The guys over at Cupertino have a reason to rejoice because it has got an obedient flock. Apple users appear to be adopting quickly to its new operating system, proof that there's something good to look forward to with the update.
Data from the App Store development support page showed that 87 percent of the devices have adopted the iOS 7, seven months after the official launch of the operating system in September 2013. Around 11 percent of its users stayed with the iOS 6, while two percent has the much earlier version of the iOS.
The adoption rate data also comes in two months prior to the supposed preview of the iOS 8 at the Worldwide Developers Conference, which will commence on June 2 at the Moscone Center, San Francisco. The event will run for five days.
Truth is, this is nothing new. Apple has always seen speedy and successful adoption of new releases of its operating system. Users said it has always been easy to upgrade to the new iOS without any problems at all. With iOS 8 in the making, expect that similar - or possibly even higher - adoption rate to be picked up.
The new operating system includes upgrades to Maps app, with possible support for better points of interest and public transit directions; a Healthbook app to help users in collecting personal health data such as heart rate, blood pressure, nutrition, sleep habits and more; and further improvements as well to its iTunes Radio and personal assistant Siri. iTunes and Siri are among the latest additions to the iOS.
With higher adoption rate comes less headaches for developers and satisfying experience for all Apple users and third-party software developers, research says.
In the spirit of comparison, Android 4.4 KitKat, latest Android update from Google, has been installed only at around 5.3 percent of devices. Nevertheless, this is still good news as compared to less than three percent rate in March. It appears that majority of the devices of Google users still ran on some versions of Jelly Bean and a bigger chunk on Ice Cream Sandwich and Gingerbread.
Android's slow adoption rate could be because of the update lag that users experience which has also posed security risks or problems for them. Based on a February report from Cisco, 99 percent of mobile malware or malicious hackers have its eyes on Android devices.
The same issue has been put on spotlight by other reports as well.
"77 percent of Android's threats could be largely eliminated today if all Android devices had the latest OS. Currently only 4 percent do," stated [PDF] Juniper Networks.
Problem is, many of the Android users have no idea that they are at risk for malicious attacks or exploits, says research.
