Will iOS 7 Distract Developers From Android?

The impending launch of iOS 7 means reworking apps for many developers. Instapaper creator Marco Arment argues that could prove a burden for developers who build apps on multiple platforms.

In a blog post, Arment argues that the changing behaviour of iOS 7 will prove problematic for developers who don’t produce highly specific versions for each platform: “Fewer assumptions can be made about the UI widgets and behaviours common to all major platforms. And any UI targeting the least common denominator will now look even more cheap and dated on iOS 7, since the new standard on the OS is so far from the old one.” The end result, he suggests, is that less attention will be paid to Android and other platforms.

Arment points out this is less of an issue for games:

Games usually build entirely custom UIs shared between platforms, they’re more financially viable than non-game apps on Android, and cross-platform game frameworks are so good that it’s relatively easy to maintain iOS and Android versions simultaneously.

Do you think development efforts will be swayed by the need to rebuild for iOS 7? Share your thoughts in the comments.

iOS 7 As Defense [Marco.org via Business Insider]


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