iOS 7 vs Android 4.3

Apple has been making small, step by step improvements to iOS over the years, but the latest iOS 7 update comes with a whole new look and feel. With the latest version Apple have had a rethink in terms of  the way its mobile OS both looks and behaves. Android has traditionally metamorphosed quickly, however, this trend now appears to be reversing. Android hasn't changed much in the last year.

So is this Apple’s chance to level the playing field? Let’s take a look at how the varying features of Android 4.3 and iOS 7 stack up.

1. Sharing

Apple added AirDrop file sharing to OS X a while back, but is now available with iOS 7. AirDrop is a way to easily send files between iOS devices over Wi-Fi. Two devices negotiate the file transfer over Bluetooth, then push files across Wi-Fi, which is much faster.

Android’s sharing features are generally more robust than iOS, but also less consistent.

So what’s the parallel to AirDrop on iOS for Android? It’s called Beam which allows users to push files between devices by negotiating a connection via NFC. Simply tap two phones together to share.

So which is better? Well unlike AirDrop, Beam doesn’t require Wi-Fi as  files are pushed directly from one device to the other with Bluetooth. It can be a bit slower however.

2. Multitasking

This has long been a sore spot for iOS users. Now however the user is able to simply  swipe up to close apps, which is a much more time saving process.

Android has always taken a laissez faire approach to multitasking. You want to run that app in the background? Cool, it’s done. Hit the home button? No problem, the app is still there. This has led to some battery life concerns in the past, but more recent versions of Android have improved matters. You definitely have more power with the Android system, but there is potential for apps to abuse this system.

3. Notifications and control centre

Android has excellent notifications, and goes a bit further than iOS 7. Android notifications are dynamic and can update live to display new information. Apps can produce expanded notifications with graphs, images, and other bits of data. There are also buttons that act as action triggers in notifications. However, notifications are just in one long list on Android. Clearing notifications is done with a swipe, which is easier than Apple’s two-tap solution. Lastly, Android will add important Google Now items to the notification bar, which is very handy. The notification situation is essentially universal on Android.

4. Camera and Photos

Apple has been consistently in the lead when it comes to taking pictures, and iOS 7 has simply built on that. The camera app now has a lot more options like square format ready for Instagram, and slow motion capture. You can also apply live filters while taking pictures.

Android’s camera app is different on every phone. The stock 4.3 version is light on features, but it does have a vastly improved settings UI. Stock Android does have Photospheres, though, which are awesome. OEMs like Samsung and HTC have more modes and come closer to replicating Apple’s experience. While live filters aren't on most Android devices, the Gallery app usually has the necessary editing features.