By Jonathan Charles | Aug 13, 2012 12:35 PM EDT
The highly-anticipated iOS 6 is seen as an indicator of where Apple wants to take its mobile operating system in light of Android's advances. Most speculation and commentary has focused on features Apple should implement, but what features should it remove?
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Multitasking
For an operating system built around a simple user experience, multitasking in iOS leaves much to be desired. The process is currently long-winded. Double-tap the home button, potentially swipe left or right to find and app, and tap it to open. Closing apps requires a similar process, as well as holding down the app and tapping a minus icon for it to close. In contrast, functionality similar to Expose, showing mini-tiles of open apps, is fast and intuitive.
Higher apps-per-folder limits
Currently, iOS users can store up to 12 apps in a folder, which may be too few for power users. This may create a need for multiple folders in the same category, which seems contrary to the idea of folders reducing clutter. Apple also needs to be aware of how the apps-per-folder limits impacts performance. Full folders open slower than less populated folders on the iPhone 4.
Forced default Apple apps
Although Google Chrome is the browser of choice in iOS, Safari remainsthe default browser. Opening e-mail links can open Safari instead of Chrome, though some users rely on this workaround. It would be nice if basic functionality apps, including the browser and e-mail, were no longer tied to Safari and Mail, respectively.
Widget limitations
When Apple introduced Notification Center in iOS 5, it brought two widgets: Weather and Stocks. While these widgets are removable, Apple does not allow third-party widgets. What about e-mail, Facebook, Twitter, or Eurosport? Users should be able to use widgets to provide information on the most popular apps, so hopefully Apple removes widget limitations in iOS 6.
Spotlight
Spotlight allows users to search for information on iOS devices, but because it is not universal, it is probably neglected by users. Universal search would allow information to be available in-app and across a device, removing the problem of dropping in and out of apps to find new pieces of information. If users want to stay in Facebook while running a quick Google search, that should be possible.
iOS 6 will be released this Fall.
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