I've been mulling upgrading my iPad 2 to the Air but the big thing that's holding me back is iOS 7 redesign. The iOS devices we use at work have been upgraded and the new UI is just so.... garish? It's white, bright and uncomfortable to look to the point that I invert the colours. However, I have a TON invested in iOS apps and love the hardware. So, as I'm debating the gamble of buying an Air and hoping it's jailbroken so I can change the UI, I figured I'd poll it up here.
iOS7 is the bomb diggity, I love how much easier it is to close apps, and the slide up navigation thing with the flashlight and stuff is way convenient. I have an iPhone 4 so I have all the visual shit disabled; most of it isn't even an option. Even if I had a brand new phone, I'd disable all that 3d poop. I'm also a fan of the updated look.
I haven't seen much of it, but my co-workers were touting off a bunch of "new" features that my S3 has had forever. Apple used to be the one everyone was copying, but I feel like it's them playing catch up with every new release now.
Eh, yes and no. Apple "invents" new product categories like the Apple 2 (personal computing), Mac (refined PC), iPod (MP3 player), iPhone (touchscreen smartphone) & iPad (tablets). Each of these categories has had previous iterations but Apple redefines them with new user friendly, mass market products. They're never cutting edge, never have been, never will be. Frankly, that's a good thing. Other companies throw everything at the wall and sees what sticks (Samsung), and this is a good thing as it moves technologies and categories forward. However, Apple iterates through solutions. Retina displays, slimmer phones, and the touch id fingerprint scanner. Fingerprint scanners have been done before, but not well. I know I've been tempted to jump brands to get the latest high tech and what not, but honestly, Apple products really do "just work" and that simplicity is nice. Plus, they're gorgeous, well made, and IMO totally worth the small premium over other devices. Now about this iOS 7 stuff... oy.
I know what you're saying Commissar Smersh, but I wanted to post anyway. Apple are basically if not the best then the next best at marketing. Don't get me wrong they make good quality equipment, but you pay through the roof for it. How they can get so many people to pay considerably more for a product that in most circumstances isn't as good is beyond me. They basically reinvent something, patent it and sue any company who uses the same idea. My my gripe with them is the complete lack of choice and customization. I'm pretty sure they got the maps issue sorted, but it's a good example. YOU WILL use apple maps!! I like to tweak things that's why I'm on this forum and you're pretty limited on what you can do with an iphone. It's apples way or the highway, you want to put some songs on your iphone? YOU WILL install itunes + quicktime + other things. I had to do a bit of tweaking just so I wouldn't have to use that POS bloatware itunes. On my S3 I can change just about everything and have done so, right now in my opinion my phones OS looks years ahead of IOS 7. Android 4.2.2 with nova launcher > *
I may just be being an old fart here. But I think they're all just a big pain in the ass. Take away the sales tools and marketing gimmicks to sell aps/products and they'd probably be great. In the last three years, I've really grown an aversion to being force fed ads for shit I don 't want.
