Android Market struggles to keep up with Apple’s iPhone apps

The Android Market has made steady improvements since its introduction. But will it ever overtake Apple’s app store and the iPhone? For the past few years, the glorious iPhone has boosted from having the best app store of any smartphone platform and hasn’t stopped users from snatching apps by the billions. in the meantime, Android Market falls behind as a close second. However, steady refinements have addressed developers’ complaints and established the market as a more desirable shopping destination.

here is a quick low-down of each:

Android OS is a mobile operating system owned by Google that can be used for cellular phones, tablets and netbooks. For users, Android Market is the online software store that is preinstalled and allows browsing and downloading apps published by third-party developers. Androids, unlike iPhones, have alternate keyboards, removable storage battery, and wireless app installation with cool third-party sites like AppBrain that make everything quicker. in addition, they obtain a true App Integration where one can integrate directly with the operating system.

on the iPhone side of things, there are four generations of models, accompanied by four major releases of iOS (formerly iPhone OS). The original iPhone 3G added 3G cellular network capabilities and A-GPS location. The iPhone 4 has two cameras for Facetime, video calling and a higher-res display with more than 300,000 apps from Apple’s infamous App Store. iPhone battery life is known to be incredible, has retina display, a wider selection of apps and regular upgrade cycles with new major releases once a year.

Google recently primped the Android Market to emphasize featured apps, recommending a few for each category in the store. But Apple has upped its discovery method as well, with pristine lists such as “iPhone Game of the Week,” “Apps for Movie Lovers,” and “App Store Essentials.” Despite these curated lists, Android prospers in the ease of updates with an “update all” option, unlike the App Store, you can turn on automatic updates for any app you like.

“I travel frequently for work as a PR agency owner, and every extra ounce feels like a pound when walking through airports. My Android Atrix, docking station and QuickOffice Pro turns my phone into a notebook and saves me several pounds without hurting my productivity,” said President of PRSA Suburban Chicago and DePaul public relations professor Debra Bethard-Caplick on her appreciation of Android. “I never really considered an iPhone — I don’t feel the need to overpay for performance, just to be part of the crowd. It’s ironic, really, that Apple has become that monolithic giant in its iconic 1984 TV commercial it opposed by creating Macintosh.”

recently, iPhone’s trendy photo-sharing app Instagram launched on Android after being on a single platform for only 16 months of its existence. Despite this, the popular app created a whole lot of controversy. what should have been an exciting story about the exclusive photo app for Apple to Android flip-flopped into a wide public display of Apple fanboy arrogance. Criticisms on Twitter went off the charts the first week from Apple users “grossed out” by the now shared app.

Junior journalism major Gabriel Tyler loves his iPhone and isn’t afraid to show his love. “I just switched over to the iPhone 4S from Android, and it’s safe to say I will never go back,” he said. “What I love about the iOS platform is that it integrates with your entire life and all your devices and of course the apps! I can sync all of my Mac products and keep up to speed with my life across platforms. Compared to products featuring the iOS platform, Androids are prehistoric.”

from a different perspective, DePaul anthropology student Tessa Ferraro doesn’t see the need for the constant battle. “As a fan of both Apple products and Android phones, I hate seeing so much hate pushed around like this. Honestly, I think it’s even worse than the old school Mac bashing, only worse because phones for some odd reason are also seen as fashion accessories. People like what they like, and it shouldn’t matter whose apps are better.”

The Android Market has come a long way over the past few years. although the iPhone seems preferred, Android’s major features such as refunds, updates and Web access in some ways clobber the iPhone.

It’s all a matter of preference and choice. When you set aside the open versus closed debate, it’s about being an open-minded consumer. Both Android and iPhone each have their unique perks at the end of the day.