Appcelerator recently conducted a study to find out how much interest developers have in the iPad, iPhone, Android and other mobile platforms.

As the iPad launch nears, we’re getting glimpses of more and more iPad applications. But how much interest do developers have in the iPad platform and how has that interest evolved since the iPad was announced?

For this study (which you can download as a PDF) Appcelerator, a company that lets web developers create native mobile applications using a cross-platform toolkit, polled its developers to gage interest in developing on the various mobile platforms when the iPad was first announced and again last week. We followed up today with Appcelerator about its findings.

The Results

In January 2010, developer interest in building an app for the iPad within the year was rated at 90%. Two months later, interest declined slightly to 80%. In March of 2010, overall interest in the iPad fell to 53%, down from 58% in January.

To put that in perspective, overall development interest for the iPhone as of March 2010 was 87% and for Android was 81%.

Scott Schwarzhoff, Appcelerator’s VP of Marketing, told me that iPad developer interest is partly based on the size of the development company. Larger developers have less interest in the iPad because they have limited resources and want to support key platforms like the iPhone and Android. Smaller developers, however, can afford to be more bullish about the iPad because getting to the platform early can help them differentiate themselves.

Android Gaining on iPhone

While the iPhone platform remains the most popular mobile platform with developers, Google’s Android is closing in fast.

Since January, Android interest has soared from 68% to 81% — putting it neck and neck with the iPhone. As Schwarzhoff pointed out, the fact that five new Android devices were introduced at CTIA alone — not to mention all of the official and unofficial announcements by other companies — Android is hot.

A trend that we’ve noticed here at Mashable is that while Android interest is definitely on the rise, developers by and large are still focusing on developing an iPhone app first and then porting or building an app for Android second. Schwarzhoff said that Appcelerator has seen the same thing: Android is very much one of the two platforms that most developers are looking to support, but the iPhone still takes higher priority.

Still, given the rise of interest in Android — coupled with the number of new products poised to hit market — it’s clear that the mobile race is seriously underway.

BlackBerry and Microsoft Make Big Gains, Palm…Not So Much

Appcelerator classifies the iPhone, Android and the iPad as Tier 1 platforms, or platforms that have the most developer interest. However, when looking at the second tier of platforms — which includes RIM’s BlackBerry and Microsoft’s Windows Phone 7 Series, it’s clear that they are benefiting from increased interest as well.

Microsoft in particular has seen a surge in interest since January (which just happened to be about the same time they unveiled Windows Phone 7 Series). The renewed focus for the upcoming platform and the additional capabilities and features that Microsoft is putting into its next mobile OS has led to more than doubled interest in the platform among developers, going from 13% in January to 34% in March.

As Microsoft releases more tools and shows off more of the abilities and hooks available for Windows Phone 7 Series, they just might be able to entice some interest from more traditional application developers — especially those with enterprise backgrounds.

We expect to see an increased amount of interest in the Windows phone. Microsoft has invested a lot of time and money in educating the public and the development community about its plans. RIM, on the other hand, hasn’t made its biggest announcements about the future of BlackBerry, yet developer interest in that platform has also more than doubled — going from 21% to 43%.

While often relegated to “also-ran” status, BlackBerry is still one of the biggest players in the smartphone space. Not only is BlackBerry still firmly entrenched in the enterprise space, BlackBerry is still increasing its consumer base. That being said, I still think that RIM needs to do some due diligence in how it markets its platform to developers and to end users. Right now, not every application works on every kind of device.

Interest in Palm’s webOS has fallen from 17% in January to 14%. It doesn’t help that some analysts believe the stock is worth $0 and that the PDK, while cool, strikes many as too little, too late.

Schwarzhoff told me that for a lot of developers, choosing which platforms to support is a bit of a gamble — and Palm increasingly looks like more and more of a risk that just isn’t worth taking, especially if it will come at the expense of platforms like Android.

What Do You Think?

Developers or would-be developers, do these stats match your own thoughts? Let us know in the comments.

Tags: android, appcelerator, ipad, iphone, mobile development, palm, windows phone 7

Engadget has received reports that the next generation iPhone will be called the iPhone HD. This comes a day after The Wall Street Journal posited on some rumors suggesting that Apple will release two different iPhones this year.

While the continuing “will they/won’t they” saga of the CDMA iPhone is far from resolved (and even the Journal is now hedging on the date of a CDMA entry), the name iPhone HD might actually have some merit.

Yesterday, after The Wall Street Journal posted its story, Daring Fireball’s John Gruber dismissively responded to the report — pointing out that it was virtually substance-free in terms of details. He then went on to dispense some information he has heard about the next iPhone.

Namely that:

• It will be based on the A4-family CPU system (meaning it would be part of the same CPU family as the iPad)
• The resolution would be doubled to 960×640
• It would sport a second front-facing camera
• It would support third-party multitasking

Now, how many of these rumors are true is unknown — but Gruber has a pretty good track record when it comes to info like this. Further more, Gruber finds the HD moniker plausible, especially in light of the double resolution display.

Engadget also reports that the iPhone HD (or whatever it ends up being called), will be announced on Tuesday, June 22. Historically, this date falls in line with past iPhone release dates.

iPhone HD, eh? Are you in or out? Let us know in the comments!

Tags: iphone, iPhone 4.0, iphone hd

Engadget has received reports that the next generation iPhone will be called the iPhone HD. This comes a day after The Wall Street Journal posited on some rumors suggesting that Apple will release two different iPhones this year.

While the continuing “will they/won’t they” saga of the CDMA iPhone is far from resolved (and even the Journal is now hedging on the date of a CDMA entry), the name iPhone HD might actually have some merit.

Yesterday, after The Wall Street Journal posted its story, Daring Fireball’s John Gruber dismissively responded to the report — pointing out that it was virtually substance-free in terms of details. He then went on to dispense some information he has heard about the next iPhone.

Namely that:

• It will be based on the A4-family CPU system (meaning it would be part of the same CPU family as the iPad)
• The resolution would be doubled to 960×640
• It would sport a second front-facing camera
• It would support third-party multitasking

Now, how many of these rumors are true is unknown — but Gruber has a pretty good track record when it comes to info like this. Further more, Gruber finds the HD moniker plausible, especially in light of the double resolution display.

Engadget also reports that the iPhone HD (or whatever it ends up being called), will be announced on Tuesday, June 22. Historically, this date falls in line with past iPhone release dates.

iPhone HD, eh? Are you in or out? Let us know in the comments!

Tags: iphone, iPhone 4.0, iphone hd

It’s quite inevitable, really: After Google announced free turn-by-turn GPS navigation for Android devices — followed by Nokia’s decision to offer the same on its smartphones — the price of full-featured GPS navigation apps on other platforms is hurtling toward zero.

Case in point: MapQuest 4 Mobile, a free GPS navigation app for the iPhone, now offers “basic voice guidance.”

The app will tell you when you need to take a turn and, if you get lost, it will warn you that you’re off route. Other features include the option to save maps and routes on MapQuest.com to retrieve on your iPhone, easy POI finding via the OS X dashboard-like Place Carousel, the ability to find you on a map or in relation to a route and free form search.

The app is available for free in Apple’s App Store.

Tags: gps, iphone, MapQuest, maps, Mobile 2.0, navigation

A new report from The Wall Street Journal suggests that Apple will reveal not one, but two new iPhones this year.

One would be based on GSM/UMTS standard that powers AT&T’s network, while another would be compatible with CDMA, the standard used by Verizon. The announcement would come in June or July, when Apple normally announces new iPhone models.

According to the WSJ, two different manufacturers will make the two different iPhones. Hon Hai Precision Industry Co. will develop the GSM model, as it has done for the previous three versions, while Pegatron Technology Corp. (a subsidiary of ASUSTeK) will build the CDMA version. Production of the CDMA version is scheduled to start in September.

If the report is true, it can only mean one thing: AT&T’s exclusivity deal with Apple is coming to an end. As long as Apple doesn’t build a CDMA version of the iPhone, AT&T doesn’t have to worry about Verizon becoming a carrier of the wildly popular smartphone. A CDMA-version of the iPhone almost certainly means that Verizon would add Apple’s phone to its arsenal.

As an AT&T spokesman told WSJ, “There has been lots of incorrect speculation on CDMA iPhones for a long time.”

And in fact, he’s right: We’ve heard tons of rumors about 4G Verizon iPhones and incorrect predictions of when Apple would drop AT&T-iPhone exclusivity, and the result is that the iPhone is still only on the AT&T network in the U.S.

Will that change this year? Is Apple really making two phones? Unless there’s a major leak from Cupertino, we’re going to have to wait to find out.

Tags: apple, att, CDMA, GSM, HSDPA, iphone, iphone 3g, iphone 3Gs, trending, UMTS, verizon

Lou Reed isn’t the first legendary musician to make his own iPhone app, but he is probably the first to make one that renders your contacts “beautiful, huge and legible.”

Lou Zoom [iTunes link] is available in the App Store now for $1.99 and performs one simple task effectively: It super-sizes the font in your Contacts list, expanding each entry to the full width of your screen for better legibility and easier selection.

Its search feature also adds a number of enhancements to the default iPhone search, by letting you search with partial names (not just the beginnings of first or last names), swipe left or right to paginate through long results or multiple phone numbers/e-mail addresses, double tap to map addresses, make calls or send e-mails and switch directly to Edit mode to make changes to an entry.

We’re also happy to host the exclusive debut of Lou Reed’s first commercial promoting the Lou Zoom app, featuring Lou himself and a demo of how the software enhances your Contacts list on the iPhone.

Tags: contacts, iphone, iphone apps, Lou Reed, Lou Zoom

Interacting with the iTunes App Store just got easier, thanks to the new App Store Facebook page.

Developed and powered by Vitrue, the new page puts the App Store inside Facebook — making it easy to search for apps, share them with friends, find out which apps are hot right now and which are deemed “essential” by the iTunes editors.

In the Featured tab on the App Store’s Facebook page, you can see top apps and view the sales charts for paid and free apps across different categories. This is the same information that you would get from iTunes or from the App Store application on your iPhone or iPod touch, but it’s all in Facebook.

Click on the “Get App” button and a browser window for that application opens up (and if iTunes is installed, iTunes opens as well), allowing you to download with a single click. Underneath each app is a Facebook Share button that lets you share the app with your friends on your wall. The coolest part of the page is the Search & Share tab. Type in a keyword or a description for instant results, which you can then post to your wall.

Vitrue is planning on adding more features to the App Store’s page, which will make it much easier to sift through the 170,000+ apps offered. There are also some interesting promotional implications for app developers, who can use Facebook to easily publicize their apps.

Vitrue uses their SRM (Social Relationship Manager) to power the new App Store page. I’ve been able to take a look at what tools like this can do for small and large businesses looking to manage their social media sites, and the results are impressive.

What do you think of the App Store’s integration with Facebook? Let us know!

Tags: app store, apple, facebook, itunes, trending

Earlier this week, Yahoo launched a new iPhone app called Sketch-a-Search that allows you to trace an area with your finger to get restaurant results in a specifically defined region.

We had a chance to sit down with Director of Product Management Ariel Seidman for a demo of Sketch-a-Search, and got a window into future expansion of the app.

While limited to restaurant and cafe results right now — putting it in competition with apps like Yelp and Urbanspoon — expect more types of data to become available on Sketch-a-Search soon.

More regions in the U.S. will also be supported beyond the 32 major metro areas served currently, as well as international markets like the UK, Canada, France and beyond. Expect other platform support to come soon as well, with Android being top of that list to see a Sketch-a-Search app.

What apps do you use to get local information at your fingertips?

Yahoo Sketch-a-Search for iPhone Demo

Tags: android, CTIA, CTIA 2010, iphone, local search, Mobile 2.0, Search, Sketch-a-Search, Yahoo, Yahoo Search

Luke Knowles is the founder of numerous money-saving websites including Coupon Sherpa, Gift Card Granny and Mr. Free Stuff. In 2008 Luke founded Free Shipping Day, now a red-letter discount date for online holiday shopping.

Despite a recession allegedly in our rear view mirror, frugality remains a hot, dare I say trendy topic. Nowhere is that more evident than in the often expensive world of consumer tech. Those of you currently debating that iPad purchase know just what I mean. But remember, a one-time splurge could pay dividends in the long run if you do your homework.

Take Steve Jobs’ previous technological wonder. The iPhone’s price tag might seem hefty, but just a cursory review of its money-saving potential might prove tempting to even the most fiscally conservative. Here are ten of our favorite apps for the frugal-focused.

Finances

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The first step to saving money is learning how to handle it. Depending on your needs, there are literally hundreds of apps to help you manage your money, track expenses and pay bills. You can use your iPhone to make late fees and overdrafts a thing of the past.

• 1. Quicken

  Existing Quicken users as well as newbies will no doubt find this simple but handy app the ideal way to check financial accounts on the go. Track your financial goals, monitor account activity and even find an ATM.

  Cost: Free

• 2. BillMinder

  One of the most popular bill tracking apps out there, the interface is simple, sleek and easy to use. Plus, you can back up your data and export via e-mail for added peace of mind. Enable push notifications to make sure you never miss a due date.

  Cost: $1.99

Shopping

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Once you’ve got your accounts balanced, it might be time to start spending (wisely). But a note to the coupon clippers: Now you can leave that Sunday circular at home.

• 3. Coupon Sherpa

  Coupon Sherpa offers both in-store coupons (just show the entry at checkout) as well as exclusive deals just for users. You can search by category or store name, locate merchants closest to you, and even e-mail coupons to your friends. (Disclosure: the author is the founder of Coupon Sherpa.)

  Also check out Yowza!! Mobile Coupons and Coupon Cabin.

  Cost: Free

• 4. Grocery Gadget Shopping List

  Scribbling down grocery lists is so 2006. Meticulous shoppers can now download apps to manage their grocery needs, ensuring every discounted item is accounted for. This one allows users to upload and share lists while offering additional frugal options like price comparisons and coupons.

  Cost: $4.99

Food & Drink

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The recession has taught even the most sociable among us the value of eating in. These apps can make it cheap, and relatively pain-free for even the most amateur of gourmets.

• 5. AllRecipes.com Dinner Spinner

  A godsend for foodies. Spun off from the hugely popular website, it offers quick access to thousands of recipes complete with directions, photos and user reviews. Try the “spinner” and find yourself a new favorite dish. Tips not required.

  Cost: Free

• 6. Mixology

  Instead of fighting the crowds for a $14 martini, home-based mixologists can entertain friends hassle-free. Mixology features 7900+ recipes and a fun “liquor cabinet” feature to manage your whole inventory. Charge a cover at your next shindig, and you’re back in the black!

  Cost: Free

Travel

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Whether you drive, fly, ride the rails or hail a cab, just getting around can cost a pretty penny. Luckily there are a number of apps to help keep prices (and aggravation) down.

• 7. Maps

  The only native app (though based on Google Maps) on our list is a no-brainer for anyone who relies on public transportation. Integrating directions, schedules, traffic and more into this mega-app, you’ll find the closest, fastest, and most importantly cheapest route with ease.

  Cost: Free

• 8. Gas Buddy

  Drivers can use this to find the cheapest filling stations nationwide. With prices varying as much as 20% (even in the same city) this could mean big savings. Get distance, directions and time estimates to each location. Just stay off that phone when you’re behind the wheel!

  Cost: $2.99

Communications

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Since the iPhone is, after all, a phone, we should point out some ways to offset that monthly service fee. Chatterboxes, take note.

• 9. TextFree Unlimited

  This is an interesting option for those looking to completely eliminate a portion of their monthly phone bill. Be aware, this app must be open in order to receive a text, and certain features from the native iPhone version are unavailable. For light users, though, this could be a good alternative.

  Cost: $5.99

• 10. Skype

  Already a popular desktop application for placing worldwide voice calls over the Internet, now Skype has an iPhone app that many feel delivers an even clearer connection. Calls between Skype users are free, and peanuts to landlines or cell phones. If you have international friends and family, this could save you a bundle.

  Cost: Free

More iPhone resources from Mashable:

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- 3 Useful iPhone Apps to Help File Your Taxes
- 10 Essential iPhone Apps for Runners
- 10 Best iPhone Apps for Dog Lovers
- 10 Fun iPhone Apps for Beer Lovers
- Mashable’s New iPhone App: Download Today!

Image courtesy of iStockphoto, THEPALMER

Tags: apple, iphone, iphone apps, List, Lists, Mobile 2.0, mobile apps, money, personal finance

Tax season is upon us, and the iPhone is here to take the sting out of Uncle Sam’s April chore. The current arsenal of App Store software is useful for both simple and complex tax processes, and is generally cheaper than desktop equivalents.

While there are a variety of tax-related apps by independent developers, the major players in the App Store market are also the star gladiators vying for dominance in the e-commerce market: Intuit (TurboTax) and H&R Block.

Below is a run down of the three most sophisticated tax apps we found for the iPhone.

1. H&R Block Tax Answers

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For many filers, a simple W-2 won’t suffice. H&R Block offers free, human guidance for even the most complicated questions via its iPhone app, Tax Answers. To give it a test run, I asked a question about educational exemptions for Social Security taxes (something I’d been trying to figure out for a long time) and received an answer only a short while later (though estimates are up to 24 hours). Tax Answers also has an index of previously asked questions. While these questions are not searchable, I was able to find what I was looking for in their predefined categories (work, education, small business, etc).

Unlike the other software on this list, I’ll probably keep this one on my iPhone for its glossary. On occasion, I run across financial terms that I’d like immediately defined. It should be noted that H&R Block also offers these service on its website, but as more users, especially younger ones, move to mobile browsing, this will surely be a useful application.

Cost: Free

2. TaxCaster

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Want an estimate on your tax return ASAP, but you’re either not ready to file or don’t have your W-2 handy? Intuit’s TaxCaster is a quick-and-dirty tax calculator that takes about five minutes to use, and doesn’t require exact numbers to give an estimate.

For those with more complex needs, TaxCaster can take a range of exceptions into account: Education, family, rental and housing -– even alimony and new vehicle deduction. The subtle genius of TaxCaster is its targeted advertising at the bottom of the screen, which dynamically updates itself based on your input. As soon as you input a number for “Annual Mortgage Interest,” the ad fades from “Turbo Tax Free” to “Turbo Tax Deluxe.”

Cost: Free

3. TurboTax SnapTax

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Intuit’s SnapTax, which automatically completes tax forms from a snapshot of a standard W-2, should be the iPhone’s showcase application in this category. After the W-2 is uploaded, users answer a few key questions about dependents, education, etc., and the information is whisked away to Uncle Sam. So far, the application is rated very well (4 of 5 stars). My experience, however, was much rockier.

Unfortunately, SnapTax is only available for Californians, and the App Store reviews are littered with users who clearly did not understand this limitation. Additionally, if you require any other forms but a W-2, 1099-INT, 1099-G or 1098-E, SnapTax will offer you its heartfelt apologies with an online $10 discount at the TurboTax website.

Like many employed students, I had a 1099-MISC, and therefore discovered I could not complete my return using this app. Other omissions include medical expenses, charitable donations, and vehicle registration fees.

Out of pure geek-driven curiosity, I tried my hand at the “snap” feature to see how well the photo automation worked. Again, I was disappointed. I tried for an hour, but the only thing it ever accurately picked up was the Employer Identification Number.

For all its shortcomings, it’s certainly a move in the right direction and a much cheaper alternative considering state income filing software is often more expensive than $10. So, for brave experimentation, SnapTax earns a place on our short list.

Cost: $9.99

Conclusion

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As April 15th nears, we might see more options available in the App Store. Until then, iPhone users will be able to get a quick estimate on their return, receive answers from a certified expert, and automatically file their taxes from a mere picture. Taxes may still be a pain to file, but technology is making it increasingly more convenient.

More iPhone resources from Mashable:

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- 12 iPhone Apps for Surviving Conference Season
- 10 Essential iPhone Apps for Runners
- 10 Best iPhone Apps for Dog Lovers
- Top 10 iPhone Apps as Judged by Mashable Readers
- 10 Fun iPhone Apps for Beer Lovers
- Mashable’s New iPhone App: Download Today!

Tags: app store, apple, finance, H&R Block, intuit, iphone, iphone apps, List, Lists, Mobile 2.0, Mobile Lists, money, taxes, turbotax