Do You Prefer iOS 7 Looks Over Previous iOS Versions?

[WillysJeepMan]

Originally Posted by Faterson

I'm afraid we have no option, Daniel. If I could simply downgrade to iOS 6, that would be an option, and then I wouldn't be so frustrated by iOS 7. When iPad mini Retina arrives in stores in a couple of weeks, will you get the option to use iOS 6 on it? Nope. Again, no option available. Plus, iOS by itself is an almost totally non-configurable, locked-down OS, which increases the dissatisfaction with iOS 7. If at least, within iOS 7, it were possible to revert some of the unfortunate design decisions made (such as, "please display the dock in the previous style, not that ugly translucent patch" -- a mustard patch on my iPad), that would have been forthcoming. But there is no such freedom of choice in iOS.

iOS7 is the reason that the i-devices that I currently own will be my last. My iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad are all running older versions of iOS. I have one iPhone 4 w/bad ESN that I use as an "iPod Touch Pro" and I installed 7 on just to try out. 7 is as bad, in my opinion, as others have said.

Apple is doing the same thing with OSX. On my Macbook Pro I installed Mavericks because... well frankly, it shipped with Lion (which was a dog compared to Snow Leopard). I upgraded to Mountain Lion in the hopes that things would be better, they weren't. Mavericks has done nothing to improve things... they've added things, they've changed things, but didn't improve.

Overall, a big step down in performance and stability from the previous gens. Apple releases an "update" to iWorks that is has nearly 1/3 LESS features than the previous version. I don't mind paying a premium for functionality, quality, and stability. But in the past 2 years, things have been on a slow but steady decline.

[pl001]

Originally Posted by Faterson

The hallmark of bad software is that it cannot be used efficiently without the user first studying the software's manuals. Period.

Is Paint more efficient than Photoshop because it is intially more intuitive? I could spend all day listing examples to refute your statement. I typically spend all day using software that takes years to become fluent in. Software that some schools dedicate a large portion of their curriculum to. There is a high demand for these skills in the business world because even with their complexity they are the most efficient way to get the job done.

That said, my 3 and 6 year olds can navigate Windows 8 just fine to do the things they want to do on it. Windows 7 is a lost cause with the 3 year old. At the same time 8 is capable of efficiently meeting all of my advanced needs. That's no small trick.

As I mentioned, Windows 8 seems to be selling OK. It could have been better, but it's not as bad as people like to make out. A lot of the hate appears to be based on knee-jerk emotion from people unwilling or unable to spend 5 minutes learning the basics. Not as successful as Microsoft would have liked? Sure. A "failure of epic proportions"? Not even close. Microsoft is now poised to have a huge impact in the mobile world over the next few years thanks to it.

Edit:

Sorry for getting off track. My point is that different does not automatically equal worse, yet that almost always seems to be how most people react to change. In the case of iOS 7, I don't hate the design theme so much as I hate all the features that don't add any functionality. I think iOS needed more functionality, particularly for tablet use, and in that respect iOS 7 was disappointment to me. So long as others do offer me the functionality I want, I don't care that much I guess, but if I were heavily invested in Apple's ecosystem I would.

[Faterson]

Originally Posted by pl001

Microsoft is now poised to have a huge impact in the mobile world over the next few years thanks to it.

I heard that song around 2 years ago... but MS are still hovering in single digits of market share among mobile devices today. I don't believe they can make a breakthrough; Android is the new Windows in mobile space. But, future will tell.

[pilotbob]

Originally Posted by Faterson

I heard that song around 2 years ago... but MS are still hovering in single digits of market share among mobile devices today. I don't believe they can make a breakthrough; Android is the new Windows in mobile space. But, future will tell.

Maybe, and maybe not. I think for phones, Windows Phone OS is going to have a hard time breaking the Android/iOS 90% share jaggernaut.

However, for tablets... while the iPad is VERY hard to compete with due to the app store... the Surface Pro 2 could be the transitional device. While you wait for a Modern/Metro/Windows Store (they REALLY need to nail that down, I think they should have got the rights to use Metro) apps to appear, you can use "classic" (I call it) windows apps.

The ability to use multiple apps at one time on a tablet is something the iPad can't do. I actually saw an Android tablet advertised touting this feature... so if anything Windows 8 really brought that issue to the forefront.

One other think Windows tablets give you that iPad doesn't is a REAL file system that all apps can access if you give them permission to. On iPad it is up to the developer to implement specific sharing contracts.

It certainly will be interesting to see how this happens. But, I really think MS still has priced the surface 2 too high. It is $50 less than an iPad Air... granted it has twice the storage for the same price... but people don't really see that when they look at them side by side. I think $100 price difference would be more compelling. Developers aren't going to start developing for native Win8 until there is a bigger installed base out there.

BOb

[Faterson]

Originally Posted by pilotbob

Developers aren't going to start developing for native Win8 until there is a bigger installed base out there.

My prediction is that it will never happen. The future may bring surprises, but I just don't see it. People seem allergic to Windows; the last thing they want, is to be pestered by Windows on their mobile devices, too, after struggling with them (especially Windows 8) on their work machines. People seem to associate Windows primarily with work (and bugs), not fun.

As to me, I have years of traumatic experiences with a slew of Windows Mobile devices behind me. The iPhone revolution really was a deliverance. I'll just never forgive MS for the years of trauma inflicted on me in the buggy WM years; it doesn't matter that W8 is a brand-new system. If MS donate a high-end W8 device to me, as compensation for the years of acute suffering... well, perhaps I might give it a go. But to buy such a device...? No freaking way.

iOS 7 is currently starting to infuriate me similarly to Windows Mobile back in its days. Honestly: if the apps were there and it was feasible, I'd ditch iOS and move on to Android right this minute. But it's not yet the right time to make the switch.

[pl001]

Originally Posted by Faterson

I heard that song around 2 years ago... but MS are still hovering in single digits of market share among mobile devices today. I don't believe they can make a breakthrough; Android is the new Windows in mobile space. But, future will tell.

Yes, Android already is the new Windows in consumer mobile. But Google does not have the tools to seriously compete in the business sector.

The Surface RT, despite all the bad press, was still the best selling 10" tablet not named iPad. In several international markets Windows Phone is overtaking iPhone for the number 2 position. And there are a slew of new Windows tablets either out or coming shortly that are getting a lot of positive press and the big OEMs are on board. Lenovo, Dell, Asus, Acer...

But Microsoft's biggest strength is their overall portfolio. Windows, Skype, Bing, Skydrive, XBox, Office, Live, Lync, Nokia, etc, etc, etc. Things are really starting to converge into a powerful and compelling ecosystem. It's not there yet, but for better or worse, it's getting close. I would be a unapologetic fanboy if they opened up Windows 8Metro/Modern to 3rd parties. And if I wasn't old enough to remember their monopolistic practices of the past and see the correlation to what they are doing today. As it is, all the players have some pretty deep flaws.

[pilotbob]

Originally Posted by Faterson

People seem allergic to Windows; the last thing they want, is to be pestered by Windows on their mobile devices, too, after struggling with them (especially Windows 8) on their work machines. People seem to associate Windows primarily with work (and bugs), not fun.

It seems that the anti windows crowd (which you are a card carrying member of) hang out with each other so it seems their community is bigger than it really is. I really don't see Windows as buggy or unstable, sure back in the Windows 3.1/95/98 days. You are digging back very deep to find that.

Vista was a fine OS, and is still the technical basis of Windows 7, which the majority of reviews/press tout as the best version of Windows ever. Sure, Vista did have it's issues. The two biggest, UAC was much too paranoid, and the new driver model and signing requirement kept people from being able to use equipment they already had and hardware vendors rushed fresh untested drivers on the public.

----

Back to iOS 7... I am sure it will be refined as time goes by. They have already made changes/tweeks based on feedback and I'm sure they will continue. Personally, I like the (what someone class a fad) flat style, although I do think the "buttons" and "links" do need to be more clearly delineated. Eliminating skeumorphism doesn't have to be 100%. They will adjust it I'm sure.

BOb

[pilotbob]

Originally Posted by pl001

I would be a unapologetic fanboy if they opened up Windows 8Metro/Modern to 3rd parties.

I'm not sure what that means?

What do you mean, open it to 3rd parties. Anyone can develop a Metro (I'll call it) app, I've done it. Or do you mean allow side loading?

BOb

[Faterson]

Originally Posted by pilotbob

I really don't see Windows as buggy or unstable, sure back in the Windows 3.1/95/98 days. You are digging back very deep to find that.

Nope, I'm still getting blue screens of death these days, in Windows 7. (More of them than on Win XP, which was the most stable for me.)

Originally Posted by pl001

As it is, all the players have some pretty deep flaws.

You got that right! Choosing one's favourite OS is like naming one's favourite politician... All of them suck in one way or another, so you need to go with the one(s) who are likely to inflict the least damage. That's life.

[pl001]

Originally Posted by Faterson

My prediction is that it will never happen.

It already has. 100K apps in less than a year is something neither Apple or Google managed. You have to remember the user base includes PCs which sold 100 million licenses in 6 months. It is rumored that sometime over the next year the WP store will be converged into the fold as well.

It needs to get better and it will. It's much less of an issue today than it was a year ago.

[Latinandgreek]

While I think that the updated look of some of the apps isn't up to par (notably Safari and the gaming centre app), overall I'm happy with the look. I also like the transparencies.

[pl001]

Originally Posted by pilotbob

I'm not sure what that means?

What do you mean, open it to 3rd parties. Anyone can develop a Metro (I'll call it) app, I've done it. Or do you mean allow side loading?

BOb

Yes, sorry I wasn't very clear, I was talking about side-loading. 3rd Party as in not having to have any affiliation with Microsoft to sell you software. When Microsoft controls the only store available, they essentially control products that may compete with their own offerings.

There are consumer advantages to that approach of course, but the disadvantages are obvious.

[afv011]

Originally Posted by pl001

... which sold 100 million licenses in 6 months.

Considering that buying a new PC pretty much implies having W8 forced down your throat, that's not much of an achievement.

How many of those were license only purchases, and didn't come bundled with a PC?

[pl001]

Originally Posted by afv011

Considering that buying a new PC pretty much implies having W8 forced down your throat, that's not much of an achievement.

How many of those were license only purchases, and didn't come bundled with a PC?

Why does it matter? I was responding to the statement that the install base was small. It clearly is not.

And as for "forced down your throat", how is that different than anything else? I can't buy a new iPad with iOS6 or a new Galaxy Tab with ICS.

[eschwartz]

Originally Posted by pl001

Why does it matter? I was responding to the statement that the install base was small. It clearly is not.

And as for "forced down your throat", how is that different than anything else? I can't buy a new iPad with iOS6 or a new Galaxy Tab with ICS.

Here you go for a Galaxy Tab or use this search result: http://amzn.com/B00C6TP52Q.

To get Windows 7 you have to search for the PCs being sold with it, which will be just as easy as finding the Galaxy Tabs with ICS. Or buy a license and install on your Windows 8 computer, vs. getting ICS for FREE.

Sorry, I cannot and will not come to the defense of Apple.