These are the 8 Android and Windows Phone features we want on the iPhone 6

Apple doesn't hold the patent on good ideas. These hardware and software goodies from other phones would make Apple's next iPhone even better.

 

The iPhone 5S successor is right around the bend.Sarah Tew/

One could argue that the entire modern smartphone market has been largely built around aping Apple's revolutionary iPhone, which first appeared in 2007. Indeed, that phone still looks remarkably "current" in some ways: the minimalist rectangular design, the no-keyboard glass touchscreen, and tap and swipe interface are all mainstays of the marketplace now.

Apple, of course, is deadly serious when it comes to protecting its intellectual property -- just askSamsung. But the iPhone maker has borrowed good ideas from competitors, too -- plenty of things in iOS 7 and the forthcoming iOS 8 first appeared in competing Android and Windows Phone models.

In my book, that's a good thing -- consumers are getting better features across the board, regardless of their OS. To that end, I'm hoping that the iPhone 6 has picked up a few of its rivals' other tricks as well.

Virtually guaranteed

We already know we're getting home screen widgets (of a sort) and swappable keyboards, courtesy ofiOS 8. Beyond those, rumors of NFC (near-field communication that pairs devices in a tap) and a larger screen make that spec almost a given, not to mention the undeniable industry shift in these directions, supported by consumer demand.

Want, want, want

• Smart lock screen tricks: Talk about intuitive. I love the simple way that the LG G2 and LG G3's lock screen turns on and off with a simple, elegant, and totally natural double-tap.
  
• Waterproofing: Rugged water-resistant phones have been around for a long time, but Sony's high-end Xperia line (like the Xperia Z2) and Samsung's Galaxy S5 are making the idea of inherent "waterproofing" less of a luxury and more of a given. If these companies can bolster an everyday handset against ordinary splashes and accidental soakings, Apple can too.