The Droid vs. the iPhone: Let's count the apps

Regardless if the droid is better, it is the first phone in the same league. Apple changed the market but has made little progression with the Iphone since its release. Google will never stop innovating.

That is the key. Apple is Apple and Google is Google. Archaic vs Futuristic. They have the polar opposite ideologies. It is inevitable that Apple will fail because of how slow it adapts. Perhaps in a few more years they will come out with another killer product. But the truth remains that the Android OS will eventually crush the Iphone. Albeit Iphone is surpassed in 2010

I waited miserably for a day when i could get the iphone on verizon, which never came. But now i got an even better phone. The Droid is better in almost every way.

Android has been on the market, what a year? How long has the IPhone been out? The Droid has been out a month or so. Apple didn't invent the touch screen. They did make the interface better. Someone comes along and uses the same technology that was available to Apple, that's not copying. The app question, again look at the length of time both have been on the market. Apple software and apps run only on Apple devices. So it should be pretty smooth sailing for them. Android is running on many devices and doing it very well. Already had a update to address some issues on the Droid. Another coming (rumor ) in January. The Droid has already been Rooted, so the door is open for most anything. Think of it as a IPhone on steroids. It could already surpass the IPhone without Root, but was locked and limited to what was native to the phone. Rooted, it opens the door to use lots more.

Droid is a good phone with a great service. I love mine.

i love my droid. i jus want to let people know that if you have verizon then i would definitely buy the droid plus verizon gets better service. my friends that has the iphone has horrible service all the time and when i talk to her on the phone she always has to call me back.

verizon users bash the iphone.
iphone users bash verizon.

i'll get this out of the way now – i have an iphone, and i'm not gonna bash the droid.

this is the same post everyones read a thousand times before… but the facts are still there – verizon is still trying to produce a phone that has all the functionality of an iphone. and they're getting very close. if the droid doesnt do it, their next phone will. iphones have not significantly improved since apple released mms messaging. I've owned every generation of iphone… i would know.
AT&T's network coverage is terrible. I get great signal where i live, but the minute i start traveling, i bounce between full signal and NOTHING. 3g is a joke unless you're in a big city. That being said, i really hope that verizon comes up with (if the droid hasnt already) a phone that is comparable, if not superior to the iphone. I'd love their coverage. but i refuse to switch until they have a phone that is as sleek, stylish, functional, user-friendly, fun, and customizable as my iphone. It's time for all you little kids to grow up and quit arguing about what phone is best based on what you have in your pockets and look at what's really important – ease of use, and the ability of the phone to function as it's designed.

-jailbroken, 32gig 3GS

I’ve had two iphones and terminated my dealings with at@t several weeks ago and went with droid with verizon for one reason only -= the coverage. There is no comparison. With att I lose coverage before I get out of the city limits. With verizon it goes for another 30-35 miles till I get into the mtns. We have a verizon family plan for wife and kids. The droid will do EVERYTHING that the iphone does and much better. The reception ++++, the battery life +, ease of changing the battery and/or memory +++. Speaker volume the droid +++, speed of internet access +++ – 3g here, not for att. Apps seem to be more than sufficient and more seem to be free and they’re adding all the time. With my use of the iphone, I needed to charge before the end of the day, however, if I run out on the droid I can replace the battery with a charged one, which I do when camping/hiking, in less than a minute. With iphone you have to mail it to Apple to have it changed.

Like I said, the coverage. If I lose my connection at the city limits with at@t, what can I expect when I’m in Mexican Hat Utah? Where I know there is verizon coverage.
I think that droid is going to live up to its prediction, the iphone killer.

The real question is really how many apps do you really use. I carefully selected the apps for my iPhone and use each one. AWESOME!

You guys are idiots…some of us don't really have a choice! If someone (like me) already has a plan for verizon I'm not going to switch over to AT&T just because of the iPhone. The Droid is as close as it gets as of now, and it's pretty darn close anyways.

it is kinda b=nice changing out my MicroSD card for, say, my library of movies. Or, for that matter, changing the battery if it gets low. My slide out keyboard is VERY smooth & tight. Did a side-by-side webpage load with a friend's iPhone. Just a google search on pizza. Page load was 1.0-1.5 second difference. My friend was counting/estimating. Also, the video my Droid takes is AMAZING. During a full work day with about an 60-70 minutes of playing video & 30 minutes of browsing/streaming video, my phone went more than 24 hours before needing a charge. Not slamming the iPhone, but the Droid is a GREAT communicator & entertainment device. BTW, I am connected to an Exchange server (combined inbox), 2 pop3 accounts (gmail – dedicated & yahoo – yahoo mobile) & 1 imap (AIM, also combined inbox) account.

Over the weekend I stepped into a Verizon store and checked out the Droid just for curiosity to see how it compares to the iPhone. Without even turning it on, I was turned off. The slide out keyboard feels flimsy and old looking, what's with the brass looking navigation button on the right? brass? The whole feel of the Droid reminded me of my parents K-Car, and we all know where they ended up! I asked the clerk if Verizon was going to carry the iPhone he showed me his ivories. iPhone rules. The Droid will be a dud.

99% of the apps for the iphone make fart sounds or are copies/re-skins of gangsta wars. Factor that in and it's suddenly not that impressive. They don't really have the developer jump either, because Android is linux / java base. There are way more competent java developers in the world than iphone. Apple oppresses their users, and many are growing tired of it.

ex ped: 99 percent? That's a lot of flatulence.

@Jason: I can play SNES games on my Palm T|X. That's not really that impressive.

As for your iPhone, how about trying to use Flash on it?

Kia is owned and manufactured by Hyundai and is one of the most dependable cars on the market. Do some research you moron. I guarantee my 07 Spectra SX will outlast your "better" car. And my jailbroken iPhone does almost anything imaginable. Try playing super nintendo games, or editing system files on your droid. Add to that MobilMe and all the great iPhone cases? Your phone sucks, chief. Apple is the way. Good thing you have stock.

Droid does. Jailbroken iPhone does too. A 6 year old can jailbreak an Iphone. After it's done, you can do more with an iPhone than you've ever dreamed about doing with a droid. Who cares about your iPod touch?

Google doesn't have that amny apps on the app store

The wonderful thing about Apple, is that it's almost like a doting parent. Something very rare these daysl I don't work for Apple, I just enjoy their products and the excellent followups that comes with it.

For everyone who makes those stupid comments "what's the point? A phone is for talking on…" you're an idiot. The whole reason why people CHOOSE to go with a smartphone is because of the functionality you get when you are out and about. Sure, you can have a fancy laptop, but do you really want to have to take it out of its case, open it up, boot it up, etc for one thing when you can just do it in less than 30 seconds on a smartphone? Come on, please don't make yourself look so stupid. PORTABILITY. That's what a smartphone is. If you don't need (or want) the portability of being able to take your apps with you (and some are very useful and make life much easier), then don't get a smartphone. But that's your choice, so shut up about your stupid arguments on how smartphones are a waste because phones should only make phone calls…

Great way to prove how the vast majority of humans are dumb.

Of course, you have to jailbreak your lame iphone to do all that. Don't have to root an Android to do all that. Oh, and yes Android has tethering. And us on TMO get it free, gg AT&T. Android > iPhone all day every day.

Hey Mike….

Let's not compare a jailbroken iPhone, because, Apple is actively trying to destroy the jailbreak community.

If they ever nurture it then fine…but as of right now…forget it.

AND FYI, I am an iPhone owner.

If I was buying today, I would get a Droid because of Apple being Apple….not because the Droid is better but because Apple is rather evil.

Lets compare this Droid to a jailbroken iPhone. It takes littaraly about 5 minutes at the most to do. Get apps that cost money for free, change you carrier logo, change your signal bars, customized your itunes look, your springboard, dialer, keyboard, sms themes, calculators, keyboard sounds, lockscreens and lock sounds, i mean i dont think there is anyting u cant do. Can the Droid do internet tethering… nope! iPhone rocks any other phone period!

So its judgment day today for Droid, was it? According to Cnet it was a little bit slow nonetheless a good start of droid, other "critiques" says otherwise. But I say, "Hell yeah! droid conquered US for a couple of hours today". We just hope that their ROI is profitable compare to the hunderds of thousand worth of ads they spend during the promotion period and err.. did I say, their impending "lawsuit" with AT&T too?

Collation of info about droid release today: http://bit.ly/did-droid-conquered-USA-today

Hope Droid will serve as a hand of midas to Verizon Corp. Soweet

How many apps do you need to make a phone call? How many of those thousands of apps do anything useful? Most of the iphone apps are actually useless!

iHate iPhone. It's my second iPhone now, and I hate it so much… (I had to buy my wife an iPhone earlier, and now, since she wanted the 3G(S) I took over her 16gb 3G… And I gave away my old 8gb 3G. Actually, I wanted an Android this time. But since she wanted the 3G(S), I couldn't buy it, but stick with the 3G. And I have to tell you, nothing sucks more than iTunes-sync… It's the worst crap ever. And it's the reason number one that I will leave iPhone and Apple. I loved their computers and bought a few over the years. And now I regret it. Apple sucks. It's a crap-dictatorship… I cannot even make folders inside my pictures-folder. And syncing by using the iTunes, is an unlucky guess, every time. Die Apple, die… (Sent from my diePhone…)

Wow! Talk about alot of people with to much time on their hands!

For everyone here bashing the iphone and say how its junk, well I hope you took time to think about why the industry is big on calling phones iphone killers like the LG Voyager…what a joke. The iphone created a bar that the industry uses now to measure other phones against. They say how great the iphone is and lets see which phone will challenge it or take over the market as the new king and raise the bar. Fact is the iphone is a great phone but Att is not a good network. Dont bash the phone bash the carrier. Most of you would already own one if it was on Verizon. The droid is the droid. A great phone as well that beats the iphone on some points and fails at others. Both are great phones but one is on a better carrier. But for sakes stop saying the iphone is junk. To those people I say your blinded by some kind of hate towards a item that has no effect on your day to day life. On a side not people saying they dont need for caculators or photo shop apps. Well some people like to have more then one choice and one app may have the same functions as another but look different. That little diffrence is nice to have time to time. If you justify a lack of number of apps because you dont wanna have to worry about that choice then thats just sad.

Unfortunately, the iPhone is not the all perfect device, BUT, it is one of if not the most innovative and powerful handheld machines on the planet. IF…. the people that find Verizon superior had access to use the iPhone on their Verizon service… the Droid would be destroyed the day it hit the shelf. The Droid came out BECAUSE of the iPhone unless you all have forgotten. Apple is definately a company that people "LOVE TO HATE" and "HATE TO LOVE" because they do come out with very effective machines and softwares that many companies HAVE to copy just to stay competitive.

My Razr works great. I talk on it.
I have a desktop computer with a 22in monitor, I have a 17in laptop, I have an excellent Canon camera, and I've got a 60in Sony tv to watch.
Why do I need all that on 3in screen.
A cellphone is to talk on.

It isn't about the phone – it is the network. Pull up an AT&T coverage map. Then look at a Verizon map. My iPhone isn't worth crap when I leave the city limits because AT&T has lousy coverage.

When they put the Droid on Verizon's network, many more people will have access to Droid than iPhone. Any math wizards out there?

"Droid is for "Da-hemorrhoid". You know, pain in the A–.

Nancy,

Most of the apps on the iphone market place are duplicate apps of other things. When you get the chance you should do some research and find out what kind of apps are on the android marketplace. Again this goes back to my previous statement. Quality over quantity. It the job of the consumer to find out what software they need to function properly. I think the android os is a clear winner due to the fact that you dont have the Apple gestapo preventing you from putting up your software (as long as it is not harmful to the phone). The android os allows you to have multiple apps open at the same time. The android os has 3G tethering. The android os has video recording. The android os is not stuck to one phone, one hardware and one carrier. If you have the skills you can even modify the android os to your liking without fear that Google and the FBI will be knocking down your door. The Android os is still in its early stages but clearly has the potential to take over the marketplace. I doubt the majority of the iphone owners out there purchased an iphone because of the apps. Most of them purchased it because of fashion. But hey spend $1,200 a year on a phone.

Hopefully the world will finally have a great touch screen / app capable phone. iPhone completely failed, Blackberry Storm was close, but this should do it. We'll see…

> Asking how many apps a smartphone
> needs with an open market is like
> asking how much software do you
> need for any other OS.

Would you rather walk into BestBuy as know that you can pick from any of 100000 titles? Or… only see 7 pieces of software for your computer?

If the software isn't even AVAILABLE for you to buy… you can't buy it.
(IE Droid)

I only use/need about 100 apps. But which would you rather have… 100 apps from a choice of 100 *THOUANDS*… or only 1200????

If you don't like 99,900 of the iphone apps… just don't download them.

Thanks Cynik for lining my pocket! And no, it's not a PC thing. It's about desiring an original, high quality product that Apple just couldn't produce. I don't have to own such an inferior product such as the iPhone to understand the ability to profit from its followers kind sir. Same as the Kia dealer. He goes on and on about it, praising it and tugging on the heartstrings of the non-educated buyer – steadily reeling in customers, but do you think he actually drives one? I think not. To each his own, but thanks for your support of my portfolio. I'm smart enough not to have one, but my retirement plan is excited that you do. Keep buying those farts app kool-aid drinker!

This is a ridiculous article. The iPhone has been around much longer then the Android OS. Asking how many apps a smartphone needs with an open market is like asking how much software do you need for any other OS. You start this article off by stating that there are a flurry of quick reviews of the Android os. You can add this article to that list. Its not about quantity its about quality.

Steve from Denver, you are a scary guy. Rollin on your berry and bumpin on your zune.

Yeah. Cool AND smart. That must be a PC thing.

Anyways, it remains a fact that Apple created this whole debate by inventing a smartphone that people want to use. I guess it possible that other companies will "do better" by copying, but I don't see the logic.

If these copycat firms know enough to do better…. how come they are copying Apple?

I think that if folks want to "do better", they are going to have to innovate. Show me something Apple hasn't already done. Show me something I want that Apple hasn't already done.

You see Steve from Denver, that is why your Apple shares are dear to your bitter and twisted PC heart. Because Apple innovate. That Zune you are bumping along to, that is a copy of an iPod. True, it is. A copy. A cheap facsimile of the innovation.

Your rage is the bitterness of those who are devoid of ideas, who are forced to copy.

I am so bored of Apple and folks copying Apple. And folks getting all upset by Apple. Why can't these other companies make something new?

It's funny to see all these losers justifying the iPhones existence and their existence. Losers. Bandwagoning losers…glad I have APPL shares though! Thanks losers! Also, apparently there are more losers drinking the Kool-Aid. Seems like APPL shares went up after the official release of Win7! Thanks again losers! I just keep my eTrade app rollin' on my Berry while bumpin my Zune…losers

Yeah, but all the apps are duplications of other apps: 5 apps that fart (lame). 6 calculators (only need one). 5 internet radio apps (too many). Gimme a break…I'm not a fool though and do have shares in Apple, but I would never buy one. So keep buying those farting apps. Please iPhone is Childsplay…I'm stickin with my Berry…

An app that farts…yeah really mature.

Windows Mobile…he he he…that's funny!
Hey! Over here!
Windows Mobile! That is the real thing!

It's not about the apps. What counts is the service…I'll take Verizon over AT&T any day, and the ease of use. The thing that makes everything Apple great is seamless integration. I can do in 2 minutes with mac peripherals what takes 10 with anything windows simply because it's all made to work together from the ground up.

Until Apple makes the iphone available on other networks, the Droid will have the upper hand, but after that happens, all bets are off. And if you think the Droid is technologically superior, you're right…but give it 6 months, Apple will make the iphone better. Innovation is what they do.

Hey! Over here!
Windows Mobile! That is the real thing!

http://fakesteveballmer.blogspot.com

I'm bemused at why so many people assume that Android apps are better on average than iPhone apps. Is there any source for that? The iPhone certainly has the more complete IDE and API set (especially for games), and the Android market by all accounts we've seen has problems with monetization. Both of these facts (easier development and more money on the table) could indicate that the average iPhones app is of higher quality, not vice versa.

There's one other factor in Android's favor: Apple's sandbox is limiting certain uses, especially background tasks and software piracy. And there's one factor to Android's detriment: The platform is already starting to fragment, with each major vendor adding their own app launcher and UI. In that regard, Android is not like Windows, but more like MS-DOS where the user can not always use in App B what he learned in App A.

I just got my HTC hero I love it and they need to find a way for the battery to last as long as the iPhone

Anonymous said, "The droid is a decent phone with one major flaw,there is only 256 mb of memory"

well Anonymous, The iPhone has 128Mb

Gotta admit that the screen resolution o. The stood is hot…

who cares about how many apps. The important thing is all that you need is there. (FREE is a good thing too) At least apple apps can be had for free. If google does the same then android is much better. Maybe they had a breakdown on duplicate apps so it can be eliminated. Just like comparing apples to apples. How many fart or calculator apps do you need?

Windows is not better than Mac OS X, because it has more apps. More apps do make it harder for Apple to convince Windows users to switch to Mac OS X. Thus Mac OS X has an disadvantage.

By the same logic:

iPhone is not better than Android, because it has more apps. More apps do make it harder for Google (and partners) to convince iPhone users to switch to Android. Thus Android has an disadvantage.

On second note; the quality of the iPhone user experience and development tools, also make it more likely that new user and developer choose iPhone over Android.

The new MS Phone software is a game changer here people, wait until you see it!

http://fakesteveballmer.blogspot.com

I'm confused. Is this an apology piece? The content of the entire article seems to be… "we don't know, maybe 10,000 apps does the job, but maybe not".

The droid is a decent phone with one major flaw,there is only 256 mb of memory available for apps.I have a number of apps on my ipod that are bigger then that.If it had more internal memory then it would be a real contender,but now all it does is make me sad…

Has anyone, anywhere, EVER selected a cell phone based solely on the available third party apps? Sheesh.

I agree that beyond a certain number of apps, the difference in number is probably not really relevant. E.g., if Android had 10000 high-quality apps covering the current spectrum of mobile apps, the fact that Apple has 10x more wouldn't matter. Also, apps like Google Voice and Google Navigation give it a real edge over iPhone (though word is that Google Navigation, at least, has a good chance to make it to iPhone).

However, Android does seem to be lacking in the high-end games area. I'm not sure how critical that is, but there certainly does seem to be a significant segment of the market that values that aspect of iPhone.

I just wanted to step in here to let everyone here who thinks that the iPhone has the advantage of music know that there is an app on the android market that not only allows for iTunes sync but also using the phone as a remote control for your iTunes, and the rest of your computer. That is all…

I don't think the real story is the comparison of Android to Microsoft. Here you have the Linux open source OS coming into its own. This is not Microsoft vs Apple any more. The real news is that nobody cares about MS mobile platform and the competition to Apple is the open source Linux and the online force Google. Potentially you will soon be able to run an OS like Android or Moblin on the iPhone just like you can run Linux on a Mac.

I have a G1 and an Ipod touch & I can tell you its all about user experience. Android is just more flexible…sorry apple fanboys. The least you could do is try it before you run your mouth.

As much as I like the fact that it has the android OS, Verizon has a habit of messing up good things. Maybe they will learn from their passed mistakes.

http://roguedeals.com

I dont think it will kill the Iphone, as the Iphone has become standard, but for those of us who want a comparable phone, on a non-At&t network, that isnt the same phone everyone else has – then the Droid is a dream come true. Its sorta Ironic, Apple has always marketed their brand as a "elite" brand, and now their product is the Norm.

I for one, will be enjoying my Droid – at least I won't have to worry about mistaking my phone for the other 80 iphones that are everywhere you go.

If you haven't seen the unboxing of the Droid yet, here it is: http://skattertech.com/2009/10/verizon-motorola-droid-unboxed/

The droid will be a device to reckon with. I've used the iphone now for over 2 years for my business and quite frankly its great. whats not great is the att coverage that comes with it.
I plan on utilizing Google Voice for my business:
http://www.ontopresults.com
for routing calls and the droid has the app i want. Check out techcrunchs coverage on the battle between google voice application.

If the android price drops within the first 6 months, will I be allowed to whine about it until I get my money back? Google's Android is far superior, and eventually, it will have more apps, probably at much more reasonable rates too!

Windows Mobile is da thing people!

http://fakesteveballmer.blogspot.com

I am happy with my iPhone and I am sure I will be after the Droid comes out. I will suffer a little envy, but that will be counterweighted by my feeling of superiority for living in an Apple world (I know, it is silly of me to think such things)

The Droid looks like it is going to be a very good phone and as for the App count, well I was overwhelmed at 10,000 in the iTunes store and even though I have bought about 5 different grocery lists app, I still have not found quite the right one for me.

Ultimately, Google and the Android OS will overtake the iPhone, it will do things the iPhone will not, but I will still be happy with my iPhone and I will for a very long time. I will be getting the Tablet when it comes out too. I can't wait for that. Magazine subscriptions will be the bomb!!!

will verizon allow free acess. if so will they open up existing phones

iPhone vs Droid looks like an endless battle if you will look at it spec-wise. Bill Shrink gave a summary of it's spec head to head.
In the the technical side Droid have just a little noticeable advantage over the iPhone in the Camera, media support and multi tasking capabilities.
In terms of price… a 2 year contract for iPhone is similar with droid at $199 and $599 for no contract.
This all boils down to the user-experience. What will the first users would say about droid's performance. That's the time we could say who among this two wins.
http://pinoytutorial.com/techtorial/motorola-droid-official-release-on-november-6-for-199-with-contract/

Y'know, I always enjoy watching the Apple partisans in this argument.

They love to point out that Apple's App Store has over 100,000 apps, which is more than anyone else. By the same logic, Windows is better than Mac OS X because it has more applications.

So I use the same argument that Mac users use: Why do I need 300 tip calculators or digital whoopie cushions?

What the numbers may show is the variety of applications. Yes, there are hundreds of tip calculators and whoopie cushions. But the odds are better that if you need an App to do something, there will be one on Apple's App Store.

For example, in Apple's "limited" collection of applications for Mac OS X, there is no way to read the ECU on my car. There are applications to do this with Windows. Of course, how many people really care about using their computer to read this information?

To drive the analogy home, it's more likely that you would find an iPhone App to do something obscure, like read an ECU port in your car, than you would under Android. If you care about this, you should definitely go with the iPhone. If you don't, you probably won't be hurt by using an Android-based phone.

Man… most of the people posting here sound like they need to go post on Daily Finance where the only thing going on is anti-corporate flaming and horrible spelling.

The iPhone isn't God's gift to the earth, so stop acting like it is. Let the Droid enter the market at least before screaming at it.

And Brian, if you ever cite accessories as one of the main reasons to buy a phone – you should stop holding your breath until you pass out, it's not good for you.

Here's the thing: Whenever one company comes out with an ingenious idea that sells, all the other competing companies tear the technology apart and produce their own "clone" of it. The company that becomes the most successful is usually the one that created the idea in the first place, not all the followers that copy it. In this situation, by the time all these competing companies catch up and finally "beat" Apple's iPhone, Apple surely will have a brand new idea that blows the others out of the water. Apple is that type of company: that pushes the technology beyond limits and thinks outside the box, while others just want to create a carbon copy. A great example would be comparing the iPods to the piece-of-garbage zune players that barely anyone buys. Or the Windows flop known as Vista that tried extremely hard to replicate OSX. To succeed in today's marketplace, you have to be innovative to make the big bucks.
Now, Apple is not God, of course, so they are not necessarily the end all say all to this. Simply, if you want to take out the giant, don't come to the arena empty-handed; rather, create your own weapon and hit them before they know what you hit them with!

It a case of number of combinations of applications that one can make on his or her needs. The more number of applications the more number of combinations that one cane make.

http://www.mathsisfun.com/combinatorics/combinations-permutations.html

Congratulations! Your "how many applications do you really need?" comment is the exact same thing Apple users have been saying to Windows users who say "we have more applications than Mac." Your attitude has just shown that 30 years have not existed and Mac far outnumber Windows machines because the number of applications don't count.

can someone surprise my son by buying HighIQ game from Backyard Zoo Games in iTunes. He worked so hard on it and I am proud that he done this application.

to the person that says google will soon eat apples lunch, keep in mind that all those people that have or will get a google phone will also have some sort of iPod for their music also iTunes is the number one source of online music and movie downloads. so if you can have all your music, movies, pictures and the best and easiest user interface in one product (iPhone) which is still looks a heck of a lot better than the Droid, why not.

to the guy who said android cant load apps to the sd card, you are completely wrong. the G1 was the only phone that didn't allow that unless it was rooted. do your research b4 u talk. alot of people have all these things to say bout the goodness of the iphone, but who had a compass in the phone first, who scanned barcodes first, who came up with street view in maps. everything Google accomplished the iphone tried to implement. android can be customized numerous ways. it is true though, there will be no iphone killer, but google will eat apples lunch soon enough with all the devices they will continue to drop. just too many for apple to keep up. way too many and they have more features than the iphone as well.

Before making comparisons it might be worthwhile to have something to compare. You need to be comparing app to app.

The number of apps is important only insofar as it represents the maturity of the platform the apps run on.

And the really big advantage has is not the iPhone per se. It's the whole ecosystem that the iPhone sits within.

But the PC clones will never admit that. Which is why they'll always be a receding dust cloud in the rear view mirror of Apple.

sticking with my android… i haven't seen anything on an iphone that makes me feel like i am missing out on something with my mytouch 3g… plus i can't live without my google voice…

Doesn't really matter how many apps…aren't these cell phones? How is the reception on AT&T? Every review I've seen talks about poor reception and dropped calls on AT&T.

Now if the iPhone was available on Verizon, I'd probably buy it. With AT&T, no chance.

Android is the system that nerd of all nerds use. the one thing that apple will have on top of anyone of else is itunes and how easily it can sync and upgrade and manage your iphone. if apple comes out with an iphone that has flash it will be the most compelete phone ever.

On Android, you can not load apps on an SD card. It's part of Google's anti-piracy "solution". That only leaves about 256mb of the onboard memory to house and run apps. The rest of the onboard ROM is allocated to running the OS itself. So bottom line…you get about 256mb to store and run apps. Compare that now to 8GB, 16GB, and 32GB on iPhone.

Sorry the iPhone is the standard and will remain tht way

In the short-term the app store is a big competitive advantage for Apple. However, it is unclear how the application market will shake out over the long-term. Out of all the apps installed on my phone, I only paid for NeuroMobile and a few others. I don't see how all these developers can support 2 platforms without making money. I think eventually you will see fewer apps and the more popular apps like NeuroMobile will be at much higher price points.

Thanks for the laugh Jon Markle. Too bad more companies aren't as "complacent" as Apple. LOL

Life is short, buy the real deal, not the imitation wanna-be that is as expensive, ugly, and has no accessories and hardly any apps.

Dream on all you haters who think every app is a fart app, or that Apple needs Google. Google needs Apple more than the other way around.

The 'droid' will go the way of the moto edge. Remember those? Let's wait until a product at least looks like it COULD be popular before pronouncing it and iPhone 'Killer', shall we???

Geez, it's like your kid starts taking guitar lessons and you are calling him 'the next Beatles'. Grow a brain, it's not that easy. Where were all you geniuses when the iPhone was announced and the stock just SAT THERE LIKE NOTHING HAPPENED.

Of course the number of apps is irrelevant. But I have to question the judgement of CNN hosting a column that only singles out one company and bashes its products. It would be one thing if it were presented as opinion, but this just seems abusive.

ex ped: I'm confused, Nick. Which company's products do you feel were being bashed in this piece?

tricky, very tricky. the android OS will most likely over take the iphone OS earlier than 2012 simply because there will be more devices using the OS. now lets compare apples to apples: will the droid or any single android device over take the iphone by 2012? probably not the way the iphone is selling and with more providers taking on the iphone, most likely not.

I'm lost between Motorola Droid and Google Android…
So bottom line, I'll stick with my iPhone. More apps anyway.

As anyone who visits the App Store can tell you, most of the apps there are either useless dribble, or redundant. Measuring the iPhone, or any other phone be aps is quite silly. Now if you want to do a comparrison do it on QUALITY PERFORMANCE. Not quantity. Quantity of apps don't mean much if they are poorly built, buggy, useless junk, or redundant & uninspired. Look out, iPhone. Much as I hate it, Droid's gonna probably kick your ass. Which might, on second thought, just might be the kick in Apple's comlacent butt and force Apple back on a customer winning track we demand: QUALITY. (sent from my iPhone)

If all the 40 million'ish iPhone/Touch users have 25 apps, and they all have different ones to suit them, the combinations available are into the trillions…

I don't know the answer to this, but will one single android app really work on disparate handsets from Moto or HTC or Samsung?

The number of apps will become irrelevant, as you point out.

What may distinguish Apple will be how app management is integrated into iTunes.

It sure does LOOK like an iPhone. Why not just buy the "real" iPhone and be cool. Droid is an awful name that would seem to appeal to adolescent males who have not had sex. Is "Dungeons And Dragons" an included app?

remember: The best developer for Apple has been Google..lol

"But how many applications do you really need?"

Mac users used to say that in the early 90s.
People bought PCs anyway.

It took 10 years for people to consider buying Macs again.