Phones How hard is it moving from iOS to Android for a technophobe?

[GKDAIR]

My mother.

No matter what device it is, it never seems to work properly for her. Every single thing she has ever owned, tablet, phone, computer, gives her strange errors that I have never seen in my life and have no clue on how to help her.

She's had an iphone since they first came out, and me and her both have macs.

We both think the galaxies look fantastic. The stuff you can do is so cool.

She's really nervous though because all she knows is Apple. She's never had an android device before.

I never have either, well I did own an android phone, but the phone was horrible. Not the operating system, but the phone was just horrible. I'm pretty comfortable working with both ios and android, so I have no worries about making the switch, but I'm worried about my mom.

She's not a technical person at all. How easy would it be to transfer her music and contacts over? How confusing would it be for her to learn the operating system and all of it's neat features? She's pretty familiar with the ios so it's not like she's never owned a smart phone before.

Now, we are both getting Kindle Fires in a few weeks, because she's not wanting to pay 500 dollars for an ipad. I told her that the Fire is running android, though it's a heavily modified version of it, so hopefully that will get her use to the general platform and how it works.

 

[Stuntman06]

If your mother hates change and is already comfortable with iOS, she will hate the fact that there are some subtle and not so subtle differences between iOS and Android. Most likely, you should set it up for her and just make sure the home screen only has stuff that she would use on a regular basis. Hide everything else by either removing it from the home screen or into a folder. I would ensure there is only one home screen if possible. She may get confused if she accidentally swiped to a different home screen.

 

[GKDAIR]

If your mother hates change and is already comfortable with iOS, she will hate the fact that there are some subtle and not so subtle differences between iOS and Android. Most likely, you should set it up for her and just make sure the home screen only has stuff that she would use on a regular basis. Hide everything else by either removing it from the home screen or into a folder. I would ensure there is only one home screen if possible. She may get confused if she accidentally swiped to a different home screen.

Nah she wouldn't get confused, like I said she's familiar with how IOS works. And as long I would show her stuff she would know how it works, she's more of a hands on leaner.

I think really the only things that would really confuse her would be how to transfer music and contacts over. It's not so much that she hates change, she just likes being familiar with how things work, so moving over to a new operating system might confuse her at first.

 

[chagla]

i would say give her a windows phone. Htc 8X or Nokia Lumia's are very nice and fast.

 

[Dontazemebro]

The galaxy S4 sounds like the perfect phone since she wants the bigger screen. The plus about the S4 is that it has an 'easy launcher' which simplifies the process for you.

 

[LIVEFRMNYC]

Bought my mother a Note 2 last X-mas. She's doing just fine. I just had to set a couple things up for her at first, ever since then she never needed my help.

 

[kevinof]

My father is 83 and he wouldn't give up his Galaxy S2 for anything. Loves it and is always finding out new things about it which he loves.

 

[RightMACatU]

Music management and transfer on Androids require allot more work than iTunes-to-iPhone and is not as nice.

 

[TheRealCBONE]

Music management and transfer on Androids require allot more work than iTunes-to-iPhone and is not as nice.

In my experience, the drag+drop and auto wifi sync of android was a lot easier than dealing with the bloated, janky mess of stupid iTunes.

 

[Dontazemebro]

Music management and transfer on Androids require allot more work than iTunes-to-iPhone and is not as nice.

Maybe on a Mac (wouldn't know don't own 1) but it's as easy as plug n play, then drag n drop on a Windows based comp. Doesn't get much easier than that.

 

[RightMACatU]

In my experience, the drag+drop and auto wifi sync of android was a lot easier than dealing with the bloated, janky mess of stupid iTunes.

Drag+Drop in Windows? I'm interested in more details on how you do this.

I use EasyPhoneSync to transfer iTunes Playlists to S4 but it's hit and miss, very slow, and album covers and music genre often gets messed up.

 

[Dontazemebro]

Drag+Drop in Windows? I'm interested in more details on how you do this.

I use EasyPhoneSync to transfer iTunes Playlists to S4 but it's hit and miss, very slow, and album covers and music genre often gets messed up.

Connect your device via usb if it doesn't already have the drivers it will download them (or you can download them via Kies), then your PC will recognize your phone as a mass storage drive. Drag and drop whichever files you want. Voilà

 

[RightMACatU]

Connect your device via usb if it doesn't already have the drivers it will download them (or you can download them via Kies), then your PC will recognize your phone as a mass storage drive. Drag and drop whichever files you want. Voilà

Cool...
But you loose Playlist capabilities?

 

[Dontazemebro]

Cool...
But you loose Playlist capabilities?

Once your music is already on your device you can use whatever Playlists syncing app you want. There are a plethora available in the Play store.

Stop thinking the apple way of thinking.

 

[cualexander]

Once your music is already on your device you can use whatever Playlists syncing app you want. There are a plethora available in the Play store.

Stop thinking the apple way of thinking.

Exactly! Just try out thousands of different programs and find one that sorta kinda works almost as well as iTunes did. That's the Android way!

 

[MRU]

But ....

Is there any compelling reason why she has to move to android ?

If she has a device she's comfortable with and doing what she wants it to do - is there any genuine desire for change on her part ?

 

[jrswizzle]

I think with a little patience, she'll be able to have both the larger screen size AND iOS in the same device......

But if it works for you/her, then stick with it. If it doesn't, then move on. MRU has it right - unless there's a truly compelling reason to switch, I wouldn't bother.

If you do look at new phones though, I'd suggest an HTC One - the screen is breathtaking, the sound is unbelievable and its quite structured for an Android phone - the most "iOS-like" Android out there with Sense 5.

I couldn't be happier with mine.

As for some of the other posts, I still have to laugh when people talk about how awful iTunes is and how wonderful it is to be able to plug your phone into a computer and drag-and-drop files.....

Welcome to 2013, I haven't plugged a phone in to sync (save to try out the new iOS 7 beta on my iPhone) in years......all my music is on iTunes match and is synced across to my HTC One via Play Music. Playlists and all.

Get with the times and stop living in 2008! It's hilarious how "advanced" Android users are supposed to be and yet they keep harping on the "iTunes is crap, drag-and-drop rules!" thing....

 

[metzy25]

I'm looking to try as4 before the new iPhone 5 comes out but I'm really having a hard time switch mainly because of iMessage a lot of my friends and family have iPhones, does anyone know of this working? http://imessageonandroid.com/

 

[cualexander]

I'm looking to try as4 before the new iPhone 5 comes out but I'm really having a hard time switch mainly because of iMessage a lot of my friends and family have iPhones, does anyone know of this working? http://imessageonandroid.com/

I was wondering the same thing actually. The website makes it look like it works for real, but it seems like I would find some other site talking about it.

----------

It looks to be a scam. I clicked to download and it wants me to respond to an "offer" first.

 

[LIVEFRMNYC]

Exactly! Just try out thousands of different programs and find one that sorta kinda works almost as well as iTunes did. That's the Android way!

Your assuming iTunes works well for everyone.

Your assuming everyone enjoys their device only being able to sync with one account or desktop.

Your assuming everyone enjoys the fact that iTunes is very slow vs other ways of syncing.

Your assuming everyone who has a lower end or even a high end desktop enjoys that iTunes is heavy.

 

[cualexander]

Your assuming iTunes works well for everyone.

Your assuming everyone enjoys their device only being able to sync with one account or desktop.

Your assuming everyone enjoys the fact that iTunes is very slow vs other ways of syncing.

Your assuming everyone who has a lower end or even a high end desktop enjoys that iTunes is heavy.

I assume most people know the difference between Your and You're these days, but I'm often wrong about that as well apparently.

 

[LIVEFRMNYC]

I assume most people know the difference between Your and You're these days, but I'm often wrong about that as well apparently.

Thanks for the tip, it changed my whole outlook on iTunes.

 

[mib1800]

As for some of the other posts, I still have to laugh when people talk about how awful iTunes is and how wonderful it is to be able to plug your phone into a computer and drag-and-drop files.....

Welcome to 2013, I haven't plugged a phone in to sync (save to try out the new iOS 7 beta on my iPhone) in years......all my music is on iTunes match and is synced across to my HTC One via Play Music. Playlists and all.

Get with the times and stop living in 2008! It's hilarious how "advanced" Android users are supposed to be and yet they keep harping on the "iTunes is crap, drag-and-drop rules!" thing....

The problem with your assertion is that cloud sync is still SLOW. I drag-drop something like 10-15Gb music/videos into phone within 10min. Use cloud takes hours (and not to mention you have to pay for extra storage). Use itunes with cable also takes a while (with all the unnecessary conversion).

 

[jrswizzle]

The problem with your assertion is that cloud sync is still SLOW. I drag-drop something like 10-15Gb music/videos into phone within 10min. Use cloud takes hours (and not to mention you have to pay for extra storage). Use itunes with cable also takes a while (with all the unnecessary conversion).

I'm saying, once its all up there its easy.

Are you seriously syncing 10-15 GB of NEW music on a regular basis?

You aren't in the majority with that my friend.

 

[sentinelsx]

Music management and transfer on Androids require allot more work than iTunes-to-iPhone and is not as nice.

Music management without using iTunes is one of the top reasons why i jailbreak lol.

Drag and drop baby.

----------

I think with a little patience, she'll be able to have both the larger screen size AND iOS in the same device......

But if it works for you/her, then stick with it. If it doesn't, then move on. MRU has it right - unless there's a truly compelling reason to switch, I wouldn't bother.

If you do look at new phones though, I'd suggest an HTC One - the screen is breathtaking, the sound is unbelievable and its quite structured for an Android phone - the most "iOS-like" Android out there with Sense 5.

I couldn't be happier with mine.

As for some of the other posts, I still have to laugh when people talk about how awful iTunes is and how wonderful it is to be able to plug your phone into a computer and drag-and-drop files.....

Welcome to 2013, I haven't plugged a phone in to sync (save to try out the new iOS 7 beta on my iPhone) in years......all my music is on iTunes match and is synced across to my HTC One via Play Music. Playlists and all.

Get with the times and stop living in 2008! It's hilarious how "advanced" Android users are supposed to be and yet they keep harping on the "iTunes is crap, drag-and-drop rules!" thing....

Drag and drop is the simplest means to accomplish the task. Select file, "send to device xx" and done.

In 2013, the year by which technology should make things easier, if i still have to pay Apple $25 a year for my music, then upload that huge library to iTunes match costing both time and effort, then access it off the cloud, then load that crappy iTunes port for windows on my PC to access it there, then i think i am better off with a 2008 technology.

In fact i do drag and drop on my iPhone now. Because i refuse to lock myself into Apple's "ecosystem". Too bad they are clamping even harder on that so windows phone or android or BB are the only salvation in the future (guess MS also went back to 2008 by allowing drag and drop in WP8...lol)