By Joanna Stern The Wall Street Journal
Telling Google’s latest mobile OS apart from Apple’s iOS is getting very hard
Paying with a tap of a finger? Android took it from iOS. An energy-saver mode to squeeze out extra battery life? iOS nabbed it from Android. Personal assistants who answer questions and suggest information? Let’s call it an even trade.
Apple’s iOS and Google’s Android have been battling for mobile supremacy for years, but at this point, good luck telling the cutthroat enemies apart. This week’s release of Google’s latest version of Android 6.0—nicknamed “Marshmallow”—is even more proof of that.
Of course, Marshmallow is at the heart of the soon-to-be-released Nexus 5X and 6P, but I have been testing it as an upgrade to older Nexus 5 and 6 models for the past week. I found many of Android M’s best features and tweaks come from Apple’s iOS—or have counterparts in iOS 9. And here’s a shocker: The best stuff in Apple’s latest? That came from Android. When it comes to essential smartphone features, it simply doesn’t matter which platform you choose anymore.
That doesn’t mean there aren’t reasons to opt for Android over iOS—or vice versa. Many prefer the simplicity, security and privacy of iOS, while others the customization and openness of Android. But the newest differentiators are the smart services that these mega-companies are weaving directly into their operating systems, giving you more powers not only over your phone, but your computer, your living room and even your car.