iOS 7 pushing anyone to Android?

[DeathTheKid]

I am an Android to IOS convert. Personally, I think iOS 7 is much more pleasing on the eye, than clean, boring iOS 6. It was time for a UI overhaul. As with anything else you have to give it time. I have been on 7 since the betas and now love the design.

The thing that makes me want to go back to Android is the difficulty of jailbreaking. When I got the 5, I waited 5 months for a jailbreak to be released. Then my speaker broke on my iPhone. I ended up restoring, so I could take it back to the Apple Store for repair and losing my jailbreak. (I forgot Apple was on 6.1.4) Now, I am hoping that a jailbreak will be released for 7 since it has been about 4 months. Meanwhile, to root my Nexus 7, I just put it into recovery mode and issue about 3 commands from ADB(command line) developer tools. Then I have a recovery and can flash ROMs or the superuser zip.

I like Google's approach to modding. People who are going to find ways to root/jailbreak, are going to find a way. It is better they can safely unlock vs having to find an exploit.

 

[Retired Cat]

Thanks for all the feedback everyone. I actually want to check out the iPhone 5C tomorrow, so I will also get to take a look at iOS 7 in person.

I am fairly new to smart phones in general, so I am not heavily invested in any particular ecosystem.

 

[mac00l]

I'm jumping out of iOS, at least for the phone.

It was something unthinkable for me a year or so ago. I'm not doing so because of iOS 7 (which I kinda like) but because I need an unlocked phone, and getting an iPhone for 650 doesn't make sense to me.

I have invested some money into iOS ecosystem. But I'm finding that most of the apps are either available for iPad, or not being used at all.

Like I said is not iOS 7 per se, but the lack of a compelling reason to pay 550 or 650 for a phone that essentially is the same as an iPhone 5

 

[kramjam]

Not eligible for the 5S this year, have to decide whether I want to pony up for the 64GB full retail or jump ship to the Note 3. iOS7 is a nice refreshing look and feel, but mostly everything operates the same. Control Center isn't enough to radically change the way I use my iPhone, especially since I have no way of customizing the apps it can launch.

2013 and we're still using the physical home button to multitask. It just feels so clunky being someone that is constantly switching apps - why can't the phone have gestures similar to the iPad? I would miss quite a few apps that aren't on Android such as Afterlight, VSCOcam and Day One, but am I sure tempted to give the Note 3 a shot for a year and see where Apple is heading with next year's hardware and software. Some default applications are a step backward, and since iOS doesn't let you change default apps... well, you know the drill. The Verge's review of iOS7 really summarized how I felt about the update, and now I find myself ready to take the Android plunge.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

I'm jumping out of iOS, at least for the phone.

It was something unthinkable for me a year or so ago. I'm not doing so because of iOS 7 (which I kinda like) but because I need an unlocked phone, and getting an iPhone for 650 doesn't make sense to me.

I have invested some money into iOS ecosystem. But I'm finding that most of the apps are either available for iPad, or not being used at all.

Like I said is not iOS 7 per se, but the lack of a compelling reason to pay 550 or 650 for a phone that essentially is the same as an iPhone 5

Why don't you spread the cost on a contract rather than buying a phone outright? I think most people would feel the pinch if they spend £500/£600 on a phone in one lump sum. I worked mine out and over 24 months with paying something towards the handset (iPhone 5) and the monthly bills I will have paid £857. It doesn't seem so much spread out.

 

[dazed]

I just snagged one if the last nexus 4s and can't believe how much I like it, as well as android.

I never switched because of ios7 but because I don't like the form factor of the 5 and 5S (very feminine). For $300 inc tax and shipping I got a unlocked phone. Can't beat that really

 

[throAU]

Thanks for all the feedback everyone. I actually want to check out the iPhone 5C tomorrow, so I will also get to take a look at iOS 7 in person.

If you're basing hatred of iOS 7 on static screenshots, you're jumping the gun a bit.

In actual use it is way nicer than iOS 6 IMHO.

I evaluated a HTC One running android for a bit last week while waiting for iOS to get a taste of the other side, and didn't like it.

 

[roadbloc]

For anyone thinking of moving off iOS 7, I'd also recommend you take a look at some Windows Phone models. Its a nice middle-ground between iOS and Android. Much more flexible and customisable than iOS, but no so much so that you run the risk of bricking your phone if you try too much. And plenty of apps too.

Saying that, I really like the look of iOS 7. I always said my next phone would be another Nokia Windows Phone, but now I'm not so sure with the new iOS design and the *slightly* cheaper iPhone.

 

[ChazUK]

Poor Miley.

 

[mac00l]

Why don't you spread the cost on a contract rather than buying a phone outright? I think most people would feel the pinch if they spend £500/£600 on a phone in one lump sum. I worked mine out and over 24 months with paying something towards the handset (iPhone 5) and the monthly bills I will have paid £857. It doesn't seem so much spread out.

Because I can't. For the next couple of years I'm not sure I'll be staying for more than a year in a given country. Since most contracts are 2 year, it wouldn't make sense.

That is why I need an unlocked phone with broad gsm band support.

 

[fredaroony]

I can't help but be annoyed. I bought an iPhone 5 because I liked the device, iOS 6, and Apple's policy of continuing to issue software updates/security patches.

I did not expect iOS 7 would look the way it does, or have usability issues with the font and brite-white interface. Apps app updates today are starting to adopt the iOS 7 styling.

At some point I will be forced to get iOS 7 in order to receive patches, but if I can't get used to the look, what's a good alternative handset that won't be abandoned as far as updates? I know that the Nexus gets updates regularly. Anything else?

If you could change it to a dark theme it wouldn't look nearly as bad as it does in my opinion. I'm not upgrading my iPad mini anytime soon.

 

[leman]

Well, I was considering switching to Android recently, but iOS 7 fixed most of the things which bothered me with my iPhone. Not a big fan of the new icons, but the functionality improvements are excellent. The new mail, calendar, weather and clock are so much better than iOS 6. And the new quick-access CP is very handy. I wouldn't know who Android would make me happier? Widgets? Hm, they are nice, but IMO they still don't work right - most widgets look completely out of place.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

Because I can't. For the next couple of years I'm not sure I'll be staying for more than a year in a given country. Since most contracts are 2 year, it wouldn't make sense.

That is why I need an unlocked phone with broad gsm band support.

Oh right fair enough
Would you consider buying a second hand iPhone 5 or are you only interested in the very latest?

 

[cuzo]

Can anyone post a video of the android OS and what its better?

I'm curious...

Don't post the one with the nexus (galaxy) vs the iphone 4, post one newer so I can see how far android is come.

I like android but I'm worried about updates and lack of lag.

My ios 7 is boring but very stable.

 

[rillrill]

stuck on an iphone 4 until the note 3 comes out. i dont think ios 7 as a whole is as bad as everyone says, but its buggy. the zoom animation needs to go. i think its covering up the slowness on the phone, and when you want to go to yr first page of apps, yr zooming forever.

the funniest thing about this update is that it really is superficial, but you watch these hooples like ive and cook talk it up like you have to have it. its the best zooming you will see on a mobile device. fix icloud, you pricks.

 

[JackieInCo]

After having a few of my most used apps not work correctly on my 4S and iPad Mini, I downgraded back to 6.1.3 ob both a few hours ago. I'll gladly upgrade to 7.0 once again when the devs release the app updates I need.

I am happy once again.

 

[APhillyApple]

Nope, not pushing me anywhere. I like iOS 7.

 

[T5BRICK]

Can anyone post a video of the android OS and what its better?

I'm curious...

Don't post the one with the nexus (galaxy) vs the iphone 4, post one newer so I can see how far android is come.

I like android but I'm worried about updates and lack of lag.

My ios 7 is boring but very stable.

What? I'm not even sure what you're asking to see. If you're interested in Android, go do some google searches, read some reviews. There is a ton of info out there, you just have to look for it.

Personally, I don't worry about updates and lag. Updates are handled by me, as I'm constantly changing my ROM depending on my mood. I'm usually running the latest OS within a day or two of its release. As for lag, I know people talk about it, but honestly I don't see any more lag on my HTC One than I did on my iPhone 4s. What I do know is that I can speed up animations on my Android phone, whereas the iPhone I can't. Right now, the unlock animation on iOS 7 is wayyyy too slow.

 

[ucfgrad93]

Part of the reason I switched was because of how iOS 7 looks. I bought a HTC One in early July.

 

[MRSucks]

iO7 and game changer 5s set iPhones to me, for life. Once in a while, I will try or will have a secondary, best for me, non-iOS / iPhone device .

 

[r0k]

I have mixed but mostly positive feelings about iOS7. I also own a Moto Razr M so all I have to compare to is rather ugly hardware running JellyBean. I'm in no way tempted to leave iOS at this time.

I installed iOS7 for my wife yesterday evening and she flipped. It turns out she was the person all those skeuomorphisms were for. And she has some valid points. She said "everything is too white". In calendar, you used to get alternating bands of color so events didn't run together. In memos you used to get lines like lined paper which gave a visual cue where you were and how big a memo you had, in monthly calendar view, there were little boxes around the days to help your eye follow weeks of the month. I mean I've been looking at calendars with grid views since Kennedy was president, and I'm pretty sure that format was around a few centuries before my time. If it wasn't a good idea, don't you think print calendars would have dropped those grid lines a long time ago? It's not that the lines aren't there, it's that they are so skinny and hard to see, they disappear for somebody with "old eyes".

I'm not saying Apple designed iOS7 for teenagers in order to avoid the scenario Samsung made fun of in their commercial where those waiting in line for a new iphone were holding a spot for their parents. I'm saying they need a balance and for me they have gone too far. Too clean. Too bland. Too uncluttered. Too white. Should we start removing lane lines because they make freeways look cluttered? I think not. Another area is the inbox. All the messages look run together. I tried increasing the font and now she gets less on the screen but still struggles to see where one message ends and another begins. I tried installing calendars+ for her but alas it's no longer available in the app store. I have it on my iPhone 5 but she can't get it on her iPhone 4S. She's the one this bothers most. There is a new version of calendars (Readdle) but it also abandons alternating bands of color to help you see which message is which. What LUNACY!

I have to wholeheartedly agree with my wife on this and I think what happened here is Jony Ive got too much power all at once. There is no voice there to speak up for reasonable details that would make iOS7 easier to use. I just hope it doesn't take Apple as long to bring back the (few) useful skeuomorphisms as it did for MS to bring back the Start button.

Now that I've said all this, I must also state that this is a very small thing to me. I'm sorry in inflicted this update on my wife, but these issues won't prevent me from using and enjoying iOS7. I only hope Apple has the good sense to swing the pendulum back a little bit toward intuitive design which brings some elements from the real world to the screen.

 

[onthecouchagain]

This, again, highlights the beauty of Android's flexibility -- to be able to make other apps default. If someone finds the default apps un-usable because of a radical design change, they can swap it out for a different one and set that as the default across the whole operating system.

What good are all those wonderful apps in the App Store when they can't be set to default for people who love them and prefer them?

It's things like this that make iOS near impossible for me to return to unless it's changed.

With Android, it is truly my phone with all the specifics catered to my needs.

 

[Retired Cat]

I had the chance to use iOS 7 today at an Apple store, and I find that there are some good things and some bad things.

The clean look is mostly refreshing, and I had no trouble navigating apps and menus. Everything was pretty seamless on 5S and 5C hardware. I think Control Center is a much needed addition.

Some aspects of the interface seem unpolished though. For example, the dock is really ugly on wallpapers that aren't the stock 5C backgrounds. Newsstand is also pretty terrible. There's a blinding amount of white space in apps like Calendar and Settings. The subtle blue/gray in iOS 6 is much more pleasant to look at. Fonts are ok when black, but still less easy on the eyes than in iOS 6. White lettering I found hard to read.

Icons. Game Center and Safari were as ugly as I feared, though the others seemed ok. This matters less to me as I generally don't use many of the Apple apps on my home screen.

Overall, I felt that Apple had the right ideas, but that the implementation wasn't quite right. As iOS evolves from 7 to 8 and beyond, I think things will get better.

In short: iOS 7 needs a fair amount of work still, but its not fundamentally bad or flawed in a way that makes me want to jump ship just yet.

 

[onthecouchagain]

I wonder if the same people would be as forgiving if Android or Windows or Samsung/HTC/Sony skins were released this "unpolished" and with slow animations to mask the loading.

 

[Cnasty]

I wonder if the same people would be as forgiving if Android or Windows or Samsung/HTC/Sony skins were released this "unpolished" and with slow animations to mask the loading.

Come on.

You know that answer. Quit fishing.