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Apple’s iPhone 16 Revolutionizes Business Tech – A Comprehensive Review

Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning, iOS Development, , , , , , , , ,

iPhone 16 and 16Pro

With every new iPhone release, Apple sets new standards, and the iPhone 16 is no exception. This latest marvel is packed with features that promise to transform how business leaders, tech executives, and influencers operate. In this blog post, we’ll explore the groundbreaking features of the iPhone 16, discuss its pros and cons, and take a sneak peek at what the future holds for Apple’s flagship product.

A Leap in Performance

With the iPhone 16 and 16 Pro, Apple is changing the way we think about smartphone photography. The new camera control buttons provide users with enhanced tactile feedback and more precise control over camera functions. These buttons make taking professional-quality photos and videos easier than ever, allowing users to focus on capturing the perfect moment with just a simple touch. Let’s dive into the details and see how these innovative features are set to transform the photography and videography landscape.

Cutting-Edge Processor

The iPhone 16 is powered by the A18 Bionic chip, delivering outstanding performance for seamless multitasking and productivity. Its advanced architecture boosts processing speeds while enhancing energy efficiency, ideal for long working hours. For tech leaders, the A18 effortlessly handles complex applications and data tasks, ensuring efficient operations and swift decision-making. With enhanced AI capabilities, businesses can leverage machine learning for predictive analytics and security, solidifying the iPhone 16 as an essential innovation tool in the corporate landscape.

Apple Intelligence Integration

Apple Intelligence

Apple Intelligence, an evolution of Siri with significantly upgraded AI and machine learning capabilities, is one of the standout features of the iPhone 16. This next-generation assistant is designed to become an indispensable business tool, offering seamless integration with various corporate applications and services. With enhanced natural language processing, Apple Intelligence understands and interprets complex commands and queries more accurately, providing precise and relevant responses.
For business leaders, Apple Intelligence can schedule and manage meetings, send emails, and compile reports simply through voice commands, reducing the need for manual input and minimizing errors. The AI’s advanced predictive analytics can forecast market trends and customer behaviors, delivering actionable insights to drive strategic planning. In customer service, Apple Intelligence can automate responses to common queries, improving response times and customer satisfaction.

Superior Battery Life

Battery life is crucial for business professionals on the go, and the iPhone 16 excels in this area, offering up to 27 hours of playback time for the iPhone 16 ProMax and 22 hours for the standard iPhone 16. This impressive battery life allows CEOs and business owners to stay connected without the constant search for an outlet.

Additionally, the iPhone 16 features fast charging capabilities, enabling quick top-ups during meetings or calls, ensuring users maintain productivity throughout the day. With smart energy-saving features that adapt to user habits, this device meets the demanding needs of busy professionals, alleviating the stress of low battery warnings in critical situations.

Enhanced Camera Ergonomics and Precision

The iPhone 16 and 16 Pro models revolutionize smartphone photography with new physical camera control buttons. These buttons are designed for optimal ergonomics, providing enhanced tactile feedback and precise control, similar to professional camera equipment. Integrated seamlessly with the iPhone 16’s photographic capabilities, they enable smooth navigation between modes, exposure adjustments, and zoom functionality, ensuring high-quality image capture. For professional photographers and content creators, the ability to make nuanced adjustments quickly is invaluable, enhancing the ability to capture fleeting moments without on-screen menu navigation. Constructed from high-quality materials and based on user feedback, these buttons cater to both amateur and professional users alike, setting a new standard for smartphone photography and accessibility to professional-quality imagery.

Redefined Display Technology

Display

ProMotion XDR Display

The iPhone 16’s ProMotion XDR display for Pro models revolutionizes user interaction with its impressive refresh rate of up to 120Hz, resulting in smoother scrolling and sharper visuals. This advanced technology enhances the visual appeal of apps and videos while dynamically adapting to conserve battery life. With HDR support, users can enjoy a wider color gamut and improved contrast for more lifelike imagery. For professionals who rely on their devices for impactful presentations, the clarity and vibrancy of the display ensure that key messages resonate with audiences.

True Tone and HDR10+ Support

True Tone technology and HDR10+ support greatly improve the iPhone 16’s display by enhancing color accuracy and dynamic range. True Tone automatically adjusts the white balance to suit ambient lighting, ensuring a natural viewing experience that is crucial for creative professionals who need precise color representation. This allows artists and designers to work confidently, knowing their edits will reflect accurately on other displays. HDR10+ further elevates the visual experience with improved contrast and brightness, rendering photos and videos more vibrant and lifelike. For businesses, this means showcasing products with remarkable clarity, boosting marketing efforts and customer engagement, making the iPhone 16 an essential tool for effective communication and brand presentation.

Eye Comfort Mode

Eye Comfort Mode effectively reduces blue light emissions, minimizing eye strain for professionals who spend long hours on their devices. By adjusting the display’s color temperature in low-light conditions, it creates a warmer viewing experience that alleviates discomfort. Excessive blue light exposure can disrupt sleep and lead to digital eye strain, including symptoms like dryness and irritation. With Eye Comfort Mode, users can work late into the night or tackle early morning tasks without adverse effects, promoting visual well-being and maintaining productivity.

Security and Privacy

Privacy

Advanced Face ID

Security is essential in business, and the iPhone 16 elevates this with Advanced Face ID, a facial recognition system that uses infrared sensors and machine learning for precise authentication. Unlike fingerprint scanners, it captures intricate facial details and functions well in various lighting conditions for swift access. This technology safeguards sensitive data with advanced anti-spoofing features and allows support for multiple user profiles, which is perfect for shared devices. With an error rate of just one in one million, Advanced Face ID enhances security while seamlessly integrating with secure payment systems, making it a vital resource for business leaders focused on safety and efficiency.

Secure Enclave

The Secure Enclave in the iPhone 16 is crucial for protecting user privacy and data integrity. It securely stores biometric data—like fingerprints and facial recognition—along with encryption keys, isolating this sensitive information from the main operating system to reduce exposure risks. This chip enables business executives to confidently store sensitive data while adhering to security standards. It performs cryptographic operations without exposing the underlying data, shielding against malware and unauthorized access. With its support for secure boot and device encryption, the Secure Enclave ensures device integrity from the outset, making it vital for compliance with regulations such as GDPR and HIPAA, thus fostering trust with clients.

Privacy-Focused Features

Apple’s dedication to user privacy shines through features like Mail Privacy Protection and App Tracking Transparency. Mail Privacy Protection enables users to conceal their IP addresses and keeps email open statuses hidden from senders, prompting marketers to rethink engagement metrics. Meanwhile, App Tracking Transparency requires apps to seek explicit user permission for tracking activity, allowing individuals to control their shared data.

Connectivity and Communication

iPhone 16

5G Capabilities

The iPhone 16 features advanced 5G capabilities, providing faster download and upload speeds, reduced latency, and improved connectivity. This enhancement leads to seamless video conferencing and rapid file sharing, which is crucial for business owners and tech leaders. With speeds over 1 Gbps, users can enjoy high-definition streaming and quick access to cloud applications. The low latency significantly improves virtual meetings and collaboration, ensuring productivity for remote and global teams.

Wi-Fi 6E Support

Wi-Fi 6E support enhances wireless connections by utilizing the 6 GHz spectrum, which alleviates congestion found in the traditional 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands. This expanded bandwidth is vital in crowded environments like conferences and corporate offices, enabling multiple devices to connect simultaneously without speed loss. For technology executives, it means uninterrupted connectivity during meetings and seamless access to cloud services, promoting efficiency. Additionally, improved latency and capacity allow teams to collaborate in real time through video conferencing and shared digital workspaces, making Wi-Fi 6E an essential asset for organizations embracing hybrid work models.

Enhanced Audio Quality

Enhanced audio quality is achieved through spatial audio support and advanced microphone technology, providing an exceptional listening experience on the iPhone 16. Spatial audio creates a surround sound effect, making video calls feel more interactive and lifelike, which is particularly useful for CEOs conveying complex ideas without distractions. The improved microphone isolates the speaker’s voice while minimizing background noise, ensuring crystal-clear calls.

Business-Centric Features

Dedicated Business Mode

The iPhone 16 features a dedicated Business Mode designed to enhance professional productivity. This mode prioritizes work notifications and allows users to customize settings, focusing on essential apps while minimizing distractions. With enhanced Do Not Disturb options, personal notifications can be silenced during work hours, and users can set different profiles for various environments, such as meetings or focused work.

Seamless Integration with Apple Ecosystem

Seamless integration with the Apple ecosystem—including MacBooks, iPads, and Apple Watches—facilitates smooth transitions for business professionals using the iPhone 16. Users can employ features like Handoff to start a task on one device and effortlessly continue on another, such as finishing an email or sharing documents via AirDrop. This continuity allows access to the same files and applications across devices, enhancing collaboration with shared calendars, notes, and reminders. Such interconnectedness boosts productivity and ensures crucial information is readily accessible, empowering professionals to make informed decisions and respond swiftly to challenges.

Robust App Store for Business

The App Store offers a wide range of business applications, from project management to financial software, all optimized for the iPhone 16. Business owners can easily find tools tailored to their needs, like CRM systems and collaboration apps. Regular updates provide access to the latest features, and seamless integration with Apple’s ecosystem ensures efficient data sharing. Flexible in-app purchases and subscription models allow businesses to adjust their software usage as they scale. This extensive selection of apps helps professionals streamline operations and drive growth effectively.

Pros and Cons of the iPhone 16

A18 Bionic Chip

Pros

The iPhone 16 delivers exceptional performance with the A18 Bionic chip, ensuring rapid efficiency and smooth multitasking, perfect for business professionals. Its ProMotion XDR display provides vibrant visuals and smooth scrolling, enhancing productivity for presentations and creative tasks. With advanced security features like Face ID and the Secure Enclave, users can trust that their sensitive data is well-protected. Connectivity is robust, thanks to 5G and Wi-Fi 6E support, facilitating fast video conferencing and quick file sharing. Moreover, Apple prioritizes user privacy with tools such as Mail Privacy Protection, empowering users to safeguard their information effectively.

Cons

Despite its many advantages, the iPhone 16 comes with a high price point, which may be a barrier for some consumers. The premium cost could prevent potential buyers from accessing its advanced features and capabilities. Additionally, limited customization options within Apple’s closed ecosystem can be a drawback for those accustomed to more flexibility offered by Android devices. This can leave some users feeling restricted in how they personalize their devices. Lastly, there is a learning curve associated with adapting to the new features and interface of the iPhone 16. Some users may find it challenging to navigate these changes, which could hinder their overall experience with the device.

Future Plans for the Next iPhone

Future

Continuous Innovation

Apple is renowned for its unwavering commitment to continuous innovation, and the future iPhone models will undoubtedly expand upon the advancements introduced with the iPhone 16. Anticipate the emergence of even more powerful processors that leverage cutting-edge semiconductor technology, providing unparalleled performance and efficiency for demanding applications. Enhanced AI capabilities are on the horizon as well, with machine learning algorithms becoming more sophisticated, enabling features such as predictive text, advanced photo editing, and superior personal assistant functionalities.

Augmented Reality (AR) Integration

Augmented Reality (AR) is poised to be a key feature in future iPhone models, significantly enhancing user experiences in both personal and professional settings. Apple’s ongoing investment in AR technologies highlights its commitment to this innovation. Upcoming iPhones are expected to feature advanced AR capabilities, including better object recognition and realistic virtual overlays, which could transform industries with immersive shopping experiences, virtual try-ons, and interactive training sessions involving 3D models.

Sustainability Efforts

Apple is dedicated to reducing its environmental impact, and future iPhones will likely incorporate more sustainable materials and energy-efficient technologies. The company’s commitment to sustainability extends beyond product design; it encompasses the entire lifecycle of its devices, from sourcing raw materials to manufacturing, transportation, and eventual recycling. For instance, Apple aims to use 100% recycled aluminum in the enclosures of its products, which significantly reduces the demand for newly mined metals and minimizes carbon emissions associated with extraction processes.

Conclusion

The iPhone 16 stands as a monumental leap in business technology, providing unmatched performance, robust security, and superior connectivity. For business professionals, tech executives, and influencers alike, it is an indispensable tool that fuels productivity and sparks innovation. As we peer into the future, Apple’s unwavering dedication to innovation promises even more groundbreaking advancements. Be sure to stay tuned for the final blog in our BioTech series, where we will explore exciting developments in medical diagnostics and imaging.

How Apple & Google Are Enhancing Battery Life and What We as App Developers Can Do to Help

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In 1799, Italian physicist Alessandro Volta created the first electrical battery, disproving the theory that electricity could only be created by human beings. Fast forward 250 years, brands like Duracell and Energizer popularized alkaline batteries—which are effective, inexpensive and soon become the key to powering household devices. In 1991, Sony released the first commercial rechargeable lithium-ion battery. Although lithium-ion batteries have come a long way since the 90s, to this day they power most smartphones and many other modern devices.

While batteries have come a long way, so have the capabilities of the devices which need them. For consumers, battery life is one of the most important features when purchasing hardware. Applications which drain a device’s battery are less likely to retain their users. Software developers are wise to understand the latest trends in battery optimization in order to build more efficient and user-friendly applications.

HARDWARE

Lithium-ion batteries remain the most prevalent battery technology, but a new technology lies on the horizon. Graphene batteries are similar to traditional batteries, however, the composition of one or both electrodes differ. Graphene batteries increase electrode density and lead to faster cycle times as well as the ability to improve a battery’s lifespan. Samsung is allegedly developing a smartphone powered by a graphene battery that could fully charge its device within 30 minutes. Although the technology is thinner, lighter, and more efficient, production of pure graphene batteries can be incredibly expensive, which may inhibit its proliferation in the short-term.

Hardware companies are also coming up with less technologically innovative solutions to improve battery life. Many companies are simply attempting to cram larger batteries into devices. A more elegant solution is the inclusion of multiple batteries. The OnePlus 9 has a dual cell battery. Employing multiple smaller batteries means both batteries charge faster than a single cell battery.

SOFTWARE

Apple and Google are eager to please their end-users by employing techniques to help optimize battery life. In addition, they take care to keep app developers updated with the latest techniques via their respective developer sites.

Android 11 includes a feature that allows users to freeze apps when they are cached to prevent their execution. Android 10 introduced a “SystemHealthManager” that resets battery usage statistics whenever the device is unplugged, after a device is fully charged or goes from being mostly empty to mostly charged—what the OS considers a “Major charging event”.

Apple has a better track record of consuming less battery than Android. iOS 13 and later introduced Optimized Battery Charging, enabling iPhones to learn from your daily charging routine to improve battery lifespan. The new feature prevents iPhones from charging up to 100% to reduce the amount of time the battery remains fully charged. On-site machine learning then ensures that your battery is fully charged by the time the user wakes up based on their daily routines.

Apple also offers a comprehensive graph for users to understand how much battery is being used by which apps, off screen and on screen, under the Battery tab of each devices Settings.

WHAT APPLICATION DEVELOPERS CAN DO

App developers see a 73% churn rate within the first 90 days of downloading an app, leaving very little room for errors or negative factors like battery drainage. There are a number of techniques application developers can employ in their design to reduce and optimize battery-intensive processes.

It’s vital to review each respective app store’s battery saving standards. Both Android and Apple offer a variety of simple yet vital tips for reducing battery drain—such as limiting the frequency that an app asks for a device’s location and inter-app broadcasting.

One of the most important tips is to reduce the frequency of network refreshes. Identify redundant operations and cut them out. For instance, can downloaded data be cached rather than using the radio repeatedly to re-download it? Are there tasks that can be deferred by the app until the device is charging? Backing up data to the cloud can consume a lot of battery on a task that is not always time sensitive.

Wake locks keep the phone’s screen on when using an app. There was a time where wake locks were frequently employed—but now it is frowned upon. Use wake locks only when absolutely necessary—if at all.

CONCLUSION

Software developers need to be attentive to battery drain throughout the process of building their application. This begins at conception, through programming, all the way into a robust testing process to identify potential battery drainage pitfalls. Attention to the details of battery optimization will lead to better, more user-friendly applications.

How to Optimize GPS and Background Processes for Android Oreo

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As our past article Android Oreo Serves Up the Sweets will show, Android Oreo lived up to expectations upon release and gave both consumers and app developers plenty of enhancements to enjoy.

However, for app developers, enhancements to the UI aimed to conserve battery life affect GPS services and require changes to the code in order to optimize pre-existing apps for the new OS. Specifically, Android Oreo restricts apps that are running in the background with limited access to background services. Additionally, apps can no longer use their manifests to register for most implicit broadcasts. When an app is in the background, it is given several minutes to create and use services, but at the end of that time slot, the app is considered idle and the OS will stop running background services.

These changes directly affect apps with geolocation functionality. Android Oreo limits how frequently apps can gather location in the background. Background apps can only receive location updates a few times each hour. The APIs affected due to these limits include Fused Location Provider, Geofencing, Location Manager, Wifi Manager, GNSS Measurements and GNSS Navigation Messages.

Apps that currently use location services in previous Android OS’s will require an update to optimize for Android Oreo. Apps that use location services range anywhere from navigational apps like Waze and Google Maps to social media apps like Twitter, and food apps like Yelp and Seamless.

For apps that require frequent location updates, increasing the usage of the app in the foreground will ensure that the app gets frequent access to location information. In order to program this, developers must implement startServiceinForeground() instead of startService() in Activity class.

In Service class in onStartCommand(), developers can use the following code:

Screen Shot 2018-05-07 at 12.46.57 PM

Via StackOverflow

When foreground services running in the background consume high energy, Oreo fires an automatic push notification to the user informing them of the battery-consuming service. With the push notification in place, app users are more likely to uninstall apps that track location without conserving battery life, putting the onus on software developers to deliver battery-efficient apps. One of the biggest issues facing some app developers is ensuring that battery life is not sucked as a result of tracking location in apps. Check out our full rundown of how to build battery-efficient geolocation apps for supplementary reading.

The results of the limits put in place with Android O are increased battery life for the user and the necessity for app owners to consider how their apps interact with location information. Retaining a thorough understanding of how location information will be retrieved and used through out the development process ultimately benefits both software developers and consumers with better UI and more energy efficient processes.

Android Oreo Serves Up the Sweets

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Like the candy, Google’s newest delectable dessert-themed operating system Android 8.0 Oreo offers the best of both worlds: crunchy cookie goodness of versatile functionality and the creamy frosting of beautiful UI and presentation.

PROJECT TREBLE 

Project Treble is one of the major aspects of Android Oreo that makes it a full 1.0 update. Project Treble is designed to reduce device fragmentation by making it easier for hardware manufacturers to issue updates on Android devices. The architecture redesign modularizes the Android OS away from the drivers and other hardware-specific code. By making it easier for manufacturers to update Android devices, Project Treble makes accessing the latest Android OS from your devices  easier than ever.

HIGH-PERFORMANCE BLUETOOTH AUDIO

Android Oreo is loaded up with BLUETOOTH 5 and LDAC, making Oreo capable of supporting audio quality that surpasses what the vast majority of high-end audio equipment can reproduce.

LDAC is a codec that supports the transfer of 24 bit, 96kHz audio via Bluetooth. The closest competitor is Qualcomm’s aptX HD which supports 24 bit, 48kHz technology. LDAC was created by Sony, who donated the codec to Android for Oreo as a part of the core AOSP code for other OEMS to implement.

Whereas previous iterations of Bluetooth offered a range of 50m-100m outdoors and 10m-20m indoors, Bluetooth 5 can reach up to 200m outdoors and 40m indoors. Additionally, Bluetooth 5 BLE doubles Bluetooth 4.x BLE’s data transfer rate with up to 2Mbps. The kicker is: Bluetooth 5 actually utilizes up to 2.5 times less power while increasing range and speed.

BATTERY LIFE

The Android Oreo update includes multiple initiatives designed to improve battery life. Background execution limits have been enacted to limit requests to scheduled windows of activity, resulting in longer battery life and less strain on the device by inactive apps.

Android Oreo places two major limitations on what apps can do while users aren’t directly interacting with them:

  1. Background Service Limitations limit the use of background services by idle apps. This does not apply to foreground apps, which are defined as apps with visible activity, apps with a foreground service, or apps that are connected to another foreground app.​
  2. Broadcast Limitations prevent apps from using their manifest to register for implicit broadcasts. Apps can still use their manifest to register for broadcasts at runtime and for explicit broadcasts targeted specifically at their app.

For the most part, app developers can work around these limitations using JobScheduler jobs. Android has also made several improvements to JobScheduler.

Background execution limits will have a major impact on the functionality of existing and future apps, check out a full breakdown of the new functionality directly from Android.

Additionally, Android Oreo comes with Vitals. Vitals is an initiative by Google that improves system performance and stability by offering developers various tools to monitor app usage on a device. Vitals enables developers to  optimize their apps for improved battery life and performance.

UI

Google’s strategy with OS updates has become more and more minimal in recent years. The last major visual OS overhaul was enacted by Google in Android 5.0 Lollipop. Android Oreo does not change the name of the game, but offers a variety of UI improvements.

DOWNLOADABLE FONTS: Android 8.0 Oreo offers support for apps to request fonts from a “provider” application, reducing the amount of disk space spent by apps on storing font libraries individually.

NOTIFICATION CHANNELS: Notifications have always been one of the strong suits of Android Operating Systems. With Android Oreo, app notifications must be sorted by the developer into channels based on type, so that the user can then customize what types of notifications they would like to receive and how they receive them.

For example, users can modify characteristics of notification channels that apply to all notifications in that channel, including:

  • Importance
  • Sound
  • Lights
  • Vibration
  • Show on lock screen
  • Override do not disturb

PICTURE IN PICTURE MODE: Oreo ports Android’s famous “Picture-In-Picture Mode” for phones and tablets. Picture-In-Picture Mode allows users to view multiple apps at the same time. It is most handy for watching video or having a video call while using another app.

TAKEAWAY

Overall, Android 8.0 Oreo delivers the goods. It’s sleek, supports the best audio quality available, allows more UI customizability, saves battery life, and it’s a major step toward conquering device fragmentation which has plagued Android since its inception.

Android O: What Google’s Latest OS Offers App Developers

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On March 21st, Google unveiled the developer preview for the latest version of the largest OS in the world: Android O. For consumers, it means improved UI, design, battery life, & more. For app developers, it has far deeper implications. With release anticipated in Q3 2017, here is our rundown of the top takeaways about Android O for Android developers:

BATTERY LIFE

The main focus of Android O appears to be to continue Android Nougat’s initiative to reduce battery life. The OS will limit and manage what launched apps can do in the background when multiple apps are open. For example, if a user has a geolocation app open in the background while using another app, location updates will happen less frequently for the background app.

In technical terms, background execution & location limits have been reigned in, allowing the OS to better manage background activity. Background apps are defined by Google as apps showing no visible activity, no foreground service & not connected to a foreground app through its services. Location changes affect the following APIs:

  • Fused Location Provider (FLP): The local system service computes a new location for background apps only a few times each hour, according to the interval defined in the Android O behavior change. Foreground apps will not experience location sampling rates in relation to Android 7.1.1 (API level 25).
  • Geofencing: Background apps can receive geofencing transition events more frequently than from FLP.
  • GNSS Measurements: Callbacks registered to receive outputs from GnssMeasurement and GnssNavigationMessage will stop executing for background apps.
  • Location Manager: Location updates will be provided to background apps only a few times per hour according to the interval defined in the Android O behavior change.

NOTIFICATION CHANNELS

Android OS’s have always thrived in the notification department. Android O allows developers to group notifications into channels. Developers must select a channel for each distinct type of notification they send with the goal of making things easier and more customizable for the user. For example, a user can turn off the “Sports” notification channel from the New York Times app if they are already getting sports notifications from the ESPN app.

Developers can also allow user behavior to dictate notification channels. For example, the developer of a messaging app can create separate notification channels for each of a user’s messaging threads.

WI-FI AWARE

Wi-Fi Aware, or Neighbor Awareness Network (NAN), allows devices to discover and connect directly with each other without any other connectivity between them, like Wi-Fi Access Point or Cellular. Two phones can connect with each other with NAN and share data at high speeds without any additional apps or configuration, opening up tons of possibilities for developers.

Learn more about Wi-Fi Aware:

HI-FI BLUETOOTH AUDIO

Android O supports Hi-Fi Bluetooth audio. While the quality of the audio still depends on the speaker or headphone through which one listens, this is a major improvement for music lovers.

ADAPTIVE ICONS

Android O will introduce adaptive launcher icons. Adaptive icons support visual effects and can display a variety of shapes across different device models. Adaptive icons are a major tool for developers to guide the user’s eye and enhance UX. Check out Android’s developer site to learn more.

RELEASE SCHEDULE

via Android Developers
via Android Developers

The O Developer preview will run from March 21st to the final Android O public release anticipated in Q3 2017. Android will provide incremental updates in mid-May, June, & July. Until Q3 2017, the onus is on Android developers to prepare their future and existing apps for the latest operating system.

Nougat OS: Everything You Need to Know Android’s Latest Treat

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With all the fuss about iPhone 7, iOS 10 and the new Pixel, it’s easy to forget Android recently unveiled their latest OS: Nougat. In line with Android’s other dessert-themed software titles (Marshmallow, Lollipop, KitKat, etc.), Nougat is a treat. It’s a refined version of Marshmallow with improved UX, specs and a lot more. Both iOS fans and app developers take note, here are Android Nougat’s top features:

MULTI-WINDOW MULTITASKING

The most notable feature of Nougat is Multi-Window Multitasking. Unlike iOS, Nougat allows users to run multiple apps on their screen at once, allowing users to watch a movie while they text, view a recipe while they keep their eyes on the timer, or use any number of applications. Multi-Window Multitasking can be utilized with three display options: Split-Screen, Picture-In-Picture and Freeform Mode.

Split-Screen mode splits the screen across the bottom when held vertically, or across the middle when held horizontally.

Picture-In-Picture mode will be optimized for Android TV and will eliminate the controls and interface elements while keeping the content portion to scale.

Freeform mode will allow users to customize the size of each application, like one can with a desktop or laptop computer.

REFINED NOTIFICATIONS SETTINGS

Notifications Settings via How To Geek

Android has always been a major advocate of customizing notifications, and Android Nougat improves their system. Users customize their quick settings to ensure they are only alerted to the top-level notifications. Users can also maintain conversations within the notifications bar to make it easier to chat without having to go back and forth into apps.

Bundled notifications allow users to see what is happening within their apps at a glance without clogging their feed. Simply tap to expand the box and view more info without going directly into the app.

FASTER PERFORMANCE, MORE BATTERY, LESS MOBILE DATA

The best improvements of Nougat OS are not flashy new features, but overall improved functionality. Google’s “Project Doze,” designed to increase phone battery length, was introduced with Marshmallow, but gets a big upgrade with Nougat. Doze shuts down CPU and network activity while the phone screen is off. Previously, Doze only worked when the device was motionless, but now it can operate whenever the screen is off.

Data overages can add up quickly. Google seeks to counter the threat of overages with Data Saver, a program which kicks in whenever the user is on a metered data connection and limits apps and background processes to a set amount of data. Rather than cutting off data usage at a  preset limit, Data Saver makes Android phones more efficient with constant refinement.

Both Data Saver and Project Doze are bolstered by minor technical improvements to Project Svelte, Android’s device optimization initiative, creating a more efficient phone.

SEAMLESS UPDATES

Android isn’t trying to reinvent the wheel. Their Nougat OS functions primarily as a UX improvement over Marshmallow. Android has instilled major security improvements, including file-based encryption. Android has also taken a page out of the Chrome OS playbook by adding seamless updates, which will allow system updates to install in the background.

NEW EMOJIS

On the lighter side of things, Android has installed 72 new glyphs and has revamped their 1,500 emojis to appear more realistic. Nougat is also compatible with Vulkan API, which opens up a world of low-overhead graphical possibilities.

WHEN CAN I GET NOUGAT?

As with any Android update, the real question is: when is it coming to my phone? Nougat is out, but device fragmentation on the Android platform entails a staggered availability based on the hardware. While Google’s Pixel phone could soon alleviate some of these fragmentation problems, Android still cannot move at the speed of iOS—but Nougat’s improved functionality is a welcome addition for both app developers and consumers.

For a full list of Android Nougat release dates, check out this awesome article over at Pocket Lint.

Apple Watch: Everything You Need To Know Before You Buy

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At Apple’s Spring Forward event, the tech giant unveiled detailed plans for Apple Watch. We’ve documented everything we knew about the new device based on last year’s Fall Announcement in our article Shaken Not Stirred: Apple Watch’s Anticipated Impact on Wearable Platform. Here’s what we learned from the Spring Forward Event:

SPECS

Apple Watch will come in three different versions: Apple Watch Sport, Apple Watch (standard edition), and Apple Watch Edition. Each version has two different sizes: 38 mm and 42mm (catered to the average male and female wrist respectively) and 38 different band designs.

Apple Watch Sport

 

Apple Watch Sport Image via Apple Store

Apple Watch Sport is the cheapest version, starting at $349. It comes with a synthetic rubber band and has an alluminum-alloy body.

Apple Watch

Apple Watch image via Apple Store

Apple Watch, the mid-tier model, comes in stainless steel with a sapphire crystal and ceramic back. It starts at $549.

Apple Watch Edition

Apple Watch Edition image via Apple Store

Apple Watch Edition appeals to the upscale buyer. It has an 18-karat gold body with a sapphire crystal and ceramic back. It starts at $10,000.

FUNCTIONALITY

Functionality for the Apple Watch will primarily be reliant on a connection to your iPhone. Apple Watch will also support fully-fledged native applications, however, they will not be available until later in the year. In the meantime, as the smallest screen in the Apple ecosystem, Apple Watch is perfect for micro-managing iPhone apps. “Glances” are one-shot views of apps. For Uber, you can see when your taxi is arriving. For Instagram, you can scroll through images of those you follow.

Check out this The Verge article for a glance at some of the best Apple Watch apps in the App Store.

Apple Watch utilizes Apple Pay to offer quick, card-free payments for small items (drinks and snacks). In participating hotels like the W, Apple Watch apps can open your door for you. The Lutron app will help users save energy by sensing when lights are left on in the user’s home and allowing the user to turn them off remotely on their watch.

COMMUNICATION

Communication-wise, users can take calls on their watch, as well as send voice-memos. The Watch is smart enough to recognize quick replies to basic questions. Users can also draw and pictures to other Apple Watch users. Perhaps the weirdest feature, however, is the ability to send your heartbeat to anyone with a watch.

Heartbeat

Image via Redmond Pie

WHAT’S LACKING: STORAGE AND BATTERY LIFE

Two negative features stand out about the new device: Storage and Battery Life.

Apple Watch comes with 8GB of storage. Of that storage, the bulk is reserved for apps. 2GB is available for music, and 75 MB for photos. Photos will be resized to take up less screen room than the originals. Unfortunately, the 8GB storage limit will apply to all versions. Even those who shell out $10,000 for an Apple Watch Edition will be stuck managing a limited amount of music on their phones.

The device will require daily charging. One full charge will last for 18 hours, a figure brought about assuming it is paired with an iPhone and used for 90 time checks, 90 notifications, 45 minutes of app use and a 30 minute work out with music playback through Bluetooth.

HEALTH

Health-wise, Apple Watch can track movement, estimate calories burned, and monitor heart rates. While Apple initially ran tests to include a stress sensor and blood pressure monitor, they failed partly because of individuals with hairy arms. One of the innovations in Apple’s approach to setting health goals is how the device sets goals based on the user’s past behavior, rather than allowing the user to set their own goals or setting a default goal. Customizing exercise goals to the user make the goals achievable and less intimidating. Unfortunately, Apple Watch lacks diet tracking functionality.

OVERALL

Apple Watch will have a major impact upon release. Current projections estimate around 20 million Apple Watches to be sold in the first year. The biggest technical detriment of the first wave of Apple Watches is the limited battery life and storage space. Moving forward, how developers take advantage of the platform to create native apps independent of the iPhone will be crucial to the platform’s growth. Until we see an influx of native apps, the Apple Watch will be a supplement to the iPhone and a luxury; however, the possibilities are endless for this new platform.

For those who are looking to see what the Apple Watch will look like on their wrist, check out this awesome augmented reality app which makes the iPhone look like an Apple Watch:

Mystic Media is an app development, web design, and strategic marketing firm located in Salt Lake City, Utah. Contact us today by clicking here or by phone at 801.994.6815

Android Lollipop Vs. iOS 8: The Battle of the Operating Systems

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It’s been a good year for operating systems.

Back in June, Google announced their new operating system “Android L,” which has since been dubbed Android Lollipop. In our post  Android L Beta Preview: First Impressions of the Latest OS, we covered what we knew about the OS based on the announcement at the Google I/O 2014.

On the iOS side of the equation, this year saw Apple release iOS 8, which Apple hailed as the biggest iOS release ever. iOS 8 didn’t reinvent iOS aesthetics, rather it pushed forth the flat design introduced with iOS 7 and added a host of new features, including Apple Pay, Touch ID, and Device Continuity.

Both platforms represent dramatic technological advancements. The question now becomes: iOS 8 or Lollipop?

AESTHETICS

Steve Jobs majored in calligraphy at Reed College before dropping out. Jobs always held aesthetic design to be among the top priorities in his vision of Apple products, and Apple has always held a strong edge over Android in the aesthetic department.

iOS 7 saw Apple straying from Jobs’ skeuomorphic ideology in favor of Flat Design: a more stylized, minimal, bright look. iOS 8 refines Flat Design with more consistent iconography and UI. It also makes better use of gestures including swiping left to go back and double tapping the home screen to slide the screen down, allowing for better reachability on the large screens of the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus.

While Apple refined their current look, Android elected to enact a complete aesthetic overhaul. They may have shaken up the OS aesthetic game with Material Design.

Material Design is not an easy concept to grasp and can better be explored in practice. The idea is that the digital world should have its own intuitive physical rules. Buttons must react specifically to the touch, there must be multiple easily decipherable UI layers, animations must trigger and unfold in a specific, consistent manner. All Material Design aesthetics are in favor of creating the most intuitive, easily understood experience for the user.

Material Design is much more intricate than Flat Design. It’s both showier and more practical. It’s a more evolved, complex version of Flat Design. Thus, Android has taken the crown with regard to aesthetics. It’s likely Apple will follow suit and copy Material Design aesthetics for their next iOS overhaul.

Check out this video demonstrating the ideas of Material Design posted by Google Developers Youtube account.

FEATURES

Both Lollipop and iOS 8 offer new features, in addition to minor UI tweaks, for their devices. Most of these features either mirror their competitor’s counterpart, or replicate a past feature of their competitor.

Lollipop and iOS 8 both push to integrate with cars with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Both offer integrated navigation systems, hands-free calling and texting, and control of entertainment; however, neither will have a major impact until they are adopted by a greater number of cars.

Lollipop and iOS 8 both feature health apps (Google Fit and Health respectively). Both function similarly with certain apps offering exclusive partnerships. The big factor could be whether/which major health apps make the commitment to either Lollipop or iOS 8. The anticipated forthcoming popularity surge in wearables could be a game-changing variable in health apps. At the moment, neither app has a major edge over the other.

iOS 8 now offers Apple Pay combined with Touch ID, a replication of Google Wallet which was introduced in 2011. While Google Wallet is the older system, Apple Pay currently has the momentum. Both offer touch payments via Near Field Communications, but Apple Pay refuses to store physical credit card details, making it the safer system. The popularity of Pay could cause a resurgence of Google Wallet, but at the moment, Apple Pay has a definite edge.

Aside from the aesthetics, perhaps the biggest differentiator between iOS 8 and Lollipop is Apple’s push for the concept of device continuity embodied in Handoff. We covered device continuity in both Climbing Yosemite and Bite the Apple: Maximize iOS 8 to Vanquish Your Competition. Handoff allows the user to easily complete tasks while transitioning  between Apple devices seamlessly. Instant Hotspot, one of the coolest features of iOS 8, allows users to connect to their iPhone’s cellular network when no other Wi-Fi networks are available. Lollipop comes up empty in this department and Android will surely be playing catch-up when they release their next OS.

BATTERY

iOS bolsters a reputation for retaining a more efficient battery than Android. With Project Volta, Android has made a strong attempt to optimize their OS to defeat this notion.

Lollipop features a built-in task manager designed to prevent unnecessary operations from waking the phone up, running app house-cleaning necessities in batches when plugged in, and preventing network requests from Android and third party apps in spots without network connectivity. Lollipop also has “Battery Historian,” an analytics tool designed to track and tweak battery consumption.

iOS 8 did not make any dramatic attempts to improve it’s battery life, but still competes with Android with an extremely efficient standby mode: leaving an iPhone 6 or 6 plus unplugged overnight will only lose 1-2% charge.

Overall, the OS battery competition is fairly neck-and-neck, which is a big improvement for Android considering in the past they have gotten smoked in this department.

Check out this video Introduction to Project Volta from Google I/O 2014 for more information.

AVAILABILITY

One of the major factors which elevates iOS 8 over Lollipop is the limited availability of the OS due to device fragmentation.

Google allows third-party developers to build hardware for the Android OS. This causes device fragmentation, in which the variety of hardware makes it harder to optimize software for each device. As a result, different devices will have access to Lollipop at different times. Lollipop is currently available on Google’s Nexus 6 and Nexus 9 phones with a staggered launch planned for other Android phones.

Device fragmentation is also troublesome for app developers as it means there’s no way to optimize directly for all the hardware considering the diversity.

iOS’s iPhone exclusivity means it runs well across devices and updates are immediately accessible on Apple hardware. The user is guaranteed at least three years of upgrades. App developers can optimize for each platform which remains relevant.

BOTTOM LINE

Overall, iOS 8 is the more practical operating system. While Material Design represents an exciting leap forward in software aesthetics, iOS 8’s device continuity features trump all of Lollipop’s functional additions. The widespread availability of iOS 8 and lack of device fragmentation makes it the better optimized package.

While iOS 8 wins this battle, it will be exciting to see how the platforms influence one another in the next round of OS updates. Expect Apple to adopt Material Design aesthetics and Android to begin a push for their own version of device continuity.

At Mystic Media, we’re constantly engaged in various app design projects. Our expertise reaches across all facets of the industry, be it iOS design, Android design, web design, strategic marketing and beyond. Contact us today by clicking here or by phone at 801.994.6815

Android L Beta Preview: First Impressions of the Latest OS

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As the year winds down, the developer community can look forward to new operating systems from Apple, Android, and Microsoft. We’ve covered the forthcoming IOS 8 upgrade and Windows has taken a different approach, updating their Windows 8.1 consistently without renaming the OS. This leaves the upcoming Android L. Android recently released the Android L Developer preview, a sneak peak at the latest version of the OS, available for the Nexus 5 and the 2013 Wi-Fi Nexus 7. We took a look to assess the ins and outs of the platform.

The biggest development in the Android L is an aesthetic: the shift from the recommended Holo visual theme to Material Design. Like flat design, Material Design involves a simple, vibrant, non-skeuomorphic visual scheme. Unlike flat design, Material Design is about creating a realistic cyber universe. Material is a metaphor. The idea of space within the user interface which is “inspired by the study of paper and ink yet technology advanced and open to imagination and magic.” (via Google) In other words, it’s an interface which is realistic and has intuitive rules within its own world, but still makes things easier when it can with creative gestures and transitions. The key to creating a realistic digital-space is to have consistent, fundamental rules of light, surface and movement. For more on Material Design, check out Google’s introduction to the concept.

The notification tray received a major renovation. Rather than keeping two trays for alerts and quick settings, the two are now presented in one unified notification tray. Dragging down from the top of the screen pulls out notifications, then dragging down on the notifications screen reveals a layer of quick settings.

The lock screen also received an update, displaying notifications front and center, allowing easy access directly from the lock screen. The updated lock screen also makes access to functions easier through gesture:  a swipe up unlocks the device, a swipe left opens the camera, a swipe right (on phones) opens the dialer.

Android’s Project Volta was designed to optimize the OS’s performance on smartphones to improve battery life. Project Volta follows a pattern of projects run by Google focused on addressing weaknesses of the previous platform, such as Project Butter, which aimed to make Android’s UI animations run at 60 fps, and Project Svelte, an effort to get the OS to run on 512MB of RAM. In previous versions, when the OS is engaged in a process for one second, it burns two minutes of standby time. To address this, Project Volta includes the development of a “JobScheduler” API which allows the OS to batch unimportant app requests, and gives developers the option to delay housekeeping functions on their apps until the device is plugged in. ArsTechnica did a study of the Android L Preview battery life versus Android 4.4 KitKat and found that Android L Preview had 36% more battery life.

 androidL

Via Ars Technica

Another major move in the Android L Preview is the transition of the default run-time from Dalvik to ART, which aims to save battery life and yield a faster, more efficient performance. Animations and scrolling felt both faster and smoother, but there were some bugs with the multitasking view and notification tray which one can imagine will be fixed in the final version of the OS.

App compatibility with the new OS fluctuates, some work fine in the Android L Beta, while others don’t work at all, including Twitter, Dropbox, and Google Docs. Of course, we expect much of this to be ironed out in the final version of the OS. The bottom line for Android developers is that Android L represents a major improvement in battery life, aesthetics and performance, which is good for business.

At Mystic Media, we’re highly experienced in the Android app development field, with a thorough and continually evolving perspective on the ins and outs of the platform. Contact us today by clicking here or by phone at 801.994.6815