Apple Targets Google Users as Beta iOS Updates Go Public

iOS 14 has a new home screen look that Android users might recognize.

The first public beta of iOS 14 dropped this week, and while there are still quite a few bugs that need to be worked out between now and the official release in September, it’s already clear that iPhone users should prepare for quite a few changes. The most significant of these changes is an added App Library feature and a new look with widgets added to the home screen.

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However, as Apple previewed the update at its June 22 event, users quickly noticed that these “new” features looked pretty familiar. That is probably because Android has already been leading the way with home screen widgets and its own App Drawer for over a decade. In fact, Android had both of these features with its very first iteration of the operating system, Android “Astro” 1.0, back in 2008.

It really is a curious move, considering neither Apple nor Android has done much in the way of updating their widgets interface in years. The last time Apple touched it was with iOS 10 in 2016, and while Google was constantly refreshing its widgets in early updates, it abandoned that after 2012. The feature had fallen out of style, even so far that third-party widget updates were few and far between, and some apps deleted their widgets altogether.

So why now with this iOS focus on widgets and app organization? While part of the reason may be to directly attract Android users to make the switch, this update does fall in line with Apple’s apparent goal to be as sleek and user friendly as possible while still providing functionality. iOS widgets provide quick information at a glance, but since they have been banished to the “Today Page” since their inception, they haven’t been exactly easy to use. Now that they can be readily available and even stackable, they should be much more efficient than before.

Similarly, creating app folders and the perfect system for organization has always been a bit of a pain. With iOS 14, you can actually delete apps off of your home page without deleting them from your phone; they just find a home in the App Library that organizes all your apps automatically by type. These two features give iPhone users more building blocks than before to create a more personalized smartphone experience while still maintaining the neat, lined-up aesthetic that Apple is known for. Though Android has a reputation for its flexible and customizable home screen, Apple’s version may provide a less chaotic experience.

Even though some of the initial Twitter reactions to the iOS 14 announcement were of slight panic and Android users poking fun at the copycat features, the response to the public beta has been generally positive so far. Android also rolled out its beta from its Android 11 update last week, which is far less design-focused than Apple. Either way, it could be interesting to see how everything plays out this fall.

Apple faithfuls, what do you think of iOS 14? Or if you’re not Team iPhone already, will this update convince you to switch?

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