What features does Android have that iOS does not?

[SlCKB0Y]

ios requires multiple swipes as the page just moves a fixed distance regardless of how much force you use.

I can not believe that no one ever talks about this feature. Its one of those gems on android.

Because this characteristic of iOS is an antiquity of when Apple needed to artificially slow the scrolling of the webpage in order to allow the webpage to render smoothly. It was one of the tricks used in order to maintain UI fluidity.

The current hardware is past the point where that is required but they have still maintained this.

 

[Teste]

Thanks everyone for the replies. It appears the main difference is the considerably higher degree of customization in multiple aspects of the operating system.

 

[Vegastouch]

Thanks everyone for the replies. It appears the main difference is the considerably higher degree of customization in multiple aspects of the operating system.

The first response to this thread has a video link. I suggest you watch that if all you got out of this was better customizations.

 

[mib1800]

Because this characteristic of iOS is an antiquity of when Apple needed to artificially slow the scrolling of the webpage in order to allow the webpage to render smoothly. It was one of the tricks used in order to maintain UI fluidity.

The current hardware is past the point where that is required but they have still maintained this.

another ios cheat that shows a image screen shot of the app first to give the impression that the app starts immediately (while you wait for the actual app to start).

 

[Androidfan1x]

well, there's a lot, it would take a few hours (litterally) to talk about how android's better than ios, (and it'd take about 20 minutes to talk how's ios better than android, because ios is simpler, and the "best" reason is the app store, that's about it)

anyway, i'll give you a short list of the features that android has that ios doesn't:

1. customization (this one is big, you can customize almost everything, homescreen, lockscreen, notifcation center, add widgets,... no rooting required)
2. app intergration (the share menu)
3. best google services experience (if you're like me, use google a lot, google maps, earth, mail, youtube, plus,.... everything google works better on android, has more features, BUT LOOKS better and has less features on ios)
4. file system, like your computer, you have folders, files, unlike ios, syncing & itunes file sharing.

....

still, a jailbroken ios devices may have tweaks/apps that android does not have or would need to go through a complicated process to have,

 

[sk1wbw]

I bought a Nexus N7 just to see what Android was all about...I can't say that I've found any dramatic must haves in it, but that may be because most of the apps I've installed are the same apps I use on my iPad.

Same here. From what I can tell after using my Nexus 7, Android is not better than iOS. It just does thing differently. Animated backgrounds and widgets provide nothing useful over iOS, imho. And frankly, I can not fathom how stock Android does not support native app badges. Even the Google calendar app icon isn't a live icon like in iOS.

I have PocketInformant installed on both the iPhone and the Nexus 7 and there's no date badge for the icon. So if you do not have any widgets on the screen there's no date.

So basically, I think they are both good, but most of the things people point out that Android can do that iOS can't do is relating to widgets and animated backgrounds. Sure they're cool to tinker around with, but people spend lots to time tinkering around with Android and not really using it to be productive or anything like that which I see on the iOS platform.

Oh, and the Android version of Opera is great, but Puffin on iOS is great as well.

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well, there's a lot, it would take a few hours (litterally) to talk about how android's better than ios, (and it'd take about 20 minutes to talk how's ios better than android, because ios is simpler, and the "best" reason is the app store, that's about it)

anyway, i'll give you a short list of the features that android has that ios doesn't:

1. customization (this one is big, you can customize almost everything, homescreen, lockscreen, notifcation center, add widgets,... no rooting required)
2. app intergration (the share menu)
3. best google services experience (if you're like me, use google a lot, google maps, earth, mail, youtube, plus,.... everything google works better on android, has more features, BUT LOOKS better and has less features on ios)
4. file system, like your computer, you have folders, files, unlike ios, syncing & itunes file sharing.

....

still, a jailbroken ios devices may have tweaks/apps that android does not have or would need to go through a complicated process to have,

iOS has a file system too. And all those Google apps are on iOS.

 

[SlCKB0Y]

another ios cheat that shows a image screen shot of the app first to give the impression that the app starts immediately (while you wait for the actual app to start).

I didn't know that one! How did you find this out?

 

[kevinof]

Really? That news to me. How do I access this file system and copy docs to it so that I can view them when disconnected from the net?

iOS has a file system too.

 

[Sounds Good]

Really? That news to me. How do I access this file system and copy docs to it so that I can view them when disconnected from the net?

I'd like to know this too.

 

[jamesjingyi]

Idk non-jb but iFile. Otherwise, if you connect to the computer, iFunBox (but that's not what you wanted).

 

[dma550]

I find that Android has more opportunities for robotics/tech developers. I got my son a Sony android phone which he uses to better control all his BT robots and external tech. IOS simply doesn't have the same quality apps for this.

 

[spinedoc77]

And frankly, I can not fathom how stock Android does not support native app badges. Even the Google calendar app icon isn't a live icon like in iOS.

I have PocketInformant installed on both the iPhone and the Nexus 7 and there's no date badge for the icon. So if you do not have any widgets on the screen there's no date.

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.

This is actually where widgets shine. I can open up my phone and actually see my appointments, my messages, my emails instead of having to click on the icon with a cryptic app badge number, I don't even have to pull down the notification screen.

The best ios live icon though is the weather, its always sunny and 73, how can you beat that? Just this morning I looked at my ip5 and sure enough it was sunny and 73, although I couldn't understand why my bottled water in my car had frozen.

 

[jrswizzle]

Thanks everyone for the replies. It appears the main difference is the considerably higher degree of customization in multiple aspects of the operating system.

To be honest - its not even about the customization in my opinion (at least not centrally).

iOS is about apps. The app experience is the primary driver of the iPhones and iPads and iOS's job is to facilitate that and get out of the way. The efficiency and smoothness are second to none and all of this (including the App store's superiority) serves to create a seamlessly integrated ecosystem where apps are king.

Android is about the UI. Specs are king and customization reigns supreme. For Android, the apps are only an extension of what the phone/OS itself can do. I'd venture to say users of Android spend more time looking and fiddling with their home screens, than actually being in apps.

Two completely different philosophies here and both have been enormously successful. iOS gets a bad rap for being stale when the UI is honestly the last thing Apple wants its customers concerned about. It's not some evil trap to tell you what they want you to want - simply the way an iOS device is configured lets the user get into the apps without having to mess with the OS itself.

Each has its following - you just have to choose which is right for you. If you want your OS to kind of "blend" into the background, with apps taking center stage, iOS should be your choice. On the other hand, if you prefer tweaking, playing with the OS and opening it up with apps being secondary, Android is for you.

To each his own! I'm the proud owner of both a Nexus 4 and an iPhone 5 and enjoy both phones for what they are. I'm also pretty content with iOS as is, so I know I get on some people's nerves for not being critical enough. Just this guy's $0.02.

 

[jrswizzle]

On a specific note, there are some things I find odd with Android - maybe I'm missing them and one of you can help me:

1) the lack of unread badges is puzzling - or at least the option to switch them on. I prefer not to have widgets using battery when I can help it and often I don't want a preview of the messages, simply if I have any and how many.

2) This one I may have missed, but why can't I delete a specific sent message in a SMS/MMS thread? I was trying to send a group message (which the stock messaging app sucks with) and it was stuck trying to send all night - draining the heck out of my battery - but I couldn't delete it without deleting the whole thread. Again, may have missed this, and I'm sure there are alternative messaging apps - but why should I have to go through the trouble of all that?

 

[viskon]

On a specific note, there are some things I find odd with Android - maybe I'm missing them and one of you can help me:

1) the lack of unread badges is puzzling - or at least the option to switch them on. I prefer not to have widgets using battery when I can help it and often I don't want a preview of the messages, simply if I have any and how many.

The paid version of Nova launcher supports badges. I have the paid version, but have used the badge feature only intermittently. Some other launchers also support badges, like the Nemus launcher .

Again, it's a preference thing, and Android lets you do it your way.

I prefer live widgets to badges. IMO, battery drain from widgets is a myth.

 

[kevinof]

You are thinking like an IOS user. Why does Android have to be like IOS? Also widgets only use battery when you have the screen on. Screen off and they don't do anything.

...
1) the lack of unread badges is puzzling - or at least the option to switch them on. I prefer not to have widgets using battery when I can help it and often I don't want a preview of the messages, simply if I have any and how many.

 

[sentinelsx]

Same here. From what I can tell after using my Nexus 7, Android is not better than iOS. It just does thing differently. Animated backgrounds and widgets provide nothing useful over iOS, imho. And frankly, I can not fathom how stock Android does not support native app badges. Even the Google calendar app icon isn't a live icon like in iOS.

I have PocketInformant installed on both the iPhone and the Nexus 7 and there's no date badge for the icon. So if you do not have any widgets on the screen there's no date.

So basically, I think they are both good, but most of the things people point out that Android can do that iOS can't do is relating to widgets and animated backgrounds. Sure they're cool to tinker around with, but people spend lots to time tinkering around with Android and not really using it to be productive or anything like that which I see on the iOS platform.

Oh, and the Android version of Opera is great, but Puffin on iOS is great as well.

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iOS has a file system too. And all those Google apps are on iOS.

I actually prefer statusbar icons to app badges. Badges look very cartoony and once my screen is lit up with those i feel as if i am a first grader playing with a toy.

Now some people don't like cluttered statusbars, and hence badges are what they would want.



Different strokes for different folks....

 

[jrswizzle]

The paid version of Nova launcher supports badges. I have the paid version, but have used the badge feature only intermittently. Some other launchers also support badges, like the Nemus launcher .

Again, it's a preference thing, and Android lets you do it your way.

I prefer live widgets to badges. IMO, battery drain from widgets is a myth.

Sure - I use Nova Prime and have the unread badge counts turned on, though I use K9 for email and the badge will only show my unread gmail.

I completely understand the preference thing - that is Google's philosophy surrounding Android. I also prefer things like this to just be there without fiddling - hence my bent toward Apple. Again, two philosophies, both successful. I just happen to lean toward Apple's.

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You are thinking like an IOS user. Why does Android have to be like IOS? Also widgets only use battery when you have the screen on. Screen off and they don't do anything.

I never said Android has to be like iOS? Only that the option of unread badge counts should be present.....isn't that the idea of Android - options?

Read some of my previous posts - I'm not arguing for Android to become iOS or vice versa.....I believe they are two separate ideals back by different corporate philosophies.

And they should stay that way. Just stating the two seemingly (to me at least) simple options or unread badges and message deletion should be present given the overwhelming number of options given in other areas.

 

[viskon]

Sure - I use Nova Prime and have the unread badge counts turned on, though I use K9 for email and the badge will only show my unread gmail.
/QUOTE]

Nova Prime has the option of using a different provider for unread badges
The default is Tesla, but you can also change it to Missed It! , which works with K9 mail.

 

[jrswizzle]

Sure - I use Nova Prime and have the unread badge counts turned on, though I use K9 for email and the badge will only show my unread gmail.
/QUOTE]

Nova Prime has the option of using a different provider for unread badges
The default is Tesla, but you can also change it to Missed It! , which works with K9 mail.

Ahh - I had no idea what that even meant....lol. Will try it out, thanks!

 

[Vegastouch]

On a specific note, there are some things I find odd with Android - maybe I'm missing them and one of you can help me:

1) the lack of unread badges is puzzling - or at least the option to switch them on. I prefer not to have widgets using battery when I can help it and often I don't want a preview of the messages, simply if I have any and how many.

2) This one I may have missed, but why can't I delete a specific sent message in a SMS/MMS thread? I was trying to send a group message (which the stock messaging app sucks with) and it was stuck trying to send all night - draining the heck out of my battery - but I couldn't delete it without deleting the whole thread. Again, may have missed this, and I'm sure there are alternative messaging apps - but why should I have to go through the trouble of all that?

I dont understand why you would want live badges. You have notifications all over the place at the top of the notification bar and the date is on the lockscreen as well as the homepage. How many times do you need the date on your phone?
I think you are just too used to iOS to want live badges. However, you have badge for email using Touchwiz, though i dont use Touchwiz. You can also get live badges on other launchers.

And i dont know what your doing wrong but you can delete messages on the stock message app as well as the one i use, Handcent. and not the whole thread, single messages. I do it all the time.

 

[jrswizzle]

I dont understand why you would want live badges. You have notifications all over the place at the top of the notification bar and the date is on the lockscreen as well as the homepage. How many times do you need the date on your phone?
I think you are just too used to iOS to want live badges. However, you have badge for email using Touchwiz, though i dont use Touchwiz. You can also get live badges on other launchers.

And i dont know what your doing wrong but you can delete messages on the stock message app as well as the one i use, Handcent. and not the whole thread, single messages. I do it all the time.

How? I tried swiping the message, nothing happens. Tap the message, I get a bunch of useless info. Tap the three vertical dots, no option to delete a single message.....is there some checkbox I'm missing?

And whoever said anything about the date or live badges....I'm talking specifically about unread counts so if I'm looking at my home screen and I have unread emails it tells me how many - without having to throw a widget on there that previews the message and adds yet another way to access email....I prefer one way to get to things - pick my favorite and stick with it and widgets just aren't my thing (most of the time).

But this has already been addressed.

EDIT: its a longpress to delete individual messages....got it.

 

[Vegastouch]

How? I tried swiping the message, nothing happens. Tap the message, I get a bunch of useless info. Tap the three vertical dots, no option to delete a single message.....is there some checkbox I'm missing?

Hold down on the message you want to delete and that option comes up. Even if you tap on it and that particular message fills the whole screen you then hit the menu button and that option comes up.
This is with the stock messenger. With Handcent you hold down the message and that option comes up.

And whoever said anything about the date or live badges....I'm talking specifically about unread counts so if I'm looking at my home screen and I have unread emails it tells me how many - without having to throw a widget on there that previews the message and adds yet another way to access email....I prefer one way to get to things - pick my favorite and stick with it and widgets just aren't my thing (most of the time).

Maybe that wasnt you but somebody above you said they wanted a live calender badge. So if not you, i applogize.

But this has already been addressed.

EDIT: its a longpress to delete individual messages....got it.

Opps, i didnt read the whole thing before responding

 

[siiip5]

How? I tried swiping the message, nothing happens. Tap the message, I get a bunch of useless info. Tap the three vertical dots, no option to delete a single message.....is there some checkbox I'm missing?

And whoever said anything about the date or live badges....I'm talking specifically about unread counts so if I'm looking at my home screen and I have unread emails it tells me how many - without having to throw a widget on there that previews the message and adds yet another way to access email....I prefer one way to get to things - pick my favorite and stick with it and widgets just aren't my thing (most of the time).

But this has already been addressed.

EDIT: its a longpress to delete individual messages....got it.

You don't need a widget or corny badge counters. You can simply have that info in your status bar and as of the latest release of Jelly Bean, on your lock screen as well. This way, regardless of what app you are in or what you are doing, you always know what you have missed.
Colored led notification light can always tell you what you have missed by the color you have set, you just won't know how many of that specific item you are missing.
And with Samsung's Note2 and new phones this year, you can simply do a pinching finger gesture at the front sensor of a phone that is in sleep mode and it will wake for a few seconds to show you your missed notification.

Those are just some options. With Samsung's new screen tech, the main display and side displays will be able to show different info simultaneously. Some pics from my Nex7 running the latest Jelly Bean 4.2.2
Lock screen notification and then I have a badge on my gmail icon in the dock and a tiny gmail icons with the number 3 on it in my status bar. These are just examples.

 

[TheHateMachine]

For me google maps has sucked on every android phone I've used from 2.2 to 4. Even in its previous form it was better on ios