11 features that iOS 8/9 copied from Android...

Apple is a company that innovates, but it's not shy about copying other companies' ideas. In fact, Apple has borrowed a lot from its main competitor, Android.

Imitation is not a bad thing - it shows that Apple is willing to change according to user needs. As a result, people have more reasons to switch from Android to iPhone. In recent earnings calls, Cook mentioned "switchers" - iPhone users who originally used Android system more than once.

This trend has become more pronounced in recent years. Let’s take a look at some of the features that Apple has “borrowed” from Android over the past year.

1. Apple introduced split-screen multitasking for the iPad, a feature that some Android devices had years ago.

iOS 9 adds a new feature called Split Screen. Users can open two apps side by side at the same time. LG and Samsung have introduced split-screen multitasking features for their Android phones and tablets for several years. The Multi-Window feature on Samsung Android devices allows users to open more than one app on the main screen and adjust their size. LG also launched a similar feature called QSlide, which also allows users to adjust the transparency of each window.

2. Siri is becoming more like Google Now

One of the biggest improvements in iOS 9 is that Siri is more contextual. Apple's voice assistant can now provide better feedback based on the words users have typed into the mobile app. Google Now on Android has long done this - the more you use Google Now, the more it can provide accurate feedback based on your typing habits.

3. Apple Maps can give users designated public transportation routes, just like Google Maps

A new useful feature added to iOS is that Apple Maps can show you public transportation routes. It can tell you which train or bus to take. Google Maps already has this feature.

4. You can move the video to the bottom of the iPad screen to make room for other apps

Apple introduced the picture-in-picture feature in iOS 9. When you are video chatting or playing a video on Facetime, you can minimize the video window so that the video only takes up a small space at the bottom of the screen. In this way, you can check emails, send messages and go on Facebook without pausing the video.

LG used a similar feature called QSlide on its G2 phone, which came out in 2012. QSlide lets you resize app windows and move them around.

5. iOS 9 can guess which app you want to open

A new feature of iOS 9 is that it can guess which app you want to use based on your phone usage habits. For example, if you want to listen to music on the way to work, your iPhone will automatically open Apple Music or Spotify when you plug in your headphones.

This feature has long been available in Android launchers, such as Aviate, which can display certain apps and information to users based on relevance at different times of the day. HTC's One M9 phone comes with a feature that displays different apps based on the user's location.

6. Apple Pay will soon be able to store store loyalty cards

When iOS 9 came out this fall, iPhone users were able to store credit cards and loyalty points cards in Apple Pay, a feature that Google Wallet has always had.

7. iPhone 6 series phones have built-in NFC chips

Both the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus support near-field communication (NFC), which allows users to tap their phones at payment terminals to pay for things. Although mobile payments are still not common, Android phones have had this feature for several years, such as the Samsung Galaxy S3, which was launched in 2012 and has a built-in NFC chip.

8. Last year, Apple released iOS 8, which added widgets

Mobile desktop widgets are actually interactive application icons that are constantly updated to show the latest information to users. For example, the weather widget will continuously update throughout the day to show you the latest temperature changes.

Of course, iOS 8 widgets are still a little different from Android widgets. iOS widgets appear in the notification drawer of the iPhone, while Android widgets can be placed anywhere on the home screen and can be resized. Android launched this type of widget in 2009.

9. iOS 8 users can call up Siri without picking up the phone

Last year's iOS8 allows users to open the Siri voice assistant by just saying "Hey Siri". The MOTO X, which was launched in 2013, has similar but more advanced features. MOTO X has a built-in natural language processor, so users can talk to the phone naturally without pressing any keys or turning on the screen.

10. Android supported third-party keyboards earlier than iPhone

Since the launch of iOS 8 last year, iPhone users have been able to download third-party keyboards to replace Apple's own keyboard. Android phones have had this feature for a long time.

11. Apple introduced actionable notifications last year

iOS 8 users can reply directly to notifications without opening the corresponding app. Android has had this feature since Jelly Bean 4.1, which was launched in 2012.

As a winner of Toutiao's Qingyun Plan and Baijiahao's Bai+ Plan, the 2019 Baidu Digital Author of the Year, the Baijiahao's Most Popular Author in the Technology Field, the 2019 Sogou Technology and Culture Author, and the 2021 Baijiahao Quarterly Influential Creator, he has won many awards, including the 2013 Sohu Best Industry Media Person, the 2015 China New Media Entrepreneurship Competition Beijing Third Place, the 2015 Guangmang Experience Award, the 2015 China New Media Entrepreneurship Competition Finals Third Place, and the 2018 Baidu Dynamic Annual Powerful Celebrity.