Apple Android Market analysis Surveys Software updates Apps

iOS users installing iOS 5.1 quickly

posted by Alan F. / Mar 24, 2012, 6:04 PM

David Smith is the developer behind the Audiobooks app on the Apple App Store. With over 100,000 weekly downloads for both his free and paid versions, Smith is privy to some meaningful information about the behavior of iOS users. Since iOS 5.1 launched on March 7th, the OS update has hit the ground running which Smith says is because Apple now offers OTA (Over The Air) updates. After just 5 days after iOS 5.1 was released, 50% of Smith's customers with OTA capabilities had already updated. After 15 days, 77% of his customers who can use the OTA method, had installed iOS 5.1. When he goes back to include iOS 3 and iOS 4, both of which can not update via OTA, the percentage of Smith's customers updating to iOS 5.1 was 61%.

It took iOS 4 a month to reach 50% usage based on web traffic. While that figure can't be directly compared to the figures that Smith compiles from app usage, it does show that adding OTA as an option for installing updates made the adoption rate climb faster than in the past. Smith adds that the current adoption rate for iOS 5.1, at 61% of those using his apps, just about equals the rate that Android users have had with Android 2.3. Android 4.0 is currently used by just 1.6% of Android users after 5 months. But the blame for that appears to be from the manufacturers and carriers rather than the end users..

Apple started OTA updates with iOS 5 and the only other update to allow such installation was iOS 5.1.

61% of iOS users have updated to iOS 5.1

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43 Comments

1. markhsu

Posts: 15; Member since: Mar 17, 2012

I think you meant iOS 5.1 not Android 5.1 ;-)

posted on Mar 24, 2012, 6:41 PM 0

2. PAPINYC

Posts: 2315; Member since: Jul 30, 2011

If iOS3 and iOS4 can not OTA, wouldn't that make them "fragmented" to iOS5; iOS5.1; iOS5.1.2.0???

posted on Mar 24, 2012, 7:11 PM 4

5. darkkjedii

Posts: 31667; Member since: Feb 05, 2011

No. Fragmentation is more about phones still being sold that run obsolete versions, and can't receive the new ones. iPhones that run those old version are not sold anymore. The 3GS, 4, and 4s all run iOS 5, and r still sold. The first two iPhones don't, and they're no longer sold.

posted on Mar 24, 2012, 7:29 PM 6

6. remixfa

Posts: 14605; Member since: Dec 19, 2008

wrong, fragmentation as it is defined is having multiple versions of the same OS out in the wild. It is a problem with EVERY OS. Its only iOS users that somehow think their junk dont stink. BTW, the 3gs and the i4 only recieve a partial upgrade to iOS5. It doesnt have all the features, there for it is not the full version. Quit trying to reframe the meaning to fit your narrow view.

posted on Mar 24, 2012, 7:48 PM 9

9. drtech

Posts: 135; Member since: Mar 16, 2012

They get an update while your android phone doesn't. 3GS and 4 have everything except Siri. It's the full software. Are you mad you had to hack your droid phone to get new software?

posted on Mar 24, 2012, 8:16 PM 4

10. wassup

Posts: 565; Member since: Jun 23, 2011

what's new in iOS 5.0 except siri? more android? lol glad to hear that

posted on Mar 24, 2012, 8:41 PM 2

11. Whateverman

Posts: 3295; Member since: May 17, 2009

Probably not as mad as people who have to jailbreak their devices to get some freedom from Apple. Have you seen the process iPhone users have to go through just to get free custom ringtones?

posted on Mar 24, 2012, 9:12 PM 9

14. drtech

Posts: 135; Member since: Mar 16, 2012

I can make custom ringtones without jailbreaking. Whats up with fandroids trying to change the topic. The topic is fragmentation and yes android is fragmented.

posted on Mar 24, 2012, 10:30 PM 5

17. Whateverman

Posts: 3295; Member since: May 17, 2009

I should have made it clearer for you that I was referring to two different things. I realize there is no need to jailbreak your phone for ringtones. My point is there are so many steps you have to take to do something that it takes me LITERALLY 10 seconds to do! From picking the song, selecting the portion I want as a tone, and making it a custome ringtone or notification for someone. Jailbreaking is mostly for adding any kind of uniqueness to the phone aside from simple wall paper. Ex: Transition effects, custom themes, and other things that again takes me about 10 seconds to do. Even less. You are the one that brought up hacking (rooting), and now because I brought up the iOS equivalent (jailbreaking) you say I'm off topic? Sounds like I touched on a nerve there. If your gonna dish it out, you gotta learn how to take it too.

posted on Mar 24, 2012, 11:42 PM 4

41. deepinsideyourmom

Posts: 10; Member since: Jan 28, 2012

No we android fans like doing that, that's why we buy android to hack them, we're not as simple minded as IOS users who just like to click a button to update. U mad?

posted on Mar 26, 2012, 5:03 AM 0

12. stealthd unregistered

"Quit trying to reframe the meaning to fit your narrow view." ROFL, cuz you aren't doing that at all.

posted on Mar 24, 2012, 9:26 PM 4

3. drtech

Posts: 135; Member since: Mar 16, 2012

Lol where is remix to respond to this. Just the other day he was going off how ios users don't update their phones. Looks like he stuck his foot in his mouth. Also ICS has been out 5 months and 1.6% of users have it. Sorry but THATS fragmentation.

posted on Mar 24, 2012, 7:17 PM 7

7. remixfa

Posts: 14605; Member since: Dec 19, 2008

sorry, but again, your wrong. Look at the graph. My statements are proved true by that graph. almost all of the upgrades come from OTA able 5.0+ devices. Not even 1% change in non OTA devices, AKA 4.xx and less. That means if the system isnt telling them there is an update, they are not updating. That means OF HIS CUSTOMERS, NOT OUT OF ALL IOS, less than 1% of non OTA customers have updated to 5.xx. Proves my point beyond a shadow of a doubt. Thanks for playing. BTW, the article headline should be amended to say "iOS 5.0 users quicky getting OTA to 5.1"... since its obvious by the graph that non OTA able devices are barely upgrading.

posted on Mar 24, 2012, 7:52 PM 8

8. drtech

Posts: 135; Member since: Mar 16, 2012

no read the article. 61% of ALL ios users have the latest software. 77% of those with ota capabilities have the latest. Where are you getting that people aren't updating through iTunes? Are you really going to troll around and pretend you didn't make an ass of yourself? 80% of ios users are on 5.0 or higher while less than 2% of android users have 4.0. That's a huge gap. Just admit that an advantage to using Apple is timely updates.

posted on Mar 24, 2012, 8:14 PM 6

13. remixfa

Posts: 14605; Member since: Dec 19, 2008

there is a nifty graph right underneath the article for those that have no reading comprehension. it has pretty colors and everything. maybe you should look at that instead.

posted on Mar 24, 2012, 9:48 PM 4

15. drtech

Posts: 135; Member since: Mar 16, 2012

80% of iOS users have 5.0 or higher while 1.6% of android users have 4.0. Remember that's the OS that's supposedly way better than iOS. Too bad no one gets to use it. Btw that graph is only for 3 weeks. So since only 20% of users are below 5.0 how do you suppose they updated? Could it be through iTunes?

posted on Mar 24, 2012, 10:32 PM 4

22. remixfa

Posts: 14605; Member since: Dec 19, 2008

tech, there is a difference. iOS is issued directly to iphone users to download at will. ICS was issued to manufacturers. ICS is free for anyone to use, just go to google.com and download it. Then go build your drivers and such. They are 2 different beasts with 2 different goals. Thats what you iNuts dont ever get. If ICS was available as a direct download to all devices at the same time and the adoption rate was 1.6%, then yes, there would be an issue. But that is not how an android roll out goes. You are comparing apples and oranges. Besides, I would rather wait an extra few months and have a phone with 100 more features than get it instantly and realize that i got a gimped upgrade like 5.0 is to everyone that isnt a i4s. Unlike you, I can patiently wait to have the best, instead of settling for "OK" just to have it now.

posted on Mar 25, 2012, 9:26 AM 2

16. Lucas777

Posts: 2137; Member since: Jan 06, 2011

all that graph shows is that ios 5.0.1 users are upgrading... the people who are on 4.0 and such are likely 3g users and therefor cannot upgrade anyways... i do not think those are iphone 4 or 4s users... even most 3gs users probably upgraded... idk what exactly you are trying to prove since those people cant upgrade anyways... i cant believe u are arguing the fact that ios updates are easy... seriously, pick the better battles... its either itunes and click or settings and click... instant the day of... not even wp does it that smoothly

posted on Mar 24, 2012, 11:27 PM 5

21. remixfa

Posts: 14605; Member since: Dec 19, 2008

hey, i was called out, i didnt just come and start blabbing for the fun of it. doesnt make me any less right. :) \ besides, if only certain phones can upgrade, then its just fragmentation. frag frag... fragmentation. its either all fragmentation, or no OS has fragmentation, you guys need to pick your battles.

posted on Mar 25, 2012, 9:23 AM 1

34. Lucas777

Posts: 2137; Member since: Jan 06, 2011

hey im not the one arguing there is not fragmentation across all oses... i never said that once so idk why u decided to say that... i think fragmentation is more of a name assigned to androids general problem, but in direct context, no it is not... and just because u think you are right does not make ur subjection any less wrong.... seriously just look at the graph for a minute... can u even admit ios does something good? :)

posted on Mar 25, 2012, 1:39 PM 0

36. remixfa

Posts: 14605; Member since: Dec 19, 2008

yes, fragmentation was a buzzword thrown out by apple to have a negative connotation for android. and you ibots fall for it hook line and sinker. either all OS's are "fragmentated" or they are not. there is no exemption to the clause as all OS's have the same inherent problems with people running multiple versions of the OS. i did look at the graph. Did you? About 99% of all the upgrades that happened in the last month were due to the new OTA upgrade system in iOS5. There were

posted on Mar 25, 2012, 3:27 PM 1

38. jeff3yan

Posts: 2; Member since: Mar 25, 2012

It's a little more complicated than "all fragmentation or no fragmentation". It really depends on how old the device is, for example you can't expect a very old device to always have the newest OS, immediately upon release, FOREVER. There should be some timeframe in which to define a fragmentation problem. Since most carrier contracts are about 2 years, then this would be considered a reasonable timeframe. Looking at phones released in the last 2 years, it is definitely apparent that the majority of these are on the latest iOS version and obviously, if you buy a brand new iOS device you're automatically on the latest iOS version. However, with Android the situation is more complex. Many phones even just 6 months old or less aren't on ICS. Ignoring that, even a lot of brand new models don't even come preloaded with ICS. Now THAT is fragmentation.

posted on Mar 25, 2012, 6:30 PM 1

39. remixfa

Posts: 14605; Member since: Dec 19, 2008

no, that is not fragmentation. Android is not a carefully curated experience like iOS, OSX, or WP7. Google makes code, releases it to the wild, and then whoever wants to pick it up, can pick it up. Phones take more than 6 months to develop, build up inventory, and then sell. Manufacturers dont get new code any earlier than the rest of us, unless they are making a Nexus device. When google "releases" the code, its not only releasing it to us, but to HTC, Samsung and the rest. We just happen to have access to it. If i phone is released in Feb/March, more than likely its development started long before the christmas season when ICS was launched. Instead of stalling production, repoening every prepackaged unit, upgrading it, and then repackaging it.... they just sell the units as is and promise the upgrade shortly after. ICS is A MAJOR MAJOR overhaul of android. It is not some simple patch like going from 2.1 to 2.2. Every OS overlay like Sense or Touchwiz has to be rewritten for the new OS. Every driver and such needs to be rewritten.That takes time.. that takes months. And since they get the code at pretty much the same time as we do, that makes it understandable. iOS and Android are 2 different beasts. Thats why "fragmentation" is a farce. Can you tell me all the differences between android 2.2 and android 2.3 off the top of your head that make it such a big deal? What ICS feature is just making you go crazy not to have? You dont know. Do ya? iOS saves major features for new OS's, and then refuses to release them to older devices even if they get the OS upgrade, to force you to buy a new device. Android gives you all the features or you dont get the upgrade. Which is worse? If you want a true judge of issues, go by app compatibility. 90 something percent of all android phone devices are 2.1 and up. 99% of all the apps in the market are 2.1 and up compatible. So to me, it doesnt look like much of an issue as far as OS is concerned. Its just an apple fanatic talking point to try to make android look bad when its not.

posted on Mar 25, 2012, 7:05 PM 1

35. BattleBrat

Posts: 1476; Member since: Oct 26, 2011

EASY!?! ARE YOU FRIGGIN SERIOUS!! UPDATING TO IOS5 WIPED EVERY APP OFF MY ITOUCH (50+GB of APPS!!), THAT IS NOT MY IDEA OF EASY!!! AND YES there is FRAGMENTATION with iOS devices, a LOT of games will not run on older iOS5 devices.

posted on Mar 25, 2012, 2:42 PM 1

4. theBankRobber

Posts: 682; Member since: Sep 22, 2011

So somehow they manage to still put android and IOS in the same article, Just another way to brew up arguments. Is OTA updates part of Frand patents?

posted on Mar 24, 2012, 7:19 PM 1

18. drtech

Posts: 135; Member since: Mar 16, 2012

Some gems from remix, hmm remix only 35-40% of us have iOS 5? 57. remixfa posted on 2 days ago, 20:27 10 2 if an app is not compatible with your android version or phone, it doesnt even show up in the marketplace. try again. Yes, iOS5 has OTA updates. Considering only i4s gets full iOS5, and every other version of the iphone that IS ALLOWED to have iOS5, only gets a partial OS update, then only i4s's have the full iOS5.. which in itself is REAL fragmentation. And no, I bet its still less than 35-40% of all iOS users have iOS5, because unless they bought a new i4s, they had to know about the update and then go about downloading it themselves. And yes, the "rant" is still completely viable because not every iphone has iOS5, now does it.. so the problem is nowhere near solved. This comment is posted in response to #47 Show

posted on Mar 25, 2012, 12:10 AM 3

23. remixfa

Posts: 14605; Member since: Dec 19, 2008

thanks for calling yourself out Taco50. I've been waiting. just to poke a little fun, this chart is for THIS APP ONLY. This is not representative of the entire iOS ecosystem. And even then its only 60% of HIS APP'S USERS have upgraded to 5.1. And 99% of those people that upgraded already had 5.0.. aka OTA updates. That means that almost no one that had to do the iTunes update has gotten the last update.. proves my point.

posted on Mar 25, 2012, 9:30 AM 2

26. drtech

Posts: 135; Member since: Mar 16, 2012

Can you understand this graph is only from March 6th to March 22nd? So do you understand that the update has been available since October? 80% of users accessing the app have iOS 5. Please stop. You've been proven wrong and also quoted here for your stupidity and yet you continue. You lost this one. Just let it go.

posted on Mar 25, 2012, 10:33 AM 1

28. remixfa

Posts: 14605; Member since: Dec 19, 2008

its been available since october and not 100% of the people are on it!?!?!? OMG THE FRAGMENTATION!! my god man.. thats 5 months!!! 5 months!!! iOS5 has been availible for 5 months.. for actual end user download, and only 80% of the users are on it!!!! the system is going to crash because of all the fragmentation!!!! aaaaaaaaahhhh!!!! and only people that are on 5.0 are upgrading to 5.1 because the system tells them too!!!.. ooh it just gets soo bad!!! its all apples fault!! thats what you tards sound like when talking about android "fragmentation", yet you pretend that its not an issue with every OS. Whats funny, is for years you iTards were saying that OTA updates were a bad idea, and that plugging it in is better.. yet now that you have it, u think its the second coming of Jobs. Like all things apple, you convince yourself you dont need it until the almighty fruit gives it to you. Proven wrong? lol. my % that you want to quote me at was a shot from the hip with nothing to back it up.. aka, a guess. I didnt realize that everything I say is taken as 100% fact... wow I must be pretty important to you, taco. Have you moved out of your mom's basement yet?