Comments on: Developers: Android Fragmentation is a “Huge” Problem

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 10:15:00 +0000

I have to agree. I’m a web developer and I don’t even complain about how fragmented all the internet browser are. I just have to find a way around the problems. Most people just want a shortcut. The word “fragmented” came from Apple Steve Jobs and the complainers are mostly iOS developers. It’s ironic how people can complain without even giving prof of their professionalism other than words of mouth.

By: Andrew Hall

Andrew Hall — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 09:21:00 +0000

There is a lot of free apps on the market that are as good as paid apps that do the same thing. That’s why developers that charge find Android hard to get paid from. In the end it’s the consumer that wins because they are getting equal functionality for free. And even if the functionality of free apps aren’t as good as paid ones, the paid ones aren’t offering enough extra functionality to justify the price. I’ve paid for a few apps, mostly games and one or two utilities and when i get my Xoom, i will have no problem buying Quick Office HD because i think Quick Office is really good on my smartphone. In app billing would certainly help this situation, it’s shown to be a successful model on desktop based applications such as MMO’s. And to be honest there are many ways to spin fragmentation, some may call it diversity among handsets etc. Still, it’s good that Google is at least addressing the problems with what it’s doing with Ice Cream. Hopefully this should satisfy the developers somewhat.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 03:21:00 +0000

Here is some solution:
1. Ditch developing for the low end devices. In other words, set priority.
2. Always use high quality images for apps (much larger than than the intended resolution). If people complain about the size of the apps… **** em, or tell them to buy a bigger SD card than a 2gb.
3. Still complaining? Go develop for iOS. Your chances of getting notice is slim to none due the the staggering amount of already recognizable apps available. If you developed a good quality apps for Android, chances are, people will toke notice very fast because there isn’t much quality apps as of writing.
4. Still complaining? If your apps are poorly develop, lack of coding skill, and are just plain garbage, you should stop developing. Seriously, stop developing.
5. Still complaining? Go back to #1.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 23:17:00 +0000

If you write simple applications that stick to a limited subset of abilities, then yes.

If you write state-of-the-art applications that utilize cutting-edge technology, then no. Especially if you want to take advantage of a specific feature/ability on one platform that isn’t available on another. Doesn’t matter how “portable” your code is.

So funny to read comments from Apple haters that can’t seem to understand when an intelligent person decides to go with iOS. They can’t use the usual “only sheeple buy Apple” or “only un-educated, low-tech consumers would buy Apple over Android”. When faced with an engineer choosing iOS they have to change their tact to something like “I’m also an engineer and I don’t have troubles” or “learn how to program for different rezzes”, which are thinly veiled attempts at saying you are a lousy programmer. Why can’t you Apple haters face the fact that many intelligent and exceptional developers like iOS over Android?

Since you’re an engineer as well, then why don’t you explain why you think you can develop for Android and iOS at the same time without any difficulties.

Oh, and since I’m a fellow engineer (a real engineer as in P.Eng) with over 20 years experience coding embedded systems, don’t feel like you have to dumb things down when explaining it to me. Feel free to use as many big words as you can, as I’m sure I’ll understand them. You can also count on me calling you out the minute you post any BS.

By: Robert Mahon

Robert Mahon — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 19:05:00 +0000

Aye, I suspect that when/if Apple ever do release new sized ipod/pad/phones (7″ would be a great area personally), there’s going to be a huge amount of apps that do that terrible black edge/poor scaling.
Bit the bullet, learn how to dev for different rezzes (though different dpi’s still confuse me sometimes!) and accept the future upgrades.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 18:00:00 +0000

As an personal anecdote. Every time I talk to an iOS developer I get amassed that they think that there should be a fixed number of resolutions for screens. I am amazed how they forget that our PCs have a multitude of resolutions and aspect ratios with the ability to switch between them on the fly…

But in all fairness the ones that complain never were desktop application developers. Only web site HTML coders…. poor ones at best.

By: mykie Gunderson

mykie Gunderson — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 17:47:00 +0000

As a software user, I think software engineers need to quit bitching about fragmentation, suck it up and learn to write more portable code, if you want to be profitable and sell your software to a wide audience.

It’s easier than it used to be, but no one said being a developer was going to be easy.

By: Mrdowntown

Mrdowntown — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 17:35:00 +0000

@jalexoid
Smart move. This is why the sudden raise in Android Apps. Developers making the money off iOS then porting to Android. “for show”.

By: Magnesus

Magnesus — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 17:24:00 +0000

As a software engineer I find it very easy to convert an application I wrote to many different platforms.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 17:24:00 +0000

Fortune article is alarmist and sensationalist. Nothing more to add…

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 17:17:00 +0000

As a software engineer myself I could only afford (time & money) to write for a single mobile platform. After looking at both Android and iOS I chose to develop for Android – specifically after proper cost/benefit analysis.
A year on and fragmentation is a concern not an issue.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 17:08:00 +0000

As a software engineer myself I could only afford (time & money) to write for a single mobile platform. After looking at both Android and iOS I chose to develop for iOS – specifically because of the fragmentation issue.