Apple’s iOS needs to learn from Android
A few days ago I posted an article about how iOS beats Android when it comes to success in the market place. Having so few devices running the software compared to Android’s mountain of phones, and yet still outselling it overall is an incredible achievement. Many would argue that it’s because the iPhone got a head start on the G1, but I don’t think it would have made all that much difference. Android’s success is directly proportional to the amount of devices loaded with Google’s software. This argument had nothing to do with the user interface, or experience of using Android. It was a simple statement about how successful iOS has been.
iOS Customization?
Apple’s iPhone operating system has been virtually the same since its creation in 2007. The App Store’s introduction a year later was a game changer, but little else was added that hadn’t previously been available. The simple, grid of icon layout is synonymous with the iPhone. However, is this standing in the way of more people adopting the iPhone? We need variety in the market place, and one of the many things that Android brings is customization. You can choose whether you want a whole load of icons laid out on your home screen or if you can litter it with widgets. Perhaps you want nothing but a clock. The point is, you get the choice. Currently Apple offers no such freedom, and it’s my belief that you shouldn’t have to jailbreak your device just to get your home screen how you want it.
I know some of you love the current layout, but equally there are many who are frustrated by it. All I’m saying is, let’s have the option to change it. If some prefer to keep it as it is, that should be fine. Equally if I want widgets on there, let me have them. Android gives the option for widgets – which are renowned for being a battery drain – but you don’t have to have them there. You’re not forced in to it.
Notifications need a refresh
iOS notifications are just plain rude. Remember when you were growing up, if you interrupted anything your parents were doing to demand attention you’d either get reprimanded for butting in, or told to wait. So why does my iOS device think it can do just that? If I’m playing Tiny Wings, or surfing the web, why is it okay to flash a big blue box on my screen, forcing me to pause what I’m doing? It’s seriously annoying.
What I love about Android, and BlackBerry OS 6, is the fact that your notifications alert you in a subtle manner without letting you forget that they’re there. Android’s pull down bar is great, as is RIM’s. You have icons indicating that you’ve missed a call, have an email, tweet or SMS waiting for your attention. No shouting “HEY LOOK AT ME NOW!!!” It’s a much better approach. I have a BlackBerry as well as an iOS device, and the best thing about it? The little LED in the top right corner. We all know Apple would never include such a thing on the next iPhone, but I love it.
Different iPhone sizes, options
There are over 100 Android devices. Need I say more? Android has been very successful in the low-mid range handsets, as well as the more high spec phones. The Droid’s success was comparable with the original iPhone. Now, Steve Jobs may give a whole long spiel about how “fragmentation is evil” and it creates a “poor user experience for everyone, and makes developers cry themselves to sleep at night.” And to a certain extent, he’s right. The fact that there are so many devices manufactured by different companies means that OS updates are slow to come through for anyone with a custom skin like HTC’s Sense.
That being said the same would never apply to Apple. If, for instance, Cupertino swallowed its pride and decided to release a smaller iPhone, and an iPhone with a great physical keyboard, they’d all still be manufactured and designed by the same one company. The company in control of the software development would be the exact same that was in charge of product design. Users would be happy that they could get a cheaper version of the device and Apple could ensure that any updates occurred at the same time for everyone. I’m sure developers wouldn’t be that bummed out by having to adapt the apps for a smaller screen. Equally, people like me who love the tactile nature of a physical QWERTY would be in heaven. It’s great for everyone, surely?
Apple, at the moment, makes a lot of people happy. What I’m asking is: why not make more people happy? Give us choice in software, and hardware. Comment below if you agree or disagree. You can follow me on twitter too, I’m all modern like that.
Here's the thing. Android is a "good" platform. Not great, but good. But it's competing with the oh'so powerfull iOS. The lagless, super intuitive, easy-to-use iOS. How do you compete with that? Well, Android needed some help. They needed LOTS of help. As a matter of fact, they needed all the help they could get, so what they did was put their OS in the hands of all phone makers by "open sourcing" it. This just means anyone can tweak it and phone makers can add their own skins, ui, and "flavor" if you will. Basically, they realized it would be too difficult to actually come up with a better OS, and phone than Apple. The only way to compete with a powerhouse company like this, is to make an OS with everything the current iOS lacks. What do people want in iOS? Well, with the thousands of jailbreak videos (as well as iPhone Ui and software concepts) on Youtube, deciding what to give the phone wasn't hard. People wanted a better notification system - So Android gave their OS that.People wanted complete customization, and variation (between models) - So Android open sourced it, and gave phone makers the ability to both use the OS in their phone's, as well as the ability to tweak the OS and give it a customized experience, that might suit the users needs better in different ways. Now, we have many different phones to choose from, as well as many different looks/styles of the Android platform. People wanted flash - got it. People wanted something new - And there was Android. Granted the OS slows down, lags, and doesn't work as easily and fluidly as iOS, but people got alot of features that made the phone look cool, and fun to use. We don't need widget's, nor do we "need" the ablility to add different skins/"scenes." But it it's cool. And that's why some people turn to Android when it comes to first impressions. Apple gave us a better, easier to use phone that's simple, yet quietly brilliant (not to steal HTC little motto). Apple, at the moment seems to be falling behind in the competition and "catching up" as some may say, but in actuality they're not (necessarily). Lots of android phone's are coming out with powerful dual cores. Some targeting Apple's A5 chip and even out-clocking it at a crazy 1.2GHZ dual core compared to Apple's 1GHZ dual core. Well, if the software is laggy, and crashes, that dual core processor means nothing. NOTHING! There are dual core phone's out there that are much, much "laggier" than iPhone 4, with it's single'core processor. Wghy is this? Because apple actually takes it's time (about a year usually) and creates the ultimate phone for the time of it's release. Making use of every little pixel. and every ounce of processing power, and battery life, to give you a phone that not only performs exceptionally well. For as long as you have it. But gives you more than you might even need. For instance, the 5-megapixel camera in iPhone 4 has lower specs than some of the android 8-megapixel camera's but which takes better pictures? WEll that would be iPhone of course thanks to it's larger pixels and HDR software that blows all mobile phone camera's out of the waters. This comment is LONG ENOUGH. Lol, sorry! But, there you have it people. To sum it all up.  Android give's you specs, choices, and customization. Apple gives you... A better phone.Â
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