iOS10 versus Android 7.0 Nougat

With the launch of iPhone 7 in Apple’s September event, iOS10 has officially been released to the masses. Not to be outdone, Google launched its own OS, Android 7.0 Nougat a little ahead of its Pixel phone launch. But how does the iOS10 compare to Nougat? Let's find out.

User Interface

One of the most obvious upgrade in Android 7.0 Nougat is the visuals. The notification and settings section is noticeably different and much closer to how iOS10 notifications look like. Their borders aren’t so obvious, are smaller in font size and make good use of screen real estate. You can also run two apps at the same time. Just double tap to switch between two applications of your choice and run them at tandem. Apps reside in the app tray in Android. If you want only your favorite apps to appear on the home screen, you have that option as well.

The iOS10 on the other hand, adopted other approaches for its interface. In addition to transforming the unlocking method, widgets now appear on the left of your screen, Just swipe left. Moreover, the iPad features two columns of widgets while you only get one column for the iPhone. The home button also serves as the main back button.

Messaging

WhatsApp and Facebook Messaging are currently dominating the world of smartphone messaging. And from the looks of the new updates from Nougat 7.0 and iOS10, it seems that both Google and Apple didn’t want to be left behind.

The Nougat 7.0 was launched with Google’s first messaging app called Allo. It makes use of Google Assistant and machine learning to make messages a lot more interactive and personal. Chatting with friends? Make plans for a get together by making a reservation at your favorite hangout right in the app itself.

Messaging in iOS10 is much showier. One of the most notable features is Stickers which can accompany messages. You can also replace certain phrases with similar emojis with a single tap. These are groundbreaking changes indeed.

Photos

iOS10 just overhauled its Photo app and from the looks of the new features, it isn't hard to figure out where it got its inspiration from - Google itself. Some of the notable similarities include automatic slideshows of previous photos and videos. Other similarities include detection technology that allows you to find photos related to the surroundings in it. Looking for a photo that has an ocean backdrop? Search by typing “ocean” and the picture will show up.

Assistant Apps

Google is set to compete with Apple’s Siri with Google Now. Apple didn't want to lose its lead so it opened Siri up to third party iOS and Android app developers. This is a pretty big thing since now it will be possible for developers to use Siri on non-Apple apps like Uber and Lyft.

Apple and Google have taken a slightly different approach in updating their operating systems. Both Nougat 7.0 and iOS10 are hell bent on making a mark in the mobile world by introducing more interactive features.

 

[Dhruv Bindhani]

With the simultaneous release of Apple's iOS 10 alongside the iPhone 7, and Google's Android 7.0 Nougat preceding the Pixel phone, both tech giants introduced significant updates to their mobile operating systems.1 This comparison delves into the key distinctions and similarities between iOS 10 and Nougat across various features.




User Interface

Android 7.0 Nougat showcases noticeable visual upgrades, particularly in its notification and settings sections, which now bear a closer resemblance to iOS 10's notifications with less obvious borders, smaller font sizes, and optimized screen real estate.2 Nougat also introduced native split-screen multitasking, allowing users to run two apps simultaneously and quickly switch between them with a double-tap.3 Android maintains its app tray, offering users the flexibility to display only favorite apps on the home screen.4

In contrast, iOS 10 implemented different interface changes. It revamped the unlocking method and introduced widgets accessible by swiping left on the screen. iPads running iOS 10 feature two columns of widgets, while iPhones have one. The physical home button also serves as the primary back button.

Messaging

Both Google and Apple aimed to keep pace with the dominance of WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger in smartphone messaging. Android 7.0 Nougat introduced Google's first messaging app, Allo, which integrates Google Assistant and machine learning to offer more interactive and personalized conversations. Allo allows users to perform tasks like making reservations directly within the app.

iOS 10's messaging saw more "showier" enhancements. Notable features include "Stickers" to accompany messages and the ability to replace certain phrases with similar emojis with a single tap, offering a more expressive communication experience.5




Photos

iOS 10's Photo app received a significant overhaul, reportedly taking inspiration from Google Photos. Key similarities include the automatic creation of slideshows from past photos and videos. Both operating systems also feature advanced detection technology, allowing users to search for photos based on their content or surroundings (e.g., searching "ocean" to find pictures with an ocean backdrop).

Assistant Apps

The competition between Google's assistant (then Google Now, with Google Assistant becoming more prominent) and Apple's Siri intensified with these updates. Apple sought to maintain Siri's lead by opening it up to third-party iOS and Android app developers.6 This groundbreaking move enabled developers to integrate Siri into non-Apple applications like Uber and Lyft, expanding Siri's functionality beyond Apple's ecosystem.7

In summary, both Android 7.0 Nougat and iOS 10 represent significant efforts by Google and Apple to enhance their mobile operating systems. While adopting slightly different approaches, both updates focused on introducing more interactive features and capabilities to leave a stronger mark in the evolving mobile world.8