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How Apple is undeniably becoming more like Android

Apple feels way more different every year with their announcements, and I do agree with the statement that they’re becoming more like Android with every event. To make a point, I’ve listed down a few scenarios down below to ponder on:

apple android

  • Scenario 1: When every other competitor almost gave up in competing with the 9.7-inch iPad, the industry started going for tablets near the size of 7-inches – and they were a hit. Apple, seeing this opportunity, enters the market with the iPad Mini.
  • Scenario 2: Probably aiming to see the profitability of a plastic phone with colors ala Samsung & ala Nokia, Apple recreated the iPhone 5 in the form of the iPhone 5C.
  • Scenario 3: iOS’ redesign on version 7 included a lot of elements from various operating systems. This video points it out.
  • Scenario 4: The latest version of iOS, iOS 8, becomes more open with better notifications, widgets and third-party keyboards.
  • Scenario 5: Following the trend of extremely large phones started by Samsung, Apple then decides to release two iPhone 6 devices – one having a 5.5-inch display, more software enhancements, OIS and a different screen resolution.
  • Scenario 6: Smartwatches have been gaining traction since last year, and once again it’s only now that Apple follows suit with the Apple Watch.

I think it would be wrong to say that Apple doesn’t risk anymore, but rather, they’re now playing safer with product categories that the market is already familiar with; their business model is shifting towards a new one similar to the competitors – and that’s actually okay. I would be lying if I said Apple’s competitors didn’t take hints from the company’s portfolio because they do! Businesses do that – trying to replicate other companies’ competitive advantages, and in the end, it all proves to be beneficial to the consumers.

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Avatar for Bob Freking

Bob Freking occasionally contributes articles to the website. He is a UST Graduate of Commerce & Business Administration, Major in Marketing Management, and a full-time Sith Lord with three dragons.

55 Responses

  1. Avatar for igniculus igniculus says:

    even though iphone is introducing new stuff that android already has and has been releasing new products that android phones already been selling, the best thing that apple does is that they implement these things, in the best way that apple does (form factor, best software/hardware integration, apps ecosystem) so yeah there it goes and that explains the prices too. (Android power-user here and windows phones are truly a thing of beauty :)

  2. Avatar for fade fade says:

    Basta nakikinabang ang consumer bakit hindi? Kahit naman magkopyahan sila eh meron pa rin namang unique sa isa na wala sa isa eh, Android user ako at…… frustration di dahil sa specs o defective kundi dahil sa pag hahanap ng mods, pero every success naman eh masaya.

    If you want to play it safe grab an iPhone, but if you want to be a tech geek buy an Android phone. Bakit kailangan gawin laging personal?

  3. Avatar for asterisk asterisk says:

    its like comparing toyota to honda.

  4. Avatar for asterisk asterisk says:

    android phones are for yagits na mahilig mag root. hahahaha

  5. Avatar for wow wow says:

    wala naman problema kung magbigay ng comment regarding sa article.. if may mga point na hindi kayo sang ayon then just point it out. di ko ma-gets kung bkit kailangan magmura or personalin yung author. ganun na ba ka dense ang mga tao ngaun? okay lng mag asal walang hiya para lng sa phone? di nman kayo yayaman kung ipag tangol nyo ang favorite phone nyo.

    • Avatar for Bullseye Bullseye says:

      Well, hindi ko nilalahat pero marami sa mga nagmamay-ari ng iPhone ay ganyan ang ugali. Madami ngang pera pambili, wala naman breeding…. Dagdag ko lang observation sa mga iPhone fan, common comment nila ay “kung wala sa iPhone, hindi importante.” Ngayon, importante na ba dahil nasa iPhone na ibang features ng Android? Marami pa kayong nami-miss na features na “hindi importante”.

  6. Avatar for Rainbow Rat Rainbow Rat says:

    The articles created on this site nowadays are biased to create more traffic = more discussion + more bashing + more opinions + android vs. IOS = MORE PROFIT.

    and the winner is….

  7. Avatar for nice nice says:

    Apple’s got good strategy and they are open to changes. We, as consumers should be proud that they are reinventing and innovating their products for our convenience.

    • Avatar for gpr gpr says:

      wats reinventing and innovating? dude its just blending the innovations of others and slap it into there products. They use benchmarking!, have you heard of that?. Its basically gathering the best of the market and pit it in your product. In the process, trying to replicate or refine each best traits and slap it to there new product. So now, voile you got a, err, new level product than the product it succeded? but not new level in the market- really just the copy of this and that.

    • Avatar for nice nice says:

      well isn’t that reinventing and innovating their product?

  8. Avatar for xoontr xoontr says:

    About the Verge, as far as I know they are already Apple fanatics when they were still with Engadget. Every little Apple news will have 3 separate articles for no apparent reason, and they would insert image or apple word in every headline and readers would complain. So yes, they are (esp Joshua, Nilay, Chris) are biased towards Apple.

  9. Avatar for Bullseye Bullseye says:

    Hahaha. Laugh trip ako sa mga reaction ng mga iOS users. Ang daming nasaktan. Truth hurts.
    Very good Bob!

    • Avatar for gpr gpr says:

      Yep they are soooooo hurt they basically defend there apple iShits to the max – i mean hindi naman siguro sila fan ng Apple iShits pero man it hurts para sa kanila ang expeensive ng apple iShits nila para di nila idefend :D Well baka naka plan kaya naka afford.

    • Avatar for asterisk asterisk says:

      why stupid people keeps on comparing ios and android? androids are for cheap and yagits. i guess your phone is just kata? cm? or sasmung S5 clone.

  10. Avatar for NatureBoy NatureBoy says:

    FANDROIDS vs. iSHEEPS …….. lets get it on !!! WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO !!!!!!

  11. Avatar for Phonedog Phonedog says:

    WHY are we BASHING on APPLE? WE should be bashing on BOB FREAKING for his lame and biased post just because he loves his nexus phone too much. LOL

  12. Avatar for gpr gpr says:

    Refining something is not an innovation. Lets just basically say Apple is in fail safe mode. They let others create sumting and watch the outcome. Every other companies do that. Ayaw mag fail ni apple so they observe android do things first then copy and improve its success and try to correct its failures. Now,kung innovation pagusapan, android is clearly at advantage..why? Its open source!. Can’t you see it? Apple is just refining sumting that’s already in the market, its not copy and paste but basically it is kasi bago mo irefine copy no muna.

    • Avatar for Phonedog Phonedog says:

      You must love your nexus phone so much! Lol

    • Avatar for gpr gpr says:

      no dude, kung brand pagusapan, im a nokia fan. Practicality wise, i wont get an iPhone even if i can afford it. Seriously, even nokia dumbphones or xxx dumbphone can make calls and texts. Now iShit douchebag anu pa ibrag mo sa apple ishits mo? Just accept it na taga copy and refine lang ang apple iShits mo, at syempre ang taas ng patong nila sa refine nila – – thats 3 Xiaomi Mi4 == 1 apple iShit.

  13. Avatar for jobsrotinhell jobsrotinhell says:

    what apple does is refine what’s already out. those who say apple invented the touchscreen gui for smartphones and android copied it are wrong. there already were touchscreen smartphones before that were making use of icons for apps on homescreen, apple just refined the implementation by having everything represented by icons on springboard. yes, android did copy ios’ interface as the former was designed to have physical keyboards, still though it is undeniable that ios is now copying other oses BUT is trying to refine its own implementation. those who say that apple worked out some features in other forms before, like plastic and colors on ipods and widgets on mac os, please note that the author was talking about iOS devices. bottomline is cook’s apple is not taking any chances anymore compared to job’s, the new business model is to let others innovate first then copy what works in a refined way. both apple and and android oems are on this for the profit, no doubt about that, but cook’s apple is more on making sure those profit margins keep rising for the sake of its shareholders and not for creating new ideas for the market.

  14. Avatar for Droidpple Droidpple says:

    WELL HOW ABOUT GOOGLE COPY THE IOS, APPSTORE…..

    HOW ABOUT ANDROID OS NA NAGIGING WINDOWS PHONE…..

    HOW ABOUT SAMSUNG COPY THE CAPACITIVE IPHONE IN 2007… AND THE 3 YEARS IN THE MAKING NA SMARTWATCHES….

    ANG GINAGAWA NG SAMSUNG AT GOOGLE AY INUUNAHAN NILA ANG MGA RUMOUR AT IDEA NG APPLE PARA MASABI NILANG “KAMI ANG NAUNANG GUMAWA”….

    THE POINT IS LAHAT NG COMPANIES GUMAGAYA FOR THE SAKE OF THE CONSUMERS… AND THE CONSUMERS ARE THE REAL WINNERS, YOU CAN CHOOSE WHATEVER PHONE YOU WANT…

    Ps: gumawa ka rin ng article ng tungkol sa android na nagiging windows phone para hindi mukhang biased…

  15. Avatar for wew wew says:

    Eh tanginang yugatech para to eh pagkumpara ba naman ang Apple at Android gago ba kayo? Hoy BOB Freking shit ka, wag ka na mag sulat dito sa Yugatech tang ina ka ass hole!

  16. Avatar for Joney Ivey Joney Ivey says:

    This is a great article. Everyone who reads TechCrunch, Mashable, The Verge, Business Insider, and other tech/business sites know that Apple is a market follower. They let other companies innovate and commit mistakes. Once a certain tech or feature has been proved by others, Apple improves it and implements it on their own products.

    Apple will never be like Android. Name one Android smart watch that’s been “gaining traction”. Name one Bob Freaking can’t-write-anything-that-makes-sense.

  17. Avatar for Bob O. Bob O. says:

    jeez you sheep… Just read the document. Stop lying to yourselves and just say “Thank you Apple” for showing us step by step how to do it.

    Read the document! http://www.theverge.com/2012/8/8/3227289/samsung-apple-ux-ui-interface-improvement

    Android is open and can jump ahead and release SOME new features faster (but they are arguably less polished than what Apple releases in its own time). Just say thank you.

    Enjoy your Android, but stop lying to yourself. Read the document. It is an attempted clone that owes its existence to the iphone 1.

    Saying apple copied “screen size” … Do you know how dumb that sounds? Screen size?? Ok fine. Thanks for having all your copycat phones try different size displays so Apple can get some free market research to know what consumers are trending toward. I can’t imagine they would ever think to change the size of the screen on their own.

    Read the document… All 132 pages, and be enlightened… And then just say “thank you Apple”.

  18. Avatar for jake jake says:

    @Bob Freking
    no offence, but this article does not make sense.
    most of your scenario is not connected to android and apple.

    example. color,size?? whats the connect between android and apple?

  19. Avatar for someone someone says:

    But if other companies tries to copy apple, apple sues them.

  20. Avatar for mutt0mbu mutt0mbu says:

    Scenario 0: What if Google released its first Android phone before Apple announced its first iPhone and remained on its design?
    We happy now?

  21. Avatar for Cyril Cyril says:

    That defines Economics.

  22. Avatar for Tim not Cook Tim not Cook says:

    Apple is not always the first since the era of Mac, Xerox/Parc was the first in GUI before the Macintosh, iPod was not also the first mp3 player, Creative and others was also way ahead, iPhone also was not the first, Blackberry and Palm had touchscreens. There are windows tablet before the iPad and iPad open doors to tablet that is easy to use

    It’s hard to dismiss Apple as “innovative” but what Steve Jobs did for the company is to ensure user friendliness between Machines and Humans

    Apple can pull off a Samsung if they want to much like Nokia in early days as releasing phones ranging from 4,5,6,7,8,9,10 to any size they want, apple wants to avoid this fragmentation because it will lose user experiece and making it hard for developers

  23. Avatar for Michael Michael says:

    Scenario 1: When every other competitor almost gave up in competing with the 9.7-inch iPad, the industry started going for tablets near the size of 7-inches – and they were a hit. Apple, seeing this opportunity, enters the market with the iPad Mini.

    –> Apple is a genius in keeping their product line simple, and once it gains traction, only will they release something for variety. This way, R&D and production is tighter to keep production cost lower and profits higher. They’re still in a business, remember?

    Scenario 2: Probably aiming to see the profitability of a plastic phone with colors ala Samsung & ala Nokia, Apple recreated the iPhone 5 in the form of the iPhone 5C.

    –> They had been doing colors since the time of the iPod mini, and this was all before smartphones came along. I don’t think anyone has an exclusivity with using colors.

    Scenario 3: iOS’ redesign on version 7 included a lot of elements from various operating systems. This video points it out.

    –> iOS didn’t come out as perfect from day 1. As it is possible iOS had adapted similar elements from Android to improve the user interface, but think of who BLATANTLY copied mostly the iOS interface initially.

    Scenario 4: The latest version of iOS, iOS 8, becomes more open with better notifications, widgets and third-party keyboards.

    –> widgets had already been in MAC OS since Tiger. As what Steve Jobs said in the beginning, iPhone OS is in its heart based on strong UNIX standards similar to the Mac OS.

    Scenario 5: Following the trend of extremely large phones started by Samsung, Apple then decides to release two iPhone 6 devices – one having a 5.5-inch display, more software enhancements, OIS and a different screen resolution.

    –> improvement in software and changes in size. iPod, iPod mini, iPod nano, iPod shuffle anyone? Also, Apple does not just increase the screen size for the sake of it, Apple makes sure that the interface and usage adapts to the size, and not just stretching everything to make it bigger, with what Android did.

    Scenario 6: Smartwatches have been gaining traction since last year, and once again it’s only now that Apple follows suit with the Apple Watch.

    –> it takes a long time to do R&D to make a new product. What Apple does is they pace themselves, think about things 100 times first before releasing the product. What Android manufacturers do are they make a half baked product and bring it out to the market, just to say, “Hey! We were first!” It’s an evolution…. first music.. then the phone, then the tablet… wearables I guess would be next. After these watches, I’m sure there might be head gears, rings, pens, earrings or maybe even actual holograms coming out from t-shirts as the next thing in technology.

    • Avatar for Marxist Marxist says:

      I highly commend you of your great analytical responses. You critically think better than the author.

    • Avatar for Signature Signature says:

      ‘Apple makes sure that the interface and usage adapts to the size and not just stretching everything to make it bigger, with what Android did.’

      Multiwindow? Floating apps? I agree with everything you said, but give credit when credit is due.

    • Avatar for rape rape says:

      Michael is one butthurt apple fanboy.

    • Avatar for Michael Michael says:

      Signature says:
      Multiwindow? Floating apps? I agree with everything you said, but give credit when credit is due.

      –> I don’t think Apple has implemented multiwindow and floating apps, they only implemented multiple zones per app. Remember the first time they launched the iPad, they made sure that they changed the user interface to make use of all that screen real estate. The first time Samsung made an Android tablet, all apps were just stretched to fill the screen.

      Rape says:
      Michael is one butthurt apple fanboy.

      –> Apple fanboy? Yes. Butthurt? No. Recently I’ve been fascinated on how Cherry Mobile have so many models released, plus comparing them with myPhone, Torque and SKK is such an amusement. I’m leaning on the CM Granite as a backup phone. As a Computer Science graduate and professional, I’m inasmuch as techgeek as most of us here.

      The reason why I love my iPhone is it works so well together with my iMac, Macbook Pro, Apple TV, iPods. That’s the thing Apple does best, making an ecosystem that just works, and works well. With the release of Yosemite soon and continuity with iOS, it just got a notch better.

  24. Avatar for weew weew says:

    wew.. napakaone sided talaga ng articles neto.. di ako naiinis sayo dati, ngayon lang.. ikaw na nakaandroid at nagmamataas.. android user din ako.. you give android users a bad name dahil sa pangbabash mo.. tapos sa dulo ng bawat article biglang kabig? biglang playing safe.. sus.. anu yan para may way out ka?

    • Avatar for .|. .|. says:

      i have to agree that this author is definitely biased. i’ve seen a couple more article from this bob and it makes me think that yugatech is becoming a opinionated tabloid rather than being factual and informational site. from title down to the very crappy details. i think the author just want to start up a never ending argument. sir abe, maybe you want to review this author’s work.

  25. Avatar for LOL LOL says:

    Oh, by the way iOS will never be Android because Anroid is Google’s Trojan Horse to make business out of each and every Android users.

  26. Avatar for Scenario 5 Scenario 5 says:

    ^HTC is the first to launch an Android phablet. First manufacturer din to launch the first Android phone.

  27. Avatar for Scenario 5 Scenario 5 says:

    HTC and not Samsung is the first to launch a phablet. People’s taste change. Sakto naman na magaling din marketing ng Samsung nung nirelease nila ang phablets nila.. Konting research author.

    • Avatar for ILSN41 ILSN41 says:

      It’s Samsung that started the trend of big phones… Not HTC.. All of us witness to that… The launch of the first Samsung Galaxy Note… Samsung is a trendsetter company for smartphones.. Not HTC..

  28. Avatar for LOL LOL says:

    The Apple Watch is a device 3 years in the making.. This should be off that list.. They don’t release a product just because they want to be the first in the market.

    • Avatar for gpr gpr says:

      a device 3 years in the making but still the most lame smart watch out there – imagine 3 years in the making, battery wont last a day, icons so small at that screen size you cant even press, functions are just same with android wear but exponentially pricier, bulky moto 360 like design, i mean where is the uniqueness to begin with? of course that apple, u paid for the name, the bragging ryts not the user ssatisfaction.

    • Avatar for LOL LOL says:

      LOL.. How can one give a verdict without owning and using a device? Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder so youropinion regarding its aesthetics is simply yours and yours alone. Uniqueness? Are you kidding me? Do your own research boy.

    • Avatar for trebor trebor says:

      @gpr: wew! you amused me beyond compare. you criticize as if you had already got hold of the device. Do you really thought that reading the apple watch’s specs and comparing it to other similar device’s spec can make you look all techy and knowledgeable. Pfft! Haul your Android-Fanboy ass outta here! XD

    • Avatar for archie archie says:

      Middle-aged people at hipsters na lang ang nagsusuot ng wristwatch. The watch industry is impractical and dying, it’s just becoming another fashion statement. The equivalent of bling bling sa mga celebrity rappers.

    • Avatar for gpr gpr says:

      Cmon dont be so dumb not to notice the sarcasm. The point that they took 3 years to create a smartwatch wen its basically there idea is lame. Of course show me a proof that apple really invented the idea of smartwatch apple douchebags!. Isipin no palang into matagal to ginawa dapat perfect and MA’s advance sya sa android wear pero OMG!.. ITS SO ADVANCE!. ADVANCE MASAKSAK SA OUTLET!. anyway maraming hands on impression sa net mga apple douchebags go figure your 3 YEARS IN THE MAKING ADVANCE APPLE IWATCH. you don’t need to own something just to give your impressions about it. Any point ng author dito bakit ngayon lang and apple gumagawa ng ganito samantalang matagal na meron android ganito/ganyan. Go figure apple douchbags!.Seriously, mga mandurukot lang sabit sa apple gadgets nyo.

  29. Avatar for Abuzalzal Abuzalzal says:

    embrace torrent hehehe un na lng kulang IMO

  30. Avatar for benchmark benchmark says:

    out of the topic:

    I’m not an Iphone user but for my opinion, ang gusto ko lang din sa Iphone is yung depreciation ng value ng phone nila, medyo mabagal unlike android phones na ilang months lang, mababa na ang presyo for a second hand unit. Yan ang nanonotice ko sa prices ng phones.

    Ok din kasi na mahal mo nabili, pero if after a year, di ka naman ganun luge kapag binenta mo.

    well just my idea.

    (Samsung K zoom user here)

    • Avatar for Mon Mon says:

      yun yung benefit ng exclusive na OS, iPhone lang talaga yung choice mo (though nadami na din models)

      sa Android naman, sobrang daming manufacturers na nagamit, maraming mapapagpilian kaya nababa agad value bawat phone na nalabas

      for every 1 iOS device that comes out, dozens or even hundreds of Android phones are made

    • Avatar for bliss bliss says:

      Agree…maybe because of the stability and consistency that is Apple…m using an xperia but the iphone6+ is interesting…btw how’s the picture quality and performance of the k zoom?

    • Avatar for Miles Miles says:

      @benchmark: lahat ng phones mabilis depreciation (5 years). Say an iPhone 1 cost 25k during 2009 but now just 5k tops.

      Ang akala ko mamamatay na iPhone bashing, di pa pala. Kahit na 4 million unit sales ang iPhone6 on the very first day at pahirapan pa makaabot ng half million ang karamihan sa mga flagship Androids.

      Yep, I think misleading ang article na ito. And worse, maraming fallacies na kahit non techies mapapansin. Very popular tech site ito, so I guess the writer should be more responsible.

      Please guys, let’s put an end to the bashings and all. I’m tired reading ugly comments left and right. Even with this article, we could criticize without cursing and all. How about that?

    • Avatar for benchmark benchmark says:

      tama, just a few iphone release, isang damakmak na nang android phone ang lumalabas…hmmm ilan na bang “flagship” phone ang nailabas ng isang kumpanya? well perhaps these phone companies are still looking for the “right” phone…yun lang, tayong mga consumer, hinde naman din makuntento. hehehe

      @bliss: well my k zoom is ok…medyo nababagalan lang ako when taking pictures and focusing on zooomed objects. ok siguro kung may manual focus itong k zoom…or siguro meron, di ko pa lang naeexplore. hehehehe Medyo ang expectations ko sa k zoom, yun bang ala Ipad/iphone ang pag snap…yung kuha agad….hinde eh, 1 to two seconds before it take a shot…kaya minsan panis na ngiti ng anak ko pagkita ko sa picture. but its all ok :)

    • Avatar for Justin Justin says:

      Based on my personal experience (in buying/owning and later on selling my phones), your theory does not hold true for Android flagship phones and Nexus devices.

  31. Avatar for Easy E Easy E says:

    That’s Apple’s strategy. They always win $$$. I love Apple. Take all my money! $hi+

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