9 features that Android should borrow from iOS 14

Year after year at WWDC, we get something new from Apple in relation to iOS. Many users Android are simply cranky at the mere mention of the Cupertin company and its smartphone, but this is the only competitor Android that is pushing our beloved operating system to develop. All that is good about Android is the result of competition – this is how the world works. If you have no competitors, you will not waste energy and money on development. This time Apple really showed a lot of interesting things. Now let's not talk about what the company took from Android, but let's talk about what Android herself could have spied on iOS to become even better.

Good functions need to be able to borrow.

Why watch closely iOS

Despite the existence of the phenomenon of active hostility to Apple, every year many users Android sit down at the monitor and study with interest what is happening there in the enemy's camp.

iOS and Android have taken a lot from each other and continue to do so, as if symbolizing the law of unity and struggle of opposites. This is good, because in the end we got two top-level operating systems at once.

That is why those who consider themselves fans, and not fanatics Android should keep an eye on new products iOS. The same goes for fans Apple. They also need to look at Android and press Apple to get the same.

What's better in iOS than in Android

Some of what I want to talk about and give as an example has already been on Android or even is now, but the question of implementing these functions is perplexing. They're so cool, but why isn't anyone doing them? Maybe now, when they have shown it as it should, the digging will get down to business and finish finally what it should have finished a long time ago.

App Store separates IAP and subscriptions

The Play Store family library currently supports sharing of purchased apps, games, books, movies, and TV shows. But many apps use in-app purchases or subscriptions for their paid models, and they cannot be transferred to your family members – they must buy them again.

When a family subscription is being finalized, it is not crucial, but nice.

Previously, Apple had the same restriction, but now the company offers developers the ability to allow in-game purchases and share subscriptions with family members. Some developers may not enable this, but at least there is an option, and users can save a lot of money in the end.

Using picture-in-picture mode

Picture-in-picture appeared in Android along with version 8.1 Oreo, but it hasn't changed much since then. Can only be dragged, expanded and closed. Freeform windows could do something, but they don't really work yet, and in general the solution is not the most elegant.

Picture-in-picture is needed not only for it to be, but in order for it to be convenient to use.

In iOS 14 Apple implemented the PIP (picture in picture) function in iOS 14. The most pleasant thing is not only the ability to move and resize the picture, but also the ability to hide outside the screen, and then pull it back out. This can be very useful when you need to temporarily access a full screen application.

Threads in group messages

iOS 14 improved iMessage group conversations with a lot of fun and useful features. Instead of just showing replies the way we do on WhatsApp or Telegram (where we have our own chat with readers), Apple will display them as Slack-style topics.

You no longer have to endlessly swipe up and down to follow the conversation and see who answered what. Instead, you just click on the main message and get everything you need in a convenient way. Of course, this does not apply to everything Android, but only to the messenger, but maybe someone will hear me.

Improved maps and cool offline mode

Google once had a good travel planning app called Trips, which was shut down and focused on the site. Most of the functions were retained in the web version, but one was still lost when moving – downloadable routes and navigation through them. Now Apple adds this capability to their maps app. This is ideal for many travelers.

Let maps Apple play Google maps, but they also have something to show.

The new features for cyclists in Apple Maps are interesting too. Of course, they are limited to a few cities, but as a tool it deserves attention. Especially how the maps will warn you of steep slopes and stairs. Apple we need to develop this idea and introduce new cities, and Google will take a closer look at the useful features and figure out how to use it. With Google capabilities and distribution Android, this can be done much better.

The ability to pay for everything, everywhere

Android has had Instant Apps for many years now, which is now reimagined and much better implemented in iOS 14. With it, you get the integration of payment and access to closed areas. It will be useful not only for those who buy, but also for those who are selling. By placing NFC tags or QR codes in the right places, sellers will greatly facilitate access to the purchase of goods or services.

Apple Clips will help you to use the city much more conveniently.

For example, you can simply scan the code on a city bike and rent it, or put your phone on the train and go about your business. For now Android we still need to work on this, but we also need to wait until sellers start using this tool.

Sending an approximate location and sharing contacts with apps

Privacy continues to be a topic of discussion in OS updates Apple and Google, and iOS 14 only confirms this. Now iOS makes it possible to share with applications not an exact location, but an approximate one. For example, you want to find a cafe nearby, but why would you give your exact position when you can give an approximate one and this will not affect the result.

Sometimes it's better to share an approximate location.

And now you can deny access to your contacts to third-party applications, but by entering usernames, get his data. That is, the application itself will not receive contact data, but the one whose name you enter will pull up, because since you are doing this, then you need it.

CarPlay is better than Android Auto

Despite the fact that CarPlay is still a rather limited system and it has room to develop in terms of increasing the number of supported applications, but Android Auto is even worse and needs to be developed much more actively.

Android Auto has a lot to strive for – to Apple CarPlay.

CarPlay now has even more options for comfortable use. Support for parking, EV charging and fast food ordering apps has now been added. This is one of the obvious ways to make the platform more attractive and to increase developer and user enthusiasm. Let not all of this be relevant in our country, but the system is developing rapidly and Google needs to push on this issue.

Comparison of WatchOS and Wear OS

Comparing Apple Watch with Wear OS is completely useless, but again, it seems that Wear OS was created to just be, and the developers there themselves will finish something. Actually, this is how it looks now.

Unlike it, Apple with its WatchOS works much more quickly and tries to offer an absolutely self-sufficient product that, although it can install almost any application, but at the same time itself works as a full-fledged gadget.

An example is the automatic handwashing detection feature. I will not say that this is very important, but this is what suggests that the company is really trying to develop and improve something from version to version. Wear OS also has such an option, but it works from time to time, or it just needs to be started in manual mode. Let's forget about it!

Tablet on which OS is better

Personally, I know several people who are very fond of smartphones on Android, but at the same time cannot imagine their life without iPad. An example is our Ivan Kuznetsov, with whom we just recently discussed this issue. Yes, go far for an example – I have iPad. However, I am more of a cross-platform user, since I also have iPhone.

Whatever one may say, but iPad is really good. Especially paired in Apple Pencil.

Maybe tablets Android aren't that bad and just do what users want. But tablets Apple still far outperform solutions on Android. This is reflected in the sales statistics. If you see a person with a tablet, it will almost certainly be iPad. Moreover, now the prices for them do not bite at all.

The operating system and work with Apple Pencil can be separately noted. This is where the company really turned around and showed at the presentation that good things can be done even better.

You can, of course, argue with everything said and the comments are at your disposal, but you have to face the truth. Something is really much better with Android, but Apple has something to surprise. At the same time, I am very surprised and make you think about how to repeat this. I hope Google thinks the same as I do.