iOS 6

[french toast]

While this is generally true, but, on the other hand, look how other desktop OSes went with that attitude.
The point of iOS's app store with 500k apps is not that it has so many apps, it's that most app developers actually want to develop for iOS as the favored platform. This is a huge advantage.

This is also why Microsoft wants to bring tablets and desktop PC together with Windows 8: they wants to leverage the dominance of Windows on desktop to piggy back Windows 8 for tablets. If application developers already have to make applications for desktop Windows 8, they'll (supposedly) make small modifications to these applications so that they work on tablets. Then Microsoft won't have to worry about application availability for Windows 8 tablets at all.

I don't think developer interest is swayed by the amount of apps on ios, quite the opposite I imagine, they would want less apps = less competition= more money.

developers are attracted to ios because of the money they stand to make and the ease of development.

 

[DuckThor Evil]

Isn't that why iOS 6 not supporting iPad 1?

That's a good decision. I no longer have the first iPad, but if I did I would like to downgrade it to iOS 4, which ran great.

Other factor may be that older devices have less RAM. That may come into play as much as CPU/GPU differences.

Yep memory is probably the biggest issue with it. iPad 1 with it's paltry 256MB constantly ran out of memory. Even switching between 2 or 3 browser tabs made it reload the pages.

 

[ltcommander.data]

So, they're doing their own maps because google maps on Android was better? Who else does maps? Seems like a really expensive proposition to cover an app that could be handled by a third party.

Apple appears to have partnered with TomTom for maps and particularly turn-by-turn. They're also using OpenStreetMap data so they're hardly going it alone.

I think they look at Maps as a strategic feature, with the potential of location services being the lynchpin for all kinds of transactions.

So Google alienated Apple and isn't going to be allowed to harvest iOS user data for location services.

I agree cutting Google off from harvesting iOS user data was probably a large motivation. A few months ago in testimony to Congress, Google testified that 2/3rds of their mobile search traffic was actually from iOS. This was despite Google's ~2x times marketshare. iOS users are simply more active users than Android users and Apple's steps to excise Google from iOS are probably designed in part to reduce hits rates on Google's services which invariably reduces Google's attractiveness to advertisers, their main revenue source. It won't starve Google, but it'll certainly make them uncomfortable.

Yep memory is probably the biggest issue with it. iPad 1 with it's paltry 256MB constantly ran out of memory. Even switching between 2 or 3 browser tabs made it reload the pages.

Well iOS 6 already needs to accommodate 256MB of RAM to support the iPhone 3GS and 4th gen iPod Touch. Lack of iPad 1 support is probably due to the adherence to the usual 3 major iOS versions for device. It's only the 3GS that gets an exception since it's still selling.

 

[Grall]

I don't think developer interest is swayed by the amount of apps on ios, quite the opposite I imagine, they would want less apps = less competition= more money.

So that's why OSX developers are so incredibly rich then?

...Oh, right. Guess that's not the case.

You were saying?

 

[ltcommander.data]

So that's why OSX developers are so incredibly rich then?

...Oh, right. Guess that's not the case.

You were saying?

I thought some developers did point out that when they offer Mac and Linux versions of their programs, sales to Mac and Linux users are disproportionately higher than you would normally expect by comparing their OS installed base vs Windows. Of course it's hard to tell how broadly applicable this is and you probably wouldn't want to base your entire business model on it.

 

[pcchen]

I thought some developers did point out that when they offer Mac and Linux versions of their programs, sales to Mac and Linux users are disproportionately higher than you would normally expect by comparing their OS installed base vs Windows. Of course it's hard to tell how broadly applicable this is and you probably wouldn't want to base your entire business model on it.

If you don't do much marketing, then yes, it's possible that making applications for a "smaller" platform may give you higher proportion of exposure, and you may be able to profit more from it.

However, most projects (large enough projects, at least) do have marketing. In this case, it's very important to target the platform with most paying customers (or richest customers), because you'll get more bang for the buck from your marketing efforts.

Also, compare Mac/Linux sales to Windows sales is not very useful. Most applications already have Windows version, and they do have marketing for it. For these applications, Mac/Linux versions generally do not need much further marketing (in many case you only have to tell people "Hey! We have Mac/Linux version now!"). However, if you can only afford to develop for one platform, it rarely makes sense to develop solely for the "smaller" platform unless you have prior knowledge that most of your customers prefer that platform.

 

[french toast]

My point was developers will prioritise the system with the best chance of making profit.

Which includes a lot of factors, market share being number 1, development costs being number 2...likely many others - non of which will be the number of apps on that store, unless that app number translates into more sales, I can't see how it would be a consideration that's all.

 

[patsu]

I think they look at Maps as a strategic feature, with the potential of location services being the lynchpin for all kinds of transactions.

So Google alienated Apple and isn't going to be allowed to harvest iOS user data for location services.

I agree cutting Google off from harvesting iOS user data was probably a large motivation. A few months ago in testimony to Congress, Google testified that 2/3rds of their mobile search traffic was actually from iOS. This was despite Google's ~2x times marketshare. iOS users are simply more active users than Android users and Apple's steps to excise Google from iOS are probably designed in part to reduce hits rates on Google's services which invariably reduces Google's attractiveness to advertisers, their main revenue source. It won't starve Google, but it'll certainly make them uncomfortable.

IMHO, location-based services such as Maps are indeed strategic for mobile devices. Apple will want to do it themselves even if Google is not in the picture. You can integrate tons of stuff into such geolocation framework, 'specially when technologies improve. Yelp, crowd sourced traffic, public transit info, travel tips, photos, gaming, shopping, etc. can all be part of the geo-experience. It's practically like another Internet in itself. The new PassCards should work well with the Maps app too.

On top of that, user privacy is a high profile, regulated area. It will be in Apple's best interest to keep user data under locks. It can also prevent other companies from using iOS's mobile advertising revenue to subsidize/cheapen competing hardware.

EDIT: Btw, I agree with the OP that Guided Access is totally awesome.

 

[silent_guy]

FWIW: someone just showed me the 3D maps feature on the iOS 6 beta. It is mind blowing. Night and day difference with the Bing 4-side 45 degree views. The amount of additional detail you get in spying your neighbor's property from random angles is substantial. Very detailed textures...

Not necessarily a must have feature, but just the kind of goodie with high wow factor that makes people buy gadgets.

iPad3 warms up significantly while playing around with it.

 

[patsu]

FWIW: someone just showed me the 3D maps feature on the iOS 6 beta. It is mind blowing. Night and day difference with the Bing 4-side 45 degree views. The amount of additional detail you get in spying your neighbor's property from random angles is substantial. Very detailed textures...

Not necessarily a must have feature, but just the kind of goodie with high wow factor that makes people buy gadgets.

iPad3 warms up significantly while playing around with it.

Didn't you watch the keynote video on Apple's website ?

 

[silent_guy]

Didn't you watch the keynote video on Apple's website ?

Nope. But even if I had, it's still a different experience to check it out on your own house.

 

[patsu]

Yeah, I get what you mean. I watched it with my wife last night (Was at the keynote myself). The presentation is chereographed to highlight different tidbits. It's rather entertaining to watch.

 

[wco81]

What is guided access?

I got to watch the video I guess.

I just returned from a trip to Italy where Maps helped out a few times and I wasn't even using turn-by-turn.

Sounds like Apple's maps is more sexy than Google's but the problem is that it will take years for Apple to accumulate all the mapping content (data, metadata, layers, etc) that Google has collected.

My guess is Apple's map content will be thin on Tuscan hill towns compared to Google's. Oh and another rant, that the TripAdvisor app. uses Bing maps which don't even integrate with the GPS. You find a location in TA and the Bing map shows the location but not your location. So you have to switch back and forth between TA and Maps.

Of course TA has ties to MS so it's always going to use that borked Bing Maps but will third parties otherwise have access to Apple maps?

 

[patsu]

What is guided access?

I got to watch the video I guess.

I just returned from a trip to Italy where Maps helped out a few times and I wasn't even using turn-by-turn.

Sounds like Apple's maps is more sexy than Google's but the problem is that it will take years for Apple to accumulate all the mapping content (data, metadata, layers, etc) that Google has collected.

iOS segment starts @ 68:55
Maps starts @ 98:50 (About 15 minutes long)

PassBook, Guided Access are earlier in the iOS segment.

Apple's 2D maps look different from Google. I wouldn't say it's sexier. But the 3D satellite view is definitely impressive though I'm not sure if it's usable on 3G. ^_^ The 3D vector view is probably more practical. The demo looks pretty well done and polished.

My guess is Apple's map content will be thin on Tuscan hill towns compared to Google's. Oh and another rant, that the TripAdvisor app. uses Bing maps which don't even integrate with the GPS. You find a location in TA and the Bing map shows the location but not your location. So you have to switch back and forth between TA and Maps.

Of course TA has ties to MS so it's always going to use that borked Bing Maps but will third parties otherwise have access to Apple maps?

Yes, there is a Map Kit API.

Apple went for the partnership route. They partnered with Yelp to offer local search (already ingested 100 million businesses), TomTom for map data. They said they will continue to partner other folks to enrich the experience (Looking for public transport info partners ?). The Siri demo at the beginning of the iOS segment should give a hint of the integrated experiences.

IMHO, Siri and the PassBook concept fit very well with Maps.

 

[french toast]

For me the first time I clapped eyes on street view my mind exploded.

 

[silent_guy]

For me the first time I clapped eyes on street view my mind exploded.

Actually, I think street view will be the biggest victim of the map provider switch. Compared to task of driving all the streets everywhere with a Prius and a funky camera, a couple of plane flybys are easy.

 

[Mize]

Sounds like Apple's maps is more sexy than Google's but the problem is that it will take years for Apple to accumulate all the mapping content (data, metadata, layers, etc) that Google has collected.

I think the arrangements between Apple and Tom Tom / Yelp plus their ability to crowd source from an installed base will make this quickly irrelevant.

 

[Jubei]

Just came out that Microsoft is demanding 85-95 dollars to license Windows 8 RT to OEMs

http://vr-zone.com/articles/microsoft-charges-tablet-oems-a-whopping-85-for-windows-rt/16250.html

Yes Apple should watch out

 

[Mize]

Wow. That's even more than Apple has to pay for iOS

 

[Grall]

95 bucks is what, roughly a fifth of what a smartphone costs to buy without subsidy/contract?

Yeah, I'm sure that plan'll go over real well with the manufacturers. Looks like MS thinks they have a license to print money on their hand.