The new features of the iPhone operating system may be very innovative for Apple, but they are old acquaintances for Android Users.
The new features that will come to iOS 14 and that Apple announced in the inaugural keynote of WWDC 2020 have one thing in common: all of them have been available on Android for some time.
Among the novelties of the iPhone operating system, we find an updated gallery of apps, the possibility of customizing widgets on the Start screen, and new accessibility features such as translation software and an update to Apple Maps.
The most outstanding feature of the conference was surely the App Library, which automatically organizes your apps into groups and lists. In addition, it allows you to select those applications that you do not want to appear on your main Home screen.
Inevitably, this reminds us of the Android App Drawer, although there are reports that the App Library would use a smarter grouping system. We cannot assure you before trying it, but it is true that Apple has taken a long time to introduce this functionality.
On the other hand, the new widgets offer a new design to the iPhones' Home screen, which reminds us a little of the one offered by Windows mobiles.
Again, the possibility of having a widget for the weather, calendar, or email seems to have been present in Android for an eternity and it was time for Apple to catch up.
Another copy of Android is the new feature of picture-in-picture video, which will allow you to watch trailers, direct or any other video in a floating window while chatting with your friends or using another app. This is not available on all Android phones but was introduced with Android 8.0.
Apple also introduced news on its Apple Maps, with a new route for electric cars, routes for cyclists, and information on congestion. At this point, you will not be surprised if we say that these features have been available on Google Maps for a long time.
Instead, it is surprising that Apple has taken so long to bring cycling routes to its navigation app. There is no doubt that it is an interesting novelty that many will be especially interested in now that many are betting on a healthier and more ecological life.
The new Apple App Clips remind us of the Instant Apps for Android, although it is true that the latter was never well-received. Thus, in this department, Apple could manage to overcome its great rival and offer a better user experience.
Another good news for Apple is its new Translate app, which works offline and can detect languages automatically. Although we have already seen this in Google Translate, those of Cupertino could end up offering a more refined and precise experience.
It is well known that Google Translate is not as accurate as it should be and often makes huge mistakes. With its improvements in voice recognition, Apple could unseat Android and Google.
The bottom line is this: For fans of the Apple ecosystem, all of these new developments are quite revolutionary; For those without iPhone, it's just about Apple catching up on Android.
This does not mean that Apple cannot outperform Android, especially in the area of Apple Clips and translation software. They may not be entirely new features, but they have a lot of potentials. We will have to wait for iOS 14 to arrive for the iPhone.
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