How is iOS "simpler"?

[jayctech]

Firstly: Not looking to start a flame-war but rather an enlightening debate.

 

My point is quite straight-forward - iOS is often called "simpler" than android but I feel this is a misnomer or perhaps outdated.

 

He's my smartphone history in order to give repliers some perspective on where I'm coming from:

1. iPhone (original)
2. iPhone 3G
3. iPhone 3Gs
4. Note 2
5. MotoG

Even though I've always felt this since I started using android, I've never asked for other people's thoughts since my experience with iOS (as much as people say it doesn't change) might be outdated. However, I recently started working at a business tech support company and a lot of our clients use iPhones so I decided to grab my dad's old 4s (now that he's using the 6), which is on iOS 8, and have that on hand at work.

 

And honestly.. Going from iOS to android was soooo much easier than trying to get used to iOS again.

Here's an example of what I mean:

In order to check how much space is on the the device, on my MotoG I press setting, storage and I'm there. On my 4s I have to click settings, general and about to see it - may not seem like much but regardless the Moto was quicker and more obvious (storage vs general>about). On top of that the Moto breaks down how much of the space is used by what type of file (video, music, app, etc.).

 

As I mention above, the Note 2 was my first android phone, which came with Jelly bean if I remember correctly, so I don't know what earlier versions of android were like so maybe there was truth to this belief of simplicity on iOS originally.

 

As I said at the beginning - the point of this topic is to debate, not start a flame-war.

[DigitalHermit]

The wonders of marketing.

[Speedbird]

Well, I think iOS is still a lot simpler - the average iPhone user doesn't check for disk space that often. And on iOS, when you install an app, it immediately appears on your home screen. If your homescreens are full, it makes a new one. On Android, when you get something from Google Play (on stock Android), it does not appear on the home screen - it's down in the 'All apps' view. Also I hate it that the primary homescreen isn't the first one (again, on stock Android).

[Orly_0815]

The wonders of marketing.

 

More and more brainwash. People really think that a closed OS with heavy limitations  and no improvements at all is the greatest. 

Let's be honest the iOS hasn't improved or changed at all since the iPod touch. 

So yeah, speaking of a closed OS: you can't get off track when you only got one path to chose. 

[jayctech]

Well, I think iOS is still a lot simpler - the average iPhone user doesn't check for disk space that often. And on iOS, when you install an app, it immediately appears on your home screen. If your homescreens are full, it makes a new one. On Android, when you get something from Google Play (on stock Android), it does not appear on the home screen - it's down in the 'All apps' view. Also I hate it that the primary homescreen isn't the first one (again, on stock Android).

By default it's set to appear on your homescreen too (at least on Samsung and Moto/Nexus devices). And what do you mean the primary homescreen isn't the first one?

[DigitalHermit]

Well, I think iOS is still a lot simpler - the average iPhone user doesn't check for disk space that often. And on iOS, when you install an app, it immediately appears on your home screen. If your homescreens are full, it makes a new one. On Android, when you get something from Google Play (on stock Android), it does not appear on the home screen - it's down in the 'All apps' view. Also I hate it that the primary homescreen isn't the first one (again, on stock Android).

 

This sums it up...

 

Not to mention that to get Android to its peak performance, you may have to enable the developer options and disable background processes...

 

On the iPhone, there feels to be some prioritization happening, so when an app is inactive, there is little performance hit...

[Speedbird]

Let's be honest the iOS hasn't improved or changed at all since the iPod touch.

I have to disagree. I have used all iOS releases from 4.0 to 8.1 and there have definitely been some changes. iOS 6 introduced Notification Centre, Facebook and Twitter integration, removal of the horrible YouTube app, Apple Maps and much more. iOS 7 had a major design overhaul with a modern look, Control Centre, Do Not Disturb, AirDrop and more.

[Speedbird]

By default it's set to appear on your homescreen too (at least on Samsung and Moto/Nexus devices). And what do you mean the primary homescreen isn't the first one?

I mean that the one that opens when you unlock the phone isn't the one on the far left.

[jayctech]

This sums it up...

 

Not to mention that to get Android to its peak performance, you may have to enable the developer options and disable background processes...

 

On the iPhone, there feels to be some prioritization happening, so when an app is inactive, there is little performance hit...

This topic isn't about performance, that's a completely different topic on its own. Please stay on-topic or else this risks becoming a flame war.

[jayctech]

I mean that the one that opens when you unlock the phone isn't the one on the far left.

Oh right I get you. I actually preferred that since it meant I had quick access to 2 pages (left and right) to priority apps, but that's off-topic.

 

Also - something I forgot to add on earlier in my reply to your first comment:

Average iPhone user doesn't check storage that often - how come? I remember when I used one as my daily driver I had to keep an eye on how many videos I had.

[HippY]

More and more brainwash. People really think that a closed OS with heavy limitations  and no improvements at all is the greatest. 

Let's be honest the iOS hasn't improved or changed at all since the iPod touch. 

So yeah, speaking of a closed OS: you can't get off track when you only got one path to chose. 

 

You are looking at the wrong way

Biggest part of Phonebuyers does not understand the concept of the OS, let alone "closed system"

The iOS is consistent, and as you said it has 1 patch to choose, so less thing can go wrong.

 

For us, tech nuts is not appealing, but for many people who does not understand them, much better

[Speedbird]

You are looking at the wrong way

Biggest part of Phonebuyers does not understand the concept of the OS, let alone "closed system"

The iOS is consistent, and as you said it has 1 patch to choose, so less thing can go wrong.

 

For us, tech nuts is not appealing, but for many people who does not understand them, much better

I agree. I have suggested iPhones for other people, but I would never buy one.

[jayctech]

You are looking at the wrong way

Biggest part of Phonebuyers does not understand the concept of the OS, let alone "closed system"

The iOS is consistent, and as you said it has 1 patch to choose, so less thing can go wrong.

 

For us, tech nuts is not appealing, but for many people who does not understand them, much better

So an illusion of simplicity?

I mean.. Majority of PC market is Windows - so everyone has an idea of how they work - and the way I see it is the homescreens are like your desktop and the app drawer is like your smart menu.

In fact - don't Macs work in a way even more similar to that concept?

[DigitalHermit]

This topic isn't about performance, that's a completely different topic on its own. Please stay on-topic or else this risks becoming a flame war.

 

I'm talking about user experience with relation to performance... And no, I'm not trying to start a flame war... It's just stating my observations and experience on using both OSs...

[jayctech]

I'm talking about user experience with relation to performance... And no, I'm not trying to start a flame war... It's just stating my observations and experience on using both OSs...

I'm not saying you are but then someone replies to you with excuses on why android isn't as snappy and eventually it spirals out of control on a completely unrelated topic.

And you said it yourself "I'm talking about user experience with relation to performance" - this is about OS simplicity, an extra fraction of a second delay isn't going to suddenly make 1 OS more complicated than the other.

[HippY]

So an illusion of simplicity?

I mean.. Majority of PC market is Windows - so everyone has an idea of how they work - and the way I see it is the homescreens are like your desktop and the app drawer is like your smart menu.

In fact - don't Macs work in a way even more similar to that concept?

Yes, it is, but then again, people like this.

And majority of people hate Windows " as it is really badly made and break every half a year", even though my sister needs to reinstall her PC every half a year, and I am fine to use 1 os for 2 years. 

 

Android 4 is easy to use, comparable to iOS. But then again it misses (and so does the phones) the bling factor (except flagship and "nearly looks like a flagship"phones)

[jayctech]

Yes, it is, but then again, people like this.

And majority of people hate Windows " as it is really badly made and break every half a year", even though my sister needs to reinstall her PC every half a year, and I am fine to use 1 os for 2 years. 

 

Android 4 is easy to use, comparable to iOS. But then again it misses (and so does the phones) the bling factor (except flagship and "nearly looks like a flagship"phones)

Never heard people complain about Windows as a whole needing to be reinstalled every 6 months - never had that happen myself either. But that's off-topic.

 

Your point about Android 4 being comparable to iOS is basically what I thought - iOS being simpler is just an outdated thought. As for your comment about bling factor - this topic isn't about sales or which does better from a marketing perspective (and why). It's strictly about why people think iOS is simpler.

[DigitalHermit]

I'm not saying you are but then someone replies to you with excuses on why android isn't as snappy and eventually it spirals out of control on a completely unrelated topic.

And you said it yourself "I'm talking about user experience with relation to performance" - this is about OS simplicity, an extra fraction of a second delay isn't going to suddenly make 1 OS more complicated than the other.

 

I think we've miscommunicated here...

All I'm saying is that iOS would feel more fluid and snappy without any additional steps...

 

As for simplicity, both would seem equally complicated to the eyes of someone who hasn't had an experience with using smartphones before...

 

I'll excuse myself from this thread if you wish...

[HippY]

1.Never heard people complain about Windows as a whole needing to be reinstalled every 6 months - never had that happen myself either. But that's off-topic.

 

2.Your point about Android 4 being comparable to iOS is basically what I thought - iOS being simpler is just an outdated thought. As for your comment about bling factor - this topic isn't about sales or which does better from a marketing perspective (and why). It's strictly about why people think iOS is simpler.

1. ask several people ( techie and non techie) about Windows. most of them will say that they are bad, as it always breaks

Yeah, 6 month was exaggerated, but my point was it heavily user dependent

But if you take out the ability to install whatever you want ( like on OSX) then you can install less bad programs, so it is better for the everyday people

 

2.but then again the main difference between the iOS and Android is the bling factor.

For example phones like HTC M8 (in red 10/10 bling, would bang) are selling well, as it has the same bling factor as an iPhone

[jayctech]

2.but then again the main difference between the iOS and Android is the bling factor.

For example phones like HTC M8 (in red 10/10 bling, would bang) are selling well, as it has the same bling factor as an iPhone

I'm aware of this but as I said the topic isn't about why one phone sells better than another, it's why iOS is seen as simpler (or argued as) and whether there's any truth to that with modern android.

[HippY]

I'm aware of this but as I said the topic isn't about why one phone sells better than another, it's why iOS is seen as simpler (or argued as) and whether there's any truth to that with modern android.

With modern android no, my granny, my mum and my siblings using Android and they are happy

I hope that Lollipop will bring the fluidity to our screens

[jayctech]

I think we've miscommunicated here...

All I'm saying is that iOS would feel more fluid and snappy without any additional steps...

 

As for simplicity, both would seem equally complicated to the eyes of someone who hasn't had an experience with using smartphones before...

 

I'll excuse myself from this thread if you wish...

What I was saying (unless you can argue otherwise) is that iOS feeling more fluid and snappy is a separate, unrelated experience to the simplicity of the UI/OS. It may well be why it's as popular as it is but that's not what the topic is about. If you disagree and feel it is related to why iOS is perceived as "simpler" then feel free to argue your case.

 

Think of it like this, someone says they got an iPhone because it's simpler than android - what is it that makes them think that? To me, an answer of "it's snappier and more fluid" doesn't seem appropriate, but as I said earlier, if you disagree, go ahead and argue your point.

[DigitalHermit]

What I was saying (unless you can argue otherwise) is that iOS feeling more fluid and snappy is a separate, unrelated experience to the simplicity of the UI/OS. It may well be why it's as popular as it is but that's not what the topic is about. If you disagree and feel it is related to why iOS is perceived as "simpler" then feel free to argue your case.

 

Think of it like this, someone says they got an iPhone because it's simpler than android - what is it that makes them think that? To me, an answer of "it's snappier and more fluid" doesn't seem appropriate, but as I said earlier, if you disagree, go ahead and argue your point.

 

I'd rather not argue at this point (before it escalates any further, something that I do not want to happen)... @Speedbird already summed up the main points at the back of my head...

 

There's also the fingerprint scanner (which started with the 5S) which simplifies several processes to a single step...

[jayctech]

I'd rather not argue at this point (before it escalates any further, something that I do not want to happen)... @Speedbird already summed up the main points at the back of my head...

 

There's also the fingerprint scanner (which started with the 5S) which simplifies several processes to a single step...

You've misunderstood what I meant by argue - more debate rather than an argument - but fair enough.

 

The fingerprint scanner is very nice though.

[DigitalHermit]

You've misunderstood what I meant by argue - more debate rather than an argument - but fair enough.

 

The fingerprint scanner is very nice though.

 

I agree... I mostly stick to low-end to midrange phones so I only have a somewhat basic overview of iOS...

 

Another anecdote:

I did use iOS at work before (I'm a librarian in training and one of the libraries that I trained at lent out iPads loaded with a few hundred ebooks and journal articles)...

 

Collection management was easy if only using iTunes, but I needed to use something more in-depth that iTunes so I had Calibre for OSX installed (my workstation had an iMac)... Linking Calibre to iTunes, I was able to manage the entire collection in a few steps... iBooks listed them all properly, but once you have a few hundred files in it, it becomes a bit complicated...

 

Alongside the iPads, I also had to work on Kindles... Calibre handled the management directly for this which was way simpler than iTunes...

 

With iTunes handling file management for the iOS device, everything becomes simpler (for personal use)...

 

Too bad iTunes is something that I hate (since it can't handle multiple iOS devices too well (no 'profile' for each iOS device), and the way it manages the stuff goes against my personal principle)...