Monday 14 November 2016

Switching to Android from iOS: Where lies the Difference in Operating Systems?

The competition between Android and iOS is set to enter another year. While users have enjoyed the rivalry, given the trends it has inspired in Android App Development and iOS Application Development, they also have had the choice between two versatile Operating Systems. While users are quick to switch to iOS from Android, the reverse process demands serious temperament. Given the famous saying amongst users of iOS, ‘An iOS user isn’t able to use Android’ again. This is due to the unique features offered by iOS, and while Android offers countless customization options for its users, iOS doesn’t let do users much and ends up doing it for them.






Recently, with the latest Software update, for the first time, iOS allowed users to have a say in the Pre-installed applications, allowing them to uninstall it. While switching to iOS from Android offers a lot more organization and involves a little expenditure, given the way applications are priced at Apple’s App Store, switching to Android from iOS involves missing out on a few features, but not without helping the cause of your Credit Card.


To begin with, the difference lies in the reader mode that is available to the users of Safari. If you are looking for a page to read, but it happens to be cluttered by other senseless info like ads and popups, the reading mode in Safari can disable each of them, leaving you with the article’s headline and content. This feature is especially helpful for those who are looking for minimum distractions during their reading and editing time. Alongside, there is the flexibility of night-time mode which allows users to change the color of their screen according to their comfort, a function Android hasn’t yet adopted. Android does allow a manual reading mode in Chrome, but when it comes to matching the effectiveness of Safari.



For the users fond of average screen size, the launch of iPhone 6 and variants posed a challenge, as, after consistent usage, they felt the tiredness in their fingers. However, Apple had the solution to this through their ‘Reach-ability’ feature through which one could get the interface to squeeze in the middle of the screen, and all this could be done by a double tap on the Home Button. Occasionally, users complained of the irritation this feature caused, but for many, this was a life savior. Therefore, once you switch to the giant screens of Android, you’ll have to do without this feature, and for the ones who grew accustomed to Reach-ability while using iOS, this is one thing they’ll serious miss in Android.



Unlike Android, iOS has already mastered the art of smooth scrolling, as evident through the efficient functioning of Safari. Browsers in Android do not offer a great scrolling experience, and often while reading long articles on the web, one experiences a lag or delay in the page. Even with high-speed internet and complete page loads, there is a persisting lag in the scroll which doesn’t make for a great reading experience. For the ones choosing to shift to Android from iOS, be prepared for an excruciating scrolling experience.



Clearly, Android has a lot to do in terms of catching up with the effectiveness of iOS. What saves it from user skepticism and criticism are the cost-effective hardware solutions that make it possible for users to own an Android with ease, quite unlike an iOS Device. Alongside, Android has been instrumental in inspiring trends in Android and iOS Application Development, even though the revenues from the Apple App Store exceed those of Android by over 75%. However, it’s not always numbers, and if you are looking or have made the switch to Android from iOS, be prepared for an experience that is not disappointing, but different.



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