With both iOS 13 and Android 10 boasting a whole host of new features to delight users, improve their experience, and protect their privacy, here are the ones you should focus on to make sure your app isn’t left out in the cold.
With more and more apps already offering a dark mode version, iOS 13 and Android 10’s new system-wide dark modes are one of this fall’s most highly anticipated changes.
Although dark modes don’t reduce the amount of blue light – which is reported to negatively impact sleep and general health – they’re easier on the eyes in low-light environments, and your screen use is less likely to disturb those around you.
Although the jury is still out on the advantages of dark modes – research shows that reading comprehension and general cognitive performance is better with dark text on a light background rather than vice versa – there’s no doubt that users will come to expect all their apps to have a dark version. So make sure to take this user interface diversity into account when developing new apps or new features for your existing apps.
iPhone users have long enjoyed being able to swipe their way around their phone, and Google is finally giving Android users the possibility to have this more immersive experience.
From the launch of Android 10, users will be able to opt in for full ‘gestural’ navigation, i.e. swiping. And once they do so, it will impact all apps on the device.
The traditional three-button navigation, or the two-button version (a cross between traditional and full-gesture), will still be available. But with test results showing the dramatic speed advantage of full gestural navigation – see Google’s own findings from their beta launch in the graph below – it’s likely that more and more Android users will be wooed by the new feature.
To turn this into a real win-win – a better experience for your users and more valuable screen real-estate for you – it’s important to critically assess how your app handles full gestural navigation.
Make the most of your new space by extending app content from edge to edge, and resolve any conflicting app gestures to ensure a smooth, uninterrupted user experience.
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With iOS 13, Apple brings a new look to modals, i.e. when you need to focus your user’s attention on making a choice or performing a task other than their current task. Going forward, the ‘sheet’ presentation style – right-hand screen in the screenshot below – will become the default design, and the recommended style for non-complex tasks.
While the top edge of the underlying content remains visible, all uncovered areas are dimmed to focus the user and prevent interaction with them. Users can still tap a button to dismiss the card and return to the previous screen, but they can also do so by swiping down.
While this won’t bring any dramatic changes, take the opportunity to make sure you’re delivering the best user experience. Keep the following tips in mind:
With Android 10, apps running in the background will no longer be able to start activities.
This brings Android more in line with Apple’s strict guidelines for how and when apps can run in the background, the goal being to minimise interruptions for users and give them more in control of what’s shown on their screen.
If your app only starts activities as a direct result of user interaction, then most likely your app won’t be affected by this change.
However, apps with alarm functions will be severely impacted, since the alarm functionality will no longer work unless the app is opened in the foreground.
If your app needs to start in the background, create a notification to let the user know what’s happening or what they need to do.
And while this may require changes to your app, remember that it also brings benefits from both a user experience and app developer perspective:
When your app uses a foreground service to let your users know about activities going on in the background, e.g. a data sync for Fitbit or location tracking for a running app, Android 10 needs to know the type of foreground service.
Make sure to include the foregroundServiceType in the service tag of the AndroidManifest. Available types include phoneCall, mediaPlayback, location, dataSync, and connectedDevice.
Privacy is one of the hottest topics around, and Apple has recognised that control over our own data and information is critical to today’s users. The new ‘Sign In with Apple’ option, and changes to location permissions are two features that need to be on your radar.
Apple has developed a unique approach to compete with social login, i.e. using existing information from a social media account like Facebook, Twitter or Google+, to sign in to a third-party app or website.
With ‘Sign In with Apple’, users can use their Apple ID to sign in to iOS apps and websites. Using this option, apps can only ask for a user’s name and email address – no more sharing friend lists or date of birth. And going one step further, users can even request that Apple creates a unique ‘burner’ email address that forwards to the user’s real one, keeping real email addresses out of spammers’ hands.
As of iOS 13, apps in the AppStore that already provide third-party login will have to offer ‘Sign In with Apple’ as one of the login options, and app updates will be rejected if this is not the case. Note that this will also apply to webview login for iOS apps.
Changes to location permission settings with iOS 13 put the user right back in the driving seat when it comes to determining just what location information is tracked and when.
This permission will be stored during the session (and a limited time after) and will let the app access the user’s location. When the user closes the app, the location permissions are set to ‘not determined’, and when he/she reopens the app, the same pop-up will be displayed, asking once again for permission to use the location.
While of course you would like your users to grant more permanent permissions, this one-off chance lowers the bar for them to give your app’s location features a try. And if they like what you do, maybe they’ll be back!
First of all, take the opportunity now to review your location code to make sure you’re only requesting this data when it can bring real value for the user. And where the user experience really can be enhanced by sharing their location – or conversely, be greatly limited by not sharing – help your users understand this by being open with them, and explaining it to them (well, the main points!).
They’ll be much more likely to grant permission – even if the first few times it’s only ‘Allow Once’ – if they trust you and believe in the benefits. If you don’t take action, the introduction of the map feature could result in users seeing worrying amounts of location tracking, and subsequently, revoking permissions.
Also, keep a careful eye on the ‘Allow once’ feature – make sure that the OS doesn’t change the location permissions to notAuthorized instead of notDetermined after the session. If this happens – or if in the future this evolves to ‘Allow only once & don’t ask again’ – location access would be denied after the first session, and the user might not even be aware of the limitations.
Again, make sure your users understand how sharing their location benefits them!
Are you ready to embrace the changes that iOS 13 and Android 10 are bringing? Not quite?
If you’re looking for extra support on any of the features mentioned above – or any others that these new releases will bring – don’t hesitate to contact us. Drop us a line at antwerp@novemberfive.co and we’ll be happy to arrange a chat!
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Working in collaboration with Penny Black and its joint venture incubators, Agfa and ninepointfive, November Five delivered a technology project that strengthened Penny Black’s business case and lowered its backers’ investment risk.
Our Vanbreda Healthcare platform has been awarded a UX Design Awards nomination by International Design Center Berlin – the leading, independent design institution promoting design as a driver for business and social innovation.
November Five was named one of Fast Company’s global 100 Best Workplaces for Innovators in both 2020 and 2021. This annual list, developed in collaboration with Accenture, recognises and honors the top 100 businesses from different industries that inspire, support and promote innovation at all levels. For the consecutive year, November Five was the single Belgian workplace listed.
Fast Company is the world's leading progressive business media brand, with a unique editorial focus on innovation in technology, ethical economics, leadership, and design. Written for, by, and about the most progressive business leaders, Fast Company and FastCompany.com inspire readers and users to think beyond traditional boundaries, lead conversations and create the future of business.
