When we talk about the operating system, there are two players who dominate the market: Android (Google) and iOS (Apple). Over the years, both of them have used the features of their cellular operating system. However, there are differences between the two that affect the application development process. In other words, the entire process of developing a mobile application will vary according to the operating system chosen. This also applies to gambling sites such as onlinecasinodeutschland.com.de.
In this article, we will talk about the fundamental difference between creating an application for iOS and for Android.
Before deciding which operating system we want to develop, it might be interesting to know the current market share and the popularity of each. According to Forbes, the current market share of Android phones is between 80% and (almost) 90%. In comparison, iOS dominates 10% – 20% of other markets, which basically leaves a very low percentage for other operating systems.
Difference in programming between Android and iOS
The main difference between Android and iOS in terms of programming is language and environment:
Programming language
The Android application is programmed on Java, currently the most popular programming language in the world. Even though Java requires a lot of coding, there is an alternative: Kotlin. This coding language is easier for developers to read and encode can be done more efficiently. Other popular programming languages for Android applications, especially among junior application developers, are C #. It’s compatible with useful tools like Unity and Xamarin for creating multiplatform games and applications.
The language of Apple’s native mobile application development, Objective-C, is one of the first programming languages and has proven useful in creating applications on many devices. A more modern programming language is Swift, which was launched in 2014 and made as a substitute for Objective-C. Thanks to simplified language and a sophisticated error control system, it is easier and faster for developers to create applications.
Integrated programming environment
There are also differences between sets of tools used for application development in both operating systems. The most common IDE (integrated development environment) for Android is Eclipse, Android Studio, and IntelliJ.
To develop an iOS based application, there are fewer choices, but the most common is Xcode 8. This IDE makes it possible to create a user interface prototype (UI) without complicated coding and allows developers to create applications for all Apple devices. A smarter IDE is Appcode. This smart development environment allows programmers to encode faster by automating everyday tasks and conducting code inspections for, among other things, Objective-C.
The difference in design between Android and iOS
In addition to the aspects of programming discussed, there are also visual differences that are important for the application development process. Let’s look at the following three points:
One manufacturer vs. many producers
Apple’s goal is to have complete control over the software and devices. This also includes user experience (UX) because iOS is only available for iPhone and iPad. This is positive on the one hand because the UX will remain intact, but negative on the other hand because there is less room for innovation.
Instead, Android can basically be installed on all types of devices. Instead there are some manufacturers such as Samsung, Huawei and Oppo, for example. This can be seen as an advantage to manufacturers, because it gives them control of the operating system and, therefore, the possibility of creating their own UX. Instead, this can be seen as a loss because it affects the relative level of UX for Android devices.
UI pattern
Menus, lists, and headers are displayed differently on both operating systems, and delaying from the most commonly used patterns can cause confusion for the user. We must ensure that we understand the difference between the unique design patterns of each platform.
The UX guide for iOS and Android helps get more information about this aspect. In this guide, various iOS and Android patterns are explained and explained clearly. Another option is to see the applications that we use every day. How does it work on an iPhone or Samsung device? And what are the immediate differences when browsing applications?
Some Android devices have several physical buttons on the cell phone (or in the touch screen version) that help navigate, including typical ones: rear view, home and public. iOS has physics (or touch screen version) from the start button and physical key.
So what does this mean for your application design and UX? The most important difference is that you have to think about how the user can return to the previous screen. This is usually quite clear for Android applications, but for iOS, it’s important to enter something like an arrow pointing to the left on the top left of the application.
All have advantages and disadvantages. What you need to realize is that if you want to work on something exclusive then Apple is the right environment.
