Engage by Twitter — A safer Twitter for celebs (that everyone can use) 🐥

@michaelbabich I would venture to say amongst a population of celebrities, iOS is way more popular. Plus, the consensus is still that it's easier to build for iOS than Android. So start there, and if successful, build android. It's not a coincidence why this is the approach 80% of startups take.

@taykcrane Doubt that. The only reason is that many developers, especially in US, are Apple funboys and think mostly in product+Apple category—not user base and user engagement category. The best example was with Facebook trying to take over Android homescreen with it's absolutely unusable Home app for Android. That was total fail by people who do not understand its audience, but think only product+Apple.

@michaelbabich You think that's the only reason? So virtually every mobile app that gets launched here on Product Hunt is built by apple fanboys who don't understand that if only they built an android app instead, they would have access to way more users. Reasons you build iOS first: - It's quicker (no fragmentation) - It's cheaper (https://infinum.co/the-capsized-...) - More money is spent in the iOS store than the Android store (iPhone owners have more disposable income, on average) Just a couple off the top of my head. I'm not saying every app should be built iOS first, but I'm pretty tired of all the complaints about why it's done that way. There are some very good reasons.

@taykcrane I'd agree if we'd talk about a paid app. In a startup case, especially with a free to use app, the primary goal is growth and getting more users. Android market share is about 4 times bigger than iOS. Even if a startup does everything great in marketing and growth hacking, it basically could get 4 times less users than with going Android first. Simple math: the same CAC could get 4 times more users on Android than on iOS. Often this growth dynamic is critical for survival, investments and startup future in general. So, yes, tactically going with an iOS app first is wrong decision. It only looks from a developer/founder point of view that whole audience uses iOS. It worth the efforts to release Android app first.

@michaelbabich Again, what you are essentially saying is that 80% of apps today made the categorically wrong decision. The biggest, most forward-thinking tech companies in the world often go iOS first for a number of reasons. And it's not because they're "apple fanboys". And lastly, your 4x bigger market statistic is extremely flawed. A very large % of "android users" are: - using cheap knockoff androids - running Android 2.2, or some other crazy fork of that - Don't have any reliable internet connection in the first place - are extremely cost-conscious - etc. etc. The sooner you stop dismissing an iOS first launch as stupid, the better. It's a very intentional decision made over and over again for legitimate reasons. If it wasn't for React Native, the mobile app I'm building now would be iOS first without question.

@rrhoover Here's @jason Blog Post on this: http://calacanis.com/2015/02/06/... This new Engage app sort of only covers half of it, now that you can see "Verified Accounts" only - the question is, how does a company that values transparency not have a policy on how Verified Accounts are given (or taken away?)

@rrhoover @jason http://www.labnol.org/software/a... Easy way to open UK / US App store account without a credit card. Can only use this to download free apps. (I don't actually know if this works as I do have a legit US / UK / SG iTunes account but it's Amit Aggarwal... so I trust him 100%! :) Engage is not available in Singapore

@tombielecki Really? I can't 🤔

@rrhoover clearly a good idea

@debbiediscovers I've done it too. If you get your hands on a couple of American ITunes gift cards, you can buy content/apps too.

@jrdngonen I don't see it yet either, but I'm sure it'll be rolling out / made available throughout the day!

@virtualgoodz link just added above!

@urieli17 I don't understand why they don't offer a verification for anyone that wants it (for a fee)

@urieli17 that's fine. then create another badge that's different than the "status symbol" for famous people.