A new survey from On Device reveals a small, but significant, drop in user satisfaction with iOS 6.
"We have always seen an increase in satisfaction as consumers upgrade their mobile operating system from one version to another," On Device CEO Alistair Hill said following the survey. Moving from iOS 4 to iOS 5 saw big improvements and a jump in satisfaction, according to Hill.
Here are some of the most significant shortcomings of the latest release.
Lack of new features
iOS is probably the first version of the mobile operating system that fails to bring new features. Previous versions brought features like copy and paste, multitasking, and Notification Center, which added a significant new element to the iOS experience. Apple also had a history of adding features later than competitors, but better. Copy and paste is probably the best example of the policy; Apple allows users to focus on text with a magnifying glass. Aside from the troubled Maps app, such new features appear to be absent from iOS 6.
The same operating system
To most consumers, iOS 6 will look the same as iOS 5. Maps is a single app, not the complete redesign of iOS' appearance that many iFans hoped to see. The expectation during the initial unveiling of iOS was that Apple may have been holding back a design change. When it was revealed no design change was in sight, some users began to look to alternatives.
Long-winded Settings menu
Heading into Settings on iOS 6 will present users with a range of options. The problem may be finding a solution. Multiple button presses are required to perform even simpleactions; for example, three to turn on 3G, five to set a wallpaper for the lock and/or home screen, and four to add a Gmail account to the default Mail app.
It is important to note that user satisfaction is still high despite the decline; Apple sold five million iPhone 5s inside a week of device being on sale. Among mainstream consumers, at least, iPhones and iOS seem to be as popular as ever. iOS 6 is available to download now via iTunes or over the air.
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