9 issues Apple introduced at WWDC that we wish on Android

Apple’s developer convention is without doubt one of the few occasions a yr the place we get to see what the corporate has in retailer for its varied product strains. New {hardware} apart, Apple shares upcoming options that it’ll be testing after which rolling later within the yr to iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, and tvOS.

As Android customers primarily, we love maintaining a tally of these bulletins. Competitors is what pushes your complete cellular business ahead, and taking a glimpse on the different aspect of the fence is at all times an attention-grabbing train. This yr, Apple introduced 9 options for its ecosystem that we’d like to see on Google’s aspect.

Catch up: The whole lot Apple introduced at WWDC 2022

Apple’s new lock display screen enhancements have taken one of the crucial boring elements of any telephone and made it extra attention-grabbing. The multi-layered method between the picture and clock seems to be neat, however we’re undoubtedly extra within the totally different clock kinds, the non-intrusive and well-integrated widgets, the notifications that circulate in from the underside of the display screen, and the useful choice to create a number of lock screens and tie them to numerous Focus profiles.

One skilled work-mode lock display screen along with your calendar entrance and heart, one other enjoyable design with music and exercise rings whenever you’re at dwelling, and one other whenever you’re driving or commuting. The choices are limitless and you may set the whole lot up nevertheless you need.

Android’s lock display screen, as compared, seems to be much more restrained. The rumored clock designs for Android 12 are nonetheless nowhere to be discovered, the widgets have all however disappeared from many skins’ lock screens, and customization is extraordinarily restricted. Maybe now that Apple has given the lock display screen some much-needed consideration, Google will observe go well with.

What may’ve been: That is the Android lock display screen Google by no means gave us

2. Share the topic of a photograph as a sticker

We admit: That is nowhere close to important, nevertheless it’s nonetheless tremendous cool.

Apple has been late to the sport of on-screen textual content and picture detection, nevertheless it’s rapidly catching as much as Google and its Lens implementation. iOS16 brings a number of enhancements like translation and unit conversion, however what caught our eye was the power to “magically” lower the topic of a photograph and duplicate it to a message.

Apple confirmed it off with a canine, however we are able to think about this could be helpful with humorous expressions on folks’s faces, highway indicators, and varied different gadgets. Think about sharing a photograph of your stunned face whenever you get an surprising message or a Sriracha bottle whenever you obtain a little bit of scorching information. The chances are limitless.

Associated: Issues that iOS does higher than Android

Positive, you may obtain an app and manually take away the background from any picture, however the place’s the instantaneous simplicity in that? Google’s superior images AI ought to have the ability to detect foreground topics and backgrounds simply as simply as Apple and provide the same operate.

Bear in mind when Google Now was in a position to present your entire pending orders from Gmail and monitor them for you? Nicely, that characteristic not exists in Android — and if it does, it’s in all probability buried someplace so deep in Google Assistant that nobody can discover it — however Apple has rolled it out now.

Alright, it’s restricted to purchases made with Apple Pay, however how cool is it that you would be able to see your entire purchases in a single interface and know once they’ll be delivered at a look?

We in contrast them: Google Pay vs Apple Pay vs Samsung Pay

4. Shared browser tab teams

For all of its lead within the browser recreation, Google nonetheless hasn’t found out easy methods to let two customers share some bookmarks or open tabs. For those who’re collaborating with colleagues, teammates, pals, or members of the family, it’s important to use a messaging app to ship hyperlinks to each single web site you need them to take a look at.

Apple simply solved this subject completely with Safari’s new shared browser tabs. Not solely are you able to bundle a number of websites and ship them to a gaggle of individuals, however it’s also possible to see what every of them is and actively add or take away tabs from the group. It’s a bit like if Google Drive’s dwell doc collaboration jumped to the browser, and it seems to be extremely helpful.

Want for velocity: What’s the quickest browser on Android?

5. Higher voice dictation

It’s been a few years since Google began repeatedly rolling out after which taking again Assistant voice typing in Gboard. The characteristic guarantees seamless transitions between voice dictation and touch-typing, emoji insertion, computerized punctuation, and extra. Cease me if this feature-set sounds acquainted.

If it does, it’s as a result of it’s precisely what Apple introduced for iOS16, and figuring out Apple’s monitor report, we are able to make certain that it’ll roll out with the official launch of iOS16 within the fall. As for Google’s equal? Nicely, we wouldn’t know what to inform you. Our Gboard says it’s there, nevertheless it’s not likely doing what it’s speculated to. All Google has to do is correctly get it working.

6. Constructed-in remedy monitoring

I was a pharmacist in a earlier life and one of many bugbears of my occupation was telling sufferers they wanted to take their remedy often. Affected person compliance is a giant subject with medication as a result of folks have a tendency to recollect any new remedy for just a few days after which fall off the wagon. I attempted recommending tablet organizer packing containers, organising telephone alarms, and loads of different techniques, however there was no easy answer for everybody, particularly for individuals who take a number of drugs.

Apple’s new remedy monitoring is constructed into the Well being app. It mechanically acknowledges the energetic ingredient, warns of interactions should you’re taking a number of medication, reminds you to take your drugs on a set schedule, and tracks your utilization. You’ll be able to even share it with family members, which is superb for monitoring youngsters, youngsters, or aged sufferers.

Android nonetheless has nothing even remotely near Apple Well being and its all-encompassing well being metrics monitoring, but when Google desires to take the Pixel Watch critically, it wants to start out rolling comparable well being options, doubtlessly via Google Match.

Our information: The whole lot it’s worthwhile to learn about Google Match

7. Security Test for home violence victims

Smartphones will be harmful instruments within the palms of abusers. They will regulate their victims all day lengthy, monitor their location, see what they’re taking images of, looking, looking for, who they’re speaking to, and extra. It’s a disgrace that it took this lengthy for not less than one firm to comprehend how evil of a instrument a telephone could possibly be within the mistaken palms and to do one thing about it.

The brand new Security Test dashboard on iOS16 lets the telephone’s person reset entry to all folks and apps in a single go, signal out of iCloud on every other machine, and restrict messaging to the present telephone. Any particular person escaping an abuser would have the ability to lower ties with them, revoke their entry to location, images, or every other apps, and cease them from utilizing a left-behind laptop or iPad to trace them down. We want options like this didn’t must exist, however we commend Apple for taking the required steps. Your flip, Google.

8. Video name hand-off

Apple has been tightening the hyperlinks between its varied units for years, providing choices to start out a job someplace and proceed it elsewhere. The newest addition is a really helpful trick: You can begin a Facetime name in your telephone then decide it up and proceed out of your Mac laptop. This could be very useful when it’s important to be a part of a name when you’re nonetheless away out of your desk.

Google Meet already enables you to be a part of the decision via two cases — one out of your telephone, one other out of your laptop — however the transition isn’t seamless. It is advisable discover the assembly hyperlink, be a part of, then stop it in your telephone. Apple’s answer seems to be extra clean, and Google ought to implement one thing comparable as soon as it’s achieved merging Meet with Duo.

Take a look at: One of the best Facetime alternate options on Android

9. Higher ecosystem integrations throughout the board

The straightforward hand-off of video calls between telephone and laptop is just one ingredient of a bigger ecosystem play by Apple. Yearly, the corporate publicizes many options that might solely work should you’re absolutely invested in its world.

Apple units work collectively in sensible methods, like utilizing your iPhone as a greater webcam for video calls in your Mac. Apple providers additionally combine collectively in tightly-knit methods, just like the previously-mentioned browser tab sharing, some nifty new doc collaboration options, and SharePlay’s new iMessage integration to ask pals over for a shared leisure session.

Google remains to be far off from this deep degree of integration between units and providers. It’s slowly getting there, although, and we hope we’ll see comparable options as soon as the Pixel Watch and Pixel Pill push the corporate to look past the easy smartphone.

We debate: Is Google’s ecosystem push an excessive amount of too quick?