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I Feel Substantially Underwhelmed by iOS 5
- Thread starter El3ctronics
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When one steps back & looks at the big picture withholding features is an ongoing practice Apple finds very lucrative. Hook em, give em a nibble, and they'll come back for more. Year after year.
As a long time Apple supporter my take on it is: iP6 will be the phone to buy.
From my actual use of iOS 5? Read some of the threads in the forums here regarding the new iOS 5 features, and you'll see other users talking about the battery hit as well. Hopefully it's addressed before going final, but I'd think that Apple would have at least thought it out before even developing the feature.
This.
I, too, am a little disappointed (if this came out with everything else, it would have been enough to make me a happy man: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wLy7gN3Okc4). I am happy with the changes that were made, it will be a better experience no doubt. But it just wasn't enough to make me particularly excited.
What you all need to remember is that we were shown 10 of 200 new features to be added to the OS by final release.
I hate to be the guy to say it, but it's a beta and a beta 1 at that. We're seeing a skeleton of what's to be the GM of this OS.
I hate to be the guy to say it, but it's a beta and a beta 1 at that. We're seeing a skeleton of what's to be the GM of this OS.
Yeah I have Latitude (and thus, constant GPS tracking) on all day, granted I have wifi and bluetooth off but I still get a full day of battery on my phone. And that's with my fairly heavy use, internet browsing throughout the day, 150-200ish text messages per day usually and a few phone calls. With iOS 5 it seems to have taken a hit, but my battery has still lasted the full day for the most part the past few days I've had it.
I agree with the notifications in the status bar. That would be a nice feature to have.
But with that being said, I completely disagree about the overhaul of the UI. Yes, some of you tech geeks have gotten extremely bored with the iPhone's UI and I guess you may have a valid point. But look at the increase in iPhone sales year after year. Apple is getting more and more first time buyers (Non tech savvy people) each year. Those buyers love the simplicity of the iPhone, and changing the UI is just not a smart decision.
If you worked at Apple and you were selling hundreds of millions of devices a year, would you change the UI of one of the best selling devices in the world? I bet you wouldn't...
And what would you (honestly) want the iPhone to look like? Widgets on the home screen and a folder that holds all your apps? That's not Android looking at all. What would you like the UI to look like in your opinion?
In the end, until there is a huge drop in sales compared to the previous year, you'll continue to see the exact UI with newly added features.
But with that being said, I completely disagree about the overhaul of the UI. Yes, some of you tech geeks have gotten extremely bored with the iPhone's UI and I guess you may have a valid point. But look at the increase in iPhone sales year after year. Apple is getting more and more first time buyers (Non tech savvy people) each year. Those buyers love the simplicity of the iPhone, and changing the UI is just not a smart decision.
If you worked at Apple and you were selling hundreds of millions of devices a year, would you change the UI of one of the best selling devices in the world? I bet you wouldn't...
And what would you (honestly) want the iPhone to look like? Widgets on the home screen and a folder that holds all your apps? That's not Android looking at all. What would you like the UI to look like in your opinion?
In the end, until there is a huge drop in sales compared to the previous year, you'll continue to see the exact UI with newly added features.
This isn't accurate. This beta has most of the noticeable features in this current build. The only "substantial" feature that I see missing is wireless sync.
I can tell you at least ONE other company that followed this philosophy...RIM (the maker of Blackberry). Seems to have worked out REAL well as their market share and stock price continue to take a dive
Added something there. You really think they put every new feature into the first beta?
I'm not saying there's only 10 in there but there's nowhere near the 200.
Added something there. You really think they put every new feature into the first beta?
I'm not saying there's only 10 in there but there's nowhere near the 200.
I agree but I can pretty much guarantee you that there won't be a substantial feature added that wasn't mentioned in the keynote.
Are all of you just becoming acquainted with Apple for the first time? This is EXACTLY how they have operated for years now, they are incredibly popular and profitable, so what makes you think they are going to do anything different?
And while it certainly isn't a complete overhaul as many of you seem to be wishing for, this has to be the most significant update to iOS yet, at least IMO.
How's it go...the definition of insanity is doing the same action over and over again and expecting a different result....
And while it certainly isn't a complete overhaul as many of you seem to be wishing for, this has to be the most significant update to iOS yet, at least IMO.
How's it go...the definition of insanity is doing the same action over and over again and expecting a different result....
I can tell you at least ONE other company that followed this philosophy...RIM (the maker of Blackberry). Seems to have worked out REAL well as their market share and stock price continue to take a dive
RIM UI isn't what's causing them to go downhill, that's for sure. They even released their new OS and it's still pretty bad. I definitely wasn't a fan of the playbook. The true multitasking was nice, but the battery was just horrible. I had to take mine back. I may just purchase an iPad, not completely sure yet. I was thinking about trying out a few of the Android tablets.
RIM just can't compete with iOS and Android. RIM is definitely targeting the older consumer as it's a great work phone. I love the email on a blackberry. Definitely one of the best. The only thing that's holding RIM together is BBM and unfortunately, Apple MAY have just killed them. That will depend on how iMessage works once iOS finally is released.
The blackberry is just lacking in way too many categories where the iPhone and Android phones completely dominate.
As others have said, this is Apple's MO. Come out with something huge, a game changer, and incrementally improve it over the next few years.
The only feature I was hoping for was an Expose like app switcher. I just don't like the icon view as I often tap the wrong icon (forget where I was).
In watching the keynote it hit me that they really looked at usage patterns and pain points. Especially in multiple device households. And I'm very happy for that. The features we are getting in iOS 5 and iCloud will make every user's life easier, more seamless, more productive and more enjoyable.
That is much more important (IMHO) than some new flashy UI elements.
Apple likes to remind us that they don't have unlimited resources--even if they seem to have unlimited cash on hand. So within a few months we are getting Lion, iOS 5 and iCloud. I think that is pretty impressive. What other company rolls out so much, so well integrate, in that time frame?
I think Lion will be with us for at least 2 years. In this time I hope Apple looks at expanding iOS to include some of the Siri Intelligence features at the OS level. Get back to Newton Assist / PDA type features where the device will help you get stuff done.
Any specific feedback you have on the beta should be sent to Apple. Encourge others to do the same. Your ideas on notifications and background updating seem like good candidates.
The only feature I was hoping for was an Expose like app switcher. I just don't like the icon view as I often tap the wrong icon (forget where I was).
In watching the keynote it hit me that they really looked at usage patterns and pain points. Especially in multiple device households. And I'm very happy for that. The features we are getting in iOS 5 and iCloud will make every user's life easier, more seamless, more productive and more enjoyable.
That is much more important (IMHO) than some new flashy UI elements.
Apple likes to remind us that they don't have unlimited resources--even if they seem to have unlimited cash on hand. So within a few months we are getting Lion, iOS 5 and iCloud. I think that is pretty impressive. What other company rolls out so much, so well integrate, in that time frame?
I think Lion will be with us for at least 2 years. In this time I hope Apple looks at expanding iOS to include some of the Siri Intelligence features at the OS level. Get back to Newton Assist / PDA type features where the device will help you get stuff done.
Any specific feedback you have on the beta should be sent to Apple. Encourge others to do the same. Your ideas on notifications and background updating seem like good candidates.
I wouldn't consider the addition of status bar icons to the new notification system a "substantial feature" but in any case, I hope you're wrong.
I'd normally agree with you, but a 'non-substantial' change to the majority of iPhone users could be enormous to us tech-savvy folks here. An sms quick-reply feature would be monumental for me and others on this board, but my wife could really care less. She has no problem opening the sms app and sending her text, likely because she doesn't know any better or just doesn't want to change what has worked for years.
And something like that would clearly be a waste of time to talk about at the keynote for that reason.
Agreed.
But you'd think they would at least give you some sort of notification that you have notifications.
Heck, give me a little exclamation point in the status bar. Anything to trigger my attention to open it up.But I'm not going to complain. I have notifications all the time and the notifications center looks outstanding. Not choppy at all and with the weather widget there I can always take a peek at that.
I think iOS accomplished what it was designed to: reach Android's minimums. iOS gave us some features that Apple users screamed for, without adding revolutionary ones.
Notifications was a given. Apple had to do something about it. It's a shame they did it like Android, but I suppose there is not much of a better way to do it. I agree that a message/call/twitter/mail/any other icon would be nice to have in the status bar as well. Wireless Sync and PCFree had been demanded for months as well, and were delivered.
As for widgets, I was once a defensor of them. However, on my budget Android phone (saving for a MBP 13'' first and only then will I go iPhone), the truth is I only use two widgets: a clock widget, and a twitter widget. While none of those exist on the iPhone, the clock widget can be "simulated" on the lockscreen. I know it's a "selfish" way to see it, but from my point of view, widgets don't play as much of a big role as I think they would. So I won't bash too much on Apple for that.
Apple also introduced a couple of minor features. Twitter integration was "nice", but that's the most I'll say about it, really. Same goes for the camera editing, camera button in the lockscreen, newsstand and reminders apps... all-in-all, they are "nice", but don't really change anything drastically. If those were the only changes, they might as well have called it iOS 4,5.
Concluding the feature section of my post: None of these features were mind-blowing. In fact, NO iOS feature was mind-blowing. Most were minor, and the biggest ones (Notifications and iMessages) were stolen from Android and Blackberry.
As for the UI overhaul: I agree it would be nice. By overhaul I don't mean a "let's totally start over" approach; but the iOS look and feel has tired some of us. Android users are right when they say Android gives them more options. Don't be fooled, however: it's not like the options are that many: just some widgets here and there, fonts, and having to press a button to access their app list. However, the customizability makes sure their OS is ever-changing, never-stale, and as such, not boring. The fact they can apply themes, fonts, customize their icon looks and feels, simulate Windows Phone's UI... all of that really ends up making the device far more interesting and refreshing when it comes to UI. You don't get bored of those UIs so easily. Of the apps, perhaps. But not the UI.
I was expecting a little more out of this new iOS. I didn't know exactly what: I just did. Apple has been losing some customers to Android due to the "boring" UI and looks of their phones. To be honest, I get them. I want an iPhone, but I'm not sure I'd buy one right now or wait for iOS 6. Notice how I do not use iOS yet and am already bored of its old looks.
Mind you, I still find the iPhone the better product. UI and spec-for-spec comparisons notwithstanding, the AppStore is/has been/will be the iPhone's main Gun. The quality and quantity of apps overwhelms any other. But that doesn't mean Apple can sit below the tree and take some coconut milk, while their competitors work their asses off and are the ones providing true novelty to their clients.
Notifications was a given. Apple had to do something about it. It's a shame they did it like Android, but I suppose there is not much of a better way to do it. I agree that a message/call/twitter/mail/any other icon would be nice to have in the status bar as well. Wireless Sync and PCFree had been demanded for months as well, and were delivered.
As for widgets, I was once a defensor of them. However, on my budget Android phone (saving for a MBP 13'' first and only then will I go iPhone), the truth is I only use two widgets: a clock widget, and a twitter widget. While none of those exist on the iPhone, the clock widget can be "simulated" on the lockscreen. I know it's a "selfish" way to see it, but from my point of view, widgets don't play as much of a big role as I think they would. So I won't bash too much on Apple for that.
Apple also introduced a couple of minor features. Twitter integration was "nice", but that's the most I'll say about it, really. Same goes for the camera editing, camera button in the lockscreen, newsstand and reminders apps... all-in-all, they are "nice", but don't really change anything drastically. If those were the only changes, they might as well have called it iOS 4,5.
Concluding the feature section of my post: None of these features were mind-blowing. In fact, NO iOS feature was mind-blowing. Most were minor, and the biggest ones (Notifications and iMessages) were stolen from Android and Blackberry.
As for the UI overhaul: I agree it would be nice. By overhaul I don't mean a "let's totally start over" approach; but the iOS look and feel has tired some of us. Android users are right when they say Android gives them more options. Don't be fooled, however: it's not like the options are that many: just some widgets here and there, fonts, and having to press a button to access their app list. However, the customizability makes sure their OS is ever-changing, never-stale, and as such, not boring. The fact they can apply themes, fonts, customize their icon looks and feels, simulate Windows Phone's UI... all of that really ends up making the device far more interesting and refreshing when it comes to UI. You don't get bored of those UIs so easily. Of the apps, perhaps
. But not the UI.I was expecting a little more out of this new iOS. I didn't know exactly what: I just did. Apple has been losing some customers to Android due to the "boring" UI and looks of their phones. To be honest, I get them. I want an iPhone, but I'm not sure I'd buy one right now or wait for iOS 6. Notice how I do not use iOS yet and am already bored of its old looks.
Mind you, I still find the iPhone the better product. UI and spec-for-spec comparisons notwithstanding, the AppStore is/has been/will be the iPhone's main Gun. The quality and quantity of apps overwhelms any other. But that doesn't mean Apple can sit below the tree and take some coconut milk, while their competitors work their asses off and are the ones providing true novelty to their clients.
I just don't understand what you guys want to be so different? Do you want the icons to be circles instead of squares?? What do you want?? I like the OS and do NOT want dramatic changes. I do not want junk that resembles Android OS.
Really? Wow, that sounds awesome! Could you please give me a list of those other 190 features? </excited boy>
I have not seen anywhere a list of those 190 remaining features; not to mention that a some of those 190 features have already been integrated (such as abbreviatures in messages, or character count appearing on SMSs). I also feel that if that was a feature, they'd have presented that way before "Camera Button in the Lockscreen" or "Newsstands/Reminders".
However, and using your own words: if you claim that on those 190 features left, UI customization is not missing, then by all means, prove it. Show me a list, a video, a picture somewhere. I will gladly - unlike some users here - take what I said back, edit my post, thank you, and apologize for the misinformation spread.
Agreed, iOS 5 is very underwhelming, Apple just incorporated some jailbreak tweaks into it and that's it. And they didn't even do it well, it's done in a half assed way.
The pull down Notification Center does not even feel integrated into the iOS UI, you should be dragging down the status bar like a itself, like with Android, it should not just show up out of nowhere like magic.
There are no animations for going from the Notification to the app. The background on Notification Center does not look nice, the same for Activation Welcome screen.
Where are the widgets? Maps app improvements, navigation? Why are Calendar events not showing on the Notification Center? etc...
So many things Apple didn't do.
The pull down Notification Center does not even feel integrated into the iOS UI, you should be dragging down the status bar like a itself, like with Android, it should not just show up out of nowhere like magic.
There are no animations for going from the Notification to the app. The background on Notification Center does not look nice, the same for Activation Welcome screen.
Where are the widgets? Maps app improvements, navigation? Why are Calendar events not showing on the Notification Center? etc...
So many things Apple didn't do.
"It just works" i think is the phrase they use. I agree the hype about it hasnt exactly met up to the expectations, but I think they are some good improvements that needed to be implemented.
This is an early beta, there is still several more months of beta testing to be done yet. I'm sure improvements will arrive. Plus when its launched publicly then iMessage will really take off and be a huge part in the phone IMO.
This is an early beta, there is still several more months of beta testing to be done yet. I'm sure improvements will arrive. Plus when its launched publicly then iMessage will really take off and be a huge part in the phone IMO.
If you watch the keynote, you would see many of them. They put up a couple of slides near the end of the OS X and iOS5 presentations showing other new features and APIs that they were not able to go over in the limited time they had to present. I really don't feel like going through the video and finding them and then attaching it here but maybe someone else will.
I would also note that they do this at pretty much every OS presentation too for the past few years at least. There's a slide showing a bunch of new features in different text sizes that they did not get around to discussing.
As for not seeing a list of the other 190 features, if you read around there are many people breaking their NDA and posting all the new features they are finding here and there. On MacRumors, AppleInsider, and 9to5Mac they have been posting many of them as well.
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