I don't think "lag" is the right word. It's really a matter of difference of smoothness of scrolling. My Droid scrolls with no lag but visually it's not as smooth as iOS. I'd suspect the difference in GPU support plays the biggest part as well as how well the eyes of the user can pick up the difference.
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Why is iOS so much smoother than Android?
- Thread starter josh48315
- Start date
3gAndroid
Android Enthusiast
I have both an iPhone 4 and a Captivate. Scrolling between these two is just different.
Personally I prefer the way Eclair v2.1 scrolls. I especially like the fact that if I accidentally touch the bar at the top of the display, it does not scroll all the way back to the top of the page as the iPhone does. I find the touch responsiveness of the iPhone 4 overly sensitive. The 3Gs was far better overall.
Yet that said for those of you that are unhappy with Android, try an iPhone it may be just what you're looking for. I use both for their individual strengths.
Personally I prefer the way Eclair v2.1 scrolls. I especially like the fact that if I accidentally touch the bar at the top of the display, it does not scroll all the way back to the top of the page as the iPhone does. I find the touch responsiveness of the iPhone 4 overly sensitive. The 3Gs was far better overall.
Yet that said for those of you that are unhappy with Android, try an iPhone it may be just what you're looking for. I use both for their individual strengths.
Frisco
=Luceat Lux Vestra=
^^^this^^^
Specialization; quite the stroke of genius by the Apple folks with regard to smartphones.
SupremeBeaver
Android Enthusiast
Like someone pointed out on the first page, its all down to the GPU!!
If Android implements GPU acceleration, your phones will fly. A lot of you here are saying how ur not experiencing any lag or stuttering, but that's because you've never used an iphone before. The scrolling, zooming etc is beautiful.
In fact, i think microsoft are releasing Internet explorer 9 soon, and it implements GPU acceleration. There were benchmarks where they tested a page with and without GPU acceleration. Without they were getting 12 fps, with GPU they are getting a solid 60 fps. It makes all the difference.
Im looking forward to Gingerbread and seeing if Google implements it. It will be huge news if they do.
If Android implements GPU acceleration, your phones will fly. A lot of you here are saying how ur not experiencing any lag or stuttering, but that's because you've never used an iphone before. The scrolling, zooming etc is beautiful.
In fact, i think microsoft are releasing Internet explorer 9 soon, and it implements GPU acceleration. There were benchmarks where they tested a page with and without GPU acceleration. Without they were getting 12 fps, with GPU they are getting a solid 60 fps. It makes all the difference.
Im looking forward to Gingerbread and seeing if Google implements it. It will be huge news if they do.
i have an iphone 4, and i dont really notice any difference in scrolling between ios and android.
Eazail70x7
Android Expert
Keep in mind that some androids scroll smoother than others do. I've seen many side by side comparisons and can say that thus far, the galaxy s phones offer the smoothest scrolling and zooming experience, both on the home screens and in the browser.
SupremeBeaver
Android Enthusiast
Do you know why? Because Samsung implemented GPU acceleration themselves!
Samsung and Apple share a lot of tech. They use pretty much the same processors and im sure Samsung worked with Apple in getting GPU acceleration working on the SGS.
I think this is where a lot of people misinterpret what they are experiencing.
People get these words mixed up: Smooth and Fast
Smooth != Fast
On top of getting these two words mixed up, some can't tell the difference because A) They don't know what to look for B) They aren't that sensitive C) They've never seen superior ui scrolling/zooming/panning.
Smooth
When something moves from point A to point B with many transitions in between. For example 60 transitions or frames in between would be smoother than 30 transitions.
Fast
When something moves from point A to point B quickly. It takes 1 second to scroll from one point to another rather than 2 seconds.
As far as I know Android devices has "Fast" down for the most part, but it isn't "smooth". The only device that I know of that has both is the iPhone. This is simply because it incorporates GPU acceleration. The GPU is much more efficient and powerful than the CPU to handle such tasks.
Why else do you think ATI/NVIDIA cards handles all the physics in video games?
I've heard many users say their devices are smooth and fast but when I've tested them over and over, it's not true at all. For a smooth UI there must be GPU acceleration or a Dual Core CPU to compensate for the extra tasks.
Eazail70x7
Android Expert
Trust me, the Epic 4g is both smooth and fast in scrolling. The fps in scrolling and zooming is compatible to the iphone in most instances. The gallery is probably the most visually pleasing instance of this smoothness. I have an iphone and know exactly what you are talking about. I'm not saying the epic is smoother but it is thus far the closest to ios. (very close imo)
Hi, not to be curt or rude, you're either fibbing or have not a clue of what we speak. I have never owned an IOS device and will likely never own one (I don't support egomaniacal despots), but both the touchscreen response and the refresh rates are terrible on Android. It is what's been halting me from buying a tablet. It is incredibly bad on android and the people at Google appear to be too stupid to notice the disparity and fix it fast, those imbeciles...still beats a tyrant on anyday.
^Ok, MennoMan said on his Incredible. You said on Android.
HTC has done great things to Sense UI to make it smoother and more responsive than stock Android.
When you say Android, you have to realize Android is stock Android and Android mixed with:
Sense UI, Touchwiz, Blur, and whatever is on the LG and Sony phones, and whatever manufacture that has a phone with a custom UI.
And as Android get OS updates it improves. Different phones have different results. Take the Droid 1 vs the Droid X. The finger tracking is better on the Droid X. Could be a hardware thing. Even tho swiping homescreens on 2.1, 2.2 was laggier on the Droid X vs the Droid 1, the finger tracking is better on the Droid X.
HTC has done great things to Sense UI to make it smoother and more responsive than stock Android.
When you say Android, you have to realize Android is stock Android and Android mixed with:
Sense UI, Touchwiz, Blur, and whatever is on the LG and Sony phones, and whatever manufacture that has a phone with a custom UI.
And as Android get OS updates it improves. Different phones have different results. Take the Droid 1 vs the Droid X. The finger tracking is better on the Droid X. Could be a hardware thing. Even tho swiping homescreens on 2.1, 2.2 was laggier on the Droid X vs the Droid 1, the finger tracking is better on the Droid X.
novox77
Leeeroy Jennnkinnns!
Just a heads up; this thread has been dead for 4 months. No one's looking for help anymore. But feel free to discuss anew.
iOs 4 is not so much smoother than my Galaxy S2, but I have to admit that only on iOS can you pan web pages and it sticks to your finger like a magnet, likely because of a patent Apple has on a touch technology. No matter how fantastic an Android hardware (S2 being the current pinnacle), I pan and scroll butterly smooth bit still notice the screen playing catchup. Apples patent is like McDs Big Mac sauce.. it's a trade secret closely guarded and key to their success.
petersteier
Newbie
Scrolling on Android is not smooth because the (Google) programmers did not know what smooth means, and probably did not think that it is important. Steve Jobs was a genius, because he knew what is important, and disposed all impecille staff hampering realization.
On my Milestone with Android 2.2, I can detect several bugs preventing a smooth scrolling experience; I think the programmers consider them features:
If I start dragging, the screen does not follow immediately, but with a delay of a fraction of a second. I think the user does not have the highest priority in this system, has he?
If I drag diagonally, the screen decides to move either exactly horizontal or vertical, and so drifts away from my finger. However, if I insist on diagonal (moving fast) it suddenly breaks free, and jerks up to the touch point. The system apparently thinks I want to move rectangular, but lack the motoric control. Well, I do not. Feels like using a mouse on a wire grid.
When scrolling over longer pages, the scroll continuously freezes, probably because graphics being prepared before they can appear on the screen. This is bad programming. First of all, the complete page should be prepared in an offscreen buffer, 256 MB is plenty of memory to do so even for the largest pages (remember, the GUI is the most important process on the device). And, secondly, if the graphics is not ready, an empty space (maybe a placeholder) should smoothly scroll in.
Finally, the hardware is bad; I think my touchscreen only has some 1 mm resolution, and thus cannot be expected to control a smooth scroll of a 300 dpi (~ 0.1 mm) display.
On my Milestone with Android 2.2, I can detect several bugs preventing a smooth scrolling experience; I think the programmers consider them features:
If I start dragging, the screen does not follow immediately, but with a delay of a fraction of a second. I think the user does not have the highest priority in this system, has he?
If I drag diagonally, the screen decides to move either exactly horizontal or vertical, and so drifts away from my finger. However, if I insist on diagonal (moving fast) it suddenly breaks free, and jerks up to the touch point. The system apparently thinks I want to move rectangular, but lack the motoric control. Well, I do not. Feels like using a mouse on a wire grid.
When scrolling over longer pages, the scroll continuously freezes, probably because graphics being prepared before they can appear on the screen. This is bad programming. First of all, the complete page should be prepared in an offscreen buffer, 256 MB is plenty of memory to do so even for the largest pages (remember, the GUI is the most important process on the device). And, secondly, if the graphics is not ready, an empty space (maybe a placeholder) should smoothly scroll in.
Finally, the hardware is bad; I think my touchscreen only has some 1 mm resolution, and thus cannot be expected to control a smooth scroll of a 300 dpi (~ 0.1 mm) display.
I am really starting to think that it is a tech/patent thing. Even though some say it is due to multi-tasking being allowed in android. But with one app running, on a fresh start, it is still choppy. Its not like they don't notice the difference in 'smoothness' when testing/QA before a release...
I own all android, and im always jealous of the liquid feel on my friend's ipad...
I own all android, and im always jealous of the liquid feel on my friend's ipad...
IOWA
Mr. Logic Pants
Lol. How about you submit your finds to Google and make millions? ...right.. didn't think so.
chrlswltrs
Extreme Android User
I didn't read all the responses here, but the short answer is because iOS does so little and Android does so much!
But, my iPad 2 with iOS 5 really isn't that much smoother than my Nexus S. It is a little, but I also would not switch to an iPhone instead of android because my android phone is so much more powerful!!
But, my iPad 2 with iOS 5 really isn't that much smoother than my Nexus S. It is a little, but I also would not switch to an iPhone instead of android because my android phone is so much more powerful!!
B
Bnice
Guest
Maybe Apple just smooth played all you guys. I have seen the iphone with my own two eyes slow down, choppy, whatever you want to call it.
Baldilocks
Android Expert
It's all about the 2D GPU acceleration. iOS has always used it, Android, for the most part, doesn't. That should change with ICS.
That being said, the GS II is buttery smooth. No other Android phone on the market (and I have fooled around with most of them) don't even come close.
That being said, the GS II is buttery smooth. No other Android phone on the market (and I have fooled around with most of them) don't even come close.
I can't wait to test out ICS to see if Google finally got it. I suspect it'll be damn close but still slightly noticeably off. I think Steve Jobs just got it right from the start, as it was a top priority. I played on old early iPhones whose pages stuck to my finger like magnets. I played on a TMo G1 (a very early Android) at around the same time, and it was clear that Google was trying to achieve an iPhone feel, but was way behind. It was so stuttery. Apple got it right years ago and Google still has not. It is definitely a patent and not hardware specs since Apple achieved it with ancient hardware.
novox77
Leeeroy Jennnkinnns!
For sure smoothness of scrolling was a priority for all of Apple's devices. I'm about halfway into Steve Jobs' biography, and it stated clearly that he put an emphasis on smooth scrolling the instant he saw Xerox's GUI and wanted to make it mainstream for the masses.
As much as I prefer Android over iOS, I do admire the smoothness and responsiveness of iOS touchscreens, as well as the pixel density that they market as "retina." My Evo 3D is much improved over the Evo 4G, but it's not quite as good as the iPhones. Wife's iPhone 4S touchscreen is amazing. If ICS can do that, Apple will lose a huge aesthetic/polish advantage.
As much as I prefer Android over iOS, I do admire the smoothness and responsiveness of iOS touchscreens, as well as the pixel density that they market as "retina." My Evo 3D is much improved over the Evo 4G, but it's not quite as good as the iPhones. Wife's iPhone 4S touchscreen is amazing. If ICS can do that, Apple will lose a huge aesthetic/polish advantage.
King_Bean
Well-Known Member
To me, aesthetic/polish is one of the three advantages iPhone has over Android, the other two being the availability of third party accessories and the refinement/quality of SOME apps available for iOS.
Of course, Android has some notable advantages over iOS, as well. If Android gains the smoothness of iOS with ICS, then Android will be even that much better than iOS (I already feel that Android is superior to iOS, for my wants/needs).
Bob Maxey
Android Expert
Well thank you all very much! Golly dag nabbit, I always thought scrolling on my Triumph was just dandy. Now apparently, it is too slow and I am pissed. Stop it right now.
Smiley.
Actually, I can only afford the one app so I never get much of a chance to scroll. In my personal life, I do not get the opportunity to do much "scrolling," either.
How about the phone buttons? Do the push faster on iOS or perhaps they make a better push buttony pushing sound. I should switch to an iPhone.
Smiley.
Actually, I can only afford the one app so I never get much of a chance to scroll. In my personal life, I do not get the opportunity to do much "scrolling," either.
How about the phone buttons? Do the push faster on iOS or perhaps they make a better push buttony pushing sound. I should switch to an iPhone.