Apple is a lovable beast, and a brilliant hype machine. As such, it can be easy to see new features in iOS only as miraculous pearls of innovation. But in the broad light of day, and the broader light of the technology world, Apple is no longer the unrivalled talismanic leader. In case you needed proof — remember when Notification Center was added with iOS 7? You know the custom keyboard and social extensions that have arrived with iOS 8? They were all preceded by direct equivalents on Android.
In other words, Apple is constantly learning from its main mobile competitor. That can only be a good thing, considering that our beloved Cupertino-based firm has plenty of its own ideas. But I believe Apple can still better itself by learning a few more things from Google, particularly with Android 5.0 “Lollipop” now arriving.
Data is one key area for improvement. Whereas iCloud is purely transactional — it just keeps a few things in sync without adding extra value — Google Now and the recently launched Google Inbox track your habits to better match your interests and workflow. Of course, that means you need to trust Google with your data, but the benefits of doing so are considerable. In the wake of celebrity-related iCloud mishaps, Apple is now more wary of data than ever before, but I can’t help feeling that a little (optional) intelligence outside of Siri would only improve iOS.
Even when artificial intelligence isn’t helpful, a greater amount of data syncing wouldn’t go amiss. While Google Chrome makes your cross-platform browsing history available anywhere, Safari only offers to keep bookmarks and Reading List articles up to date. Likewise, the long overdue introduction of iCloud Drive will finally bring Google Drive-style bucket storage to Apple devices.
Then, there is the thorny subject of walled gardens. There is much to like about the careful curation and control that makes iOS what it is. Android’s openness is as much of a liability as it is a virtue. A little more flexibility on Apple’s part, however, would mean developers could provide great new functionality, and a whole lot less frustration for us, the tech-savvy crowd.
For instance, it seems extraordinary to me that iOS devices still do not support multiple user accounts; Lollipop will allow guests to use Android devices. Equally, iPhones and iPads are unable to make standard Bluetooth file transfers, which is ludicrously backward. The security risks that these functions present must surely be outweighed by their utility. It just means that, for once, Apple needs to trust us.
All of the above is not an ode to Android — far from it. It is a longing for an iOS that is far above and beyond its competitors. Perhaps you are satisfied with Apple’s approach, or perhaps you have independently come across your own areas for improvement. Either way, let me know your thoughts below.
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