Tag: ios

iOS default icons throughout the years

//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

Well that came true

//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

The Verge has a good run through of the new features in Facebook 6 for iOS which includes chat heads and stickers. Watch the video if you can’t be bothered to read the post.

I want iOS to be modernized a bit more

The lack of gesture support on the iPod touch and iPhone makes for an awkward moment when you’re far more used to using the iPad which has a greater range of gesture recognition.

Not being able to do things like switching between apps simply by swiping from the side edges of the screen as opposed to a four finger swipe on the iPad or closing the app by pushing up from the bottom of the screen makes these tall screen devices feel rather quaint and underdeveloped.

I realize that Apple can be both revolutionary and conservative with regards to introducing interface features but after more than five and a half years of iOS, it needs a little more of the modern abilities not just to compete with offerings from other platform providers but also as a milestone in its own software development roadmap.

As it stands, the iPhone remains a safe bet for consumers who don’t want to have to learn too many new things as its comes with arguably the easiest and simplest mobile OS to learn and use.

I’ve got high hopes for Jony Ive to reboot iOS. – Read on Path.

CNN picks up one of those bash Apple stories

Steve Kovach for Business Insider:

Apple also isn’t nearly as versatile at adding new software features to its devices. Apple usually makes users wait a year or more for a new version of iOS, and even then some older devices can’t access all the latest and greatest features.

As opposed to Google which releases major updates to Android on roughly a yearly basis with more than half of the devices currently still running versions from three years ago and cannot be upgraded even to the version of Android released back in 2011.

Kovach really should look at Android’s pattern of updates before saying such things and by saying that “Apple makes users wait a year or more” implies that Apple’s updates take multiple years to arrive when in fact major iOS versions are released once per calendar year.

Sure, Apple’s not exactly a saint in this matter, because yes, iPhone 3GS and iPhone 4 can’t use all of iOS 6’s abilities, and yes, the original iPad cannot be upgraded to iOS 6 despite being newer and more powerful than the 3GS, but Apple makes it clear which devices will get the update and which will not even before the update’s release. When an Apple update arrives, it arrives simultaneously to all eligible devices. 

Android owners have to wait for months following the release of the latest update from Google before they know whether the manufacturers of their devices will bless them with an upgrade. The solution to most Android OS upgrades is buying a new device or doing it manually if you’re technically adept or willing to get someone to update it for you through unofficial sources once an update is out.

[update] Here’s a more detailed response to this rubbish 

Pinot’s Vine art

Making stop motion animation is one thing but @pinot has taken it to the next level with his Vine-imation. He drew every single frame. It’s like going back to the early years of animation.

//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

Quick thought on Apple iOS devices sales and why it’s spectacular

mnlst:

2007 -December 2012: 500 million iOS devices sold.

October – December 2012 – 75 million devices sold

Conclusion: Apple sold, during the Q1 2013’s 13 weeks, 15% of all iOS devices ever sold. 15% in three damn months.

Probably a good reason for why Apple’s share price fell. LOL

Google and the competition

This morning I found out that Google is removing support for Exchange Active Sync. This essentially cuts off proper Gmail services to Windows Phone. As the creator of Exchange, Microsoft isn’t keen on supporting the open alternatives to Exchange services but without such support, all consumers considering Windows Phone will hear is, “Windows Phone doesn’t do Gmail” or “Gmail sucks on Windows Phone” and then they’ll go running to iPhone or Android.

Google is cutting off Microsoft from its services because it knows that Windows Phone is a potential threat down the line. Cut it off early and Google has a chance to limit or even stunt its growth.

Don’t think you’ll be safe on iOS. By brushing aside Windows Phone, Google will only have iOS to deal with and currently it’s cozying up real tight to it, offering apps and services that work really well on Apple’s platform to get people to use them instead of Apple’s own. Before you know it you’ll be using all of Google’s apps on iOS which will give Google close to total market dominance.

If it can’t get certain people to use Android, it will get them to use as many of its services as possible that make up Android. If the threat is small enough, it will move to shut it down. Let me point you to Acer which wanted to use Alibaba’s Aliyun OS before Google issued a threat to expel Acer from the Android gang if it went ahead.

The only reason Google hasn’t harassed Amazon for its Kindle Fire is because it will face antitrust issues in the US and Europe if it does. Google has refused to acknowledge Kindle Fire as an Android variant despite Amazon having built its OS from Android and at this point, it can’t go further than that.

Once people who don’t use Android predominantly use Google’s services, Google will get them to jump in and switch to Android and when the number is high enough, it will cut off access from the remaining major competing platforms, which at this point may well be iOS only.

This is a real danger time for companies that aren’t immediate Google partners. In five or so years, without a strong competitive landscape, we’ll likely return to the days of Windows dominance over desktop computers with Android playing the Windows role.

To be honest, WP8 isn’t a burning ship. It’s more of a ship under construction. I agree about BB10, though. It’s burning badly, even before construction.

In comparison, Android is a huge ship with a large but badly disorganized population. iOS is a ship that’s well polished but keeps shooting torpedoes at the ships around, screaming “YOU COPIED ME!”.

bilalakhtar commenting on The Verge

PIN to shutdown your phone

//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

A novel idea which is completely implementable as an option for those who wish for more security. Lost two iPhones last year which could have been recovered had this been an option.

//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js