Why iOS7 is a Much Needed Upgrade for Apple?

With just a few months left for the public release of the much awaited update for Apple devices, iOS7 has seen a lot of appreciation from every sphere of the developer community. Although on the other hand, developers have also been fussing about the fact that they would have to revamp their application from scratch to bring them in accordance to the new design aesthetics of iOS, overall there have been many who were of the view that iOS was getting way too stagnated and needed a revamping.

iOS-7 is a latest version of Apple's mobile device OS and gives an enormous visualization upheaval, with a more flatter and light theme. All of the graphics heavy design elements of iOS-6 have been done away with, to make iOS-7 more pleasant and simplistic.

Moreover there are additional functionality that have also been added to latest update with the likes of real time multitasking, and a control center. This gives an added benefits as users would be able to multitask in real time like in the case of android. Also the addition of control center gives users the ability to access vital functionality with just a swipe from bottom.

Apple also introduced Airdrop feature into ios devices, which allows users to share files with other iOS devices instantaneously. Android in that aspect has a huge advantage over iOS with the use of NFC to share files instantaneously. But Apple instead of implementing that feature has added airdrop functionality which would use Bluetooth as well as Wi-Fi to share files seamlessly.

Overall iOS has been more of a cosmetic overhaul, and very little has been altered in the form of core functionality. Apple has also directed developers to upgrade their applications in accordance to the design theme of the new operating system, which would leave all the older applications redundant and out of sync.

With Android and Blackberry going for a much sleeker design aesthetics with their Ice Cream and BB10 update respectively, most of the critics were bashing Apple for having an outdated OS which had not been changed since its release. 

Platforms Gaining Ground in Tablet Computing

Mobility has surely added a new horizon in the overall computing ecosystem diminishing the location constraints. With the advent of smartphones era in 2008, mobile applications become the core of all information sharing as android and iOS launched their respective marketplaces. But the biggest dent on the traditional desktop computing came from the launch of tablets in the form of iPads which started the initial shift.

Although smartphones have taken over the computing sector in a major way, tablets still held its ground in providing much needed leverage. Over the years most of the developers have been inclined towards developing applications for smartphones as compared to tablets which still has to reach its niche market. There is no denying the fact that most of the applications in various marketplaces are upscaled in order for them to run on tablets. The case is same for iOS and Android, where developers first publish an application for the smartphones then upscale it for tablets.

But in the recent times, the trend has been changing, with developers understand the importance of tablets specific applications. Moreover with android also giving a tough competition to iOS in the tablet sphere more and more developers are now started to port their application and specifically building application for tablets. The race in the smartphone industry has now shifted to tablet sector with android and iOS trying hard to ensure developers build applications specifically for their platform. "This has also seen a fair share of rise in the android market which has jumped to 62.6 percent as compared to last year share of 38 percent."

It is important to understand the fact that android app developers have been trying hard to create tablet specific application which is evident from the fact that Google recently announced a new category for the same. There has been a substantial rise in the overall tablet users with enterprises also taking cognizance of its vitality. As the tablet users start to rise substantially, developers have also started to port their applications for tablets. Both iOS and android offers different functionality for tablet specific applications, with major emphasis on use of extra display real estate.

Another major players that has seen a tremendous increase in the tablet ecosystem is Windows, which has been trying hard to gain in the smartphones sector. windows has been closely related with desktops and laptops, which is why it needed to create a similar ecosystem in the form of tablets to sustain its operating system. with the launch of Windows 8 it provided a universal compatibility for applications that ensured that developers found it easy to develop application for desktops, tablets as well as smartphones.

The biggest winner in this case is the enterprises, which has found this universal compatibility a boon to deploy their applications. With Android facing fragmentation issues and iOS being limited to smartphones as well as tablets, windows provide an easy source to deploy enterprise mobility solutions. As the tablet industry heats up, the vendors that provides cross platform compatibility for application would be biggest gainers.