iOS 11: three new features that won't surprise Android users
The comparison between Android smartphones and iPhones has always been unfair in the field of hardware, but in the case of software, comparisons are inevitable. Google and Apple have long been optimizing their mobile operating systems, which become increasingly similar year after year. iOS 11, recently announced by Apple, brings a host of new features with it, some of which, are already known among Android users.
1. Siri, Google Assistant-style
One of the big topics discussed at WWDC was Machine Learning. Before Apple included this in their presentation, Google, as well as other companies, had already been going hard in that direction for some time. One example of this is Google Assistant, which learns by adapting itself to the user, something that Siri, so far, hasn’t been able to do.
This stress on recognizing user habits is one of the great pros of the services from the search engine giant, and we’ve seen it in Google Now, Now on Tap and currently, with Google Assistant.
According to Apple, Siri will be more natural and intelligent with iOS 11. It will be capable of using the system’s keyboard to let users know about appointments and events, which could be useful if someone asks about your plans that day on iMessage. This feature is pretty similar to what’s currently available on Now on Tap from Google.
The Apple assistant will also be able to do translations, which is something Assistant already does. In Apple's case, translations are limited to specific languages, such as Chinese, French, German, Italian, and Spanish.
2. File Manager
This update won’t be on iPhones, but rather iPads compatible with iOS 11. It’s a file manager, a fundamental tool on Android and well known by many of its users. The explorer, called Files, won’t access the total internal memory of Apple devices, but it will let users connect to cloud services and access their respective folders and files.
Many interfaces already offer file managers that come equipped with this option, such as Android’s native manager, which is integrated with Google Drive. This way, users can access their hosted files in the cloud without needing unnecessary clicks. In addition to iCloud, Files will also support services like Box and DropBox among others.
3. Maps vs. Google Maps
Since Apple decided to substitute Google Maps for their own app, we’ve seen how their maps have been slowly evolving. At WWDC, the company announced the arrival of some new, limited features on Maps, which would be available in specific states. Among them is the option to see the inside of businesses and airports, something we all know Google has offered for a while now.
With Google Maps, we can see not only the inside of some places but also their business hours, phone numbers and taxi prices to get there, if need be. Furthermore, it’s connected with their flight system, notifying users about departure and arrival times, something Apple Maps doesn’t offer yet.
Other changes
Apple, like Google, has made, let's say, redundant changes. The Mountain View company is still enhancing its quick shortcuts section along with the notification bar, which is something Apple has been doing, too. Apple has presented for the fourth consecutive time a new design for its command center, which will take full advantage of 3D Touch now.
Additionally, Apple publicly began taking their first steps towards AR (augmented reality), which is something that Google has been dumping resources into for a while. Companies like Sony and Microsoft already have apps that offer these experiences to the end user - to a limited extent, of course.
It’s always good when we see convergence among competing systems, since that means that all users will have access to similar technologies and concepts, independent of the hardware they have access to.
What do you guys think about the new features on iOS 11? Let us know in the comments.
Files says 'won’t access the total internal memory of Apple devices' - which might mean that the functionality is limited. What would be truly wonderful and transform the iPad is a launcher - such as Action 3 or Nova.
The Files app is also on the iPhone, as well as the iPad.
Easily verifiable, you should update the article.