Envato Notes

Source Code Trends: What Does the New iPhone Mean for Marketplace Developers?

Posted: 10 Sep 2013 04:32 PM PDT

Businessman Using a Hands Free Device

As mobile devices become increasingly central, the major platforms are in a race to stay current and relevant. Today we saw Apple release as many colors as Nokia, make settings as easy as Android, and give away their productivity software free of charge. At each iteration we see one company trying to leapfrog another.

Choosing the right mobile platform is important for consumers, but it’s crucial for developers. What is the best mobile platform for startups and freelancers to bet their business on?

Catch Envato’s Apple event coverage on iPhone.AppStorm.

Mobile Devices on the Envato Marketplaces

What is the state of mobile apps on the Envato Marketplaces? At first look, it seems that iOS is twice as popular as Android: CodeCanyon currently has 236 iOS files, and just 120 Android files. And they generate $16K per month versus $6K per month respectively.

But that’s not the whole story. Our Android files have tripled since last August, while the iOS category has only doubled.

For a developer, choosing which mobile platform to get behind is a crucial decision. It’s one they’re betting their future on.

According to The Age newspaper, the app store gold rush may be now over. They speak to several successful mobile developers (some still teenagers), and there seems to be a clear consensus: “It’s a lot harder to make real money with an app.” You need the right app on the right platform.

So which platform should you bet your business on? I caught up with some of our top-selling mobile app authors to ask them why they chose the platform they develop for, and where they see things heading in the next six months.

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My mobile device graveyard. How many do you recognize?

Why Developers Chose Their Platform

Our iOS authors were keen to tell me why they chose Apple’s mobile platform. Reasons include its popularity, lack of piracy, and easy-to-use development tools.

“Smaller marketshare, yet higher usage, little to no piracy, few different screen sizes and OS versions to maintain, great dev tools, docs and support.” (MaxNorthpole)
“It’s easy to develop for.” (philippineoutsourcing)
“Unique fans. For an iOS developer like me, there will always be people who appreciate iOS. It’s inspired me more and more to develop on this platform.” (Kruk8989)
“iOS developer earn more – developing on iOS makes more money than developing on Android. It’s generated at least three times more revenue than Android.” (Kruk8989)
“I am using the iOS platform because I love Mac products, and programming with that platform is pretty easy and intuitive.” (ingravity)
“You need fewer resources for development. The best thing developing on iOS is the screen sizes. We only have three possible screen sizes compared to the thousand of Android devices available.” (Kruk8989)
“When comparing Android vs iOS we definitely see iOS as more attractive environment. The main Android disadvantages are its fragmentation and different resolutions.” (dimovdaniel)
“It will always be a great experience. The touch response, hardware, sensor and up-to-date software is great and very satisfying. And we know it’s always there, compared to Android, where maybe some of it is not available. For example, if I start to submit Android app templates to Envato, I’m pretty sure there will be a lot of support tickets submitted.” (Kruk8989)
“I chose the iOS platform because the world of mobile has always impressed me. I chose Apple and the iPhone because they are fantastic products. I like to develop a nice application for a nice phone, and the iPhone has laid down the law with regard to the smartphone.” (egimobile)
“Xcode. The best thing about iOS is Xcode and simplicity. Just install Xcode and start developing on it, or just run the Xcode template file. It offers state-of-the-art features like a graphical interface builder, and it’s syntax-aware and compiler-aware.” (Kruk8989)

Our Android authors also had a lot to say. Reasons they chose their platform include the lower cost of development, the growing popularity of the platform, and flexible development tools. And some are also open to developing for other platforms.

“I am an Android application developer. I have been working with this platform for the last year. I chose it because I noticed Android devices had been becoming accessible to users rapidly. More and more hardware companies are manufacturing cheaper varieties of Android devices. This is a big opportunity for a developer to expose apps, and to earn more money through advertising and by selling apps. It is also fun and easy to develop apps for Android, compared with iOS.” (zchowdhury)
“It’s cheaper to develop for Android.” (philippineoutsourcing)
“It’s an OS with a promising future. I like to develop in Android.” (dmbTeam)
“I have been developing Android apps since I was in a college. I heard that Android was getting popular as an operating system for the smartphones. And personally, due to a limited budget, buying a PC and Android device were the most reasonable for me at that time. But now, as I am also selling my Android apps on CodeCanyon, it is possible for me to buy a Mac and iPhone, so I’m also ready to develop an iOS app.” (katode)
“At the start, we developed only Android applications natively in Eclipse. With the rise of Appcelerator Titanium, we saw new opportunity of making iOS app without learning a new programming language. In the near future we are planning to offer Windows mobile apps.” (dimovdaniel)

Where Developers See Things Heading

What trends do our mobile developers see in the future? What are their hopes and expectations? Come back and read this post in a year to see how accurate they were. All answers were given before the September 10th Apple event.

“iOS 7 will introduce many new low level APIs. I have high hopes that more access to system APIs will follow on and after the 10th of September, also for an Apple TV SDK and possible future devices. Lower cost devices will make the platform accessible to a broader range of customers.” (MaxNorthpole)
“Yes, they always update things. Sometimes it’s an improvement, sometimes it’s a nightmare for developers. Apple has been consistent with their resolutions compared to Android, but the news says the size of the device will change, and so will the dimensions. This means we have to update the designs, layout as well as the code.” (philippineoutsourcing)
“At the current time, it’s very hard to predict what’s next after iOS 7. Apple is rapidly updating their OS. But as developer, I predict that this device will add more sensors in future, and more features will be integrated—maybe like “keep all documents in one place” so the developer can access or save a doc, Excel or PDF file, or maybe better tools and objects in Xcode for developing for iOS 7.” (Kruk8989)
“With 79.3% of market share this year, Android is getting bigger and bigger. And it is not only for smartphones and tablets, but also other devices, from smart watches, smart TVs, to game consoles.” (katode)
“I see the Android market growing more and more, and that scares me (an iOS developer), because while Apple has always been known for its fantastic products, it takes time to distribute them to the user. But for Android, it’s ‘Do it now!’” (egimobile)
“With the iOS 7 update, we are seeing the innovative spirit of Apple. This update has thousands of API improvements and new features. What we will be more focused on in the next six months will be mostly the Windows platform. We see that as the next big player in the mobile world.” (dimovdaniel)
“Things are definitely improving for the Android platform in the next six months. Every time a new version is released, Android is becoming more powerful and more user-friendly. Android is now powering smart watches. I believe in the next six months we will see more Android-powered smart watches as well as other new devices.” (zchowdhury)
“Being an iOS developer is my full-time job, and in the next six months I will get a lot of experience, as I am now working on a complex project.” (ingravity)

So there we have it: a huge variety of clear thoughts and predictions about the mobile world by those who rely on it to make a living. Thanks to all the authors who contributed.

What are your thoughts? Let us know in the comments.

Free Marketplace Files for September

Posted: 10 Sep 2013 12:49 AM PDT

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Cinematic music, multi-purpose themes and fonts, animated bullets, and mixing desk knobs. Every month we bring you a collection of spectacular Marketplace items you can download absolutely free of charge. Here are September’s freebies. Grab them while you can!

ActiveDen: Plastique Video Player

This Flex video player theme can be used as a standalone library, or as an add-on to the base Plastique set. Get it free.

AudioJungle: Chasing The Wind

A cinematic piece featuring string ensemble, woodwinds, choir and flute. "Through the clouds, across the sky, fly up and down chasing the wind." Get it free.

ThemeForest: Vintage Immersed – Multipurpose WordPress Theme

This vintage WordPress theme has a unique design and rich features. It is multi-purpose and responsive, and has many options and varations so you can customize it to meet your needs. Get it free.

VideoHive: Freelancer Portfolio – Hi, My Name is…

This After Effects video display allows freelancers to present their work in a modern and clean form. It’s a catchy and positive way to introduce yourself. Get it free.

GraphicRiver: Headplane TrueType Font File

This font is suitable for titles, and includes font character sheets so you can check it out without having to install it. Get it free.

3DOcean: Gas – Oil Lamp

An old gas oil lamp created in Cinema 4D. This image is an attractive decorative for any interior scene. Get it free.

CodeCanyon: Showcase

Showcase offers over 60 animation settings that can be applied to each Bullet, providing the maximum level of customization possible. It’s lightweight and amazingly fast, even on mobile devices. Get it free.

PhotoDune: Audio Mixing Desk Knobs & Controls

A detailed photo of the many knobs and controls on an audio mixing desk—volume sliders in the foreground, and audio cables in the background. Get it free.