Can Apple close the gap to the S6's hardware?

[The-Real-Deal82]

Apple doesnt do half baked?



After three years, apple maps is still half baked:



http://www.theverge.com/2015/5/26/8662409/apple-maps-public-transit-six-cities-only-report

I actually use Maps lately because it has a nicer interface than Google maps when being used as a sat nav. I double check the route is correct though lol. Google maps is still king though but I have both so it's a choice of the two.

 

[I7guy]

I actually use Maps lately because it has a nicer interface than Google maps when being used as a sat nav. I double check the route is correct though lol. Google maps is still king though but I have both so it's a choice of the two.

I like maps as well. Nicer interface than google maps, imo.

 

[Technarchy]

I actually use Maps lately because it has a nicer interface than Google maps when being used as a sat nav. I double check the route is correct though lol. Google maps is still king though but I have both so it's a choice of the two.

I used Apple Maps 90% of the time when I had an iPhone. Never really had or saw the issues people said were so prevalent.

Was a solid experience for me.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

I used Apple Maps 90% of the time when I had an iPhone. Never really had or saw the issues people said were so prevalent.



Was a solid experience for me.

Indeed yeah I had one error on it in the early days where it thought my workplace was in the middle of the lake behind but that's about it. It's pretty reliable for the UK so I am starting to use it again. It's much nicer to read and nicer than the sat nav in my Nissan Qashqai.

----------

I like maps as well. Nicer interface than google maps, imo.

Yeah I think it is. It's handy having Street View though which is where Google wins IMO.

 

[epicrayban]

I am a bit tired after a long day's work, so forgive me if this doesn't come out as coherent as it should.

The number one rule of marketing is to know your target market.

It's easy to pull out a laundry list of specs and demand that Apple include those features in their next iPhone. But not all features are demanded equally by the consumers. Some matter more than others, and for Apple at least, their consumer base is pretty much self-selecting at this point. There's a pretty good reason why so many people are on iOS rather than Android, so I don't believe they will be all that tempted by giving the iPhone the same specs as the S6, or opening up iOS to be more like Android, for instance.

On the flip side, people who get a flagship Samsung phone likely do so for the specs as much as Touchwiz, so Samsung has to include the top-of-the-line specs every year to retain its user base. That's why they got a Samsung phone in the first place, to get the largest-numbered spec possible at the time.

For iPhones, I feel Apple is currently at the point where the hardware significantly outpaces the software. So for me at least, I am not so much interested in improvements to the hardware of the iPhone as I am the software aspect. That's why I disagreed with you earlier about hardware features for the iPhone. It's not such much that they are not needed, but more that they don't really need to be Apple's top priority at the moment.

Don't get me wrong. I have nothing against you, I just don't feel that the way forward for the iPhone is to pump specs. I too want Apple products to continue to advance and lead the pack, I guess we just disagree on the best way forward.

I thought my posts included software too. I'm sure I went at length in at least some of my posts discussing things I wanted with future ios. It was never only about hardware because I completely agree with you: more important than hardware is software. I think apple is behind on both however. They do a few key features well, but are behind otherwise on both fronts.

I also think once you factor value into the equation, it gets more difficult to argue that hardware specs and software features don't matter. I'm getting top of the line hardware specs and additonal storage, and more software features that all lead to a comparable, if not, better user experience at nearly the same price of an iPhone 6. There's no question apple charges quite a premium for the things they do well.

And to be clear, I'm not pulling out a list and comparing. For the record again, I'm an iPhone 6 and s6 owner. The irony is the posters I was arguing with against were the ones that didn't own the s6. That made it more frustrating when we're the ones being accused of just pulling out lists and wanting to compare just to say one has more than the other. That is not what is happening. My feedback is from real world experience with both devices. It's very easy then to see the strengths and weaknesses of each in day to day use. It becomes very clear one is behind the other (again on both hardware and software fronts). And then from that, it's easy to say the other should do better. Without both devices, I can see why this is harder to believe and/or comprehend but the irony is it's the ones who don't own both devices that are literally looking at feature lists. If the iPhone works for them, great, but how can we take at length anybody who hasn't experienced both? How do they have more authority than one who has lived with these new/better features? How could they possibly understand what they're missing? They can't. Reviews don't express, for example, how convenient it is to use wireless charging on a daily basis. Or how much easier it is for me to access my most toggled software settings thanks to customizable quick toggles. Or per our discussion, how much easier it is to share to any app I want. There are many more examples of the disparity between both devices that are felt daily if you use both. It's not to say ios doesnt have strengths, but it is not split 50/50 down the middle. Far from it unfortunately.

Amyway, you were very coherent. Thanks for sharing your point of view. Glad we can talk now that we're agreed we can set aside apple sales and profits to discuss the actual iPhone and software. Would be great if extensions were further developed as it would be great if android OEMs managed updates better (among many other things they and Google could do better).

 

[C DM]

I used Apple Maps 90% of the time when I had an iPhone. Never really had or saw the issues people said were so prevalent.

Was a solid experience for me.

I was like that too for a while until a few times driving directions took me around blocks and blocks looking for an address instead of down a street that directly connected to it. The data is bad at times unfortunately, and more often than with Google Maps.

 

[sunking101]

If I want to quickly look up the distance from A to Z I'll use Apple maps. For navigation I use Navigon and TomTom. I never use Google Maps and haven't ever delved deep enough into either maps app to notice their shortcomings.

 

[I7guy]

I thought my posts included software too. I'm sure I went at length in at least some of my posts discussing things I wanted with future ios. It was never only about hardware because I completely agree with you: more important than hardware is software. I think apple is behind on both however. They do a few key features well, but are behind otherwise on both fronts.

I also think once you factor value into the equation, it gets more difficult to argue that hardware specs and software features don't matter. I'm getting top of the line hardware specs and additonal storage, and more software features that all lead to a comparable, if not, better user experience at nearly the same price of an iPhone 6. There's no question apple charges quite a premium for the things they do well.

And to be clear, I'm not pulling out a list and comparing. For the record again, I'm an iPhone 6 and s6 owner. The irony is the posters I was arguing with against were the ones that didn't own the s6. That made it more frustrating when we're the ones being accused of just pulling out lists and wanting to compare just to say one has more than the other. That is not what is happening. My feedback is from real world experience with both devices. It's very easy then to see the strengths and weaknesses of each in day to day use. It becomes very clear one is behind the other (again on both hardware and software fronts). And then from that, it's easy to say the other should do better. Without both devices, I can see why this is harder to believe and/or comprehend but the irony is it's the ones who don't own both devices that are literally looking at feature lists. If the iPhone works for them, great, [B[but how can we take at length anybody who hasn't experienced both[/B]? How do they have more authority than one who has lived with these new/better features? How could they possibly understand what they're missing? They can't. Reviews don't express, for example, how convenient it is to use wireless charging on a daily basis. Or how much easier it is for me to access my most toggled software settings thanks to customizable quick toggles. Or per our discussion, how much easier it is to share to any app I want. There are many more examples of the disparity between both devices that are felt daily if you use both. It's not to say ios doesnt have strengths, but it is not split 50/50 down the middle. Far from it unfortunately.

Amyway, you were very coherent. Thanks for sharing your point of view. Glad we can talk now that we're agreed we can set aside apple sales and profits to discuss the actual iPhone and software. Would be great if extensions were further developed as it would be great if android OEMs managed updates better (among many other things they and Google could do better).

My car doesn't have a trailer hitch. Are you going to pose a similar type of response in bold if your car had a trailer hitch and your trying to tell me why my car is deficient.

You used wireless charging as an example. More convenient than the pad that you have to lay your phone on is near field wireless charging. I could see that type of technology in the 6s. Apple takes charging to a new level.

Anyway it is clear there is a difference of opinion, which is cool, because that is what makes the world go around.

 

[epicrayban]

More convenient than the pad that you have to lay your phone on is near field wireless charging. I could see that type of technology in the 6s. Apple takes charging to a new level.

I hope this happens, too. It'll be great to see wireless charging advance.

See? It's not that hard to agree with other people's feature desires. Notice I didn't have to mention:

1) How I may or may not need said feature personally

2) Nor did I feel compelled to mention how great Apple sales are to imply they don't need to add said features.

3) Or how I didn't go off on some tangent about how Apple knows their market and that that market has spoken with their wallets; clearly after selling record breaking millions, people have voted they are pro-wires and don't need wireless charging advances.

Those were positions you took up. Imagine arguing against those points. And then imagine more specifically arguining against those points against someone who hasn't even used a S6 in depth to know the difference and disparity of the two devices in question.

And the day near field charging does come to fruition, and others (probably you, too) argue for the conveniences of it and how competitors need to step up their game to add something similar to their tech, you won't hear any objection out of me then either.

See, not hard.

 

[sunking101]

I hope this happens, too. It'll be great to see wireless charging advance.

See? It's not that hard to agree with other people's feature desires. Notice I didn't have to mention:

1) How I may or may not need said feature personally

2) Nor did I feel compelled to mention how great Apple sales are to imply they don't need to add said features.

3) Or how I didn't go off on some tangent about how Apple knows their market and that that market has spoken with their wallets; clearly after selling record breaking millions, people have voted they are pro-wires and don't need wireless charging advances.

Those were positions you took up. Imagine arguing against those points. And then imagine more specifically arguining against those points against someone who hasn't even used a S6 in depth to know the difference and disparity of the two devices in question.

And the day near field charging does come to fruition, and others (probably you, too) argue for the conveniences of it and how competitors need to step up their game to add something similar to their tech, you won't hear any objection out of me then either.

See, not hard.

Ugh, more filth in the airwaves for my body to soak up. No thanks! Why can't people just plug their phones into a wall socket? Or buy a phone with a long battery life? What about battery longevity too? I don't want my battery being constantly topped-up. If ever there was a need for removable, user-replaceable batteries then this would be it.

 

[epicrayban]

Ugh, more filth in the airwaves for my body to soak up. No thanks! Why can't people just plug their phones into a wall socket?

If Apple implements some form of wireless charging, what makes you think people still can't?

I've said this before, adding features gives people options. Adding features. Not replacing features.

 

[sunking101]

If Apple implements some form of wireless charging, what makes you think people still can't?

I've said this before, adding features gives people options. Adding features. Not replacing features.

If charging becomes like WiFi and certain businesses have 'hotspots' then I won't have a choice in what my body absorbs.

 

[epicrayban]

If charging becomes like WiFi and certain businesses have 'hotspots' then I won't have a choice in what my body absorbs.

I suppose that could be a concern one day.

 

[Tsuchiya]

I actually use Maps lately because it has a nicer interface than Google maps when being used as a sat nav. I double check the route is correct though lol. Google maps is still king though but I have both so it's a choice of the two.

Neither app is perfect, but in the time I've spent switching between the two since I went back to iPhone in November, it has yet to steer me wrong.

Google Maps on the other hand seems content in giving me stupid as **** directions, particularly around London where a wrong turn can mean being stuck in traffic for 20 minutes.

 

[Technarchy]

Ugh, more filth in the airwaves for my body to soak up. No thanks! Why can't people just plug their phones into a wall socket? Or buy a phone with a long battery life? What about battery longevity too? I don't want my battery being constantly topped-up. If ever there was a need for removable, user-replaceable batteries then this would be it.

Probably the most tragic "Apple doesn't do it, so I don't want it" responses I've read on this forum yet.

Mind you, I wouldn't go out of my way to find a wireless charger; it came free with my S6 when pre-ordered. It's cool, convenient, saves wear on ports and is far easier to set a phone down and charge when passing between rooms or performing tasks that suddenly need your hands.

Mind you, when I had an iPhone, not all that long ago, I thought wireless charging was a dubious feature. A little first hand experience exposed the value. Then again, maybe you should wear a lead suit to keep from "soaking things up".

 

[Abazigal]

If Apple implements some form of wireless charging, what makes you think people still can't?

I've said this before, adding features gives people options. Adding features. Not replacing features.

Well, I guess that all other things equal, adding one feature usually comes at the expense of another feature which could have been developed or refined in the same time.

Just look at iOS 8. Chock full of features, but buggy as hell. Apple was clearly overextending itself as it was rushing out features such as extensions, widgets and handoff in preparation for the launch of the Apple Watch. Even icloud photo library only just arrived in April, a full 10 months after being announced last June. 3rd party keyboards feel like a sloppy afterthought. Quick reply was not available outside of iMessage (making other chat apps less useful on iOS and virtually worthless on the Apple Watch). Heck, the stock Mail app doesn't even support its own icloud drive!

And now, Apple has a new OS (Watch OS) to maintain in addition to iOS and OS X (I know Watch OS is technically iOS, but it looks and feels different enough that you probably have to have a separate team to manage it).

And we know that Apple has not been slacking off on the services side either, having negotiated Apple Pay with various merchants, and now revamping their streaming music service and trying to get a TV service off the ground.

Having to focus on both hardware and software means Apple will always be behind companies like Google in terms of OS features and stability, because Google can afford to focus solely on software. It's hard work, but for a company who can pull off this integrated ecosystem approach successfully, the financial rewards are huge. I think that moving forward, Apple will need to be even more selective about which features they choose to develop and which they have to forgo.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

Wireless charging wouldn't be a deal breaker for me either to be honest. I don't see any harm in having the technology on phones for say charging at places in public, but as far as wireless charging at home, I'm not so bothered about it. A cable is fine really let's face it.

The options are placing your phone on a charge pad or plug a tiny lead into the end of the phone. Both are convenient but just different solutions to the same problem. I'm for having it available but not fussed if my phone doesn't come with it.

 

[jamezr]

I think is it amazing how many people fuss and argue about adding features to phones. Like wireless charging or a notification light. How can useful features be a bad thing?

 

[epicrayban]

Wireless charging isn't a "deal breaker" for me either. I mean, "deal breaker" is a strong word to use. I wouldn't not get a phone I wanted just because it didn't have wireless charging.

But at the same time, just because it isn't a deal breaker doesn't mean it shouldn't be a desirable feature. It's an absolutely lovely, useful, convenient, simple and effective feature to use and have.

You have to plug it into the wall once, and then it's just there. You're maximizing the idle time of your phone. Instead of sitting on a table top, it's sitting on the charging pad (or stand, in my case) and is constantly being topped off. From my own uses, it's not so much about not having to deal with plugging in a cable -- which is actually pretty nice in itself actually -- it's more about just keeping the device charged. I almost never worry about battery life anymore. And on certain days, I leave work with 100% battery life.

Can I accomplish this with a plug, too? Of course. That's why wireless charging isn't a "deal breaker" per se, but it sure is damn lovely. Avoiding having to deal with cables is the definition of convenient. Heck, even Apple lauds cable-less features on their iMacs. Be clutter free, they say.

And if we're on the topic of battery features... There's also quick charging, and two power saving modes. None of these are deal breakers either, but they're still nice to have. For those few times you desperately need to keep your phone going, it's very nice indeed to have those features to fall back on.

 

[LIVEFRMNYC]

Wireless charging wouldn't be a deal breaker for me either to be honest. I don't see any harm in having the technology on phones for say charging at places in public, but as far as wireless charging at home, I'm not so bothered about it. A cable is fine really let's face it.

The options are placing your phone on a charge pad or plug a tiny lead into the end of the phone. Both are convenient but just different solutions to the same problem. I'm for having it available but not fussed if my phone doesn't come with it.

When dealing with micro USB ports, I like wireless charging a home. I usually like to keep my phone charging while home. Don't like constantly pulling the micro USB cord in and out when I use it.

 

[epicrayban]

The natural response when talking about cords is that "hey, it's not a big deal dealing with cords. How hard is it to plug it in/out?" Well, no it's not a big deal, and no it's not hard to plug it in, but not having to deal with any of that is a convenient luxury that can spoil you.

It's just one of those things you don't truly get until you try it.

 

[LIVEFRMNYC]

The natural response when talking about cords is that "hey, it's not a big deal dealing with cords. How hard is it to plug it in/out?" Well, no it's not a big deal, and no it's not hard to plug it in, but not having to deal with any of that is a convenient luxury that can spoil you.

It's just one of those things you don't truly get until you try it.

And to add on to that, micro USB ports are fragile. Also, I had times when I grab my phone only for it to be pulled back from my hand because I wasn't paying attention that the cord was attached.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

There is definitely a legitimate need for this feature listening to the responses. I only charge my phone once a day at bedtime so I guess it's less of a desire for me and my usage, but if I had it I would probably use it so long as I could hide the mat to save grief from my wife lol.

 

[epicrayban]

I'm a big advocate for charging stands, and not necessarily pads.

Because the stand doubles as a stand. Meaning, you get to see and to some degree use your phone while it's on the charging stand. I have this one, and I love it:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...IFL4578JUB5ZO&psc=1&ref_=wl_it_dp_o_pd_nS_ttl

 

[nickchallis92]

Is Google Maps on iOS the same as seen on Android? Presumably it lacks some level of integration due to the basic nature of iOS.

I've travelled up and down the UK relying entirely on google maps and it has never, ever failed me. Ever.