Cons of switching to the Android family?

[Savor]

Read this article written last year -
www.cnet.com/news/ios-vs-android-why-it-no-longer-matters/

Over the following weeks, however, I dabbled with a number of mobiles (the Galaxy S3, the HTC One M8 and the Sony Xperia Z1, which was my surprise favourite). But beyond the first 48 hours or so, any sense of strong emotion towards Android, either positive or negative, was notably absent.

The reason is that, with every Android phone I tried, it was much easier than I expected to get back to the smartphone experience I was used to.

The services I used the most were right there at my fingertips, in less than half an hour. It's true that there's a difference in the apps available for iOS and Android, and that iOS still tends to get new apps first, but for me at least, there was nothing missing. I realised the apps I used the most were multi-platform, third-party and free to download.

I suspect the hold that app ecosystems have on us will only get looser. For one thing, it's rarer and rarer to find apps you need to pay to install. All the apps listed above were free, even though many of them are services I pay for in one way or another. I've spent a lot of money on iOS apps over the years, but when I switched to Android, I didn't end up paying for anything twice.

Generally, all homescreens are app launcher/drawer including Android and WP. If I wanted, I can also theme my phones to look like iOS or Windows Phone's Live Tiles which isn't frequently found on that platform. We have a toggle switch and notification panel here and there. Slightly different lockscreen. But generally the experience are all the same. The difference really comes down to how much rely on certain services or proprietary software Apple offers you. But most UI experiences and even app catalog between iOS and Android is nearly the same.

Except I use gesture swipes with mines. Swipe up on the homescreen and the screen goes off. Swipe down and the notification panel comes down. Double tap on homescreen and Flipboard opens which replaces my BlinkFeed. Double tap to the left status bar area and Greenify hibernates my apps. Double tap the right area and silent mode. Either swipe bottom left and right corners opens up Lazy Swipe. I can go on and on with my app shortcuts but neither iOS and WP offers this right out of the box. Neither is checking actual screen on time usage, RAM usage, or checking the current CPU speed and temperature is quite as detailed like on Android.

 

[KillaMac]

Cons of switching to the Android family?

Every single Android device I have used, from Samsung, LG, Motorola, Google has poor standby time compared to the iPhone 4S/5/5S/6.



There, you happy?

Exactly. My Note 4 would be almost dead with this same usage.

 

[Savor]

I am not much of a gamer anymore but I remember playing this basketball shooting game called AE Basketball on WP7 three years ago. And Big Dai Di on my iPhone about two years ago. I was stuck playing Big Big Big 2 (Pusoy Dos) on Android for years but Big Dai Di had more polish. Those games weren't on Android two years ago but they are now. Throw in plenty of free JRPG games like my fav from SEGA called Chain Chronicle, ad-sponsored but free Angry Birds like Go (Mario Kart/Crash Team Racing ripoff), and Real Steel fighting game (loved the movie) and Android now has a robust app selection which couldn't really be said 2-3 years ago. And Android is starting to get alot of the "fun" apps that iOS users enjoy.

I go on the store for WP8.1 and it feels like a ghost town. Nothing. No latest games. Many aren't free. Before, WP had many cool games to play since Microsoft has their own studio to make mobile games. Now I see common multi-platform games like Sonic Dash that isnt even updated. So that nonsense about Android always having crappy apps should be buried now or applied for WP. Android and iOS are nearly on the same level. But I find many USEFUL exclusive SETTINGS/UTILITY-type of apps like Lazy Swipe, DynamicNotifications, AcDisplay, Wakeup Touch Nexus, etc. found more for Android than on iOS. The personal customizations is quite endless with Android. With iOS or WP, it will get boring after a few days for me once I finish downloading all the apps I need.

 

[Ledgem]

Pushbullet is more robust than iMessage. A LOT more robust and is OS agnostic.
Also, anything you do on an Android phone related to Google Apps, doesn't need any sort of 'Handoff'. It auto updates across all devices as you use the app.

So, your cons aren't really cons, just things you don't understand about Android.

Whether it's a pro or a con really depends on the user and their needs. For example, Pushbullet is a notification synchronization tool that allows you to relay SMS texts through your phone from your computer, similar to "SMS Relay" in iOS 8. That's neat and brings some feature parity, but part of my problem is that in my workplace I frequently don't have cellular reception. There is, however, a robust wifi network. The majority of my team members use iOS devices, so we can text regardless of the cellular coverage. Pushbullet would not be a viable alternative for me. For that matter, many of Google's services are blocked at my workplace, which is an issue because my grounded phone and tablet rely on the wifi network. Handoff doesn't rely on anything external; the two devices see each other and do the transition on their own.

I'd be surprised if most users faced the same restrictions that I do, though. So I don't mean to say that Android is inherently inferior, or anything of that sort. Rather, I'm pointing out that the alternates in Android aren't exactly the same. It's not about understanding Android so much as it is about understanding your own needs and challenges.

The longer you use Android, the more you will see the benefits from using it and it may outweigh the negatives. But you might need to do a "CLEANSE" from the Apple ecosystem. Get rid of it completely out of your system. Learn to live without ANYTHING iOS. I have been on Android for 3+ years since October 2011 and since Nov 2012 as a primary. I still learn new things from it. Like using the ALL IN ONE TOOLBOX app. I can choose which apps to autostart and can backup my apps (nomore App Backup & Restore), clean my cache, and have it act as a file manager like ES.

Android has made me OCD with all my settings and certain app version. I didn't even realize I could change the name or icon of the app within the drawer using Nova Prime until months later. I didn't know anything about rooting or flashing custom ROMS and the benefits from them until two weeks ago. Android is constant learning from me. I like that. It sharpens my mind as I keep thinking how to tinker with it and make it more perfect. It does not get stale as fast like iOS or WP.

I'm glad that you enjoy these aspects of Android. For me, reading over what you wrote, it reminds me of my days with Windows, and my Windows CE smartphone. I customized everything and had a blast. Yet as I went forward in life I began to get tired of having to customize everything, and fixing things to maintain my customizations. What used to be a fun activity became a nightmarish chore that I had to deal with at least once a year, usually more.

OS X and iOS are often criticized for having too few customization options and for being "stale," and I can respect that some people want to tinker. I'm no longer in that camp. I expect it to be stable and to allow me to get work done. I don't want radical changes every year, and I don't want a million options to sort through. I don't want to spend my weekends troubleshooting something - my free time has become too valuable to me, and it's no longer fun.

I hope that Android never locks down in the way that iOS is, because if people want to tinker with electronics then I think that's wonderful. Those days were probably responsible for teaching me so much about software and electronics. Yet I definitely don't see it as a selling point of Android over iOS.

 

[Savor]

My mother bought herself an iPhone 6 Plus today. Very nice so she gave me her white iPhone 5 to sell. I updated it to iOS8 because I wanted to try out SwiftKey.

Man, the iOS' version of SwiftKey is terrible! The settings is so basic. No Tagalog language. No way to resize it to make it larger since typing on a 4-inch screen is problematic for me. Only three themes and all are crap. No way to put the numbers on top. No way to adjust the speed of the long-press. No wonder it got only 3 stars. And iOS' QuickType is no savior either at predicting words. SwiftKey alone is a major con for me if I were to ever switch back to iOS.

I will probably go jailbreak this iPhone 5 since it is so BORING for me to use. I need MxTube and playing some games on it might be fun esp the old ones I got when I was still on iOS4. But even then, I am so used to the different paths offered by Android that this iP5 will probably be sold before the end of the month. The hidden beauty of Android really comes from the settings from each app. The customization can be endless. I haven't even used the app, TASKER, yet! Great app for rooted Android devices. Imagine how far ahead that is vs most iOS apps.

 

[mrex]

until apple fix it, all 3rd party keyboards are pretty useless. i use swype on my androids and on my ipad it is horrible. ios own keyboard is from 90s.. (=not smart at all)

 

[Lloydbm41]

until apple fix it, all 3rd party keyboards are pretty useless. i use swype on my androids and on my ipad it is horrible. ios own keyboard is from 90s.. (=not smart at all)

Touchpal works great for me now on 8.2. It has come a long way since its release. Same with Swiftkey.

 

[lowendlinux]

Pushbullet is more robust than iMessage. A LOT more robust and is OS agnostic.
Also, anything you do on an Android phone related to Google Apps, doesn't need any sort of 'Handoff'. It auto updates across all devices as you use the app.

So, your cons aren't really cons, just things you don't understand about Android.

Thanks for this, it looks like I can even compile the desktop client in Linux.

 

[mrex]

Touchpal works great for me now on 8.2. It has come a long way since its release. Same with Swiftkey.

yeah, they do work much better on 8.2. Swype still autocorrects/translate words from another language when not swyping but typing. Could be also problem with the app itself, but before 8.2 it was horrible mess. In english it works "fine" but trying to use some other language there are still bugs...

 

[jrswizzle]

Apologies for not reading through all 7 pages of what I'm sure have been thoughtful, polite suggestions of the pros and cons of each system .....

Personally, a big factor that I took into consideration was "What do my friends and family use?" Personally, I could get used to Android though I prefer iOS. I'd be able to adapt to new messaging apps and other alternatives.

But you know who wouldn't? My wife. My mom. My brothers. All the people with whom I communicate most. If I asked for a contact from my Dad, he sends it via iMessage in a format I can't open. If my Mom tries to iMessage me, I won't get it because the cell service in my house is terrible and I need messaging over wifi. If my wife wants to share pictures with me she has to use a service she never uses and isn't used to.

Ultimately, I'm taken in by the whole ecosystem. I'm an Apple guy. The user experience is second to none in my opinion. But what really sealed the deal was the simple fact that I communicate most with iPhone users. And when that is the case, using an iPhone myself just made everything so much easier - iMessage, PhotoStreams, AirDrop, iTunes Match, same formats for files like contact cards etc.

I also don't think there's an Android phone out there that looks as nice as the iPhone, hardware-wise.

I'm also not a big fan of Google - some are going to poo-poo this, but Apple makes their money off of the hardware. Google makes money off services and advertising. I simply trust Apple with my data more than Google - whether that's right or not. It's what I think.

 

[Savor]

This is the first time in three years where I am using Android, iOS, and WP at the same time. Android was my least favorite in early 2012. With so much knowledge I have gained from it just by customizing it to my perfectionist standards, I just don't see myself moving away from it.

iOS and WP weaknesses...

Sideload apps out of the box
No swipe gestures to go back or home or screen off
Can't backup the apps in case the update worsens it
3rd party keyboards are worse compared to Android's
WP app selection generally sucks
No MoboPlayer and QuickPic apps
Can't set a superior 3rd party app as DEFAULT


I like iOS more than WP even though it has the most basic UI with some fancy animations thrown in there that WP started with. The apps selection is just plain better and there is some customization to it when jailbroken. But compared it to Android, iOS feels like a barebones UI and WP has a barebones app store.

Once you use Nova as a default launcher set to FAST, set 0.5x to all animations in Developer's Option, have a junk files cleaner, and Greenify all your apps, Android's lag and stutter goes away. Also CM Browser is just plain better and faster to me as a browser with a lighter RAM footprint compared to IE and Safari. I also like the one-button close all apps.

 

[Harmonious Zen]

Let's see, where to even begin.

Having to rebuy apps, some of which are crappier on android
Lack of syncing between devices
No more messaging and FaceTime with friends and family who own apple stuff

I could go on and on..........

 

[MRU]

Apologies for not reading through all 7 pages of what I'm sure have been thoughtful, polite suggestions of the pros and cons of each system ......

Thanks for the giggle jrswizzle

 

[jrswizzle]

Thanks for the giggle jrswizzle

That's what I'm here for!

 

[zOne31]

Apologies for not reading through all 7 pages of what I'm sure have been thoughtful, polite suggestions of the pros and cons of each system .....

Personally, a big factor that I took into consideration was "What do my friends and family use?" Personally, I could get used to Android though I prefer iOS. I'd be able to adapt to new messaging apps and other alternatives.

But you know who wouldn't? My wife. My mom. My brothers. All the people with whom I communicate most. If I asked for a contact from my Dad, he sends it via iMessage in a format I can't open. If my Mom tries to iMessage me, I won't get it because the cell service in my house is terrible and I need messaging over wifi. If my wife wants to share pictures with me she has to use a service she never uses and isn't used to.

Ultimately, I'm taken in by the whole ecosystem. I'm an Apple guy. The user experience is second to none in my opinion. But what really sealed the deal was the simple fact that I communicate most with iPhone users. And when that is the case, using an iPhone myself just made everything so much easier - iMessage, PhotoStreams, AirDrop, iTunes Match, same formats for files like contact cards etc.

I also don't think there's an Android phone out there that looks as nice as the iPhone, hardware-wise.

I'm also not a big fan of Google - some are going to poo-poo this, but Apple makes their money off of the hardware. Google makes money off services and advertising. I simply trust Apple with my data more than Google - whether that's right or not. It's what I think.

I'm okay with trusting my information with Google. I think whatever information is already out there can be obtained even if I didn't use Google. Maybe I should stop using social media and other stuff like that. Haha.

That's a solid point and something I felt when I had an Android phone and the majority of people I was in contact with had an iPhone. Another case that people have made is that you can still use Google services on an iPhone but you can't do the same vice versa. So, if you're a Google user, get an iPhone for iMessage/all that Apple stuff and Google stuff.

There are many times when I wished I had Android features my iPhone. What I've been really craving lately is the double tap to wake. And I don't even have the larger/newer iPhones. Even being able to delete default Apple apps (I have no need for the Apple Watch app...). It's these little things that make me want to go back to Android but I know that if I leave to go back, I'll have to deal with some of the reasons why I switched to an iPhone in the first place (update delays, ok/poor camera, bad standby battery life).

 

[jrswizzle]

I'm okay with trusting my information with Google. I think whatever information is already out there can be obtained even if I didn't use Google. Maybe I should stop using social media and other stuff like that. Haha.

That's a solid point and something I felt when I had an Android phone and the majority of people I was in contact with had an iPhone. Another case that people have made is that you can still use Google services on an iPhone but you can't do the same vice versa. So, if you're a Google user, get an iPhone for iMessage/all that Apple stuff and Google stuff.

There are many times when I wished I had Android features my iPhone. What I've been really craving lately is the double tap to wake. And I don't even have the larger/newer iPhones. Even being able to delete default Apple apps (I have no need for the Apple Watch app...). It's these little things that make me want to go back to Android but I know that if I leave to go back, I'll have to deal with some of the reasons why I switched to an iPhone in the first place (update delays, ok/poor camera, bad standby battery life).

TouchID helps alleviate the need for double tap to wake for me.

One press of the home button wakes the device AND unlocks it. I have a OnePlus One and DTTW isn't 100% reliable. I've had times where I'm mashing on the display and it simply won't wake up. Even worse on that phone because the side wake button is hard to find without looking - very flush with the side.

 

[Savor]

One of the pros switching to Android is you can backup apps and share most of them via Bluetooth transfer. With both iOS and WP, if the app update sucks, you can't really go back to get the older version. And if you forgot to backup the older apk, just google the older version and sideload the app. I use All In One Toolbox as it is many utility apps rolled into one. It replaced the both excellent App Backup & Restore and ES File Explorer although both are backed up in case I miss them and want to go back using either.

Also mp3 downloader apps is more practical with a file manager. I remember using them for iOS and had to sync it to the computer to basically copy and paste it back to the specific folder I want. I can't simply download a song then have it moved into the Music app. It played separately. Most mp3 downloader apps do come and go. I went back using the mp3 downloader app with the iTunes-like colors after it was sorta useless (or broken) two years ago. "Am I Wrong" by Nico & Vinz is now on loop with my Music Player by Bitsy. Android rules for me because I have so much control and freedom over it compared to the different multi-requirements handling media files with iTunes and iOS.

 

[uid15]

-The slow updates if you don't own a Nexus device
-Bad battery life on the nexus devices and the moto X which are in my opinion some of the really best of android has to offer
- Ios gets apps first, for example android does not have the new facebook app which is infinitely better than the official facebook app(Paper)
-The games catalogue its very poor compared to IOS
-The launcher reloads itself (it drives me crazy) , is it really that hard for google to force the launcher to be always loaded on the device's memory?
-There's still some wonkiness, jank or lag, supposedly the next iteration of lollipop will fix it, but I'm not holding my breath
- The cameras are pretty bad and I think it has to do with the way android itself processes the images, it cannot be that the only devices whose cameras come close to the iphone 6 are the galaxy S 5 and the Note 4
-Nothing remotely close to touch id

That would be it, I love the way lollipop looks, material design and the apps that follow its guidelines are really pretty, notifications are light years ahead of ios, the homescreen customization is a lot better than on ios, the ios homescreen is basically an app drawer :/, the way you can share anything you want without having to wait for lazy developers to implement their share extension, the choice of devices, the wood moto x 2014 is amazing, the HTC One M8 is amazing, the thin bezels, 4k video recording...

I tried to be as impartial as possible, but you asked about the bad stuff so that's what I'm focusing on



Would you care to elaborate which apps, I keep reading that comment, but I don't feel that way myself

The only way to fix lag in Android, is for Schmoogle to completely remove and purge it of ANYTHING Java related, and then re-write the OS entirely, using a compiled language, and since that is highly unlikely to happen (for now), the inherited sluggishness and lag will likely remain.

 

[Oletros]

The only way to fix lag in Android, is for Schmoogle to completely remove and purge it of ANYTHING Java related, and then re-write the OS entirely, using a compiled language, and since that is highly unlikely to happen (for now), the inherited sluggishness and lag will likely remain.

Still with this myth?

Well, what can we expect from someone that says Schmoogle?

 

[AustinIllini]

TouchID helps alleviate the need for double tap to wake for me.

One press of the home button wakes the device AND unlocks it. I have a OnePlus One and DTTW isn't 100% reliable. I've had times where I'm mashing on the display and it simply won't wake up. Even worse on that phone because the side wake button is hard to find without looking - very flush with the side.

Agreed on this. TouchID is so good sometimes I accidentally open the home screen while trying to read lock screen notifications.

----------

Still with this myth?

Well, what can we expect from someone that says Schmoogle?

Hey, he did us a service. We know his opinion isn't worth reading.

I, personally, would only do Nexus devices, but from a coding standpoint, I think you're pretty much in the same boat when it comes to Apple and Google. It's all a matter of taste, particularly if you run a Windows 7 PC at work, a Nexus Phone, and have an Apple Tablet.

 

[uid15]

Still with this myth?

Well, what can we expect from someone that says Schmoogle?

Hey, it's just an opinion. "Schmoogle" was merely a fun term - I don't see anything "wrong" or "evil" with Google, I just like playing with words; don't take it as ridiculous, black and white "Anti Google" nonsense, I am not like that, that's an incredibly judgemental thing to assume, and demonstrates very abrupt, simplistic thinking, and also considering I am a stranger to you, that's alright with me.

Java IS slow and laggy, regardless of what Android protagonists are going to fervently deny. I am not saying Android is BAD (but if I wanted to, I am perfectly entitled to do so, and not in any way in need of defending my views), but I firmly feel the Dalvik/ART/Whatever it is this month, is related to Java, and Java slows things down. Besides, Java is a horrendous language, regardless of all this "But it's not real Java" opinion, it's still a poor choice, and is the reason Android needs multiple GB of RAM and quad core CPUs to function usably, compared to other, far more efficient systems, and was only chosen to make the entry point to Android coding VERY easy, since there are many, many experienced Java programmers already out there, so they could dive right in, without having to re-learn a whole new regime.


You are welcome not to agree, and I welcome you not to care about my opinions if you don't want to - life goes on - I am not going to get hung up on a stranger's reply, with all respect.

 

[Oletros]

Hey, it's just an opinion. "Schmoogle" was merely a fun term - I don't see anything "wrong" or "evil" with Google, I just like playing with words; don't take it as ridiculous, black and white "Anti Google" nonsense, I am not like that, that's an incredibly judgemental thing to assume, and demonstrates very abrupt, simplistic thinking, and also considering I am a stranger to you, that's alright with me.

Java IS slow and laggy, regardless of what Android protagonists are going to fervently deny. I am not saying Android is BAD (but if I wanted to, I am perfectly entitled to do so, and not in any way in need of defending my views), but I firmly feel the Dalvik/ART/Whatever it is this month, is related to Java, and Java slows things down. Besides, Java is a horrendous language, regardless of all this "But it's not real Java" opinion, it's still a poor choice, and is the reason Android needs multiple GB of RAM and quad core CPUs to function usably, compared to other, far more efficient systems, and was only chosen to make the entry point to Android coding VERY easy, since there are many, many experienced Java programmers already out there, so they could dive right in, without having to re-learn a whole new regime.


You are welcome not to agree, and I welcome you not to care about my opinions if you don't want to - life goes on - I am not going to get hung up
on some random internet person's reply, with all respect.

The more you post the more you show your ignorance about languages, virtual machines and how the smartphones work.

But yes, you're entitled to your opinions

 

[uid15]

The more you post the more you show your ignorance about languages, virtual machines and how the smartphones work.

But yes, you're entitled to your opinions

Erm, yes, obviously I do... I forgot you know everything about me... right.

Have a nice weekend; there's more to life, really.

 

[Oletros]

Erm, yes, obviously I do... I forgot you know everything about me... right.

Oh, no, I know onloy what you write and it shows what you know abiut a thing an in this especific case is very little

Have a nice weekend; there's more to life, really.

Yes there is, and there is a lot more than you

 

[Dolorian]

...and is the reason Android needs multiple GB of RAM and quad core CPUs to function usably, compared to other, far more efficient systems..

Not to get into a debate over Java itself but if I am getting those multiple GB of RAM and quad core CPUs at a reasonable price and the Android user experience is smooth (and it is on my Nexus 5 running Lollipop), then what do I care, really?

I've been hearing many complains about the iPhone 6 (which only has 1GB of RAM) and iOS 8 not being so smooth and stuttering every now and then as well as things like Safari tabs reloading a lot. Perhaps it needs it's multiple GB of RAM as well?