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Android overtakes Symbian as world's best-selling smartphone platform

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gimmmick

gimmmick

Member
Android overtakes Symbian as world's best-selling smartphone platform in Q4 2010

11x01311109nd.jpg


Surprise, surprise?

I wonder if google will be able to keep up the momentum throughout 2011 now. It's funny looking back at it, and how many early adopters (such as myself) has seen android go from nothing into almost everywhere in the mobile market.
 
M

MNC

Member
Now to actually make it worthwhile to stay with Android. I really like where it´s going and I really want to buy one, but the fragmentation is making me scared and confused.


edit: ^^^^ lol
 
gimmmick

gimmmick

Member
Ulairi said:
It's still a mess that offers a weaker user experience when compared to webOS and iOS.
Click to expand...

I can't say I'm not surprised that this would be the first reply.

Maybe google gave him an offer he couldn't refuse, but Duarte Sweet and his crew is doing a fantastic job with honeycomb with all the previews that have been written about it.
 
R

rezuth

Member
One less shitty OS replaces another shitty OS, lets hope 3.0 polishes it up. Google needs to stop giving carriers the power.
 
ShinNL

ShinNL

Member
I wonder how many trolls here actually own/have tried Android devices.

Also, fragmentation means diversity (of handsets)... there's more to it than just a con-side >_>

I myself am glad with this report. Android is the best thing that happened to the mobile industry, since a lot of software will be shared among different brands (thus as an Android owner, you'll have a lot of software available).
 
R

rezuth

Member
Soneet said:
I wonder how many trolls here actually own Android devices.

Also, fragmentation means diversity (of handsets)... there's more to it than just a con-side >_>
Click to expand...
I own 3, the most recent an xperia x10 mini.
 
gimmmick

gimmmick

Member
rezuth said:
One less shitty OS replaces another shitty OS, lets hope 3.0 polishes it up. Google needs to stop giving carriers the power.
Click to expand...

Yeah I really doubt google will be making that mistaken anytime soon. If google still wants to keep promoting android as being the premier open source operating system on the mobile market, I doubt they will bullish to manufacturers that are putting them on the map.
 
R

rezuth

Member
gimmmick said:
Yeah I really doubt google will be making that mistaken anytime soon. If google still wants to keep promoting android as being the premier open source operating system on the mobile market, I doubt they will bullish to manufacturers that are putting them on the map.
Click to expand...
At least give me the option of removing preinstalled bullshit software without rooting my phone.
 
D

Dead Man

Member
Symbian itself grew from 29.9m in Q3 to 31m in Q4, but Android's pace of expansion has been so rapid as to make that irrelevant.
Click to expand...

I love my Android, but that remark seems a bit dismissive.
 
ShinNL

ShinNL

Member
Dead Man said:
I love my Android, but that remark seems a bit dismissive.
Click to expand...
Well the thing is, Nokia has always been the nr.1 even with Symbian. Suddenly it turned around in 1 year in terms of market share. It seems almost every group has increased in growth (so the industry is growing), but the marketshare is vastly different.
 
gimmmick

gimmmick

Member
rezuth said:
At least give me the option of removing preinstalled bullshit software without rooting my phone.
Click to expand...

I would love this option too, but I doubt it will ever happen. I guess you can always try out stock android if you want a pure google experience.

Dead Man said:
I love my Android, but that remark seems a bit dismissive.
Click to expand...

It's engadget, what the hell do you think they were going to say? lol


I'm really surprised how many unites nokia is still able to ship, it's only a matter of time till manufactures like Huawei and ZTE will really put android on the map. Shipments of ultra-cheap androids could reach 25 million units this year.
 
U

Ulairi

Banned
Soneet said:
I wonder how many trolls here actually own/have tried Android devices.

Also, fragmentation means diversity (of handsets)... there's more to it than just a con-side >_>

I myself am glad with this report. Android is the best thing that happened to the mobile industry, since a lot of software will be shared among different brands (thus as an Android owner, you'll have a lot of software available).
Click to expand...

HTC Droid Incredible and Moto Droid 2 R2D2.

webOS > iOS > Android.
 
D

Dead Man

Member
Soneet said:
Well the thing is, Nokia has always been the nr.1 even with Symbian. Suddenly it turned around in 1 year in terms of market share. It seems almost every group has increased in growth (so the industry is growing), but the marketshare is vastly different.
Click to expand...
This is true, but the article speaks like Android has swamped everyone else, when they have had massive growth, but are only just larger than Nokia. I get that it is a massive accomplishment, but the article reads like hyperbole.
 
gimmmick

gimmmick

Member
Dead Man said:
This is true, but the article speaks like Android has swamped everyone else, when they have had massive growth, but are only just larger than Nokia. I get that it is a massive accomplishment, but the article reads like hyperbole.
Click to expand...

The thing is... I really don't think anyone saw this coming this early. I would have estimated at least by q3 / q4 of 2011 before android would have been acknowledge of taking over the top spot over symbian. It is really remarkable to tell you the truth, neither RIM or apple has ever accomplished this.
 
I

itxaka

Defeatist
Going by the data, seems that they are selling more mobiles than ever. Except windows phone, the rest have grown up a lot.

I wonder how many trolls here actually own/have tried Android devices.
Click to expand...

Stop with this shit please. It's embarrassing to have to sign your posts with "I have an android"/"I have an iphone" so you don't get labeled a troll. Sheesh, mobile phones, serious business.
 
ShinNL

ShinNL

Member
Dead Man said:
This is true, but the article speaks like Android has swamped everyone else, when they have had massive growth, but are only just larger than Nokia. I get that it is a massive accomplishment, but the article reads like hyperbole.
Click to expand...
I don't think it is though. Everyone had growth, so it's not saying a lot. Symbian had one of the lowest growths and was one of the few losing marketshare. It is a big deal for Nokia and I doubt they themselves will be shrugging it off to their shareholders.

Not a complete hyperbole, maybe just a little because of their recent comments...
Nokia's investor relations call has borne a few more interesting tidbits from the new man in charge. Elop is quoted as saying Nokia must "build or join a competitive ecosystem," with the latter verb in that sentence sure to renew discussions of why the Finnish company should / shouldn't switch to an OS such as Android or Windows Phone 7.
Click to expand...
---
itxaka said:
Stop with this shit please. It's embarrassing to have to sign your posts with "I have an android"/"I have an iphone" so you don't get labeled a troll. Sheesh, mobile phones, serious business.
Click to expand...
Yeah, because we all appreciate the amazing input that has no benefit to the discussion! SMH
 
M

markot

Banned
gimmmick said:
The thing is... I really don't think anyone saw this coming this early. I would have estimated at least by q3 / q4 of 2011 before android would have been acknowledge of taking over the top spot over symbian. It is really remarkable to tell you the truth, neither RIM or apple has ever accomplished this.
Click to expand...
RIM and Apple make devices. Android is an OS which every major device manufacturer has signed up to. Its not really comparable.
 
K

krypt0nian

Banned
markot said:
RIM and Apple make devices. Android is an OS which every major device manufacturer has signed up to. Its not really comparable.
Click to expand...

Exactly. When you just dump an OS on any hardware that will run it (and then abandon it), of course you'll have the marketshare.
 
C

Cindres

Vied for a tag related to cocks, so here it is.
I think it's great news. It'll keep encouraging manufacturers to stick to Android.

Personally love my Desire and all the shit i'm able to do with it that you just can't on other platforms.
 
G

gcubed

Member
krypt0nian said:
Exactly. When you just dump an OS on any hardware that will run it (and then abandon it), of course you'll have the marketshare.
Click to expand...

and that matters only in helping fans of RIM and IOS sleep better at night because it has no other relevance
 
G

gcubed

Member
krypt0nian said:
In your mind, sure.
Click to expand...

how else then? They have an advantage that both the other devices choose not to participate in... MS pulled its head out of its ass and started right, but they can't sell anything. If it was just as easy as letting all manufacturers make phones then WP7 would be selling like gangbusters as well.
 
C

Cartman86

Banned
gcubed said:
how else then? They have an advantage that both the other devices choose not to participate in... MS pulled its head out of its ass and started right, but they can't sell anything. If it was just as easy as letting all manufacturers make phones then WP7 would be selling like gangbusters as well.
Click to expand...

Well you know Windows isn't the highest selling OS around, because it's not a piece of hardware either. Windows being on every device hasn't made it ubiquitous at all...
 
D

DrFunk

not licensed in your state
Soneet said:
I wonder how many trolls here actually own/have tried Android devices.

Also, fragmentation means diversity (of handsets)... there's more to it than just a con-side >_>

I myself am glad with this report. Android is the best thing that happened to the mobile industry, since a lot of software will be shared among different brands (thus as an Android owner, you'll have a lot of software available).
Click to expand...

I own 6, and I still think Android has a way to go. It's a great OS, but needs more polish and less critical bugs.
 
G

gcubed

Member
Cartman86 said:
Well you know Windows isn't the highest selling OS around, because it's not a piece of hardware either. Windows being on every device hasn't made it ubiquitous at all...
Click to expand...

i'm not arguing that, but the ramifications of windows being on every device affords it certain advantages in the marketplace, which, i would assume, is the only reason people care about these stats as well
 
K

krypt0nian

Banned
gcubed said:
i'm not arguing that, but the ramifications of windows being on every device affords it certain advantages in the marketplace, which, i would assume, is the only reason people care about these stats as well
Click to expand...

Except it doesn't seem to. "Get the app" on commercials has Android as an afterthought, if it has it at all. Game devs make an Android port after the fact. Etc etc.
 
G

gcubed

Member
krypt0nian said:
Except it doesn't seem to. "Get the app" on commercials has Android as an afterthought, if it has it at all. Game devs make an Android port after the fact. Etc etc.
Click to expand...

well no, its definitely not infallible, android has some known and glaring issues with its marketplace as well as it is fighting an entrenched #1 (has it passed iphone sales overall yet?) which basically coined the entire tech lexicon surrounding the current smartphone space.

This is all just apps as well, there are other roadblocks it has for games that are starting to disappear in a version of android that currently is only available on one phone but is still most likely a bit off on being even comparable
 
T

Tobor

Member
gcubed said:
i'm not arguing that, but the ramifications of windows being on every device affords it certain advantages in the marketplace, which, i would assume, is the only reason people care about these stats as well
Click to expand...
Its not an entirely accurate comparison. Microsoft didn't have to worry about hardware manufacturers or carriers delivering software updates to Windows, for example.
 
G

gcubed

Member
Tobor said:
Its not an entirely accurate comparison. Microsoft didn't have to worry about hardware manufacturers or carriers delivering software updates to Windows, for example.
Click to expand...

true, which currently is IMO the largest drawback/issue with android currently.
 
E

erpg

GAF parliamentarian
Soneet said:
Also, fragmentation means diversity (of handsets)... there's more to it than just a con-side >_>
Click to expand...
There really isn't. Tell me, as an Android user, what the positives are of handset diversity when all I experience is handset incompatibility.
 
A

alterego

Junior Member
krypt0nian said:
Except it doesn't seem to. "Get the app" on commercials has Android as an afterthought, if it has it at all. Game devs make an Android port after the fact. Etc etc.
Click to expand...

Well from a developer point of view there's also the 10 milllion ipod touches and 7.3 million ipads from last quarter you'd have to throw in. A much more homogenious development target than what Android currently provides.

Symbian was number 1 OS for ages but developers did not care. Why?
Apple has never been number 1 OS but has the richest app and developer support. Why?

What does Google need to do to move more towards Apple's level of support and avoid Symbian's?
 
S

Stumpokapow

listen to the mad man
Lyphen said:
There really isn't. Tell me, as an Android user, what the positives are of handset diversity when all I experience is handset incompatibility.
Click to expand...

The upside isn't for you, it's for Joe Random who wants a $0 phone to text and doesn't give a shit about "apps" or fancy web browsing.
 
B

bionic77

Member
Symbian was made obsolete by the first iPhone and with each new modern OS release it becomes more irrelevant. I thought from the beginning Nokia should have taken over WebOS so that they could have gotten a piece of the smart phone pie, but that ship seems to have sailed and they will continue to lose ground every year now.

I guess they could still license Android and try to remain relevant in the smartphone space on the strength of their hardware, but they really need to do something soon and throw in the towel on Symbian.
 
indigo-cyclops

indigo-cyclops

Member
Superuser (I recognize that the majority of users don't care about this ), an open platform, great devices, Google technology. I don't regret one bit my move to my Incredible. I hope for great things in the future. Especially regarding game development and PlayStation Suite. To me there is more to it than brand identity ...

Of course that is only my opinion.
 
N

Nerevar

they call me "Man Gravy".
rezuth said:
At least give me the option of removing preinstalled bullshit software without rooting my phone.
Click to expand...

lol

You think this is Google's fault?


alterego said:
Well from a developer point of view there's also the 10 milllion ipod touches and 7.3 million ipads from last quarter you'd have to throw in. A much more homogenious development target than what Android currently provides.

Symbian was number 1 OS for ages but developers did not care. Why?
Apple has never been number 1 OS but has the richest app and developer support. Why?

What does Google need to do to move more towards Apple's level of support and avoid Symbian's?
Click to expand...

What? Google already has a rich app ecosystem that is leagues better than Symbian ever was and is better than Apple's was 2 years ago (trust me, I had an iphone 3G, now on an evo). Google's biggest problem right now is that their users just aren't buying a lot of apps. Probably something to do with the kind of people on iOS versus Android.
 
H

H_Prestige

Banned
Until Google actually takes some responsibility instead of putting everything in the hands of carriers/manufacturers, I could never buy an Android unless it is a Nexus. Regardless of how nice the hardware may be.

Have NA Galaxy S owners even gotten the Froyo 2.2 update? Google is already on 2.3.
 
S

SmokyDave

Member
canova said:
yeah I think Sony made the right choice partnering up with Google
Click to expand...
Fortunately for Sony, they seem to be thinking bigger than that...

SCE CEO Kaz Hirari has told Japanese press that the PlayStation Suite might extend beyond Android in the future.

“We're focusing first on Android,” Hirari told the roundtable of local media. “There's also Windows, iOS and so forth, but we don't have the resources to make it compatible with everything from the start."
Click to expand...

http://www.pocketgamer.co.uk/r/Android/PlayStation+Suite/news.asp?c=27063

Taken from Gamecocks625 post here.

Playstation everywhere!
 
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