By 
The old saying holds true: you don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone. That’s the thought that has been playing in my mind during my first days carrying the iPhone as my primary mobile device. Don’t get me wrong, I am having no immediate regrets about my decision to put down the Android in exchange for the phone with the apple on its back, but, man, you just don’t realize how useful widgets are until you don’t have them anymore.
You also don’t realize how deeply tied into Google’s ecosystem your internet life is. Hence, getting all of my Google apps up and running was one of the first things I did upon powering up my iPhone 5, as was pulling my existing contacts list down from Google’s servers to populate my iPhone address book.
But I still can’t get over the fact that my homescreen is more or less my app drawer. Sure, Apple has introduced folders in more recent iOS releases, allowing me to handle some of the clutter. I suppose I could make a folder called Apps, put all of my apps in there, and have a simulated app drawer. But then what would I put on my homescreen? Here I go missing widgets again.
You mean I actually have to open Gmail to see my most recent messages? I can’t just slap an inbox widget on my homescreen? And this is Apple, a company that devoted an entire screen in OS X to widgets and widgets alone. It’s funny, when I picked up Android, widgets were pretty low on my list of killer features. Now I’m struggling to live without them.
OK, so struggling is a bit dramatic. I’m doing just fine without widgets. I’m handling the iOS notification center. I’m remaining hopeful that future iterations will further flesh out Apple’s mobile operating system. It’s likely that I’m just getting used to my new digs; I have no immediate itch to return to Android. As if that was an option. I’m in this one for the long haul, ladies and gentlemen. But seriously, can I plz has widgets, Apple?
Longtime Android user and Phandroid blogger Kevin Krause has made the switch to iPhone. Follow his exploits as he navigates the world of Apple over at iSource.com.
You’ll be back. For all its faults, Android is the best mobile operating system out them. It lets you make the phone yours.
We’ll see how things go. I can already say that Android provides a much deeper experience than iOS. I’m not calling the iPhone a dumbphone, but Android, even without ROMs and rooting, is a whole lot more customizable.
The thing with Android is that once you have it setup your way, you can do a lot of things much quicker despite Android’s “lag” (yes, that l word). Actionable notifications, homescreen shortcuts and widgets, etc let you go about some stuff much faster than opening an app every time on other OS.
But again, iOS is great for many, but let’s see how you find it after a month or two. :)
That’s the key difference between Apple and Google. Apple designs a product, with a specific way in mind, and anybody who wants to use it another way is in for a tough time. If you conform to their usage pattern, though, it’s a great experience. This mentality has been confirmed time and time again (most famously by the “You’re holding it wrong.” comment). It’s like Apple is forcing everybody to have the same size ass by only making chairs in a specific way. Some people fit perfectly, others with a little discomfort but they adapt, and yet others have no way in hell of making it.
Google, on the other hand, embraces openness, and customization. It’s your device, use it how you want to. Google empowers you, it doesn’t control you. That empowerment comes at a price, however – the user is expected to set things up the way that works for them, ultimately. Sure, some manufacturers try to do this for them (which is what HTC Sense and Samsung TouchWiz are all about), but ultimately they’re Android devices, and the whole experience can be overhauled if the user wants to (and knows how).
My biggest complaint against Apple and the iOS ecosystem is that Apple controls it with no option to escape. If you want to install an application, you *have* to do it from the iTunes store, and if Apple doesn’t approve of it, you’re SOL (unless you jailbreak, which is not a viable option IMO). Google, on the other hand, allows installation of 3rd party apps outside the Play store (though you have to tick the box under settings to allow it), so if Google bans something, you can still install it directly from the developer. I have apps on my phone and tablet that are not permitted in the Play store, because they violate the terms of service. On Android, they’re a little (but not much) harder to install and keep up to date, but on an iPhone, they’re impossible to.
Further, Google’s Play store terms are much better than the iTunes store’s. Apple doesn’t allow apps that compete with their own. Apple doesn’t allow a friggan DICTIONARY to be listed with out a “mature” rating if it contains definitions of words that are not G-rated. News readers that are capable of pulling up pornography industry news? That’s a banning, too. And half the time, Apple doesn’t tell you why. I can’t live like that, constantly worrying that the apps I rely on could, at any time, be removed and unavailable to me – again, if it isn’t in the iTunes store, it can’t be installed, PERIOD.
I personally think that Apple should be required by LAW to allow people to “opt out” of the ecosystem if they want, and install 3rd party apps directly from the developers regardless of the consequences. It is YOUR device, after all. How much legal trouble would Microsoft get into if they made Windows incapable of running any software that wasn’t approved by them? Antitrust lawsuits would be flung left and right in their general direction. So why can Apple get away with this? An iPhone is just a computer that has components to talk to a radio tower – and they have laptops that do that, too.
Very good points! Thank you!
These are very good points. I like how you showed both views and pointed out things you disliked about Apple instead of just being some random fanboy. These post are godsend. You don’t see them often.
Probably because that whole paragraph could be explained in one sentence. Android is open but Apple is restrictive.
This is true. But I like the elaboration. And my English teachers wouldn’t have approved of that one sentence for an essay. LoL!!
Lol lets not be grammar nazis now
Quote: ” It’s like Apple is forcing everybody to have the same size ass by only making chairs in a specific way. Some people fit perfectly, others with a little discomfort but they adapt, and yet others have no way in hell of making it.”
Quote of the day.
Very good points made my friend.
Your chair analogy wins this entire comment thread. LOL
Apple’s micro-managing the apps available for iOS causes the competition to look better. Thus, more people go for android. There is no monopoly or trust on Apple’s side to warrant such legal restrictions on their design choices.
Were there no android competitor, if google had not made android a competitor, then you might have a strong point about Apple abusing its monopoly.
Apple should be thanking google ;-)
Agree 100%.
Google embraces you by selling your personal information to anyone and everyone. You are the product. It’s their business model.
Android phones are simply more powerful than iPhones, theirs so many things you can’t do on an iPhone, even something as simple as opening a file explorer, it has not accessible filesystem, which is just nuts. Plus widgets, better notifications, better multitasking, more customizability. more hardware options. My nexus 4 blows the iphone out of the water imho, nexus is the way to go. I could never go back to an iPhone .
No accessible file system?
Perhaps the problem with the iPhone is people’s ignorance of it.
We’re talking about stock iOS vs stock Android you idiot.
I see. So the only way you can convince yourself that only android has widgets, access to the file system, and a configurable springboard is if you tell the iOS user that he isnt allowed install widgets, have access to his file system, or configure his springboard.
lol.
brilliant.
No, that’s not what I implied, but you’re basically implying that it’s very easy to have a file manager on any iPhone. Where as the it can take months for a jailbreaki to even be released to allow that option. Therefore you don’t have a file manager that easily. Just look at iOS 6, that took months on end of dedicated work from a small dev team to crack it.
yes I do. and its integrated into the springboard.
do you have a file manager that runs as a component of the springboard…like a widget?
lol
No I don’t, I’ve never tried. I’m sure it’s been done. You obviously have no idea what you’re talking about so please, stop trying, for the sake of your online dignity. Not that I care.
but android is so open, and uninhibited.
why dont you go and get something like that done…then come back here and report on your failure….then tell me more about what iOS cant do.
lol.
Obvious troll is obvious. Unless you have an old slow pre-A5 and some blobs, don’t break your iOS with a faulty tweak or theme (lol @ having to jailbreak to be able to use themes), causing you to restore, which in turn, forced to install the latest iOS update through a bloated media player and losing your jailbreak, then go crying to the DevTeam about wanting a new jailbreak that you have to wait months for.
lol.
Protip: Do what I and many others did: jump ship from iOS and experience what freedom is. There’s all types of sweet snacks here and am enjoying every last bit of it with no regrets.
Are you from /g/
I develop on both platforms.
But thanks for the ‘pro tip’,
I don’t jailbreak for themes, I jailbreak for UI.
Themes are for android users.
The DevTeam hasn’t exploited iOS FW since RedSn0w.
FW is updated OTA.
I hope you aren’t the average android either z
Cool story?
My point still stands. You cannot make your iPhone truly your own (besides wallpapers… lol) by customizing it the way you want to unless you jailbreak.
“You have no choice. Do what we say and accept what we release.” are for iPhone users.
evad3rs are basically the new DevTeam.
OTA FW updates are useless if you’re jailbroken as they error out on attempt, so why mention that. Android users have it too ^_^
Average is an iPhone user.
jailbreaking is customization.
the upgradability of android is a gamble at best:
so you have to wait (sometimes for years) just to get new capability…and thats if it comes at all
But if something like that were done, it wouldn’t be a failure? Once again you’ve no idea what you’re talking about.
Your argument is a failure. That’s because it’s contingent on assumptions, and guesses, and things that other people
May or may not have done. The capability of firmware is reliant upon the strength of the knowledge of it user base.
If you are the ‘average android user’, Google is screwed.
“average android user” Not everyone is tech savvy sure, but there is a minority of people who will take advantage of the power of the OS to it’s full potential.
Does that require jailbreak?
Yes it does.
Ya i’ve come to realize that over the last 2 years. iOS is a simplified smartphone experience. Android, is a fully customizable unhindered experience.
Android isn’t just more customizable, it’s smarter. With Tasker and everything else… it’s just the truth. ;]
The things that I found annoying were lack of widgets, absolutely terrible notification system and non alphabetized apps on the home screens. With ios 6 they finally fixed the whole deal where when you clicked install on an app it would kick you back to the home screen. Be glad you never had to deal with that. Lack of WPS is another thing I hate with ios but that probably doesnt bother many people I just install internet for a living and its nice to be able to test their wifi by connecting to my phone so WPS comes in handy.
Android is still 100x more customizable out of the box then a jailbroken iPhone is.
My work just gave me an iPhone…and OMG I cannot stand to use this! I never realized how important widgets and access to quick settings were! I used to have an iPhone when it first came out, but man I think after this experience I can honestly say I will probably never leave Android for my personal phone.
Come back to us Kev :(
Exactly, How has he managed his life without file system, default app selection? If so, he would survive even with an old Nokia :-)
default app selection, that’s a huge one I forgot about.
This is exactly how I felt when I tried an iPhone. It seemed so one-dimensional. I have family members who really love iOS though. I’m happy for them =)
Notifications, sharing, widgets, and truer multitasking, these are things I couldn’t live without and their lack on the iPad and my Windows Phone really puts me off. Seems to me Kevin might soon be missing some of these badly, but hopefully you’ll get used to them.
You will come crawling back to the Android Tit.. The bad fruit is starting to grow fur and smell bad.
Why not root your favorite android device and make it look like iOS and have widgets? What is it that brought you to use an iPhone over android?
Well, if you switched for Apple’s better audio input and lag handling for apps such as DAWs and virtual instruments, then you will be happy. Though, if you are not a musician and using the iOS only for regular smartphone purposes, you made a poor decision =)
Kevin, that’s what killed me and made me return my iPhone 5. It doesn’t get better. I hate that I had to see all of my apps all the time and that I couldn’t have widgets. I just got the HTC One and it’s amazing.
Android is the best phone os. That said, iOS is the best tablet os right now. I wouldn’t give up my One or my iPad for anything else.
Try nexus 10 and you will forget about iPad immediately :-)
Multi user support is amazing+widgets for tablets are more convenient than for phones – 10 years ahead of apple :-)
I LOVE MY NEXUS 10…no seriously I love it. Granted it has restarted and frozen once or twice. but then again so does the ipad. Best screen resolution buttery smooth and I even like the way it feels (I cant stand the stupid aluminum ipad especially since I wear a steel ring…or when I come in from the outside in the winter). Combine that with what you can do on an Android tablet and I would not trade my Nexus 10 fo an ipad whatever generation they are up to now)
I do love Multi-User support. That’s very useful. I don’t mind people using my tablet, but I didn’t really like them having close access to my stuff. I have stupid friends. LoL!!
I used to have SmartApp Protector before Multi-User came out. Now I just keep that on my phone.
Nexus 10 user here too. Best tablet i could think of.
doesn’t make any sense, isn’t iOS for iPad the same as iOS for iPhone? i mean despite the apps, it’s the same thing just bigger…
Agreed, that made no sense at all.
The iPad features multitasking gestures which are VERY useful. Other than that, it’s basically the same but yes, it’s better suited to tablets (it was designed for tablets in mind in the first place).
Also like the 4:3 design better than the Nexus 7/10. Not ideal for watching movies, but great for reading, which is what I do most :)
Agreed 100%
The difference is apps really, I love Android and my nexus 4 and would never get an iPhone, but the play store still lags way behind in apps really designed to use the entire screen, since my tablet usage is much simplier than my phone usage (mostly forms of browsing, reading etc) I still prefer the iPad for a tablet.
you’re right, but you can’t make iOS or Android 100% responsible for the apps running on it. If you compare iOS and Android, it should just be about the operating systems features. There are always good apps and bad apps (and yes Apple does a good job in having an approval process for apps), but these aren’t even developed by apple/google…
yes you are right…..but so is android ui its the same on all nexus devices with minor tweaks
I agree completely, aside from one thing. iOS is not the best tablet OS. Best tablet app ecosystem? Yes. But the OS itself is just as limited as it is on iPhones.
I`ve always known you are an Apple fan boy….not surprised. You must be relieved after coming out of the closet eventually.
I started on iPhone 2g -> 3gs before the Nexus One… Got an iPhone 4s for my mother-in-law today. I was setting up the email and just can’t get over how primitive the whole OS (not just the TINY scale of everything on this little screen either) feels next to my new GS4. I know it’s cliche, but it’s like I went back in time 4 years. I can’t believe how little the OS has evolved over this much time compared to Android.
They are targeting the “other” audience.
• Just watch people trying to understand what a defrag is (or was, depending or ur SSD advocacy) and u’ll see that most people can’t even get comfortable with the right click on a mouse.
• 85% aren’t fit for technology or advanced logic.
• Long press to simulate right click on a phone? Forget about 98% of people.
•Try to find how many ‘regular’ people know the default launcher of their phone, well, is an app by itself an can be changed? 0% around me (may change, but just looking at all that touchwizz around me, urgh)
• U can go over and over and over.
Just because you CAN do something in an OS doesn’t mean you have to to achieve basic functionality for this demographic you refer to. Case-in-point, my mother (not my wife’s mother) is one of the most technologically inept people I know. We got her a Galaxy Nexus last year for her birthday and she hasn’t had any problems doing what she wants… she loves it! I’m surprised iOS hasn’t unlocked features for more advanced users (even via an “advanced mode” setting) in all this time… Android has certainly made itself more user friendly over the years.
“u’ll” Wow, you’re incredibly lazy.
I don’t think I have ever heard it put better. When Talking about using the iPhone 5 after using Android devices for years. The author states.
“But I still can’t get over the fact that my homescreen is more or less my app drawer.” -Kev
I always hated iOS’s home-screen. I don’t like how it doesn’t organize your apps. Way too often did I lose apps. It’s a smart phone, can’t it organize them for me? That always annoyed me the worst.
I went from Android to iPhone and back to Android. Now when I grab my old iphone or pick up a friends. The screen looks so small to me. It’s off-putting.
Told you you’ll be bored.
This is an indirect Android circlejerk, no content whatsoever. Yeah, we know the app drawer and widgets are awesome… you miss them on your iPhone ? Big deal.
My only question is when is Kevin’s last day at Phandriod? I’m assuming they fired you as soon as you made the switch to an Apple device…right?
Words of tolerance…
Phandroid is part of a larger blog that covers all 3 major platforms, windows being the third, so it’s just a transfer.
He is still a friend, and as long as he continues to post good articles, then who cares if he comes back every now and then. The friendly nature of the ydfgg.community is why I stick around. Obviously he isn’t “fired”.
So, soon then?
The #HOLO calls to you.
The first thing i’ve noticed when using the iPhone was: Where is the f***ing back button?
top-left corner of the screen if there’s a screen to move back to, home if you’re already on the top screen of the app.
note: I’m a happy note 2 user, who just happens to remember the back button from the few times I’ve helped people with problems in iOS.
Actually, that’s supposed to be the standard, but each app is different. There’s many apps that don’t use it in the top left, sometimes it’s bottom left, and other times there either isn’t one, or it’s just oddly designed.
Android’s dedicated back button, for all it’s faults, is pretty much the best interface for going back a step in mobile.
Sure, it can seem inconsistent at times (especially when you have no idea what the rules that govern it are), but it’s so darn handy that using any other OS feels inferior simply for lacking such an awesome dedicated utility.
Actually I had the complete opposite take on Android. I found the double implementation of a back button to be infuriating. On iOS, nearly all apps have the back button at or near the top left. It hardly changes. Android apps seem to use the back hardware button as well as implement a back button near the top or bottom left…which to me seems like a waste of space and poor implementation.
Unfortunately, there’s 2 fundamental point of view here.
• Apple sees the back button as a reading priority, and want your (dumb?) brain to understand that it’s the first item you’re gonna see.
• Google says you don’t want to reach your thumb top left everytime u click on your screen, and put it the lowest possible, for one handed use.
• In the end, one is made for two handed and slow use, the other one is made for one handed and fast use. Guess which one I’m using (and which brain I’m havin’, btw…)
you’re right, but you can’t make Android responsible for lazy developers, porting their iOS apps to Android without making the effort to adjust them properly. It’s the same case for bad console ports to PC, you can’t say “Windows is bad because console ports are bad”. It’s the developer of the app whos responsible for bad app design, not the operating system e.g. iOS, Android.
I know this is the case in most iOS apps, but i don’t get why they’ve choosen this position, i find it rather difficult to reach the button if using the iPhone one-handed. And still there are apps where the back button isn’t at that position or simply don’t have a back button.
yea after using one for 5 minutes I wanted to fling it across the room
ha ha ha
As an iPhone user waiting for note 3, let me be honest. Apple ain’t got nothing on Android OS or the various hardware offerings, but the App quality and dev support is unmatched. If I could run iOS apps virtually on Android I would have been made the switch.
that’s what you get! GTFO! :P
i picked up my 4 year old itouch the first time in ages and i was like …wow, the UI interface still looks exactly the same as the current iOS
I dumped iOS in Q3 2011, and haven’t looked back. ICS and JB are simply amazing. Can’t wait for KLP (5.0). I have a Droid Bionic, but there seems to be an Android device for every budget or need.
Hopefully you wont miss things for long, and your new phone will suit your needs. Remember people this is just your choice of phones, not your outlook on life nor your choice of religion (or lack thereof).
But I do question why you would continue to write for Phandroid if you dont use any Android devices. Are you going to write for an Apple site?
I agree with most of what everyone is saying, but really wanted to suggest to you that as long as you are taking the plunge make sure you try jailbreaking and cydia and the features it adds. I used the 3gs and iPhone 4 about two years and much preferred the experience after jailbreaking! Small learning curve compared to rooting, & rom’ing
Why are you posting this here? Shouldn’t this be posted over on the iOS site?
I think Chris writing 5 paragraphs of hair care tips would have been more interesting.
Defaults and Intents
The real hidden power of Android — you’ll miss those next.
The ability to specify a Default application for a certain action. i.e. being able to set a default app for navigation, web browsing, etc.
The ability for an application to register an Intent, and thus appearing as a completely native OS option under the right circumstances, like “Sharing” something via an appropriate app.
Very powerful stuff.
http://droid-den.com/editorial/breaking-the-ecosystem-shackles-the-power-of-defaults-and-intents-in-android-2/
It’s always the small things.
Well, if you’re needing the constant attention-distracting widgets and the sucking of battery life that goes with it, Android’s for you.
Go home Tim Cook, you’re drunk! lol… HELP! THE WIDGETS ARE DISTRACTING ME!
If apple throws widgets in an update I’ll sue them hahaha (sarcasm). They always said that their operating system was perfect but have been adding android features slowly in their updates and pretending like they thought of it first.
Every OS update includes new features. Saying that Apple is adding new features to iOS is simply saying that it is evolving. Just like Android, it looks nothing like the first version. Android/iOS is evolving, you just have to decide which one you prefer better.
It looks EXACTLY THE SAME
You nailed it.
Don’t worry. I’m sure Apple is hard at work inventing widgets as we speak.
Apple had widgets on OS X long before Android was even an OS
that’s irrelevant to apple’s claims of innovating using pre-existing tech.
so Kevin how does it feel to live in a jail
Why is this an article on an Android site? Great, you switched to ios, now quite blogging on this site.
Look at the number of comments any time Kevin posts something about ios and you can guess why they continue making them- page views.
I waited and waited for an iPhone on Verizon and jumped at the OG Droid when it was available. It’s one of the few things I can thank Verizon for.
Same here. Got the OG Droid because it was the first phone Verizon had that people said would give the iPhone some real competition. I’m also thankful that the first Droid was stock Android and had a one-click root, which led to me upgrading to the Galaxy Nexus which I still have now, and am really enjoying being able to flash ROMs and mods, and customize to just how I like it.
Same here, the OG Droid was my first smartphone. When Motorola/vzw were running the Droid does commercials in 2009 they got my attention. At that time I had the LG Voyager which had a physical keyboard and I was looking for a phone with a physical keyboard. After reading and looking at videos of the OG Droid in action I was sold. I replace the OG Droid with the G-Nexus, and I’m currently waiting on what Motorola will be releasing later in the year and for the G-Note 3 to replace the G-Nexus….Droid Does 0_0
Well, even without switching to an iPhone, I already know how useful the widgets are :) But I don’t really use any except for the quick toggle widgets. Having to make a trip to the settings dialog to toggle wifi/bluetooth/etc would be a royal PITA.
anyone notice how boring the posts are at isource.com…..I went take a look and there is relatively nothing worth reading…its all issues and how tos. and Kevin is basically the only one writing anything there haha
Klause. I know that you did not move to iOS by choice. It would be illogical to CHOOSE iOS over Andorid.
Why would he do that? I switched from iOS when the Galaxy S3 came out and can’t imagine going back. Can’t fathom it.
Same here. It was a great choice.
I’m going to start calling widgets, distractets. Can’t wait for Apple to finish inventing them so iSheep can go bananas.
I don’t get why you had to give up Android to carry an iPhone. I have an iPhone 5 given to me by work, but I still carry Android devices.
I present a message from the gods. “Do not give him his widgets!! Let the mortal suffer for his decisions. *laughs maniacally*”
Please, don’t shoot the messenger. LoL!!
I dont think id be so bold to even try usiing an inferior device and of course to each his own but iphone…. Come on!
You’ll be back. I hope you enjoy the experience though, the dark side does have its appeal.
Quote: ” I suppose I could make a folder called Apps, put all of my apps in there, and have a simulated app drawer.”
Only if you have a total of 12 apps. If you have more than that you will have to add folders because of Apple’s 12 app per folder limit.
I used the iphone for quite awhile and though it wasn’t a bad setup it wasn’t for me. ios does perfectly what it was designed to do. Those used to ios may find Android too difficult to use, add there are so many options. Those that are used to Android may not like the simplicity of ios. for me, though ios and Windows are great platforms, Android imo is by far the King.
if you wanted to try an ios device why didn’t you just get an ipad? seems like a dumb move from the start. my wife regrets getting iPhone and she’s coming from galaxy s1 lol
That’s hilarious! haha
Even if you wanted to put all of your apps into one folder named “apps” you wouldn’t be able to. You are limited to 12 apps in a folder for the 4s and back. 16 apps for the 5. So you could have… a lot of app drawers….
How did u adapt to the (small) screen size?
dows ios have an enhanced notification bar like touchwiz? i would really miss that
Why did he switch, did he lose a bet?
Why why why.. The iPhone 5 doesn’t even have a HD screen
Widgets will be my last concern. What I would miss more? Inter-app sharing functions.
The way android has to send things from one app to another is unique and irreplaceable to me. Both, when I press a share button in an app and all apps able to receive the data or when I simple open something and androids shows the list of apps able to handle that.
Magic.
If widgets is ALL you miss, and even then you don’t call it exactly struggling, then you deserve an iPhone. Its a pity that tech sites have to have a dedicated page for every OS, and therefore cannot be honest about any single one of them.
I might be one of the few android users that doesn’t like to use widgets on a phone. I have 2 folders for the apps I use the most and only have nova set for one screen. I just like it simple on my phone. on my galaxy tab 2 10.1 I utilize a lot of widgets and several screens.
If you wanted an iOS experience while still having an Android experience you could have loaded MiUi onto your phone and got the best of both worlds. Personally I’m not a huge fan of MiUi but it’s a unique experience plus you get your widgets
Just give it awhile. The new iPhone features will borrow as much as it needs to from Android in the coming months/years. The pull down shade was only the beginning.
Not sure why you would complain… you’re a phone blog writer… and you didnt expect this? Why the hell would you switch boat to ios? Ios stays at home for me in the ipad. It has no place in my life as a daily phone.
Android asks you how you want to use your phone. iOS tells you how you want to use your phone.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6BSPsiWLlzs&sns=em
You just need to learn how to use iOS.
iOS is app centric, not springboard centric.
The point is to find out what you need, get the application that does it, use it and then put your handset away and live your life…not gluing yourself to the springboard.
android is user centric. if you like widgets you got them. if you want your screen to be an app drawer you can do that too.
User data centric, specifically personal data and the data of that users contacts.
Because android users aren’t googles customer, advertisers are.
just pointing out that can go “app screen” on android too. you’re not forced to use widgets.
if you think iphones aren’t mining your user data you are dreaming. iOS isn’t ‘app centric’ at all: if it were, you could do more with your apps. sharing issues aside, widgets themselves are a great example. but i like your reply of ‘well you just don’t know what you’re doing/”holding it wrong”‘.
Doing ‘more with apps’ isn’t a component of the operating system. It’s incumbent upon the developer to decide what his application will do.
Data mining for the purpose of improving the UX and data mining for the purposes of selling that data to a 3rd party for money is the difference.
You won’t see advertising on the iOS springboard. My Nexus7 shows advertising in the notification bar consistently.
What you don’t seem to be cognizant of, is that you can customize iOS springboard to display data how you want it. There are widgets for iOS, they are called Cygets. You can install a dashboard that displays dynamic data that is user configurable. You just have to know how to configure the device to do it. You can install HTML based widgets on each page of the spring board of you want.
You just have to want them enough to learn how to do it.
Of course you miss the widgets. Even tho I hated Win Mo or the Omnia 1……take your pick…I liked the widgets. After using Android I even started using widgets on my desktop PC more…
It’s Apple’s way or the highway with most aspects of the phone. How many replacement launchers are there for the iPhone? How many animated wallpapers?
This is why we’ve been calling iOS a glorified app launcher all this time…
Having both a rooted Android phone running 4.2.2 and a work iPhone 5 running iOS 6.1.4, these are my main complaints about iOS:
Major:
1) No File System access. I want to use USB Mass Storage and otherwise save files to the device.
2) Notification system. Even with iOS 6 it’s behind the simple and straightforward unified notification system of Android 4.2. You can’t even swipe away a notification.
Minor:
2) Closed Eco System. I’d like to side-load apps and have a bigger app selection.
3) Default Applications. Siri always opens Safari and Apple Maps.
4) No Widgets. I barely use them in Android so I don’t care much, but it would be nice to have a couple to break up the grid of icons.
I believe this can all be addressed with jailbreaking, but it’s a work phone so I’ve avoided it thus far. I do love how responsive the UI is, and the phone gets updates immediately when released. It makes me wish every Android phone was like the Nexus series, or at least the Nexus was available on every carrier (Verizon/Sprint).
I am surprised by your notification comment. Sure Android has better presentation of the notifications, iOS notification settings are 5 years ahead of Android. Why must I go into each individual app and disable notifications?!!! Why Google!? iOS, go into notifications and just swipe them off and visually see is enabled. Also, iOS’s ability to display notifications as banners, bubbles, lock screen, with or without sounds is far more customizable than Android. See, iOS got one thing right.
Truth be told, I JUST WANT MY WEATHER WIDGET BACK. WHERE DID IT GO MOTOROLA, WHERE DID IT GO AFTER MY JELLYBEAN UPGRADE!? http://bit.ly/103DV1u Bejeezus.
I have an iPhone 5 and a Note 2 and have always had both an iPhone and an Android phone since the beginning of each. I could care less about widgets. But you can get them on an iPhone by jailbreaking.
these Apple vs Android arguments are so 2010! Get over it already!