[General Topics] eaglesteve:
Applications Store Comparison

I know many applications are free so some may not worry about having to re-download. However, many applications such as TomTom GPS software are quite expensive, so the market place feature is an important consideration in choosing between Android and iPhone.

A. Application tied to what?

- iPhone: To user account, not to the device id of the handset. This means that you can install TomTom into up to 5 iDevices legally, thereby lowering the ownership cost per device.

- Android:??? Why do some applications fail to show up in a market place????? Is it possible for an application to "disappear" after a firmware/ROM change? Is it possible for an application bought under say a Samsung Galaxy to be unavailable when user upgrade to another phone?

B. Can applications be legally shared?

- iPhone: Yes. As long as you install it into 5 or less devices. Devices can be any combination of iPod, iPhone and Ipad (I think).

- Android?

C. If for some reason user have to replace the handset, does it lose the application he purchased?

- iPhone: No. He can de-authorize the faulty/replaced iPhone and have the content of what was on the previously phone easily copied to the new phone.

- Android: ???

D: Where to get application?

iPhone: There is only one market place to go to, regardless of whether you own an iPad, iPhone 2G, iPhone 3G, iPhone 3GS. Users are presented only with applications which applies to that country. French users will not see any Chinese applications for example, as the country filter will narrow the applications to only those relevant to a particular country. Australian users looking for TomTom will see Australia, NZ, Europe and US TomTom, but not the TomTom of more prominent countries. It is however, possible to sign into any country to make purchases if the need arise.

Android: ??? depend on the device??

E. How are applications downloaded

iPhone: Choice of directly downloaded over the air into the device, or to PC first, then synced to iPhone. If the application is downloaded OTA, then it will be synced to the PC, so that it is easy to recover without having to re-download. It also solved the problem of users forgetting which applications he has already bought.

Android: Application can only be downloaded over the air?? Can you synced to PC ??? If not, how can you remember what you've bought after a firmware restore?

F: Number of applications as of now.

iPhone: 185,000

Android: 38,000

G: Phone application also work on Pad?

iPhone: Yes.

Android: Not known yet if application written for Android phone will work on Android's upcoming slate devices.

H: How updated are the applications?

iPhone: Generally, all applications are updated to run to the latest OS around the same time a new OS is released. In general, as long as you upgrade your iPhone to the latest firmware available, you will be able to use all software with some rare exceptions due to hardware differences.

Android: Many phones are currently still stuck in the old Android versions. Hero for example, still has not get the official 2.1 upgrade. There is generally far lower commitment from Android OEM to service their customers with the most up to date firmware due to the need to weave in OEM specific firmware customization. It is therefore more difficult to ensure that it can use all the available application software (such as turn by turn voice navigation from Google). Please feel free to correct my impression, which can be very wrong here.