All iPads iPad UI dated?

[SaddleSC]

I've been messing with the Dell Venue Pro 8, and the Modern UI has impressed me. I recall some discussions about how widgets were useless, but the tiles are very elegant. It makes the iPad UI seem very dated.

It is funny that you posted this topic, because I also bought a Dell Venue 8 Pro last week and have been playing with it quite a bit. I am definitely a fan of Apple, but I am not a fanboy.

Like many of you, I am a fan of technology in general and every fall I buy a couple new tablets to play with. I currently own an Air, a Retina Mini, a Google Nexus 7 and a Dell Venue 8 Pro.

I am finding the Windows 8.1 experience to be much better than I initially thought it would be. I went into the purchase expecting to be underwhelmed, but it has really blown me away. I think that the live updating tiles are a much more elegant implementation of Android's widgets. That is the feature (to me) that makes iOS7 seem quite dated. As an example, I chose the Denver Broncos as a favorite team in the sports app and when I woke up on Sunday, the Sports tile was showing the kickoff time, the opponent and the tv channel, as well as relevant Bronco headlines. Exactly the information that I needed for the day without having to leave the home screen.

Sure, there are some key apps missing from the MS App Store, like Amazon Instant Video, Spotify and Google Docs; however, that is the beauty of the Venue 8 Pro. Because it runs full Windows (plus Office) I can just go to the Desktop mode and use the full-featured versions of those apps.

I think that Apple really was an innovator (obviously) in the tablet segment, but they have grown a bit stagnant as far as re-inventing the way that we interact with our content.

The bottom line, there is no perfect OS. I enjoy using MS 8.1, Android and iOS7 for different purposes. But Apple is stubbornly resisting things (like widgets, etc.) that positively impact the user experience, which makes it much harder each year to justify the premium price.

 

[eggersj]

Great thread Z!!!

While I think that iOS is about as well polished as an OS can get, it could be WAY better optimized for the iPad. This would include more functional tiles, and better utilization of the larger real estate.

I would be interested to try out a Venue or similar to see the other side of the fence. I have been so happy with my Ipad's that I haven't even cared or looked at them.

 

[BigHonkingDeal]

I have to say the iPad is definitely no slouch compared. Price is a big factor here, which is why Android is so popular. If Windows provides a decent tablet experience and undercuts Apple on price, things will get dicey. I think ultimately the competition is healthy.

I have been using the Dell Venue 8 pro for 3 days and not touched my iPad...... Picking it up today for the first time IOS on the tablet feels very dated now. I love the hardware and nobody can match the build quality of an Apple device but they have a lot of catching up to do when it comes to IOS.

Windows has finally managed to give people what they were waiting for since 2000. Those tablets are sold at very reasonable prices and should give Apple a run for their money in the coming year. Software developers will follow and build some decent apps for the Metro style interface.

If Apple keeps the current restrictions and lame icon grid in place I will keep my iPad Air for a long time before upgrading to a new model.....

 

[s2mikey]

I have been using the Dell Venue 8 pro for 3 days and not touched my iPad...... Picking it up today for the first time IOS on the tablet feels very dated now. I love the hardware and nobody can match the build quality of an Apple device but they have a lot of catching up to do when it comes to IOS.

Windows has finally managed to give people what they were waiting for since 2000. I predict that the fact that these are sold at very reasonable prices will give Apple a run for their money in the coming year and software developers will follow and built some decent apps for the Metro style interface.

If Apple keeps the current restrictions and lame icon grid in place I will keep my iPad Air for a long time before upgrading to a new model. I have no problem paying a higher price but just like Blackberry Apple needs to move on or lose in the end.

There's that pesky lack of apps issue again though that keeps haunting these other tablets. Windows tablets just don't know what to do. Tim cook is right, they are confused and can't get it right. There are some compelling things about these windows tablets for sure but they feel disjointed, unsure, convoluted, etc.

Like I said earlier, refreshing something just for the sake of doing it doesn't make a lot of sense. Apple should allow better customization of the UI and that's something they've been stingy about. However, they should mess with how it works or how polished it feels. I know everyone has a different opinion on this issue but IMO apple still has the best overall experience. The dell tablet I played with recently was simply irritating and wasn't smooth at all.

 

[BigHonkingDeal]

However, they should mess with how it works or how polished it feels. I know everyone has a different opinion on this issue but IMO apple still has the best overall experience. The dell tablet I played with recently was simply irritating and wasn't smooth at all.

That's just the point..... IOS 7 is not very polished. One often has to wait to click a navigation item until the notification box finally disappears and lot's of other quirks.

I have no problem with IOS on a phone but on a tablet it needs a complete overhaul in my opinion...