Although the gap between Apple and Android appears to be shrinking in terms of overall market share, it’s bigger than ever when it comes to the share of the web. In October, web-connected iOS devices rose to 61.6 percent. By comparison, online Android devices comprise 18.9 percent, a paltry sliver of Google’s overall mobile market share.

According to Net Applications, which measures the share of web usage by mobile devices, connected iOS devices in October rose 7 percent to 61.64 percent, while Android’s share increased by 2 percent to 18.9 percent from 16.9 percent. Highlights of the report include Apple’s strong iPhone 4S mid-October launch and the fact that October was the first time Internet-connect Android devices overtook Java ME units, with mobile devices running Java ME falling to just 12.84 percent from 18.52 percent.

As for which mobile OS holds the lead in browsers, StatCounter reported for October Safari (when combining its iPhone and iPod touch numbers) held a 23.36 percent share of the market. By contrast, Android claimed 20.88 percent, enough to just beat out Opera.