Unfortunately for Microsoft, Windows 8 and its bid to become a contender in the mobile market has not succeeded. Using Apple's app-based approach, the end result was a confused and nose-crinkling OS that has muddied the waters instead of forging a new, clear path.
Which leaves Android and Apple. Their history has been a contentious one marked by patent infringement lawsuits and a vicious war to become the dominant mobile OS provider in the world.
Inevitably, when a major software release is announced or a game-changing device unveiled, the boxing gloves come out. Google's acquisition of Motorola was a nod to the Apple way of doing business: owning both the OS and the device.
The slew of lawsuits also gives homage to the, ahem, exchange of ideas and technology between the two giants. Apple's latest OS release, iOS7, is no different and it has Android lovers piping up with the battle cry of: “the iOS7 mimics the Android platform.”
Let's investigate the validity of that assertion.
User interface
Otherwise known as UI, this is one of the biggest differentiators between operating systems and is immediately noticeable. Design, colors, and navigation through applications form the greater part of our enjoyment when we first dive into a mobile device.
Side by side, the difference in UI has always been clear. Apple's clean design and facility of functionality are the trademarks that make it truly beautiful. Android's UI is perhaps not as streamlined, but it is an OS that opens up a wide range of functionality and is much more customizable.
Lockscreen, notification bar, music, and multitasking
In side-by-side comparisons of these iOS7 screen views versus Google, ICS, and HTC, the look and design are similar. Copied? Not quite, but perhaps inspired.
Both lockscreen views are clean and simple, and they highlight the time. The notification bars do have similar layout and functionality, as do the multitasking bars. Perhaps most galling to the Android crowd is the comparable look of the music page.
Response
Apple devotees haven't responded well to the iOS7 beta, perhaps because it veers so far from the beloved designs of yore. Android users, on the other hand, have been quick to adopt the interface and create Android skins that will adopt the interface for their platform.
Behind the interface, pundits are saying iOS is in catch-up mode technologically speaking. From improved functionality in the email client to resource allocation for most-used applications, the similarities are evident between the two platforms.
The good news? Android users can have the best of both worlds with Apple's latest release and reap the benefits of both.
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