Apple iPhone 5 disappointment

[AlphaJohn]

Although I know what problem you are referring to I never actually find myself having that problem.

The closest I get to it is opening links in Safari that could have been opened natively by its own App. Vodio links are a good example.

So that brings me back to Apple building the device for a purpose, a purpose which is NOT being a computer and therefore not being designed for the same kind of tasks with the same kind of complexities.

Android on the other hand try to be as close as possible to a touchscreen based computer without being one.

Windows doesn't even try to do a touchscreen properly, it just slaps the same OS into a tablet and carries on with the same old broken logic.

*****

Note that I'm not saying you are wrong and Apple is right...just that I can see where the fundamental concept comes from, and it doesn't necessarily work for all users but it does cater for most.

And the majority are really the ones that matter.

Most non-geeks can't operate a file system to save their lives, so keeping it away from them is a good thing.

You are aware that you do not need a file manager on Android?

It auto indexes files like MP3's, JPG's and so on doesn't matter where or what saved them to the SD card or even phone memory. If you open any media app, it reads said index and present that media ready for use, same with pictures and whatnot. The reason Geek's tend to use them is cause they like things organized, I guess its also needed for hacking, as most of said files will not be indexed as its not part of default use.

I still do not see why iOS could not have gone this route. Sure in the start I can understand but now with iCloud all they could have done is create a simple "MyCloud" on the device and add an API for devs to save or retrieve files from such a location.

Edit: Oh, iOS private files stores for every app gets even worse when you get to the PC. Using iTunes to manage each app's space made matters worse, not easier and that comes from the Mrs(iPhone user), not me.

 

[FreeStanler]

Thanks for good reply, SauronZA.

I understand and appreciate it being built for a purpose reason. It is a good reason.

There is also good reason for others (like myself) who like the choice of a smartphone behaving like a computer (à la file management). Noobs still use Android's (I referred to granny's carrying around S3's earlier), but the choice is there to do more. This probably introduces a bit of risk, but I believe the benefits for many outweigh the tiny risk for the masses.

I am just in love with my Android and how empowered and efficient I feel using it, and managing many/most digital components of my life from it.

In a huge sense, I am rooting for Apple to innovate, or do whatever they need to, for these two powerhouses to keep each other on their toes.

An overly simple analogy:
Apple is like the Republicans: conservative/traditional (small incremental changes; do what has always worked, why change it, where is your [blind] patriotism). Allows it to do those things really well. A sense of their glory days behind them (Jobs/Reagan), now they are playing catch-up to Android in many regards. Still, who cares, it works fantastic for what most people think that is all they need.

And Android like the Democrats: liberal/progressive (quicker to incorporate new ideas and changes). But the technologies not all extremely consistent and baby-easy out of the box and a (IMO, a decreasing sense of) fragmentation for a slightly more disparate user experience.

Though that would be a gross oversimplification and childish analogy. I am posting rubbish this late at night. But I am going to tap that 'submit' button anyway.

 

[BeVonk!]

My biggest grip with iOS is the lack of freedom. When I talk about making a brave big stride forward this is what is at the heart of it. I like AJ's on-device "myCloud" idea. Apple wants to stay away from an on-device central file depository ("myCloud") because they believe it comes with security risks they are not willing to expose the user to. Surely they are smart enough to come up with a way to protect the user but still give him/her a way to mange files on the device ... more freedom? Apple will win me back immediately if I can manage files on my device as is the case with Android.

Woz has been saying this for years. He's recommended to Apple to make this change for a long time. But they won't listen. Give us more freedom Apple. You will reap more market share. We don't want to mess around with work-arounds and iTunes PLEASE! Just frikkin listen to users for once. Most people do not appreciate dictators.

We are not asking for Apple to pull a ModernUI trick on us. MS is also acting like dictators by pushing it onto us with no choice but to swallow the pill. My reaction to MS is the same as to Apple: I am a big boy now, I want choice and freedom. The world is getting more and more tech savvy and fewer people need nannies. My kids are tech savvy enough to demand more freedom already. The upcoming generation will demand more freedom. But will Apple be the next RIM which tells a new generation to go to hell (to end up there themselves)?

I can't even choose my own keyboard style on iOS. Why not? Simple things like these will be demanded by the next gen of buyers. Google gives us total control. They will win the next gen over because of that. But Apple can change ... but will they? ... or will we see another RIM which needed to fire their CEO's to get rid of the "we've always done it like this" mentality that is fatal in the end (no matter where your share price sits now).

 

[cerebus]

As for Apple, I would say simple theme support would have gone a long way. Nothing drastic, just simple color and custom Icons would have done the trick. Maybe something like old MIUI.

I really think this hunger that you imagine to be out there for customisation is quite overrated. Look at cars - how many people buy with a view to being able to customise their vehicles? Certainly there are some who do - a highly enthusiastic body of people - but they represent the minority of sales. Most people keep their cars stock and pray never to need to look under the bonnet, as it means something went wrong.

In my office there's an even split with iOS/Android roughly - and I can think of one person out of the whole lot besides me who runs something other than stock. And even those of us who did root, did so to get the latest version of Android, and then basically left the stock launcher alone (which is about as boring as iOS + widgets).

 

[AlphaJohn]

I really think this hunger that you imagine to be out there for customisation is quite overrated. Look at cars - how many people buy with a view to being able to customise their vehicles? Certainly there are some who do - a highly enthusiastic body of people - but they represent the minority of sales. Most people keep their cars stock and pray never to need to look under the bonnet, as it means something went wrong.

In my office there's an even split with iOS/Android roughly - and I can think of one person out of the whole lot besides me who runs something other than stock. And even those of us who did root, did so to get the latest version of Android, and then basically left the stock launcher alone (which is about as boring as iOS + widgets).

Not once did I mention root or flash. I know that area of the world belong to geeks. I am talking none stock wallpapers, and widgets. But I get it, you say all Android phones look the same, funny that have not come across people like that. Oh and if your car analogy was really in play no one would have used cool cases for their phones either.

 

[Hush9300]

Yes, iOS needs a document repository and a revised app switcher but that is hardly an overhaul.

With the screen size increasing I'd like the notification centre to be where Spotlight search currently is and the swipe down from the top be reserved for system toggles but that's just me.

 

[cerebus]

Not once did I mention root or flash. I know that area of the world belong to geeks. I am talking none stock wallpapers, and widgets. But I get it, you say all Android phones look the same, funny that have not come across people like that. Oh and if your car analogy was really in play no one would have used cool cases for their phones either.

I don't think all Android phones look the same, that isn't what I said at all. I said that most people don't customize their phones beyond the stock layout and suite of wallpapers and widgets. I.e., if their phone came with Touchwiz, they leave Touchwiz on there.

And I know there are people who DO love to customize. I'm saying it doesn't represent the majority. And in fact getting a personalized case is a form of personalization that can be just as powerful as the homescreen.

 

[Dolby]

Yes, iOS needs a document repository and a revised app switcher but that is hardly an overhaul

Shortcuts would be amazing ... and I think widgets would be pretty fantastic too.

I know they have their reasons for instability and love to control everything - so they can have set widgets to display on screen if they'd like to keep that ie calendar, appointments etc

iOS feels very 90s when I go from my Android

 

[cerebus]

iOS feels very 90s when I go from my Android

Really? Because if I start using the apps on my device, I see still a huge disparity in quality between Android and iOS. You can polish up the UI no end, but the robustness of Apple's development environment is still leagues ahead of Android's. And I'm talking about apps like Paper which has this incredibly fluid, beautiful interface; or Reeder, or Kingdom Rush HD, Evernote, Dropbox, Google Maps - better and more consistent than their Android counterparts, if the counterparts even exist. So I end up spending about 2 seconds on the homescreen, flip to the app I want, and spend my whole time actually using the thing. Then who cares about customising a homescreen? It feels quite pointless now.

 

[2026]

I really think this hunger that you imagine to be out there for customisation is quite overrated. Look at cars - how many people buy with a view to being able to customise their vehicles? Certainly there are some who do - a highly enthusiastic body of people - but they represent the minority of sales. Most people keep their cars stock and pray never to need to look under the bonnet, as it means something went wrong.

In my office there's an even split with iOS/Android roughly - and I can think of one person out of the whole lot besides me who runs something other than stock. And even those of us who did root, did so to get the latest version of Android, and then basically left the stock launcher alone (which is about as boring as iOS + widgets).

If I could change my cars features, FOR FREE and INSTANTLY I think most people would change how their car looks. As for messing with the engine, that's like messing with the kernel on OS terms, and very few people actually do that these days as is.

 

[cerebus]

If I could change my cars features, FOR FREE and INSTANTLY I think most people would change how their car looks.

I know, I know it's just an analogy. But ok, so how many people do you know really get deeply into personalizing their phones? Adding a couple of widgets and a custom wallpaper doesn't count. There IS an overhead to it - finding new launchers, browsing on sites like XDA, configuring the tools - it's more effort than most people are willing to expend just to get a cool looking new homescreen.

 

[Hush9300]

Yes, iOS needs a document repository and a revised app switcher but that is hardly an overhaul

Shortcuts would be amazing ... and I think widgets would be pretty fantastic too.

I know they have their reasons for instability and love to control everything - so they can have set widgets to display on screen if they'd like to keep that ie calendar, appointments etc

iOS feels very 90s when I go from my Android

This is my gripe. People want iOS to function like Android. It's not going to happen. The Blackberry 10 OS looks like nice hybrid of the 2 and seems like an interesting alternative although there will be no customisation there too.

Best thing is to buy Android devices as it allows you the necessary freedom you crave and leave the 90's UI alone. It's pretty simple really.

 

[cerebus]

This is my gripe. People want iOS to function like Android.

SOME people want it to function like Android. Others are afraid of change. Others still have practical ideas of how to improve it in significant ways. You can't please everyone, and Apple will just remain Apple.

 

[BeVonk!]

Jailbreaking and customising iOS must be a false rumour ...

 

[Hush9300]

Jailbreaking and customising iOS must be a false rumour ...

300 million + devices have not been jailbroken.

Jailbreaking is done by only the handful who like to fiddle. Even then I've seen jailbreakers leave their UI stock.

 

[AlphaJohn]

Jailbreaking and customising iOS must be a false rumour ...

Well since iPhone 5 /iOS 6. Yes it is.

Makes me wonder about the future in that line. Hope next OS gets a jailbreak and no I am not talking piracy as you can now do this without Jailbreak.

 

[RPG_Fan]

Well since iPhone 5 /iOS 6. Yes it is.

Makes me wonder about the future in that line. Hope next OS gets a jailbreak and no I am not talking piracy as you can now do this without Jailbreak.

I would bet a large portion of owners that jailbreak their phones is mainly to pirate apps.
Apple has created a tight eco system that makes everything coincide with each other. This comes at price that requires imposing restrictions to the software and hardware. The overall benefit is a consistent experience for all users and proper QA for its software. I can vouch for that as I had my Iphone jailbroken many times and can say that the IOS not jailbroken tends to be more stable and also provides better battery life.
Though the level of innovation introduced from the 3 to the 5 is concerning.

 

[Sinbad]

The two things I miss about not being jailbroken any more are sbsettings and ntpdate.

Neither of which is illegal or pirating.

 

[sand_man]

Well since iPhone 5 /iOS 6. Yes it is.

Makes me wonder about the future in that line. Hope next OS gets a jailbreak and no I am not talking piracy as you can now do this without Jailbreak.

http://www.redmondpie.com/ios-6-jai...vad3rs-will-likely-be-released-after-ios-6.1/

Figureheads of the community like Pod2g, Planetbeing, Musclenerd and Pimskeks today have announced the birth of a new iOS 6 jailbreak team called Evad3rs, with the good news being that it looks like they may just have what they need, and are just waiting for Apple to release iOS 6.1 before they release iOS 6 untethered jailbreak for iPhone 5, iPad mini and all other devices to public.

The reason I didn't upgrade to the iPhone 5 was the lack of jailbreak and the scuff-gate saga.

If Apple ever completely close the jailbreak loophole I'll move on.

iOS is solid but is lacking radical change. The jailbreak community brings that change.

iOS7 needs to do a lot better. As mentioned earlier custom icon packs, custom themes available via the AppStore. Can't be so difficult to implement and will give the springboard that much required refresh.

Live icons is a must. If Apple's not going with widgets, then at least live icons. Again not all that difficult to implement. iWidgets is a jailbreak app that already does something similar.

Being able to pin shortcuts to the springboard like wifi and bluetooth toggles, such a basic and fundamental feature for most OS but sorely missing in iOS and so incredibly simple to implement. Already such an app exists for jailbreakers aptly called Homescreen.

Of course the obligatory file sharing abilities. If I want to send a picture to facebook, twitter, dropbox, photobucket, cloud, whatsapp, email etc etc the feature should be there to do that.

More functional notification centre, plenty concepts doing the rounds, more functional multi-task bar, plenty of concepts doing the rounds.

Quasar,a multi-tasking app available to jailbreakers. Such a feature incorporated into iOS7 would totally transform how people interact with their iPads.

 

[bwana]

Live icons is a must. If Apple's not going with widgets, then at least live icons. Again not all that difficult to implement. iWidgets is a jailbreak app that already does something similar.

By live icons do you mean something like a weather app that displays the current conditions or a calendar app that displays the current date?