The killer iOS feature Apple will never add

#1

Post by a4agarwal » Thu, Dec 27, 2012, 8:28 PM UTC

The killer iOS feature Apple will never add
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Re: The killer iOS feature Apple will never add

#2

Post by hnriot » Thu, Dec 27, 2012, 9:14 PM UTC

The vast majority of users don't care if they use Apple of Google apps most of the time. Even maps which was a big deal among us techies, most of my regular friends couldn't care less which apps they use. And for many, facebook has largely replaced email anyway.

Re: The killer iOS feature Apple will never add

#3

Post by ryanpetrich » Thu, Dec 27, 2012, 9:22 PM UTC

Google could do this now across their suite of apps by using iOS's keychain APIs.

Re: The killer iOS feature Apple will never add

#4

Post by ludflu » Thu, Dec 27, 2012, 9:27 PM UTC

ryanpetrich wrote: post #3

Google could do this now across their suite of apps by using iOS's keychain APIs.

yup, came here to say this and also - wonder - why haven't they done this already?

Re: The killer iOS feature Apple will never add

#5

Post by tekgo » Thu, Dec 27, 2012, 9:27 PM UTC

iOS has had the ability to share keychain items between apps from the same developer using 'keychain-access-groups' since iOS3. Google could use a single login for all their iOS apps, but they probably have a host of reasons why they do not.

Re: The killer iOS feature Apple will never add

#6

Post by jeffehobbs » Thu, Dec 27, 2012, 9:30 PM UTC

ryanpetrich wrote: post #3

Google could do this now across their suite of apps by using iOS's keychain APIs.

Right, exactly. Google could do this, if they shared a TeamID UUID. What they couldn't do is replace the built in Apple apps (Safari, Mail, Messages), which is a shame. Apple should document the data/API ins and outs of these apps so replacements could work in the same way. Power users should be able to replace Safari with Chrome, etc.

Re: The killer iOS feature Apple will never add

#7

Post by eddieroger » Thu, Dec 27, 2012, 9:30 PM UTC

ryanpetrich wrote: post #3

Google could do this now across their suite of apps by using iOS's keychain APIs.

Yup. Instead of being an Apple problem, it's a Google one. I wonder if users would even notice that they didn't have to log in multiple times, and more worrisome, if that would bother them that they didn't.

Re: The killer iOS feature Apple will never add

#8

Post by jsz0 » Thu, Dec 27, 2012, 9:47 PM UTC

Today, no one will choose to use iCloud over Google apps

I do. The only Google service I actually use anymore personally is GMail but that simply forwards to my iCloud account. It's easier and more efficient on battery to just check one mail account. I also ditched Google Calendar / Contacts for iCloud because they work almost exactly the same. Again easier to just use/sync one service IMO. I was never a big Google Docs user to start with but now I use DropBox and native apps. Again I only setup my DropBox once and it's good to go. I can use different (and more powerful) apps as needed. Sometimes Numbers on iOS is fine for quick data entry but for building out a big spreadsheet I'm going to most likely use MS Office on a desktop. I guess you could do this through Google Drive now but I already have DropBox setup so why bother? I use FaceBook/Twitter instead of Google+ which are both first class citizens on iOS/OSX now. FaceBook chat has replaced GTalk just because everyone I know uses it. A lot of this goes back to Google's period where they did a very bad job supporting iOS. The path of least resistance was just to use something else and now I have no need to switch back. From what I've heard their iOS apps have improved greatly but I'm happy with what I'm using.

Re: The killer iOS feature Apple will never add

#9

Post by a4agarwal » Thu, Dec 27, 2012, 9:53 PM UTC

ryanpetrich wrote: post #3

Google could do this now across their suite of apps by using iOS's keychain APIs.

Great point. I wonder why they don't. I'm sure it's coming...

Re: The killer iOS feature Apple will never add

#10

Post by sbuk » Thu, Dec 27, 2012, 9:55 PM UTC

jeffehobbs wrote: post #6

ryanpetrich wrote: post #3

Google could do this now across their suite of apps by using iOS's keychain APIs.

Right, exactly. Google could do this, if they shared a TeamID UUID. What they couldn't do is replace the built in Apple apps (Safari, Mail, Messages), which is a shame. Apple should document the data/API ins and outs of these apps so replacements could work in the same way. Power users should be able to replace Safari with Chrome, etc.

Forgive me fo veering off topic, but "power users" is such a horrible notion. It just makes me think of douchey know-it-alls with massively over inflated entitlement glands - especially those that consider themselves to be "power users". Again, apologies, I just really dislike the expression "power user" and I'm seeing it way too much on here lately.