iPhone OS 4.0 - overall feeling?

[shandyman]

What android phone and what version?

You like the iPhones notification system that blocks you out from your current app? And you like if you close it that it disappears forever?

I think the iPhone was great but I appreciate innovation year after year. I feel like the iPhone is becoming the new razr. It was great and got better then kind of went nowhere for a year. Hopefully Apple's 4.0 has additional surprises because otherwise just seems like same old to me.

i'm not saying the iphone doesn't need improvement, the notifications can be a bit better, but its nothing awful, doesn't matter that it disappears once i close it, i've been notified, i can the go to it when i am ready. its stable and relaible.

how is it the same old when there's multitasking, game center, etc?

 

[nuckinfutz]

What android phone and what version?

You like the iPhones notification system that blocks you out from your current app? And you like if you close it that it disappears forever?

I think the iPhone was great but I appreciate innovation year after year. I feel like the iPhone is becoming the new razr. It was great and got better then kind of went nowhere for a year. Hopefully Apple's 4.0 has additional surprises because otherwise just seems like same old to me.

Then move on. Perhaps your phone is a toy to you. Does Fisher Price make phones? Check into it.

 

[shandyman]

oh and i've used the nexus one, htc hero, desire and motorola droid

 

[nuckinfutz]

i'm not saying the iphone doesn't need improvement, the notifications can be a bit better, but its nothing awful, doesn't matter that it disappears once i close it, i've been notified, i can the go to it when i am ready. its stable and relaible.

how is it the same old when there's multitasking, game center, etc?

Apple does need to revamp the notification system and their deafening silence at the iPhone OS 4 announcement makes me believe they're just not ready for it. I wouldn't be surprised if it was a OS 4.1 feature. We need to be able to prevent notifications from interrupting some apps like games. We also need a notification history.

The iPhone may "feel" old to some people but in reality it's the software features that make the biggest impact. iPhone OS 4 has much better handling of audio and video, we don't have multicore ARM chips yet but Grand Central Dispatch and OpenCL are already there. They've made changes to how developers can manage gestures.

Apple's pretty much closed any technical gap with Android (multitasking) and move ahead in a few areas (gestures, multicore support) and added a ton more spit polish.

Let's be frank...Widgets aren't that popular for the masses. It's largely demoware (hey look I can see the time, weather and stocks on once screen!).

Local Notifications means that some small apps don't need to run a Push Notification Server.

I'm happy about background location. I grow weary of hitting "yes" or "no" constantly when apps ask to use my location.

SMS in apps should be great as well. Think about how dreadful your life would be if every app that current uses webkit made you open up Safari? SMS in apps should have the same "no brainer" appeal.

 

[drew0020]

i'm not saying the iphone doesn't need improvement, the notifications can be a bit better, but its nothing awful, doesn't matter that it disappears once i close it, i've been notified, i can the go to it when i am ready. its stable and relaible.

how is it the same old when there's multitasking, game center, etc?

When I said same old it was really the design of the phone. I do feel Apple is always a year late to the party though (cut and paste, multi-tasking, etc). These things should have been there before they were finally added.

I think 4.0 visually looks like the same old. Im not bashing the iPhone though. I love it and used it for 3 years, but im feeling the need for change. Of course the iTunes ecosystem might make me stay, but I love what I am seeing from the EVO. Im also holding judgement until the new iPhone becomes official.

Hopefully Apple surprises us and updates the notification system. That really is my pet peeve right now and should improve.

 

[PsyD4Me]

We need a dedicated file storage system, iDisk and I work suck

 

[nuckinfutz]

When I said same old it was really the design of the phone. I do feel Apple is always a year late to the party though (cut and paste, multi-tasking, etc). These things should have been there before they were finally added.

I think 4.0 visually looks like the same old. Im not bashing the iPhone though. I love it and used it for 3 years, but im feeling the need for change. Of course the iTunes ecosystem might make me stay, but I love what I am seeing from the EVO. Im also holding judgement until the new iPhone becomes official.

Hopefully Apple surprises us and updates the notification system. That really is my pet peeve right now and should improve.

Apple never claims to be first they usually wait until their implementation is correct. In fact here's the Droid Incredible struggling to do Copy & Paste

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6WSxRUjiDD4

Also note you "still" can't copy & paste in email or SMS. WTF?

 

[angevil]

I really like where iPhone is going. It`s the best thing I have ever had and I am staying with it I adore their OS. It`s heaven. And improvements are coming with each update. How could I ever get bored of something so amazing as the iPhone? Ohh, I love it so!

 

[cobie454]

I'm anxious to see how it is and how it works, my gut feeling is another let down but i sure hope not!

 

[matttye]

Apple's pretty much closed any technical gap with Android (multitasking) and move ahead in a few areas (gestures, multicore support) and added a ton more spit polish.

Android has true multitasking though - apps can run in the background and do whatever they want. With the iPhone this isn't the case. Your background apps are limited to doing 7 things.

Let's be frank...Widgets aren't that popular for the masses. It's largely demoware (hey look I can see the time, weather and stocks on once screen!).

There are far more useful widgets available..

- Friendstream shows all of your facebook/twitter/flickr updates in one place and lets you reply to them or set your status.
- You can put toggles to turn Wifi/Bluetooth/Mobile Data/GPS on/off on your homescreen.
- Photo albums and/or photo frames to display photos on your device. Not all that useful, but it sure helps make the device feel more like your own
- Music player, for quick access to your music.
- Favourites, for quick access to your favourite contacts.
- Bookmarks, for quick access to your web bookmarks.
- Notes, to remind you of things.

They're not all gimicky, they are actually useful and save a lot of time!

 

[F123D]

Unless I can jailbreak the new OS, nothing in 4.0 I can't already do with my JB3G. If I can't jailbreak or apple makes it too difficult, I will look into Android.

 

[shandyman]

Android has true multitasking though - apps can run in the background and do whatever they want. With the iPhone this isn't the case. Your background apps are limited to doing 7 things.

not being funny, but i doubt you'd know the difference in the multitasking apart from the iPhone's is less power consuming.........

 

[matttye]

not being funny, but i doubt you'd know the difference in the multitasking apart from the iPhone's is less power consuming.........

What makes you think it's less power consuming? They essentially do the same thing, it's just that Android's isn't limited.

An app doesn't sit in the background using up power unless it needs to - just like it won't on the iPhone.

The major benefit of Android's is that things like messenger clients can stay connected in the background without having to use the push workaround.

 

[shandyman]

What makes you think it's less power consuming? They essentially do the same thing, it's just that Android's isn't limited.

An app doesn't sit in the background using up power unless it needs to - just like it won't on the iPhone.

The major benefit of Android's is that things like messenger clients can stay connected in the background without having to use the push workaround.

but the whole app is running on android, all of its processes, whereas only the processes and necessary ones are running on the iphone, ergo less power consumption.

messenger programs, in essence, are push/cloud based in nature, so the push workaround is pretty much just the same thing, again using less power....

 

[nuckinfutz]

Android has true multitasking though - apps can run in the background and do whatever they want. With the iPhone this isn't the case. Your background apps are limited to doing 7 things.

There are far more useful widgets available..

- Friendstream shows all of your facebook/twitter/flickr updates in one place and lets you reply to them or set your status.
- You can put toggles to turn Wifi/Bluetooth/Mobile Data/GPS on/off on your homescreen.
- Photo albums and/or photo frames to display photos on your device. Not all that useful, but it sure helps make the device feel more like your own
- Music player, for quick access to your music.
- Favourites, for quick access to your favourite contacts.
- Bookmarks, for quick access to your web bookmarks.
- Notes, to remind you of things.

They're not all gimicky, they are actually useful and save a lot of time!

mattye let's analyze your "true multitasking" statement because you'll quickly see that it makes no sense.

First the definition (within a computing context but it generally applies elsewhere)

Multitasking

the ability of a computer to operate several programs at the same time


So if the iPhone OS 4 can run Pandora, or Skype, or a GPS, or gather location info or complete a download in the background while you compute on a separate app in the foreground by definition how can it be "false"?

Now you state that Android apps can "do whatever they want" well what exactly is that? Applications are all going to be tasked based so my question is "what tasks do I need to accomplish in the background are not supported by the iPhone OS 4?"

Many of you "true multitasking" people haven't really thought about the logistics of your statement and thus you end up cannot fully explain what multitasking means if there truly is a "true" vs "false" version.

There are many apps that coalesce multiple social networking sites for instance Sociable will gather Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, Digg, Reddit and Instaper all in one app.

The widgits are by and large gimmicky which is why Apple doesn't get into them. If you're a young 20 something with not a whole lot of commitments and a bunch of social time then widgets are probably more important to you. If you're a 30, 40, 50 something with a beyond FT job, kids that have school and medical appointmens. Widgets are not cutting it.

To each his own. However with iPhone OS 4 no one can realistically argue that iPhone OS is not the equal to the Android and vice versa. The widgets and doing stuff from the home screen are window dressing.

 

[nuckinfutz]

Unless I can jailbreak the new OS, nothing in 4.0 I can't already do with my JB3G. If I can't jailbreak or apple makes it too difficult, I will look into Android.

There are a boatload of things in iPhones 4.0 that you can't do. If you only want to focus on a few features that's fine but you're not getting a lot of stuff with jailbroken OS 3.x phones that you get with iPhone OS 4 phones.

 

[iRance]

I would like to have seen

Screen rotation lock

Um that would be something about hardware.
And how you would know that the new iPhone won't have a screen rotation lock.

 

[GfPQqmcRKUvP]

Android has true multitasking though - apps can run in the background and do whatever they want. With the iPhone this isn't the case. Your background apps are limited to doing 7 things.

So what can you not do on an iPhone running 4.0 that I can do on my nexus one? I don't see anything. I can't play a YouTube video in the background on my n1 like I can on my computer...

 

[The General]

the new stuff feels like something i downloaded from cydia.

i dont really like it. i'll likely not use folders or the task switcher.

So what can you not do on an iPhone running 4.0 that I can do on my nexus one? I don't see anything. I can't play a YouTube video in the background on my n1 like I can on my computer...

what is the purpose of playing a youtube video in the background? anyway, to get to more specific things:

1. scroll smoothly
2. sync with itunes
3. play all the awesome games that are in the app store that the android market doesnt have
4. use the best mobile twitter client in the world (tweetie)
5. native and usable visual voicemail
6. scroll in iframes on websites
7. find my iphone
8. a mail client that doesn't make its own sent and trash folders on my mail server and uses the existing ones
9. walk up the road to the apple store and get tech support
10. copy text from and images on websites

i could go on but i dont care that much

 

[nuckinfutz]

the new stuff feels like something i downloaded from cydia.

i dont really like it. i'll likely not use folders or the task switcher.

what is the purpose of playing a youtube video in the background?

Huh?

 

[shandyman]

So what can you not do on an iPhone running 4.0 that I can do on my nexus one? I don't see anything. I can't play a YouTube video in the background on my n1 like I can on my computer...

why would you have a youtube video in the background? doesn't not seeing a video defeat the point of a video???

 

[F123D]

There are a boatload of things in iPhones 4.0 that you can't do. If you only want to focus on a few features that's fine but you're not getting a lot of stuff with jailbroken OS 3.x phones that you get with iPhone OS 4 phones.

Please share.. software wise, what can an OS4 iphone do that JB 3.X can't do?

 

[The General]

Huh?

which part are you confused about? i used pretty simple wording. do i need to rephrase something for you?

 

[matttye]

but the whole app is running on android, all of its processes, whereas only the processes and necessary ones are running on the iphone, ergo less power consumption.

messenger programs, in essence, are push/cloud based in nature, so the push workaround is pretty much just the same thing, again using less power....

My phone has more than adequate battery life Once again, you're judging based on things that you've read rather than actual experience.

mattye let's analyze your "true multitasking" statement because you'll quickly see that it makes no sense.

First the definition (within a computing context but it generally applies elsewhere)

Multitasking

the ability of a computer to operate several programs at the same time


So if the iPhone OS 4 can run Pandora, or Skype, or a GPS, or gather location info or complete a download in the background while you compute on a separate app in the foreground by definition how can it be "false"?

Now you state that Android apps can "do whatever they want" well what exactly is that? Applications are all going to be tasked based so my question is "what tasks do I need to accomplish in the background are not supported by the iPhone OS 4?"

Many of you "true multitasking" people haven't really thought about the logistics of your statement and thus you end up cannot fully explain what multitasking means if there truly is a "true" vs "false" version.

There are many apps that coalesce multiple social networking sites for instance Sociable will gather Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, Digg, Reddit and Instaper all in one app.

The widgits are by and large gimmicky which is why Apple doesn't get into them. If you're a young 20 something with not a whole lot of commitments and a bunch of social time then widgets are probably more important to you. If you're a 30, 40, 50 something with a beyond FT job, kids that have school and medical appointmens. Widgets are not cutting it.

To each his own. However with iPhone OS 4 no one can realistically argue that iPhone OS is not the equal to the Android and vice versa. The widgets and doing stuff from the home screen are window dressing.

"true" is perhaps not the right word - "full" would be more appropriate. Yes, the iPhone can run background tasks, but it is severely limited in what background tasks can actually run.

I have an app on my HTC Desire that puts a notification in my notifications bar that tells me how much data I have used for the month. Very useful as I don't have an unlimited plan This app sits in the background and measures all data sent to/from my phone. That would not be possible on the iPhone because of its limited APIs.

Similar things, like monitoring how many minutes you use on the phone, or how SMS messages you send/receive, are NOT possible on the iPhone but perfectly possible on Android.

If you're "a 30, 40, 50 something with a beyond FT job" then I would think you'd value your time. Widgets save time. FACT. They're not gimmicky - they stop you from having to go through screens and make information available at a glance. If I want to turn WiFi off when I'm not in range of a hotspot, I just hit my WiFi toggle. I don't have to go settings > networks > wifi > on/off. You could put a calendar on your homescreen that lists your childrens' upcoming medical appointments. I use the trains a lot when I travel down south, and I can put a widget on my home screen that shows all departures from my station. Widgets are useful and save time.

iPhone OS4 is a sign that it's finally starting to catch up with Android but there's still a way to go yet

 

[nuckinfutz]

Please share.. software wise, what can an OS4 iphone do that JB 3.X can't do?

Can you multitask without slowing down the computer greatly or harming battery life?

Can you do local notifications? Meaning notification without a push server?

Do you have built in encryption? Can apps save files in an encrypted format?

Can you support multiple processors or GPGPU functions

Can you SMS from within a standard (read non SMS only app)

Can you read and right to iCal calendar data?

Can you edit and manage video including metadata?