Apple's iOS 4 Explored
by Anand Lal Shimpi on June 22, 2010 3:27 AM EST- Posted in
- Smartphones
- Apple
- iOS 4
- Gadgets
- Mobile
New Auto Correct
Apple has one of the best approaches to auto correction and text prediction on the market today. I’d argue that its implementation is the one to beat in terms of ease of use for the majority of typing on a touchscreen keyboard. With iOS 4, Apple has mucked with the formula.
Simply updating to iOS 4 seems to cause the autocorrect dictionary to reset. My iPhone 3GS still needs to do a lot of learning as it keeps suggesting/autocorrecting things that I’ve never typed before in my life.
The iPhone’s system works like this: based on the keys you press (and those near the keys), the length of the word you’re typing and the autocorrect dictionary the iPhone will try to figure out what you were trying to type. If the word you type matches a known dictionary word, then nothing happens. If the word you type isn’t in the dictionary then the iPhone will look at the numbers of letters you typed as well as the keys you hit to try and figure out if you accidentally hit the wrong key(s). If it figures out what you did, it’ll use the dictionary to find the word you were likely looking to type and automatically replace the mistyped word. If it guesses incorrectly you have two options. During the guessing process the word the OS is thinking you’re trying to type will appear in a bubble above the word being typed. Tap the bubble to cancel the autocorrect.
Do it enough times and the unknown word gets added to the dictionary. If you type quickly and don’t give the bubble time to appear you can always hit backspace and you’ll get the option to go back to what you typed originally. In iOS3 this replacement was automatic, now you have to select the word you previously typed.
There’s also an expanded form of spell check in iOS 4. If you misspell a word and you don’t allow the single word autocorrect to fix it (or it can’t), the word gets a familiar red underline. Tapping the word will bring up a selection of multiple words that you might have meant instead.
In practice the changes do take some getting used to. It definitely clutters the typing experience with red underlines and word suggestion boxes popping up more than I’m used to. It’s not Android-cluttered but it’s a step away from the super simple iPhone keyboard of before.
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SunSamurai - Friday, June 25, 2010 - link
Get over it. Its either ads or no free apps.robco - Tuesday, June 22, 2010 - link
AdMob isn't blocked from the iPhone, nor does Apple have a monopoly. Since AdMob is owned by Google, a major competitor with Android, there are some analytics Apple won't allow AdMob to access. If you think about it, this makes perfect sense, why give a competitor access to information on potential customers (who are presently your customers)? Developers can still use AdMob if they wish, they just won't get as much data.So far I haven't had many issues. I think we're still waiting for developers to catch up to the new OS. But it works like a charm on my 3GS. Folders is a little clunky, but I'm happy not to have to swipe across multiple home screens to access apps. As for the iPhone 4, the only real compelling feature for me is the new camera with flash. Since I have a 3GS, I'd have to pay through the nose to "upgrade" and I won't do that until LTE is rolled out and the iPhone supports it. Oh, and it's available on a network that isn't AT&T.
Android is looking good, but Google does a horrible job with UI. I know they have UI designers working there, but it appears nobody at Google listens to them. Stock Android looks like Windows 3.1.
anandtech02148 - Tuesday, June 22, 2010 - link
iAds sounds yuck, i'll keep my 3GS and the old os3xxx. another reason why iphone 3gs is so popular because it has a pirate community, reminder to the pc system where you where you have a vibrant thriving hacking community for warez, gamez,. apzz., Google Droid can go to hell, a billion dollars in marketing from verizon won't save you.. Look at Google trying to get back into China. what will hapen to Symbian ^3? nokia N8 looks appealing from hardware standpoint..but their software really needs refresing idea like Palm OS. Intel and Nokia are great hardware companies but software they really need a saviour.haplo602 - Wednesday, June 23, 2010 - link
wow, so Apple is finaly introducing basic features into it's sofware ... how suprising and inovative ...seriously ... I gave up in the middle of the article. there's nothing interesting in it. just the shock at people thanking Apple for providing basic features (ipod playlists FINALY editable, now that's groundbreaking).
my age old HTC Herald can do all these things already a few years. Sure the HW is old and slow, but the functionality is still there.
Death666Angel - Wednesday, June 23, 2010 - link
That a customer (and tech reviewer) can (blindly?) trust a company that is worth over half a trillion USD to look out for him is astonishingly naive, stupid, or malicious, possibly all 3 and even more.A company that has a proven record of shady decisions (we will ban this app, oh wait, it gets media attention, let's actually allow it!), shady handling of the press (accidental leaks, rumors, investigations), shady handling of its competition (violating patents, very closed system) should have the end users best interest at heart? Are you insane?
After reading this and the Froyo article, I have deleted my AT bookmark and will refrain from coming here in the future.
Good bye
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