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Saturday, June 29, 2013

iOS 7 and how all of it's features are copied

Recently, iOS 7 was revealed at WWDC 2013. At the presentation, many "new" features were announced, such as the removal of skeumorphism and "improved" multitasking. When I watched the keynote for it, I realized how every single feature that Apple claims to have invented is copied. Here I will list them and state why.

Improved Multitasking:
The new multitasking feature includes a new "windows" system, that when summoned renders all tasks into rectangular windows that are proportionate to the screens aspect ratio. These tasks can be flipped through from left to right or vice versa. This feature also includes "quick access" icons at the bottom of the screen, which allow you to open some apps from the multitasking menu itself.

This feature is very old, and began with the good old Web OS system. One of the most popular tablets that ran Web OS was the Blackberry Playbook. Web OS on the playbook was just like the multitasking experience of iOS 7, but was always present. The tasks would be presented in separate moveable windows that were the same aspect ratio as the screen, and all tasks would run from those windows, so you could actually watch an HD movie from the homescreen through one of the windows. It also had that quick access bar, but when you dragged the bar up, you would have instant access to all of your apps, not just the select few that are selected in the quick access bar.

Reduced Skeumorphism (not really a feature, but wanted to include anyways):
Because Apple didn't have anything good to add, by reducing skeumorphism they could pass it off as special. There really isn't anything to mention about this. They just made everything flat. Also, some added transparency.

Well, paper was invented 2th century B.C. by Chinese people, so for once they're copying chinese people. Funny how things go around...

New notifications bar:
The new notifications bar/quick access settings bar drags up from the bottom of the screen. It is a transparent layer over the actually iOS 7 interface and allows quick access to various options such as WIFI control, screen brightness adjustment, and so on.

This is a blindingly obvious copy of Android. Even Android Ice Cream Sandwich on tablets had a notifications shade that came up from the bottom right. It allows access to all the features that the Apple copy has, and gives you notifications from apps such as facebook posts and instant messaging. The only downside is that it's not shiny and transparent, but does that really matter?

Since I can't really think of anything else that Apple added, I will leave it at that. I might do more if Apple decides to add something to iOS 7. If anyone manages to find something that Apple added to iOS 7 that you think is "new", put it in the comments. I will prove you wrong. Thanks for reading.

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