Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Played with some Android devices, just a few things I wish iPhone had

I don't need widgets per se, but I agree that I would like to see the icons be able to update status better. Also, while the iPhone does need a better notification system, I think they can do better than Android, which in my experience is a bit clumsy itself.
 
zhenya said:
I don't need widgets per se, but I agree that I would like to see the icons be able to update status better. Also, while the iPhone does need a better notification system, I think they can do better than Android, which in my experience is a bit clumsy itself.
Click to expand...

I agree with this. Updating app icons dynamically (not just badges) would satisfy my "widget" needs and be a lot cleaner, I'm sure. And the iPhone notification system needs a major overhaul.
 
Apple... said:
Like what? Widgets, better notifications and live wallpapers about do it for me. :D
Click to expand...

Google voice, integrated maps and nav, voice control, voice to text, ability to download any file, file manager, ability to change almost every native app, sideloading apps, deep customization.... There's a lot more. like widgets ... but more of a fun thing. well it is nice to see a to do list that updates itself.

But for me its google voice and maps & nav. those two apps actually saved me at least $200 the first year of my contract.
 
wreckshop said:
But for me its google voice and maps & nav. those two apps actually saved me at least $200 the first year of my contract.
Click to expand...

Honest question here - how does Google Voice save you money? For domestic calls, unless you are one of the few Gizmo5 users, you still have to use you wireless minutes, so what's the point? For international calls, their rates are higher than I pay with Skype, AND you use your cellular minutes too.

The free navigation is ok, but Navigon on the iPhone is so much better that I have no regrets about paying for it.
 
Phokus said:
Iphone users don't even know the half of what they're missing from android... widgets, notifications, and bigger real estate on the screen is just the beginning.
Click to expand...

77% of iPhone owners say they'll buy another iPhone, compared to 20% of Android customers who say they'll buy another Android phone.

http://money.cnn.com/2010/07/23/technology/iphone_4_att/index.htm

Looks like iPhone users are pretty satisfied despite what they are supposedly "missing"...wonder why only 2 out of every 10 Android users say they'd buy another one?
 
zhenya said:
Honest question here - how does Google Voice save you money? For domestic calls, unless you are one of the few Gizmo5 users, you still have to use you wireless minutes, so what's the point? For international calls, their rates are higher than I pay with Skype, AND you use your cellular minutes too.
Click to expand...

You can get free texting, with a little bit of work.
 
huskerchad said:
I agree with this. Updating app icons dynamically (not just badges) would satisfy my "widget" needs and be a lot cleaner, I'm sure. And the iPhone notification system needs a major overhaul.
Click to expand...

Well it can not be cleaner because Android widget can be anything ... including iPhone style icon. The reason most widgets do not look like icons is because people generally prefer something fancier than icons.
 
lilo777 said:
Well it can not be cleaner because Android widget can be anything ... including iPhone style icon. The reason most widgets do not look like icons is because people generally prefer something fancier than icons.
Click to expand...

My argument would be that I WANT Apple to apply some design constraints. The fact that they do is the reason that iPhone apps tend to have good, consistent UI's, whereas apps on other platforms can be so awful. Yes, there is a lot of freedom - but that freedom often lends itself to a UI mess -- see the Motorolla skin on the new Droid X.
 
zhenya said:
True. Forgot about that. What work does it take? Don't you just send the sms from the dialer app?
Click to expand...
Well actually I was referring to doing it on the iPhone, where the lack of an app means you have to do a bit of work (one way is to send them from the m.google.com interface and have them forwarded to the email associated with your google voice account, which you sync to your iPhone).
 
Mr Bigs said:
You'll get a larger screen when Steve thinks its necessary.
Click to expand...
Yeah, I'm afraid that's the only way. :(

wreckshop said:
Google voice, integrated maps and nav, voice control, voice to text, ability to download any file, file manager, ability to change almost every native app, sideloading apps, deep customization.... There's a lot more. like widgets ... but more of a fun thing. well it is nice to see a to do list that updates itself.

But for me its google voice and maps & nav. those two apps actually saved me at least $200 the first year of my contract.
Click to expand...
iPhone has Voice Control, it's just limited and not top notch (for now). Voice to text is really the only other thing I'd care for, although it sometimes seems awkward to speak something like that out loud in public. Navigon beats Google Maps Navigation any day. :apple:

zhenya said:
My argument would be that I WANT Apple to apply some design constraints. The fact that they do is the reason that iPhone apps tend to have good, consistent UI's, whereas apps on other platforms can be so awful. Yes, there is a lot of freedom - but that freedom often lends itself to a UI mess -- see the Motorolla skin on the new Droid X.
Click to expand...
After playing with the Droid X, I'd have to agree. Motorola's custom skin is exploding with zits. It's not near as good as HTC's Sense. :cool:
 
For me, the only thing the iphone is missing is the updated google maps with nav. Other than that, its a great phone for me.

As for larger screen, I think the option to have one would be nice, but I have never been envious toward the 4.3 screens. I am a thin guy that wears designer jeans or suits, so the monster phones don't work for me.

I am surprised that we don't have widgets, considering I feel that Apple made widgets mainstream.
 
lilo777 said:
Well it can not be cleaner because Android widget can be anything ... including iPhone style icon. The reason most widgets do not look like icons is because people generally prefer something fancier than icons.
Click to expand...

I'm not sure why you think one follows from the other..."Android widget can be anything" does not make it "cleaner". Developers work within the constraints you give them, but just because you can do something doesn't mean that you should, especially not in terms of UI.
 
Not a fanboy in the least as I think brand loyalty is quite dumb. Basically I'm loyal to whatever company gives me the best product for my money at that particular time. However iOS, IMO, is the better OS.

The only thing I want that android phones have is a bigger screen. The EVO, Droid X, etc are to big for my taste. I think the Galaxy S 4 inch screen is the sweet spot. Beyond that hardware change, jailbreaking gives me everything I would use on my iPhone. Widgets don't really do it for me.

EDIT:: Actually I want WebOS style notifications and multitasking. That would be nice.
 
Tom359 said:
a couple of things that I really liked that I wish the iPhone would incorporate:

1- widgets

2- bigger screen

What do you think?
Click to expand...

With all those widgets, how's the battery life?

I have heard all the droid phones have poor battery life compared to the iPhone.
 
The nice thing about Android is that "I would like this but not that" threads are mostly unnecessary.

Depending on the carrier, you can usually buy an Android phone with the screen size and most other features that you want. This selection will only expand as time goes on.

Then you can make the homescreens all static icons like the iPhone, or mix in some useful widgets.

As for skins, what Android device makers should always do, IMO, is allow the user to easily turn off any custom shell and substitute another... although I'm personally fine with Sense.

In a perfect world, we could all choose a hardware chassis and then add the OS of our choice. Alas...
 
Widgets are pretty much in for IOS 4.1 (Next year)

As for screen size, to me 3.5 inch is fine. i want a phone not a mini tablet.
That being said i do see apple moving to a 3.7 inch in two years AKA Iphone 6.
 
It would be great to have a 4" retina display!


Sadly I doubt it will happen since the new phone has exactly 4 times the pixels as the others, so its a convenient size for the scaling of apps. Wouldn't different size screen require more app configurations?


I think we're stuck at 3.5", which sucks because the bigger screen on Evo's is amazing for typing.

First time I typed on an evo i was more accurate than after a couple days with the I4 just based on extra size.

Reading websites is also easier because the actual text is larger, although it is definitely much more clear on the iphone.


I love my I4 but I can see going android in a couple years if they have high res large screens and good apps.
 
The screen real estate thing is a subjective need -- I don't particularly want anything bigger, but I certainly understand that others do.

I really think the two biggies are Widgets and the Notification system. Widgets would be very nice to have, and I am flummoxed as to why we don't have them. OS X has what I consider a best-in-class Widget system with Dashboard. I'd be fine with them literally slapping something similar on the iPhone.

The Notification system is getting to be an urgent need. I see iOS as having clear usability superiority in every aspect of the experience with the dire exception of notifications. Both Android and WebOS just mop the floor with iOS in notifications. I don't know -anybody- who doesn't find those intrusive, drop-everything-and-deal-with-me popup bubbles completely irritating, and I've never seen another OS do anything like it. It seems like such an easy fix, too!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back