Apple has presented the new versions of the operating systems of its devices and yes, it has shot some ideas and elements that have existed for years in Android. But, in the end, we all benefit. And yes, even if we don’t have an iPhone.
When Apple presents something, the world stops. Whether you like it more or less, the company with the bitten apple captures millions of eyes at each event it holds, even those where software, and not hardware, is expected to be the protagonist.
This is the case of WWDC 2022, an event that, traditionally, is regarding software and in which the news of that year for the iPhone, Mac, iPad and Watch system. This year it is true that we have had two new laptops that, in addition, release the M2 SoC, but the jewel in the crown has been iOS 16.
There are many times that Apple presents things that already exist in other brands and systems -Android- since generations, as if it were something fresh and new that only they and their fantastic minds have come up with.
Do you remember the presentation of the iPhone 12 in which it almost seemed that they had invented 5G? Or the WWDC 2021 in which it seemed that they were coming to present the widgets? That’s what I mean.
After these presentations, the network -Twitter- is filled with Android users saying that Apple copies, that these things were already in Android for a long time (even almost since its inception) and others. And, if you are one of those users, you are absolutely right, BUT (in capital letters) that Apple does that benefits you whether or not you have an iPhone.
In iOS 16 there are a lot of new things, but there are two that have made Android users, in general, and Xiaomi, in particular, raise an eyebrow. And it’s funny because, precisely, MIUI, Xiaomi’s customization layer, drank a lot in its iOS day. I think with that being said, you’re getting the hang of why it’s good for you when companies copy each other.
But hey, keeping with the theme, in iOS 16 we have a great customization of the lock screen. It seems incredible, but Apple has needed 16 generations of its system to let us customize the lock screen.
Now we can change the style of the clock, the colors and add a series of useful information in the form of widgets on the lock screen itself. You can add a weather widget or an alarm widget and interact with it, and the system is well thought out.
If you click on the weather widget, it asks you to use FaceID or the unlock code to access the more detailed information because, basically, you need to unlock the iPhone for it. If you click on the clock widget you access the alarm settings without unlocking the iPhone and without having to enter codes to make all this faster.
Now, if you use a Xiaomi from the latest generations, that thing regarding superwallpapers will sound familiar to you. These are dynamic wallpapers that offer us, for example, a distant view of a planet on the lock screen and, when we access the main menu, a spectacular and fluid animation with a close detail of said planet.
Well then Apple has shot that concept with its new wallpapers. I love it, since what Xiaomi did on her day freaked me out, so I really like seeing it on my iPhone, and even though it’s a shameless copy… why not?
Namely, the value of your Xiaomi will not go down because Apple has copied that and I do not think it is a determining reason for purchase when we think of a new mobile. It is simply one more option and, if you like it, you use it and that’s it.
And this is the point of this opinion: Apple has copied two things that already existed in other systems and mobiles and, now, it is logical to think that both in new versions of Android and Android customization layers, designers will look for new elements to make your system stand out.
It can be with something useful like more customization options or with something just visual, but they will seek to differentiate themselves from what Apple has done with iOS 16. And so the wheel keeps turning thanks to competition between Android, Android layer designers, and Apple copying each other to distinguish themselves.
And yes, that benefits you, me and any user.
