s tails, with a 36 percent value increase was Google, the company that makes Android, and Apple’s biggest worry in terms of smartphone competition. Google also ranked much higher overall, coming at number four, up from seven in 2009.

It may come as a bit of a surprise to learn that BlackBerry was the third highest gainer, up 32 percent in value from 2009. For a company that seems to be getting beat badly by both iOS and Android devices, that’s an impressive performance, and a reminder that BlackBerry still pretty much dominates the enterprise portion of the smartphone market.

While Apple didn’t provide an interview like many of the other top performers on the list, the picture of success that Interbrand paints reflects interestingly on Apple’s business practices. Among the core values leaders listed as crucial to success? Transparency.

Other criteria, like commitment to the brand and protection (including legal protection, something which Apple is pretty well versed in) fit very well with Cupertino’s practices, but Apple is anything but clear regarding how it conducts its business, despite recent efforts to the contrary.

Apple’s air of secrecy probably contributes to its status as the most over-reported member of the tech industry, which in turn probably has a great deal to do with its success as a brand. It’s one of the many ways the company’s success is unique, another be the paid content model they embrace, which is much different from Google’s focus on creating cheap products supported by search advertising revenue.

Check out the full report from Interbrand here. It’s a good “tale of the tape” for the upcoming battle between the two tech giants. That brand picture that emerges in 2011 will be very much the product of that battle.

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iPad App Design: River of News vs. Twitter
Back in July, I wrote an article rounding up some of the top RSS feed readers for the iPad. Since posting, I've started using a new contender as my main RSS client: River of News, which is simple, elegant, and beautiful. In short, it’s everything that an iPad app should be. But Twitter is complex and powerful, everything an iPad app should be. Which has a better design?

When an app is launched on an iPad, it becomes the iPad, it encompasses the entire device. In the best case, the iPad then fades into the background, and the experience becomes focused entirely on the application. When an app fades into the background as well, the iPad becomes all about content.

River of News gives me a pop-up menu to choose a folder from Google Reader, and that's all I see of the app. The rest of the experience is all about scrolling through and reading the latest feeds. No overbearing animation, no surprising interfaces: it’s just me and the morning news. River of News' focus on text reminds me a lot of Instapaper, another favorite iPad app, which also foregrounds content, leaving navigation and menu items couched in pop-ups.

An alternative application design philosophy looks at what the iPad can do and uses its capabilities to push the functionality of applications further. My previous favorite RSS client, Reeder, fell into this category. Reeder re-imagines how to use multi-touch to navigate through stacks of unread feeds. Pinch out to open a stack of feeds, pinch in to close it. More recently, Twitter released their official iPad application, and like Reeder, it pushes the boundaries of what we expect an iPad app to be.

Twitter for iPad uses panels that can slide on top of each other to show links, replies, and information about the user. The panels can be successive, meaning that you can follow links endlessly, and wind up with a long history of panels behind what you can see on-screen. The interface is obviously very well thought out, and well planned. It’s a very different design philosophy from iPad applications like River of News because it focuses on functionality, not simplicity. When I started using the app, I really didn't like it. However, after committing to using it for a week or so, and discovering how to navigate it, I find it growing on me quite a bit.

With Twitter for iPad, the gestures are swiping left and right, and tapping. When using River of News, the gestures are more limited. You swipe up to scroll, and articles are automatically loaded at the bottom and marked as read at the top. You can swipe left and right to load other folders, but personally I've never found a need for it.

You can also tap to select a folder of feeds if you wish, but I normally just wait a second or two for it to automatically load my unread feeds. The level of activity is different with River of News and Instapaper than it is with Reeder and Twitter for iPad. Not necessarily better or worse, though.

When I began researching this article, I wanted to show why taking the simplistic approach was better, and how trying to make an iPad app too functional would cause confusion. The truth, though, is that the app design philosophy that’s best will depend on usage preferences and the type of app you’re making. It also means there’s room for more than one app on each iPad designed to accomplish the same thing.

How do you feel about application functionality versus simplicity on the iPad? Should all applications fade into the background, or should they give you the choice to be what you want them to be? I'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments!

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Apple TV Now Shipping
For those refresh monkeys hammering the Apple Store online shortly after the event on Sept. 1, your obsession may finally be rewarded. Many early buyers are reporting that their Apple TVs are now shipping.

My order was placed on Sept. 1, 2010 at 11:20 a.m. PDT. That keeps Steve Jobs’ promise of shipping the second-generation Apple TV within four weeks of launch, at least for some. Looking at forum posts on Apple-related sites, most of those reporting shipped products seem to reside in North America and Canada.

Those in North America are seeing their Apple TVs shipping from Shenzhen, China, via FedEx, which brings up an interesting aside. AppleInsider was one of the first to suggest the Apple TV might be delayed due to Apple refunding overnight delivery costs.

I was one of those who ordered next-day shipping, and although I received no e-mail, my shipping costs were refunded. It’s possible Apple was unable to ship the Apple TV in bulk from China to the U.S. last week, which would’ve made next-day delivery more feasible. Nonetheless, I’m showing a delivery date of Sept. 29 by noon.

For those who did not order on Sept. 1, the delivery dates rapidly move into October. While some who ordered on Sept. 2 or 3 are seeing their Apple TVs prepared to ship, more recent orders are showing ship dates as late as Oct. 18. At this point, it might be better to wait for retail shipments to arrive at your local Apple Store, although calls to several stores gave no dates for availability.

You can expect a review by TheAppleBlog as soon as possible, so ask any questions you might have in the comments. If you ordered an Apple TV, what’s your status?

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Ping Gets Better, But is it Enough?
Apple’s first update to version 10 of its media player software iTunes brings with it some much-needed and much-requested improvements for Ping. It shows that Cupertino actually cares about the success of the product, and that it’s interested in what users have to say about its services, both good things. Check it out via Software Update.

But is Ping a good thing, even with the changes? If not, can it ever be? I recently shared my opinion that it might be the next Google Wave, mainly because of usability issues and limited usefulness to the average user. This update definitely addresses some of the usability concerns and makes it a lot more useful, but there are still some key ingredients missing from the mix.

First, the great news: You can now “Like” songs from right within your library, using a special Ping menu for individual songs, or the regular right-click context menu for artists and albums. It’s a fantastic addition that increases usability of the service exponentially. There’s no way I was going to go find an album or song I like in the iTunes store and “Like” it there, no matter how much I actually liked it, and no matter how much Apple wanted me to spend more time in the commercial part of iTunes.

You can also post content and messages directly from your library in the same way as you can “Like” things. It’s a great way to share your thoughts about an artist on the fly, instead of having to navigate to a different page, at which point inspiration may have already fled.

I can’t emphasize enough how much this changes the experience of Ping. My activity stream has already become a far more bustling place, and the discovery aspect of the service is now actually working. If you’d given up on Ping, like I had, it’s probably time to take a second look.

If your problem wasn’t library integration, however, but was difficulty in finding and adding friends, then you probably won’t find much to recommend a return. No integration with any other social network (or even your email contacts) currently exists, so you’re stuck to searching manually for people you might know.

The update is a great improvement for Ping, and I only ask if it’s enough because I’m concerned many users will already have given up on the service for good, and won’t be coming back no matter the update. Consumers don’t seem to be as willing to wait for a fix with social media as they are with Apple hardware issues.

Apple, since you seem to be listening, bring Ping integration into the iPod libraries of all iOS devices, too, so that we can easily “Like” stuff on the go. I do the vast majority of my music listening using a mobile device, and I suspect I’m not alone. That much of an improvement might also be exciting enough to bring back some of those early deserters.

Have you tried the new and improved Ping? Is it enough to stick around for?

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App Marketing 101: Tips for Getting Reviewed
One of the most commonly asked questions is how to get your app reviewed by the various iPhone blog sites around the Internet. While there’s no guaranteed method, SlapApp.com‘s co-founder Ryan Johnson has a few pointers that may help:
- Understand the blog's preferred method of communication. Each blog has a different process: Some have an email address for submissions; others use a web form. Tracking down the email addresses of all the site's contributors doesn’t mean an out-of-the-blue email will be welcome, so it’s crucial to research the submission process before sending the app.
- Don’t force reviewers to waste time doing research. Simply submitting your app with no explanation about the product is a surefire way to not get reviewed. At the very least, provide your company name, along with the app name, its category, an overview of its highlights and a direct link.
- Spice it up with some media. You’ll hardly ever see an app reviewed without an image or video to catch the reader's eye. Make it easy for reviewers and include your screenshots, videos, promo art, icons, etc. with your submission. Do not, however, send them as attached files unless specifically requested. Host your images on Photobucket or one of the various other image-hosting sites and send the link to the image. The same goes for videos.
- Provide a Promo Code. If there’s a strong possibility a certain site will review your app, and your app is paid, go ahead and provide a promo code (make sure the writer is in the U.S.; codes don't work in other app stores).
- Stick to the theme of the site. Some sites, like SlidetoPlay.com for instance, have very specific focuses. (SlideToPlay.com is specifically for games.) It’s a waste of your time, as well as the bloggers’ time, to spend time with submissions that do not fit with the site in question.
The best thing you can do, of course, is build a relationship with these people over time. You can meet many of them at various events around the country including MacWorld, WWDC and other conferences. If their site has a forum, engage them in conversation so that when it comes time to talk about your app, they know you. Finally, if you don't have time for that, find a PR agent that does.

This is the final post in a three-part series. To learn more about marketing iPhone apps, read part 1 and part 2, which were posted earlier this week. For an in-depth analysis, download the GigaOM Pro report, "How to Market Your iPhone App: A Developer's Guide" (subscription required).

Image Source: flickr user Yutaka Tsutano.

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