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Android vs. iOS - It's a two-horse race, and the lead horse is in trouble

By | January 18, 2012, 2:01pm PST

Summary: Recent smartphone acquirers are increasingly choosing iOS over Android.

The smartphone market is now a two-horse race between Google’s Android and Apple’s iOS platforms. But there are signs that the lead horse is in trouble.

New data by Nielsen is showing that recent smartphone acquirers are more likely to choose iOS devices over Android.

Here’s the data:

Recent smartphone acquirers (those who have bought their first smartphone during the past 3 months) are increasingly choosing iOS over Android (and the competition).

Among recent acquirers 44.5%of those surveyed in December said they chose an iPhone, compared to just 25.1% in October. Also, 57% of new iPhone owners surveyed in December said they bought an iPhone 4S.

The data also shows how little interest in the competition new smartphone acquirers have … everything that isn’t Android or iOS is little more than noise (and that’s going to get worse as RIM’s market share continues to spiral).

The competition is being totally crushed, something which will be bad news for Microsoft and its Windows Phone 7 platform. Windows Mobile continues to make a bigger splash than the new mobile platform.

Has iOS achieved the upper hand over Android, or is this just a temporary glitch?

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Topics

Android, Race, Apple iOS, Smart Phones, Mobile Operating Systems, Cellular Phones, Handhelds, Consumer Electronics, Personal Technology, Hardware, Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes is an internationally published technology author who has devoted over a decade to helping users get the most from technology.

Disclosure

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

All opinions expressed on Hardware 2.0 are those of Adrian Kingsley-Hughes. Every effort is made to ensure that the information posted is accurate. If you have any comments, queries or corrections, please contact Adrian via the email link here. Any possible conflicts of interest will be posted below. [Updated: February 23, 2010] - Adrian Kingsley-Hughes has no business relationships, affiliations, investments, or other actual/potential conflicts of interest relating to the content posted so far on this blog.

Biography

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes is an internationally published technology author who has devoted over a decade to helping users get the most from technology -- whether that be by learning to program, building a PC from a pile of parts, or helping them get the most from their new MP3 player or digital camera.

Adrian has authored/co-authored technical books on a variety of topics, ranging from programming to building and maintaining PCs. His most recent books include "Build the Ultimate Custom PC", "Beginning Programming" and "The PC Doctor's Fix It Yourself Guide". He has also written training manuals that have been used by a number of Fortune 500 companies.

Adrian also runs a popular blog under the name The PC Doctor, where he covers a range of computer-related topics -- from security to repairing and upgrading.

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So many haters (in both camps)
johnyork1 9th Apr
So let me get this straight... one of these platforms, either iOS or Android MUST be great and the other terrible? What kind of lemming would be led to that faulty conclusion (oops, answered own question). We hear "Apple screens all the apps!" Who cares?! I used a "screened app" the other day that blew chunks. Was it Android or iOS? Guess what my fellow einsteins... both platforms have great apps AND crappy apps. Both platforms have pros AND cons. Wake up y'all, this is 2012! This argument needs to die. It's like General Motors vs Ford. Guess what? There ended up being LOTS more cars to choose from and consumers all benefitted. So, let's put down the binky and neatly fold the blanky... time to grow up.
View in thread
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RE: Android vs. iOS - It's a two-horse race, and the lead horse is in trouble
bstringy 18th Jan
iPhones aren't as popular the other 9 months of the year, unfortunately.
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RE: Android vs. iOS - It's a two-horse race, and the lead horse is in trouble
larryvand 19th Jan
@bstringy I think the author will have rethink the article after this....
January 19, 2012 - 11:56 A.M.
No, Apple isn't 'closing in' on Android
.......
Nielsen didn't provide any info explicitly describing the change in overall market share, so I went back and pulled its last set of published numbers, showing U.S. smartphone market share for the third quarter of 2011. In those numbers, Android was at 42.8 percent and Apple was at 28.3 percent of the overall smartphone market. In the new quarter-four numbers, Android is at 46.3 percent while Apple is at 30 percent. Data from ComScore, another independent metrics company, shows a similar scenario.

So did Apple grow in overall smartphone market share from the third to fourth quarter? Sure. But so did Android. And Android grew quite a bit more, gauging by Nielsen's measurements -- twice as much, with a total share increase of 3.5 points compared to Apple's 1.7. Despite the boost in iPhone sales following the launch of the iPhone 4S, the gap between the two platforms has actually continued to widen.

Damn facts. Always getting in the way of a good story.
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RE: Android vs. iOS - It's a two-horse race, and the lead horse is in trouble
Kaffeekuchen 24th Jan
The graphs reflect a Xmas blip, caused by gift purchases to non-tech individuals (like grandma), Apple has way more mind share than Android to that TV viewing community. Hence the blip. So I agree, does not reflect the real 'meta' trend.
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RE: Android vs. iOS - It's a two-horse race, and the lead horse is in trouble
Cylon Centurion 18th Jan
I think users are getting tired of cheap phones... Which is exactly the kind of phones you find Android on.
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RE: Android vs. iOS - It's a two-horse race, and the lead horse is in trouble
samalie 18th Jan
@Cylon Centurion THIS

Yes, there are a couple of high-end Android devices out there...but Android's problem at this moment is, well, fragmentation...and worse, the low-end fragments are dragging down the brand.

I hope Android comes back though...the thought of one player becoming overly dominant (iOS OR Android) would likely harm the end consumer & stifle innovation...a good healthy competitive market is in all of our best interests.
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RE: Android vs. iOS - It's a two-horse race, and the lead horse is in trouble
Rampage434 19th Jan
@samalie Stop with the fragmetation, you mean choice.
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Take it from me - FRAGMENTATION
use_what_works_4_U 19th Jan
@Rampage434
No, it IS fragmentation. My HTC Evo Shift is stuck at Android 2.3 and won't ever move forward from that. It's only a year old, it was a fairly new model when I bought it, and even then it didn't have the latest version of Android at the time. So it's conceivable that because HTC (or Sprint, I don't know which) doesn't want to update my phone, I can be vulnerable to security problems not effecting newer versions of the OS, I can be in a situation where newer apps won't run, etc... After the Netflix app came out for the older HTC Evo 4G, it took MONTHS until I could get a version that would run on my Evo Shift. I could *install* the original version (I did) but it would not run.

This is not choice, this is fragmentation. It is also among the many reasons I will be back on iOS next year.
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RE: Android vs. iOS - It's a two-horse race, and the lead horse is in trouble
radleym 19th Jan
@samalie Fragmentation? So when new versions come out, your phone stopped working? When you bought it, they told you you'd get free updates forever?
This issue was invented by Apple and the tech bloggers.
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That is exactly why Android is so big
William Farrel 18th Jan
@Cylon Centurion

its not because it's what people want, it's just that its the OS that comes on the cheap phones they buy.

It's not like they have a choice or anything.
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RE: Android vs. iOS - It's a two-horse race, and the lead horse is in trouble
Stephen-B 18th Jan
@William Farrel if people had a real choice, everyone would pick WP7 over the inferior OSs.
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RE: Android vs. iOS - It's a two-horse race, and the lead horse is in trouble
tonymcs@... 18th Jan
@Cylon Centurion

If you insist on using an endless, crowded desktop of static icons representing siloed apps that are needed for basic OS functions, then iOS is simply smoother. Neither of them have the design and sophistication of WP7, but certainly iOS wins out as being the pig with the best lipstick.

The other advantage is that Apple can point to ONE OS that has an upgrade path, where Android is a mess of incompatible versions over a range of cheap to expensive hardware and it's still slower than iOS on the majority of Android phones.

Anyway I'm off to watch Bones and Hawaii 50 in a world where everyone uses WP7 phones wink Yeah I know, WP7 usage is low - wait another year wink
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RE: Android vs. iOS - It's a two-horse race, and the lead horse is in trouble
jatbains 18th Jan
@tonymcs@... WP7 is the best Mobile OS period. Too bad most people can't get beyond Windows in the name!
Once, Win8 ships with the Metro UI there will be a positive feedback to WP7.
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RE: Android vs. iOS - It's a two-horse race, and the lead horse is in trouble
Rama.NET 18th Jan
@tonymcs@...
Yes, the phones like ZTE are coming into the US market and that could give a choice to the baseline smartphone buyers.
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Elopagos tortoise
Robert Hahn 18th Jan
That's right, commodre! Sock puppets from sea to shining sea agree that WP7 is the bestest, most wonderfulest OS ever! Oh come all without, come all within! You'll not see nothing like the mighty Nokia!
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RE: Android vs. iOS - It's a two-horse race, and the lead horse is in trouble
fldbryan@... 19th Jan
@tonymcs@... Strange, I have a friend on the same network as I do who just got the 4S. Since she got it when friends try to text her they get an out of services reply. Everyone with an Android doesn't have this problem. I wonder if there is a reason she is having this problem using such a quality device.

With my phone I was able to root it and change the OS without a problem. It's customized to me, rather than how Apple wants to customize it.

Sorry but for flexibility and quality I'll stick with Android.
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RE: Android vs. iOS - It's a two-horse race, and the lead horse is in trouble
blkjk13 28th Jan
@tonymcs@... When windows phone 7 gets rid of those God awful huge squares as its interface, I'll take it more seriously. It is a very solid OS, but it doesn't compare to iOS in terms creation apps. But again, I may be one of only a few, but those squares or blocks are hideous.

Yo know why iOS is great. It's because it doesn't try to be fancy. It's just straight forward.
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RE: Android vs. iOS - It's a two-horse race, and the lead horse is in trouble
fldbryan@... 19th Jan
@Cylon Centurion

Yeah when I put my fingers on the edge my Android, my call gets dropped.

Yes that was sarcasm to your quality comment. You also find Android on quality phones.
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RE: Android vs. iOS - It's a two-horse race, and the lead horse is in trouble
jwc3642 Updated - 19th Jan
@Cylon Centurion

So apple released a brand new phone and makes the 3GS free but still is not the preferred mobile OS on phones. I mean this would be there best shot at surpassing Android not 8 months from now when the next iphone is still 8 months away and its tech is dated.
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RE: Android vs. iOS - It's a two-horse race, and the lead horse is in trouble
The Danger is Microsoft 19th Jan
@jwc3642 - Free with 2 year contract. There are many more Android phones that are free with 2 year contract. What was your point again?
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RE: Android vs. iOS - It's a two-horse race, and the lead horse is in trouble
marbo100 18th Jan
Good. It gives Google incentive to improve their ecosystem. Crack down on the manufacturers and developers to force them to be more consistent with their interfaces and more timely on updates, develop some new and innovative features initially unique to the platform and maybe they can reverse the trend. Otherwise, they deserve to be in second place.
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No can do
Robert Hahn 18th Jan
It's difficult to "crack down" on how people use open source software. Once you put it out there, you've essentially lost control.
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RE: Android vs. iOS - It's a two-horse race, and the lead horse is in trouble
Natanael_L 19th Jan
@Robert Hahn: You can always lead by example. Poor products and apps will eventually lose out to those that works as they should, at least when the market ain't entirely out of control. If Google's Nexus device line can lead the way and their development guides does the job, the issues won't last long.

Incompatible phones and crappy apps can still be released, but I don't see people complaining about crappy car accessories, etc. Just because they're available, that don't mean they'll be bought by the masses.
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RE: Android vs. iOS - It's a two-horse race, and the lead horse is in trouble
themarty 18th Jan
The problem with cheap Android phones is that users are having problems with them and are disgusted by the brand. They may decide to get something better, and they consider iPhones to be best of breed.

This is speculation of course, based on my brother's going from "Look I got an iPhone like yours but cheaper" to "I hate this crap piece of ..." and a good friend of mine who has a Nexus.

Personally, they're just phones. You get what you pay, then tend to get hooked in the ecosystem because of habit and to make sure you don't lose the software you bought.
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RE: Android vs. iOS - It's a two-horse race, and the lead horse is in trouble
dave95. Updated - 19th Jan
@themarty

You brought up something no one else seem to be bringing up. And that is consumers purchasing apps in Apple's ecosystem will have to re-purchase everything once they've switch platform. Makes it easier to continue buying Apple devices (iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch).

But that's just one of many reasons the iPhone is doing so well against all the variations of Android devices out there. Brand recognition, Apple has one of the most valued brands in the world. Support, Apple have top in-person support at hundreds of Apple stores around the world.
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RE: Android vs. iOS - It's a two-horse race, and the lead horse is in trouble
Stephen-B 19th Jan
@dave95. So once you buy into the iJunk ecosystem, Crapple locks you in? The Feds should charge Crapple with Antitrust charges, and break them up.
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RE: Android vs. iOS - It's a two-horse race, and the lead horse is in trouble
Rampage434 19th Jan
@themarty Stop it, yeah right.
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RE: Android vs. iOS - It's a two-horse race, and the lead horse is in trouble
T-Wrench Updated - 19th Jan
@ Stephen-B @Robert obviously you're a know nothing, Microsoft hating troll. Microsoft products are constantly best in class. More people choose Microsoft products, than the inferior junk put out by other companies (Crapple) for a reason. That reason is quality.

Wow! Are you serious Dude? Who hates whom? You need to re-read your own post! You actually accuse someone of hating MS, and then post this garbage. Get a clue NZ! And you need to start up your meds again! Sheesh!!!
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RE: Android vs. iOS - It's a two-horse race, and the lead horse is in trouble
Stephen-B 20th Jan
@T-Wrench if Microsoft products weren't best in class, why are people going out of their way to purchase Microsoft products? WP 7 is not advertized a heavily as the iJunk 4p(oop)you it got to twomillion shipped in two months, while it took a full quarter to ship as many iJunk phones. That and Nokisa is expecting to ship 8 to 10 million Windows Phone 7 phones a month, or over 100 million this year. That will thrust WP 7 into the number one spot, while the others just fade away like the fads they are.
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RE: Android vs. iOS - It's a two-horse race, and the lead horse is in trouble
bibleverse1 18th Jan
If I could get a phone that didnt crash every day with 10hr talk time I would be greatful. I havent gotten a WP7 because I am a spec snob when it comes to cameras.
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Then you should take a look at the Nokia 900 and TitanII
Johnny Vegas 18th Jan
You can be a camera snob and have a phone that doesn't crash. Unless youre on Verizon in which case you are pretty much stuck for phone choices to only ones that crash everyday.
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RE: Android vs. iOS - It's a two-horse race, and the lead horse is in trouble
omdguy 18th Jan
@Johnny Vegas

+1 on the Nokia 900. I'm just about ready to dump Verizon and get one on AT&T as I am tired of their horrendous lack of WP7 choices, but my friends in Europe have the 900 and rave about it. It is an 8MP (I believe) with a Zeiss lens, so not too shabby, plus WP7 allows you to take pics while the phone is locked, very cool!
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RE: Android vs. iOS - It's a two-horse race, and the lead horse is in trouble
Stephen-B 18th Jan
@Johnny Vegas like those crappy iJunk phones that crash several times a day and the battery doesn't last because it keeps sending your personal data back to Crapple
  • Flagged
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RE: Android vs. iOS - It's a two-horse race, and the lead horse is in trouble
Stephen-B 18th Jan
@Johnny Vegas like those crappy iJunk phones that crash several times a day and the battery doesn't last because it keeps sending your personal data back to Crapple
  • Flagged
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RE: Android vs. iOS - It's a two-horse race, and the lead horse is in trouble
Stephen-B 18th Jan
@Johnny Vegas like those crappy iJunk phones that crash several times a day and the battery doesn't last because it keeps sending your personal data back to Crapple
  • Flagged
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RE: Android vs. iOS - It's a two-horse race, and the lead horse is in trouble
tonymcs@... 18th Jan
@bibleverse1

Then you have little time to wait with new WP7 phones coming out with cameras that may tickle your aristocratic fancy wink
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RE: Android vs. iOS - It's a two-horse race, and the lead horse is in trouble
paul2011 18th Jan
@bibleverse1 "I havent gotten a WP7 because I am a spec snob when it comes to cameras. "

"Camera spec snob" and "phone" in one sentence? Give me a break happy happy happy
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RE: Android vs. iOS - It's a two-horse race, and the lead horse is in trouble
Stephen-B 18th Jan
@bibleverse1 You need a Nokia Lumia, they will last three days under heavy usage as opposed to the iCrap which only last 3 hours
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RE: Android vs. iOS - It's a two-horse race, and the lead horse is in trouble
radleym 19th Jan
@bibleverse1 Do some shopping - the phones are out there.
Or, if that's too much for you, go with Apple.
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RE: Android vs. iOS - It's a two-horse race, and the lead horse is in trouble
dale303 Updated - 18th Jan
Where do all these people get the idea that all Android (or even most of them) are cheap. In the UK, the current top 10 sellers are (uswitch.com figures)...

1. iPhone 4S
2. Samsung Galaxy S2
3. IPhone 4
4. Nokia Lumina 800
5. Blackberry Bold 9900
6. HTC Sensation XL
7. Samsung Galaxy Nexus
8. Samsung Galaxy Ace
9. HTC Sensation XE
10. HTC Desire S

Of all the Android phones mentiond, Only the Galaxy Ace is sub 200 ukp sim free, The Desire S is a midrange model and the other 4 are all more than 350 ukp so are all high end as far as Android goes.

I think it's about time some journo's actually got their crayons out and drew some graphs showing just how many people are buying budget and how many are going high end because there's far too many people simply assuming (wrongly) in all these blogs.
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RE: Android vs. iOS - It's a two-horse race, and the lead horse is in trouble
Rama.NET 18th Jan
@dale@...
Journalism and AKH? give us a break.
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RE: Android vs. iOS - It's a two-horse race, and the lead horse is in trouble
Stephen-B 18th Jan
@dale@... The Lumia 800 is the hottest selling phone of all time. When the Lumia 900 its the US, expect it to set the all time sales record. One phone will propel WP 7into the number 1 spot within 1 year, and you heard it here first.
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RE: Android vs. iOS - It's a two-horse race, and the lead horse is in trouble
Natanael_L 19th Jan
@Stephen-B: Hottest selling phone of all times among people who both are MS fans and Nokia fans. Only.
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RE: Android vs. iOS - It's a two-horse race, and the lead horse is in trouble
Stephen-B 20th Jan
@Natanael_L as compared to the Fandroids, or the Crapple fanbois?
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RE: Android vs. iOS - It's a two-horse race, and the lead horse is in trouble
kenosha77a 18th Jan
I don't own a smartphone?! I do own an iPad 3G with an unlimited data plan. If one were to view the first graph as a customer satisfaction indication rather than sales, my own personal observations with friends that own either an Android or an iPhone would mirror the results of that first graph. Just an observation.
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Amazing!
MobileAdmin 18th Jan
A study that shows an uptick in iOS for the months right around the launch of the new model (4S), lets look at this chart 6 months after the fact.

Apple's sales peak and fall on a yearly cycle now, what amazes me is the amount of people that buy the new device yearly. I used Siri for about a week and have it shut off now. iPhone / iPad are great for Apps not much much else.
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RE: Android vs. iOS - It's a two-horse race, and the lead horse is in trouble
Stephen-B 18th Jan
@MobileAdmin the iphone is only great to prop up a desk with a short leg. The truly smart people all use WP7 and wouldn't be caught dead with a stupid Crapple junkphone
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RE: Android vs. iOS - It's a two-horse race, and the lead horse is in trouble
CowLauncher 18th Jan
@Stephen-B see that rolling donut? You know what to do with it...
  • Flagged
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ZDnet. I'm an admitted Apple fan but I like to
James Quinn 18th Jan
@Stephen-B ... Think I am fair and make occasionally a good point. This person on the other hand brings nothing to the table. Unless you consider a constant stream of insults and a complete lack of historical knowledge substantive. I've tried to have a reasonable discussion with him/her and it's useless. He/she has nothing to offer or add.

Pagan Jim
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RE: Android vs. iOS - It's a two-horse race, and the lead horse is in trouble
Stephen-B 18th Jan
@Jim just admit it you're a Microsoft hater, and can't stand to see us win. It's not like Microsoft hasn't been in this position before. o matter how bad things look, companies like Microsoft always win in the end
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Don't hate MS and wish them well in the phone space.
James Quinn 18th Jan
@Stephen-B ... As for MS being down but not out well now you are singing a tune I know well. Apple too has proven time and again it can take a licking and come back ticking:). My basic argument with you is besides your obvious fandom you bring little else to a discussion and while that is not unheard of here you do this at such a high level that I've yet to see it matched.

Pagan jim
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So many haters (in both camps)
johnyork1 9th Apr
So let me get this straight... one of these platforms, either iOS or Android MUST be great and the other terrible? What kind of lemming would be led to that faulty conclusion (oops, answered own question). We hear "Apple screens all the apps!" Who cares?! I used a "screened app" the other day that blew chunks. Was it Android or iOS? Guess what my fellow einsteins... both platforms have great apps AND crappy apps. Both platforms have pros AND cons. Wake up y'all, this is 2012! This argument needs to die. It's like General Motors vs Ford. Guess what? There ended up being LOTS more cars to choose from and consumers all benefitted. So, let's put down the binky and neatly fold the blanky... time to grow up.

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