Why Apple is choosing design over features?

[0000757]

Apple does cater for women and the elderly - generally, on the average, people that prefer technically simple-to-use devices. (Of course a lot of males also belong to this category - it's just that, on the whole, your males are, generally, more tech savy than either elderly people or women / girls.) Otherwise, if the majority of their customers were tech-savy people wanting as much functionality as possible, they would give us far more advanced functionality (windowing on tablets, for example - the OS is certainly capable of it, see Quasar).

BTW, here's some "pulled-out-of-my-ass" statistics for you:

Women want Apple's iPhone, men prefer Google Android, Nielsen finds:

"But Android found its greatest share when the results were viewed by gender: 32.6 percent of male respondents said they wanted an Android smartphone, while 28.6 percent of men opted for the iPhone.

Women, on the other hand, strongly prefer the iPhone, with 30.9 percent opting for Apple's handset, while 22.8 percent of women said they want a device running Google Android."

It's a late 2010 study. Samsung, in the meantime, started to advertise their Galaxy S'es for women too and their high-end phones became much easier to use because of the "Simple" mode. However, the article does show women did prefer Apple more than men. As is also emphasized by the following (mid-2012) article:

Why do women prefer using the iPhone over other smartphones?

So you're going to say that females can only use something simple? that simple interfaces are obviously for females and the elderly?

Apple does cater for women and the elderly - generally, on the average, people that prefer technically simple-to-use devices...Otherwise, if the majority of their customers were tech-savy people wanting as much functionality as possible, they would give us far more advanced functionality

So that's why developers prefer iOS over Android, and Android users are generally less engaged?

Saying that a company that has implemented pretty astounding features (Go find me 5 other phones with WiFi Direct file sharing out of the box?) is "geared towards women" is really horrible logic.

it's just that, on the whole, your males are, generally, more tech savy than either elderly people or women / girls.

So Apple is geared towards women? Then why is the majority of Apple stores employed with young males. Why is it that a majority of the users of MacRumors are male?

So a 2010 study found more women want an iPhone and more men want an Android? What about 2012? or 2013? What about what I just said above? Was this poll largely among technically savy or technically ignorant people? I can do surveys too. In fact, we did one at my school (with a population of 1500), where 2/3rds of the school population said they owned an iPhone and wanted one, and the majority were male.

The amount of Sexism in this topic is so painful it makes me sick.

 

[Menneisyys2]

So you're going to say that females can only use something simple? that simple interfaces are obviously for females and the elderly?

Notice the words / expressions "generally, on the average" in my original post. Not all women ale tech-unsavvy - just significantly more than those of (young) men.

So that's why developers prefer iOS over Android, and Android users are generally less engaged?

Android has rampant piracy, that's right; therefore, many for example games are only released for iOS. However, it doesn't mean its API isn't superior or some manufacturers don't produce far more flexible (e.g., windowing, NFC, Wacom pen support etc.) / capable devices. (Mostly game) programmers prefer iOS because of the far smaller piracy rate and more income, not because of the "superior", "more capable" API.

Saying that a company that has implemented pretty astounding features (Go find me 5 other phones with WiFi Direct file sharing out of the box?) is "geared towards women" is really horrible logic.

Lolz... is that all you could come up with? Where's OBEX or most other, comparable BT profiles? Or, sticking with using standardized streaming / file exchanging protocols / connectors, where's Slimport? (I'm not even talking about microHDMI.) Apple only has a far inferior joke (HDMI / VGA over Lightning.) And the list continues - Apple's proprietary connection / exchange solutions are not only proprietary (not allowing to communicate with any non-Apple product), but also, in many cases, technically vastly inferior (Slimport vs. Lightning, image quality- and lag-wise).

So Apple is geared towards women? Then why is the majority of Apple stores employed with young males. Why is it that a majority of the users of MacRumors are male?

Because it's males that frequent tech sites (incl. this one), not females.

So a 2010 study found more women want an iPhone and more men want an Android? What about 2012? or 2013? What about what I just said above?

1, what you stated above was mostly flawed - see my above remarks.

2, 2012-wise, I've also presented you with a 2012 article.

I can do surveys too. In fact, we did one at my school (with a population of 1500), where 2/3rds of the school population said they owned an iPhone and wanted one, and the majority were male.

Well, in the (Finnish county in central-Finland) school of my wife's brother's son the vast majority of male respondents had / wanted an Android. (Of course, the male population of Finland has always been much more tech-savy than that of many other countries.) Are we egal?

The amount of Sexism in this topic is so painful it makes me sick.

Again, I've used the words / expressions "generally, on the average" in all my posts. That is, I've never made any "sexist" remark and I have never meant all women are tech-unsavy. "Many", "more than among men" do not equal "all".

 

[Cody21]

This has been going on since the iPhone debuted in 2007. Remember when there was no copy and paste, or video recording? If I recall correctly, I think a few people complained.

 

[GravityEyes]

What features are you wanting? I appreciate the redesign. As a front end developer I appreciate the clean, logical, and intuitive UX. I've already started redoing our app to conform to the new look and functionality. The glossy and 'realism' was getting old, in my opinion.

Function over fashion.

 

[falconeight]

This has been going on since the iPhone debuted in 2007. Remember when there was no copy and paste, or video recording? If I recall correctly, I think a few people complained.

Didn't anrdoid invent cut and paste and video recording?

 

[Menneisyys2]

Didn't anrdoid invent cut and paste and video recording?

The former was present even back in 1996, in WindowsCE 1.0. (And, consequently, all WindowsCE / Pocket PC / Windows Mobile versions.)

Symbian also had it well before iOS or Android.

----------

What features are you wanting? I appreciate the redesign. As a front end developer I appreciate the clean, logical, and intuitive UX. I've already started redoing our app to conform to the new look and functionality. The glossy and 'realism' was getting old, in my opinion.

Function over fashion.

See above: an f.lux-alike for start. And a much more flexible API for programmers and possibly windowing (on iPads) for end-users to continue, just to name some of the most asked-for features.

 

[Googlerola]

I managed to install iOS 7 on my iPhone 4S. I was excited to see and try all the new things that the OS offered, but then I realized that there's not much new. Although there are a lot of new little things as you can see in the "All new little things thread", there are no major new features.

I am bothered with this because I thought that iOS 7 would be the perfect opportunity to have it overhauled and do new things, but what Apple mostly did was just "repainted" the iOS while adding the usual little tweaks. Also, the flat design is really inconsistent. One example: When choosing the time for the alarm clock, it still is a "wheel", and since it is flat, it looks weird. It made sense before because it was clearly a wheel, and so the numbers would look like the went behind the wheel for a somewhat 3D effect. But with a flat design looks horrible.

I went to a Nokia Lumia Series presentation, and I see that Windows Phones and Android phones have a lot of features that are nice to have:

Example: Nokia has a lot of features for its camera app, like 360 panorama, animated pictures (gifs), etc. LG (android) has the ability to change faces and deleting an intrusive object messing with the picture (like a finger or something)..

And I can go on and on about features for a lot of apps that are very useful but Apple just ignore it. One little feature that I am begging for, is the ability to choose a contact while I am dialing the number. For example: If I am dialing 5534, then contacts will filter so that by then I choose the one I want. Right now, the contact name appear underneath the number until I am calling already.


In conclusion, Apple hasn't changed its iOS that much. Even with this design change, the OS is still the same since ages ago. I think that they are getting stuck when it comes to features and it sucks. They should really consider a completely new OS with useful features. It doesn't have to be as complex as android, but the simplicity of iOS is really getting too simple that it doesn't allow for much improvement and features.

What do you think?

You seriously don't think that control centre isn't a major feature? what about filters? what about them finally adding proper multitasking? what about opening up 1500 new API's? what about being able to access the NC from the lock screen? these are massive features and you are saying these are small features? wow you really don't understand that it has tons of big features as well.

 

[DMH3006]

You seriously don't think that control centre isn't a major feature? what about filters? what about them finally adding proper multitasking? what about opening up 1500 new API's? what about being able to access the NC from the lock screen? these are massive features and you are saying these are small features? wow you really don't understand that it has tons of big features as well.

Dude it doesn't count because it doesn't F.Lux(which i'd say less than 1% of the total user base of iOS would use) and Android/WP8 have great API's for camera stuff which like most developers won't use but he needs it so iOS is terrible and let's not forget the multi-window capabilities of other OS'es compared to iOS :roll eyes:

iOS is geared to the consumption of media and to be used by regular people that won't give two ***** about multi-window capabilities and F.Lux,they want a smartphone that works like the phones of old: no settings,simply works.

 

[Menneisyys2]

You seriously don't think that control centre isn't a major feature? what about filters?

Not much. I'd say it's more or less a gimmick only. Can't come close to, say, WP8's lens plug-in architecture. THAT would be something, not these filter jokes.

what about them finally adding proper multitasking?

Define "proper". iOS still doesn't offer anything like Android (particularly Samsung's higher-end devices with their true windowing support), Symbian, Windows Mobile etc. The new MT features only support background refreshing, nothing else. The fullscreen (Android-copy) task manager is a welcome addition but it has nothing to do with true multitasking either.

what about opening up 1500 new API's?

That's indeed a welcome addition (no wonder I've published no less than three articles on making advantage of using the Camera-related new API calls). But just insufficient: Android and, in many respects, even WP8 / WinRT is far ahead.

wow you really don't understand that it has tons of big features as well.

Again: compared to iOS6, but not compared to alternative mobile OS'es.

 

[Googlerola]

Dude it doesn't count because it doesn't F.Lux(which i'd say less than 1% of the total user base of iOS would use) and Android/WP8 have great API's for camera stuff which like most developers won't use but he needs it so iOS is terrible and let's not forget the multi-window capabilities of other OS'es compared to iOS :roll eyes:

iOS is geared to the consumption of media and to be used by regular people that won't give two ***** about multi-window capabilities and F.Lux,they want a smartphone that works like the phones of old: no settings,simply works.

I disagree strongly.

 

[Menneisyys2]

Dude it doesn't count because it doesn't F.Lux(which i'd say less than 1% of the total user base of iOS would use) and Android/WP8 have great API's for camera stuff which like most developers won't use but he needs it so iOS is terrible and let's not forget the multi-window capabilities of other OS'es compared to iOS :roll eyes:

iOS is geared to the consumption of media and to be used by regular people that won't give two ***** about multi-window capabilities and F.Lux,they want a smartphone that works like the phones of old: no settings,simply works.

Lolz, the second paragraph proves iOS is indeed aimed at regular (in no way techie) users. The same stuff that some posters in this # tried to debate.

 

[Googlerola]

Not much. I'd say it's more or less a gimmick only. Can't come close to, say, WP8's lens plug-in architecture. THAT would be something, not these filter jokes.



Define "proper". iOS still doesn't offer anything like Android (particularly Samsung's higher-end devices with their true windowing support), Symbian, Windows Mobile etc. The new MT features only support background refreshing, nothing else. The fullscreen (Android-copy) task manager is a welcome addition but it has nothing to do with true multitasking either.



That's indeed a welcome addition (no wonder I've published no less than three articles on making advantage of using the Camera-related new API calls). But just insufficient: Android and, in many respects, even WP8 / WinRT is far ahead.



Again: compared to iOS6, but not compared to alternative mobile OS'es.

You seem to be forgetting Air drop. My Nexus 4 does not natively use wifi direct for file sharing. unlimited apps in folders, relatively small but my Nexus 4 only has an app limit of 20. Just use the multi windowed multitasking on the S4/Note 2. it's **** and useless(the Optimus G pro has a better implementation)

 

[PNutts]

The amount of Sexism in this topic is so painful it makes me sick.

It looks like you have moved on. Good for you. Some people just don't get it and a debate with Paula Deen would be equally unrewarding.

Again, I've used the words / expressions "generally, on the average" in all my posts.

If the best argument someone can make is "generally" then it is a pretty weak position and still subjective, even if it sounds legit. All I can say is by looking at the upvotes on the comments in this thread the folks in this forum generally disagree with you. Aren't statistics and sample size and assumptions fun!

 

[falconeight]

The former was present even back in 1996, in WindowsCE 1.0. (And, consequently, all WindowsCE / Pocket PC / Windows Mobile versions.)

Symbian also had it well before iOS or Android.

.

I was kidding

 

[Parise]

Go away with your statistics you pulled out of your ass.

This is no longer 2007. Smart phones have been around for going on 7 years now and the days of the "elderly, non-technical women, and non-nerds" are long gone.

I've legitimately had people ranging from my grandmother to a mother of 3 complaining about things like "Why cant I turn on/off Wifi from siri?" and the ever so often heard "iOS is becoming boring to me".

The "power user" argument worked back then, but its no longer a valid argument. Hell, my 5 year old son can work my iPad like nobody's business.

What I also don't get is that people will defend to the death the decision to leave the choice out of the users hands. Take the widget debate.... I personally couldn't care less about them, wouldn't use them, but why not give the user the choice?

Lastly, I see with iOS 7 they've implemented live wallpapers.

Edit: One thing I have noticed about the Apple community is that they're the largest group of statisticians in the solar system. It appears that they've all conducted their own surveys and polls and know exactly what the general population wants.

 

[falconeight]

This is no longer 2007. Smart phones have been around for going on 7 years now and the days of the "elderly, non-technical women, and non-nerds" are long gone.

I've legitimately had people ranging from my grandmother to a mother of 3 complaining about things like "Why cant I turn on/off Wifi from siri?" and the ever so often heard "iOS is becoming boring to me".

The "power user" argument worked back then, but its no longer a valid argument. Hell, my 5 year old son can work my iPad like nobody's business.

What I also don't get is that people will defend to the death the decision to leave the choice out of the users hands. Take the widget debate.... I personally couldn't care less about them, wouldn't use them, but why not give the user the choice?

Lastly, I see with iOS 7 they've implemented live wallpapers.

Edit: One thing I have noticed about the Apple community is that they're the largest group of statisticians in the solar system. It appears that they've all conducted their own surveys and polls and know exactly what the general population wants.

The wallpapers aren't live in iOS 7 and there are a lot of people that don't know how to use tech and don't want to know. They want to push an icon and open pictures of the kiddos.

 

[typeface]

I once saw stitching on iCal, and thought "now there's some pointless thread"

 

[Parise]

The wallpapers aren't live in iOS 7 and there are a lot of people that don't know how to use tech and don't want to know. They want to push an icon and open pictures of the kiddos.

Dynamic wallpapers in iOS 7 are another fancy name for live wallpapers.

And your comment about a lot of people is correct, however the assumption that the amount of those people make up 90% of the iPhone audience is unfounded. I know PLENTY of "non-technical" individuals who bring up complaints about the OS all the time.

Lastly, if the iPhone was simply just "push an icon and open pictures" why the hell does the Apple store completely book training sessions on their products every morning before the store opens? I was waiting to get my phone fixed one morning, and had a chat with the woman at the front. Her comment mentioned that at least 75% of the individuals in those training classes (at this particular location) are there to learn how to use their iPhone.

 

[Serelus]

Not much. I'd say it's more or less a gimmick only. Can't come close to, say, WP8's lens plug-in architecture. THAT would be something, not these filter jokes.



Define "proper". iOS still doesn't offer anything like Android (particularly Samsung's higher-end devices with their true windowing support), Symbian, Windows Mobile etc. The new MT features only support background refreshing, nothing else. The fullscreen (Android-copy) task manager is a welcome addition but it has nothing to do with true multitasking either.



That's indeed a welcome addition (no wonder I've published no less than three articles on making advantage of using the Camera-related new API calls). But just insufficient: Android and, in many respects, even WP8 / WinRT is far ahead.



Again: compared to iOS6, but not compared to alternative mobile OS'es.

You keep mentioning how Apple's API's are inferior to Androids and WP. This is only logical because Apple doesn't literally let you pry into everything OS related. I wouldn't expect any different from a company that keeps it's OS closed and part of an excellent eco-system. But you seem to mention very specific features, I myself either wouldn't use or could achieve in different ways.

Apple is building a product based on a combination of functionality and ease-of-use. Installing different ROMs or throwing UI's isn't something a regular user is going to do... regardless of gender.

If you as a developer have trouble implementing something because the API's aren't there, then it's probably something way to specific.

People also lack to mention what these incredible features they'd like seeing added to iOS are, and if they do mention them it's mostly something that is only useful to them specifically.

What I am saying is, we're are coming to that point in time where if you're not using android, you lack features. Which is very untrue. I lack no features whatsoever, infact to me android lacks alot of features, like iCloud. I don't need to bump my Phone with another Phone user, I don't wanna hover my finger over my screen to open a text message, and I certainly don't wanna put my phone on it's screen side just to ignore a call.

I can't fathom how the word "gimmick" came to mind when you were talking about iOS, while Android is the pinnacle of gimmick features.

 

[typeface]

UX is only *half* the issue with Android; Eclipse? Or... Xcode, anyone?

Thought so.



I saw something tonight which made me chuckle with disbelief (attached):

 

[mollyparrot]

Go away with your statistics you pulled out of your ass.

Especially the bit about how women are excluded as a group from being "power users." I hate smiley icons, so just imagine a nice big eye roll here.

 

[cmChimera]

Lolz... is that all you could come up with? Where's OBEX or most other, comparable BT profiles? Or, sticking with using standardized streaming / file exchanging protocols / connectors, where's Slimport? (I'm not even talking about microHDMI.) Apple only has a far inferior joke (HDMI / VGA over Lightning.) And the list continues - Apple's proprietary connection / exchange solutions are not only proprietary (not allowing to communicate with any non-Apple product), but also, in many cases, technically vastly inferior (Slimport vs. Lightning, image quality- and lag-wise).

So basically you couldn't find any legitimate argument against Wifi direct file sharing, so you rant about the lightning port? Non-sequitur much? Oh in complaining about that, you ignore another great feature. Airplay.

1, what you stated above was mostly flawed - see my above remarks.

2, 2012-wise, I've also presented you with a 2012 article.

From your own survey:

Among users planning to get a new smartphone, current smartphone owners showed a preference for the Apple iPhone (35 percent), while 28 percent of both smartphone and featurephone planned smartphone upgraders indicated they wanted a device with an Android operating system as their next mobile phone.

So disregarding gender, more PEOPLE want an iPhone.

Women planning to get a smartphone are more likely to want an iPhone as their next device, with slightly more males preferring Android.

This is what you're basing your argument off of? A slight difference. If the survey was done again, it could very well go in the opposite direction. A slight difference can easily be chalked up to a sample size variant. You really don't have much to go on.

 

[falconeight]

Dynamic wallpapers in iOS 7 are another fancy name for live wallpapers.

And your comment about a lot of people is correct, however the assumption that the amount of those people make up 90% of the iPhone audience is unfounded. I know PLENTY of "non-technical" individuals who bring up complaints about the OS all the time.

Lastly, if the iPhone was simply just "push an icon and open pictures" why the hell does the Apple store completely book training sessions on their products every morning before the store opens? I was waiting to get my phone fixed one morning, and had a chat with the woman at the front. Her comment mentioned that at least 75% of the individuals in those training classes (at this particular location) are there to learn how to use their iPhone.

No its not live wallpapers actually move around like a cartoon. Dynamic just pans around the picture. You can't put a picture on your android phone and turn it into a live wallpaper. I can't put a picture of fish and watch them swim around. And yes those people are learning how to push a icon. Some people learn better by being shown, some learn better from reading, and some teach themselves. Whats your point?

 

[typeface]

No its not live wallpapers actually move around like a cartoon. Dynamic just pans around the picture. You can't put a picture on your android phone and turn it into a live wallpaper. I can't put a picture of fish and watch them swim around.

Right. Why would you want something so utterly useless and distracting? How often do people sit and watch their wallpaper like it is a TV show? :/

 

[falconeight]

Right. Why would you want something so utterly useless and distracting? How often do people sit and watch their wallpaper like it is a TV show? :/

People in android forums love those things. They also have these giant clocks that tell you the time. The clock up top isn't big enough. I saw one guy watching a movie and every time his eyes drifted from the screen the movie paused.