Five features iOS 14 borrows from Android that will benefit iPhone users
Last week at WWDC 2020 developers conference, Apple unveiled iOS 14. The new version brings a dozen new features, including a whole new home screen layout, widgets, new Siri UI, and many more. Most, including myself, couldn't help but notice a significant number of these features are Android inspired. Some would say iOS 14 new features are straight out of the Androids playbook.
But Apple and Google have a long history of copying software features from each other. For example, Google copied gesture navigation from iOS. Apple copied quick settings toggles from Android and called it Control Center. I'm trying to convey to you readers that it's not out of the norm for any company to be inspired and copy each other's ideas. Apple's iOS 14 features closely resemble the current Android OS. I think iPhone users will appreciate these Android inspired features.
In this post, in no particular order, I've listed five iOS 14 features borrowed from Android that will benefit iPhone users.
1:Widgets On The Home Screen
Widgets have always been in iOS for at least a couple of years. But the early version was restricted to the Today View. But with iOS 14, Apple has allowed them to be placed right alongside the apps on the home screen. Interestingly, the widgets will come in various shapes and sizes. Placing widgets on the home screen allowing app icons to move and adjust automatically, making room for other widgets. Side by side app placement alongside widgets is something Android users have enjoyed for a decade.
2: Picture-in-picture
The picture-in-picture (PIP) mode is now available on iOS 14. A feature that originated in Android 8.0 Oreo, circa 2017. Now iPhone users can move PIP around the display, no matter which app you're currently using and shows up on your home screen.
3: The Suggestive App Library
Dynamically suggested apps in iOS 14 will be based solely on individual usage. The most likely used apps and suggestions will keep changing in accordance with the time of day. The Suggestive App feature made its debut on Android with the Pixel launcher on Google's Pixel smartphone. So now, iPhone users no longer have to contend with the favorite apps dock with suggested apps. Something I found useless as a past iPhone user.
4:The App Library
App icons lined up in a straight row on the home screen has always been Apple's main staple, and for me, a cumbersome clutter fest. Apple never adopted the idea of having a dedicated app launcher. As a current Android user, the app launcher is a feature I appreciate the most and find useful. So now Apple introduces the App Library, a dedicated section that displays all of your installed apps. The apps are categorized based on category, and you can create a group folder, and give applicable names. Now from my observation, I wouldn't say it fully functions like the Androids app drawer, but at least it's a step in the right direction.
5: Minimized Call UI
A smaller call UI is a feature I'm sure many iPhone users will appreciate. For many years users had to contend with the dominating call screens. Now the iPhone user won't have to deal with that issue anymore. Apple solves the problem by offering a smaller call UI that will appear on the very top of the screen. Much like Android, a smaller call UI in iOS 14 will allow users to accept or reject calls. You can navigate around the whole UI on the iPhone when the incoming call notification is displayed.
