Apple Says Many Users 'Bought an Android Phone By Mistake' 711
mrspoonsi (2955715) writes "Apple CEO Tim Cook during his keynote said that around 130 million customers have purchased their first Apple device in the last twelve months. He states, 'Many of these customers were switchers from Android,' he said. 'They had bought an Android phone by mistake, and then had sought a better experience and a better life.' He added that almost half of those who have purchased an iPhone in China since December have switched from Android. However, it is worth noting that iPhones were not actually available in China until December, when pre-orders began, so it is unclear how much of the device's popularity there is simply down to the novelty factor, rather than a burning desire to flee from Android."
"By Mistake" (Score:5, Insightful)
Well, fortunately iOS 8 adds a bunch of things that Android has had forever, so that will help the problem!
In other news (Score:5, Insightful)
Whoosh (Score:3, Insightful)
as it flies over the poster's head.
Anecdotal but... (Score:1, Insightful)
I've listened in as a salesman told a woman that the Samsung was essentially an iPhone" to a woman who came in asking about it. He wasn't pleased when I chimed in that the two weren't quite the same. (I can guess which pays the bigger commission...)
I'm certain he could argue that the woman was using "iPhone" to mean "Smartphone" and he was pointing out that the two Smartphone OSes both have roughly the same feature set. But I'd bet that Tim Cook would feel that but for my intervention, she would have bought an Android "by mistake".
Comment removed (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:The shareholders will be impressed (Score:5, Insightful)
I believe the word you're looking for is puffery [wikipedia.org].
Basically you can be full of shit, everyone knows you're full of shit, but it's OK to be full of shit because everyone knows you're not actually making a statement of fact.
Tim: Bad Math, or Duplicity? (Score:1, Insightful)
Apple CEO Tim Cook during his keynote said that around 130 million customers have purchased their first Apple device in the last twelve months states, "Many of these customers were switchers from Android,"
So, tell me, Tim, are you bad at math, or duplicitous? It is also true that many first time users of Android, nowadays, are switchers from iPhone. How can I know that without having any figures at hand? Simple: Said slightly differently: Many people who buy a smartphone today are on their second or later smartphone, and there are only two major smartphone OSs. If it is their first smartphone with OS A, it must be either their first smartphone, or they had a Windows phone (not many of those out there), or they switched from OS B. Simple math means many who use OS A for the first time switched from OS B.
So, Tim, are you saying neither you nor anyone who went over your speech could figure that math out, or are you saying you expect your audience won't catch it, and you'd try to put one over on them? Are you bad at math, or are you a used car salesman?
Re:It true !!!! (Score:5, Insightful)
An android phone is quite flexible and allows quite a bit of freedom to the user. An Apple phone may look cool, but as soon as you think of stuff that you like (other favorite web browser etc.) you are toast.
"A Better Life" (Score:4, Insightful)
Re:It true !!!! (Score:5, Insightful)
My wife and I have had "smartphones" (starting with Palm and the older Windows Mobile) for pushing 10 years now. We'd had Android phones for about 4 years, then we switched carriers in October. My wife decided she wanted to give an iPhone a try. I have an iPad for work, and she liked how it worked. She liked it for a couple of weeks, then the limitations started to get in the way. No external storage. Certain apps not available that she wanted. Settings she wasn't allowed to change such as default apps. In March we got her a new S4 and gave the iPhone to my daughter. 6 months is all she could stand being locked into Apple's walled garden. She didn't realize how open the Android system is in comparison to iOS.
If anything, I think Cook has it backwards. People go in looking for a smart phone and get sold an iPhone instead. If people are looking for an iPhone and walk out with an Android device I think it is more likely because of the price difference from an entry-level Android vs. an iPhone. It is very doubtful that they don't understand the difference with all of the marketing and hype surrounding both platforms. That or Apple is seriously underestimating the cognitive abilities of its customers, which is insulting at best.
Re:By mistake? (Score:5, Insightful)
And I think this is what Cook was saying. People went to buy a smartphone thinking they'd have the same apps/functions/etc as the iPhone if they bought any smartphone, then found that their Android phone didn't do/use the specific thing that all their friends on iPhones could do/use.
To say that Tim Cook was saying people went to intentionally buy an iPhone, but accidentally bought an Android phone is disingenuous. You know what he meant. And if you don't, you have a serious English comprehension issue.
Now, whether cellular providers' sales people fobbed Android phones off on customers who were actually looking for an iPhone is another story.
You can imagine the scenario:
"I'd like an iPhone."
"That's $399, then."
"What?! That's a lot!"
"Well, we have these (Android) phones, and they're only $39.95."
"Is that an iPhone?"
"No, but it does all the same things."
"Oh. And only $39.95? Okay. I'll take it."
A few months later they've discovered that iPhone only app that all their friends rave about doesn't run on Android. Oops.
Re:Other way around (Score:5, Insightful)
if you are ok 'following the rules' then apple is fine for you.
I have a problem with 'rules' (when it comes to my own computer and what I can do with it) and so I won't be caught dead with a mac or iphone or ipad.
computers are more than a simple appliance to me. so apple is entirely wrong for folks like me.
wish there was a hacker's version (blessed by the company) for those who want something a bit more hybrid, with more freedom. I don't mind apple hardware but their software and systems approach is a huge turn-off and I won't buy their hardware only to have to fight them and work-around them.
I wouldn't read too much into Cook's comments... (Score:2, Insightful)
Apple and Google are now clearly rivals. Just like Samsung and Apple are rivals. So every chance they get they will take a poke at the opposition. Frankly, I think it's good to see a little fire in Tim Cook's belly. If Apple expects to continue to do well in the smartphone arena they are going to have to fight for it. It's a zero sum game - people will either buy an iPhone or something else, but rarely both of them. And once people get used to a particular way of doing things it's hard to get them to change.
So the battle lines are pretty clearly drawn. On the Android side you have the ability to customize your phone to a great degree and generally have more choices. On the Apple side you have less choice but, arguably, better vertical integration and "flow". Android phones come in all price ranges. Apple, not so much but the build quality is excellent across the line. One thing that is beginning to worry me is mobile malware which seems to be almost entirely an Android problem.
I've had both and currently have an Android phone. But if Apple introduces an iPhone with a larger screen I might switch back. My wife has a 5S and she loves it but to me it feels like a toy compared to my LG G2. The fact that I'm using a MacBook Pro makes for a compelling case to switch back to the iPhone. Sure, the G2 works fine but it's not nearly as slick as the all Apple solution. I'll be watching closely this week to see what new hardware comes out.
Android phones are also more secure. (Score:5, Insightful)
And this conclusion has been peer reviewed [sciencedaily.com]. With Cyanogenmod, you even get a line-item veto (privacy guard).
Re:It true !!!! (Score:2, Insightful)
I have an Android and an iPhone and find the iPhone works better for what I need it for. While I've been frustrated from time to time with the iPhone, it doesn't take more than a minute or two of using the Android before I'm ready to pitch the damn thing into a nearby lake. It's nothing about available apps or external storage or anything, just basic usability. Being able to compose an email or text someone.
[John]
Re:Android phones are also more secure. (Score:4, Insightful)
The main problem that I see with Android security is that it takes forever to get security patches. It can take over six months for an Android point release to get validated by the carriers and pushed out to all of the phones, and many Android phones that are more than 18 months old aren't getting ANY Android updates anymore.
Combine that with clueless end users (like my poor Mom) who seemingly click on every e-mail and SMS link they receive without thinking twice, and you have a disaster waiting to happen. She switched to an iPhone after her old Android 2.3 phone got hacked and filled with malware.
Re:Android phones are also more secure. (Score:5, Insightful)
You can jailbreak your phone and modify the functionality of iOS, too.
The fact that this is referred to as "jailbreaking" is telling. My phone didn't start out in jail.
Re:It true !!!! (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:Android phones are also more secure. (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:Android phones are also more secure. (Score:2, Insightful)
So if I install an OS other than iOS onto my iPhone, can I claim to be comparing iPhone to Android?
If you can do so without violating the terms of use then it's a start, at least.
My iPhone hardware does not have any terms of use. The software does and if I am replacing it, then they don't apply, do they?
Re:It true !!!! (Score:5, Insightful)
Your anecdote doesn't really mean much. Apple has much better retention than other companies, ...
Apple calls it "retention," the rest of us call it "vendor lock-in."
Re:It true !!!! (Score:4, Insightful)
Re:It true !!!! (Score:5, Insightful)