Does anyone else think that iOS 8 is a letdown?

[C DM]

It seems like those who were impressed or are satisfied are generally those who had always been rabid Apple fanboys to begin with.

Or simply like iOS/iPhone, knowing the limitations and being OK with them but hoping for certain realistic things.

----------

So let me ask this. Everyone I know seems fairly satisfied. It covered many wishlist items. What would everyone that didn't like it wish it had instead?

Probably items mentioned at https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1740965/

----------

As I have said before, don't get me wrong about the fact I like Apple and their products and have no plans to switch, I just think that this update in particular was a bit of a let down.





I know you're just taking the piss, but it still added a lot more than in iOS 8 (at least so far)... Siri, Notification Centre, iMessage, FaceTime, iCloud, etc.

Sorry, but opening up the OS to where you can actually have extensions as in third party keyboards and widgets from apps is huge enough on its own. Quick reply, while seemingly a limited type of feature, is actually a fairly big change to how notifications are being and can be handled in general through the OS. Factoring in the whole continuation piece between different Apple devices that is also huge enough on its own, makes this a rather major version release.

 

[Aluminum213]

Keyboard - so? Whole android is a copy of ios.

absolute stupidity like this disqualifies anything you say

 

[Nox82]

I'll not be surprised to see that android and Microsoft to 'implement' continuity FEATURES in their up coming OS release.

And that's will show how 'INNOVATIVE' they are!

History shall repeat.

Multitouch
AppStore - Playstore, Windows Store
Siri - Google Now, Cortana
Continuity/Handoff - ??

What say you, android / Microsoft fanboys...quote me and we shall see.

 

[vigilant]

I'll not be surprised to see that android and Microsoft to 'implement' continuity FEATURES in their up coming OS release.



And that's will show how 'INNOVATIVE' they are!



History shall repeat.



Multitouch

AppStore - Playstore, Windows Store

Siri - Google Now, Cortana

Continuity/Handoff - ??



What say you, android / Microsoft fanboys...quote me and we shall see.

i have very little doubt that Microsoft is working on something like this right now.

i don't think they have enough critical mass though on mobile to justify it.

Microsoft's development environment is actually really nice if you can ignore the fact that your applications have to run on a Windows OS (not very well targeted for any particular device, ugly UI, very slow developer adoption, not many hardware devices running on Mobile).

Google will probably take a web view of this saying "Do it all in a web app and we'll notify you on other web devices that you have something you can continue" which is fine, but web apps aren't as feature rich as iOS devices though the gap really is closing quickly.

 

[henry72]

It's a really nice upgrade from iOS 7. The only disappointment / missing feature is FaceTime group call, another year of wait I guess haha. However, I won't use it very often so it doesn't bother me too much.

 

[vigilant]

Or simply like iOS/iPhone, knowing the limitations and being OK with them but hoping for certain realistic things.

----------

Probably items mentioned at https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1740965/

----------

Sorry, but opening up the OS to where you can actually have extensions as in third party keyboards and widgets from apps is huge enough on its own. Quick reply, while seemingly a limited type of feature, is actually a fairly big change to how notifications are being and can be handled in general through the OS. Factoring in the whole continuation piece between different Apple devices that is also huge enough on its own, makes this a rather major version release.

I'd ignore this guy.

He is complaining because a DEVELOPER focused keynote didn't have anything that applied to him as a dig. I get the impression from the some what closed view point that he has that he doesn't understand the actual changes that are in this release.

From testing the OS's since they first allowed it back in 2.0 till now, i can say that while there isn't much lipstick on this release, theres a TON of features that people will love once developers implement them. And developers will implement them.

The changes that are in here truly puts this on parity on a feature level with Yosemite, and in some nuanced ways makes Yosemite an excellent workstation OS with nods to the direction of mobile.

----------

It's a really nice upgrade from iOS 7. The only disappointment / missing feature is FaceTime group call, another year of wait I guess haha. However, I won't use it very often so it doesn't bother me too much.

Completely agree with you.

From a technical perspective I think this is something that makes more sense from a customer facing perspective with H.265 (lower bitrate higher quality for the lower bitrate) then now. Facetime uses H.264 and getting multiple video streams to look good over most carriers is going to really put the hurt on peoples bandwidth bill and may not be feasible from a client OS view without a server handling the sessions.

 

[Mtmspa]

What am I missing? My phone can call, text, access the internet, allow me to install apps, has voice input and music and it always works. But, the last time i checked, it IS JUST A PHONE.

 

[ziggie216]

What am I missing? My phone can call, text, access the internet, allow me to install apps, has voice input and music and it always works. But, the last time i checked, it IS JUST A PHONE.

If it doesn't give me a ______ then its not good enough...

Seriously, it's impossible for any company, Google or Apple, to be able to please everyone.

 

[dishfan82]

Does anyone else think that iOS 8 is a letdown?

I am using the 8.0 beta and I love it. Love love using quick reply especially not having to leave the app you're in. It seems like people will still cry even when Apple does good. Good to see 3rd party apps such as keyboards coming, being able to reply from the lock screen and some widgets are all pluses. So what if Android came out with these features first. Apple will still sell millions of iPhones on launch.

 

[darthraige]

I am using the 8.0 beta and I love it. Love love using quick reply especially not having to leave the app you're in. It seems like people will still cry even when Apple does good. Good to see 3rd party apps such as keyboards coming, being able to reply from the lock screen and some widgets are all pluses. So what if Android came out with these features first. Apple will still sell millions of iPhones on launch.

The problem is most of the JB community have been using those "borrowed" features for years. So I guess Android stole them from Cydia. iOS 8 to me is 7.2. Innovation unfortunately died with Jobs.

 

[bransoj]

Innovation unfortunately died with Jobs.

Until there is a major jump in battery tech i think phones pretty much have everything they really need that is really useful. Whats really missing aside from software tweaks here and there like we have here?

For a few years after the initial iPhone it was a free for all as there was loads they could do but the useful tools have now dried up on all fronts not just apple and there seems to be a change towards the full eco system from device to the software to the cloud to other devices working alongside each other as much as shoving all and sundry on phones!

 

[jclardy]

Completely disagree - this has been the best iOS update since iPhone OS 2 with the initial App Store.

You might not see it now, but with extensions/improved notifications/shared documents the capabilities of the platform have increased tenfold. Not to mention continuity and the fact that Apple has finally taken the steps to integrate its two separate platforms into one cohesive unit.

Either way WWDC is a developer conference. If you want user facing features just wait for the iPhone announcement.

But even still as for user features (Ignoring extensions and such) - you have continuity, widgets, iMessage upgrades (SMS relay is the big thing here), notification actions, manual camera controls, improved keyboard, improved photos app, better Siri, wifi calling, more control over location apps in the background, family sharing, touch ID inside apps, healthbook, and improved spotlight search.

Yes most of those are upgrades, but a few are not, mainly Continuity - I don't see Google being able to implement anything like that in the near future, even just on the Android platform, ignoring the desktop (Moving a task from phone to tablet, for example.)

I think the big theme here is integration. Apps working with other apps and Apple platforms working together seamlessly. Personally this is something I have been waiting on for a long time. For people who only own an iPhone it is not a huge deal, but it will seriously change the way people use technology for those with at least iPad/iPhone or Mac/iPhone.

 

[vigilant]

I think we could adequately say that those who didn't like the update aren't really technical let alone developers.

I haven't really seen a single instance of any of these people calling out things that they would have preferred to have shown off.

 

[shk718]

I was just wondering whether anyone else shared my views that the features added for the everyday consumer fell below expectations?

To me they focused way too much on developers, and hardly added anything for the average user.
In my opinion it was all just focusing on adding small, little tweaks that should have been a part of iOS for a long time.



For example, the quick reply in messages should have really been added with the addition of the notification centre, and the same with widgets.
I also agree with MKBHD and his tweet: "It's almost poetic how Tim jabs Android for being "behind" then gushes over adopting its features minutes later. #WWDC2014"

Then there's the voice messages with iMessage; all that has done is made creating and sending a voice memo a little easier.
The whole "upgrade" to messages as a whole has just been taken from WhatsApp anyway, as the founder says "very flattering to see Apple "borrow" numerous WhatsApp features into iMessage in iOS 8 #innovation".



I'll be interested to see others' views on this

you need to remember they only show features that developers need to develop for here - the new new features are always shown when the phone hardware comes out. SIRI and touch Id weren't shown at WWDC. So on top of all the new features shown here - the 4,000 api's, a new programming language - plus whatever they show in the fall - this thing was rather HUGE.

As far as "catch up". iOS and android are on 2 different upgrade cycles - 1 ticks the other tocks.

as far as "copying" android - most of these "new" concepts have been in the mac for decades. apps talking to each other - mac had first, dictating commands to your computer - mac had first, widgets - konfabulator (bought by yahoo - then added to mac. apple has done most of this stuff long before google was even created. Apple doesn't rush to open these features up - they know the perils of viruses and wanted to create a safe mobil OS. They take their time to figure out the correct way to open up these features. everyone complained how long it took them to add cut/paste - a feature they've had in the mac for a very long time. they eventually got around to it.

 

[shk718]

I'll not be surprised to see that android and Microsoft to 'implement' continuity FEATURES in their up coming OS release.

And that's will show how 'INNOVATIVE' they are!

History shall repeat.

Multitouch
AppStore - Playstore, Windows Store
Siri - Google Now, Cortana
Continuity/Handoff - ??

What say you, android / Microsoft fanboys...quote me and we shall see.

you left off:

iBeacons
a new programming language
the concept of projecting a user interface onto another device
touch id (that actually works)

the list goes on and on and on.....

 

[MyMacintosh]

Opinion

Im not part of the "best keynote ever" crowd or the "complete letdown" crowd. More so in the middle. I honestly feel as if this was best for developers and it felt good to see Apple open up more opportunities for developers to work off of. I wasn't expecting much to be released in terms of hardware or major software upgrades.

 

[chumps52]

I am using the 8.0 beta and I love it. Love love using quick reply especially not having to leave the app you're in. It seems like people will still cry even when Apple does good. Good to see 3rd party apps such as keyboards coming, being able to reply from the lock screen and some widgets are all pluses. So what if Android came out with these features first. Apple will still sell millions of iPhones on launch.

But quick reply doesn't even work with "Show Preview" off. I don't want to allow anyone to see my messages just for the sake of a faster reply. They should allow it when previews are off.

The problem is most of the JB community have been using those "borrowed" features for years. So I guess Android stole them from Cydia. iOS 8 to me is 7.2. Innovation unfortunately died with Jobs.

Same thoughts here, I don't think there's enough to warrant an 8.0 update.

you need to remember they only show features that developers need to develop for here - the new new features are always shown when the phone hardware comes out. SIRI and touch Id weren't shown at WWDC. So on top of all the new features shown here - the 4,000 api's, a new programming language - plus whatever they show in the fall - this thing was rather HUGE.

As far as "catch up". iOS and android are on 2 different upgrade cycles - 1 ticks the other tocks.

as far as "copying" android - most of these "new" concepts have been in the mac for decades. apps talking to each other - mac had first, dictating commands to your computer - mac had first, widgets - konfabulator (bought by yahoo - then added to mac. apple has done most of this stuff long before google was even created. Apple doesn't rush to open these features up - they know the perils of viruses and wanted to create a safe mobil OS. They take their time to figure out the correct way to open up these features. everyone complained how long it took them to add cut/paste - a feature they've had in the mac for a very long time. they eventually got around to it.

In regards to your example about Siri and Touch ID, I am talking about features available to the current generation of devices, like me with my iPhone 5.
Siri was only for the 4S, which was introduced at the same time.
Likewise with Touch ID - only for the 5S, again introduced at the same time.

 

[Tyler23]

But quick reply doesn't even work with "Show Preview" off. I don't want to allow anyone to see my messages just for the sake of a faster reply. They should allow it when previews are off.

Serious question - if you can't see the message, how could you "quick reply" to it? You'd have to open the messages app to see it anyways..

 

[bransoj]

But quick reply doesn't even work with "Show Preview" off. I don't want to allow anyone to see my messages just for the sake of a faster reply. They should allow it when previews are off.

How do you reply to something you cant read because if preview is off you cant read the message to reply to it?

From the lock screen in particular which would be your main concern of folk picking up the phone and reading a message how do you allow quick reply with a view of the initial message in a way that prevents someone else doing the same? Asking for the passcode to quick reply would be a right royal pain in the backside every time.

 

[chumps52]

Serious question - if you can't see the message, how could you "quick reply" to it? You'd have to open the messages app to see it anyways..

How do you reply to something you cant read because if preview is off you cant read the message to reply to it?

From the lock screen in particular which would be your main concern of folk picking up the phone and reading a message how do you allow quick reply with a view of the initial message in a way that prevents someone else doing the same? Asking for the passcode to quick reply would be a right royal pain in the backside every time.

On iOS 7 when the phone is unlocked, ie when you're on Safari (or any other app) you can begin to partially drag down on the banner to reveal the message...
I think that should happen here; you can drag down (only when the phone is unlocked) to reveal the rest of the message and reply quickly.

 

[C DM]

On iOS 7 when the phone is unlocked, ie when you're on Safari (or any other app) you can begin to partially drag down on the banner to reveal the message...
I think that should happen here; you can drag down (only when the phone is unlocked) to reveal the rest of the message and reply quickly.

The reason why it "worked" like that in iOS 7 is because pulling down the banner simply brought down the notification center where the preview was present--despite the fact that the setting turning off previews said that previews would be turned off in notification center as well. Seems like there was actually some inconsistency there. In iOS 8 pulling down a banner doesn't bring down notification center anymore as it now relates to quick reply and other related actions, so that's basically the difference. That said, they might still improve on that, this is just the first beta. Although it still wouldn't work out on the lock screen.

----------

But quick reply doesn't even work with "Show Preview" off. I don't want to allow anyone to see my messages just for the sake of a faster reply. They should allow it when previews are off.





Same thoughts here, I don't think there's enough to warrant an 8.0 update.





In regards to your example about Siri and Touch ID, I am talking about features available to the current generation of devices, like me with my iPhone 5.
Siri was only for the 4S, which was introduced at the same time.
Likewise with Touch ID - only for the 5S, again introduced at the same time.

Under the hood there's more than enough for a major version update. Even in general there's way more there then let's say going from iOS 5 to 6 or some other versions. And in any case, who cares about version numbers, what does it matter if it's called iOS 8 or 7.2, the important part is what's there not what it's called.

 

[Armen]

Serious question - if you can't see the message, how could you "quick reply" to it? You'd have to open the messages app to see it anyways..

how dare you use common sense

 

[chumps52]

The reason why it "worked" like that in iOS 7 is because pulling down the banner simply brought down the notification center where the preview was present--despite the fact that the setting turning off previews said that previews would be turned off in notification center as well. Seems like there was actually some inconsistency there. In iOS 8 pulling down a banner doesn't bring down notification center anymore as it now relates to quick reply and other related actions, so that's basically the difference. That said, they might still improve on that, this is just the first beta. Although it still wouldn't work out on the lock screen.

Yes but even in iOS 8 with "Show Previews" off, if you dismiss the original notification and then bring down the full notification centre normally it still shows the message (when the phone is unlocked)

 

[C DM]

Yes but even in iOS 8 with "Show Previews" off, if you dismiss the original notification and then bring down the full notification centre normally it still shows the message (when the phone is unlocked)

Image
Image

They seemed to have changed the text in the notification settings as well to no longer list notification center as an area where turning off the preview option would apply. The bigger change is with the pull down of banner notifications being tied to quick reply/action now rather than pulling down notification center as it did in iOS 7. That's basically where this issue with not having a quick reply for items with no preview is coming into play.

Hopefully they'll somehow improve that so that if you do pull down it still won't go into notification center but perhaps reveal the full message and give a quick reply option as something like that would seem to make sense.

 

[chumps52]

Hopefully they'll somehow improve that so that if you do pull down it still won't go into notification center but perhaps reveal the full message and give a quick reply option as something like that would seem to make sense.

Exactly what I want/mean, just only when the phone is actually unlocked obviously