You've seen the proclamations: "Windows Phone is doomed." "…a distant third." "No chance to catch up." Anyone who follows technology sites these days, especially the mainstream US-based ones, have seen those quotes used in news articles and often even in comments. It reflects the slow, but middling growth of Windows Phone, which has never taken off in the US, hovering at just 4% (Kantar, August 2014). Sure, worldwide Windows Phone fares better, with Italy at 13% and the UK nearly at 10%, but I am not here to sugarcoat the stats. They speak for themselves, and I am not taking issue here with their accuracy or what they mean. I am more interested in perception, the way people talk about these things because although Windows Phone market share is comparatively small, it says nothing of user satisfaction, which consistently ranks very high, if not the highest, amongst all the operating systems. Although not many people are using Windows Phone, comparatively, those who do are enjoying the experience, both for hardware and software. That is something not easily dismissed. Now, if Microsoft had little market share and the users hated the devices and the OS experience that I think would be worthy of media Schadenfreude, but I digress. Best VPN providers 2020: Learn about ExpressVPN, NordVPN & more

Apple users react to lower market numbers One of the more interesting stories in 2014 is Android's continued dominance in the smartphone world, which is undeniable at nearly 80%, according to a recent IDC report. Android is doing so well, especially in emerging markets that it is eating into Apple's share, which IDC thinks will drop from 14.9% in 2014 to 13.7% in 2018 (IDC predicts Windows Phone to almost double in the same time to a still low 6.4%). This prediction is hardly "the sky is falling" but still, the once mighty iPhone is slowly becoming – wait for it – a distant second to Android.

Why do I bring this up? Perception, the way people talk about things. I came across an old article on MacDailyNews reacting to those IDC numbers. In it, I found the single most arrogant, pretentious, and elitist reaction to Android's continued growth, and Apple's decline: "Apple does not chase market share. Apple develops world-class products that delight users. One Apple customer is worth more than a gaggle of those who settle for poor imitations of Apple products." – MacDailyNews, 5/28/2014 OMG Evidently, market share is not significant to Apple. Therefore, if you were to offer Apple's CEO Tim Cook 15% of the smartphone market or 40%, he would shrug his shoulders in indifference. That is awesome. Now, in fairness, Apple does make an enormous amount of money off that 15% market and apparently, after the media fawning this week at the iPhone 6 reveal, they still have the US media licking their boots. Nevertheless, remember, I am less interested in what Apple wants versus perception, the way people react. Did you see how MacDailyNews turned a slowly losing battle against Android into a win for them? It does not matter what the market numbers are because Apple does not "chase market share." Instead, they make "world-class products that delight users" and "One Apple customer is worth more than a gaggle" of Android fans.