The iPhone from an Android Perspective

[SteveJUAE]

lol that’s one way to spin it. 🤣

Better than implying somehow Samsung/Android is responsible for how Target write their app LOL

Things have moved on since you had an S23 and 3rd party apps can have more advance features on Android over their IOS versions simply due to how Google/Samsung have integrated AI

This is in addition to the other feature they may have always had extra

Many like to note IOS apps seem more polished but that is largely cosmetics and does not equate to extra options, features or functionality you can get on the Android versions

 

[mjschabow]

Better than implying somehow Samsung/Android is responsible for how Target write their app LOL

Things have moved on since you had an S23 and 3rd party apps can have more advance features on Android over their IOS versions simply due to how Google/Samsung have integrated AI

This is in addition to the other feature they may have always had extra

Many like to note IOS apps seem more polished but that is largely cosmetics and does not equate to extra options, features or functionality you can get on the Android versions

I’m not trying you start any debate here, just stating a personal experience. My Target app on iOS has better functionality than the Target app on Android. 🤷

 

[tbayrgs]

Better than implying somehow Samsung/Android is responsible for how Target write their app LOL

Things have moved on since you had an S23 and 3rd party apps can have more advance features on Android over their IOS versions simply due to how Google/Samsung have integrated AI

This is in addition to the other feature they may have always had extra

Many like to note IOS apps seem more polished but that is largely cosmetics and does not equate to extra options, features or functionality you can get on the Android versions

Sorry this is pure nonsense.

Yes, Google and Android themselves aren’t responsible for Target’s app decision but rather the market itself is. Android may provide access to more for developers but the situation @mjschabow has nothing to do that. I’ve used both platforms for over 12 years but in apps that don’t offer complete parity across both platforms, it’s is almost always the iOS version that offers more features and functionality. And that is simply attributed to a customer base with higher usage and greater propensity to spend money. And that’s also why more developers will develop for iOS first and and many cases won’t even bother with Android. And for context, I’m coming from the USA perspective because that’s where I live and the usage I see.

That Target app is a perfect example of another deficiency. I can check out quickly with Apple Pay on an iPhone but Google Pay or Samsung Pay are nowhere to be found on their Android counterpart. Why do you think that is?

And situation isn’t unique to Target. I use plenty of apps that mimic that behavior or just don’t even exist on Android.

This isn’t a statement of Android or iOS is a better OS but rather why many find the user experience better on iOS.

 

[SteveJUAE]

I say this knowing that Android apps are in much better shape than they used to be, but wow. My wife and I were as Target doing our baby registry. My Target app on iPhone had Registry as an option. My wife’s Target app on her S23 did not have it as an option. WTF.

I’m not trying you start any debate here, just stating a personal experience. My Target app on iOS has better functionality than the Target app on Android. 🤷

Maybe your wife had not updated her app as far as I can see it is there on Android

BTW Congrats

 

[SteveJUAE]

Sorry this is pure nonsense.

Yes, Google and Android themselves aren’t responsible for Target’s app decision but rather the market itself is. Android may provide access to more for developers but the situation @mjschabow has nothing to do that. I’ve used both platforms for over 12 years but in apps that don’t offer complete parity across both platforms, it’s is almost always the iOS version that offers more features and functionality. And that is simply attributed to a customer base with higher usage and greater propensity to spend money. And that’s also why more developers will develop for iOS first and and many cases won’t even bother with Android. And for context, I’m coming from the USA perspective because that’s where I live and the usage I see.

That Target app is a perfect example of another deficiency. I can check out quickly with Apple Pay on an iPhone but Google Pay or Samsung Pay are nowhere to be found on their Android counterpart. Why do you think that is?

And situation isn’t unique to Target. I use plenty of apps that mimic that behavior or just don’t even exist on Android.

This isn’t a statement of Android or iOS is a better OS but rather why many find the user experience better on iOS.

That's a shame I thought we could of had a sensible chat and not just about USA apps, You maybe correct for the US apps in your experience but that's not a given elsewhere, for many.

As you can see your assumption is completely wrong and nothing to do with the market. Most likely @mjschabow just had a simple error by not updating the app, as I could find the baby register on my android phone (I did not check my IP16Pro)

I agree it seems odd given Target accepts Apple/Samsung/Google pay in store but not on the app, however I tend to not use any of these now as they are not dependable internationally and a pain to sort out if you damage or loose your phone when away. My MS authenticator populates my card details and is equally quick in most instances, so no issue.

 

[Ludatyk]

Sorry this is pure nonsense.

Yes, Google and Android themselves aren’t responsible for Target’s app decision but rather the market itself is. Android may provide access to more for developers but the situation @mjschabow has nothing to do that. I’ve used both platforms for over 12 years but in apps that don’t offer complete parity across both platforms, it’s is almost always the iOS version that offers more features and functionality. And that is simply attributed to a customer base with higher usage and greater propensity to spend money. And that’s also why more developers will develop for iOS first and and many cases won’t even bother with Android. And for context, I’m coming from the USA perspective because that’s where I live and the usage I see.

That Target app is a perfect example of another deficiency. I can check out quickly with Apple Pay on an iPhone but Google Pay or Samsung Pay are nowhere to be found on their Android counterpart. Why do you think that is?

And situation isn’t unique to Target. I use plenty of apps that mimic that behavior or just don’t even exist on Android.

This isn’t a statement of Android or iOS is a better OS but rather why many find the user experience better on iOS.

But @SteveJUAE is only illustrating that it’s on Target to provide app parity.

I don’t see the point and claiming it’s nonsense… it’s a split between Android vs iOS, there’s no such thing as market dominance regarding iOS. Yeah, iOS holds a larger share in the US… but Android has a way bigger marketshare worldwide.

The major reason why you see better functionality on iOS than on Android…. Is devs have to account for less devices on iOS vs Android. Which makes it easier to develop for…

 

[mjschabow]

Maybe your wife had not updated her app as far as I can see it is there on Android

BTW Congrats

View attachment 2467974

Thanks! That’s so weird that she still doesn’t have the option on her phone. Must come down to some phones having it and others not.

 

[SteveJUAE]

Thanks! That’s so weird that she still doesn’t have the option on her phone. Must come down to some phones having it and others not.

Its down a way in My Target

 

[tbayrgs]

But @SteveJUAE is only illustrating that it’s on Target to provide app parity.

I don’t see the point and claiming it’s nonsense… it’s a split between Android vs iOS, there’s no such thing as market dominance regarding iOS. Yeah, iOS holds a larger share in the US… but Android has a way bigger marketshare worldwide.

The major reason why you see better functionality on iOS than on Android…. Is devs have to account for less devices on iOS vs Android. Which makes it easier to develop for…

To the first point, yes, I already agreed that it’s on Target to provide parity. The question was, if apps are able to offer such advanced functionality because Android offers more for developers, why is there such common disparity in favor of iOS apps? Why do many developers only develop for iOS? Yes, having to develop for fewer devices on iOS likely has some influence but the differences in customer bases and their propensity to generate revenue for devs is far more impactful. There IS actually a significant market dominance in revenue for iOS apps vs. Android—there has been statistical evidence showcasing this since the iOS App Store was released. These are just simple facts. The following recent article highlights all of this quite clearly.

iPhone Vs. Android Users 2024: What Your Business Needs to Know​

This quote from the aforementioned article emphasizes is quite succinctly:

In the latest global stats from Sensor Tower, iOS applications generated over 87 billion dollars of revenue in 2021 compared to just under 48 billion from Android.

The iOS market share might be smaller, but it is far more profitable than Android. Apple’s revenue dominance is even more interesting when you consider that iPhone users only have about 1.6 million applications to choose from, when an Android user has over 3.5 million to choose from.

Again, I’m not here to claim apps on iOS are all just better—that’s clearly not true as there are lots of apps on Android that offer functionality simply not available on iOS. But the previous assertion that Android apps are better because they are capable of so much more just hasn’t translated out in reality. I was only reinforcing @mjschabow experience as quite common and questioning why is this the case if Android apps can be so much more capable. Devs just often aren’t interested because they stand to generate more revenue on iOS, limitations included.

I just opened the last 4 apps I used on iOS and their counterparts on my Pixel 9 Pro Fold and the Android version of all 4 was missing features and functionality its iOS counterpart had. (for reference; Target, Best Buy, AnyList and Spark, none of which are small little indie apps). That’s why I get frustrated with the app experience on my Android devices.

 

[Ludatyk]

To the first point, yes, I already agreed that it’s on Target to provide parity. The question was, if apps are able to offer such advanced functionality because Android offers more for developers, why is there such common disparity in favor of iOS apps?

And I answered that question… ultimately supporting crazy amount of Android devices and having to keep up with OS versions, Android 16 beta has been released and the most popular Android OEM (Samsung) hasn’t released Android 15 yet, it’s far simpler on iOS than on Android to develop for.

There IS actually a significant market dominance in revenue for iOS apps vs. Android—there has been statistical evidence showcasing this since the iOS App Store was released. These are just simple facts. The following recent article highlights all of this quite clearly.

Fully aware that iOS has a significant market share in revenue over Android… the issue at hand is functionality.

But the previous assertion that Android apps are better because they are capable of so much more just hasn’t translated out in reality.

@SteveJUAE never said Android apps were better… but that devs can offer more functionality. And I agree with this, given the open nature of Android. You are targeting revenue share… when that wasn’t part of the discussion.

It would be one thing if Target doesn’t offer an Android app, but it does… they just need to do better in supporting Android.

I just opened the last 4 apps I used on iOS and their counterparts on my Pixel 9 Pro Fold and the Android version of all 4 was missing features and functionality its iOS counterpart had. (for reference; Target, Best Buy, AnyList and Spark, none of which are small little indie apps). That’s why I get frustrated with the app experience on my Android devices.

Lol And I get frustrated by the limitations of iOS.

 

[tbayrgs]

And I answered that question… ultimately supporting crazy amount of Android devices and having to keep up with OS versions, Android 16 beta has been released and the most popular Android OEM (Samsung) hasn’t released Android 15 yet, it’s far simpler on iOS than on Android to develop for.


Fully aware that iOS has a significant market share in revenue over Android… the issue at hand is functionality.


@SteveJUAE never said Android apps were better… but that devs can offer more functionality. And I agree with this, given the open nature of Android. You are targeting revenue share… when that wasn’t part of the discussion.

It would be one thing if Target doesn’t offer an Android app, but it does… they just need to do better in supporting Android.


Lol And I get frustrated by the limitations of iOS.

The issue IS functionality but my assertion is that is a symptom of the lack of revenue for devs on Android. Apps supposedly can be much more capable but time and time again they actually lack simple functionality both platforms are capable of. And that’s primarily because the effort (and yes, your first point is part of this as well) just isn’t worth it for the money they can earn on the platform.

You said it yourself, devs can offer more functionality—but they just all too often don’t. And even more problematic, they don’t even offer the same features as they do on iOS, which as y’all have repeatedly pointed out, is just a less capable OS.

TL;DR - the bigger, more capable platform should in theory have a better app experience and it just doesn’t. Doesn’t matter if it’s an Android OS problem or developers dropping the ball—end result is what we consumers experience and that was the entire point being made in the first place. I’m only illustrating why it’s happening.

 

[The_Interloper]

Apps supposedly can be much more capable but time and time again they actually lack simple functionality both platforms are capable of.

Depends on the app though, right? You may “lack simple functionality” in your Target app whereas I cannot believe the restrictions posed on iOS via the App Store itself by forbidding things like YouTube apps that block ads etc.

I can’t even download DS Get, a simple official Synology NAS app, because Apple won’t allow it as someone could -shock! horror! - use it to download a torrent. And don’t get me started on the hoops you need to jump through just to block ads, cookie notices, popups etc in Safari. Now that’s reducing functionality.

 

[mjschabow]

2024 was the first year that I did NOT buy a smartphone since 2010. Pretty crazy. Most likely I will upgrade my iPhone 15 Pro Max to the iPhone 17 Pro Max, but I've seen so many good things about the S24 Ultra and Pixel 9 Pro XL this year that I'll be keeping a close eye. I think iOS is probably still my preferred software, but it's not as stable as it used to be. "Switching" wouldn't actually be that hard since I already have a lot of my stuff tied to Google. It would actually be cheaper to switch. I'm currently on Apple One and it's a ridiculous monthly cost. Google One is cheaper and I'd probably switch over to Spotify or YouTube Music since you can now play local files on both.

We'll see, most likely staying put though.

 

[tbayrgs]

Depends on the app though, right? You may “lack simple functionality” in your Target app whereas I cannot believe the restrictions posed on iOS via the App Store itself by forbidding things like YouTube apps that block ads etc.

I can’t even download DS Get, a simple official Synology NAS app, because Apple won’t allow it as someone could -shock! horror! - use it to download a torrent. And don’t get me started on the hoops you need to jump through just to block ads, cookie notices, popups etc in Safari. Now that’s reducing functionality.

What hoops? I installed a couple content blocking extensions and clicked the ‘Block Pop-ups’ setting. You really consider that jumping through hoops?

And that DS Get app—it’s not even ubiquitously available on Android as it can’t be installed on my 5 month old Pixel 9 Pro Fold.

I’ll step away now as this conversation has clearly run its course, we’ve all made our points and can just agree to disagree.

 

[The_Interloper]

What hoops? I installed a couple content blocking extensions and clicked the ‘Block Pop-ups’ setting. You really consider that jumping through hoops?

And that DS Get app—it’s not even ubiquitously available on Android as it can’t be installed on my 5 month old Pixel 9 Pro Fold.

Depends on the site. If iOS allowed browsers which could use actual desktop-class plugins like uBlock Origin things would be much easier. Instead, there's one plugin for ad blocking, another for cookie blocking, another for pop-ups, another for paywall blocks etc. The modern web is a mess.

As for DS Get, don't know why you cannot install it on your Pixel Fold, but I have it on my Z Fold without issue. Alternatively, you can just install the app from a safe source such as APKmirror - something iOS refuses to allow.

 

[SteveJUAE]

Lol And I get frustrated by the limitations of iOS.

You think its bad in the west for IOS imagine places like India with massive android dominance

This is part of the problem of narrow perspective here of mainly US centric anecdotal remarks on country specific apps and that of many other English speaking articles referenced LOL. We tend to have little 1st hand knowledge of what happens in many countries/markets that are non native English speaking.

If you read between the lines we could say lower disposable income markets are more likely to get better apps with greater functionality for less with Android. Where the rest of us are paying more because developers target us, yet we console ourselves with the perception of more polished apps, because we pay more

Last time I checked the US was 3rd after Iceland and Ireland for costs of owning and running an IPhone yet obviously fared much better as a % of disposable income

The gap between some lesser functionality on IOS compared to Android was closing, heck you can even change the colour of icons now LOL, however how Google/Samsung have already integrated some AI functions across multiple 3rd party apps and not just their native apps, to increase functionality.

It remains to be seen how this pans out and if developers can take more advantage on Android or maybe they will just stick to doing custom watch faces LOL

 

[drinkingtea]

Liquid Glass is just a horrible design language. What was Apple thinking?

I have the beta on my phone and MacBook and the UI is just awful. iOS just keeps getting uglier and uglier.

Also, the light refraction around the edges of an icon/widget on the Home Screen has been making me nauseated. WTF, Apple. WTF.

 

[Bkdodger]

I'm not able to load the beta since I have work stuff on my phone but I've been looking from the sideline and seems to be a bit of a mess.

 

[aggie99]

I'm not able to load the beta since I have work stuff on my phone but I've been looking from the sideline and seems to be a bit of a mess.

I actually like a lot of the changes. I think they’ve gone a little too far with some of the transparency elements. It tends to create readability issues as the text kind of blends into the background at times. I like the way they have minimized the control bars in apps like safari and streamlined the menus. The messages changes are subtle but welcome. It seems like the keyboard and text prediction are much improved especially when swiping to type. But it’s definitely a first beta and I think it’ll get a lot of fine tuning in the next couple betas. I still prefer Material Expressive but this is a welcome step in the right direction in my opinion.

 

[Bkdodger]

I actually like a lot of the changes. I think they’ve gone a little too far with some of the transparency elements. It tends to create readability issues as the text kind of blends into the background at times. I like the way they have minimized the control bars in apps like safari and streamlined the menus. The messages changes are subtle but welcome. It seems like the keyboard and text prediction are much improved especially when swiping to type. But it’s definitely a first beta and I think it’ll get a lot of fine tuning in the next couple betas. I still prefer Material Expressive but this is a welcome step in the right direction in my opinion.

My eyes are bad already try it outside on a sunny day for me hopefully plenty more work into it.

 

[aggie99]

My eyes are bad already try it outside on a sunny day for me hopefully plenty more work into it.

I hear ya there. My old eyes are definitely starting to struggle with things. That’s one reason it’s hard to beat the S25U. Sunlight never really makes a difference with it. It’s Dev Beta 1. I’m sure there is going to be a ton of work on it between now and the first public beta.

 

[Bkdodger]

I hear ya there. My old eyes are definitely starting to struggle with things. That’s one reason it’s hard to beat the S25U. Sunlight never really makes a difference with it. It’s Dev Beta 1. I’m sure there is going to be a ton of work on it between now and the first public beta.

S25U definitely clutch for sunlight

 

[eltoslightfoot]

Liquid Glass is just a horrible design language. What was Apple thinking?

I have the beta on my phone and MacBook and the UI is just awful. iOS just keeps getting uglier and uglier.

Also, the light refraction around the edges of an icon/widget on the Home Screen has been making me nauseated. WTF, Apple. WTF.

Can you increase the opacity, also does dark mode help at all? I am concerned about this as well.

 

[HouseLannister]

the light refraction around the edges of an icon/widget on the Home Screen has been making me nauseated.

My wife said it reminds her of her migraine auras, especially when you pull down the notification screen and you get that rainbow effect of glass on glass. It gave her a very strong nausea reaction. She said she is never updating her iPhone again and asked me to get her a Pixel 9a to test it out.

 

[aggie99]

My wife said it reminds her of her migraine auras, especially when you pull down the notification screen and you get that rainbow effect of glass on glass. It gave her a very strong nausea reaction. She said she is never updating her iPhone again and asked me to get her a Pixel 9a to test it out.

you can tone alot of it down quite a bit going to dark mode. You still get the weird blur when you pull down the notifications but i kind of like it. I think it's far from its final form and there will be quite a bit of change between now and the first public beta.