It looks like Google's app store may be squaring up to Apple's own -- at least in terms of pure volume. Google says it has about 700,000 apps in its Google Play store, the same number that Apple touted earlier this month.
Google now sports 'about 700,000' apps that are available to download onto smart phones and tablets, Bloomberg reports, while Apple boss Tim Cook claimed that Apple's iOS had that number just one week ago, at the launch of the iPad mini.
Of course, these are raw numbers, so it's hard to calculate exactly who's winning in terms of apps, and a single number doesn't give much indication of the quality of available applications. Apple forces apps through an approval process before sticking them on its App Store, whereas those Google apps could have come from anywhere.
In terms of getting new apps first, I'd cautiously hazard that Apple is still ahead -- for now. The fact that there are only a few different types of iOS devices is appealing to would-be developers, and large corporations and magazines appear to be better at releasing and updating apps for Apple gadgets.
Recently I spoke to the BBC about why the iPlayer Android app lags behind the Apple equivalent in terms of features. Fragmentation -- the issue that there are Android devices of all shapes and sizes out there -- was one of the primary reasons it gave.
Whether or not you think that's a reasonable excuse, it still feels as if many developers prioritise iOS. These numbers suggest that may be starting to change, however.
Finally, it's worth noting that we don't know how many of Google's 700,000 apps are tablet-specific. A lack of desirable Android tablets up until recently has left Google lagging when it comes to slate-designed apps, especially compared to Apple, which recently crooned that it has 275,000 apps specifically built to run on the iPad.
Apple's keen to keep developers sweet, also revealing that to date it's paid out $6.5bn to app-makers, presumably hoping they'll stay on side.
Android celebrated a total of 25 billion app downloads in late September. Apple claimed last week it had hit the 35 billion download mark.
To sum up, that 700,000 figure doesn't tell the whole story, but it's certainly a sign that Google is on the march when it comes to apps. Which operating system do you think is winning in terms of applications? Tell me in the comments or on our Facebook wall.
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Comments 11
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anonymous 30 October, 2012 18:54
Thousands of those apps are bogus duplications of genuine apps and others are carriers for malware and other unsavoury stuff, estimated to be over 25 to 30,000 discovered so far.
More than 1,000 new dodgy apps a week are estimated to be put out there.
Who's checking it?
Now there are reports that say the anti-virus and anti-malware apps for the platform are largely ineffective or next to useless
anonymous 30 October, 2012 19:21
So which camp are you from then Mr Troll? iOS or WP8?
anonymous 30 October, 2012 21:40
The Android camp as it happens.
I have a samsung Galaxy S3 running ICS.
Just a realist and not living in denial.
anonymous 30 October, 2012 22:10
How the hell is he trolling? You would definitely be stupid to think that android isn't the most dodgy out of all the big three Os's! And iam an android user on galaxy s3.
damien2501 30 October, 2012 22:52
A ton of g
damien2501 30 October, 2012 22:54
Lol that went well. I meant to say, a ton of gold and a ton of crap both weigh the same. Quality is more important than quantity. It's up to u to decide whether android windows or iOS have the most quality apps
anonymous 31 October, 2012 00:43
It's worth reading these news items, which should tell you all you need to know about the huge rise in Malware, Trojans and Viruses on the Android platform.
Ignore it at your peril, as it's sobering stuff.
http://www.zdnet.com/android-malware-numbers-explode-to-25000-in-june-2012-7000001046/
http://www.ibtimes.com/mobile-malware-increased-700-over-2011-android-no-1-targeted-platform-mcafee-779557
http://adtmag.com/articles/2012/10/11/android-security-woes.aspx
http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/08/25/android-number-one-target-by-mobile-hackers-report-says/
anonymous 31 October, 2012 05:03
700,000 apps! Goody, goody! I must get down to study the reviews for all those apps and select the ones I need - at most 100 or so.
anonymous 31 October, 2012 05:08
Great apps race between Apple and Google! How exciting! Hopefully MS is not going to fall into this stupid trap and concentrate on quality. If MS have already got 100,000 that's already 98,000 too many.
Daniel Rawr 31 October, 2012 18:31
Atleast now CNET can stop their stupid argument that Ios has more apps than android so its better!
But anyway of all of you there is a total of 30 apps in max that u actually download....!
anonymous 1 November, 2012 00:26
The often said remark about the comparative quality of apps is quite true.
In our house, shared between mum, dad and two college kids, we have 2 Android phones, one iPhone, 2 iPod Touch's, an iPad 3 and a brand new Nexus 7 (2 weeks old, so I'm a bit mad at the recent £50 price reduction).
Where we have the same app on both platforms, sometimes they are very similar, but on others the Android version looks and runs worst than the iOS version. It's as if they've been rushed out without being properly finished.
Many of our iOS apps aren't even available on Android.