| Troll_Whisperer said: Wow, even Linux is above Windows. This is basically becoming a race like that of computers, one company dominates SW while Apple is happy with a large minority of SW/HW. |
Not quite. In personal computers, Windows dominates in both install base and development resources. The wide variety of software creates a network effect, attracting users, which in turn attracts more development. This is the tide that the Mac has been swimming against since the early 90s.
Even though iOS doesn't have a majority of mobile users, it still enjoys the vast majority of mobile development, which will attract users, which will attract more development. The odd thing about Android is that it doesn't enjoy the network effects that a dominant platform usually brings with it. Part of this is due to the average Android user being a lot less engaged that than the average iOS user (they browse less, buy fewer apps), and another part I think has to do with how different companies are bending Android to their own purposes with UI skins, bundled apps or total forks.
For example, if I buy a Galaxy Nexus, all the software is designed to integrate deeply with Google's software and services. If I buy a Fire, all the software is designed to integrate deeply with Amazon's software and services. Are these two devices really the same platform? Some people have described Android as a platform for building platforms, rather than a platform itself.
"The worst part about these reviews is they are [subjective]--and their scores often depend on how drunk you got the media at a Street Fighter event." — Mona Hamilton, Capcom Senior VP of Marketing
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