iOS is generally thought of as the most slick and polished mobile OS out there–the one every other mobile OS should look up to. But the fact is that Android Marshmallow has plenty of features that your iPhone doesn’t, and some of those features are kick ass. As a major iPhone fan, I realize this any time I switch to my backup smartphone – a Samsung Galaxy S5. Sure, after a few days I really miss my iPhone, but when I inevitably go back to it there are some features I miss from Android. With that in mind, here are the top 5 features I hope iOS steals from Android.
1. The ability to change default apps
As much as I love iOS, I have to admit my iPhone never feels like it’s truly “mine” – it always feels like I’m borrowing it from Apple. This is mainly because iOS doesn’t allow you to change the default apps it comes preinstalled with: Mail, Calendar, Safari, etc. While these apps are at the top of their game and are fine for 95% of users, power users and more advanced tech geeks would love the ability to set third-party apps as the default apps for their email, calendar, messaging, maps, and web browsing needs. I mean, this is a feature Android has had for a while now and the OS is still standing. How hard can it be to implement on the iPhone?
2. Multiple user accounts
This is a feature that many Android devices have had since Android 5.0. It’s also been a long requested for iOS--particularly on the iPad—for quite some time: multi-user support. The way this would work is that iOS would allow users to create multiple accounts on a single device. A user could log in with their pin, password, or Touch ID fingerprint and their iOS device would then be fully customized to their last-used settings: everything from app layout to wallpapers to email accounts.
This is arguably a feature more appropriate for the iPad or iPad Pro as often times families or couples share one iPad between then. Also, iPads are frequently shared in work environments. Multiple user accounts for the iPad in these environments would mean secure sharing between people without the risk of anyone else seeing your private information. As for the iPhone...multiple user accounts could also be enabled, but since our phones are such personal devices it’s not clear how many people actually share their phones with others to begin with.
3. Customizable Control Center
Control Center was introduced in iOS 7 and was pretty much stolen from the Quick Settings feature of Android. With a swipe up from the bottom of any screen users could finally quickly toggle Airplane mode, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and rotation lock on or off. Users also finally got quick access to music controls and shortcut icons to Flashlight, Timer, Calculator, and Camera. But in Android M, Google went further and now offers the ability to customize quick settings. This is something Control Center desperately needs. I mean, I don't use the Timer that much, so I’d love to replace its shortcut button in Control Center with a button for Calendar, an app I use a lot. And who the heck needs constant access to Flashlight? Here’s hoping Apple steals the rest Quick Settings’ features.
4. Smarter Proactive
In iOS 9 Apple introduced Proactive, essentially a Google Now competitor that learns things about you–such as your favorite apps or upcoming events you have schedule–and offers you quick access to or information about those things without you even having to ask. The problem is Proactive looks like a kid’s 4th grade coding project compared to Google Now. I’m constantly amazed how well Google Now works–showing me things like apportionments and upcoming flights automatically.
Yes, Google Now is available on iOS, but it’s not deeply integrated like it is on Android. I would say Apple should steal all the good things Google Now offers, but in order to do that Apple needs to reevaluate their privacy stance. The reason Google Now works so well is because Google mines your personal emails, browsing history, and calendars for information about you–something Apple isn’t willing to do. But as our devices begin to embrace more autonomous AI features, if Apple is to compete they’ll need to be willing to mine our data automatically.
In iOS 9 Apple introduced Proactive, essentially a Google Now competitor that learns things about you–such as your favorite apps or upcoming events you have schedule–and offers you quick access to or information about those things without you even having to ask. The problem is Proactive looks like a kid’s 4th grade coding project compared to Google Now. I’m constantly amazed how well Google Now works–showing me things like apportionments and upcoming flights automatically.
Yes, Google Now is available on iOS, but it’s not deeply integrated like it is on Android. I would say Apple should steal all the good things Google Now offers, but in order to do that Apple needs to reevaluate their privacy stance. The reason Google Now works so well is because Google mines your personal emails, browsing history, and calendars for information about you–something Apple isn’t willing to do. But as our devices begin to embrace more autonomous AI features, if Apple is to compete they’ll need to be willing to mine our data automatically.
5. Dark mode
Okay, okay, so technically Android doesn’t have a dark mode YET. However, references to a “Night Mode” have been found in the latest Android M builds–so you know it’s coming. The way it will work is that when Night Mode is enabled, all the bright UI elements will turn darker colors. This has multiple benefits: first, it makes using your device easier on the eyes at night. Second, dark colors use less backlighting, and thus can save battery life. Third, dark modes can make it easier to focus on being productive in any given app instead of being distracted by colorful UI elements. Here’s hoping Apple steals Android’s upcoming Night Mode feature from Google…or that it steals the feature from itself.
What’s that mean? Well, with OS X Yosemite, Apple finally added Dark Mode to the operating system. This allows users to replace the white menu bar and dock with a darker version. Professionals love this because if they are editing video, photos, and doing other graphics work, the dark elements of OS X allow them to focus more on their work. While the iPhone and iPad aren’t as big of productivity devices for professionals as the Mac (though that could change with the iPad Pro) we still think it’d be awesome to see a dark mode on iOS–especially since all Android devices should have it soon.
Source : KnowYourMobile
What do you think iOS should steal from Android? Let us know in the comments!
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