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Now Samsung are copying Google UI elements, what does this mean for iOS?

C

Ctrlos

macrumors 68000
Original poster
Sep 19, 2022
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For those outside the Android loop, Samsung updated their handsets to Android 14 this week. Along with that came a new default font that very closely mimics Google’s Pixel font as well as other UI changes that make it look more Pixel.

In the past Samsung was often (quite rightly) criticised for just attempting to copy Apple. Many Android OEMs do this so they don’t seem too different and to try to fool the less tech savvy who don’t really know the difference. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery and these companies copied Apple because they were seen as the most innovative and forward thinking.

If the biggest device manufacturer in the world now sees Google as the company to plagiarise it means they see them in that light now instead of Apple. Its no secret that iOS has been in need of a bit of a visual and ergonomic refresh for a while now and it seems Samsung obviously thinks so.
 
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Ctrlos said:
In the past Samsung was often (quite rightly) criticised for just attempting to copy Apple. Many Android OEMs do this so they don’t seem too different and to try to fool the less tech savvy who don’t really know the difference. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery and these companies copied Apple because they were seen as the most innovative and forward thinking.
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I read an article back in the early 2000s explaining that Samsung Corp would rather risk to pay a copyright infringement fine and still make every electronic product known to man. That seems to work great for them as others failed.

personally I tried ordering several thumb drives on the Samsung website (which was a nosebleed to navigate) in July but could not finish the order and was declined since I would not give them either my phone number, real email address or something personal as I normally don't give out to other online vendors.

this 2013 Samsung 720dpi Tv will be the last thing I will own by them.

and just to think I wore their logo name on a blue football kit in few major cities for 12 years!
 
owidhh said:
No, things don't need to look different every year...
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No, but a new refresh every decade cannot hurt!

In the time since iOS7 was released we have been through 2 visual refreshes of MacOS, 2 different versions of Windows and the Xbox 360 was still considered an up-to-date console. Windows Phone has been and gone and Nintendo went from a laughing stock to having the last laugh.

Ergonomically the OS is a mess, with far too many repeated functions and fundamental actions outside the reach of your thumb.

It’s time for a rebuild.
 
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Ludatyk said:
And if it ain’t broke… no need to try to fix it.

The numbers speak for themselves, the iPhone still sell like hotcakes.. until that changes, why disrupt it?
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Based on Samsung's change of influence to show that they still lead in mobile software and hardware?
 
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Ctrlos said:
Based on Samsung's change of influence to show that they still lead in mobile software and hardware?
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So, let me get this straight…. Because Samsung copied a font that resembles Google font indicates that Apple has lost their lead in mobile space?

I think you are reaching, companies copies companies in this mobile space… the Object Eraser feature was first on Samsung, which Google has been advertising passionately as if they came up with the idea themselves. Trust me, I see it on nearly every NBA game commercial break.
 
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Ludatyk said:
So, let me get this straight…. Because Samsung copied a font that resembles Google font indicates that Apple has lost their lead in mobile space?

I think you are reaching, companies copies companies in this mobile space… the Object Eraser feature was first on Samsung, which Google has been advertising passionately as if they came up with the idea themselves. Trust me, I see it on nearly every NBA game commercial break.
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It’s certainly a bit more than fonts but yes, exactly that. Plagiarism makes the software world go round and its not like Google, Apple, Microsoft and everybody else hasn’t been ’borrowing’ each others’ ideas for over 20 years. The old joke was that Apple were Microsoft’s R&D department after all and Steve Jobs once claimed he would burn down Android for stealing their ideas.

But up until now everyone took their lead from Apple. This is the first time we have seen a big OEM (arguably the biggest) not take the lead from Apple.

That could just be a blip or it could be the start of the cracks showing in iOS7.
 
Feek said:
No it doesn't.
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See how much of the OS is comfortably useable with one hand without resorting to the fudge of 'reachability' or without using some finger gymnastics and get back to me.
 
Ctrlos said:
See how much of the OS is comfortably useable with one hand without resorting to the fudge of 'reachability' or without using some finger gymnastics and get back to me.
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We still can use widget stacks and other tricks to configure our home screens the way which fits our wants/needs.

How is Samsung’s implementation of Android 14 (below) better than iOS? 🤷🏻‍♂️

IMG_1054.jpeg
 
one more said:
We still can use widget stacks and other tricks to configure our home screens the way which fits our wants/needs.

How is Samsung’s implementation of Android 14 (below) better than iOS? 🤷🏻‍♂️

View attachment 2305008
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Android is in need of as much an update as iOS in this department. However Samsung at the very least allows a dead space at the top of menus allowing you to scroll the top to the halfway point on your screen. Makes a difference but it's not enough.

To put it bluntly any phone interaction that takes place outside of the bottom 50% of the screen is a failure of accessibility.

Google and Apple are both guilty here.
 
Ctrlos said:
Android is in need of as much an update as iOS in this department. However Samsung at the very least allows a dead space at the top of menus allowing you to scroll the top to the halfway point on your screen. Makes a difference but it's not enough.

To put it bluntly any phone interaction that takes place outside of the bottom 50% of the screen is a failure of accessibility.

Google and Apple are both guilty here.
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With a bit of creativity on the user’s part this is solvable, as if we wanted we could arrange folders and individual app icons just in the two-three bottom rows of the screen and just swipe between them horizontally. Or, if we have 100s of apps, we can use “search” at the bottom of the Home Screen as well. Basically, what Apple gives us out of the box is their “serving suggestion”, but we can tweak it quite a bit to our liking.
 
Ctrlos said:
No, but a new refresh every decade cannot hurt!

In the time since iOS7 was released we have been through 2 visual refreshes of MacOS, 2 different versions of Windows and the Xbox 360 was still considered an up-to-date console. Windows Phone has been and gone and Nintendo went from a laughing stock to having the last laugh.

Ergonomically the OS is a mess, with far too many repeated functions and fundamental actions outside the reach of your thumb.

It’s time for a rebuild.
Click to expand...

No, no more full redesign pls. Apple had a good reason for that move anyway.

And every once in a while Apple does apply a redesign for certain things, like control center, Apple Music, Safari, etc.

What are the repeated functions? iOS is an advanced OS than before, it needs to be versatile since people use it for work.
 
Ctrlos said:
See how much of the OS is comfortably useable with one hand without resorting to the fudge of 'reachability' or without using some finger gymnastics and get back to me.
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I never use my phone with one hand, this is irrelevant to me.
 
Ctrlos said:
To put it bluntly any phone interaction that takes place outside of the bottom 50% of the screen is a failure of accessibility.
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That may be your preferred UX, but I don’t share that preference. I’m happy to use the whole screen, either with my thumb by gripping the phone sides with one hand, or using two hands. I find the UX remarkably similar between my 14P and my Pixel 7.
 
A software refresh for me with Apple would be everything working correctly in a September iOS release.
 
Feek said:
I never use my phone with one hand, this is irrelevant to me.
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Welcome to the 5th percentile.

The hundreds of millions of other people out there who have to use their phone whilst holding shopping, the railings on public transport, their child's hand or even just a burrito will find it quite relevant.
 
symphony said:
No, no more full redesign pls. Apple had a good reason for that move anyway.

And every once in a while Apple does apply a redesign for certain things, like control center, Apple Music, Safari, etc.

What are the repeated functions? iOS is an advanced OS than before, it needs to be versatile since people use it for work.
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A basic example is having 3 possible ways to open the camera from the lock screen. I also don't need a dashboard if I can plonk widgets on the home screen.

Just pick one, Apple.
 
Ctrlos said:
Android is in need of as much an update as iOS in this department. However Samsung at the very least allows a dead space at the top of menus allowing you to scroll the top to the halfway point on your screen. Makes a difference but it's not enough.

To put it bluntly any phone interaction that takes place outside of the bottom 50% of the screen is a failure of accessibility.

Google and Apple are both guilty here.
Click to expand...
Reachability would like a word.
 
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