Same apps, different platforms
Saturday, September 29, 2012 at 9:40AM Even when apps come to Android, it's often months or years after they debut on iPhone. Temple Run and Instagram are two big-name examples of that phenomenon. Nvidia has done marvelous work nurturing game developers for Tegra devices, but it's a relative drop in the bucket compared to the tide of iPhone app supremacy.
iPhone apps tend to look better, too. Take CNN's app as an example. On Android, it's perfectly functional. But the iPhone app has slightly larger images, a prettier background, and time stamps on the stories. Looking at something like the Facebook app, which has the same functionality on both platforms, explains a bit of the difference. The iPhone's fonts are tighter, more precise and better kerned. White-on-gray number badges are a little bolder, and there's a better balance between icon and text size. See the slideshow for more. More at PC Mag.
What do you think? Do iOS apps and particularly games look better than their Android counterparts?
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Reader Comments (4)
Having left Apple for 9 months on my smartphone to use two top android phones, I would say iPhone apps and games look and feel nicer and interact better. Some android versions have more capabilities due to android being more open.
The iPad vs Nexus. iPad wins a mile.
Agree with gavin. Having just switched back to an iPhone 5 from Galaxy S3, everything is a breath of fresh air in terms of user interface and simple things like the magnifying glass to insert the cursor. There might be more functionality on android but the app store is a mess. There is so much crap on the store and half the games are rubbish. And whilst many apps are "free" the intrusiveness of the ads in-app is extremely annoying.
The only thing I miss? Toggling wifi and bluetooth from the notifications pulldown.
@David, the App store has just a much rubbish, it's just a bit better looking rubbish ;-)
Talking about the major apps there is not so much UI difference between the two platform, there are more and more apps looking better on Android than on IOS, evernote for example.
The biggest problem is the Android tablet. Many...many good (and good looking) Android phone apps don't have a tablet version!!! Therefore al lot of software is just looking plain ugly, remember the milk for example.
Windows Phone has the best looking apps... just that it doesn't have all the apps!
Take three apps common across the platforms: epicurious, IMDB and Spotify and WP versions win hands down.
Don't know if it changes anyone's buying decisions though....