With the celebration of the new edition of WWDC 2021 Right around the corner, we’re waiting for all the new settings, functions and configurations that Apple is planning for its operating systems, especially those coming to iOS 15.
But before the big day, we got a chance to review the preview version of Android 12, So we can speak clearly about the features that we would like Apple to implement in iOS 15 for iPhones.
1.- Notification history
Notifications can become a nuisance when they are very large, and when we manage them we can sometimes mistakenly dismiss some that can be of vital importance to us.
Once this happens on the iPhone, we don’t have a chance to go back. In Android 12 it’s very different because it lets you see your recently deleted notifications, something very useful that we wish we could find in iOS 15 or later.
To be fair, Google introduced notification history with Android 11, but its accessibility has improved as a result of Android 12, since before, you had to dive into settings to find the toggle to show previous notifications.
Google now has a button right at the bottom of the screen that takes you straight to the page where you can see everything you’ve deleted in the last 24 hours, something really useful.
2.- Mail widgets
Apple’s iOS 14 widgets have changed the way we interact with the iPhone, but one widget is missing: Messages. For some reason, Apple doesn’t offer a widget to track iMessage conversations, missed calls, or emails.
We’re not sure exactly how this will be implemented in Android 12, but Google has a chat widget in the system UI that lets you see the different messaging apps and offers shortcuts for continuing conversations. It would be useful on iPhone.
3.- Faster settings
Apple’s “Control Center” is a great way to quickly access Bluetooth settings, Wi-Fi, screen brightness, and other things you need to manage. In fact, it is for this reason that Apple moved it to macOS Big Sur.
However, it’s still not as intuitive as it should be. We continue to regularly roll out the “Notification Center” when we want to access the “Control Center” and we can’t help but wish there was a unified place to quickly access everything we need.
Android’s notification shade has always made it easier to access settings compared to iOS, but Android 12 has the best implementation yet. When you pull up on the screen, you get four large customizable buttons for commonly used settings.
But if you go a little lower, you’ll get an easy-to-adjust brightness slider. Everything is designed to get you in and out as quickly as possible and makes Apple’s method seem completely outdated.
Apple has long had to combine “Notification Center” and “Control Center”, and Android 12 may have perfected it better.
4.- Improved lock screen
To say the least, Apple’s iPhone lock screen leaves a lot to be desired. There are rumors that Apple is planning changes for iOS 15, and we expect the concept to be similar to Google’s method in Android 12.
It’s not just a minimal appearance, Android 12’s lock screen is smarter and more intuitive than before, dividing the home screen and the always-on screen to provide quick access to essential applications and information.
For example, the clock resizes depending on whether or not you have unread notifications so you can quickly know if you have unread alerts. These are little things like what we expect Apple to implement in iOS 15.
5.- More colorful modes
Dark mode is great, but Android 12 takes it a step further. Instead of black and white, Android 12 has a custom color scheme that changes elements of the system depending on the wallpaper you are using.
Called “color extraction,” the system automatically determines which colors are most dominant in your wallpaper and which are complementary, and adjusts accents and buttons on your home screen and apps accordingly.
It goes a step further on what was until now either a light background or a dark background.
6.- Easier confidentiality
Google is still trying to catch up on the potential offered by iOS privacy settings. However, Android 12 now offers a few features that aren’t just a direct continuation of Apple’s leadership.
First, add a few buttons to instantly turn off microphone or camera access with each previously allowed app. To get the same in iOS 14, you need to go to “Privacy Settings” and disable all the buttons on the Microphone and Camera tabs.
Most importantly, there’s a new “privacy dashboard” that provides an overview of the data and sensors accessible for each app, so you can easily revoke any you find suspicious.
You can also assign an “approximate location” if you want to keep your precise location private for apps like weather and other apps that only need general location data.
Apple hit it on when it comes to privacy, but Google could have taken a giant leap in that regard.
7.- Smarter animations
Using more powerful processors and brighter screens, iOS animations are a perfect extension of the hardware they run on. But on Android 12 and especially Pixel phones, it feels like software and hardware know each other.
In fact, Android 12 comes with smoother and more intuitive animations that respond to the user’s touches and swipes, as if the phone and software are now a more cohesive unit.
Use the power button to unlock and the phone will turn on gradually, starting from the right side. Press a circular button and it becomes square. Plug it in and a ring of lights and the screen will flash.
We love animations on iOS, but we would also like Apple to give them a little more spice for what’s new in iOS 15.
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