Apple’s iOS operating system powers all iPhones, iPads, and iPod Touches sold to date. Suffice to say that’s a hell of a lot of devices, with Apple selling more of these products on a daily basis. However, in some ways iOS is starting to look and feel a little dated, especially when compared to the latest versions of Google’s Android and Microsoft’s Windows Phone.
Apple is set to release iOS 6, the latest version of its mobile operating system, this fall. We already know many of the incremental updates and added features due to arrive with iOS 6, but only some of these will answer calls from owners of Apple devices. In this week’s ‘We Ask You’ column we want to know what you personally would like to see happen with iOS 6.
This Week’s Question…
What Would You Really Like To See In iOS6?
When Apple originally unveiled its mobile operating system, first a product without a name, then ‘iPhone OS’, it was a revelation. But that was in 2007. Since then it’s been renamed iOS and successive versions have varied in their quality, some being very incremental in nature. Many people now think the core of iOS now needs an overhaul, a face-lift, a redesign that fixes or perfects some of the more-aged elements of the operating system.
So we want you, the average Apple fan on the street, to tell us what you’d really like to see in iOS 6. Is there a particular feature you feel is missing? Something you’ve seen Android or Windows Phone implement particularly well? Looking further into the future, do you think Apple should head back to the figurative drawing board and rework iOS from the ground up? Or is iOS still head and shoulders above the competition?
Whatever your thoughts are on the subject we want to hear them. You can pass them on to us in the comments section immediately below this post.
Drawing Conclusions…
All comments will be digested to form conclusions in a follow-up post next week where we will detail what ‘You Told Us’. One reader will be chosen for the coveted ‘Comment Of The Week’, getting their name up in lights, the respect of other readers, and 150 MakeUseOf points to use for Rewards or Giveaways. What more motivation than that do you need to respond?
‘We Ask You‘ is a weekly column dedicated to finding out the opinions of MakeUseOf readers. The questions asked are usually open-ended and likely to start a conversation. Some are opinion-based, while others see you sharing tips and advice, or advocating tools and apps to fellow MakeUseOf Readers. This column is nothing without you, as MakeUseOf is nothing without you.
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I’d like about 60% less bloat. Then I’d be a happy camper.
Is there anything in particular you want to see gone?
Most of the stock apps, and that stupid Nike thing. I’d nuke all the voice stuff as well.
I thought everybody loved Siri?! :O
I guess it would be more useful in a country that’s got full support, but even then it’s a gimmick, and a dangerous one at that.
I’m not interested until it’s totally hands free and vastly more functional, particularly with my surroundings – not just searching for stuff.
If I want to know the weather I’ll look out the window, if I really want to search for something I’ll just google it. I don’t need the assistance of a mainframe half way around the planet.
Nike baloney, and why does it take forever to update iTunes, update soft on phone or pod?
I’d like apple to offer some form of “jailbreaking” as an option for pro users who know what they’re doing. And then compensate developers when they use their ideas in the next iOS.
I’d also like to choose my default mail client, browser, music player etc.
Some form of live tiles like windows phone or a screen of widgets would be nice.
Apple-sanctioned jailbreaking? That’s an interesting idea.
You may be making sense. As much as I hate jailbreaking based on outcomes, some people LIKE taking risks. If Apple could design some at-your-own-risk feature which I would call “Open iOS”, it would be the biggest blow to competitors in history.
sms application and maybe a gsm phone application too
SMS application? Uhhhh, thats called Messages; its always been there.
I wish I could completely remove all the apps I don’t need – YouTube, Game Center, Stocks, Face Time, Newsstand for instance. I’ve created a folder (iSh*t) where I’ve moved all the above mentioned apps, except Newsstand – just because it isn’t possible. Why, Apple… why??
A folder named iSh*t… that’s inspired :)
I have another one – iSh*t Lite; this is for so-so stuffs: Calculator, Notes, Clock…
I’m still waiting for folders within folders.
What I’d really like to see is a way to diagnose your IOS device and figure out what’s wrong. Then an option to re-install the iOS without removing personal/app data. It’s really irritating when I take my device to the store because of battery problems or that it’s running really slowly, then they say the the iOS is “corrupted.” How am I supposed to know what that means? I have to wipe all the data? That what really bothers me. They say not to restore a backup because it might corrupt the system again. Well what am I supposed to do?
Re-install or at least diagnose the iOS. That’s something that would definitively help.
An integrated voice input system would be good too.
Hmmmmm. None of these will see fruit outside of jailbreak land, but here we go…
1) Ability to delete stock apps
2) Hiring David Ashman or buying out Lockinfo for full integration, plugin ability and all.
3) Heavily policed system plugins that don’t require sandboxing, ie jailbreak tweaks.
4) Users, with owner-set privileges.
5) An Apple-provided master switch that enables developer mode, providing SSHd and system-wide root access from any app. This switch can not be accessed easily, can only be obtained with a free developer account (so you can get the EULAs and can’t litigate because God made you such a frakkin idiot).
That’ll do for now.
I guess that’s another vote for Apple-sanctioned jailbreaking then :)
My ideas for the next iOS
-ability to “hide” Stocks, Clock, or Weather in Settings like you can “turn off” Nike
-iCloud servers so device A can share some things only with B, and C can share other things only with D, yet they can all share an iTunes account and share Music and other purchases if they want.
-a way to customize VoiceOver pronunciations like on a Mac
-an instant translator setting where, when enabled, every time you finish typing a sentence, it is translated to the designated language automatically, you may later tweak it if you really have to.
-moving backgrounds for the battery killers out there
-group FaceTime calls
-some form of Powernap
-easier way to transfer app data to other devices
-have music, videos, and apps themselves saved in iTunes backups when automatic media management is off
-a better Weather apps with more detail and prettier interface
-a better Stocks app with after hour prices and a notification system that would alert you when a Stock reaches a certain price range.
-a better calculator app with more advanced features (or simply fraction mode)
-a way to see the time in seconds in the Clock app without needing to check the world clock
-Emoji 2 keyboard integration and Voiceover pronunciation.
-more Voiceover voices
-more grids in Camera
-ability to fully use Camera app when entering through lock screen shortcut if you do not have a passcode set on your device
-triple click the home button to open an app of your choice shortcut
-Notification Center access from lock screen if enabled
-pinch to zoom on all devices
-battery percentage on all devices
-ability to hide camera shortcut if you want
-ability to choose where the slide-to-unlock goes on the lock screen or which direction you need to slide
-ability to change the background color or theme of Notification Center and folders
-color contrast slider, Accessibility feature
-haptic keyboard
-ability to change keyboard size
Much more that will pop into my head in a few more minutes after I post this.