Currently, Apple's iOS App Store is the biggest force in the mobile market-- by a comfortable margin. In August, the App Store saw more than 1.45 billion apps downloaded for its iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad devices. That's more than double the number reported for Google's Android platform, which boasted a healthy 640 million downloads.
So why does Xyologic see the Android overtaking Apple's platform? "Apple continues to grow at exponential rates, but Android is growing at hyper-exponential rates[emphasis added]," explained Xyologic co-founder Matthaus Krzykowski to VentureBeat. "In the coming months, we’ll see a number of countries where Android becomes No. 1."
Xyologic sees the Android continuing to grow faster than the iOS, with Apple losing more and more of their share every month. Xyologic also predicts that Android's total number of apps downloaded will surpass the iOS downloads by mid-2013 (with over 84 billion downloads for each platform) and that the number of apps available for the Android will eclipse the number of apps available for the iOS by mid next year (current totals stand at ~466,000 for Apple's iOS, and ~289,000 for Google's Android).
Of course, these are predictions, not facts. Why Xyologic's methodology seems sound, anyone in the tech industry will tell you that the market could change dramatically in a matter of months, let alone weeks. If Apple or Google produce hardware that shakes up the industry, the market shares of the corresponding platforms will rise and fall accordingly. Google's acquiring of Motorola Mobility may accelerate the shift faster than Xyologic predicts, for example, or Apple's new iPhone 4S could hasten a move back towards Apple. We don't know. So in short: a lot can happen between now and next June.
This could be true given the fact that Android is catching up pretty fast in countries like India where only the rich can buy iPhones due to the huge price difference between the two platforms.
Apple CEO Steve Jobs has stepped down, the board naming Tim Cook as his replacement. The company said "Steve's extraordinary vision and leadership saved Apple and guided it to its position as the world's most innovative and valuable technology company."
Steve himself published the following letter:
I have always said if there ever came a day when I could no longer meet my duties and expectations as Apple's CEO, I would be the first to let you know. Unfortunately, that day has come.
I hereby resign as CEO of Apple. I would like to serve, if the Board sees fit, as Chairman of the Board, director and Apple employee.
As far as my successor goes, I strongly recommend that we execute our succession plan and name Tim Cook as CEO of Apple.
I believe Apple's brightest and most innovative days are ahead of it. And I look forward to watching and contributing to its success in a new role.
I have made some of the best friends of my life at Apple, and I thank you all for the many years of being able to work alongside you.
Steve
Apple has confirmed that Jobs will stay on as Chairman. Full details in the PR after the break.
Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/24/steve-jobs-resigns-as-ceo-of-apple