14 DAY TRIAL // If you’re none too happy with iOS 8 and want iOS 9 to fix all the things that bug you, there’s a thread on Reddit where people are actively discussing what should be included in the next version of Apple’s mobile operating system.
The discussion is tempered and constructive, and everyone seems to be pitching in ideas that are not only doable but actually imperative to achieve a more advanced OS.
New Stuff: presets, Music app redesign, re-purposed Game Center
There’s an endless selection of new things that Apple could implement in iOS, but not all of these features make sense for the masses. However, some things would be universally appreciated. Like the ability to “define settings presets that activate automatically when entering a specific radius around a gps coordinate and/or specific time range,” as one user says.
iOS could disable its wireless connections, silence the ringer and enable Do Not Disturb between certain hours, such as at the gym, at the office, or during class. iOS would automatically restore this functionality when the user leaves the location in question, or when the time frame has expired. The phone could also be silenced automatically while at the theater, which could easily be implemented as an extension to location-based reminders.
Another user proposes to have the Music app redesigned and retooled to include a lot of the functionality from iTunes on OS X. Many others agree that the Music app needs a lot more playback preferences, such as the ability to queue up songs to listen to them in a specific order, not just playlists.
Others are craving for multi-user/login support in the form of separate spaces, complete with Touch ID authentication to open up the necessary features, settings and apps for individual people. This feature alone would be highly appreciated by the masses.
The ability to edit control center toggles is also high on the wish list. Some go further, proposing to have the ability to replace the default Control Center apps (Flashlight, Calculator, Clock and Camera) with their own choices.
One user asks for F.lux compatibility. This is a mood-setting app currently available for OS X users. It tints the either based on the hour of the day or the user’s own preferences. It’s an awesome tool, but it might not make a lot of sense on small screens.
Game Center should get “the Newsstand treatment,” another one proposes. And for good reason too. Game Center is basically useless for most people, but if Apple were to give it functionality similar to Steam (Valve’s popular gaming platform), things could change dramatically in the gaming scene. Especially since the latest iPhone ads give the impression that Apple doesn’t get gamers.
Geeks want Xcode for iOS, a type of Finder for iCloud files (basically the desktop version of iCloud Drive on iOS), and the ability to freely rearrange apps on the home screen so that they aren't forced in-line.
Fixes and Tweaks: multitasking, shift key, annoying ringer graphics & more
Everyone has that one major nuisance that they want addressed, but there are also some demands that seem common among all users. Such as a better shift key, a system-wide dark mode, real multitasking, the ability to hide or delete certain stock apps for good, native GIF support, or a kill switch for the multitasking tray.
But here are a couple of suggestions that we found truly relevant.
One user says, “I said this last year, I'll say it again: Re-design iOS for iPad so it is optimised and takes full advantage of the bigger screen, like multi-window support and a lot more, instead of just a stretched out iPhone UI.”
Indeed, iOS on iPads and even on the iPhone 6 Plus simply doesn’t leverage the extra real estate.
Another person mentions that “the volume and ringer graphic covers 80% of the screen,” which is an exaggeration, but the user makes a good point nonetheless. The ringer graphic used to be transparent. Now, it covers a huge portion of the screen and goes away too slow. It’s particularly annoying during video playback. One user actually says he considered jailbreaking his device solely to remove this annoyance.
You can jump in with your own suggestions down in the comments section below, or visit the thread in question to join the discussion.
