Poll: iOS vs Android vs Windows Phone apps

reflux · 19 Dec 2014 at 11:24

The problem with this poll is it doesn't account for the sheer variety and quality of apps in the Android ecosystem. Try finding something like Tasker on iOS!

asim18 · 19 Dec 2014 at 11:34

bledd. said:
Only really used Android and Windows phone, so it would be unfair of me to vote.

I can say that the Windows Store is god-awful though. Shows up with 99% useless things with 2 user ratings. Can't browse by developer. At least this is my experience on my Surface. I quickly wrote off the Store as pointless.

My thoughts exactly.

Rimsy · 19 Dec 2014 at 11:42

People arent reading the OP's question though and just thinking iOS v Android.
I'd say its a tie - generally I find Apple is a little more polished and flash but with Androids ui/menu advantage over iOS it makes it more "usable".
Cannot comment on windows phone as I've never tried it.

twist3d0n3 · 19 Dec 2014 at 11:47

i'd say iOS had the most polished apps before everything on android started moving over to material design. now android ****es all over iOS.

Buckster · 19 Dec 2014 at 12:19

IOS most polished by quite a long way IMO

I have several android devices (Note 3, Tab S 10.5) - and kids etc have 2 Ipads - and in most cases the same app on IOS - is either less buggy or looks better (makes better use of the resolution of the tablet etc)

also streaming video I find much smoother on the Ipads (even the Ipad 3) - than either of my android devices

Brenn47 · 19 Dec 2014 at 12:26

Buckster said:
IOS most polished by quite a long way IM

You should see how fluid WP8.1 is, buttery smooth.

The problem is, now everyones contracts up there's no WP8 flagship except the 930, but that doesn't come with the glance screen so it isn't selling well and Microsoft are losing market share.

BigDannyO · 19 Dec 2014 at 12:41

I have an Android phone and an iPad and am firmly entrenched in both ecosystems.

I much prefer the Google play store, but I'd have to say that like-for-like the quality of apps on iOS is always better than Android (perhaps with the exception of Google Play Music but that's hardly surprising).

My biggest gripe with Google apps is the total lack of any even remotely decent music production apps. They're universally awful. Whereas IOS is chock-full of decent, high quality apps, which in many cases are produced by major manufacturers. For example, I can plug my USB midi keyboard into my iPad and almost have an exact copy of some seriously expensive, quality synths.

twist3d0n3 · 19 Dec 2014 at 12:48

BigDannyO said:
I have an Android phone and an iPad and am firmly entrenched in both ecosystems.

I much prefer the Google play store, but I'd have to say that like-for-like the quality of apps on iOS is always better than Android (perhaps with the exception of Google Play Music but that's hardly surprising).

My biggest gripe with Google apps is the total lack of any even remotely decent music production apps. They're universally awful. Whereas IOS is chock-full of decent, high quality apps, which in many cases are produced by major manufacturers. For example, I can plug my USB midi keyboard into my iPad and almost have an exact copy of some seriously expensive, quality synths.

if you were doing music production professionally, you wouldn't use a phone/tablet to produce on... i produce my own music (semi professionally) but you wouldn't ever catch me using a tablet to make sounds on.

BigDannyO · 19 Dec 2014 at 13:03

twist3d0n3 said:
if you were doing music production professionally, you wouldn't use a phone/tablet to produce on... i produce my own music (semi professionally) but you wouldn't ever catch me using a tablet to make sounds on.

Good for you. For noodling, writing away from the studio, getting ideas down quickly, an iPad mini and a USB keyboard is eminently more portable than dragging around an analogue synth, a workstation with a DAW, a mixing desk and all the other accoutrements required of a studio, wouldn't you say?

I'd wager that those people who produce music on a fairly regular basis would say the best production tool is the one you have to hand when inspiration takes you.

This doesn't change the fact that the music apps on the Google play store are crap either.

twist3d0n3 · 19 Dec 2014 at 13:20

BigDannyO said:
Good for you. For noodling, writing away from the studio, getting ideas down quickly, an iPad mini and a USB keyboard is eminently more portable than dragging around an analogue synth, a workstation with a DAW, a mixing desk and all the other accoutrements required of a studio, wouldn't you say?

I'd wager that those people who produce music on a fairly regular basis would say the best production tool is the one you have to hand when inspiration takes you.

This doesn't change the fact that the music apps on the Google play store are crap either.

well no, because laptops (like a macbook with logic on it).

using a crappy app to get your 'ideas' down is a *******s reason quite frankly. the majority of people who buy those apps are the ones who think they're well good at music innit.

people who take it seriously use their ACTUAL tools, not mickey mouse ones.

BigDannyO · 19 Dec 2014 at 13:27

twist3d0n3 said:
well no, because laptops (like a macbook with logic on it).

using a crappy app to get your 'ideas' down is a *******s reason quite frankly. the majority of people who buy those apps are the ones who think they're well good at music innit.

people who take it seriously use their ACTUAL tools, not mickey mouse ones.

Well thanks for the well disguised insult. You seem to have a bee in your bonnet about people using methods you don't use.

Would you say Damon Albarn doesn't take music production seriously?

twist3d0n3 · 19 Dec 2014 at 13:31

BigDannyO said:
Well thanks for the well disguised insult. You seem to have a bee in your bonnet about people using methods you don't use.

Would you say Damon Albarn doesn't take music production seriously?

lol bit sensitive are we

i couldn't care less what damon albarn does, don't like his music.

point is, if you think it's more convenient to carry around an ipad + midi keyboard as opposed to a laptop, you're mad.

BigDannyO · 19 Dec 2014 at 13:36

twist3d0n3 said:
lol bit sensitive are we

i couldn't care less what damon albarn does, don't like his music.

point is, if you think it's more convenient to carry around an ipad + midi keyboard as opposed to a laptop, you're mad.

So is Damon Albarn a professional or not? Or does he not count because you don't like his music?

You need to compare apples to apples, ipad+keyboard vs macbook+keyboard. Can't see much difference myself.

Rimsy · 19 Dec 2014 at 13:36

twist3d0n3 said:
well no, because laptops (like a macbook with logic on it).

using a crappy app to get your 'ideas' down is a *******s reason quite frankly. the majority of people who buy those apps are the ones who think they're well good at music innit.

people who take it seriously use their ACTUAL tools, not mickey mouse ones.

just wow

twist3d0n3 · 19 Dec 2014 at 13:48

BigDannyO said:
So is Damon Albarn a professional or not? Or does he not count because you don't like his music?

You need to compare apples to apples, ipad+keyboard vs macbook+keyboard. Can't see much difference myself.

sure he's professional, he can do what he likes.

you don't *need* a midi controller at all quite frankly, but i'd rather have a laptop with all of my tools than some kids toy synth package.

anyway, this is going horribly off topic, so i'll leave it at that.

Rimsy said:
just wow

great contribution with no rebuttal. have your rolleyes back :rolleyes:

Cosimo · 19 Dec 2014 at 13:51

I use both. IOS still leads with that polished 'look and feel' but more often than not there is very little difference these days. I prefer the Play store to iTunes and Android is my preference as it offers great flexibility as an OS.

BigDannyO · 19 Dec 2014 at 13:53

twist3d0n3 said:
sure he's professional, he can do what he likes.

So you were wrong then, at least you managed to admit it.

twist3d0n3 said:
anyway, this is going horribly off topic, so i'll leave it at that.

Yeah, I wonder why that was...

twist3d0n3 · 19 Dec 2014 at 14:01

BigDannyO said:
Yeah, I wonder why that was...

i'd love to say, but i'd get banned.

it's nice to know opinions can be wrong though, thanks for that.

good day.

visibleman · 19 Dec 2014 at 14:19

AlecR said:
Which platform do you think offers the best quality app when each platform has the same one?

I don't think you can generalise which is the better eco-system based purely on a bunch of cross-platform apps as it massively depends on the apps in question, how the developers have implemented them (platform favouritism) and whether or not the apps are platform specific builds or ports.

Personally i'm well and truly on the fence with regards to app eco-systems as there are positives and cons to each and i've certainly had my fair share of issues with them all (iOS, Android and WP).

BigDannyO said:
Good for you. For noodling, writing away from the studio, getting ideas down quickly, an iPad mini and a USB keyboard is eminently more portable than dragging around an analogue synth, a workstation with a DAW, a mixing desk and all the other accoutrements required of a studio, wouldn't you say?

Perhaps a better option would be to use a Surface Pro with your chosen DAW (unless Logic) and plugins, as it'll allow to you move it across to your studio rather than requiring you to recreate it.

But i guess it's a case of whatever works for you.

delta0 said:
iOS. No malware/viruses etc. too.

Malware and malicious code has be found in iOS/OSX apps, so don't assume Apple's App Store is completely safe from it.
And there's still plenty of shoddy apps in the Apple App store.

BigDannyO · 19 Dec 2014 at 14:31

visibleman said:
Perhaps a better option would be to use a Surface Pro with your chosen DAW (unless Logic) and plugins, as it'll allow to you move it across to your studio rather than requiring you to recreate it.

But i guess it's a case of whatever works for you.

Good thinking, it probably would be better. Unfortunately I've not had the opportunity to try out a Surface Pro, but would like to try one out, particularly in the way you describe.

Plus there's a world of difference in cost between a Surface Pro with Pro Tools and an iPad with Garageband or whatever! :eek:

My music production on an iPad is purely casual in the manner previously described. Anything more serious would obviously get done in the studio or practice room.