5 Android Features and Enhancements iOS Should Steal
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Since the Android operating system was introduced in 2008, the iOS operating system and the Android OS have been stealing from each other left and right. The competition has cultivated several rather large advancements in how each operating system works.
Although the Android OS and iOS have taken slightly different roads to where they are now, there are still features on each operating system that outperform the other. With iOS 10 currently under development, here are several areas where iOS may look to draw inspiration from their rival OS.
Siri was once the undisputed champion of virtual assistants. Recently, however, options such as Google Now and even Microsoft’s Cortana have caught up, and even exceeded Siri in certain respects. Google Now’s introduction of contextual “cards” has useful information waiting for you before you even ask for it.
2. Notifications
Many Android users would argue that the Android OS offers a better notification function than iOS. All of Android’s notifications live in one place – the notification bar. Although many iOS users would argue that the notification bar quickly gets cluttered with notifications from all of your apps, others argue that the simplification is nice.
3. Soft Buttons
Many may disagree with this, but the soft buttons on many Android devices often come in handy. Although a soft “back” button was added in certain areas in iOS 9, its location in the upper right corner of the screen is less than ideal for one-handed use.
This is a feature we probably won’t end up seeing in iOS 10, however – the addition of 3D Touch can likely perform many of the same functions much more elegantly and efficiently.
4. Multiple User Support
The iPad, and to a somewhat lesser extent, the iPhone are capable of offering endless fun and educational experiences for children, but there are a million reasons parents may not want to give unrestricted access to either of these devices. This feature should be implemented in iOS sooner rather than later.
5. Customization
There can be no doubt that iOS has always been a beautifully designed operating system. Many of Apple’s users enjoy the clean look, simplicity, and ease of use of the iOS operating system. However, some users wouldn’t mind a little more control over the look and feel of their phone or tablet.
While the level of control Android users have over their device is a bit enticing, however, it often leads to a much less secure and buggy experience. Apple has always prided themselves on offering products that “just work” – their tight control over the hardware and software on their devices is the primary reason everything they put out does so.
It may be nice for iOS to allow a bit more customization, but a free-for-all often leads to a less than desirable experience.
Learn More: New Study Finds Android Users Are Loyal, Unless There Is a New iPhone Out