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C DM

macrumors Sandy Bridge
Oct 17, 2011
51,392
19,461
That doesn't make sense. I've been swiping back and then suddenly you have to use that half baked back link at the top. Why not just swipe back to the previous app?!

Inconsistent UI that Android trumped day 1 with a back button
The regular back action is one that is within the scope of where you are, not a system-wide one in iOS. It's the way that Apple implemented things where there wasn't this system-wide back button.
 

Feenician

macrumors 603
Jun 13, 2016
5,313
5,100
That doesn't make sense. I've been swiping back and then suddenly you have to use that half baked back link at the top. Why not just swipe back to the previous app?!

Inconsistent UI that Android trumped day 1 with a back button

Not really, no. Even the most die hard googleites have complained about the inconsistency of the back button. You never really know what it's going to do, even if by convention it mostly works. The back link in iOS (which admittedly took to long to happen), always takes you all to the calling app.

Neither system is perfect by a long shot and it's not clear to me there's any platonic ideal form of navigation solvable by a single link or button.
 
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Radon87000

macrumors 604
Nov 29, 2013
7,777
6,255
More than an alternative.Its actually surpassed iOS in many areas and I say this as both a Apple and Android fan
 

Radon87000

macrumors 604
Nov 29, 2013
7,777
6,255
You can using the back link at the top in the status bar, and on 3D Touch devices using a 3D Touch swipe from left to right.
You require dedicated hardware to do what Android has been doing for years since ICS.Congrats
 

Feenician

macrumors 603
Jun 13, 2016
5,313
5,100
More than an alternative.Its actually surpassed iOS in many areas and I say this as both a Apple and Android fan

At least you said "many areas" and not "all areas". The former is a matter of opinion and the latter provable untrue.

You require dedicated hardware to do what Android has been doing for years since ICS.Congrats
I wonder if you read the post you responded to. You do not need dedicated hardware, though it does provide a shortcut. As "both a(n) Apple and Android fan" you'd think it would be reasonable to assume you already knew that in fact.
 

LIVEFRMNYC

macrumors G3
Oct 27, 2009
8,877
10,987
Android Back button = System wide and takes you where you want 95% of the time. Back means back regardless of where you are within any app or the system UI.

iPhone back gesture = Not system wide, but more of a controlled action within apps and chain of recent apps. Basically 50/50 in my experience.
 

Feenician

macrumors 603
Jun 13, 2016
5,313
5,100
Android Back button = System wide and takes you where you want 95% of the time. Back means back regardless of where you are within any app or the system UI.

iPhone back gesture = Not system wide, but more of a controlled action within apps and chain of recent apps. Basically 50/50 in my experience.

Wrong. The iOS back button always appears, system wide, when jumping from one app to another and is 100% deterministic in taking you back. Importantly it is not controlled by the applications but is actually a system feature. 95% is just great until the 5% where it takes you where you didn't want, to a main app screen you've never even been on for example. Unreliable.
 

LIVEFRMNYC

macrumors G3
Oct 27, 2009
8,877
10,987
Wrong. The iOS back button always appears, system wide, when jumping from one app to another and is 100% deterministic in taking you back. Importantly it is not controlled by the applications but is actually a system feature. 95% is just great until the 5% where it takes you where you didn't want, to a main app screen you've never even been on for example. Unreliable.

No you are wrong.

A couple of examples:

If I tap on an app, there is no back button on the top left or gesture that will take me back to the home screen or folder on home screen from where I opened it.

If I'm in the mail app and I double tap the home button into recent apps and tap on a recent app. There is no back button or gesture to go back to the mail app. With Android the back button will do this without a problem.

The back button on iOS exist on chain actions like app to app, or within an app. It's NOT system wide.
 

Feenician

macrumors 603
Jun 13, 2016
5,313
5,100
No you are wrong.

A couple of examples:

If I tap on an app, there is no back button on the top left or gesture that will take me back to the home screen or folder on home screen from where I opened it.

If I'm in the mail app and I double tap the home button into recent apps and tap on a recent app. There is no back button or gesture to go back to the mail app. With Android the back button will do this without a problem.

The back button on iOS exist on chain actions like app to app, or within an app. It's NOT system wide.

Perhaps you should attempt to read the posts you respond to

The iOS back button always appears, system wide, when jumping from one app to another

You knew this already and you even stated it but if it makes your pedantry go away how about I say "when linking from one app to another". As stated this is a system function. It doesn't rely on app developers getting it right (and frequently getting it wrong, as per android)
 

LIVEFRMNYC

macrumors G3
Oct 27, 2009
8,877
10,987
You knew this already and you even stated it but if it makes your pedantry go away how about I say "when linking from one app to another". As stated this is a system function. It doesn't rely on app developers getting it right (and frequently getting it wrong, as per android)

System function and system wide are two totally differ things. Android's back button is a system function which is system wide. iOS is a system function that is NOT system wide. App developers have nothing to do with it.
 

Radon87000

macrumors 604
Nov 29, 2013
7,777
6,255
At least you said "many areas" and not "all areas". The former is a matter of opinion and the latter provable untrue.
Not a matter of opinion at all.It factually does many things better

1-Number Key on top of keyboard improves productivity
2-You can actually download unrecognized file formats and transfer them to PC
3-File Manager
4-A built in Cache Cleaner to get back storage
5-The ability to set default apps.I uninstall Mail app on iOS yet I cant set Outlook as default app something Android has had for years
6-Multi Window on Phone
7-Multiple User Accounts
8-The Nexus update policy
9-No iTunes



I wonder if you read the post you responded to. You do not need dedicated hardware, though it does provide a shortcut. As "both a(n) Apple and Android fan" you'd think it would be reasonable to assume you already knew that in fact.

You do need dedicated hardware unless you like stressing your finger.On iOS I can only go back another app by painstakingly stretching my finger to the top to tap it and it still doesnt give me access to the app I opened 2 apps before.I need to double tap home button while 6S users will 3d Touch their way to the app they want without all this rigmarole

Its way superior on Android where the back button is on the bottom and tapping that button a few times gets me back to the app I need whilst an iPhone user is struggling with scrolling the cards to the card he precisely wants
[doublepost=1474541555][/doublepost]
Point is Android>iOS in Back button.6s closes the gap through 3d touch yet it took them years to close the gap even by this much.In fact Android users have so much muscle memory that I have seen people new to iOS tapping to the left of the home button to go back
 

I7guy

macrumors Nehalem
Nov 30, 2013
35,157
25,266
Gotta be in it to win it
Not a matter of opinion at all.It factually does many things better

1-Number Key on top of keyboard improves productivity
2-You can actually download unrecognized file formats and transfer them to PC
3-File Manager
4-A built in Cache Cleaner to get back storage
5-The ability to set default apps.I uninstall Mail app on iOS yet I cant set Outlook as default app something Android has had for years
6-Multi Window on Phone
7-Multiple User Accounts
8-The Nexus update policy
9-No iTunes





You do need dedicated hardware unless you like stressing your finger.On iOS I can only go back another app by painstakingly stretching my finger to the top to tap it and it still doesnt give me access to the app I opened 2 apps before.I need to double tap home button while 6S users will 3d Touch their way to the app they want without all this rigmarole

Its way superior on Android where the back button is on the bottom and tapping that button a few times gets me back to the app I need whilst an iPhone user is struggling with scrolling the cards to the card he precisely wants
[doublepost=1474541555][/doublepost]
Point is Android>iOS in Back button.6s closes the gap through 3d touch yet it took them years to close the gap even by this much.In fact Android users have so much muscle memory that I have seen people new to iOS tapping to the left of the home button to go back
Actually 3D Touch in iOS 10 is better overall than the above, It factually surpasses android. Similar to 1 through 9 being "facts".
 

Radon87000

macrumors 604
Nov 29, 2013
7,777
6,255
Actually 3D Touch in iOS 10 is better overall than the above, It factually surpasses android. Similar to 1 through 9 being "facts".
Can you explain how its better instead of mere assertions?My old Nexus 7 has a right click menu and the thing released in 2012.

How are 1 to 9 not facts?Debunk them
 

kasakka

macrumors 68020
Oct 25, 2008
2,389
1,081
Not having to deal with iTunes is a plus in my book. It's **** tier software on both iOS and OSX.

I do think the back button functionality is better in Android. Even if it's not 100% it's still a lot better than having to reach to the top of the screen to go back.
 
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I7guy

macrumors Nehalem
Nov 30, 2013
35,157
25,266
Gotta be in it to win it
Can you explain how its better instead of mere assertions?My old Nexus 7 has a right click menu and the thing released in 2012.

How are 1 to 9 not facts?Debunk them
Your conclusion is subjective. You can't say a minivan with a tow hitch is better than a Gallardo without one; which is in essence being said. Debunked. "Factually" 3dt is faster, more flexible than a long press.
 

Feenician

macrumors 603
Jun 13, 2016
5,313
5,100
Weak comeback.Call me when on iOS you can go 2 apps before without moving your fingers all over/top of the screen

You mean by double pressing the home button and tapping the screen once - a total of 3 taps - on an already visible (since the apps are ordered by last used) app? Perhaps that would stress your aching finger.

It's a non-issue and a magical mystery button that may take you to an unintended place, still, all these years later, is a UI kludge.
 

Wildo6882

macrumors 6502a
Sep 12, 2015
522
561
Illinois
Well this turned into a peeing contest. Guys, they're phones. No one spoke ill of your mother. Use what you like and let others use what they like. Both sides of the argument have something constructive to say. But there's been little construction going on in here.
 

lowendlinux

macrumors 603
Sep 24, 2014
5,460
6,788
Germany
Well this turned into a peeing contest. Guys, they're phones. No one spoke ill of your mother. Use what you like and let others use what they like. Both sides of the argument have something constructive to say. But there's been little construction going on in here.

Some of the most ardent fans of their chosen OS are here..This thread is now destined for wasteland
 

Radon87000

macrumors 604
Nov 29, 2013
7,777
6,255
Your conclusion is subjective. You can't say a minivan with a tow hitch is better than a Gallardo without one; which is in essence being said. Debunked. "Factually" 3dt is faster, more flexible than a long press.
lulwut?3D Touch faster than long press?Both require a deep press....

3d touch isnt even compatible with all apps.Long press works in almost all Android apps.Heck on a Android Phone from 2012 you can long press the settings in NC to open the relevant page in settings something 3d touch still cant do. And you still havent countered Facts 1-9.Theres a lot more to an OS than 3d touch.Show me how you acan achieve facts 1-9 with ease of use

You mean by double pressing the home button and tapping the screen once - a total of 3 taps - on an already visible (since the apps are ordered by last used) app? Perhaps that would stress your aching finger.

It's a non-issue and a magical mystery button that may take you to an unintended place, still, all these years later, is a UI kludge.

Lets look at the steps involved

iOS

1)You need to press the home button twice.

2)You need to scroll through the cards if you are considering going beyond App 3 and again tap on the app to open it

PS-I find the top back button on iPhone plus variants pointless as if you are going to use both hands might as well use app switcher

Android

Press Back button a couple of times.App open.And with approx 14 taps or so I can even open an app I had open 7 apps prior and (this is the most important bit) without moving my finger and keeping it at the base of the phone which is ergonomic.In addition the back button even works for web browsing while on iOS I again have to reach the top of the screen to acheieve this
Lots of functions in Android are perfectly designed for one handed use because of the super awesome nav bar

The back button will only have an unintended result if you are using a slow Android.On a Galaxy S6 for instance with animations turned to 2x multiplier in dev settings the processing is practically instantaneous in tandem with my taps
 
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