While Apple's iOS 9 announcement at the WWDC 2015 may have pleased its fans, several Android users would be snickering away quietly. Why? Simply because some of the exciting new features Apple promises to bring iDevice users' way in iOS 9 are already old hat for Android users.
Don't believe us? Here's a look at nine features Apple's iOS 9 borrows from Android.
1. Multitasking
While Apple is waxing eloquent on its Slide View and Split View features, this feature is a rip off from Android.
The Split View feature, as the name indicates, will enable iPad users to run two apps simultaneously. So basically, you can check your email and browse iTunes at the same time.
Apple's big iPad-friendly new feature is actually something that has been available on Android for some time. The Slide View option will let users slide down app lists so that they can multitask easily.
Users of the Samsung Galaxy Note series have had the split screen feature, which aids multitasking, for a long time now. Even the LG G3 and LG G4 support this ability.
2. Picture-in-Picture or Pop-Up Play?
Apple has a Picture-in-Picture feature in iOS 9, which is essentially a throwback to Samsung's pioneering Pop-Up Play feature, which was introduced in its Galaxy Note 10.1 tablet three years ago. The feature gives you the ability to minimize a video; you can watch it while you attend to other tasks.
3. Contextual Search
Sure, Siri gets smarter with every new iOS version. However, this time round Apple has taken inspiration from Google Now (and even Microsoft's Cortana). Siri will be able to sift through your emails, inform you of your appointments, and remind you of errands, such as buying milk, based on your location. All this sounds familiar, right?
4. Low Power Mode
This feature will also sound familiar to Android users. Déjà vu, anyone? Samsung's Galaxy S5 touted the Ultra Power Saving Mode as did the HTC One M7 in 2014 and 2013, respectively, may we add.
The feature made its appearance with Android 5.0 Lollipop as well and is basically a battery saving mode. It shifts your device to low power to preserve the last remaining 10 percent to 20 percent of charge for tasks such as texts and making calls.
While late in the day, iPhone users will also finally benefit from the low power mode feature, which means they can continue to text for a little longer.
5. News App
HTC users are only too familiar with Blinkfeed and apps like Flipboard have been around for a while now. In fact Samsung devices come pre-installed with Flipboard which collates the latest news from different sites to keep you abreast. iOS 9 brings in its folds a new app that perseveres to do the same - News, which will bring curated content based on your preferences.
6. Apple Notes
Samsung Galaxy Note series users are only too familiar with note-taking and are aided by the S Pen stylus in doing so. Now iOS 9 takes the leap of faith to bring to users the Notes app - how innovative indeed!
Now instead of Evernote, Google Keep and other third-party apps that are capable of taking notes, iOS 9 will bring an Apple-centric app for the purpose. The Notes app will also allow you to access your camera, make voice notes via Siri, scribble information etc. Familiar again? We told you so!
7. Public Transit
Apple is looking to give its Apple Maps a push and will bring a feature offered by rival Google Maps (which iOS at one point used)—live public transit data. So with iOS 9, Apple Maps will be able to give users step-by-step directions to buses and trains a la Google Maps.
8. Keyboard Shortcuts
iOS 9 brings to the table the ability to move the cursor with a simple two-finger swipe on the device's keyboard.
Remember Samsung's default SwiftKey feature? Yup Apple borrowed again! Moreover, few Android keyboards already offer this functionality.
However, to give Apple its due, iOS 9 adds quick buttons to perform tasks such as copy/paste. You can also select via gestures.
9. Spotlight
Spotlight will have the ability to suggest apps, places a user may be attracted to etc. prior to a person going there. For instance if you call a friend recently their details will be visible on Spotlight. The feature will also highlight the areas frequented by you and the apps used often.
Google Now has been bringing location information to Android users for more than two years now. It even gives you the directions and time it will take to the frequented location! Android M in fact shows the most recently used app on top of its app tray.
Photo: George Thomas | Flickr
