After 10 yrs with an iPhone, switching to the Note 8

[5105973]

How did you truly personalize your phone compared to the IPhone? This is not a bashing but I see this from people who want to or say they are switching to Android. I\

It depends on the brand and model. We are talking about the potential to customize sound settings to a finicky degree for audiophiles in phones that have a high end DAC. S8's and the upcoming LG V30 offer incredible levels of ability to tune camera settings. The V30 has more video customization options than I can rattle off, here.

Then there is the look of the phone itself. You can download launchers that allow you to decide where to put app icons. Some let you "extract" a widget and place that on a separate page. A widget is a sort of interface to the app that shows you the pertinent data an app provides, such as a representation of your calendar or your Twitter feed, without your app being fully open. You often can click on the widget to open the actual full app.

For phones that allow an always on display, you can download a theme pack on Samsungs that let you make the AOD look different from stock settings. On an S7 Edge I had Shiba Inu line drawings as part of my AOD.

It kind of explodes the brain to get in there on something like an S8+ and customize it. I've had the icons look uniformly glowing blue to match blue wallpapers. It's an experience I'm glad I had. And if Apple has really cheesed your doodles this year with the notch and other things that bug you, by all means go ahead and try a nice quality flagship Android phone.

But for me, I never entirely wanted to leave iOS and I didn't. I ran two phones concurrently. I ended up relying more on my iPhone 7 Plus than my S8+. Android is pretty smooth and stable but in Nougat apps can still run rogue and you won't know it until you run into odd behavior. My favorite recent example was Pokémon Go making my native camera app freeze and fail on my S8+. It was continuing to run and control my camera despite my thinking I had exited the app and closed it down. I reboot now just to be in the safe side when I use Pokémon Go on that phone.

Really interested in knowing how you got the series 3 watch for only $50...please enlighten me! That's awesome!

I think he means the Samsung Gear S3 watch. Samsung often allows its very expensive accessory products to be sold at steep discount or given away as part of carrier or store promotions. That's how I got a free Gear S2 watch from AT&T. It also had 4G capability.

 

[Phonzoxd]

The hardware is just beautiful. I like everything about it.

Too bad i hate Android. Not a huge fan of iOS, but atleast i dont detest it.

 

[jkozlow3]

I will let you know how the transition goes...

$20 says you'll be back. Nothing wrong with the Note 8 except for Android. On their own, the latest Samsung models are amazing hardware-wise.

I don't know hardly anyone who didn't switch back to iOS within 1 year if not sooner. I think I know 1 person who stuck with Android after leaving iOS.

 

[fsfty]

That's the beauty of Android... You could have downloaded one of dozens of different music apps, keyboards and messenger apps until you find one you liked. To bad you didn't give the transition enough time...

 

[Complex757]

I tried that with the Note 7, and was pretty meh about it. It had a lot of useful features, but I missed the integration. I didn't like having to download a podcast app, music app, keyboard app etc. etc. Yes, there's a app for everything, but most of them weren't as useful or as good IMO, because they aren't seamless.

Plus I've never been a big Touchwiz fan.

Once the battery issues came up, that was my out. Before even doing the full recall.

I no longer care about rooting, jailbreaking, excessive personalizing. I just want a phone that will do the basics well. And honestly most of the people who brag about all their phone can do, don't even use a lot of those features.

 

[fsfty]

With all the Android Malware out there (including plenty of apps in the Google App Store) I would be scared to ever use my online banking app or other apps that access personal data.

Also, every Android app I have ever tried has a far superior iOS version.

And finally, no iMessages means no Android for me.

Totally ridiculous post... Not remotely accurate.

 

[cardfan]

Heh. Another unwashed switching to a bloatware special with Samsungs half baked software. Lol

 

[pdxmatts]

I used to have Android phones and would root and add roms on them. At first it was fun and I liked tinkering on them to make the phone better than stock, but then it got to be a chore and time consuming researching and changing roms. I just one day said no more and bought the I4S. We have had iPhones ever since. I do still Jailbreak them if I can I've often wondered what Android is like now and if people can even root them anymore.

 

[JoePa2624]

I tried that with the Note 7, and was pretty meh about it. It had a lot of useful features, but I missed the integration. I didn't like having to download a podcast app, music app, keyboard app etc. etc. Yes, there's a app for everything, but most of them weren't as useful or as good IMO, because they aren't seamless.

Plus I've never been a big Touchwiz fan.

Once the battery issues came up, that was my out. Before even doing the full recall.

I no longer care about rooting, jailbreaking, excessive personalizing. I just want a phone that will do the basics well. And honestly most of the people who brag about all their phone can do, don't even use a lot of those features.

Do you use all the stock Apple apps? Looking at my iPhone and iPad Pro, I don’t use a single apple app except iMessage. Chrome, Outlook, Gboard, Pocketcasts, Spotify, Wunderlist, etc.

I’d be curious to know how many iPhone users continue to use Apple apps or if they switch to something else?

 

[Complex757]

I used to have Android phones and would root and add roms on them. At first it was fun and I liked tinkering on them to make the phone better than stock, but then it got to be a chore and time consuming researching and changing roms. I just one day said no more and bought the I4S. We have had iPhones ever since. I've often wondered what Android is like now and if people can even root them anymore.
[doublepost=1505527429][/doublepost]

Same

I realized that I was only doing it because other nerds online were doing it, and people in the real world didn't care. It's not like you hand people your phone.

Now at least you don't have to root to eliminate some of the ugliness of Touchwiz, you can just pick a launcher like Nova.

And they do have some apps that will disable some of the bloatware on Samsungs.

 

[KGB7]

I upgrade once every two years, so not an issue. Also, the Apple updates have not been amzingly impressive or helpful for what I need. A small feature here and there that slows my phone down. As for service, I have NEVER called Apple for ios support. There has always been plenty of help online, and I expect Android to be similar.

I keep hearing this over and over, that iPhones slow down with every update, and yet I have not experienced it my self with iPhone 6s+ that originally came with iOS 9.3.x. Im currently running iOS 10.3.3 and I think it's much smoother and quicker then my Galaxy S7 Active with Noguat 7.1.

In my experience and from my observation of other Android users, android phones slow down much quicker with out any OS upgrades or updates. Android OS requires a constant maintenance like a car that needs regular oil changes. I know that some will say that their Android phone never slowed down... But how many apps do you have installed that clear cashe and remove junk from your Android phone?

With out going too much in to details. I used to live with +50 people. And everyone one of them had a cheapo basic Android phone. Their phones ran like crap, because they would install hand full of apps that would promise faster and safer experience and protection. Instead their Android phones were crippled. Google Play store is filled with apps that promise safety, security and speed and there is lack of quality control in Google Play store.
I was glad to help people I lived with, but I also made a good amount of money educating them and making their phones run better.
I wouldn't be able to make money from iPhone users. Because; a. iPhones don't need gimmicky apps To make them work better, faster and safer and b. local Apple Store has free unlimited support.

If you bought a $100 Android phone from Boost Mobile or similar carriers and you had issues with your phone, you would be told to install an app to speed up your phone. Apple has never done that.

Even if you bought a $800 Android phone, the best customer support would ask you to clear this cashe, remove this app, reset this crap, the list goes on and on.

Google, Bing, Yahoo, etc, have far more articles and guides that help you resolve every issue since the beginning of time for Android than for iOS. iOS has flaws, but it's far less flawed than Android OS.

If you paid me for my time, I can honestly wright 20 pages why not to use Android and 1 page the pros of Android. In my short term experience with iOS, same list would be much much shorter.

I encourage people to try both. But I will not stand by and allow for anyone to blindly take a hot dump on Apple because their products cost more and They get less features.
I don't get paid by anyone to wright this. Half my income comes from self employment as a IT consultant, not that it matters on subject at hand, my other half comes from as an adult care taker...and no, I don't make money from elderly people to resolve phone issues. Just so we are clear.

Buy what you want, it's your money. I'm simply providing you with knowledge from my experience, so you can make a decision for your self.

Edit;

And don't get me started with Android phones bloat ware from each carrier. You can't pay me enough to wright another 5 page essay.

 

[woodynorman]

I moved last year. Just got the Note today and so far loving it.

Moving to android took me a solid few weeks to get used to. But now I'm used to it I could never go back. It allows me to truly personalise my phone for my needs.

I still have my Macbook air and new iPad 10.5 and they all work pretty nicely together!

How do you get texts on the Mac and iPad? Thats one of the things I would need if I switched.

 

[Complex757]

Do you use all the stock Apple apps? Looking at my iPhone and iPad Pro, I don’t use a single apple app except iMessage. Chrome, Outlook, Gboard, Pocketcasts, Spotify, Wunderlist, etc.

I’d be curious to know how many iPhone users continue to use Apple apps or if they switch to something else?

I use them in combination, because I've always used both. I've always had a combination of Apple/Android with a tablet or phone.

I had pocketcast on my Note, and I've always maintained Google apps, because I had a Nexus in addition to an iPhone. I didn't prefer it to Apple's native podcast app however. I had way too many instances of podcast apps not downloading. It did have a lot of options, but I just want the basics to be done well. Apples have more refinement.

I use apple music, I like that better than Spotify. I use the mail, news, weather, calendar... Notes is the only one that isn't that good to me.

All of it is good enough for me until I get to my macbook or pc.

IMO native apps on the iPhone are better and more useful, but you can find apps on Android better than their native ones.

 

[mib1800]

I used to have Android phones and would root and add roms on them. At first it was fun and I liked tinkering on them to make the phone better than stock, but then it got to be a chore and time consuming researching and changing roms. I just one day said no more and bought the I4S. We have had iPhones ever since. I do still Jailbreak them if I can I've often wondered what Android is like now and if people can even root them anymore.

there are a lot of personalizations and customizations without need to root or install custom rom.

In summary, with Android you can do tasks the way you want to.

 

[JoePa2624]

How do you get texts on the Mac and iPad? Thats one of the things I would need if I switched.

Check out MySMS

 

[JoePa2624]

I use them in combination, because I've always used both. I've always had a combination of Apple/Android with a tablet or phone.

I had pocketcast on my Note, and I've always maintained Google apps, because I had a Nexus in addition to an iPhone. I didn't prefer it to Apple's native podcast app however. I had way too many instances of podcast apps not downloading. It did have a lot of options, but I just want the basics to be done well. Apples have more refinement.

I use apple music, I like that better than Spotify. I use the mail, news, weather, calendar... Notes is the only one that isn't that good to me.

All of it is good enough for me until I get to my macbook or pc.

IMO native apps on the iPhone are better and more useful, but you can find apps on Android better than their native ones.

It's funny, I think Google's apps are better on iPhone.

 

[Peanut207]

You'll be back. I said the same thing once..tried Android and was back with an iPhone in less than a week. Nothing compares to iOS and the fluidity of iPhones. I can care less about customizing screens etc. It felt like I cheated on my wife and had to ask for forgiveness when I came back to the iPhone. It felt like I was back home.

 

[dallas112678]

How did you truly personalize your phone compared to the IPhone? This is not a bashing but I see this from people who want to or say they are switching to Android. I\

Here's a video that shows what people mean. In it, they are using Nova launcher which offers the most customization, but even "standard" launchers from the likes of google, samsung, LG, etc...Offer more customization options than iOS because it's simply inherent to Android.

 

[Shazamadoo]

I remember when I was using android phones.. I spent quite a bit of time "customizing" the phone, which just ended up with me downloading the most popular texting/emailing/launchers/etc apps.. In the end the android phone (a Samsung Galaxy) just ended up looking like an imitation of iOS with half the apps having ads..

What's funny is the most popular apps and themes being used in Android are iOS imitations..

There is a lot of things you can do with an Android phone that replicates using a PC.. But for many people that is a pointless endeavor for a phone.. I cant even understand how people are able to watch movies on a smartphone, hence why I have an iPad Pro which I can seamlessly integrate with an iPhone/mac/MacBook Pro..

 

[v0lume4]

Congrats, OP! It'll be a ton of fun trying the other side. Word of advice, give yourself a solid month with the phone. There will be small little things that take some getting used to, and you'll do yourself a disservice if you make a rash decision to return the phone having only tried it for like 3 days/a week. Google Now absolutely rocks. I am not sure if you can enable it on the Note 8, or if Samsung has replaced it with Bixby. I'm telling you -- activate and use Google Now if you can. It's so good.

 

[hasanahmad]

Thanks. every user out means one slot empty for iPhone X for me.

 

[Racineur]

Here's a video that shows what people mean. In it, they are using Nova launcher which offers the most customization, but even "standard" launchers from the likes of google, samsung, LG, etc...Offer more customization options than iOS because it's simply inherent to Android.

Hello. Please, please tell me what is this craze about customizing to a level that your phone could look like an all dressed pizza. Sincerely, explain that to me cause I have truly hard time to understand and God knows I gave it multiple tries. All of my Android friends talk about customizing like it's the Android feature that sums all the OS. What is it wrong or flawed with the supposedly "lack" of customization of iOS? This time, I want to understand. And I'm damn serious.
Thanks

 

[allthingsapple!]

OHHH. duh. That would make so much more sense haha thanks.

 

[KGB7]

Hello. Please, please tell me what is this craze about customizing to a level that your phone could look like an all dressed pizza. Sincerely, explain that to me cause I have truly hard time to understand and God knows I gave it multiple tries. All of my Android friends talk about customizing like it's the Android feature that sums all the OS. What is it wrong or flawed with the supposedly "lack" of customization of iOS? This time, I want to understand. And I'm damn serious.
Thanks

Customizing Android OS, is like ricing out your car. It's still slow and looks like crap, but it's YOUR pile of slow crap.

 

[VSMacOne]

Good luck OP.
I spent a couple of hours last week setting up a Note 8 for a friend and I was not super impressed. Nice design and easy to hold, but the look of Android is still behind iOS, IMO. And the screen was not as nice to look at as my 7 Plus. I even played around with the color profiles but still didn’t get anywhere.
But hey to each their own. This was just my experience.