Steve Jobs grossly exaggerated Android tablet app market size

While introducing iPad 2 last month, Apple's chief executive Steve Jobs described the competitive market for tablet apps on Google's Android 3.0 Honeycomb as having "at most 100 apps." The actual Android catalog appears to be closer to 17.

Jobs noted that the iOS App Store now has over 350,000 titles, of which 65,000 "take full advantage of the iPad," drawing attention to "consumption apps, creation apps and fantastic games, and a lot of apps for business and vertical markets apps like medical. The things people are doing here are amazing," Jobs said.

"That compares to our competitors, who are trying to launch these days with at most 100 apps. And I think we're being a little generous here. This is a huge advantage we have," Jobs added.

A review of Google's Android Marketplace tablet offerings "featured for tablets" depicts just 50 apps, but as blogger Justin Williams notes, "most are upconverted and offer no significant advantages on a tablet other than a larger screen."

Looking only at apps that either require Android 3.0 or have a user interface "specifically designed for a tablet experience," Williams counted only 17.

147 Comments

lightstriker 457 comments · 16 Years

About 13 years ago

He's not infallible? Sacrilege.

mhikl 471 comments · 13 Years

Steve is just being kind. He knows from experience so understands what it is like to be an underdog so why kick Androidophiles when they are so far behind even if the dog doesn't have a hind leg to stand on. I am sure Droids get their fair share of time in his meditative thoughts. Release anger, hug your enemy and peace shall clear the mind. Something like that.