IDC: Developers want to work with Apple

Most developers prefer to develop applications primarily for iPhone and iPad, according to the latest quarterly report of Appcelerator and IDC. 

Of the 2,749 developers surveyed, 89% are interested in working on an iPhone project and 86% are interested in an iPad project. Android lags far behind in “desirability”: only 77% of developers perceive it as a smartphone platform worthy of attention, and only 64% are ready to write applications for Android tablets.

The good news is that most developers plan to create multiplatform applications, and not focus on any one store. 49% are set to support two platforms at the same time, 31% of respondents – three platforms. 

In general, as Darrell Etherington notes on the pages of , the preferences of developers have not changed much over the last quarter. The number of those who want to develop for iOS has grown, those who prefer Android have remained at the same level (2% minus tablets, 2% plus smartphones). But the number of developers interested in working on several platforms at once has changed significantly. If in the third quarter the percentage of those who were going to work on two or more platforms in 2013 was 68.9%, then in this quarter their number jumped to 88.4%.

Out of curiosity: Appcelerator and IDC noted the interest in Nexus devices that has literally flared up recently. 53.8% of developers noted that they were “very interested” in targeting devices manufactured under the Google label. The reaction to the Microsoft tablet, on the contrary, turned out to be generally negative.

Developers also expressed concern about Apple’s latest innovations: they were confused by both the new resolution of the iPhone 5 and the dimensions of the iPad mini. Despite the same resolution as the iPad 2, the diagonal of the mini screen is much smaller. As a result, some developers have to redraw the interface so that it is not small.

Interestingly, 90% of respondents said that when it comes to reviewing an application, monetization and various problems, Apple is as difficult as with other companies, and sometimes even more difficult. But, going back to the beginning, it is with this company that they prefer to work.