Include Android into Apple ecosystem

[dasx]

Hey there. I've been given an Android at work (first Android device I'll ever use). I'd like to somehow include it into my current Apple ecosystem.

Is there a way to keep the Android device synced with my stuff? I'll list everything I need/want/would like to sync. In blue what I think I have figured out how to sync, in red what I haven't. Please correct any "blues" if I'm wrong.

• Calendar: Currently using Apple's. Any way?
• Reminders: Same as above.
• Contacts: Same as above.
• Notes: Same as above.
• Mail: Two GMails (I'll just use Google's app) + 1 @me.com.
• Photos and Videos from camera roll: Mainly I'd like to have anything I take with the Android's camera in my computer. Would dropbox help here?
• Instant Messages: I wanna keep synced the same number. AFAIK only Telegram can do such a thing, so I'll just install that one.

Thanks!

 

[VolceOntra]

You can generally have calendar, notes, and contact sync to a gmail or yahoo account. Dropbox does have an auto upload feature so that would work

 

[dasx]

You can generally have calendar, notes, and contact sync to a gmail or yahoo account.

Would that interfere in any way with my iCloud sync?

 

[VolceOntra]

Would that interfere in any way with my iCloud sync?

If you have stuff in your gmail account that isn't on iCloud, I'd imagine they would get added.

 

[dasx]

If you have stuff in your gmail account that isn't on iCloud, I'd imagine they would get added.

I see. Will check it out, thanks!

 

[lordofthereef]

You will need to migrate everything to a gmail account. But I always tell people to do this anyway, because it basically makes you ready for any platform out there. Want to go blackberry? great. Google supports that. Windows Phone? Not a problem. Stick with Apple? No sweat. All you have to do is add the gmail account that each of those things is associated with to your smartphone and you are up and running.


The only thing I use iCloud login for is a secondary email address (well outside of apps and the like). It just makes more sense for me.

 

[dasx]

You will need to migrate everything to a gmail account. But I always tell people to do this anyway, because it basically makes you ready for any platform out there. Want to go blackberry? great. Google supports that. Windows Phone? Not a problem. Stick with Apple? No sweat. All you have to do is add the gmail account that each of those things is associated with to your smartphone and you are up and running.


The only thing I use iCloud login for is a secondary email address (well outside of apps and the like). It just makes more sense for me.

What about Mac? Can it sync with google?

Found this article: http://android.appstorm.net/how-to/...-sync-part1-data-email-contacts-and-calendar/

 

[lordofthereef]

What about Mac? Can it sync with google?

Found this article: http://android.appstorm.net/how-to/...-sync-part1-data-email-contacts-and-calendar/

Yes. You can sync everything mentioned above (notes reminders calendar mail) using google on your Mac.

It's a little less see less though in setup (in that you don't just add your google account once and select what you want synced - this has to do with how osx accounts are handled).

 

[alphaod]

Just curious, why don't you want to keep your personal and work things separate?

 

[ssspinball]

You will need to migrate everything to a gmail account. But I always tell people to do this anyway, because it basically makes you ready for any platform out there.

Of course you can't do that without also agreeing to let Google sell your "anonymized" data to advertisers. That doesn't bother some people at all, but it's not truthful to leave that part out.

I'm actually looking to move off gmail to my own hosted domain + FastMail. Truly independent email, and no loss of privacy.

 

[lordofthereef]

Of course you can't do that without also agreeing to let Google sell your "anonymized" data to advertisers. That doesn't bother some people at all, but it's not truthful to leave that part out.

I'm actually looking to move off gmail to my own hosted domain + FastMail. Truly independent email, and no loss of privacy.

Certainly. But I am in no way convinced that other companies don't do the same thing. Here is an example of a RECENT lawsuit against Apple for this very thing.

I don't feel it is my job to point out every possible ramification of every online decision anyone makes. Google is a known entity. I gave the poster an option that would fit his/her needs, in terms of linking the Android device to the Apple device. It is pretty easy to look up a company's business model and see if their products are worth using.

Further, the OP is presumably already using an Android device, thus sort of making this point completely moot.

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Just curious, why don't you want to keep your personal and work things separate?

I would guess that it is a matter of convenience. I have a work device and a personal device, but I don't prefer to have both on hand at all times. It's nice to be able to access these accounts on both devices.

 

[dasx]

Just curious, why don't you want to keep your personal and work things separate?

As lordofthereef says, it's all about ease of use. I don't wanna be carrying two phones all day. We had blackberrys before but that didn't really "fill" me so I kept taking my iPhone with me and stuck with the BB just for calls.

Now it's different with an Android, so no actual need to carry my 5S with me too. So having access to my contacts, chats, mail and other stuff is pretty useful.

I would guess that it is a matter of convenience. I have a work device and a personal device, but I don't prefer to have both on hand at all times. It's nice to be able to access these accounts on both devices.

 

[lordofthereef]

So having access to my contacts, chats, mail and other stuff is pretty useful.

If you are referring to texts here, I believe that is one area that you wouldn't have access to back and forth. I know there are options, such as bitesms (iOS requires jailbreak for that), though I am unsure of syncing capabilities.

 

[dasx]

If you are referring to texts here, I believe that is one area that you wouldn't have access to back and forth. I know there are options, such as bitesms (iOS requires jailbreak for that), though I am unsure of syncing capabilities.

Nah, I meant messages, in general. Only option is Telegram. It's like whatsapp, only better. You can install it in multiple cell phones and have it synced with the same number. It's awesome.

I just tried the method on the link I posted to sync contacts. Awesome!! Works great. It even syncs contacts photos and custom labels for numbers!

 

[lordofthereef]

Nah, I meant messages, in general. Only option is Telegram. It's like whatsapp, only better. You can install it in multiple cell phones and have it synced with the same number. It's awesome.

I just tried the method on the link I posted to sync contacts. Awesome!! Works great. It even syncs contacts photos and custom labels for numbers!

Now that you mention this... you could use google voice. You would have to install the app, but you can actual sync texts (sent via that number) between devices. Stupid me for not thinking of it.

I don't use it for much, except for when I want to put a phone number in a public place.

 

[sixrom]

You will need to migrate everything to a gmail account. But I always tell people to do this anyway, because it basically makes you ready for any platform out there. Want to go blackberry? great. Google supports that. Windows Phone? Not a problem. Stick with Apple? No sweat. All you have to do is add the gmail account that each of those things is associated with to your smartphone and you are up and running.

You've given excellent advice!

I do the same and enjoy excellent cross platform syncing and performance. Using Android and iOS has never been easier. If not for Google, the Apple experience in the mobile space would really suffer. Google "gets" cloud services, Apple simply doesn't.

 

[jrswizzle]

Nah, I meant messages, in general. Only option is Telegram. It's like whatsapp, only better. You can install it in multiple cell phones and have it synced with the same number. It's awesome.

I just tried the method on the link I posted to sync contacts. Awesome!! Works great. It even syncs contacts photos and custom labels for numbers!

You really don't have to completely migrate to gmail.....this is how I did it:

-Contacts: CardDavSync on the Play Store.
-Calendars: CalDavSync on the Play Store.
-Photos: Auto upload to Dropbox (both devices).
-Music: Google Play Music Manager on Mac - set it to pull from iTunes.
-Email: iOS Mail is vastly superior IMO, but most mail apps will allow you to throw your @me.com address in it.
-Notes: I used an app from the Play Store that synced with my iCloud notes. I'm sure there's one that does reminders as well.

I really had no problem integrating my Android devices into my almost all Apple device lineup. And you can do so without giving everything to Google.

 

[Shuri]

Nah, I meant messages, in general. Only option is Telegram. It's like whatsapp, only better. You can install it in multiple cell phones and have it synced with the same number. It's awesome.

I just tried the method on the link I posted to sync contacts. Awesome!! Works great. It even syncs contacts photos and custom labels for numbers!

Another option would be Google hangouts. I migrated with a couple of friends with whom I used to be in a WhatsApp chat group, so we can continue the conversation we had on our phones to the Computer (Mac in my case) and vice versa. Works great with the Chrome plugin (though Chrome has to run all the time in the background, but I don't even notice it).

 

[dasx]

Now that you mention this... you could use google voice. You would have to install the app, but you can actual sync texts (sent via that number) between devices. Stupid me for not thinking of it.

I don't use it for much, except for when I want to put a phone number in a public place.

Not really. Google voice has way less functionalities in Spain that it does in the US.

You really don't have to completely migrate to gmail.....this is how I did it:

-Contacts: CardDavSync on the Play Store.
-Calendars: CalDavSync on the Play Store.
-Photos: Auto upload to Dropbox (both devices).
-Music: Google Play Music Manager on Mac - set it to pull from iTunes.
-Email: iOS Mail is vastly superior IMO, but most mail apps will allow you to throw your @me.com address in it.
-Notes: I used an app from the Play Store that synced with my iCloud notes. I'm sure there's one that does reminders as well.

I really had no problem integrating my Android devices into my almost all Apple device lineup. And you can do so without giving everything to Google.

Yup. That's the way I went. Read it in the article I posted. They cover all the points but notes. Thanks for that!

 

[lordofthereef]

Not really. Google voice has way less functionalities in Spain that it does in the US.



Yup. That's the way I went. Read it in the article I posted. They cover all the points but notes. Thanks for that!

I didn;t realize you were in Spain. I often fail to check user locations.

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I forgot to mention, there are some tricks, if you use a gmail address, to still get push through iOS mail. It requires some forwarding work, but it it is pretty seamless. Your mails will essentially come to your device from the @icloud you forward to but sent mail still sends from @gmail. I absolutely love it.