Developer: iOS 5.1.1 already installed on 10 percent of iOS devices

Summary: In a matter of a few hours, iOS 5.1.1 already has more than double the market share of Android 4.0.3 and 4.0.4.

By Adrian Kingsley-Hughes for Hardware 2.0 | May 8, 2012 -- 13:00 GMT (06:00 PDT)

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According to David Smith, an independent iOS and Mac developer responsible for hit apps such as Audiobooks and InstaBackup, it's taken less than 24 hours for Apple's iOS 5.1.1 update to be installed on over 10 percent of iOS devices.

The following chart was created by Smith to show the adoption rate of the new update since its release yesterday. The data was captured by Smith's free Audiobooks app, which sees some 100,000 downloads every week:

The data also shows us that iOS 5.1 is powering around 60 percent of all iOS devices, and that more that 80 percent of iOS devices are running iOS 5.0.1 or higher. iOS 5.0.1 was first released in November 2011.

Compare the adoption rate for iOS 5.1.1 to that of the latest version of Android 4.0 'Ice Cream Sandwich.' According to the Google Developer portal, Android versions 4.0.3 and 4.0.4 -- which were released December 2011 and March 2012 respectively -- have, as of May 1 2012, a market share of only 4.4 percent.

In a matter of a few hours, iOS 5.1.1 has managed to capture more than double the market share of Android 4.0.3 and 4.0.4 combined.

The most popular version of Android continues to be version 2.3 'Gingerbread,' powering 64.4 percent of all Android hardware. This version was first released January 2010, and the last update was released November 2011. This version continues to be offered on new smartphones and tablets sold today.

Adoption of Android is being held back by a number of factors. One of these is that the network carriers have little or no incentive to get platform updates out to users. Apple, on the other hand, has no such problem, having cut the carriers out of the update equation. It's clear which solution is best when it comes to getting the updates to users as quickly as possible, and getting them to install those updates onto their hardware.

This is not the first time we've seen iOS updates significantly outpace Android adoption rates. Back in March, data collected by Smith showed that it took iOS 5.1 only 15 days to reach the same market share level as Android 2.3.

If Google wants to get updates out to Android users as fast as possible, then it needs to follow Apple's model and cut the carriers out of the update equation.

Image sources: David Smith, Android Developer Portal.

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Topics: Security, Android, Smartphones, Mobility, Mobile OS, Hardware, Google, Browser, Apple, Software Development

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12 comments

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I would be curious

From a developer point of view, I can see how this statistic is very important.

From a "how efficient is the updating process" point of view, I would be interested in seeing if, for Android devices where updates ARE offered, how the uptake of those updates compares to iDevices. In other words, when updates ARE offered to Android devices, are those updates applied quicker, slower, or the same when compared to iDevices.

Just curious because I find Apple's OTA updates to be very easy to apply, a [b]huge[/b] improvement over the way updates on iDevices used to be handled. Now that Apple is copying how everyone else does updates, did they copy it well?

toddbottom3
8 May, 2012 14:13

Reply Vote
- I see you're still trying to spead FUD and lies
  
  But why should you change that now? I'm sure you gt your Microsoft FUDDer check weekly, the only question is are they paying you well?
  
  Jumpin Jack Flash
  8 May, 2012 15:21
  
  Reply Vote
  - I'm lying?
    
    So when I wrote this:
    [i]I find Apple's OTA updates to be very easy to apply[/i]
    
    I was lying? Please explain to us how Apple's OTA updates are very difficult to apply.
    
    Thanks.
    
    toddbottom3
    8 May, 2012 15:41
    
    Reply Vote
- That's the problem, isn't it?
  
  "for Android devices where updates ARE offered"
  
  That's the problem, isn't it? Androids aren't always offered updates. They have to be checked by everybody under the sun first. They end up on somebody's "TODO: Someday" pile and never looked at again.
  
  That's horrible. It really is. Apple got it right: Just push the update directly to the device. No need to go through the manufacturers and carriers first.
  
  "Now that Apple is copying how everyone else does updates, did they copy it well?"
  
  Being that they [i]are[/i] the manufacturer and they push the updates directly, bypassing the carriers - they're doing it better than Android.
  
  CobraA1
  9 May, 2012 01:26
  
  Reply Vote
- Interesting question really.
  
  iOS does not send a notification of an update (at least I never get one) where Android does. This might make a difference in the numbers.
  
  Bruizer
  9 May, 2012 04:10
  
  Reply Vote
Can it be undone though?

A user at work was very unhappy with the performance hit one of his iToys took with this update, and is hoping to avoid is other iToy from being similarly afflicted by preventing the upgrade (I think one was a pad and the other a phone).

On one hand, I not too happy that my Galaxy S was never even upgraded to 2.3, but on the other hand, I don't need updates that overwhelm the hardware to the point where the thing becomes unusable. As it is, it works fine for everything that I ask of it.

jvitous
8 May, 2012 14:22

Reply Vote
- Don't know what your user iToys
  
  My 3GS work fine after update.
  
  Voltus
  8 May, 2012 19:47
  
  Reply Vote
- My iPhone 3GS dev platform stills works great.
  
  The battery is a bit weak after 3 years but performance has never dipped after an update.
  
  Bruizer
  9 May, 2012 04:12
  
  Reply Vote
It's not just the carriers, but the handset manufacturers

What else justifies the fact that so many Android devices are still sold with old versions of Android out of the box? And I would think that handset mfrs that wanted to regularly update their phones would do so, and we might see them trying to bypass the carriers themselves with updates posted on their websites, etc. But the sad truth is that most handset mfrs simply assume that once they have sold a handset, their job is finished, and they have to concentrate on putting their development resources on the next handset which they will apparently bring out in a couple of months, if not weeks. By coming out with new iterations of hardware every couple of months at razor thin margins, what they are saying is that they always want you to buy the next new thing, even if you are stuck in a two-year contract with a device that no longer works or has developed malware due to security holes that were never patched.

ssaha
9 May, 2012 07:12

Reply Vote
- Business model
  
  The business model of most "me too" companies is:
  
  1. Look for successful products on the market.
  
  2. Borrow, copy, whatever it takes.
  
  3. Contract a Chinese factory to run a production for you.
  
  4. Ship the boxes to retailers. Let them wonder how to sell this contribution to the world's pile of electronic junk. Sell it cheap, at "irresistible" prices.
  
  5. Return to 1.
  
  Most of those "vendors" have no clue what they are selling. Software? They copied it from somewhere, burned it into the device's PROM and they could care less what happens next.
  
  It's the market that has to get rid of these copycats, but many thing, that if the thing looks like and iPhone, is packaged in a box like that of the iPhone, sells at the iPhone price, then it must be at least that good, no?
  
  danbi
  11 May, 2012 23:58
  
  Reply Vote
iPhone 4S works great!

As usual kudos to Apple for a quick and efficient download!

http404
9 May, 2012 09:42

Reply Vote
Android 4.0 vs. IOS 5.1

In truth I love android and apple. My phone of choice is android but alas I find myself considering an IPhone. Apple does have is right the update should be pushed to all phones capable of running it at the same time. The statement that IOS 5.1 has faster acceptance than android 4.0 is misleading since all of us with devices that can handle it would gladly update if only the Manufacturers and telcos would push it out. Apples higher price is moot when you consider it gets updated in a timely manner and if the device is able to run the new OS you will get it. Android is fast becoming a crap shoot as to weather or not you will get the update and to be forced to always buy a new phone to get it is ridiculous when you have a 2 year contract, this will guarantee apple the update advantage.

jester41@...
9 May, 2012 10:35

Reply Vote