Difference between Android Lollipop and Apple iOS 8

Key Difference: Lollipop is the latest Android version 5.0 from Google, while Apple iOS 8 is the latest version of Apple’s OS.

Android Lollipop The constant battle between Google and Apple is never ending when it comes to applications and OS. Both companies are busy developing newer and better interfaces and offering more options for the user. Both the companies are touting themselves to be the best in the market. Google has a slight advantage as its Android already cover a good 80% of the market share. However, that does not stop Apple from continuing to produce innovations and brand new technologies. Lollipop is the latest Android version 5.0 from Google, while Apple iOS 8 is the latest version of Apple’s OS, which is available on its iPhone 6.

The constant competition has resulted in bringing the OSes together in terms of technology, although each one has incorporated technology that is inspired from the other. This has become more beneficial for the customers.

Lollipop is the latest Android version, which follows its sweet and delicious predecessor, KitKat. The version offers a whole new interface and a way of interacting with the interface. Lollipop is designed based on a whole new ‘material design’ interface, which goes back to 2D features but uses a card-based design. Google touts a more fluid interface with bright colors, animations and use of shadows and depth. The company has also changed the internal cogs, upgrading the original Dalvik system with Android Runtime (ART), increasing performance. Google has also tried to target the main problem that Android users are facing, the battery. The solution: Project Volta. This project aims to reorganizes background app activity into batches to save unnecessary phone waking, does not send automatic data requests if it sees a weak signal.

Other features include:

Support for 64-bit CPUs
Recent activities screen with tasks instead of applications
Vector drawables, which scale without losing definition
Support for print previews
Material design style
Lockscreen now shows notifications and swipe to application settings
Refreshed notification tray and quick settings pull-down
Do Not Disturb option
Safe zones that allow the user to not have to input a password each time
Project Volta, for battery life improvements
Search inside settings
Multiple user accounts, including guest accounts
Audio input and output through USB devices
WebViews receive updates independently through Google Play for security reasons, instead of relying on system-wide vendor updates

Apple iOS 8 was unveiled at the company's Worldwide Developers Conference on June 2, 2014. It was released to the developers on the same day, but wasn’t available for updating on Apple devices until two months later. The company introduced the iOS under the tagline "The biggest change to iOS since the introduction of the App Store". However, it also offers new enhancements to the user interface.

The company offers multiple new features which include new and more detailed editing application for photos and the camera. Users can now edit the photos they have just clicked, making them seem more professional and directly upload photos and videos to social media websites. iOS 7 offered the time lapse feature, while iOS 8 adds a speed up feature, that allows the user to increase the frame rate of their photos and videos. The company has banked on simplicity, reducing the complicated nature of the Notification Center. It now offers only two tabs, "Today" and "Notifications". Users are also powered with widgets that they can add and remove to the Notification Center.

Another innovative features include: Family Sharing and Handoff. Family Sharing allows six people of the same family to share applications that are bought on the Apple Store, including music, apps and books. Members can also share photos and calendars. Parents can also monitor (accepting and rejecting) purchases of their children by clicking a button on their phone. The Handoff feature is a quite handy when it comes to operating on multiple Apple devices. Handoff allows the user to seamless switch performing a task from one platform to another. Writing emails can now be done on the phone and switched to the iPad, if the user wishes.

Other features include:

Photos app contains more options to edit photos
Widgets allowed for Notifications Center
Notification Center has only 2 tabs, "Today" and "Notifications"
Messages can now be replied to directly from the Notifications center
Allows sending audio and video messages by holding down the record button.
A new predictive typing feature called QuickType
Family members can share purchased apps, music, and books using the same credit card, limited to 6 members.
Allows users to save photos, videos, documents and music, and other apps' data to iCloud.
HomeKit is a framework that allows developers to make software that discovers, configures, communicates with and controls devices for home automation.
Handoff allows users to share documents, e-mails, and websites over Wi-Fi or personal hotspot between iOS 8 and OS X Yosemite devices.
Spotlight is integrated with a number of web services so that users can search using Wikipedia, Bing, or Google.
Multitasking screen now shows a list of recently called and favorited contacts
Wi-Fi calling has been added to allow mobile phone calls over Wi-Fi
Do Not Disturb option per group

Comparison between Android Lollipop and Apple iOS 8:

	Android Lollipop	Apple iOS 8
Developer	Google	Apple
Launch	November 3, 2014	September 17, 2014
Preceded by	Android KitKat	Apple iOS 7
Interface Design	Material: uses a card-based design with 2D features. It has bright colors and animations everywhere. Banks on fluidity. Incorporates more depth and uses shadows	Flat Design. It ditches all older skeuomorphism designs to opt for a flat design that is minimalist in nature. Uses sober color scheme that allows fluidity
Notifications	Double sliding on the notification bar allows access to quick settings, which includes screen brightness slider, notifications (including do not disturb), and cast screen. User profile is a small circle on the top right corner instead of taking a tile. Notifications have white background, they are arranged not in chronological order but rather priority. Allow swipe to dismiss but double tap to access the app. Also, allows rejecting a call without having to end the current task at hand. Offers ‘Do Not Disturb’ mode that allows only ‘important’ notifications through	More interactive notifications, which can now pop up on the top of the screen and allows the user to reply without having to deviate from the current application they are using. Users can reply to text messages, accept calendar invitations, snooze reminders and even Like Facebook statuses, without having to leave the application. Swiping allows going to the application, but does not allow swipe to dismiss the reminder
Battery	Has a pre-installed battery saver mode. Project Volta: reorganizes background app activity into batches to save unnecessary phone waking, does not send automatic data requests if it sees a weak signal. Increases battery life by approximately 35%.	New processor that works on improving battery life. Provides tools to developers to improve battery life
Customization	Allows heavy customization, including offering widgets, app grouping, multi-user capabilities	Slightly more customization capabilities. Gives users more opportunities to customize the interface, apps and notifications to their specific tastes and wants.
Convergence	Allows interactivity between different devices of different classes. Built in Android TV. Consistent experience between smartphones, tablets, TVs, and smartwatches. Offers 5,000 new APIs for developers	Handoff: allows users to complete tasks on multiple Apple products or on cross-platforms. Emails, messages, calls, surfing, etc. can be shared between the Apple products
Messaging	Focus is back on messaging app, after shifting to hangouts	Clean and easy to use interface that allows people to remain connected
Camera	Allows third party applications for editing. Improved camera app and quality of photos	Improved camera and allows more editing options. Also allows quick upload to social networking websites
Lock screen	Swipe up to unlock, left to launch the camera and right to open the dialer. Allows notifications right on the lock screen	Offers notifications on the lock screen. Swiping right unlocks the phone, while swiping up allows access to the camera. No swiping for dialer
64-bit architecture	Upgraded to ART (Android Run Time), which is faster. Now allows support for 64-bit processors	iOS 7 already offered the 64-bit architecture, which continues in iOS 8
Security	Location and proximity based features. Allows safe zones, where the phone locks do not kick in. If phone detects Android Wear smart watch, it does not unlock the phone or tablet	Touch ID fingerprint sensor built into the home button (5S and onwards). Open for third-party developers, so it can also be incorporated in applications
Features	Built in flash light 3D rotary style recent applications Light gray Roboto font with green icons on a white ground for the interface Allows multiple profiles Guest profile Android Easter egg inspired from Flappy Bird New applications, home button, recent apps button and back button have changed been changed in design to circle, square and back, respectively. Recent activities screen with tasks instead of applications Vector drawables, which scale without losing definition Support for print previews Material design style Lockscreen now shows notifications and swipe to application settings Refreshed notification tray and quick settings pull-down Do Not Disturb option Safe zones that allow the user to not have to input a password each time Project Volta, for battery life improvements Search inside settings Audio input and output through USB devices WebViews receive updates independently through Google Play for security reasons, instead of relying on system-wide vendor updates	Photos app contains more options to edit photos Widgets allowed for Notifications Center Notification Center has only 2 tabs, "Today" and "Notifications" Messages can now be replied to directly from the Notifications center Allows sending audio and video messages by holding down the record button. A new predictive typing feature called QuickType Family members can share purchased apps, music, and books using the same credit card, limited to 6 members. Allows users to save photos, videos, documents and music, and other apps' data to iCloud. HomeKit is a framework that allows developers to make software that discovers, configures, communicates with and controls devices for home automation. Handoff allows users to share documents, e-mails, and websites over Wi-Fi or personal hotspot between iOS 8 and OS X Yosemite devices. Spotlight is integrated with a number of web services so that users can search using Wikipedia, Bing, or Google. Multitasking screen now shows a list of recently called and favorited contacts Wi-Fi calling has been added to allow mobile phone calls over Wi-Fi Do Not Disturb option per group
Health & Fitness	Google Fit: Keeps an eye on health and fitness data using sensors and wearable devices	Healthkit: allows applications to talk among themselves and provides a more uniform approach to health applications
Voice Assistant Hands-Free	“Ok, Google”, the phone constantly listens for these words to activate Google’s hands-free voice assistance	If the apple product is connected to an external power source, it allows user to activate hands-free by saying “Hey, Siri”
Car compatibility	Android Auto	CarPlay
Calling	Clean interface, easy to make calls and it shows recent calls clearly	Detailed images, important contacts highlighted and lots of contextual information about the caller