How is iOS "simpler"?

[Orly_0815]

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.

Apple Maps ... well, let's just not talk about that  

And yeah  some tweaks were made but all of them are copied from Android and they don't change overall UI and user experience. 

Most people love that it is still the same OS over and over and over (and over) again, but for me it's just a lack of innovation.

And coming from a company that claims to have reinvented the whole solar system, it is just poor and pathetic...

[pinksnowmanshandle]

It's how Apple created its environment around the user not having to deal with technical things while post 2010 Android has become something that an average person can tolerate, iOS has still maintained its reputation for not being that hard.

I loved Android 4.2 and 4.3 (I haven't been able to use 4.4) but either way I think Lolipop is definitely a turning point in Android history.

 

[Mew]

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'm a techie, I prefer and iPhone over an Android because I know that the battery won't randomly drain on me overnight or during the day, I know that I can count on the app that I'm using to not crash. My experience with android is a lot more limited than it used to be. I had LG's first ever Android phone and ran different custom roms on it to try to get the most performance out of it. I also had an HP Touchpad rooted to run Android, currently 4.4.4. However, the Touchpad has many problems, mostly stability issues and performance issues (Anandtech said the hardware should be about as fast as the A5 in the iPad 2/ 4s, my old 4s was way smoother and a lot quicker than it.....) But this is irrelevant to the question.

 

I have noticed that Apple maps is much better than google maps when it comes to restaurants due to the yelp integration; Many times I would open google maps to try to get directions to a restaurant only to see that it couldn't find the restaurant and Apple maps would find it just fine. 

 

When it comes to input languages, I was told to setup my friend's parent's Android (some lg) with a chinese keyboard, so I naturally went to settings (that was hard to find, looked on the homescreen and couldn't find, swiped down from notification center, still couldn't find, finally found it in app drawer), went through several tabs to find the keyboard input only to find that there is no chinese pinyin keyboard available, I didn't bother looking through the play store because the owner didn't have a google account). This compared to iOS (settings>general>keyboard>keyboard>add new keyboard>select) was a lot more complicated.

[jayctech]

When it comes to input languages, I was told to setup my friend's parent's Android (some lg) with a chinese keyboard, so I naturally went to settings (that was hard to find, looked on the homescreen and couldn't find, swiped down from notification center, still couldn't find, finally found it in app drawer), went through several tabs to find the keyboard input only to find that there is no chinese pinyin keyboard available, I didn't bother looking through the play store because the owner didn't have a google account). This compared to iOS (settings>general>keyboard>keyboard>add new keyboard>select) was a lot more complicated.

Don't know how settings could be hard to find. First conclusion (since it isn't your device) is that if it isn't on the homescreen, it should be in the app drawer. Don't know why notification center was the second place you went to.

Similarly settings>language and input>(name of keyboard)>languages>select.

Language and input seems more obvious to have keyboard settings than general does imo + less buttons to press (4 vs 5 to get to the selection point).

[Orly_0815]

I'm a techie,

[...]

went to settings (that was hard to find [...]

yeah 

[KWelz]

As tech inclined people it is easy for us to say that Android isn't any more difficult.  And for us it really isn't.   However most people are not like us.  

 

I work in Real estate.   My office is comprised of about 12 other people ranging from 26 to around 70.  And not a single one except me is tech inclined.   I can tell you that setting them up on android for phones or Windows for computers is far harder than iOS or Mac OS.  The learning curves are so far removed from each other that it is almost impossible to make a real comparison.  One or two days spent one and off with a person for iOS vs many days for Android.  Getting them the apps they need, Fixing mistakes they made, etc.   And the strange ability of android to not let you hit the answer button!   Seriously what is it with that?  I have personally seen it on just about every android phone.   Happen to get a call at the wrong moment and you can't answer at all.   If it is your buddy calling about lunch who cares.  But what if it is a client wanting to see a house? 

 

In my line of work we need something that just works.  Period.   No screwing around.  No wasting time.   And right now iOS still has the edge there.  

 

I would say that writing a real estate contract is not difficult at all.  Hell I can do it in my sleep pretty much.   But I bet one of you all would not be able to.  The same goes for tech with most other people.  They don't want it to be "easy to fix"   they want it to just work in the first place. 

 

 

 

I can tell you this.  Right now of all the Agents I personally know.   I can think of 2 that don't use iPhones.   So probably 1/4 of one percent or so.   

[jayctech]

As tech inclined people it is easy for us to say that Android isn't any more difficult.  And for us it really isn't.   However most people are not like us.  

 

I work in Real estate.   My office is comprised of about 12 other people ranging from 26 to around 70.  And not a single one except me is tech inclined.   I can tell you that setting them up on android for phones or Windows for computers is far harder than iOS or Mac OS.  The learning curves are so far removed from each other that it is almost impossible to make a real comparison.  One or two days spent one and off with a person for iOS vs many days for Android.  Getting them the apps they need, Fixing mistakes they made, etc.   And the strange ability of android to not let you hit the answer button!   Seriously what is it with that?  I have personally seen it on just about every android phone.   Happen to get a call at the wrong moment and you can't answer at all.   If it is your buddy calling about lunch who cares.  But what if it is a client wanting to see a house? 

 

In my line of work we need something that just works.  Period.   No screwing around.  No wasting time.   And right now iOS still has the edge there.  

 

I would say that writing a real estate contract is not difficult at all.  Hell I can do it in my sleep pretty much.   But I bet one of you all would not be able to.  The same goes for tech with most other people.  They don't want it to be "easy to fix"   they want it to just work in the first place. 

 

 

 

I can tell you this.  Right now of all the Agents I personally know.   I can think of 2 that don't use iPhones.   So probably 1/4 of one percent or so.   

You haven't given any examples of what make them more complicated - you've basically just said they are. You say setting them up is harder on android - I say how? That's the point of the topic. I've set up devices on both ecosystems recently and to me there's virtually no difference, if you disagree you need to say more than "iOS is just easier".

As for your issue about the phone ringing and not being able to answer - this is a reliability thing and while it may well factor into why people buy iPhones over android, it isn't strictly related to the simplicity of the UI which is what this topic is about.

[KWelz]

Fair enough.   A few examples before I run out to a meeting.  

 

Those widgets you love so much?  They screw with people.   I am amazed at the number of people who just don't get them.  Simple icon with a notification works much better.   

 

All apps being available without hitting another button by default.  In iOS any new apps are just added to the home screen or a new screen.   On Android this is often not the case.   They are added to the apps screen, not the home screen.   Is the extra button push a problem?  actually for some people yeah it is.  

 

To put it simply the layout is just easier for most people to use.   

 

Here is the big one though.  And I know a lot of people are going to disagree.    Having all that control, having all those options.   It causes problems.  Oh not for us.   But when someone can easily download an app that changes basic functionality, or change a setting that screws with something?  Oh yeah that is all kinds of fun to fix.  Because people who don't know what they are doing will do that sort of thing.   

 

How many of us have had to fix a relatives computer that had ask.com toolbar or weather buddy or something similar installed.  Similar things happen all the time with android when you have people who don't know better.   

[Mew]

Don't know how settings could be hard to find. First conclusion (since it isn't your device) is that if it isn't on the homescreen, it should be in the app drawer. Don't know why notification center was the second place you went to.

Similarly settings>language and input>(name of keyboard)>languages>select.

Language and input seems more obvious to have keyboard settings than general does imo + less buttons to press (4 vs 5 to get to the selection point).

Because I vaguely remembered that in I think 4.4, if you swipe down with 2 fingers, you could access quick toggles as well settings.

[jayctech]

Fair enough.   A few examples before I run out to a meeting.  

 

1) Those widgets you love so much?  They screw with people.   I am amazed at the number of people who just don't get them.  Simple icon with a notification works much better.   

 

2) All apps being available without hitting another button by default.  In iOS any new apps are just added to the home screen or a new screen.   On Android this is often not the case.   They are added to the apps screen, not the home screen.   Is the extra button push a problem?  actually for some people yeah it is.  

 

3) To put it simply the layout is just easier for most people to use.   

 

4) Here is the big one though.  And I know a lot of people are going to disagree.    Having all that control, having all those options.   It causes problems.  Oh not for us.   But when someone can easily download an app that changes basic functionality, or change a setting that screws with something?  Oh yeah that is all kinds of fun to fix.  Because people who don't know what they are doing will do that sort of thing.   

 

How many of us have had to fix a relatives computer that had ask.com toolbar or weather buddy or something similar installed.  Similar things happen all the time with android when you have people who don't know better.   

1) Interesting point. Could you expand on this?

 

2) By default the Play Store is set to put everything installed from it on a homescreen.

 

3) Before I go into my point, I'll just say I'm interpreting this to refer to the homescreens; my own example and someone else's of finding something in settings should indicate android is simpler there. - This is a mute point I think. The fact you're so limited is completely counter-balanced by the ability in android to put things where you want. I tried looking for an app on my dad's iPhone when I started using it alongside my own (I think it was the music app), took me a minute or 2 to realise it was in a random folder on the 3rd page. In contrast, the android app drawer is alphabetical.

 

4) I started writing something here but while typing I started to question whether this point actually addresses simplicity... This seems more which is simpler to "fix". I'll paste what I originally wrote below anyway.

There's a point here.. Sort of.. The people likely to "mess up" the way their phone works are people like us who will just as willingly go out of their way to see if they can resolve it. An average user isn't going to stumble across an app that breaks their phone and download it. The difference here is that techies can mess up android but can't iOS - but they were probably trying to mess it up anyway.

[jayctech]

Because I vaguely remembered that in I think 4.4, if you swipe down with 2 fingers, you could access quick toggles as well settings.

I'm aware of that - some skins even before then had a link in the main notification area too.

 

I said I wasn't sure why notification area was the first place you went to after the homescreens because (to me) someone that "doesn't know" android would go to the app drawer first (it's in the damn name!).

[Mew]

I'm aware of that - some skins even before then had a link in the main notification area too.

I said I wasn't sure why notification area was the first place you went to after the homescreens because (to me) someone that "doesn't know" android would go to the app drawer first (it's in the damn name!).

Because as I said before, I had some experience with Android and still keep up with it.

[Orly_0815]

 

 

 But when someone can easily download an app that changes basic functionality, or change a setting that screws with something?  

 

Like what? Accidentally rooting your device and installing some custom rom? I doubt that ever happens.

I know most people aren't that familiar with tech, but are you working with mentally challenged people?

No offence, but if you act THAT stupid, you simply don't need a smartphone. PERIOD.

[KWelz]

See my replies in red for ease of reading.  

 

1) Interesting point. Could you expand on this?

 

Honestly not the easiest to describe.   I like them so I don't get it either.  But people have trouble with them.   Email widgets seem to be the biggest issue.  

 

Which brings me to another point.  Stock android email sucks.   Want exchange support? It is second rate at best.  Want push support?   Goodluck with that.  And that brings me back to simplicity.  Why should you have to download (and often pay for) another email client.  Yes it has gotten better but lets face it.  For people that email all the time and rely on it for their livelihood, Android has often had problems.  

 

 

2) By default the Play Store is set to put everything installed from it on a homescreen.

 

​This has not been my experience.   Android app organization has often been a mess.  The thing I personally like about it is the ability to not have to fill a space to put something somewhere.  You can have gaps.   But once again.  Most people don't care.  

 

3) Before I go into my point, I'll just say I'm interpreting this to refer to the homescreens; my own example and someone else's of finding something in settings should indicate android is simpler there. - This is a mute point I think. The fact you're so limited is completely counter-balanced by the ability in android to put things where you want. I tried looking for an app on my dad's iPhone when I started using it alongside my own (I think it was the music app), took me a minute or 2 to realise it was in a random folder on the 3rd page. In contrast, the android app drawer is alphabetical.

 

If the app was there he put it there.  And the App Drawer is exactly the problem many people have.    Limited is good when it comes to most people.  that is exactly my point.  And searching on iOS is stupid easy. Much easier to show to someone that most version of android.  

 

4) I started writing something here but while typing I started to question whether this point actually addresses simplicity... This seems more which is simpler to "fix". I'll paste what I originally wrote below anyway.

There's a point here.. Sort of.. The people likely to "mess up" the way their phone works are people like us who will just as willingly go out of their way to see if they can resolve it. An average user isn't going to stumble across an app that breaks their phone and download it. The difference here is that techies can mess up android but can't iOS - but they were probably trying to mess it up anyway.

 

Is it going to "break" their phone?  But will it confuse them? Oh yeah!  Multiple messaging apps and multiple dialers seem to be the most common I saw.   It doesn't take a techie to download something from the app store that makes things look completely different.  Some of these people are upset they had to get rid of their flip phone.   So imagine their panic when suddenly things are completely different looking and they don't know why.   Think it can't happen?   I will introduce you to Norma.   

 

Another point I didn't touch on that does apply to simplicity is the the continuity of iOS.  There are no different flavors unless you have an older phone that can't upgrade.   Whereas with Android there are many different versions.   Someone has to get a loaner phone while they send theirs in to be fixed or replaced and it is different that the GS3 they had before.  

 

I think the point you are missing is that no it isn't any harder for us.  But it is for a lot of people.   It doesn't matter if to us it should not be.  It doesn't matter if it makes no sense.  All that matters is the reality of their situations.  

[KWelz]

Like what? Accidentally rooting your device and installing some custom rom? I doubt that ever happens.

I know most people aren't that familiar with tech, but are you working with mentally challenged people?

No offence, but if you act THAT stupid, you simply don't need a smartphone. PERIOD.

 

This is exactly why a lot of Tech people don't get it.   We are not talking about major changes here.  We are talking about people who freak out if one little thing looks or acts different.  People that I would almost call Technophobic.  You see Rooting the device as a Major change.  They see their ringer changing as a life-changing event.  

 

Hell my dad is a great example of this.  He was a Nuclear tech in the Airforce and a member of Mensa.  Literally built and maintained nuclear missiles and warheads.  But put him in front of a computer and he gets frustrated and just wants to give up.  he still has a flip phone and dreads having to switch to a smartphone when it dies.  

[KWelz]

I like Android.  But honestly I still prefer iOS for a few reasons.  Not the least of which is that most of my computers are Apple computers so they work better together without having to install anything else.   I really liked my LG L3 but it got replaced with an iPhone 6 when it came out.  Smaller screen?  Lower Resolution?  Sure.  But I have to fiddle with it less.  And more importantly I don't miss important emails when they first come in!.  

[jayctech]

See my replies in red for ease of reading.  

 

 

5) Another point I didn't touch on that does apply to simplicity is the the continuity of iOS.  There are no different flavors unless you have an older phone that can't upgrade.   Whereas with Android there are many different versions.   Someone has to get a loaner phone while they send theirs in to be fixed or replaced and it is different that the GS3 they had before.  

 

I think the point you are missing is that no it isn't any harder for us.  But it is for a lot of people.   It doesn't matter if to us it should not be.  It doesn't matter if it makes no sense.  All that matters is the reality of their situations.  

1) That's a shame.. I've never heard of people finding widgets confusing before so I was interested in this.

 

2 + 3) How is android app organization a mess? Like I said before - the app drawer is alphabetical. Similarly the homescreens only have what you put there (and where you want it) as well as whatever you download from the Play Store (unless you disable that feature like I have). Here's an example - say you want to find an app you haven't used in a long time (month or so maybe) and in the meantime they've changed the icon image. You're not finding that easily in iOS. For android simply look in app drawer and it's there. It seems to me this is also a mute point as it appears to be subjective. It's not simpler vs how you want it; it's not having any control and getting used to it vs how you want it. If you read OP you'll see my first 3 smartphones were all iPhones, I hadn't even touched an android phone at that point. At that time itself I had these thoughts: Why can't I put an app where I want it? Why can't I hide apps I can't delete (apps like Stocks was what I had in mind at the time)? Why isn't there an automated way to organize all these apps?

As for the search function - modern android has it too. This links back to my OP - is iOS being simpler an outdated thought?

Also, what's confusing about the app drawer?

 

4) This seems like quite a feat. I've never seen any non-techie (or heard of) changing their phone so much on accident (eg using a launcher). 99% of the people I've met with an android phone have done fk all to customize it (and it bugs the sh*t out of me cause there are so many ways they could improve their experience so easily). That remaining 1% are either techies or people competent enough to see what they can do with the device. Perhaps we're just talking with experience from different demographics? (you say some people were unhappy to get rid of their flip phone whereas I haven't seen a non-smartphone in the last 3 years)

 

5) Yeah the different flavors are something. Most people when you say android jump to Samsung anyway, which is annoying. It's not a point I can dispute since I've only experienced other android phones through the eyes of a techie (whereas when I was using an iPhone and when I first swapped to my Note2, I wasn't).

[KWelz]

I am not saying i find those things confusing.  But some people indeed do.   

Never underestimate the ability of non tech people to screw things up.

 

And I do agree with you.  I wish Apple had a few more options on organization.   It is probably my biggest complaint now.    I have said before and will say it again.  My ideal phone is a blend of the iPhone 6 and the LG G3.

[Skanic]

I think from my experience of booth iOS and Android i find windows phone to be the simplest of all.

 

It has UI consistency where all apps have the same UI design.

 

In terms of customization its a mix of Android and iOS in that it offers you lots of way to customize it but also doesn't give you complete android like control with rooting etc.

 

Live tiles instead of the old boring row of icons are very good imo, Often you don't even need to open an app as you can see the information at a glance.

 

Live folders for more organized homescreens.

I also find the typing and auto correction to be very good on windows phone better than swype or ios stock keyboard.

Phone history

Sony k660i

HTC Tattoo

HTC Wildfire

Galaxy Nexus

Iphone 4s

Lumia 925

Lumia 930

 

I don't really agree with KWelz about the messing up part with android, When you install an app that changes for example the ringer than it firsst ask you if you want to use it as standard. Also i have never seen someone mess up their android phone. As i have seen people mess up their pcs.

[jayctech]

I think from my experience of booth iOS and Android i find windows phone to be the simplest of all.

 

It has UI consistency where all apps have the same UI design.

 

In terms of customization its a mix of Android and iOS in that it offers you lots of way to customize it but also doesn't give you complete android like control with rooting etc.

 

Live tiles instead of the old boring row of icons are very good imo, Often you don't even need to open an app as you can see the information at a glance.

 

Live folders for more organized homescreens.

I also find the typing and auto correction to be very good on windows phone better than swype or ios stock keyboard.

Phone history

Sony k660i

HTC Tattoo

HTC Wildfire

Galaxy Nexus

Iphone 4s

Lumia 925

Lumia 930

 

I don't really agree with KWelz about the messing up part with android, When you install an app that changes for example the ringer than it firsst ask you if you want to use it as standard. Also i have never seen someone mess up their android phone. As i have seen people mess up their pcs.

I recently played about with a Windows Phone. It's a 2 year old HTC 8X or something so I'm not sure how up to date it is. My main issue was that pretty much all the stock apps were blue and and the background was just plain black. I could change the color of the tiles but that would change every stock app color so the end result was they were still the same color. Maybe it was because I don't really make use of MS services so I couldn't take advantage of the live tiles? One thing that really bugged me was that every email account was given its own tile. Not a bad thought in principle but there was no way for me to differentiate 2 emails from the same host (eg gmail). But yeah, it's an okay platform functionality wise. Visually it just seemed very inferior to its competition.

[Skanic]

I recently played about with a Windows Phone. It's a 2 year old HTC 8X or something so I'm not sure how up to date it is. My main issue was that pretty much all the stock apps were blue and and the background was just plain black. I could change the color of the tiles but that would change every stock app color so the end result was they were still the same color. Maybe it was because I don't really make use of MS services so I couldn't take advantage of the live tiles? One thing that really bugged me was that every email account was given its own tile. Not a bad thought in principle but there was no way for me to differentiate 2 emails from the same host (eg gmail). But yeah, it's an okay platform functionality wise. Visually it just seemed very inferior to its competition.

Lot of stuff has changed since the release of windows phone 8.1

You can have background wallpapers for your homescreen, the background can be black or white, then you got the theme color which is for example what cortana makes it look green or the sms bubbles.

I can use youtube and gmail flawlessly on windows phone. You can differentiate the emails now.

Also from Linus's HTC one m8 for windows he was more needed to use either iOS or Android since those of the google apps for a youtuber. Its funny how Microsoft brings out all its software to iOS and Android and even still wp is left behind by Microsoft. 

The way i see it.

iOS if you want to game a lot on your phone and don't want to do any tinkering.

Android if you want to push the limits of your phone and root flash  roms etc.

Windows phone if you want a reliable and stable, fluid Operating System.

I used to tinker a ton with android but in the end i just wanted windows phone from what i have experienced.

On my PC yes i want to tinker with it, but my phone i just want it to work reliable.

 

Your HTC 8X should be upgradeable to windows phone 8.1 last i heard the update is supposed to roll out this November.

 

What i am really stocked for is Windows 10 which will put together the windows 8 store together with the windows phone store, which makes it very easy for developers to create apps on the pc and just make them fit and work on every device.