Discussion: switched to Android, hated it, switched back

[macness]

Ive owned 3 generations of iphones, an ipad mini, a macbook, and an apple tv. I started to get bored of ios and the only android phone that caught my eye was the note 2. So far ive been using it for 5 days and though I LOVE the phone I absolutely HATE the OS. It does not "Just Work". I miss icloud and imessage and the fluidity and the apps and the integration and tge ecosystem and much more. Anyone else have the same experience?

 

[rubsal70]

Nope....not me.. I love my note 2. I love the fact I can change my theme on my phone. I love apple products but I got tired of them. I have had every iphone, but i really liked the note 2. My son loves the huge screen. I like the big screen. I love my note 2. I miss the iphone cause i have macbook pro, imac, and Ipad. I installed drop box on both my computers and its a charm.

 

[Sideonecincy]

To Each His Own.

I love my android. Everyone has different experiences with products. I use what I enjoy and I'm rarely concerned with what products others love or hate.

 

[617aircav]

Ive owned 3 generations of iphones, an ipad mini, a macbook, and an apple tv. I started to get bored of ios and the only android phone that caught my eye was the note 2. So far ive been using it for 5 days and though I LOVE the phone I absolutely HATE the OS. It does not "Just Work". I miss icloud and imessage and the fluidity and the apps and the integration and tge ecosystem and much more. Anyone else have the same experience?

Works for me. It's fluid and apps are well integrated for me. To each his own.

 

[ZombiePete]

I've gone back and forth a few times, but ultimately I always come back to iOS. Both operating systems are pretty on-par with each other in a lot of ways, and each has advantages and disadvantages compared to the other. In the end it really is about user preference more than anything else.

 

[maxosx]

Ive owned 3 generations of iphones, an ipad mini, a macbook, and an apple tv. I started to get bored of ios and the only android phone that caught my eye was the note 2. So far ive been using it for 5 days and though I LOVE the phone I absolutely HATE the OS. It does not "Just Work". I miss icloud and imessage and the fluidity and the apps and the integration and tge ecosystem and much more. Anyone else have the same experience?

"Discussion" who are you kidding?

You are a self proclaimed hater that cheated yourself out of an great experience with Android.

All because you failed to take a proper amount of time to be open minded and learn how Android the OS works.

I use and enjoy both iOS and Android. By every measure my Jelly Bean equipped Galaxy Note II and Nexus 4, are very fast, fluid, smooth and enjoyable.

In addition I find iOS nice and not boring or "stale" as some claim.

That said they are two very different Mobile Operating Systems. Far too many iPhone users pickup an Android phone, have no clue, expect it to be like Apple and immediately do what you've done.

I'll continue to enjoy both and stay on the leading edge of each platform.

 

[xraydoc]

Three main things (and a few minor ones) are keeping me on iOS, despite the fact I also own a Samsung Galaxy S3 (rooted, SmoothROM Jelly Bean 4.2 RC2).

1) one of my cars has an iPod/iPhone 30-pin connector (works with the 30-pin to Lightning adapter for my iPhone 5) but does NOT have an aux. 3.5mm audio input, so I can't use it with anything else but an Apple device.

2) wife and kids use iPhones, too, and the Find My Friends app comes in so, so handy.

3) this one is most serious and has no good work-around presently. My workplace uses iPhones has the preferred device for connecting to the work email system. iOS devices are permitted to access the Outlook servers natively, giving full access to documents attached to email, iOS access to the Outlook calendar, etc. On Android and Windows Mobile, you are required to use and app called Good for Enterprise. Native access to the Outlook server via the native email app is not permitted. This POS is so locked down that I can do nothing with attached files but view them using the app's crappy built-in viewer. If I want to save/edit, I have to forward them to another email address outside the work system - the app (presumably set by our IT) forbids saving attachments or opening them in any another app. And we're also forbidden to attach documents from other apps on Android/Windows via the Good app. On iOS, I can attach any document from any app that allows me to do so (GoodReader, Adobe CreatePDF, iWork suite, etc.). This is completely restricted on Android/Win Mobile thanks to the Good app. Similarly, calendar access is trapped within Good, but fully accessible via the iOS native calendar.

I could probably work around #1 and 2 (and the other minor ones) above, but #3 is the deal breaker. It makes it nearly impossible to get any substantial work done on-the-go with the restrictions imposed on Android and WinMobile. And as far as I know, there are no plans to open native client access on Android or Win Mobile (and actually the Good for Enterprise app doesn't work on Win Mobile 8, only 7.x).

Yes, the IT department as work is very, very restrictive in terms of security on the work network.

 

[TacticalDesire]

Each operating system integrates within their ecosystem. People get android phones and expect them to work like iPhones. It doesn't work like that. Android integrates well with google services, iOS integrates well with iCloud and so on. You don't buy a camero and expect it to handle like a mustang. Similar cars that cater to similar markets but two completely different beasts under the hood.

 

[sentinelsx]

It is obvious ios clicks more with you. Stay with it and enjoy it.

 

[F123D]

I switched from the iPhone to the Note II and am really enjoying it. The OS is more versatile and Google Sync has covered all my iCloud needs and more. There are plenty of apps that you can install to tweak and customize your device to make it more functional and fun to use without having to jailbreak/root.

I can see someone being disappointed if they purchase an Android device hoping it'll work like Apple device.

 

[MRU]

But what android phone did you try? Different manufacturers hardware and skins can make so much difference to the user experience on Android.

Some prefer stock (nexus), some Touchwiz (Samsung), sense (HTC), timelapse (or whatever Sony call it)...

Then there is such a vast array of android hardware too which can affect user experience outside of software...

Android is a minefield when it comes to one users experience over another user, compared to iOS where user experience and hardware is generally more common due to locked down hardware, and software.

 

[jrodsep]

I bought a Galaxy Nexus, used it for about 7 - 8 months and I loved it. But, by that time the ip5 was announced and I was smitten by it. After 6 months I can't stand the blandness (to me of iOS) if 7.0 doesn't give us more of the same I will be back with android as soon as I can.

 

[mattopotamus]

I have tried every single flagship android and nexus line currently on the market. There is something refreshing about using something different for a little while. In the end, as a phone, IOS works best for me. I don't realize how much I miss it until I get my hands back on an iphone. The quality and functionality within the apps is great. I could easily use any of the newer samsung phones and be perfectly happy, but if I had my choice, it is IOS.

 

[onthecouchagain]

I bought a Galaxy Nexus, used it for about 7 - 8 months and I loved it. But, by that time the ip5 was announced and I was smitten by it. After 6 months I can't stand the blandness (to me of iOS) if 7.0 doesn't give us more of the same I will be back with android as soon as I can.

You mean if 7.0 doesn't give something different?


I wouldn't hold my breath for iOS 7 to bring the major changes we all want. Cook himself has stated that the changes Jony Ive will implement are more to do with aesthetics than a true rehaul of the OS. Think less skeumorphism, and more Ive-ness.

I'd love to be wrong come Apple's keynote, but I wouldn't hope too much.

 

[Drunken Master]

I bought a Nexus 7 and went screaming back to iOS.

I know that feel bro.

 

[jrodsep]

You mean if 7.0 doesn't give something different?


I wouldn't hold my breath for iOS 7 to bring the major changes we all want. Cook himself has stated that the changes Jony Ive will implement are more to do with aesthetics than a true rehaul of the OS. Think less skeumorphism, and more Ive-ness.

I'd love to be wrong come Apple's keynote, but I wouldn't hope too much.

Yeah that's what I meant. Thanks for the correction.

One thing that is making me mad at Apple is their overall smugness. They need to revolutionize again, not play catch up (Yes I think the iPhone is playing catch up to Android) or they might end up like RIM.

 

[Hail Caesar]

I used Android and Blackberry because Verizon didnt carry the iPhone at the time. Once they did, I got the iPhone 4 and never looked back. I am now on the iPhone 5 and will continue to use iOS. Everything else in my life was an Apple product before the iPhone came to VZW, now I have the whole ecosystem tied in one big happy family.

 

[jrswizzle]

Yeah that's what I meant. Thanks for the correction.

One thing that is making me mad at Apple is their overall smugness. They need to revolutionize again, not play catch up (Yes I think the iPhone is playing catch up to Android) or they might end up like RIM.

Lol....*sigh*

Curse Apple for not revolutionizing an industry every 3-5 years.

 

[onthecouchagain]

All I want from Apple are options.

Screen size options. Options to make other apps default (keyboard, especially).

That's all I want from Apple. They offer different sizes in every other line up they have, and they offer software options in their OSX.

Why is the iPhone (specifically the iPhone, not talking about iOS) the only exception?

 

[sentinelsx]

Yeah that's what I meant. Thanks for the correction.

One thing that is making me mad at Apple is their overall smugness. They need to revolutionize again, not play catch up (Yes I think the iPhone is playing catch up to Android) or they might end up like RIM.

Heh, I don't care if they don't revolutionize, just give me a 4.5 inch iPhone along with ios that mimics OS X and is way more flexible than its current rigid state.

Otherwise, the options are better. Apart from the atrocious battery, can't find any fault with the OS on my nexus. It does bother me though that IT departments aren't that nice towards androids, may be someone (Samsung? With their SAFE) can get on that too.

 

[kiltedthrower]

I don't understand the not just works comment. What didn't work? Out of the box my Note 2 was able to call, text, email, download apps, etc just like my other Android based phones and BB phones. They all worked just fine.

 

[batting1000]

I had the same experience as the OP. I wasn't really bored, I just thought I'd like the Note 2 better. I like all the apps on iOS better as well as the smoothness of the iPhone and the camera quality. I've used 3 Android phones prior to the iPhone (the GS2, Evo, and Nexus S).

 

[cuzo]

All I want from Apple are options.

Screen size options. Options to make other apps default (keyboard, especially).

That's all I want from Apple. They offer different sizes in every other line up they have, and they offer software options in their OSX.

Why is the iPhone (specifically the iPhone, not talking about iOS) the only exception?

Totally agree, I think the ( is too small but I know if I switch to android ill miss the apps and ease of use.

 

[macrem]

While I'm enjoying Android on my Nexus 7, overall I have to agree with OP: if I had to choose one I'd pick iOS. It gets straight to the point very smoothly, efficiently & elegantly. A "just doesn't work" example I recently experienced on Android was connecting to my work's Exchange server. The mail application did not discover the server properly and there were strange security requirements like indicating it would have to disable my camera to complete the Exchange account setup. No such hitches with iOS Mail, which is an outstanding mail client!

 

[ReanimationN]

Ive owned 3 generations of iphones, an ipad mini, a macbook, and an apple tv. I started to get bored of ios and the only android phone that caught my eye was the note 2. So far ive been using it for 5 days and though I LOVE the phone I absolutely HATE the OS. It does not "Just Work". I miss icloud and imessage and the fluidity and the apps and the integration and tge ecosystem and much more. Anyone else have the same experience?

I didn't like it either.

I bought a Nexus 7 and went screaming back to iOS.

I know that feel bro.

This sums up my experience. I bought a Nexus 7 to try Android and ended up hating it. I thought the hardware was pretty good- it was very nice for the price. The OS was a major, major disappointment though. I love Google's services and use them on everything, noting that I thought Android would be perfect for me- I couldn't handle the difference in touch response and the general choppiness that plagued the N7 though, along with the poor app selection (mainly in terms of localised Australian content).