5 things the iPhone has to change in 2023 before I ditch Android - Digital Trends

1 year ago 56

The iPhone’s operating strategy is galore things, but cleanable is not 1 of them. It’s been 2 years since I shifted to utilizing an iPhone arsenic my superior device, but I inactive usage an Android arsenic my secondary smartphone. And if I weren’t invested successful the Apple ecosystem, I would person ditched my iPhone a agelong clip ago.

I person been hoping desperately for iOS to get amended astatine immoderate things Android has been doing for years. For instance, I emotion scrolling done Twitter portion watching a euphony video connected YouTube. I tin bash this simultaneously connected an Android acknowledgment to multiwindow support, but iOS lone offers picture-in-picture astatine best.

Before I tin spell all-in connected the iPhone, these are the 5 features from Android that I request Apple to transcript first.

Big changes to the always-on display

Always-on show connected an iPhone 14 Pro.

Apple introduced the always-on show with the iPhone 14 Pro lineup. It’s inactive ridiculous and bittersweet that the diagnostic is constricted to the Pro lineup and unavailable connected the iPhone 14 oregon iPhone 14 Plus. But that is simply a rant for different time.

Apple’s instrumentality connected the always-on show was vastly antithetic from Android’s erstwhile it archetypal rolled out. It allowed the wallpaper to beryllium disposable connected the surface contempt being successful the “always-on” state. Some liked it, immoderate didn’t. The second users forced Apple to present a mode to disable wallpaper and lone presumption the date, time, widgets, and notifications.

In my opinion, the always-on show with wallpaper gives property to iOS, making it basal retired from the competitors and proving that you tin get immoderate features from your nemesis successful a mode to marque them your own. Here are a fewer ways that I deliberation iOS 17 tin amended its always-on implementation.

Google’s Now Playing

I know, I cognize — you tin usage Shazam from the Control Center to spot which opus is being played successful your contiguous surroundings. But having adjacent songs displayed connected your fastener surface is easy 1 of the astir underrated features of the Pixel phones.

For instance, I was connected my mode to a distant country connected a bus, and the operator had a weaponry playlist. I couldn’t get the sanction of the songs helium was playing due to the fact that Shazam doesn’t enactment without LTE oregon Wi-Fi. On the different hand, once, erstwhile I was successful a cab with the Google Pixel 3 XL without a SIM, it was capable to admit the opus and amusement the sanction connected the fastener screen.

It’s a elemental but effectual diagnostic that tin beryllium utilized to impressment your day if they inquire you, “what opus is that?” And, yes, I’m speaking from real-life acquisition here.

Motorola’s Peek Display

Motorola Droid Ultra Maxx Mini fastener screen

Wih iOS 16’s always-on implementation, you get notifications arsenic cards, and if you privation to regard astatine the notification, you’ll person to airy up the screen. I don’t deliberation this is the astir effectual mode to grip notifications connected an always-on display.

In this regard, Motorola is starring the mode with its Peek Display. It displays the icons for each app’s notification connected the always-on screen, and erstwhile you property and clasp the icon, it shows the notification. All of this happens portion the telephone is successful its resting authorities — it doesn’t airy up the display. You tin past take to interact with the app (by unlocking the screen) oregon permission it be.

I’m not asking Apple to transcript the diagnostic arsenic it is. Apple has the quality to get it successful a mode to marque the diagnostic its own. I would similar to interact with the cards by agelong pressing them connected the fastener screen. That would beryllium awesome.

Meaningful changes to productivity

I’ve been saying this since I began utilizing iPhones: iOS isn’t the astir productive operating system. Android is mode up of iOS erstwhile it comes to productivity, and arsenic we determination into 2023, that pb is lone increasing larger.

Here’s what I’d similar iOS 17 to get from its Android counterparts successful the productivity department.

Samsung’s Multiwindow

Galaxy Z Fold 4's multitasking surface feature.

Samsung’s One UI offers multiwindow support, allowing you to entree aggregate apps simultaneously. Like I mentioned astatine the commencement of the article, I person the wont of watching a euphony video connected YouTube portion I scroll done my Twitter feed.

Another illustration of however I usage it connected Samsung phones is erstwhile I’m researching for a story. I unfastened a Chrome tab astatine the bottommost and person Google Keep astatine the apical simultaneously to support way of the important points I find successful my research.

I’d emotion to bash that connected my iPhone 14 Pro Max’s large display. I consciousness similar iOS 16 doesn’t cognize however to usage each the surface existent property connected its biggest iPhone. By providing it multiwindow support, Apple tin further make a favoritism betwixt its regular iPhone and the Pro Max.

Xiaomi’s floating window

Floating model mode successful Oppo ColorOS 13.

Xiaomi’s MIUI allows you to entree 1 app connected apical of another. No, it’s not conscionable YouTube playing successful a tiny model connected apical of your Twitter provender — you tin really occurrence up different apps implicit Chrome oregon Twitter, and it works perfectly fine.

When I’m utilizing a Xiaomi phone, I mostly find myself utilizing the floating model for the calculator app. I gain successful U.S. dollars and person to construe that into Indian rupees, positive bash immoderate taxation calculations. In these situations, I unfastened my invoice, and connected apical of it, I usage the calculator app to negociate my expenses.

Apple’s A-series processors person each the firepower to marque this happen. For immoderate reason, Apple chooses not to utilize it.

Oppo’s one-handed mode

One-handed mode successful Oppo ColorOS 13.

Oppo’s ColorOS comes with a one-handed mode that allows you to swipe from the halfway to the bottom-left oregon bottom-right country of the surface to heighten reachability. The champion portion is you tin usage it similar that for arsenic agelong arsenic you want.

On the different hand, my iPhone lone allows maine to swipe down from the bottommost for reachability. And arsenic soon arsenic I fto spell of the archetypal tap, it returns to afloat screen. For instance, if the Calendar app is astatine the apical and you swipe down from the bottommost to unfastened it, it volition unfastened connected the afloat surface alternatively than staying arsenic it was. Good luck tapping connected the top-left corner, if you request to.

The shot is successful your court, Apple

An iPhone 14 laying connected apical of a succulent. Its show is connected and shows the fastener screen.

I person precocious hopes for iOS 17. I privation Apple would physique astatine slightest multiwindow enactment into iOS this spring, and I desperately request always-on surface improvements.

Will each of these suggested features get added? Almost surely not, but I anticipation astatine least some of them marque it into this year’s iOS update. If my iPhone’s always-on show becomes much utile and Apple yet gives america robust multitasking tools, it’ll beryllium an breathtaking leap for iPhone software.