[RESOLVED] IPhone or Android Apps?

[Krokonoster]

Hitting one of those times where one just have to learn something completely new, and been interested in mobile development for a while (no concrete plan, just something fun in my free time)

At the same time I'd like to learn something that might proof itself useful in the future, and been wondering if I should figure out IPhone or Android apps? (for some reason just don't feel like Windows Phones)
I'm pretty keen on IPhone (Objective C if I heard right), but that's probably just because I never used an Android phone. (Regret changing from IPhone to BlackBerry, that's for sure)

Since I've not been following that arena, I figured it won't hurt asking here which one seems that it will be the most used 2, 3 years down the line?

[Nightwalker83]

I reckon IPhone with Android following closely behind... then Windows Phone because it will be extinct. If you want to learn one checkout the sticky thread I posted in the "Mobile Development" section.

[dilettante]

http://www.mobilephonedevelopment.com/ often has something interesting to say, though generally from a UK perspective.

The most recent post is on popularity by platform among developers based on an IBM survey (so lots of caveats there). Phone 7 ranks 35%, but probably only because there are a lot of .Net fanboys still willing to give it a plug (even though they don't own one or develop for it themselves). Numbers total over 100% because most successful developers want to target multiple platforms.

Older articles give things like figures for actual platform market penetration (Microsoft down to about 1.5% recently in a Gartner report).

[baja_yu]

Both platforms have their advantages and drawbacks, but judging by growth numbers the past few years, when it comes to the pure users number, I wouldn't give the advantage to iOS.

[Max Peck]

Keep in mind that if you want to develop for iOS (correct me if I'm wrong) you'll have to be running on the Mac platform (OSX). I don't believe you will do that from a Windows box. Dunno about Android.

-Max

[baja_yu]

Correct. You need at least an Intel based Mac. Android is done in Java, mainly through Eclipse that works on Windows, Mac OS or Linux. Also, to be able to run and test your iOS apps on your device you need a paid ($99 per year) membership.

[Nightwalker83]

Correct. You need at least an Intel based Mac. Android is done in Java, mainly through Eclipse that works on Windows, Mac OS or Linux. Also, to be able to run and test your iOS apps on your device you need a paid ($99 per year) membership.

Or if you don't wan't buy a IMac you could dual/triple boot your pc With OSX or install OSX on a virtual platform.

[Krokonoster]

In that case Android sounds like a better option.
1) I don't have a Mac (and wife *live* on hers)
2) Android seems to be pulling ahead of iPhone.
3) I used Java/Eclipse before (not much, but will be a start) and always was looking for an excuse to get back into Java.

Thanks guys.

[dilettante]

Or if you don't wan't buy a IMac you could dual/triple boot your pc With OSX or install OSX on a virtual platform.

When did this become legal?

[baja_yu]

It's not. And for a 'hackintosh' to work on a PC you need compatible hardware. Mac OS doesn't have a lot of different drivers.

[Nightwalker83]

When did this become legal?

I don't know if it is or not! All I am saying is that if you have a legal copy of OSX and for some reason don't have a IMac you could try those methods.

[baja_yu]

A legal copy of Mac OS X wont install on anything that's not a Mac.