It’s WAR!
No, we’re not talking tanks and troops and bombs and bullets…
We’re talking about Apple’s (APPL) unveiling of their iOS8 to debut in the fall and how the originators of the world’s most popular smart phone are taking aim at their biggest competitor – Android.
Samsung has been making such progress into grabbing a HUGE chunk of the smart phone market – Apple decided to take a closer look at what draws consumers to their product and is now going to run a full on assault on the Google-based product.
The question was where to start?
That was easy…
It’s a simple matter to poll Android users why they prefer the system to Apple’s iOS – and then attacking those deficiencies head on.
What follows are some of the solutions that Apple has come back with…
• Apple is finally going to open beta testing for apps… this means that finally, developers will be able to give away more copies of its apps for testing, which should make for a better, overall product.
• It’s allowing third-party apps to integrate with iOS on a deeper level that it has allowed before. Photo apps like VSCOCam will be able to work right in the Apple Photos app instead of having to toggle back and forth. They’re also allowing third-party keyboards too, so companies like Swype (one of the aspects that makes the Android keyboard so popular) can make an iPhone keyboard.
• Apple also announced the addition of widgets to the iOS notification center. Meaning you can get the weather, sports scores, headline news, etc. at just a glance at your phone’s lock screen.
• iCloud photo storage has been upgraded significantly. You can now store all of your photos in iCloud (for a nominal fee, of course).
• Spotlight search is more thorough. Instead of seeing just what’s on the iPhone, Spotlight will now be a universal search tool that looks through the internet, App Store, and other information centers.
• iCloud Drive will now be just like Dropbox or Google Drive. Meaning you can give other people access to files or content if desired. Taking file condensing and emails out of the equation.
• The iPhone will now have a “Super Energy” saver – where the screen is changed from color to black and grey – thereby significantly extending battery life.
Add that to the addition of a bigger iPhone (Apple plans to release a 4.7 inch screen as well as a 5.5 inch version) and it looks like Apple is trying to exterminate the Android with extreme prejudice.
And who could blame them?
Android has been steadily gaining steam in the smartphone world and Samsung’s Galaxy series is a big reason why…
But yesterday’s big reveal may have many former iOS expatriots finding their way back into Apple’s loving embrace.
The only thing Android will have over Apple’s from here on out is the camera function, and let’s be honest, if you’re choosing a phone because of it’s camera – you’re choosing poorly.
The iPhone is slowly, but surely, begin to gain some of the ground it has lost over the past few years – and with these new additions to the operating system – they may be just about to close the book on “which system is better.”
Apple’s iOS is much more user friendly – and by integrating the elements of the Android that people want – Steve Jobs can hopefully rest in peace.
Things were rocky there for a little bit after jobs passing…
But Tim Cook may finally have found his “sea legs” and is ready to take the legacy that Jobs left behind and bring Apple forward again.
Reclaim that mantle of excellence and innovation that was once their sole domain.
It may be time for Android to raise the white flag…