Phones Sometimes The Grass Really Is Greener On The Other Side - Six Major Things I Think iO

[nj1266]

If you know you can do that, iOS won't tell you as a new user, yet you know what a back button will do in Android, also it's tricky with a case on the iPhone sometimes to swipe like that, and you need a case because the iPhone is too thin and slippery.

EDIT:: I should add I don't use the swipe as it is a pain to do for me with the official Apple leather case on, it has the sides that are higher than the phone height so it's not easy to get the swipe to work, so it makes it slow and cumbersome, smacking a back button is much quicker I find.

I do not find it tricky with a case. I use several cases and I have yet to find it hard to swipe back. I have an Apple silicone case, a Diztronic case, an Evutec Karbon SI case and non of them present a problem swiping back. Nor do I have a problem with force touch with a case to access to app switcher.

Apple is not going to add a back button. If anything, Apple will soon remove the home button. It is becoming unnecessary.

 

[Oohara]

I thought I would miss it but somehow I don't. Two things I thought I would miss..back button and home screen widgets havn't been an issue.

If Apple brought in the homescreen widgets on IOS10 I wouldn't be against it. I think the widgets in the notification center is perfectly fine for me. Gives everything I need there to be fair.

I missed the back button in the beginning when switching back to iPhone. That lasted for a few months, but now I really don't anymore. The swipe back has become fully natural for me, and I don't have any trouble reaching even though I use a 6 Plus.

Home screen widgets - this I do miss. Mostly because I'm certain Apple could handle them in a very elegant and functional manner, as proved by that guy who did a "what if" video on YouTube 1-2 years ago (I cba to link it atm, sorry). I suppose 3D Touch in a way adds widget functionality to the home screen icons, but far more could be done with this. Notification Center widgets - honestly I never use them, for me that just never becomes an intuitive place to look for them - except for Weather.

All in all, I don't find iOS boring. Rather I am relieved to have more stability than I ever had with Android. And honestly my 6 Plus still feels like a brand new phone, though it was released 1,5 years ago.

 

[jamezr]

I missed the back button in the beginning when switching back to iPhone. That lasted for a few months, but now I really don't anymore. The swipe back has become fully natural for me, and I don't have any trouble reaching even though I use a 6 Plus.

Home screen widgets - this I do miss. Mostly because I'm certain Apple could handle them in a very elegant and functional manner, as proved by that guy who did a "what if" video on YouTube 1-2 years ago (I cba to link it atm, sorry). I suppose 3D Touch in a way adds widget functionality to the home screen icons, but far more could be done with this. Notification Center widgets - honestly I never use them, for me that just never becomes an intuitive place to look for them - except for Weather.

All in all, I don't find iOS boring. Rather I am relieved to have more stability than I ever had with Android. And honestly my 6 Plus still feels like a brand new phone, though it was released 1,5 years ago.

I have had similar experiences. I have both the IP6s+ and the Note 5 and both phones are great!. I switch back and forth between the two phones weekly and sometimes even daily! That is when you notice little shortcomings of both devices and mobile OSes.
I miss the back button a great deal on my iphone. Having it right there on the lower left on the N5 is so convenient.
Then the battery life on the IP6s+ is so awesome too. There are great things on both phones that i miss but I get bored with both operating systems! I get bored with IOS and Android TBH!

 

[TRDmanAE86]

Cool article. Personally, I always use both each day. My Reliable iPod Touch 4th Gen is for music while my LG V10 is my phone. I also use my iPad Air and, I'm right now looking for a Android Tablet just for fun!



I just got my first Android smart phone over a month ago and, to tell you the truth, both OS's are unique in there special ways!

 

[tbayrgs]

I have had similar experiences. I have both the IP6s+ and the Note 5 and both phones are great!. I switch back and forth between the two phones weekly and sometimes even daily! That is when you notice little shortcomings of both devices and mobile OSes.
I miss the back button a great deal on my iphone. Having it right there on the lower left on the N5 is so convenient.
Then the battery life on the IP6s+ is so awesome too. There are great things on both phones that i miss but I get bored with both operating systems! I get bored with IOS and Android TBH!

Isn't the Back button on the Note 5 on the lower right?

That's a minor problem I personally had when switching, even between Android devices (though it's less of an issue than in the past since most OEMs seem to be adopting soft keys)--the different button locations at the bottom of the phone. Over the course of 6 months I went from a phone with traditional stock soft keys, to a Samsung with the keys reversed, to an HTC with the Back button back on the left yet a Home key on the right.

 

[Fernandez21]

Isn't the Back button on the Note 5 on the lower right?

That's a minor problem I personally had when switching, even between Android devices (though it's less of an issue than in the past since most OEMs seem to be adopting soft keys)--the different button locations at the bottom of the phone. Over the course of 6 months I went from a phone with traditional stock soft keys, to a Samsung with the keys reversed, to an HTC with the Back button back on the left yet a Home key on the right.

That has been more of a problem for me when switching from a Samsung phone is getting used to the back button being on the other side. Just started using my One M8 GPE again and am constantly hitting the app switcher.

 

[jamezr]

Isn't the Back button on the Note 5 on the lower right?

That's a minor problem I personally had when switching, even between Android devices (though it's less of an issue than in the past since most OEMs seem to be adopting soft keys)--the different button locations at the bottom of the phone. Over the course of 6 months I went from a phone with traditional stock soft keys, to a Samsung with the keys reversed, to an HTC with the Back button back on the left yet a Home key on the right.

yes...the back button is on the lower right! My bad....
One good thing about most softkeys is that they can be switched most of the time. Me personally I have used so many Samsung phones i always switch them to the back button the right side.
Speaking of the iphone though...there is plenty of room for a back button and recent apps button on those bezels.

 

[gotluck]

ive come to not be a fan of the capacative buttons on my s4 and switched to softkeys. so as long as they can be disabled

too many accidental presses

 

[jamezr]

That has been more of a problem for me when switching from a Samsung phone is getting used to the back button being on the other side. Just started using my One M8 GPE again and am constantly hitting the app switcher.

Can't you switch the order of the buttons on the GPE editions?

 

[MRU]

Can't you switch the order of the buttons on the GPE editions?

No ... It remained same as stock Android and no option to flip. I prefer it on left myself being left handed.

I actually wish with Touchwiz now embracing themes; Samsung will finally allow us to move the apps icon to the centre of the left of the dock on upcoming S7 touchwiz software..