Why It’s Easier to Make a Great Twitter Client for iPhone than for Android
Why is it easier to make a great Twitter client for Apple’s iPhone than for Google Android phones like the new Verizon DROID? After Robert Scoble wrote a typically impassioned post entitled The Droid fails AS A PRODUCT when compared to Palm Pre and iPhone, and used Twitter clients as an example, Thomas Marban of Android’s premiere Twitter client, Twidroid, responded:
one of the main reasons why UIs are unequally inferior are not only the way you build apps (open vs. closed hw/sw system) and the SDK itself but also marginal to non-existing UI standards, no ready-made drag & drop UI items, variations in carrier- & device firmware, hard- & software input, screen sizes, international customizations, modded phones, rooted phones and last but not least completely different expectations among users and the linux’ish target group itself. in a nutshell: beautiful mess. obviously, all these reasons eat up a huge pile of time that one could better spend with improving UX and polishing the interface. those who started early with android development have learned and are still learning it the hard way, just like they did with win 3.1 back in the days.
John Gruber of Daring Fireball, in Lots of Excuses comments:
That doesn’t sound like someone who plans to ever ship something of the caliber of Tweetie, Birdfeed, or Twitterrific. From what I’ve seen of Twidroid, it’s not even as good as Craig Hockenberry’s original version of Twitterrific for iPhone, which was written as a jailbreak app before the iPhone officially supported third-party software. If Android hardware diversity is already a problem for third-party developers, it’s only going to get worse.
This also highlights the advantages Apple has given iPhone developers. Not only is the iPhone based on OS X, but the development tools are based on Xcode and Interface Builder, and while not as many developers are likely already familiar with Cocoa touch as, say, developers might be with Android’s language(s) (or web developers may be for the Palm Pre), existing Mac developers can make those tools sing. And, given the SDK Apple provided, even new developers get a huge head start in terms of functions and user interface elements.
Sure, that means there’s a lower barrier of entry to creating poor iPhone apps, but it also means great developers aren’t wasting their time re-inventing UI wheels, or fighting the OS to do right by their apps. They investing that time in making great apps.
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@chrisr First to suck my dinkie?
Take a break Rene, playing offense and defense has to be exhausting.
Well it’s no wonder it’s easier to code an app for a single resolution / single form factor / single distribution channel
Speaking of which, what will happen for apps when the next iPhone will have a high res screen like the droid an likely a different resolution/aspect ratio ? I’m not familiar with Cocoa dev, is this easy to manage ?
@Sha
Well with Android 2.0 for sure (I was under the impression android 1.6 did this also) there’s only a small twitch devs have to do in order to correctly format apps to right aspects and resolution.
As far as this app thing goes. I’ve seen beautiful apps for Android. I’ve seen ugly apps. Just like with any system and OS where they don’t have the fashion conscience in mind…you’re gonna have these. Not to mention Android is mainstream, but not MAINSTREAM. So most devs are worried about getting a functioning app out. Not a pretty one. As the market grows for Android, more devs will pretty it up.
My personal opinion. As long as it doesn’t look archaic, I’m okay with it. For example, Twidroid is a find app. It works perfectly, have no problem with it. Too much emphasis is being put on the prettiness.
Sorry, that last sentence was my reply, and was supposed to be outside of iDavey’s quote.
He definitely doesn’t sound like he plans on making Twitdroid an elite Twitter app. I also find that to be a lame excuse. It’s harder, but not impossible. Also, the g1 was out by itself for a while and devs didn’t have to make an app for multiple devices. That excuse is lame.
@fastlane
Yeah, I know. As of right now, they just don’t see the point in putting that much effort into an app that is not on the leading app store.
As an Android user, it makes me upset. Yet, as the geek and business lover I am, I fully understand.
I actually went to read the whole article that the quote from Mr. Marban was pulled from. I really hate to say it, but the article reeked of fanboyism. I mean…he made very valid points throughout, but most was just the normal crap spewed by the iPhone enthralled that have no single thought of even given due praise to another device.
For instance, I always see “The UI is not as simple as the iPhone’s” yet when someone does make it even remotely similar you get “Another copy cat of Apple…when can they learn to make their own?”
It’s like they are making it impossible for anyone to actually get a good point when compared to the iPhone.
Everyone compares the simplicity of a new smartphone to an iPhone. Which is ludicrous. On Android, you pull up a tab, and bam. Your apps. How hard is that?
My last gripe is reviewers like him making one phone indicative of the Android experience as a whole. That is the ultimate strength/weakness, yet beauty of Android. It is entirely yours to do with. Whether you are the handset maker or the consumer.
What seems to be the main problem…these ads are showing Android to be some hard, complicated, engineering major only phones. Yet if they had a simple ad showcasing the simple features…it would catch on.
I believe they should take a page from Apple’s book and make a simple commercial…showing simple usage of the device. Meaning…one device, one hand, and the inclusion of swipes and taps. You can literally navigate the whole Android OS without nary a hardware button besides back.
At least all of those ugly apparently can run in the background on Android.
@duvi: Agreed, wholeheartedly.
No doubt, Google lag behind Apple in terms of GUI environment. But, then, doesn’t everybody? That’s no reason to slough off personal responsibility for how your app looks & works. What next – he complains about the weather? Or his dog?
@iDavey:
Yep – those early iPhone spots were brilliant, conveying a sense of ease & convenience, while simultaneously teaching us how to use the thing. Lately, I’ve heard people suggest that the pinch/spread gesture-set is more ‘intuitive’ than something like double-tap. I say, ‘Total baloney. You learned it from watching months of slick commercials, just like I did.’
But I’ll add two, more – also relatively simple, for the potential benefit – things that need doing: (1) create a smooth, online version of Android market, or at least a directory for same, plus (2) improve search-capabilities for the on-phone Market. These flaws make it harder than necessary for non-techie users to find new, great apps.
@iDavey #9.
We used to call “developers” of the kind the article mentions “Package Runners”. They were not really developers per se, but were able to click, drag, and drop just enough and write a minimal amount of code to get something working.
The better developers, those that have apps available on more than one platform are much better at this sort of thing, and better at segregating the platform specific interface requirements from the main-line code, such that they can support BlackBerry, iPhone, Mac or PC without too much trouble. For these guys, apples dictated development environment may just get in the way.
Package Runners will make simplistic games and fArt apps, and never deliver outside of a single platform.
Real developers will make QuickOffice, mSecure, and Beejive. So by definition, I suppose it is easier to develop for the iPhone ONLY. But I’m not sure those are the kind of people I want writing my apps.
It hasn’t so far. I really can’t think of any software that is available for a bunch of mobile platforms, but not on the iPhone. The only exception is Google Voice, and that’s more of a corporate politics decision, not an economics one.
The big-name developers and houses that create software for the iPhone speaks for itself.
The prizefight Droid vs. iPhone is very telling. iPhone wins on style / ease-of-use, but not by enough to outweight the fact that the iPhone sucks as a Phone. http://www.cnet.com/8301-17918_1-10394819-85.html
Can’t wait for iPhone to come out on Verizon. Until then, I guess I’ll have to go with a Droid
@Dave iPhone works great as a phone on Rogers. That’s AT&T’s problem, not the iPhone :-/
Macgirl, new Droid owner. I will need to make apps for both platforms in 2010 and may just do web versions, but I have a question. I have definitely noticed the somewhat inferior design of my Droid apps compared to those I use on my iPod Touch (my workaround for not getting to have an iPhone due to coverage issues.) But WHY does the stuff made on the phone itself (like my Contacts) look a lot more like the iPhone apps I find more appealing, than those done by Android developers in the Market? Obviously better design can be done by someone. The way Contacts works is a lot more akin to that picture you show up there – it feels “slicker.”
Twitter sucks anyway nobody will be using that sh*t 1 year from now you can quote the dong.
…at least until an app store reviewer notices that a Twitter user icon might resemble a caricature of a politician.
@Long:
Bet ME!
One year from now it will be 5 time the size it is now. (And probably still not making any money).
I beg to differ when i hear someone saying follow me or twit me I feel like punching them…..so do alot of people ask em……and you sound like you might want to duck yourself.
Rene, I hate to say it but AT&T’s problems are also Apple’s problems and will be until Apple gets on a good network in the US.
Also, I know this is an iPhone site but this couldn’t be more biased. As an iPhone user soon to be Droid user I must say that comparing the two is apples and oranges (no pun intended). There are things the iPhone does better and things the Droid does better. They are both great devices though.
I still think Verizon coming out with a non backwards comparable 4G phone when they are going to have 2 cities with 4G next month, and 20-30 in January is the F A I L of the century.
People are stuck on 3G for 2 more years. Ad then putting up with the $350 ETF?
Can somebody please explain what’s so special about the Twitter apps for iPhone? The available Android apps (Like Twidroid, Swift or HTC Peep preinstalled) provide all functionality a twitter user might need, and i don’t see ANY big difference. Yes the UI may be nicer on some of the IPhone twitter apps (i don’t find all of them beautiful…on the contrary), but the features are up to par on the Android twitter apps. And HTC Peep in example does provide a very sleek UI too.
I think especially HTC managed to produce a great Android overlay with HTC Sense, which also provides big usability enhancements too. Check out my review of HTC Sense:
http://smartphoneblogging.com/2009/09/a-longterm-windows-mobile-user-switching-to-android-part-4-htc-sense-review/
I’m not an Android fanboy, since i was a longterm windows mobile user. And i don’t bash the IPhone, it’s a great product, BUT i think even an IPhone fan can not deny that the HTC Sense UI is very sleek. Android has matured a lot, and will keep growing. While overall the IPhone has apps with prettier UIs, i don’t see the big feature differences currently.
This article is a prime example of one of the reasons why I am switching from iPhone to Android next week.
The breathtaking smarmy-ness of those who apparently cannot be satisfied with Apple’s market-share, and who feel compelled at every turn to point out the iPhone’s supposed superiority to every other goddamn mobile platform on earth. If the iPhone is truly superior then why even bother to compare yourself to anything? Leave that to the other guy.
But, no, we get this article and countless like it from Apple freaks bent on gloating and belittling.
If pretty UI’s are your hangup as opposed to, say, functionality, then meet the unchangeable black background of a non-jailbroken iPhone. There’s nothing uglier. And let us not forget that this is intentional. You can have an iPhone in any flavor you want as long as the flavor you want is vanilla, because sans jailbreaking, that’s all you’re going to get.
Which leads me to the most important reason why I’m about to switch from the iPhone to an unlocked Hero: Jailbreaking. I bought my 3G in January of this year and jailbroke it that same day. Why? Because in order to use the phone to it’s utmost capability it was necessary. Want to customize the look and feel of the UI? Jailbreak. Want info at-a-glance on the lock screen? Jailbreak. Want to shoot video? Jailbreak. These are things that the kit is capable of, yet oddly missing. Why? Because Apple wants it that way and to hell with what I, the consumer, want.
Admittedly, no one held a gun to my head and forced me to buy an iPhone. I did it willingly, even happily. But that happiness lasted about 3 months before it dawned on me that I was aiding and abetting a bunch of ass-sucking Jobites who don’t really care about kit, they just care about THEIR kit.
Thus endeth my rant.
@metrojethro Switching platforms as a result of the supposed “smarmy-ness” of it’s user base doesn’t seem like sound reasoning to me.
Switch for the right reasons. Switching for religous reasons won’t make you happy. If there are items on the iPhone platform that you don’t like, like lack of customization options then find a platform (e.g. Android) that offers you that.
All platform design decisions come at a cost / benefit. The “singlelarity” of the iPhone platform offers great benefits in usability & polish. For those of us that values these aspects the iPhone fits the bill.
Either way, I hope you enjoy your new Android device as much as I enjoy my iPhone.
PublicFarley Happy iPhone User / Developer.
@PublicFarley: I addressed my main motivation for switching platforms in the second half of my post. And I see where I came across as angry when, in fact, I’m not. Just dissatisfied and moving on.
Thank you for the well-wish. I hope that you continue to enjoy your iPhone.
@metrojethro:
Of course there is — every single theme in Winterboard is uglier than anything else that’s ever been designed throughout the history of mankind. Period.
Why do you want to see something else in the background, that’s so covered up with icons, that you can’t even make out what it is? Answer: Because you have no taste.
I love way at the bottom of that pic, how they’re talking about how the AT&T Pure has no 3.5 mm headphone jack… Oh, Windows Phones
Haha
Anyway, Yeah I love my iPhone 2G for Twitter
Echofon!
@fastlane
This is the Theme I use, doesnt change the springboard… But Its a beautiful UI booster
Its called Matte UI
http://kediashubham.deviantart.com/art/Matte-iPhone-UI-v1-1-110768869
@methrojethro
Android phones have their own limitations. 256mb to install apps on? Google withheld multitouch for some reason? No tethering on sprint (assuming that’s where you go).
Here’s the thing. Apple’s goal is to maximize profit while offering high quality software & hardware. There’s nothing in there about giving YOU what YOU want. It just so happens that if they want to sell iphones, they need to pay attention to people’s wants.
There’s a reason why Apple doesn’t allow themes, multitasking, and what not. To maintain what it sees as crucial to a simple UI and high performance.
Apple isn’t thinking about now. They thought about NOW months ago. They’ve got a road map for the next couple of years planned out for updates & upgrades and can adjust it if they feel a need to do so. Everything is marketing driven to maximize profit. This summer will be another of a huge number of updates all designed to wow the mainstream consumer. And it works.
Here’s the funny part. Apple can do multitasking this summer and market it (again) as if they’ve invented it. Why? Because the mainstream remains ignorant of it. Palm, Google, HTC, Moto, etc have done nothing to educate the public about the benefits of multitasking.
If Apple comes out with a much improved screen, they’ll market that too as if they’ve invented it. And the mainstream will eat it up.
Apple created the consumer smartphone market and set up the rules and expectations. It’s one brand vs all the multiple brands and confusing chaos that is android.
@cardfan
Hey don’t get your panties in a twitter. We live in a capitalist economy… MARKETING is 90% of everything we buy, and as long as the product meets the hype we’re happy. Don’t you realize that you bought your Android because of the Marketing? It appealed to something innate in you and you sprung… perhaps it was the idea that you would be free of Apple’s Marketing machine, or maybe they led you to believe that they had indeed invented the REAL smartphone. Get over it, we’re all suckers for somebody’s product. Me, I’m a sucker for Apple’s products… they’ve served me well since the late 70′s and I’ve never, never, been dissappointed. I love their kool-aid and their products. So What, You’re a sucker too, you just can’t admit it to yourself.
Addendum: BTW when it comes to multi-tasking on the Phone it already multitasks, the idea that it doesn’t is just hype created by Android & Pre in an attempt to blur the truth. The iPhones multitasking is tightly controlled by Apple or some very good reasons, and really, if you cant drag-ndrop between various open apps whats the point? and then again when Apple opens unlimited multitasking of 3rd party apps I believe their way will be superior to anything currently available, and I’ll still have my trusty ole reliable iPhone, and it’ll still beat the pants off of anything around as far as quality, apps, styling, looks, dependability, functionality and plain ole koolness. Also as to ATT being an unreliable carrier that’s a bunch of whooey. all carriers excel in some areas and crap in others… for me ATT is the best, and verizon is nothing but antiquated junk.