Is anyone else getting bored

[r.harris1]

Yes, iOS is a glorified App launcher. There is nothing else to it. And while the Apps are important, Apple can't rely on just them forever.

All operating systems are, among other things, "app launchers", so apps would be better characterized as "fundamental" rather than "important". Apple will rely on apps forever.

Operating systems manage the interplay between apps, multi-tasking, hardware and so forth. An OS without apps wouldn't do anyone much good. A good OS user interface (what's really being talked about here and is the set of applications on an OS which manages user inputs) allows users to get on quickly and efficiently with starting/stopping/switching applications or making configuration changes. iOS has some opportunities for improvement on the "quickly and efficiently" front. Customization would be nice. Not sure, as others have suggested, a radical rethink is needed, just some tweaks.

 

[jojoba]

Wirelessly posted

I suppose if you view you're iPad as toy yes. Othwise if you see it as a tool no.

This. It's a tool that works great for me at the moment. I'm not looking for an operating system to entertain me.

 

[r.harris1]

Chancing an interface appearance doesn't improve usability neither interaction. Windows has changed skins without improving interaction for years. OSX on the other hand, has improved a lot user interaction with only minor gradual improvement to appearance. This is how good interaction design works. If one is "bored" by the appearance of its operative system, maybe he looks at it too much. Or maybe needs some useless novelty to be helped in its stupid online discussions against android users.

While Apple had this big success with handled devices I was happy because it started to sell always better machines at very good prices. Now seeing how this has transformed apple userbase nature (or more specifically, how this new userbase will influence apple behavior) I would gladly pay twice the actual price for my machines. OSX is becoming increasingly limited and dumber in order to be used by all the obtuse "i want new, i want different, i need to show off" people that now buys apple devices and haunt this forum.

I get a little tired of the "OS X is dumber" argument. The UI has evolved and yes, mobile and desktop are converging, but characterizing the whole OS as dumber just doesn't cut it. Different that 5 years ago, sure, but that's a good thing.

Interestingly, other posts on this thread keep telling me how brilliant the Surface and Windows 8 will be/is. In that argument, people tell me it's a great thing that a mobile style UI and desktop OS has converged. When it's done on the Mac side, it's like Apple has kicked people's puppy.

 

[tekno]

Like a hammer, you've hit the nail on the head - it's the apps that make the iPhone.

So you're saying that it's developers, not Apple, that have made the iPhone good?

Surely most of, if not all, those apps are available for Android?

 

[urkel]

I think one of the problems with Apple is that once they "figure out a problem" they rarely go back to refine it.

They figured out copy/paste, organizing apps in folders and multitasking. But since their introduction these these actions haven't been improved or expanded on. So, while those features may have felt groundbreaking a few years ago, in 2012/13 they feel old and outdated. And thats one of the reasons why iOS is feeling so old to some end users while Android seems more "fresh".

Google does deserve some heat for their constantly changing UI and feature set but in the end the reason for so much generational change is because they are evolving with the times. And thats something Apple doesn't seem to care about. iOS is a functional OS but there seems to be zero effort in actually trying to make it PERFECT, and that is something we shouldn't sweep under the rug.

 

[Rodster]

I think one of the problems with Apple is that once they "figure out a problem" they rarely go back to refine it.

They figured out copy/paste, organizing apps in folders and multitasking. But since their introduction these these actions haven't been improved or expanded on. So, while those features may have felt groundbreaking a few years ago, in 2012/13 they feel old and outdated. And thats one of the reasons why iOS is feeling so old to some end users while Android seems more "fresh".

Google does deserve some heat for their constantly changing UI and feature set but in the end the reason for so much generational change is because they are evolving with the times. And thats something Apple doesn't seem to care about. iOS is a functional OS but there seems to be zero effort in actually trying to make it PERFECT, and that is something we shouldn't sweep under the rug.

Well said, it's called complacency which is why it's so tough to be on top for so long. In the video game business it happened to both Nintendo and Sony. Look where they are now to where they used to be. Now it's all about the Xbox. That's in part to Microsoft trying harder than Nintendo and Sony. Back in the 90's Sony leapfrogged Nintendo because they tried harder than Nintendo.

If Apple decides to take it's foot off the accelerator especially in the fast paced tech world it could also happen to them. With Steve no longer pushing things that's my concern for Apple in the future. I hope I'm wrong cause their designs tend to be genius.

 

[niuniu]

Well said, it's called complacency which is why it's so tough to be on top for so long. In the video game business it happened to both Nintendo and Sony. Look where they are now to where they used to be. Now it's all about the Xbox. That's in part to Microsoft trying harder than Nintendo and Sony. Back in the 90's Sony leapfrogged Nintendo because they tried harder than Nintendo.

If Apple decides to take it's foot off the accelerator especially in the fast paced tech world it could also happen to them. With Steve no longer pushing things that's my concern for Apple in the future. I hope I'm wrong cause their designs tend to be genius.

I don't think it's fair to put it down to trying harder. With Nintendo in the 90s they were caught out by the generation shift in the gaming market - gamers had aged and wanted more mature titles (like the survival horror boom) which Sony provided. Later as we saw, a new generation started gaming for fitness, women, parents and the Wii took the windfall.

Gaming comes down a lot to titles, and a spot of luck in catching the trend (again Xbox really did it best when it came to online multi-player and won a a significant share of the NA and EU market, Asia not so great).

 

[urkel]

I personally like how iOS handle multitasking as it is more efficient and I don’t have to deal with closing apps as the OS deals with that for me. Still, I hope iOS will allow more options to interact with apps without opening them.

Ive never used a Windows 8 tablet, but seeing how they handle multitasking does make me feel like Apple's way should probably be overhauled. I understand why some iOS people are so against widgets because it does seem to add clutter, but Microsofts style of multitasking and live tiles does offer an amazing amount of info without being confusing at all.

I think those sidebar apps offer live previews and can be active so it acts almost like a 2nd monitor which would be an amazing leap in terms of optimizing a tablet-only workflow. But what makes it especially frustrating is that MS is figuring this stuff out despite being 5 yrs late! This is the kind of stuff Apple should be pioneering but instead we're seeing the so-called "copycats" become the innovators while Apple relies on novelty features and reliance on 3rd party apps in order to move the OS forward.

 

[faroZ06]

All operating systems are, among other things, "app launchers", so apps would be better characterized as "fundamental" rather than "important". Apple will rely on apps forever.

Oh, and the file management.

 

[Medic311]

Watching video only to listen to the sound without the video itself? Might be useful for news video. But it's useless for other video that we really need to see.

i disagree. there are times in a regular movie where people are having a boring conversation and i will receive a text message or a gchat IM. i would like the movie to continue playing as i listen to the dialogue, and quickly respond to the message.

i don't think it's too much to ask

 

[ike08]

Ive never used a Windows 8 tablet, but seeing how they handle multitasking does make me feel like Apple's way should probably be overhauled. I understand why some iOS people are so against widgets because it does seem to add clutter, but Microsofts style of multitasking and live tiles does offer an amazing amount of info without being confusing at all.

Now that you say it, I totally agree with you. One thing I hope to see is tablet being capable of working more like a computer. More performance for your money I suppose. Microsoft seems to understand this and moving in that direction with their Window 8 tablet. Kudos to Microsoft for pushing on the innovation front.

 

[Geekbabe]

I certainly don't hate android devices & currently enjoy Jelly Bean on my phone. That said, I really enjoy my iPad. There are so many apps to explore I can't imagine getting bored.

 

[Rodster]

I certainly don't hate android devices & currently enjoy Jelly Bean on my phone. That said, I really enjoy my iPad. There are so many apps to explore I can't imagine getting bored.

QFT !

I have several android devices and I enjoy the iPad most because apps are tailored to it.

 

[Oppressed]

Ive never used a Windows 8 tablet, but seeing how they handle multitasking does make me feel like Apple's way should probably be overhauled. I understand why some iOS people are so against widgets because it does seem to add clutter, but Microsofts style of multitasking and live tiles does offer an amazing amount of info without being confusing at all.

Image

I think those sidebar apps offer live previews and can be active so it acts almost like a 2nd monitor which would be an amazing leap in terms of optimizing a tablet-only workflow. But what makes it especially frustrating is that MS is figuring this stuff out despite being 5 yrs late! This is the kind of stuff Apple should be pioneering but instead we're seeing the so-called "copycats" become the innovators while Apple relies on novelty features and reliance on 3rd party apps in order to move the OS forward.

How much RAM do you think live tiles and live multitask windows take up? How much of that memory would take away from other aspects of the OS such as smoothness or memory for other applications? Each of those tiles is a running application. Ask yourself what real benefit are you getting on seeing what the live multitask windows give you versus icons for the application? Which trade off do you want?

What I find funny is that everyone tends to just think that the programmers at Apple sit around and don't have these ideas themselves. That they don't explore the options and don't implement it for reasons unknown to the readers of macrumors.

 

[urkel]

How much RAM do you think live tiles and live multitask windows take up? How much of that memory would take away from other aspects of the OS such as smoothness or memory for other applications? Each of those tiles is a running application. Ask yourself what real benefit are you getting on seeing what the live multitask windows give you versus icons for the application? Which trade off do you want?

Are you saying that you know? Because it seems more like you're trying to create an intensive memory usage excuse that isn't actually based off of facts.

Someone who actually develops for Win or iOS could explain it better, but from what I understand then Live Tiles are nothing more than a different presentation of the same little number badges we get on iOS icons. These services run in the background but instead of giving us a number badget then the tiles are displaying useful information so there is no significant memory hit as you claim. And as for live multitasking windows, not every app has to work that way. Only the ones that make sense like if you're running a video podcast or outputting an iMovie then it wouldnt quit on you just because you wanted to look at your mail. These aren't frivolous novelties, these are basic features that make sense if the iPad is to be used as a productivity tool.

What I find funny is that everyone tends to just think that the programmers at Apple sit around and don't have these ideas themselves. That they don't explore the options and don't implement it for reasons unknown to the readers of macrumors.

Whats even funnier is that you seem to have completely missed the entire point that numerous people here have made. We know Apple is capable of doing amazing things and that Apple Labs is probably filled to the brim with stuff that could put Apple another 5yrs ahead. The problem is we are seeing all the risks and creative ideas on the competing platforms while Apple continues to "play it safe". So it's hard to call someone a leader when they refuse to take risks.

 

[Oppressed]

Are you saying that you know? Because it seems more like you're trying to create an intensive memory usage excuse that isn't actually based off of facts.

Someone who actually develops for Win or iOS could explain it better, but from what I understand then Live Tiles are nothing more than a different presentation of the same little number badges we get on iOS icons. These services run in the background but instead of giving us a number badget then the tiles are displaying useful information so there is no significant memory hit as you claim. And as for live multitasking windows, not every app has to work that way. Only the ones that make sense like if you're running a video podcast or outputting an iMovie then it wouldnt quit on you just because you wanted to look at your mail. These aren't frivolous novelties, these are basic features that make sense if the iPad is to be used as a productivity tool.


Whats even funnier is that you seem to have completely missed the entire point that numerous people here have made. We know Apple is capable of doing amazing things and that Apple Labs is probably filled to the brim with stuff that could put Apple another 5yrs ahead. The problem is we are seeing all the risks and creative ideas on the competing platforms while Apple continues to "play it safe". So it's hard to call someone a leader when they refuse to take risks.

And you missed my point because it's niave to think Apple does not implement these ideas just to "play it safe". People are only assuming that this is the reason. The point I made around the memory issue is to illustrate the point that there are other reasons why these ideas are not put in. Ideas which many readers may not consider.

 

[dkersten]

All operating systems are, among other things, "app launchers", so apps would be better characterized as "fundamental" rather than "important". Apple will rely on apps forever.

Operating systems manage the interplay between apps, multi-tasking, hardware and so forth. An OS without apps wouldn't do anyone much good. A good OS user interface (what's really being talked about here and is the set of applications on an OS which manages user inputs) allows users to get on quickly and efficiently with starting/stopping/switching applications or making configuration changes. iOS has some opportunities for improvement on the "quickly and efficiently" front. Customization would be nice. Not sure, as others have suggested, a radical rethink is needed, just some tweaks.

That's a slippery slope. Like I said, Apps are important, but its not the only thing. Over time Android Apps will get better both in number and in quality. When that happens, I can see iOS losing a significant amount of users.

The other thing that is vital to an OS is conveying information. Android does this in a quicker, more efficient way than iOS. Apple could easily solve this with iOS 6 by using the extra vertical space to add a banner area that showed information such as weather, stocks, sports scores, news stories (anything a third party developer could think of) and have quick toggles for settings (wifi, airplane mode, blu-tooth, etc).

Let's see if Apple adds any additional features to iOS 6. If they don't, I think it will be a flop.

 

[plucky duck]

IOS is a bore. OSX is a breath of fresh air, even if it does incorporate some IOS elements. Android has provided more positive change in user experience in the last year than IOS did imo. The UI on the IOS at a quick glance looked very similar from when I first got my 3GS to the 4S.

 

[urkel]

And you missed my point because it's niave to think Apple does not implement these ideas just to "play it safe". People are only assuming that this is the reason. The point I made around the memory issue is to illustrate the point that there are other reasons why these ideas are not put in. Ideas which many readers may not consider.

Why is everyone's opinions except yours "naive" when you're speculating just like everyone else? You had no point about the memory issues of Windows vs Apple. You're simply making up "facts" in order to bolster a point that has no validity.

Anyway, iOS absolutely revolutionized the industry but if you're going to pretend that Apple isn't "playing it safe" then you aren't paying attention to the strides being made by the competition and how little iOS has changed in 5 years. You're trying to defend Apple but nobody here is attacking them, they are simply saying that Apple could do better.

 

[charliex5]

I'd wear the same things year after year. I'm not bored at all with iOS.

Absolutely! I have shirts that are 15 years old. Why change if you like something the way it is?

 

[Redjericho]

If it's really, truly killing you that iOS hasn't changed, i'd recommend jailbreaking. I was 110% against it for the first 3 generations of iPhones I owned, but I have it a shot, and I won't be going back.

It's an extreme breath of fresh air. A tweak called Dreamboard can make your device look exactly like jellybean for god sakes.

Give it a shot, and if you aren't impressed/refreshed, then switching over to android would be your best option.

 

[Oppressed]

Why is everyone's opinions except yours "naive" when you're speculating just like everyone else? You had no point about the memory issues of Windows vs Apple. You're simply making up "facts" in order to bolster a point that has no validity.

Anyway, iOS absolutely revolutionized the industry but if you're going to pretend that Apple isn't "playing it safe" then you aren't paying attention to the strides being made by the competition and how little iOS has changed in 5 years. You're trying to defend Apple but nobody here is attacking them, they are simply saying that Apple could do better.

I never said that my memory illustration was fact. Again the point was to show others there are aspects to implementing features that one might not think about. Also the reason I believe it is a bit naive when thinking that Apple is just "playing it safe" is when you look at the company's history it does not tend to support this thought process. Was it safe to go to cell networks and demand that only Apple controls what is on the iPhone? Was it safe to start combining OSX and iOS? Was it safe to demand developers to sandbox OSX applications? Was it safe to even invent the iPhone in a work dominated by Blackberry? If they take such big risks in their work why is something silly, like multitasking that shows the screen, an area where they must "play it safe"?

To be honest I think the reason is because if someone has a pages document open, a black text on white background web site open, and an iBooks document open it might be harder to tell which of these applications to switch to at first glance, and might end up switching to the wrong document. Thus creating additional steps to where just showing the icon would have eliminated this issue.

 

[Piggie]

Just 1 simple thing that will make such a difference in Tablet computing when it comes.

Two apps on screen at the same time side by side.

May take a while, but when it's in place and everyone is using it, we will look back at one app on screen at a time and think OMG how awkward was that to use back then, thank god we've moved on in recent years.

 

[r.harris1]

That's a slippery slope. Like I said, Apps are important, but its not the only thing. Over time Android Apps will get better both in number and in quality. When that happens, I can see iOS losing a significant amount of users.

The other thing that is vital to an OS is conveying information. Android does this in a quicker, more efficient way than iOS. Apple could easily solve this with iOS 6 by using the extra vertical space to add a banner area that showed information such as weather, stocks, sports scores, news stories (anything a third party developer could think of) and have quick toggles for settings (wifi, airplane mode, blu-tooth, etc).

Let's see if Apple adds any additional features to iOS 6. If they don't, I think it will be a flop.

I develop and test on both platforms. Both operating systems are extremely sophisticated. You are talking about UI elements - i.e. the interaction between the user and the OS, less so about the operating system. And I don't disagree with some of your observations on UI interaction. But because people choose mobile devices for many reasons, including but not limited to:

• Fashion statement
• Application ecosystem
• Hardware ecosystem (as in, "I've got Mac or Windows machines so I'll stick to that environment")
• Whim

I don't agree that if iOS 6 doesn't have those items you list, that it will be a flop. System adoption is a fluid thing. You specifically might leave (or already have or already only use Android (or whatever)), but that's less relevant (if relevant at all) to net gains, which at the moment remains trending upwards for iOS and Android.

 

[nexusrule]

I get a little tired of the "OS X is dumber" argument. The UI has evolved and yes, mobile and desktop are converging, but characterizing the whole OS as dumber just doesn't cut it. Different that 5 years ago, sure, but that's a good thing.

Interestingly, other posts on this thread keep telling me how brilliant the Surface and Windows 8 will be/is. In that argument, people tell me it's a great thing that a mobile style UI and desktop OS has converged. When it's done on the Mac side, it's like Apple has kicked people's puppy.

Well the dumbness i was referring to, it's the one of many iOS handled devices users that keep asking for changes for the sake of changes (software interface and phone appearance). Aside from the good things from iOS (auto save, launchpad, more gestures etc.) many little useful / annoying things have appearead / disappeared recently from the OS. (like these http://arstechnica.com/apple/2012/0...ved-from-mountain-lion-that-we-miss-the-most/). I don't think the it's because of the so called "iOSification" of the system, I think this exagerated semplifications has been made to meet the needs of the computer illiterate that comes from iphones.