The iPhone is the most popular phone in the world right now. It has sold more units than any single smartphone in history. It's sold so well because - among other things - it made using a smartphone easy for everyone. But in in Apple's goal to make the iPhone simple, it also made the phone less open. It's file system is hidden from the user, it doesn't support system tweaks of any kind, and more advanced applications (or anything Apple doesn't like) is barred from use on the iPhone. This is called by some a 'walled garden'.
Minecraft Pocket Edition players on iOS (the operating system that the iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch use for those unaware) for the most part enjoy the same game that Android users have. But why did Android users get betas of MCPE 0.9.0 before it was released? Does Mojang just hate iPhones? No, no they don't.
One thing I see over and over again, for example when the 0.9.0 Betas were released, is iPhone users crying out to Mojang saying things like "Why do you hate iOS?" and "when ios get beta?" What many people fail to understand when they use Apple products is that Apple often sacrifices open platforms for design and security. Apple products are designed for everyone - whether it be your grandmother or tech geniuses. Whereas on Android you could get malware by installing an infected APK off the internet, iPhone's inability to download apps from outside resources makes that harder. In the end, it becomes a choice - do you want more functionality, or never have to worry about your phone breaking?
Until the iOS 8 Betas, beta-testing of any kind did not exist on iOS. Android, or more specifically the Google Play Store, has had beta functionality available for a while now. Users can click a link provided by an app developer and they are instantly granted access to an application's (or game's) beta program. After Apple bought TestFlight, which we wrote about back in February, it showed up in the iOS 8 Beta. TestFlight allows app developers to make public app betas - similar to Android - but limited testers to 1,000.
Mojang has said they have no intention of using TestFlight, because of that limit. After all, how do you choose between hundreds of thousands of people for who gets beta access? The public beta for 0.9.0 on Android passed 100,000 members before the update was released last month. Apple products have never been geared towards large-scale development - and their neglect to include a beta testing method until very recently shows that.
There are countless other examples of Apple shunning away functionality because it could make their platform less secure - for example emulators have never been allowed on the Apple App Store. The iPhone is less open and offers less functionality, but is simpler and easier to use. Android offers the end user far more functionality, but at the cost of an (arguably) less appealing platform when it comes to the user experience and design. In the end, it comes down to a choice. What's yours?
Minecraft Pocket Edition players on iOS (the operating system that the iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch use for those unaware) for the most part enjoy the same game that Android users have. But why did Android users get betas of MCPE 0.9.0 before it was released? Does Mojang just hate iPhones? No, no they don't.
One thing I see over and over again, for example when the 0.9.0 Betas were released, is iPhone users crying out to Mojang saying things like "Why do you hate iOS?" and "when ios get beta?" What many people fail to understand when they use Apple products is that Apple often sacrifices open platforms for design and security. Apple products are designed for everyone - whether it be your grandmother or tech geniuses. Whereas on Android you could get malware by installing an infected APK off the internet, iPhone's inability to download apps from outside resources makes that harder. In the end, it becomes a choice - do you want more functionality, or never have to worry about your phone breaking?
Until the iOS 8 Betas, beta-testing of any kind did not exist on iOS. Android, or more specifically the Google Play Store, has had beta functionality available for a while now. Users can click a link provided by an app developer and they are instantly granted access to an application's (or game's) beta program. After Apple bought TestFlight, which we wrote about back in February, it showed up in the iOS 8 Beta. TestFlight allows app developers to make public app betas - similar to Android - but limited testers to 1,000.
Mojang has said they have no intention of using TestFlight, because of that limit. After all, how do you choose between hundreds of thousands of people for who gets beta access? The public beta for 0.9.0 on Android passed 100,000 members before the update was released last month. Apple products have never been geared towards large-scale development - and their neglect to include a beta testing method until very recently shows that.
There are countless other examples of Apple shunning away functionality because it could make their platform less secure - for example emulators have never been allowed on the Apple App Store. The iPhone is less open and offers less functionality, but is simpler and easier to use. Android offers the end user far more functionality, but at the cost of an (arguably) less appealing platform when it comes to the user experience and design. In the end, it comes down to a choice. What's yours?
I love Apple and all, but there are a few limitations which aren't the best. Because I can't get MCPE Betas :( You have a point.
ReplyDeleteiPhone may be the most popular phone overall but Android recently passed them in market shares, with Android at about 85% and iOS at about 12%.
ReplyDeleteAs I'm all for the open platform, it's a clear choice for me. Android! I'm not saying that iOS is bad, but it's not appealing to me.
ReplyDeleteCorrect, but the iPhone is the best selling single smartphone.
ReplyDeleteYou took the words out of my mouth.I don't mind iOS,but I have and always will use Android.
ReplyDeleteI hate apple, jailbreaking is the solution to some of those problems
ReplyDeleteYes I agree. The only thing is if you jailbreak you void your warrenty. That's the only thing that's holding me back from jailbreaking.
ReplyDeleteJailbreaking solves all problems. Enough said
ReplyDeleteNot all of the time. Sometimes jailbreaking can harm your device.
ReplyDeleteFun Fact: Apple invented the touch-screen.
ReplyDeleteThat was kinda random.
ReplyDeleteNot always, in fact some of the time it can open your device to more potential attacks (especially using ssh)
ReplyDeleteNo they didn't, the first touchscreens were developed in the 1960s: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Touchscreen
ReplyDeleteAnd the first touchscreen smartphone was in the 90s ;)
Oh. I read in NatGeo that they had something to do with trademarking it or inventing it or something.
ReplyDeleteI will always and only buy iOS devices, but when it comes to computers, like a laptop, i really prefer Windows.
ReplyDeleteNo, it doesn't. Apple will give LIMITED TO NO SUPPORT to jailbroken or otherwise edited devices.
ReplyDeleteNo hate, but don't you see how insecure android is? If you could compare them, apple's iOS is a combination lock. Android, a stick holding two hooks together. Of course, apple's extremely limited files are hard to edit, and if you do, you get your warranty broken. Android, a child could hack it, but has much easier files.
ReplyDeleteAndroid is only succeptable to viruses and malware by installing applications outside the Google Play Store (often by people attempting to pirate apps/games). Beyond that, Android is a very secure OS. Google has recently been making a great effort to make it secure, including pushing security fixes to every Android device as soon as they find them.
ReplyDeleteiPhone is a series, not a single phone. Ppl plz get it right
ReplyDeleteI would love access to betas, but iOS is just way easier to use.
ReplyDeleteAndroid L isn't going to be the final name :P And in the end the reason Android is so popular isn't the customization - it's because it's cheap. You can get decent Android phones for less than $300 unlocked, compared to the $700-800 unlocked iPhone 5S.
ReplyDeleteIn the end apple is way better the android
ReplyDeletenot to testing apps
ReplyDeletenope, incorrect
ReplyDeleteandroid launchers anyone?
ReplyDeleteguys lets not start an argument but apple fanboy here! android forever!
ReplyDeletei don't think you use android mate :P
ReplyDeleteTry android but not a galaxy s5 thats a bad example of android with touchwiz slows it down try a nexus or motog/x
ReplyDeleteI hate android.
ReplyDeleteNothin wrong with trying g something new I had an an iPhone 4s for a year
ReplyDeleteApple fanboy in the house
ReplyDeleteAndroid, Android, Android !!!
ReplyDeleteBe open-source and open-mind