Longtime Apple-exclusive developer Algoriddim has made a name for itself with its popular djay app that first found success on the Mac before moving to iPad and eventually iPhone. The app has been featured prominently by Apple over the years, winning an Apple Design Award in 2011 for the original iPad version, and just this month it was featured as a key music app in promotional materials for the new iPad Air 2.

So after such a long tenure and significant success on OS X and iOS, we were interested to learn that Algoriddim is announcing today an expansion to Android, bringing the full djay experience to that platform. While Algoriddim is by no means the first iOS developer to branch out to Android, it is a high-profile, award-winning one and so we chatted a bit with Algoriddim CEO Karim Morsy to find out more about the how and why of the company's move, a perspective not frequently shared at MacRumors.

Morsy pointed out that with, or perhaps despite, 15 million downloads on iOS, the number one request from djay users has long been an Android version of the app. With a strong presence on the Mac platform as well, Algoriddim found plenty of Mac and/or iPad users who use Android phones and have been asking Algoriddim in large numbers to bring the app to their phones.

djay_android_tablet
Rather than a simple port of the iOS version of djay, Algoriddim built the Android version of the app from the ground up, replicating the look and feel of the iOS version wherever possible while bringing feature and performance parity, something that was not always a given considering the pace with which proper tools and frameworks for Android were becoming available. But with the release of Android 4.0 three years ago, Algoriddim finally felt the tools were in place to pursue bringing djay to Android.

Morsy expected development to be challenging, and indeed it was, particularly ensuring that djay worked well across the variety of devices running Android, with the diversity of screen sizes and performance-related specs requiring significant amounts of work to optimize for.


We also asked Morsy whether Algoriddim is expecting any backlash from Apple with the expansion of djay to Android, given that Apple likes to tout apps and other content that is exclusive to its own platforms. But Morsy noted that Apple regularly features apps available across multiple platforms and that the history and continued popularity of djay on Mac and iOS is likely to remain a strong factor as Apple weighs future feature opportunities for the music segment.

As was added to djay 2 for iOS earlier this year, djay 2 for Android brings full integration with Spotify's premium music subscription service, including auto-matching of tracks using technology from The Echo Nest, which was acquired by Spotify in March of this year. The Android version of djay 2 launches today at a limited-time introductory price of $2.99, and users will also receive a free one-week trial of Spotify Premium to test out the service with djay.

Top Rated Comments

Chad-VI Avatar
137 months ago
I bet that most of Android users will download the APK for free from any website.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Chad-VI Avatar
137 months ago
Amazing you know the "majority" of android users. I must be in the minority as I don't know you.
Interested how the claim of "majority of android users" comes to be, you know these people?

Not everyone side loads apk's or has their phones rooted to bypass securities, it's no different than the 'jailbroken' iPhone users, though I'll put money (allow me to embellish on your quote) the majority of android users (see what I did there?) don't run around going "I bet that most of iPhone users will download the .app for free..."

Side loading apk's IS different than the "jailbroken" iPhone users , since it doesn't require you to do any process or modify the software before you could do it, and of course iPhone users don't download the .app for free because it is much less convenient, unlike on Android , where you can easily download and install the apk.
This is what I have an issue with. You just classified the majority of Android users into a group who will not pay Algoriddim for their work. That's BS. Algoriddim will be just another choice. It's not a stretch to assume an app that has been in the App Store for years will make less money in the Play Store after 1 day. Hell, I was the 11th person to download it; bypassing other apps that had already been downloaded over 15 million times. So yeah, Algoriddim has an uphill battle. I'm sure they are well aware of the market. I downloaded their app because they: 1. listened to customers and gave them something they wanted. 2. I'm a big fan of choice. Those who foster it get my patronage.

Look, pay me no mind. Keep doing what you do. I'm just some dude on the internet. If that's how you feel, that's how you feel. Who am I to chastise?

I get your point but why would it be an issue for you? :D
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
69Mustang Avatar
137 months ago
I bet that most of Android users will download the APK for free from any website.

And then say the app sucks.

Spreading divisiveness and discord one quote at a time. Nice. Stay classy.

You two may not be aware but most people aren't tied to one ecosystem. Android and Apple users are often the exact same people. Same as Apple and Windows users. There are even some crazy people in all three ecosystems.:eek:

I don't understand comments like yours. Does it somehow offend your sensibilities that someone else can use an app? :confused: Does it damage a sense of superiority? How exactly does it affect you if Algoriddim decides to expand their user base?

I guess you can take solace in the fact that Apple had it first.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
BeyondtheTech Avatar
137 months ago
I bet that most of Android users will download the APK for free from any website.

My sentiments exactly. I don't wish ill-will on anyone, but I'd like for Algoriddim to respond back in a month's time to see how many he's sold on the Android platform versus the amount of installs detected (and the ridiculous number of open sites where his files have popped up on).

I'm no professional DJ or even hobbyist by any means, but still managed to buy all versions of the app, granted I caught them when they went on sale, but these are the times I appreciate the walled garden.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Chad-VI Avatar
137 months ago
Spreading divisiveness and discord one quote at a time. Nice. Stay classy.

You two may not be aware but most people aren't tied to one ecosystem. Android and Apple users are often the exact same people. Same as Apple and Windows users. There are even some crazy people in all three ecosystems.:eek:

I don't understand comments like yours. Does it somehow offend your sensibilities that someone else can use an app? :confused: Does it damage a sense of superiority? How exactly does it affect you if Algoriddim decides to expand their user base?

I guess you can take solace in the fact that Apple had it first.

I didn't say I was against making an android version of the app , because as you said most of us are not tied to one ecosystem. I just said what the majority of android users will do, so Algoriddim shouldn't expect it to make money as much as the iOS version.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
duffman9000 Avatar
137 months ago
I bet that most of Android users will download the APK for free from any website.

And then say the app sucks.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)

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