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General Comparison of ecosystems
- Thread starter Truefan31
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Google does everything iCloud does. And for a complete full backup you need iTunes which is an app. So what are you talking about?
You did nothing other than brag about Android and offer one extreme setup. Let's count the ways your post offered no assistance whatsoever...
--If you'd read his post, he specifically asks about options other than DLNA. Any suggestions on your part? Nope, of course not.
--Where in your post or linked video does it offer any advice/example of mirroring? He streamed movies and played Netflix, things that can be done with any number of devices, including the AppleTV.
--Show me where the OP inquired about using Siri (or any other voice recognition software) to control his gear?
--And if you'd actually paid attention to the example you provided, you'd actually know that the user in the video wasn't streaming from his phone but rather using it as a remote to control one of these, an intermediary functioning in pretty much the same way as an AppleTV (and costing more).
Yes, everything that the OP is asking for can be done using non-Apple gear. In fact there are many options available that are much more capable in many regards. How about actually offering the OP some useful advice rather than spouting off with what amounts to 'Android rules, Apple sucks.'
Wow, you're reaching. iTunes is a FREE app. You can do backups to both the cloud AND your computer using FREE software which backups and restores properly.
I'm just gonna give up because Android fanboys are like liberals, they refuse to listen.
And I'm reaching? Ok
Shame cause I wasn't even arguing with you nor putting down Apple, I was just stating the facts. But since you feel all butt hurt maybe you shouldn't be in the alternative section. It's just too much for you to deal with.
OP, My household situation sounds similar--I love to tinker with tech but when it comes to my wife and young kids, I've learned simplicity rules. I used to run a Mac Mini HTPC with various media control software (Boxee, XMBC, Plex) and set it up with tons of automation to try to make is as user friendly as possible for the family but ultimately it still was too much (i.e. point the remote away from the HT gear for just a second during an automated command, a command doesn't get sent to the right device, something doesn't start and I then get a 'Dad, the TV isn't working!!). We know have AppleTVs attached to all household TV. It's super easy for them to select media from our personal library, watch Netflix, watch hockey (NHL Gamecenter), watch a YouTube video or check out movie trailers--pretty much the extent of my family's needs. Streaming a video from an iPap, iPhone, or a Mac is very simple thanks to AirPlay and same goes for mirroring.
If your family's needs aren't very sophisticated, there isn't an easier/simpler setup. There are definitely more options with more functionality but I'd argue none are simpler to setup and use--has saved me a ton of headaches.
yeah the nerd in me would love to delve into some of the things Android seems to offer, while overall my family wouldn't want to. It's why I was wondering if Android is as seamless as ios.
Thats not how the internet works. In normal life when you see Dog poop on the sidewalk, you avoid it. If you see it on the internet you have to charge at it screaming at the top of the lungs, jump onto it and start rolling around in it screaming "I HATE THIS POOP! I HATE THIS POOP! WHY IS IT HERE?!"
I use an Android phone and can get all the same functionality, one way or another. It's just not generally as seamless, requires third party apps and is more involved if you are dealing with different televisions. Two of our TVs have Smart functionality but they're different brands and streaming functionality isn't the same or consistent. The other TVs don't have Smart functionality. The beauty of the Apple ecosystem here is it's all seamlessly integrated across all devices and AppleTVs are relatively inexpensive.
You may also want to research Roku boxes as well. They offer a ton of features (much better streaming options, Roku 3 allows sound played through headphones plugged into the remote--very cool) are also pretty cheap. The only knock I've heard is they're less than ideal for streaming your own content, say from your PC/Mac but I'll admittedly opt out on that discussion as I haven't personally used one. Also, no idea of you can mirror devices using them.
I doubt Android is more seamless now, though it is getting there. I just switched from iOS to Android for my phone , while my other computers are still OS X. Integration has been incredibly easy. Music is synced to my phone using Google Play, which automatically synces anything I download on iTunes. I haven't tried going the other way, but it should work to buy something on the Play store and have it automatically added to iTunes. Actually the Play store is more dreams than Apples equivalents. All email accounts are easily accessible in the same app and are synced across devices backup is built into my device through Google drive. No need for any app but as others have pointed out there are many options up to full service imaging. There are apps like MightyText that should give you the functionality of I message.
Mirroring I don't know about since I don't use it but obviously it is there for smart TVs. For dumb TVs I would look at Roku or similar devices
Clearly, it can be done and what isn't as seamless initially, is usually more powerful and customizable on the Android side or of the box, but at this point , if apple does what you need, their mirroring might be simpler in your particular use case.
Yes, only the 2nd gen Apple TV can be jailbroken. However, if you are looking to get a Mac also, you can always Airplay mirror it to the Apple TV and watch XBMC that way. Works great for me all the time, and my iMac isn't even on the same floor of my house as the Apple TV.
I've never restored a phone, I have had plenty of iPhones and not bothered, so long as my contacts are safe (which they are on my Google account) everything else i'm not bothered about, my iTunes music is also on my GoogleMusic, I have Google calendar, all my app purchases are on my PlayStore account. I don't give a cuss about syncing it with my MBP, it does it itself, my Chrome bookmarks are transferred across. Like I typed before, IMHO, all this backing up, syncing and eco system etc is meh.
And if you don't own a smart TV? What store can you walk into and have a broken screen replaced or any other service on any Android phone, tablet, laptop, customer pay or warranty? Or walk out with a refurb? Genius Bar is a silly name but Apple stomps everyone in customer service with it. Microsoft is stepping up with full service stores, who else? Your scenario is limited to certain hardware. An Apple Tv connects to all. I carry one with my Ipad and MacPro to do presentations. In fact most full on conference rooms I have used already have Apple TV's hooked up. Plus in the countless Hotel rooms My Apple TV cuts on pOrn costs
Just saying
And if you don't own a smart TV? What store can you walk into and have a broken screen replaced or any other service on any Android phone, tablet, laptop, customer pay or warranty? Or walk out with a refurb? Genius Bar is a silly name but Apple stomps everyone in customer service with it. Microsoft is stepping up with full service stores, who else? Your scenario is limited to certain hardware. An Apple Tv connects to all. I carry one with my Ipad and MacPro to do presentations. In fact most full on conference rooms I have used already have Apple TV's hooked up. Plus in the countless Hotel rooms My Apple TV cuts on pOrn costs
Just saying
Someone please tell this guy there are hundreds of android TV boxes you can buy to use if you don't have a smart TV.
DoubleTwist supports AirPlay and with AirSync, you can sync your media wirelessly to the device over wifi.
Android doesn't have any mirroring options.
Android doesn't have any mirroring options.
Not exactly true, it's just not universally available. I believe the HTC Media Link allows for screen mirroring, though obviously only with certain HTC devices.
The Samsung Allshare Cast Hub is supposed to allow the same thing for Samsung devices--reviews seem to indicate though that it's not very good. I guess for the Galaxy S4 it's now called Samsung Link--just not certain if it's proprietary or not.
And miracast should also allow for streaming/screen sharing between devices. Problem is there just aren't many devices certified yet.
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You may be right--I haven't used it personally and Samsung's website isn't real clear on the topic.
so it seems like you can still have both ecosystems per say, they play pretty well with each other. I guess I like the fact that apple tv is a cheap way to update my tv to a smart tv, and with ipads/iphones/mac, my home could be a home media hub easily and seamlessly. The new nexus 7 tablet does interest me a lot though, and w/the mulitiple options android offers, it's still a hard decision.
This. I've kind of read up on how to backup my Nexus 4 and Nexus 7 to my computer but honestly haven't bothered to do so in four months of owning them. There is too much work involved, same with rooting. Neve bothered to root when there there are a few dozen steps involved when to JB my iPhone or iPad, I just had to Download a program and run it.
Don't even get me started on the app quality. Apple wins that department on so many levels.
I agree that rooting is harder than jail breaking. Jailbreak on iOS was a matter of downloading and plugging in the phone. Everything else was automated. For my Android phone I had to download three files manually put the phone into recovery and click two buttons and put the phone into DFU (or whatever). Not automated but not hard. I still see a lot of complaints on these forums about jailbreak issues, so that isn't without issues.
Backup is super easy. Get a backup app (if your device doesn't have one. Then back up. On my device it is automated just like iOS.
How are the apps better? For those that are on both platforms I haven't found any differences. And I haven't found a single thing I want or need missing from the Play store. I realize that this may not be true of everyone. There may be apps not on both markets or the quality of an app might not be the same but it isn't something I have run into and the size of both markets would indicate it is going to be a marginal use case.
In my experience the range of apps and what is possible is larger on the Play store. The Play store is like the app store and cydia together.
Really all of this Android vs iOS stuff strikes me as Ford vs Chevy nonsense. And people having issues with one environment or the other always sound to me like someone getting in an unfamiliar car, finding the controls are arranged differently and then claiming the car is undrivable. All of Apple's windshield wiper controls are in the same place. Each Android ROM might put them in a slightly different location. Doesn't mean it is easier to turn on the wipers in one over the other. When you go from one to the other you just have to learn how.
Personally learning how to do that in Android has been worth it since it is now as seamless as my iOS experience was (since I had to jailbreak to find iOS tolerable), does far more than I ever could even jailbroken, and is far less expensive.
I'll post a comparison with screen caps of one of my most used apps later between the Android tablet version and the iPad version. It's literally night and day.
I've got to get a little sleep first.
Here are a few apps using the same current versions between my iPad Mini and my Nexus 7. Both have all the current app versions and current OS versions installed.
It is just amazing the differences between these platforms in how developers have favored iOS more and in so many cases, all the devs did was scale up their phone app to work with an Android tablet.
Lets start with one app that I use the most. 9news is an app that is from a local television news station here in Denver. Even before I got my iPad, I enjoyed using the app on my iPhone because it allowed me to watch the live news cast when it was on the air. When I got my Nexus 4 phone, I was so excited to download the 9news app only to find out they removed the ability to watch the live news cast from the Android version. You can see the live now tab at the top where I can click that to watch the live news cast which starts playing full screen.
Check out the main screen of the 9news app from my iPad:
Now check out the main page on the Android app. There is only one view here, the standard list view and you can't turn the tablet into landscape, only portrait.
Now lets look at the weather section on the iPhone app. Completely interactive on the iPad.
Map options:
Todays forecast:
Hourly:
Ok, how about the exciting weather map on the Android app?
Not much you can do with that other than see where the storms are.
Now how about a quick look at the AP news app:
Gorgeous iPad app. You simply slide the right pane over to view it full screen.
Now look at the Android AP news app:
It is obvious that many of the Android developers just don't care enough to give their Android versions the same care that the are giving the iOS versions.
I have several other apps that are the same way including the SiriusXM app. It's night and day between the versions.
It is just amazing the differences between these platforms in how developers have favored iOS more and in so many cases, all the devs did was scale up their phone app to work with an Android tablet.
Lets start with one app that I use the most. 9news is an app that is from a local television news station here in Denver. Even before I got my iPad, I enjoyed using the app on my iPhone because it allowed me to watch the live news cast when it was on the air. When I got my Nexus 4 phone, I was so excited to download the 9news app only to find out they removed the ability to watch the live news cast from the Android version. You can see the live now tab at the top where I can click that to watch the live news cast which starts playing full screen.
Check out the main screen of the 9news app from my iPad:
Now check out the main page on the Android app. There is only one view here, the standard list view and you can't turn the tablet into landscape, only portrait.
Now lets look at the weather section on the iPhone app. Completely interactive on the iPad.
Map options:
Todays forecast:
Hourly:
Ok, how about the exciting weather map on the Android app?
Not much you can do with that other than see where the storms are.
Now how about a quick look at the AP news app:
Gorgeous iPad app. You simply slide the right pane over to view it full screen.
Now look at the Android AP news app:
It is obvious that many of the Android developers just don't care enough to give their Android versions the same care that the are giving the iOS versions.
I have several other apps that are the same way including the SiriusXM app. It's night and day between the versions.
Did you really read up (the latest) how to root on Android? It is much simpler. You don't even need a PC and cable and install itunes like jailbreak.
All I did was download the kernel zip file (using phone browser) into the root of the sdcard. Put the phone in recovery mode and select the zip file and install. Reboot. That's it.
I agree with you that there are more apps designed for tablet on iOS. I think one reason for that is that most Android (phone) apps do run and scale up in tablet mode. That's why some developers don't bother to upgrade their apps. On iOS developers have no choice but to do a tablet version otherwise the apps will not even show up in App store.
Nowadays many mainstream apps on Android have included tablet mode. But I think it will take some time before it catches up with Ipad in terms of number of apps designed specifically for tablet.