You smell that? That?s the stink on Apple right now. Sure they?re
sitting on a few billion dollars, but when the most anticipated
product coming out of your company is a wristwatch, you might
be in trouble. It?s also an off year in terms of iPhone models.
Who?s excited for the iPhone 5S? That?s what I thought.
No, what Apple really needs is a new, innovative version of iOS -
- preferably one that won?t turn my old iPhone into a sluggish
turd. But what can Apple do in iOS 7 to keep their customers
from looking at the competition. I?m Donald Bell, and in this Top
5 I?m counting down the five features Apple desperately needs in
iOS 7.
Starting off at #5: better multitasking. This whole double-tap and
swipe thing gets old real quick when you?re trying to get real
work done. With the iPad, at least you can do that 4-finger swipe
to switch between apps. Give us that for the iPhone or maybe
something cooler, like a palm swipe, or peekaboo, or a rub on
your belly. I mean, multitasking in OS X is insanely good. Just
give us a taste.
Coming in at #4: automatic app updates. How much time have I
wasted reading through the release notes of some dumb app
update. Bug fixes. I get it. How about you just do it already. Can
you just set it up so that apps update automatically over your
home wi-fi when you?re charging at night, or at least give me the
option? The only time I?ve ever thought twice about updating my
software was when you switched out Google Maps for Apple
Maps.
Which brings us to #3: better maps. I think we all know that
Apple Maps could still use a little work. Or a lot. In the meantime,
how about you swallow your pride and let users set what Map
program they want to use by default. Also, how about an offline
mode? The times I need maps most are when I?m either stuck
out in the boonies with zero reception, or in another country
where data costs will bankrupt me. Just put the map industry out
of business already.
At #2: Multiple account log-in. I know that Apple would prefer that
I buy iPad?s for everyone in my home, but until then it would be
incredibly convenient to share one iPad with different accounts.
One personal account for me, maybe a separate work account,
an account for my wife, one for my kid that?s locked into a safe
mode, and maybe even a guest account. It?s something that
traditional computers have been doing for years. It?s great for
keeping information private, and great for keeping your kid?s
games out of sight.
Alright, before we get to the #1 feature Apple needs in iOS 7, I
have to take a minute to put in my own relatively minor request.
Can we please get rid of Newsstand? I can?t delete this thing, I
can?t bury it in a folder -- why is this app not an optional install,
like iBooks? It just sits there staring back at us as a constant
reminder that Apple sometimes has really bad ideas.
While you?re at let?s go through the rest of my un-deletable junk
folder: calculator, compass, voice memos, weather, Passbook,
Game Center, Stocks. They?re all fine apps, but give me the
choice to download or delete them. It?s annoying.
Speaking of annoying, here?s the #1 feature that Apple needs to
fix in iOS 7: Settings. For a company that loves touting that their
products ?just work? why do I have to click three places just to
turn Bluetooth on and off or change the screen brightness.
You?ve really gotta simplify this thing and make the everyday
stuff easier to get to. Y?know, like Android.
So there you go, 5 key changes that I think will be key for Apple
to include in iOS 7 in order to stay competitive. Before you send
that hate mail, be sure to get fully fired up by the 15 features
ZDNet?s Zack Whittaker is asking from iOS 7. I got a number of
these from his piece, as well as Luke Westaway?s wishlist over
on CNET UK.
But if I?ve won you over, you can check out more Top 5?s like this
over on Top5.CNET.com.
I?m Donald Bell, thanks for watching.
