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Duel of Fates: Android Vs iOS

In 2007 we were experiencing the dawn of the iPhone. If your memory’s a bit hazy, let me remind you that this was an event. The now ubiquitous piece of technology no so humbly promised REVOLUTION and the ability to change EVERYTHING. Those were big words back then, but if anyone could meet and exceed the hype, it was Apple. And although the tech giant was talking a big game, they weren’t wrong. The Apple iPhone has revolutionized smartphone technology with its sleek design and touch screen navigation; but perhaps its biggest asset was the App Store. The online marketplace offered everything from GPS tools to dating apps, essentially giving a massive platform to an emerging mobile application economy. The Apple native operating system, iOS, reigned supreme.

Fast forward ten years, and Apple iOS is facing its fair share of competition from Android. This has made for one of the most commonly asked questions in modern app development: “Android or iOS?”.It’s not that one OS is inherently better than the other, it’s just that they’re different. We’ve taken a look at these operating systems, and highlighted some of their major differences in hopes that you can make an informed decision going into the development process.


Programming Language

The Apple iOS uses the Objective-C language, which is best understood by developers with an existing level of familiarity of C and C++. As this language is a bit exclusive, it may be a bit of a hurdle for developers not too familiar with other programming languages. Swift is another language that has become increasingly common and is recognized for its ease of learning and deployment. Android on the other hand, primarily uses Java, which is the most commonly used language for developers. Java is understood to have the larger “canvas” for your application launch, meaning that it is able to be featured on more devices. While this might seem like a bonus, it does present the added challenges of developing your application for a number of different devices.

App Testing

For Application testing, Android takes a decisive victory. the OS’ testing environment provides all of the tools a developer would need and are neatly indexed. The IDE  offers an excellent model of source code, allowing developers to test their application throughout development and make all the adjustments necessary before delivery. Apple’s XCode has a bit of work to do before matching Android’s offering.

Multitasking

The Android is renowned for its versatility and can help developers in creating dynamic applications for multiple purposes. With that added bonus, also comes its complications. For novice Android developers, this can come as a bit of a challenge considering that the operating system takes some time to learn, understand, and fully master. While Android is very fragmented, Apple provides a more stable platform with less room for errors.

The Cross Platform Option

While we’ve been individually discussing the differences in these two operating systems, there is a third option that allows you to bypass this ordeal altogether. Cross platform development allows you to reach the largest possible audience. Tools like V-Play are available for free download. The language uses QML and Javascript to create mobile applications, with the advantage being that it requires far less code than traditional coding languages.


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Doug Atkinson

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