The developer for the Facebook application on the iPhone has criticised Android and given reasons why the official app is poorer for Google phones.
Although recently getting a decent upgrade, the Facebook for Android application has always been the poorer cousin to the iPhone version, and Joe Hewitt, who helped created the Apple option, says it's down to the tools offered.
"The more I work with Android the more it reminds me of Windows… as in, it's really flexible, agnostic, and developer-friendly, but also really sloppily designed," he said on Twitter.
Like running through a meadow in linen trousers
However, despite the problems, he did give praise to the open-thinking way that Google offered up the Android platform, calling Apple overbearing and hinting that that presence may cause more developers to switch platforms:
"Android tools are horrendous, OS is hideous, but the absence of big brother telling me what to do gives it a slight edge."
While the criticism of Android is probably just, it's important to remember the platform is less that two years old, and is developing at an incredible rate, something which Hewitt agrees with:
"Android fragmentation will hopefully stabilize within two years, and if not, at least people upgrade phones much more often than computers."
Let's just hope Google gets its act together to help create an app development platform to really start getting some quality options into the App Market.
Via IntoMobile
Your comments (13) Click to add a new comment
slaguru
August 31st 2010
13. @si_smith
Spoken with the true voice of a droid fanboy.
Come back when you have grown up.
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si_smith
August 26th 2010
12. @bradavon
Want to tell us what's missing from the Android SDK that's in the Apple one?
I have used both, and the Android SDK has better documentation and more consistent style. It's just as feature complete.
The Eclipse enviroment with ADT Plugin is actually VERY good to work with.
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dyonas
August 26th 2010
11. @author of the article
Your link (Twitter) is completely messed up.
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dyonas
August 26th 2010
10. It's strange to see a developer say this considering the babyish feel of all Apple apps I've seen. There are a lot of very good looking and highly functional apps on Android that I doubt would ever be allowed on the iPx devices. A good example is Touiteur, a Twitter client. It is very functional, looks great and has a built-in browser to avoid leaving the app for links. It also added picture previews recently that are a welcome addition.
Keeping Touiteur in mind even after the last update the Android version of Facebore STILL sends you to the browser for simple things. What is the point of a mobile app if it ends up sending you to the website? You may as well just be using the mobile site. It's a really poorly done job and blaming the tools when others have managed far more with it just shows he / she hasn't spent the time required with them. That or they lack the skills to use it fully.
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awjr
August 26th 2010
9. Well,
Just because it's Eclipse based doesn't make it good. The point is that Apple have a more mature SDK.
Personally, with Android 2.2, AIR for Android (and other Mobile OS), Flash CS5, and the imminent release of the Adobe Flex 'Hero' framework, coding natively for an OS will hopefully vanish in the coming years.
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bradavon
August 26th 2010
8. Guys, he's not saying Android is sloppy but the Android SDK is sloppy. To be fair, the iPhone SDK is more mature.
That's still no excuse really, sloppy it maybe but it clearly works. They just need to spend more time adding the missing iPhone features.
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shuan1210
August 26th 2010
7. "A bad workman always blames his tools"
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awire
August 26th 2010
6. If you could be a rabbit or a frog which would you choose?
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tamalinio
August 26th 2010
5. I strongly agree with the two opinions above.
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martlikesstorms
August 26th 2010
4. @si_smith
Ah straight to the insults. That'll win everyone over to your side immediately. *sigh*
-Mart
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badgerboy1977
August 26th 2010
3. Android OS is hideous? Gimme a break, at the very least its on a par with iOS4 and quite frankly having used both I've got to say that I prefer Android for long term use, iphones are just too limiting.
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ibanezlewis
August 26th 2010
2. I've just bought a Desire and have to strongly disagree with this article. It's smooth, easy to use and intuitive :)
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si_smith
August 26th 2010
1. ??? Android tools are rather good, It's all Eclipse and Java based.
Clearly the opinion of a iCretin.
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