5 Major Features We Want to See in Ios:
With WWDC 2024 just around the corner, Apple enthusiasts and tech aficionados are eagerly anticipating the latest announcements regarding Apple’s expansive product and service lines. This year’s event promises to shine a spotlight on iOS and iPadOS, the mobile operating systems that power iPhones and iPads. Despite the strides made with iOS 17 and iPadOS 17, Apple faces stiff competition from Google’s Android OS, particularly in the realm of AI and customization. As we look forward to the upcoming updates, here are five key features we hope Apple will introduce in iOS and iPadOS 18 to stay competitive and enhance user experience.
1. Customizable App Layouts
The Need for Customization:
One area where Android has consistently outperformed iOS and iPadOS is in screen customization. Android users can modify their device’s appearance with a variety of widgets and app screen layouts, creating truly unique and personalized screens. This freedom extends to the ability to move apps and widgets anywhere on the screen, breaking free from a strict grid layout. While this level of customization can sometimes result in less aesthetically pleasing home and lock screens, it offers a level of personalization that many users appreciate.
Current Limitations of Ios:
Apple, on the other hand, has traditionally been much more stringent with its customization options. The most restrictive element is the home screen’s grid-based layout. Apps are automatically arranged from left to right and top to bottom, with no option to place them freely. This rigidity can make the home screen feel less personal and more utilitarian.
What We Hope to See:
With iOS and iPadOS 18, we hope Apple will loosen its grip on home screen layouts. Allowing users to place apps and widgets wherever they wish would be a significant step forward. Even if this increased freedom is purely for aesthetic purposes, it would enhance the user experience by making devices feel more personal and tailored to individual tastes. This change would also bring Apple closer to matching Android’s level of customization, a long-standing advantage in the eyes of many users.
2. A Dedicated AirPods App:
The Complexity of AirPods:
AirPods, despite their small size, are surprisingly complex pieces of hardware. They offer a range of customizable features, from adjusting audio elements via taps and swipes to accessing various settings through the device’s Settings menu. The depth and breadth of customization available for AirPods are impressive, but the process of making adjustments can be cumbersome. Users often have to navigate through multiple settings menus to find what they need.
The Current User Experience:
Currently, managing AirPods settings requires delving into the main Settings app on an iPhone or iPad. This can be time-consuming and unintuitive, especially for new users or those who are not tech-savvy. The lack of a centralized location for AirPods settings means that users may not fully explore or utilize all the features available to them.
The Benefits of a Dedicated App:
Introducing a dedicated AirPods app would streamline the user experience significantly. This app would provide quick and easy access to all AirPods features directly from the home screen. Users could manage updates, customize settings, and even limit charging to preserve battery health—all from one convenient location. Such an app could also include tutorials and tips, helping users get the most out of their AirPods. Given the popularity and widespread use of AirPods, a dedicated app would be a welcome addition for many Apple users.
3. Improved Photo Editing:
The Current State of Photo Editing:
Apple’s Photos app includes several helpful features, such as Live Text and Visual Look Up. These features allow users to identify text and subjects within a photograph, adding context and enabling sticker creation. However, despite these innovations, the overall photo-editing tools available in iOS and iPadOS are relatively rudimentary. Basic adjustments like cropping, filters, and minor tweaks are possible, but for more advanced editing, users often have to turn to third-party software.
The Competition:
In contrast, Google’s Magic Eraser, available on Android devices, is a powerful tool that leverages AI to allow users to relocate subjects or remove unwanted elements from their photos. This kind of advanced editing capability is something that iOS and iPadOS currently lack, putting Apple at a disadvantage in this area.
Desired Enhancements:
With iOS and iPadOS 18, we hope to see Apple introduce enhanced photo-editing tools that rival those available on Android. AI-powered editing features, such as the ability to remove unwanted elements, adjust backgrounds, and intelligently enhance photos, would be a significant improvement. These tools would allow users to perform more meaningful edits without needing to rely on third-party apps. By integrating advanced editing capabilities directly into the Photos app, Apple could offer a more comprehensive and user-friendly photo-editing experience.
4. Allow Everyone to Sideload Apps:
The Current State of App Installation:
The App Store is Apple’s carefully controlled marketplace for downloading and installing apps on iPhones and iPads. If an app isn’t available on the App Store, users cannot easily download and install it from the internet or alternative stores. This process, known as sideloading, is restricted by Apple to ensure security and maintain control over the ecosystem. While this approach has its benefits, it also limits user freedom and access to a broader range of apps.
The Case for Sideloading:
Google, in contrast, adopts a more laissez-faire approach. Android users are encouraged to use Google Play but are not restricted to it. This flexibility allows users to sideload apps from various sources, offering a wider array of choices. It also means that apps like Fortnite, which are not available on the App Store, can still be played on Android devices.
Recent Developments:
The European Union challenged Apple’s restrictions on sideloading and won. As a result, Apple devices running iOS 17.4 or later now allow sideloading, but only in the European Union. This development is a step in the right direction, but we hope to see these restrictions eased globally with iOS and iPadOS 18.
What We Want to See:
Allowing global sideloading would give users more freedom and flexibility. While there are legitimate concerns about security and the potential for malicious software, these risks can be mitigated with appropriate safeguards and user education. Expanding sideloading capabilities worldwide would align Apple more closely with the openness of the Android ecosystem and provide users with greater control over their devices.
5. Full RCS Compatibility in iMessage:
The Limitations of SMS:
Rich Communication Services (RCS) is a messaging protocol that offers significantly more functionality than the traditional short message service (SMS). RCS allows users to send longer messages, create and manage group chats, and share high-quality media files. It also offers enhanced security features, such as message encryption.
The iMessage Advantage:
While iOS and iPadOS users benefit from Apple’s proprietary iMessage system, which offers similar functionalities to RCS, there is a major drawback: iMessage does not communicate well with RCS. As a result, Android users’ fancy chat messages are received as basic SMS messages on Apple devices, and vice versa. This leads to poor media quality and limited functionality in cross-platform messaging.
The Need for Better Compatibility:
Apple’s recent announcement that it will implement RCS support into its Messages app is a promising development. However, we don’t expect Apple to adopt Google’s RCS protocols fully. Instead, Apple is likely to retain some exclusive features, such as stickers, for its devices. Despite this, improving photo and video sharing, as well as enhancing group chat compatibility, would be significant steps forward.
What We Hope to See:
With iOS and iPadOS 18, we hope for full RCS compatibility in iMessages. This would mean seamless communication between iOS and Android devices, with high-quality media sharing and improved group chat functionality. Enhancing cross-platform messaging would not only improve user experience but also demonstrate Apple’s commitment to embracing modern messaging standards.
As we look forward to WWDC 2024, the potential for significant updates to iOS and iPadOS is exciting. By introducing customizable app layouts, a dedicated AirPods app, improved photo editing tools, global sideloading capabilities, and full RCS compatibility in iMessages, Apple can enhance user experience and stay competitive in the ever-evolving mobile OS landscape. These features would address current limitations and pave the way for a more flexible, user-friendly, and interconnected ecosystem. We eagerly await Apple’s announcements and hope to see these desired changes come to fruition in iOS and iPadOS 18.
