Apple better have something really good up its sleeve for the next round

[John T]

Apple really needs to step it up with the next iPhone and IOS because the OS is really looking dated. In fact, it looks exactly the same as it did in 2007 on my first iPhone.

I must admit to being at a loss why some people seem to think that the appearance of IOS is so vital in it's operation! Surely the most important factor is what the OS actually does. A well thought out and designed item doesn't have to have its appearance continually changed to make it better! The stability of the IOS design is the main reason for my staying with the iPhone. I know exactly where everything is and what it's going to do.

When I bought my iPhone 5, within minutes I had set it up and installed all my data etc from my old iPhone and the new one was up and running. In comparison, my son spent more than an evening transferring "most" of his data from his "old" Galaxy 2 to his new Galaxy 3!

'Nuff said!

 

[Prime85]

Things I want the most (but probably won't get) in iOS7.

1. Swipe for the keyboard.
2. Custom text colors and fonts.
3. Contact photos in the list without JB
4. Wifi, BT and brightness buttons for home screen
5. Move apps around freely and place where i want (to show wallpaper for example)
6. More widgets for notification center.
7. New menu layouts and colors. It's seriously time for that depressing grey to go.
8. Animated wallpapers
9. Save tones as ringtones without iTunes.
10. FLASH PLAYER.

Thank you.

Everything you mentioned would be useless. Except maybe #4 which i have with a jb anyway. Also Flash Player? Since when do people still care about flash? Android doesn't even use that anymore since it is obsolete software, everyone is switching to HTML5. I don't even have it on my mac anymore since its always been a security risk and to tell you the truth i never have websites telling me i need it anymore.

 

[blasto2236]

For reference, here are screengrabs of the only two screens I have on my Galaxy Nexus, which are, frankly, more user friendly overall than what I have on my iPhone 5. You may or may not like my choice of icons, background, or widgets, but they are all easily changeable (by a long press, generally).

LOL @ the iOS themed icons and folders. So basically you added widgets to iOS (many of which can be achieved through JB). Congratulations.

 

[maxosx]

My truth?

I enjoy _ both _ iOS and Android, I'm using both concurrently.

The primary reason I'm so disappointed in Apple at the moment is the fact I am somewhat biased towards them, since I've used their computers for years. If I didn't care it wouldn't matter.

I would be thrilled if they refreshed the design & included a 4.7 - 4.9" display in the upcoming model. While its still a possibility, the rumors are not reinforcing that potential.

Worse, the most recent rumors suggest the least amount of improvements. Especially when it comes to keeping the same 4.0" display. Lacking room to work, and retaining its narrow width, means no new iPhone for me.

A first since the original iPhone, very disappointing indeed.

 

[Jimmy James]

Yes, Apple better improve big time!

Otherwise, I will make may calls, surf the net, check my emails, Facebook & Twitter, play my games, watch my shows, listen to music, check my stocks, set my calendar & alarms, read my ebooks, navigate, take my pictures & videos, use my large variety of apps, and check the weather on another platform!

It's appalling how little I can easily do.

 

[macUser2007]

LOL @ the iOS themed icons and folders. So basically you added widgets to iOS (many of which can be achieved through JB). Congratulations.

Did many of the knee-jerk posers here actually read the blog referenced in the first post, or did most simply fail to comprehend it, and the other comments?

Yes, some part is the theming (and no, it cannot be done as easily or as well through JB, plus JB just came to the iPhone5/iPad4 and it will likely be gone again with the next update).

But there is a lot more that's lacking in iOS and it becomes apparent when compared in daily use with Android JellyBean. For each user what's missing may be a bit different, but the gist of it is, there are too many little things missing in iOS 6, compared to JellyBean.

So far Android has suffered from the lack of well designed hardware, but this seems to be changing, as HTC, Sony and Motorola are all bringing some really well designed sets in the next few months, in time for Android 5.0 (Keylime Pie).

Add to this the open AiPlay pushed by Netflix and Google, which will come in force this year and will strip away one of Apple's greatest advantages, and you may see why Apple should start taking this seriously.

Further along, if I were Apple, I'd also worry about Chrome OS, which is still primitive (as Android was a few years ago), but which is getting full touch capabilities this year and which is still being developed full-steam by Goggle. Just like Android, it may come out and take a painful bite from both Apple's and MS's desktop marketshare in a couple of years.

 

[dontpannic]

Add to this the open AiPlay pushed by Netflix and Google, which will come in force this year and will strip away one of Apple's greatest advantages, and you may see why Apple should start taking this seriously.

This won't be as widespread as AirPlay though - and to some extent showing how Android is 'Catching up' to iOS isn't it?

How many times in the past have we heard "DLNA is much better, AirPlay sucks" when its evident that Google obviously want a piece of that market.

 

[macUser2007]

This won't be as widespread as AirPlay though - and to some extent showing how Android is 'Catching up' to iOS isn't it?

How many times in the past have we heard "DLNA is much better, AirPlay sucks" when its evident that Google obviously want a piece of that market.

Actually, DIAL s being adopted much more widely, by Netflix and Google, obviously, but also by Sony, Samsung, LG, etc..

http://gigaom.com/2013/01/23/dial-open-airplay-competitor/

DIAL is also getting some support from content services and app makers. The project launched a registry on its website for companies that want to take advantage of DIAL much in the same way Netflix and YouTube want to, and the first ones to sign up include the BBC, Hulu, Pandoraand Flingo. There are also efforts underway to bring dial to Chrome, which would make it possible to launch apps on your TV straight from your browser.

In recent conversations at CES, I’ve heard some considerable interest from others as well. And with enough support, DIAL may not just be able to take on AirPlay, but eventually reshape how we interact with digital media in the living room.

 

[macUser2007]

Hah, here is something Apple may want to pay heed to:

Why the iPad Needs a File System

And here is something on the Chrome OS, which I mentioned above: http://techpinions.com/chrome-is-more-important-to-google-than-android/11575

I m sure Apple is working on stuff in their labs, but lately we haven't seen much new that they have to show for. I really have not been excited about an Apple product I've bought since my first Mac Book Air (and I've bought iMacs, iPads, iPhones and a Mac Book Pro).

Jobs was ill and now he is gone. I'd hate to think that he made the wrong choices in setting up his succession.

The ironic part is, how many here seem so happy that the over 50 set uses Apple. I am happy for it, too, but if you bore the under 25 set, in a few years your product become "your father's Oldsmobile."

 

[Rogifan]

yep, i feel the same way, android has left iOS behind in almost every aspect. if apple wants iOS7 to be a WOW then apple has to innovate, they have to come up with something big, something great and if they fail, sales are gonna further decline and android will get another chance to leave iOS behind.

iOS device sales aren't declining.

 

[NacSquared]

The grid is still light years more elegant than anything I've seen from Android. It's simple and doesn't overwhelm. Everything I've seen from Android is overwhelming, and 'customization' generally means making it even fuglier, like a Windows XP skin from 2004.

Can Apple improve iOS? Yes. But not by putting settings on the front page, a search bar at the top of every screen and dancing widgets on top of a live aquarium wallpaper.

I couldn't agree more with this statement.

Apple has what a lot of people like to call, a major in simplicity. Apple is not looking to entertain 15 & 16 year old boys with 'cool and entertaining' lock & homescreens. They revolve everything they do around creating the easiest possible experience for a user.

You want something 'new'? Go buy a $0.99 flip phone for a week, then come back to your iphone and it will feel 'new'.

 

[nuckinfutz]

iOS device sales aren't declining.

Shhhh you're wrecking the fantasy with the needless input of truth.

To many on this board Apple Doom is upon us, trampled under the mite of Android. Who cares what those Analysts say.

 

[ncaissie]

iOS 7 will have 200 small changes (most we don't see or simplistic settings)
Two new apps most people won’t use.

 

[nuckinfutz]

Failing to expect more from your products is basically expecting to fail in the long run. They knew they couldnt expect much from the iPhone 5 - it was no different.

Another nonsensical post based on contrived assumption that you have "any" clue what expectations where. I'll play.

Give us the unit and revenue expectations that Apple had for the iPhone 5 and then we can talk.

 

[ncaissie]

so because this one person thinks this, I guess everyone feels that way?
Apple does need a kick in the butt to get better and with android on their heels and them both trading who has more sales each month, its going to cause IOS to get better.

competition is always a good thing

LMAO You are highly mistaken. I think you are in denial and/or just won’t admit Apple can be wrong.

 

[nuckinfutz]

LMAO You are highly mistaken. I think you are in denial and/or just won’t admit Apple can be wrong.

The firing of Forstall and Browett and exec reshuffle is a grand admission from Apple that they made mistakes and aren't afraid to rectify them.

 

[ncaissie]

Everything you mentioned would be useless. Except maybe #4 which i have with a jb anyway. Also Flash Player? Since when do people still care about flash? Android doesn't even use that anymore since it is obsolete software, everyone is switching to HTML5. I don't even have it on my mac anymore since its always been a security risk and to tell you the truth i never have websites telling me i need it anymore.

Since flash has and is still used in most sites. Try any new game site. try godofwar.com

 

[MozMan68]

The firing of Forstall and Browett and exec reshuffle is a grand admission from Apple that they made mistakes and aren't afraid to rectify them.

But to his point, prove that sales were somehow weaker than they expected because of that.

Data proves that they couldn't make enough of the devices and sales INCREASED over previous devices despite the admitted problems with some of the software. Considering the glut of previous devices out there in use, one might surmise that the sales level of the iPhone 5 is even more incredible!

 

[semi5]

I'm going the other way. I'm moving back to my iPhone from the Nexus 4. Just dont care that much about widgets or themes. I have found almost every app that is available on both is still better on the iphone. The iPhone just works better for me.

 

[TheRainKing]

I agree. Android is the next big thing. Apple is suddenly becoming too popular. Apple is becoming what Microsoft is. The UNCOOL.

Face it. Since Steve Jobs died, Apple stopped innovating.

Sadly theres some truth in that. The only things Apple have done since then which I liked were the iPad mini and Mountain Lion, everything else felt underwhelming. Some things have really sucked, like the current iPod nano, iOS 6 and Apple maps.

 

[Rogifan]

Sadly theres some truth in that. The only things Apple have done since then which I liked were the iPad mini and Mountain Lion, everything else felt underwhelming. Some things have really sucked, like the current iPod nano, iOS 6 and Apple maps.

Steve Jobs hasn't even been dead 2 years. What exactly were you expecting Apple to do since his death? Reinvent industries every 6 months? Like they NEVER did under Jobs?

Or put it another way, what would Apple have done differently the past year or so if Steve was still around?

 

[charlituna]

Prepare to be disappointed.

No seriously, if you think that they will vastly improve iOS 7 after the diaster that was iOS 6 and they don't then...

I suspect that an easy 80% of iOS 7 will be fixing iOS 6 issues, removing bloat by killing some of the pointless skeuromorphic tricks and adding back useful features from iOS 5 that up and vanished. Another 10% will be things like perhaps adding the same 'in the cloud' listings as iTunes on the desktop has , adding folders to notes, etc

And 10% will be some new thing(s)

And I would be thrilled with that.

Give me some cleanup in the iTunes stores, bring back Lala.com, more iCloud and Game Center support in apps etc and I would be over the moon

 

[daneoni]

lol at all these ultimatums. "Apple better do this or that or else...."

Or else what you and Ralfrottmann will switch?

I'm sure Apple is shaking in their boots at that prospect.

 

[kilcher]

lol at all these ultimatums. "Apple better do this or that or else...."

Or else what you and Ralfrottmann will switch?

I'm sure Apple is shaking in their boots at that prospect.

I'm sure Blackberry thought the same thing about 4 years ago.

 

[bozzykid]

lol at all these ultimatums. "Apple better do this or that or else...."

Or else what you and Ralfrottmann will switch?

I'm sure Apple is shaking in their boots at that prospect.

The smartphone business is all about momentum. Blackberry had the same attitude years ago when they were on top (that they were #1 and didn't need to innovate anymore). Just because Apple is the #1 smartphone maker by a wide margin doesn't mean that their market share can drop rapidly. Because smartphones iterate so quickly, Apple had better be on their game or they can lose significant share in a year or two while others make big strides.