iOS 7 Changes Mostly Cosmetic - More opportunity for Android to get further ahead?

[cynics]

Cosmetically I think iOS is fine for the most part. I feel it needs updates just for ease of use. The lack of a file system was fine when iOS was introduced and still ok for a while after the App Store was released. However now I can find the phone difficult to use when dealing with files.

Back when iOS was introduced a phone was a phone and a computer was a computer. This day in age I find it more and more useful to use my phone like a computer. I feel it's just the natural progression of things. I also feel its possible for a company such as apple to come up with an elegant solution.

I'm not gonna say "oh iOS is stale and archaic" however picking up a phone on previous versions of iOS take me a couple minutes to realize such. I can tell the differences between windows and android version near instantly. Not saying that is necessarily a good thing, just saying.

I'm going to hold my judgement until I've used iOS 7 for a few weeks however.

 

[onthecouchagain]

Again, I don't understand the position that it's okay if Apple isn't giving us the changes that some people want because millions are still buying iPhones. That's great for Apple, but not great for consumers. Why not give consumers options? It's not like the foundations of iOS will suddenly be gone. It'll just be more options on top of what's there. Why can't Apple figure out a way that isn't going to alienate or confuse their already installed base?

Also, you don't think people will learn? You don't think people will happily learn how to use their new shiny Apple products? People sign up for classes and happily do so.

This is a bizarre position to take. There is no gain in apologizing for Apple, especially when the argument is "they still sell millions." Don't you understand that that's ironically part of the problem; that Apple can get away with these sorts of "updates" hardware and software wise.

 

[tjl3]

Another thing to add to this is most of the hype and speculation has been centered on Jony Ive's role in human interface. But also Craig Federighi and Eddie Cue are responsible for iOS development on, as far as I understood, an equal level.

Again, I don't understand the position that it's okay if Apple isn't giving us the changes that some people want because millions are still buying iPhones. That's great for Apple, but not great for consumers. Why not give consumers options? It's not like the foundations of iOS will suddenly be gone. It'll just be more options on top of what's there. Why can't Apple figure out a way that isn't going to alienate or confuse their already installed base?

Also, you don't think people will learn? You don't think people will happily learn how to use their new shiny Apple products? People sign up for classes and happily do so.

This is a bizarre position to take. There is no gain in apologizing for Apple, especially when the argument is "they still sell millions." Don't you understand that that's ironically part of the problem; that Apple can get away with these sorts of "updates" hardware and software wise.

I don't think anyone is saying that or implying it is ok for Apple to withhold change because iPhone is selling so well. I can think of two changes Apple will never give us no matter how many people want it: sd card and removable battery. I, personally, am ok with this because it is behind their design philosophy.

But also, when Apple does change and add features they should take caution with radical changes like MS's Windows 8.

 

[Carouser]

So let me get this straight:

If Apple makes changes, and people like them, but the OP doesn't, then those people are dupes of Apple's marketing department. Also, the OP speaks for 'us' and 'what we consumers really want'.

Also, if you agree with the OP, then you deserve thanks for understanding his point; if you disagree then you are off on a tangent or conjuring up a red herring.

Constant hand-wringing and lamentation doesn't solve any 'problem'. A refusal to spend time finding fault with iOS isn't 'apologizing' for Apple.

 

[cynics]

So let me get this straight:

If Apple makes changes, and people like them, but the OP doesn't, then those people are dupes of Apple's marketing department. Also, the OP speaks for 'us' and 'what we consumers really want'.

Also, if you agree with the OP, then you deserve thanks for understanding his point; if you disagree then you are off on a tangent or conjuring up a red herring.

Constant hand-wringing and lamentation doesn't solve any 'problem'. A refusal to spend time finding fault with iOS isn't 'apologizing' for Apple.

Think you're reading to far into this. It sounds like you are making excuses for something.

 

[daneoni]

Think you're reading to far into this. It sounds like you are making excuses for something.

Not really. He's just highlighting most of the undertones of couch's (and other alternative platformers here) rhetoric.

Bottom line is at the end of the day iOS will never likely never have widgets nor will iPhones have removable batteries and SD slots. Apple has a philosophy and thats just the way it is.

Thankfully we have choice. If you don't like Apple's way of doing things go and get Android, WP or BB. Most of the general consumers (and some geeks) i know are delighted with their iPhones and/or hate their alternative platforms. And most of the geeks (and some general users) i know prefer their alternative platforms and hate iOS.

Find the platform that caters to how you operate and enjoy.

Because with Apple its "what will 80% of general users want to do 80% of the time" the remaining esoteric 20% simply don't matter as much to them...never have and probably never will. And you can't blame them because the numbers and feedback speak for themselves.

Contrary to popular belief marketing can only get you so far if your product lacks substance. If marketing was all it took then Nokia's Lumias would be flying off shelves right now and Sriracha sauce would be totally anonymous

 

[Tinmania]

Not really. He's just highlighting most of the undertones of couch's (and other alternative platformers here) rhetoric.

Bottom line is at the end of the day iOS will never likely never have widgets nor will iPhones have removable batteries and SD slots. Its just the way it is.

Throwing in removable batteries and SD slots are red herrings. First, they have nothing to do with an OS. Second, the phone that the guy you are complaining about presently owns, has no removable battery nor SD slot.

As for widgets, iOS already does to a certain extent: weather and stocks in notification center, and the day of the month on the calendar (yay). Widgets do not need to be the big bad monster some seem to think that they are.




Michael

 

[daneoni]

Throwing in removable batteries and SD slots are red herrings. First, they have nothing to do with an OS. Second, the phone that the guy you are complaining about presently owns, has no removable battery nor SD slot.

As for widgets, iOS already does to a certain extent: weather and stocks in notification center, and the day of the month on the calendar (yay). Widgets do not need to be the big bad monster some seem to think that they are.

Michael

You miss the point.

 

[Tinmania]

You miss the point.

The point of this thread is an OS and not hardware. SD and removable batteries are merely go-to items that really don't apply in this context.




Michael

 

[daneoni]

The point of this thread is an OS and not hardware. SD and removable batteries are merely go-to items that really don't apply in this context.

Michael

Still missing the point.

 

[KentuckyHouse]

Still missing the point.

No, you're missing the point. This has nothing to do with the hardware. OP is talking about the software.

Got any more smart remarks to make yourself appear intelligent? Why are you here anyway? It's pretty obvious which platform works best for you and this is the alternatives to iOS and iOS devices section. It's not the "let's go defend iOS" section.

BTW, people don't have to "hate" either platform. Some, like me, have and use both. Both have shortcomings, both have strengths. No need to divide people into groups more than already happens by being derisive towards other members.

 

[daneoni]

^
Classy. *sigh* I shouldn't have bothered.

Apple is a hardware and software company and their design philosophy applies to both categories since they're heavy on vertical integration. So when you say this is an OS thread you're simply nitpicking a distinction without any real difference. It means nothing.

Whether I gave a removable battery, 5 inch 1080p screen, widgets, shortcuts, setting default apps, real multi-tasking or sharing to third party vendors as examples is irrelevant. The reason iOS and iPhones and OSX and Macs are the way they are is precisely because of Apple's design philosophy.

If we were talking about Android then you can play the OS/Hardware card. Since hardware and OS are legitimately separate components of the platform.

PS i own a Nexus 4 and have owned flagships from pretty much every platform out there.

 

[Tinmania]

No, you're missing the point. This has nothing to do with the hardware. OP is talking about the software.

Got any more smart remarks to make yourself appear intelligent? Why are you here anyway? It's pretty obvious which platform works best for you and this is the alternatives to iOS and iOS devices section. It's not the "let's go defend iOS" section.

BTW, people don't have to "hate" either platform. Some, like me, have and use both. Both have shortcomings, both have strengths. No need to divide people into groups more than already happens by being derisive towards other members.

Well said. It's a shame, some of the stuff we have to put up with in this forum.



Michael

 

[onthecouchagain]

iOS doesn't even need a lot to get better. Look at the jailbreak community. They're figuring out iOS faster than Apple is (or are willing to).

Look up Zephyr -- this is a thing of pure brilliance. Always reliable, always there. Made using my iPhone 5 monumentally better.

Likewise, look at Auxo for a clever and aesthetically pleasing way to do setting toggle widgets. And they all fall under Apple's design philosophy. It's so natural that if you didn't know better, you'd believe it was from Apple themselves.

Or even simple things like giving us the security option on whether we want to require a password every time we download an app or not. This is not a lot to ask for. Let us choose.

Or a better keyboard with a full range of long-press options. Does Apple really think people don't know about or haven't or can't learn about long pressing? Give us better auto corrections too. The keyboard is long overdue for an update. Look at Swiftkey's autocorrection (not even their prediction; their autocorrection). It's absolutely genius. Allow us to control our personal dictionary. Allow us (you know, the individual people actually doing the typing) to choose what words we want added and--just as important--not added.

Or little things like don't let Safari suddenly go blank because you lose signal. I love that on Android, if you're reading something on the web but lose signal, nothing happens. You're allowed to keep reading. Heck, you're even allowed to press "back" and it'll take you to the previous page if you want to go back and read something there. With Safari, it would just give up and give you that Safari prompt that you don't have service.

Likewise, give us a real email experience. Mail sucks. There's no way to know which inbox your mail came in from, you have to navigate out and back in if you want to see Sent messages, you can't keep more than a few weeks worth of mail (conversely, Gmail lets you keep your ENTIRE mailbox). And like Safari, don't crap out on us because there's no signal. I love that Gmail pre-downloads everything for you. Once, I had no service, but was still able to open an attachment in an email that I had never opened before. It was already downloaded. This is smart for a smartphone. Do I need to mention attachments? I think it's a joke that people want to use the iPhone as a business phone. How am I going to send multiple Excel sheets to multiple clients or multiple photo samples to different people? Do I really have to "share" them?

Speaking of sharing, why not allow us to share to more than just Facebook/Twitter. Gasp, other things exist to share to. What can you share to in Android? Anything you want!

I also hate that when you have no service, you can't send any messages. You'll get that red "!" and that's it. Oh, thanks. Whereas on Android, it'll be queued up and will automatically send it out when you regain service. With iOS, you have to tap the "!" and choose yes to resend. Again, some might call the way Android does it smarter.

None of these are major requests. None of these are impossible for Apple to do. None of these things will necessarily alienate their already established base. None of this means they won't continue to sell millions of iPhones. None of this hurts people who don't want these features.

If you don't want iOS to improve in such ways, so be it, but it's ridiculous to argue that Apple shouldn't because sales are great and/or there are people out there that don't want them. Whoopity-do. And there are people out there that do. See how that cancels each other out?

What does it hurt to add more features to iOS? What does it hurt to make iOS more flexible, more powerful? What does it hurt to make iOS smarter and easier to use? The competition has figured out how to accomplish almost everything faster and easier at this point in time.

But iOS will look flatter. Great.

I sincerely hope iOS 7 is more than that.

 

[tjl3]

No, you're missing the point. This has nothing to do with the hardware. OP is talking about the software.

Or, it could be Android's (and I guess WP8 and BB10, too) moment to really distance itself. If iOS 7 won't give people the things they want, and will still be on a 4" screen, will more people migrate? They should. Or else Apple may never change the way we want and at the speed we want.

Actually the OP did bring up hardware. I actually was the one who stated SD card/battery first b/c I was trying to sum up his displeasure w/ Apple as an all inclusive "Apple doesn't give us choices period" instead of just in iOS.

I also happen to be in the minority who prefers the iPhone keyboard and I don't mind the mail app. Tbh, none of those previous complaints are very high on my list of complaints w/ the iOS platform. But I'm not arguing that you should have the same view, you have every right to have that opinion.

 

[Kariya]

Actually the OP did bring up hardware.....

Ah, but alas it was easier to insult him, then call him a fanboy...all whilst being self-righteous about it.

No, you're missing the point. This has nothing to do with the hardware. OP is talking about the software.

Got any more smart remarks to make yourself appear intelligent? Why are you here anyway? It's pretty obvious which platform works best for you and this is the alternatives to iOS and iOS devices section. It's not the "let's go defend iOS" section.

BTW, people don't have to "hate" either platform. Some, like me, have and use both. Both have shortcomings, both have strengths. No need to divide people into groups more than already happens by being derisive towards other members.

Well said. It's a shame, some of the stuff we have to put up with in this forum.

Michael

 

[Miggy09]

It's ok not to like a platform, be it iOS, Android, Windows, BB, etc. This thread is kind of ridiculous though. Why the OP puts himself through hell by using iOS, I have no idea. A lot of his posts are really childish and contradicting, and its a bit embarassing.

He starts off this thread by saying how he will likely be disappointed with iOS 7, but the truth is even before any of it has been revealed he has already been predisposed to loathe it:

I was afraid of this...

If true, those holding out their breath for big changes to come with iOS 7 (myself included) will likely be disappointed.

I don't think it is humanly possible to release a iOS 7 that will change his mind:

I can't tell you how happy I am to be back on Android. It's like waking up from a bad nightmare. Almost everything is so much better and easier on Android. It's such a liberating feeling.

Just a couple days earlier he seemed pretty primed for the possibility of a Android 4.3 instead of the next major release at Google I/O:

Really interested in seeing what the new Nex 7 brings...

Despite the lack of information by both companies, he seems pretty upbeat about the next minor revision of one platform and pretty down on the major revision of the other, to which he is a user of both.

But lets get back on topic, because he couldn't have possibly said this to just all around contradict himself:

They couldn't do "what Apple does" if they tried. If you want to talk about lack of UI refreshes, Apple is king of the hill.

Honestly, why even bother posting a 30 day journey with iPhone 5 in the Alternatives forum, its offtopic already. As much 'praise' as he gives the iPhone it just seems like bitterness towards that platform to the point of trolling this side of the forums about it:

Former owner of iPhone 5, Nexus 4, Galaxy Nexus, iPhone 4S. After having problems with defective Nexus 4's, I went with the iPhone 5 because I wasn't initially impressed with either the S4 or the One. The lenient Apple return policy also afforded me time to make my decision. The jailbroken iPhone 5 actually came close to being a keeper to tie me over until more options came out later in the year, but its instability and the 4" screen couldn't prevail. I had to make a decision.

To the OP, save yourself the headache and stop bitching and moaning about something you have no intent on actually using.

 

[adnbek]

iOS doesn't even need a lot to get better. Look at the jailbreak community. They're figuring out iOS faster than Apple is (or are willing to).

I'll tell you one thing... I wish Apple would accelerate the animation speeds, like fakeclockup does, to 1.4 or 1.6x. Since reverting to stock, the phone feels so slow in comparison because I got used to how fast it was when activated. The animations when switching apps or navigating through menus are slowed down on purpose and fakeclockup demonstrates how snappy iOS can actually be.

 

[onthecouchagain]

It's ok not to like a platform, be it iOS, Android, Windows, BB, etc. This thread is kind of ridiculous though. Why the OP puts himself through hell by using iOS, I have no idea. A lot of his posts are really childish and contradicting, and its a bit embarassing.

He starts off this thread by saying how he will likely be disappointed with iOS 7, but the truth is even before any of it has been revealed he has already been predisposed to loathe it:



I don't think it is humanly possible to release a iOS 7 that will change his mind:



Just a couple days earlier he seemed pretty primed for the possibility of a Android 4.3 instead of the next major release at Google I/O:



Despite the lack of information by both companies, he seems pretty upbeat about the next minor revision of one platform and pretty down on the major revision of the other, to which he is a user of both.

But lets get back on topic, because he couldn't have possibly said this to just all around contradict himself:



Honestly, why even bother posting a 30 day journey with iPhone 5 in the Alternatives forum, its offtopic already. As much 'praise' as he gives the iPhone it just seems like bitterness towards that platform to the point of trolling this side of the forums about it:



To the OP, save yourself the headache and stop bitching and moaning about something you have no intent on actually using.

Okay. Thanks for the suggestion and taking many things out of context. Also I own an ipad. Mind blowing I know.

----------

I'll tell you one thing... I wish Apple would accelerate the animation speeds, like fakeclockup does, to 1.4 or 1.6x. Since reverting to stock, the phone feels so slow in comparison because I got used to how fast it was when activated. The animations when switching apps or navigating through menus are slowed down on purpose and fakeclockup demonstrates how snappy iOS can actually be.

You're looking at the animation speed wrong.

 

[Abazigal]

I think that people have to realize that ios and android ultimately do very different things. Android tends to cram as many features as possible to compensate for it behind more complex than iOS because it doesn't have anything to cannibalise. Conversely, because the iPhone and ipad are intended as companion devices to macs, they (as a general rule of thumb) will never come close to replacing a PC, though there are many overlaps.

iOS also needs to tread a fine line between being feature-rich and remaining easy to use, but I think people in general recognize this and don't mind it technically being behind android in terms of functions, so long as it meets their basic needs well enough.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

The point he was making is simple - and true. All Apple needs to do is release a visual overhaul of iOS and, through their clever marketing, will have millions of people drooling over it, when all they'd have done is really just release an iOS update that is the equivalent of a visual theme.

People will be saying it's faster, easier to use, more intuitive and smoother just because Apple will market it that way.

Is that a bad thing then?
I bought my iPhone because I like the look of the interface and I like the product design of the handset. I was willing to pay a little more for something I like, why is that so often labelled as such a bad thing amongst forum people?

This in no way means I lack any particular intellect or am easily swayed by marketing. I buy what I like and have little or no care what others do with their money. Its not a revolution where I feel I have to persuade everyone that my thinking is correct. In the UK the likes of Samsung are marketing way more than their competitors and are selling as a result. I wouldn't dream of criticising one of their customers for purchasing off the back of such things. products are marketed and products are bought.

 

[onthecouchagain]

Okay let's make this perfectly clear since this seems to be a point of contention:

Of course there exists people who buy the iPhone because they genuinely want to! Can this red herring be put to rest? Sensitive much?

Can we talk about ios now and what could be ios 7?

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

I was just having my say if that is ok? That was a rhetorical question because of course it is.

There are several iOS 7 threads running at present and its got the point in most where opinions going off on tangents are being discussed, rather than iOS 7 which is still very much unknown.

As to the answer of your question I don't think it needs to be compared with Android and the assumption its going to fall further behind. Android is a different part of the market to iOS and if Apple were seriously pushing to compete, I think they would do a Samsung and release 10 different handsets at once. Both interfaces are difficult to compare because one interface is only available on one type of phone and the other provides a OS across multiple manufacturers.

Unless Apple start selling iOS to independent manufacturers to put on their devices, Android is always going to be further ahead for obvious reasons. Whether consumers think Android is ahead because of what it can do, is purely subjective. At the end of the day consumers buy what they desire and both platforms are hugely popular.

To add further and give my personal opinion; if iOS 7 brings mostly cosmetic changes with only a few features, I will not be disappointed. I love iOS 6 as it does everything I wish it to and neatly. If they improve is overall appearance and deliver something different, then I will greet the change positively. Its already a good product, so lets wait and see.

 

[jrswizzle]

Okay let's make this perfectly clear since this seems to be a point of contention:

Of course there exists people who buy the iPhone because they genuinely want to! Can this red herring be put to rest? Sensitive much?

Can we talk about ios now and what could be ios 7?

Couch - are you really telling OTHERS to stop being so sensitive?

I don't really want to jump into the middle of this, but others' divisive comments are only spurned on by your dramatic rhetoric. Something is either brilliant or an absolute nightmare.

None of these phones will be perfect (as you are well aware) and given the fact we are still months from even a keynote telling us what iOS7 will do and look like, I think its a bit premature to be going into your usual "woe is me, iOS 7 is a sick joke" routine.

Can't we just wait for it to be released before deeming it a failure and causing a fuss? How about taking this rumor about iOS 7 being flatter as only ONE rumor and talk about it as such. It's easy to discuss the ins and outs of a flatter iOS without making some grandiose claim that "oh well that's all iOS 7 will be, Apple sucks and the world is doomed".

iOS 7 will be flatter.....I doubt this is earth-shattering news given who now leads the design team. Let's wait to see if other features leak - or better yet, wait until Apple themselves announce the damn thing before moving to judge it so completely.

 

[KentuckyHouse]

Ah, but alas it was easier to insult him, then call him a fanboy...all whilst being self-righteous about it.

This is a very good point and I apologize for that. I just feel like couch gets attacked because he's trying to point out things on here and I felt the need to defend him. As a user of both platforms, I'm in a position to see exactly what he's talking about and feel the same way on lots of the points he makes.

But I shouldn't have contradicted myself like that.