4 ms·

The 2 OS-level (as opposed to app-level) features that are better in Android are the widget-customizable home screen and the notification panel. But yeah, this

by zhyder 17y ago

The 2 OS-level (as opposed to app-level) features that are better in Android are the widget-customizable home screen and the notification panel. But yeah, this is probably the first killer feature.

Poiesis 17y ago
I'm not trying to say you're wrong, but I get the impression that the reason Apple doesn't have something like that is that they think it will ultimately be worse for the user experience. Frequently they seem to eschew flexibility and customizability in order to simplify the interface. You could say they go too far (though I'd personally disagree in most cases), but I don't think that they simply overlooked features such as that. This map, though, looks like it could be part of the iPhone default apps.
- agotterer 17y ago
  They get a nice cut when someone buys a $50+ navigation app on the iPhone. I don't see Apple making this or any other navigation app a native application and ruining the market that already exists.
  - eb 17y ago
    They could also get a lot of third-party revenue by wiping out all of the native apps and letting other people sell them. At some point you have to worry about the value of your platform and now they have Android to compete with. I think Apple's recent acquisition of Placebase, a mapping company, might indicate that they're willing to compete with Google on a navigation app.
- mattmcknight 17y ago
  Ultimately, if they had a real keyboard and a better network, it would be better for this users' experience. I agree on the keeping it simple part though. No need to make everything customizable when you have people that can make things more beautiful than you can. Sure, you can customize your version of van Gogh's Irises, but why bother? :-)
  - billybob 17y ago
    Customizing isn't just about beauty. It's about getting and organizing and using your phone's features in a way that make sense to you personally. Would you buy a computer that couldn't be customized?
    - ugh 17y ago
      For some kinds of customizability, certainly, yes. Why not?
    - nailer 17y ago
      Yes. I own an XBox 360.

by zhyder 17y ago

The 2 OS-level (as opposed to app-level) features that are better in Android are the widget-customizable home screen and the notification panel. But yeah, this is probably the first killer feature.

Poiesis 17y ago

I'm not trying to say you're wrong, but I get the impression that the reason Apple doesn't have something like that is that they think it will ultimately be worse for the user experience. Frequently they seem to eschew flexibility and customizability in order to simplify the interface. You could say they go too far (though I'd personally disagree in most cases), but I don't think that they simply overlooked features such as that. This map, though, looks like it could be part of the iPhone default apps.

agotterer 17y ago
They get a nice cut when someone buys a $50+ navigation app on the iPhone. I don't see Apple making this or any other navigation app a native application and ruining the market that already exists.
- eb 17y ago
  They could also get a lot of third-party revenue by wiping out all of the native apps and letting other people sell them. At some point you have to worry about the value of your platform and now they have Android to compete with. I think Apple's recent acquisition of Placebase, a mapping company, might indicate that they're willing to compete with Google on a navigation app.
mattmcknight 17y ago
Ultimately, if they had a real keyboard and a better network, it would be better for this users' experience. I agree on the keeping it simple part though. No need to make everything customizable when you have people that can make things more beautiful than you can. Sure, you can customize your version of van Gogh's Irises, but why bother? :-)
- billybob 17y ago
  Customizing isn't just about beauty. It's about getting and organizing and using your phone's features in a way that make sense to you personally. Would you buy a computer that couldn't be customized?
  - ugh 17y ago
    For some kinds of customizability, certainly, yes. Why not?
  - nailer 17y ago
    Yes. I own an XBox 360.