Primarily Android User Tries the iPhone

An interesting and insightful review. My experience with android is very limited to store tryouts and watching friends. My phone before my iPhone was the failed BlackBerry Storm2. I do use Google services and Chrome on my Macs.

It's interesting to my that you have varied experiences with how to go back in an app. I checked my most commonly used apps (different from yours but commonly downloaded such as Facebook, Twitter, CNN, etc.) and observed that "back" is usually in the upper left corner, often accessed by scrolling up just a bit, or it's permanently there. Another option is swiping from the left, usually with apps optimized for iOS 7. It was present but uncommon in previous versions of iOS until Apple added it to Safari.

App differences seem to be either the developer deciding to have some different features on each platform or requirements from Apple or Google (usually Apple). As for defaults, it's to be expected that Apple would push (and require) their apps over others. You can download things like Google Chrome, Gmail app, etc, but there is no way to set them as default.

I hope that your experience with Apple and the iPhone continues to be positive. It should certainly be better than BlackBerry! I was not a fan and was very happy when mine bricked itself when I tried to download BlackBerry News. The company known for its enterprise devices should have never tried to make a touchscreen phone that parents bought for their kids.

 

I've had similar experiences with apps. I found apps on Android to generally be more powerful because they can interact with other apps better.

Also a file system. It's nice to be able to email an attachment like on a PC/Mac rather then ios's limits. I'm forced to use Android at work for this reason.

However add some other Apple devices and have friends with Apple devices and the iPhone becomes a lot more attractive. At this point I have no desire to switch back to android.

 

This was the #1 reason I went back to the iPhone. Messaging, sharing, syncing, streaming - its just easier with all Apple devices.

I also much prefer the way iOS handles notifications and the uniformity throughout the OS. I have no desire to use widgets or change default apps.

I'm looking forward to Apple updating the way we attach files to emails though - that's my biggest problem with iOS currently.

 

Actually, the back button is a really interesting thing to consider for the future of the iPhone.

If the iPhone gets larger, up to 4.7" or even the rumored phablet sized 5.5", how will the back button work then in iOS?

Even with a 4" screen, the back button at the upper left corner can be difficult to reach... I can't imagine how much harder it'll be to reach for a 4.7" or 5.5" phone.

Wonder what Apple will do. Will there be universal swiping? It makes perfect sense that Android offers a back button since their devices/screens have always been larger.

 

The dedicated back button on android its something i always miss when im using iphone or ipad, i hope apple use a universal gesture in the future.

 

I agree. That would be nice.

I own an iPhone 5C and I have to agree with the OP that the inconsistent location of the on screen back button in iOS leads to some frustration. Sometimes I'm already reaching for the upper left corner before I realize it's actually upper right or at the bottom or something.

 

I wish there was a more discrete way for iOS to give you notifications. My personal phone is an iPhone 5C, but my work phone is a Moto X. I find the method of notifications on the Moto X much more intuitive and helpful. While the iPhone lights up with a notification, if you aren't actually looking at it at that moment, once the phone dims again, that feature is virtually useless. This is when a small notification light might come in handy for the iPhone. The Moto X lights up too, but even after dimming, if you go to pick it up, the screen lights up with the latest notification. This is quite nice and I hope Motorola plans to expand on this feature.

And when the device is awake, I much prefer Android's notification system. They make very good use of the top bar by providing information that is easily seen. The badges on iOS I find kind of useless unless you're already on the home screen. The badges also don't provide much information other than just a red flag. I also get frustrated when the banner drops down while I'm in the middle of a game or an email or something. It's a cute animation, but it is also quite obtrusive. I hope Apple finds a way to improve upon the banner drop down. Maybe with the rumored bigger screens, they'll find a way to make the banner drop down less obtrusive.


As for mail, I personally would wish for more than attachments (though that's a big wish for me, too). I find Mail to be a bit clunky to navigate and use. I find it a little slow with searches too. And when I'm without service, I wish I could still queue up mails that would send automatically, or I wish I could access my Sent mail column without needing service. On my Moto X, my inbox, my sent mails, and even my other labeled mails (for work) all seem load automatically without necessarily requiring service. Not sure if I'm the only one that notices this.

I'm hoping iOS 8 brings more improvements to other things too like OP's mention of the keyboard. I really enjoy swyping on my Moto X.

 

What's not discrete about iOS notifications? You have a number of options available as far as alerts go and from which apps.

And after the display dims, all it takes is one tap of the home button and you can see everything missed right there on the lock screen. No notification light blinking various colors - which might tell you what you missed (text, email etc) but won't give you any indication as to the nature of the missed message or its importance.

I've said this multiple times throughout these forums and I'll say it again here - for Android, the notification light is useful because there is no robust lock screen notification system.....but with iOS, it'd be next to worthless. Its a highly overrated feature.

If my phone isn't on my person, I likely don't want to be bothered with it. A notification light does nothing for me except show me there are notifications waiting - which I could care less about if I'm not looking to be contacted. If I am open to communication, I'll pick my phone up and all the notifications will be right there with short previews so I can prioritize which to respond to. Far more useful IMO.

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I always thought all those badges made my notification bar look super cluttered....wasn't a fan. Again - if I've unlocked the device, I already know there are notifications waiting for me to act on. I can simply swipe down and see the ones I've missed/haven't gotten to yet.

I get the banner animation - they could thin the animation a bit I think.

Depends on how its set as far as queuing up mail off network. I have mine set to sync EVERYTHING. Might take up extra space, but worth it for me. My problems lie with Outlook....its wonky when it comes to the sent mail folder. It won't sync most recent sent mail and I have no idea why.....always bugs the entire mail app out too....don't have that problem with other types of email.

I'd be up for a swipe keyboard on the iPhone as well - really enjoyed that on the Android phones I had last year.

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I want them to standardize the gestures.....I don't know if that's simply a dev thing or if Apple has kept that feature for itself.

 

Apple does indeed use swipe to go back gesture in iOS 7.

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I actually agree here. I loved how my iPhone handled the banners and the LS notifications. I could tap the banner of a notification and it would launch that app! Best thing.

However the notification centre in Android is better due to being expandable and have swipe to dismiss.

 

I just couldn't go smaller again.

Love that back button too.

 

I actually love this aspect of iOS, just wish it was universally available in all apps. As often as I would find myself reaching for the back button when using an iDevice, I would also try to use the swipe from the left to back or from the right to go forward on my Android devices.

Completely agree here--my ideal notification center would have elements of both. I like the banners and lock screen notifications of iOS as well as the different tabs but also find iOS desperately needs a 'clear all' option and the ability to clear individual notifications. I'd also like the ability to take quick action on emails right from the notification tray as can be done on Android. I also do like the icons in the notification bar for a quick view but also like the uncluttered look of iOS.

 

#NeverSettle

 

I have notifications on my lock screen there is apps for that, and i prefer a notification light so i don't have to push the home button 100 times a day. Especially when i have the phone on silent.

 

Huh? I push the home button when I need to use my phone...

 

How do you know when you have pending notifications?

 

Exactly.....The great thing about the notification light on Android is you can customize it to whatever you want. Just by looking at my phone i can tell if there is a notification and what type of notification. I have mine configured so
flashing blue light = text message
flashing green light = email
flashing red light = missed call
flashing white light Facebook
All without having to touch my phone.......

 

If my phone is with me, it vibrates and shows on the lock screen. A quick glance tells me exactly what it was.

If it's not with me, there's a reason. I see what I missed when I pick up the phone to use it. All missed are on the lock screen for me to see and prioritize.

Pretty simple really. I fail to see where a blinky light would enhance my experience. I had an Android phone - various ones last year....never did anything for me.

 

I like it for times when I walk away from my desk, or times I just don't hear or feel it. I found I would frequently turn the iphone screen on to see if I had missed anything.

 

Wow! Guess what - with ONE touch, I can see all the things you mentioned PLUS I know if anything is urgent or pressing because I can see exactly WHO has texted me or emailed me or WHAT that Facebook notification was for.

I don't find it terribly useful to know I have notifications waiting but not do anything about them.

Different strokes for different folks I guess....

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Hmm well I guess different use cases. I set my phones on my desk at work or on the table at home. 9 times out of 10 I'll see what comes in. For the times I miss something, I just attend to it later. I guess I'm near my phone a majority of the time so I don't see the need for a light....

Anyhow, I've made these same posts a dozen times in various threads. Agree to disagree.

 

Eliminates some unnecessary phone checking, don't see why anyone would complain about having it.

 

Good for you.....But most of us like to have options. Like others have pointed out...walk away from your phone.....just glance at the flashing light and know if it is something I need to address or not. But if you don't like to have options.......Different strokes for different folks i guess.....

 

You don't get it, without a light you have to keep pushing your home button to check, with a light you can leave a room or have your phone on silent and see the blinking coloured light for different messages.

Not different strokes you must be a button pusher

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Can you do that now with your rooted M8? I hated that HTC only blinks for 5 mins.