Apple’s iOS and Google’s Android are the two most popular mobile platforms today — and the rivalry keeps escalating to epic proportions. Not content with merely outselling each other, they have taken to duking it out in courtrooms as well as retail stores. But for consumers, there’s really only one question that matters: which one offers the best apps?
Apps, or applications, are software programs that allow you to perform various tasks. They put the “smart” in smartphones by letting you do stuff as complicated as remixing a music track or as simple as checking the local weather. So if you’re shopping for a new phone and you’re undecided between getting an iPhone 4S or an Android, consider the following points to help you pick the right option.
Design and Appearance
Apple has always had the edge when it comes to making its products look good. Its App Store isn’t only more attractive than the Android version, but it’s also more streamlined and better organized. Google, though, has recently stepped up its game with the launch of the Play Store, so don’t count the little green Droid out yet when it comes to product aesthetics.
Number of Apps
Another advantage Apple enjoys is the sheer amount of applications it has on offer. Right now, it has over 500,000 available for download. Android has approximately 450,000 and counting. Though more and more developers have begun to create apps for Google, most still prefer to do business through Apple. Why? That brings us to our next point.
Quality Control
The Android market isn’t just disorganized. It’s also very easy to sign up for it as a developer and publish an app. This means anyone can distribute a program, even one that’s actually malware. Apple is tougher on programmers that wish to sell their products on the App Store, but all the hoops they make developers jump through result in costlier prices for apps.
iOS versus Android: The Never-Ending Battle
So, exactly which platform has the best apps? The answer to that actually depends on what you want to do with your smartphone.
If you want top quality applications with great ease of use and you are willing to pay a premium price for them, then the iPhone provides the right fit for your needs. You’ll also have more apps to choose from in the vast Apple library. Furthermore, you’ll have the security of knowing your phone will be safe from malware.
This doesn’t mean that Android should be out of the running, though. Its open source nature makes it an extremely vibrant and innovative platform with apps that let you customize your user experience to an impressive degree. Plus, it offers more free programs than you can find in the App Store.
Whichever one you ultimately decide to go for, make certain that you consider all the pros and cons carefully. Most important of all, be sure that you will get your money’s worth when you spend for a smartphone and the many apps that can optimize its functions.
What do you think after reading this? Should you go for an iPhone 4S or an Android phone?
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