The Balance of Tech & Art: The Last Exclusive Feature of iOS

[Eagle117]

Let me first say that this post isn't about the performance of hardware or feel of software. This post is about what the OS enabls the user to do. One of the last exclusive features enabled by iOS the ability to use an actual musical instrument, such as a guitar. I believe this stems from Steve's philosophy about the crossroads of Technology and Liberal Arts, not to mention his love of music. I've made a couple of examples below, all of which were recorded, mixed, and put atop vids using an iPhone 4/4s or iPad 2. This ability to create fully fleshed out art, if I can call it that, is the "it factor" that keeps many artistically inclined techies on iOS. As more and more artists become aware of this I believe iOS will begin to contribute to shifts in the music industry away from major record labels and towards having fewer barriers between the artist in their fans. In other words, 10 yrs ago Apple revolutionized the business side of the music industry, and today they're, at the very least, opening up the artistic side of the music industry to more Indie artists.

PS
I used the Apogee Jam to connect my Strat to the iOS device of choice, and the apps used were GarageBand and Reactable. The video was also filmed, edited, and uploaded using an iPhone 4/4s, Filmic Pro, 8mm, Movie Looks, CinemaFXV, & iMovie.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XC_Xd5OeE98

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X129pIqsClo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zzkIx22_vQ0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zUeSPQnsDnA

 

[*LTD*]

One of the few remaining differences between iOS and other competing platforms (namely Android) is the ability to make music, not just consume it.

The differences are legion.

The entire User Experience between both platforms is night and day. How about the basics for starters: smoothness of the interface, sheer quality (iOS doesn't look and perform like perpetual beta-ware), the software-hardware synergy the comes from a vertical business model, app quality, etc.

Pretty much everything is different - feels different, looks different, between iOS and Android.

 

[Eagle117]

The differences are legion.

The entire User Experience between both platforms is night and day. How about the basics for starters: smoothness of the interface, sheer quality (iOS doesn't look and perform like perpetual beta-ware), the software-hardware synergy the comes from a vertical business model, app quality, etc.

Pretty much everything is different - feels different, looks different, between iOS and Android.

I would say that's not the case. If you have basic computing skills then Jailbreaking/Rooting is merely a few clicks away. In this case, skinning either platform to look, respond, and generally act like the other is easily done. Ive done it with my GS II and iPhone 4. Regardless, what I was speaking to are the features offered by the platforms, of which this is one of the few remaining ones only available on iOS.

----------

I went ahead and edited the first sentence to make it more clear that I'm talking about features and not the user interface.

 

[*LTD*]

I would say that's not the case. If you have basic computing skills then Jailbreaking/Rooting is merely a few clicks away. In this case, skinning either platform to look, respond, and generally act like the other is easily done. Ive done it with my GS II and iPhone 4. Regardless, what I was speaking to are the features offered by the platforms, of which this is one of the few remaining ones only available on iOS.

Skinning, jail-breaking, and any messing with insides, is not a workable option for the mass market.

The difference between "Features" and "performance" and "look and feel" is not as great as you might think, and in many cases, if the lok and feel and performance are not up to snuff, then all the features in the world won't matter.

 

[Eagle117]

Skinning, jail-breaking, and any messing with insides, is not a workable option for the mass market.

I agree, but it is possible. There is no way for me to mod Android/WP7 to accept input from an instrument, nor are there any comparable apps to GarageBand on the Android/WP7 markets.

 

[stevelam]

I would say that's not the case. If you have basic computing skills then Jailbreaking/Rooting is merely a few clicks away. In this case, skinning either platform to look, respond, and generally act like the other is easily done. Ive done it with my GS II and iPhone 4. Regardless, what I was speaking to are the features offered by the platforms, of which this is one of the few remaining ones only available on iOS.

----------

I went ahead and edited the first sentence to make it more clear that I'm talking about features and not the user interface.

definitely not true. maybe you can skin the OS to make them look more similar, but what about more consistent UI of apps? thats generally where i spend the majority of time on my phone. android apps are notorious for having completely inconsistent messes of UI's. just look at the super popular ES File Explorer..i mean just look at it..it looks like it was designed for windows 3.1. or all of the leftover iOS ports which still have 'back' buttons in the UI.

 

[Eagle117]

The difference between "Features" and "performance" and "look and feel" is not as great as you might think, and in many cases, if the lok and feel and performance are not up to snuff, then all the features in the world won't matter.

definitely not true. maybe you can skin the OS to make them look more similar, but what about more consistent UI of apps? thats generally where i spend the majority of time on my phone. android apps are notorious for having completely inconsistent messes of UI's. just look at the super popular ES File Explorer..i mean just look at it..it looks like it was designed for windows 3.1. or all of the leftover iOS ports which still have 'back' buttons in the UI.

This post isn't about the performance of the hardware or the feel of the software. It goes without saying that x device vs y device will have different performance benefits, or that the platforms have a different look. I'm talking about what the OS enables the user to do, not the UI. The UI comes down to preference and really has nothing to do with what the platform is able to do. As it stands, the ability to create music with actual musical instruments is an exclusive feature of iOS, and one of the only such features remaining exclusive to any platform.

 

[*LTD*]

Ok, I see what you're saying. Thanks for clarifying. I didn't mean to start an argument, I was just wondering about the distinction you were making.

 

[Eagle117]

Ok, I see what you're saying. Thanks for clarifying. I didn't mean to start an argument, I was just wondering about the distinction you were making.

No problem man. I should have done a better job clarifying the first post.