When Apple releases a new version of its mobile operating system, loyal users snap it up at an alarming rate, and the launch of iOS 8 is no different. In an update to its App Store Distribution support page for developers, Apple revealed that 46 percent of all iPhones, iPads and iPod Touches have been updated to the new operating system in the 4 days after its launch last week.
That’s big news for developers who are looking to release new apps, and a big incentive for developers who haven’t updated their apps to take advantage of iOS 8. The update comes with a bunch of new features, including widgets accessible through notification center, and extensions that allow devs to expand the reach of their app beyond its traditional borders.
Today’s news comes after the company announced yesterday that it had sold 10 million new iPhones in the first weekend the phones were available for purchase, which is a new record for Apple.
The rapid pace of adoption also allows Apple to promote the lack of fragmentation among its users, something that it has been using to attract developers who might otherwise be drawn towards Android’s larger mobile market share.
Comparing an iOS update to an Android update isn’t quite fair, since Apple only has to ensure that the update has to work with its hardware, and then clear that with mobile carriers. Android updates require OEMs to test and modify the OS for their devices, and then get carriers to approve the update before it can get pushed to users’ phones. Google has also rolled out a set of Google Play Services tools that are updated independently of the OS and give developers a common set of features across most Android devices.
If this year is anything like last year, the rate of iOS 8 adoption will slow slightly, as some of the 49 percent of iOS 7 users intentionally wait to upgrade their phones, or choose to abstain from the update entirely.
Have you updated yet? Why or why not?
