Why do Android apps lag behind iOS for features?

Look at the adoption rate of iOS versions, iOS 11 is already on over 25% of devices in the space of a week, only like 15% of Android phones are on Nougat which is over a year old.

It must be a nightmare on Android, having to constantly target older API’s and OS versions.

Least on iOS you can generally just target iOS 10+ and be compatible with almost all devices.

But the Fingerprint login has been on iOS for 3 years, how long should I wait?
 
Fingerprint login is also pretty much standard on all iOS devices, Only like the IPad Mini 2 that is still current that doesn’t support it.

Obviously developers are going to support a feature that is on the vast majority of devices their app will be installed on.
 
If it happens on Android on multiple apps by different developers and doesn't happen on iOS, it becomes a theme and a problem for Android. It may not be a problem FROM Android, but it is certainly a problem FOR Android.


No, it becomes an issue with those developers not putting the effort in to develop for Android with the same quality as they have for the iOS version. Dev laziness is quite common among many popular applications. It was only recenlty that Instagram, as an example, got polished up properly on Android and is now really excellent.
 
No, it becomes an issue with those developers not putting the effort in to develop for Android with the same quality as they have for the iOS version. Dev laziness is quite common among many popular applications. It was only recenlty that Instagram, as an example, got polished up properly on Android and is now really excellent.

Well yes, if a lot of them are lazy on Android but not iOS it becomes a problem for the platform and not just the odd app.
 
Again, no, it just means the incentives for focusing more on iOS are greater than those on Android for them, not that Android is a more difficult, or worse platform to develop for.
Case in point being apps that exist on both platforms and are both excellent, because the devs haven't got a platform bias.

Your line of thinking was the case a couple of years ago, but since Nougat, well even Marshmallow and later, things have changed quite a lot. Google even provides a wealth of knowledge and resources for devs to utilise when working on their apps, it's up to them to make use of them.
 
I've just switched to android again. This time I've imported keychain to lastpass. Lastpass allows fingerprint and a tap of the password on any website. It's actually slightly more beneficial than iOS keychain because it works on apps too.
 
Again, no, it just means the incentives for focusing more on iOS are greater than those on Android for them, not that Android is a more difficult, or worse platform to develop for.
Case in point being apps that exist on both platforms and are both excellent, because the devs haven't got a platform bias.

Your line of thinking was the case a couple of years ago, but since Nougat, well even Marshmallow and later, things have changed quite a lot. Google even provides a wealth of knowledge and resources for devs to utilise when working on their apps, it's up to them to make use of them.

it just means the incentives for focusing more on iOS are greater than those on Android for them

This is a problem, whether it stems from, difficulty in programming or attitude or whatever, the reasoning is moot, pointless. The end result is a lesser, not as good version of the same app on Android, the actual FACT that it happens is a problem for the platform. Since this is not a problem on iOS, it is on Android, over different apps.

It is not app specific.
It is not developer specific.

It is however Platform specific.
 
There are various different builds if iOS too and I've had fingerprint log in for all of them since Touch ID was introduced.

There's a mere handful compared to Android. Apples makes the software and the hardware, it's obviously going to be an easier task.

As for different configuration each manufacture uses…sod them, build it for the stock and if they can't implement them, it's that manufacturer's loses, at least the feature is there for some, as opposed to be missing for all.

Stock Android devices likely make up a tiny fraction of the total number of devices out there though.
 
There's a mere handful compared to Android. Apples makes the software and the hardware, it's obviously going to be an easier task.



Stock Android devices likely make up a tiny fraction of the total number of devices out there though.

The first point is no doubt an advantage to iOS, something Android will always, and forever fighting against.

The second point is also a "problem" of the first, but something at least the phone manufacturers when they want to tweak the OS, they can do it better. Again, the fragmentation of the handsets is a problem.

Android's biggest attraction is also it's weakness. I have found out now that with all these choices of all these phones, it means no coherency, lots of fragmentation in users. It's a problem for the platform that they will never fix, and frankly, no way to.
 
The first point is no doubt an advantage to iOS, something Android will always, and forever fighting against.

The second point is also a "problem" of the first, but something at least the phone manufacturers when they want to tweak the OS, they can do it better. Again, the fragmentation of the handsets is a problem.

Android's biggest attraction is also it's weakness. I have found out now that with all these choices of all these phones, it means no coherency, lots of fragmentation in users. It's a problem for the platform that they will never fix, and frankly, no way to.

Fragmentation is getting better because for a lot of the API's you don't need new versions of Android, Most of the core APIs are being moved to Google Play Services. Which enables phones as far back as Kitkat(4.4) to use the same features as newer versions of Android.

The main problem is developers prefer to make apps better on iOS which is understandable to a certain degree.
 
On the other hand, I found Kodi remote apps better on Android compared to iOS. Noticed they didn't work very well on my aunt's iPhone while mine was working fine.

There are a few better apps for Android I can think of, but in terms of apps from the same developer on both platforms, then I do agree that iOS does seem more favoured.
 
They only has to develop one app for iOS, whereas they have to essentially develop hundreds for android. It's pretty self explanatory isn't it?

Erm, no. Every now and then you need to do a 'IF using this version or great -> do this -> if not -> do this', but to be honest that's mainly only really for permissions as they changed around API23 to the iOS way of asking when needed. Aside that, it's pretty much one set of code and off you go.

Look at the adoption rate of iOS versions, iOS 11 is already on over 25% of devices in the space of a week, only like 15% of Android phones are on Nougat which is over a year old.

I know it's a small sample size, but I have two apps around 1,000 installs mainly used in the US (and UK) and they both have Nougat around 37%. Clearly not as good as iOS, but a healthier figure than the perhaps the global figures.

It must be a nightmare on Android, having to constantly target older API’s and OS versions.

See above, no not really.

Android's biggest attraction is also it's weakness. I have found out now that with all these choices of all these phones, it means no coherency, lots of fragmentation in users. It's a problem for the platform that they will never fix, and frankly, no way to.

Can you give an example? As a lone user, how the fragmentation is an issue? I've never noticed a problem as a user myself? (I don't see slower updates as an issue, which is the only thing I can think of. We all get security updates quicker and more reliably now for example.)

I would really like to learn to code for iOS, yes because they do spend more apparently and also because if I make an app for Android, I would like to be able to make an iOS version, but also to see how different it is. I have seen some devs say Android is easier, I see some saying iOS is easier. I think often it's just a choice by a firm 'oh, we've mainly got iPhones, lets just do an iOS version and we'll do Android later'.

As for passwords, just get LastPass. Uses fingerprint sensor to log me in to all my apps.

As for features, my iPhone using friends where very annoyed, seeing my TomTom Speed Cams overlay in action, that iOS couldn't do that...
 
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Fragmentation is getting better because for a lot of the API's you don't need new versions of Android, Most of the core APIs are being moved to Google Play Services. Which enables phones as far back as Kitkat(4.4) to use the same features as newer versions of Android.

The main problem is developers prefer to make apps better on iOS which is understandable to a certain degree.

And Security updates. Samsung, for example, still updated some handsets from 3 years ago with the latest Android security patches. Granted not every OEM does this, but it's nice to see one of the biggest does.


The other major thing too many people forget when comparing in this manner is that OEM versions of Android from makers like LG/Samsung/Sony etc often have features built in that stock Android later adopts. So whilst stock Android is always "pure", it's not full of the features OEM handset owners have been using for years. That gap is slowly closing now with Nougat, and Oreo brings even more stuff that Samsung devices and LG have had for a good few generations now. Having the latest main OS version isn't that important any more, as long as the monthly patches are rolled out, which they are.

That aspect is something you never see on iOS, if you want a new feature, you can't go to a different brand because there is only one OEM brand, you have to wait for the next iOS version for the revolutionary features. On Android you can chop and change as much as you like and have new features that may suit your needs better than the handset from another maker.
 
So, how do you you link Lastpass to all these banking apps?

I just downloaded signed up….now what? I would expect it now to link it automatically but when i open Barclays, I still need to put in my code. When I load up Amex a LastPass box came up so that means I need to fill in something in LastPass for that.

Which is another problem, all these apps just expect you to know what to do, they are not exactly user-friendly. Like how do you link Lastpass to the app I need it unlocking?

And is this mean I need to do this for every single app again?
 
I don't use lastpass, so don't know. Given the history of password managers and leaks/hacks to their databases over the years, I'd rather keep that sort of thing locked away in mind anyway.

Besides, with Android, some banking apps are developed to require additional security steps. For example, apps that won't work when rooted such as Barclays Banking apps, will also block the use of the clipboard or screenshot function. This isn't a limitation of Android, but the fact that the app devs have seen this as an opportunity to add an extra measure. On iOS Apple do not allow third party apps to restrict system functions in that manner so devs have no choice but to comply, much the same way how network carriers around the world have no option but to not fill iPhones with bundles apps or network specific apps and features because Apple don't allow it. Because only Apple make iPhones, devs and network carriers have no choice but to comply.
 
I doubt LastPass will work for a banking app. I agree, they should just allow use of the fingerprint sensor.

Tbh, I'm not sure just on a phone how you add apps, most of mine are linked from my chrome browser extension. I think it often pops up and asks if you want to add a log in, sometimes you need to tap in the password field first (to make it pop up).
 
If you're using it mostly for browser based logins, why not use Chrome Sync instead? I use Firefox Sync to sync all my logins, tabs, history bookmarks and stuff between phone, PC, laptop, tablet, car etc. No need for an additional app to do it and it's all encrypted on Mozilla/Google servers. I'd be much happier with my logins stored on their servers than LastPass - But that's just me.
 
Who, me? I'm not. Well, it's handy it does both, but as you say, Google does most of the browser logins these days. What I'm saying is, most of the times I install an app and it asks me to log in, it's because I saved the password on my PC browser at some point that it already has it and doesn't need to be taught the details for the app.
 
I've just switched to android again. This time I've imported keychain to lastpass. Lastpass allows fingerprint and a tap of the password on any website. It's actually slightly more beneficial than iOS keychain because it works on apps too.

iOS 11 lets you use your Keychain in apps now.
 
I’m an app developer and it really depends on the app.

I think people have covered the main ones:

- Fragmentation on Android means lots of device-specific bugs
- If money is involved, iOS simply bring in more revenue

There’s also a couple of other ones:

- Management and UX designers are often iPhone users so that’s where their attention mostly falls
- For some reason, it’s way more difficult to hire good quality permenant Android devs than iOS devs
 
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