Where Google failed at was the art of subtlety. They should have implemented it in the messages app that the majority of people are already using. Hangouts acts and feels more like a 3rd party app vs a feature ingrained into the Android. Why couldn't Google just implement user's Google+ accounts into the Messenger app, and keep it simple? Instead they created the cluster $@#! Hangouts, that wants to become a hub for everything Google.
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Is Android in disadvantage against iOS and Windows Phone 10?
- Thread starter Sensamic
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Where Google failed at was the art of subtlety. They should have implemented it in the messages app that the majority of people are already using. Hangouts acts and feels more like a 3rd party app vs a feature ingrained into the Android. Why couldn't Google just implement user's Google+ accounts into the Messenger app, and keep it simple? Instead they created the cluster $@#! Hangouts, that wants to become a hub for everything Google.
You're not wrong. Google has been way too heavy at trying to shove Google+ in users faces.
Hangouts is a disaster no matter how you slice it. From stupid branding to confusion regarding applications, Google can't fix it fast enough.
Not sure I need the same ecosystem thing. I can live with or without it.
However, I am really interested in the 3d hologram tech coming with windows 10. If they can get the head gear streamlined, that would be an awesome tool for business and fun.
the mighty text app has been around long before apple had handoff. it does pretty much the same thing only it works on every single platform. even on macs. wish apple would make something with bit more synergy openess is a good thing.
Quite a few apps work friendly with multiple OS's these days. For example, Microsoft's OneDrive works on Android, iOS, and Macs in addition to Windows and Window phones. It also can be set to automatically upload anything, files, pictures, videos, etc. That's a plus over iCloud which doesn't do videos and a plus over Google+, which has a stupid requirement that if you delete a video or photo off your phone it also deletes it off Google+. Google is supposed to fix that in an upcoming version of Android and move the auto backup feature to Google Drive, but until they do, it's a negative. Plus, not every phone or tablet you can buy right now will be upgraded to whatever that future version of Android ends up being.
I hated Microsoft for 20+ years but OneDrive is very refreshing. OneNote looks interesting too but I haven't used it.
Chrome, the browser, also has quite a few apps that can work with it, regardless of which OS it's on. For example, Motorola makes a plugin that allows texting from Moto phones right in Chrome, just like OS X does with iPhones in Messenger starting with Mavericks.
I haven't looked at Windows 10 at all. So many years of horrible Windows experiences, I'm not sure if I could use Windows as a daily driver.
I have Ubuntu on several media PC's, it's become a very nice basic OS but won't sync everything and few, if any, apps are available for it that work with iOS/Android/Windows/Mac.
I had a Chromebook for a while. Those are good options only for casual users, which in reality is probably the majority of people. But for anyone who needs to do anything outside of a browser or Google compatible apps, it's not the right fit.
So you're really stuck with Mac vs. Windows. If you use Chrome as your browser you get some flexibility regardless of which OS your phone is.
I hated Microsoft for 20+ years but OneDrive is very refreshing. OneNote looks interesting too but I haven't used it.
Chrome, the browser, also has quite a few apps that can work with it, regardless of which OS it's on. For example, Motorola makes a plugin that allows texting from Moto phones right in Chrome, just like OS X does with iPhones in Messenger starting with Mavericks.
I haven't looked at Windows 10 at all. So many years of horrible Windows experiences, I'm not sure if I could use Windows as a daily driver.
I have Ubuntu on several media PC's, it's become a very nice basic OS but won't sync everything and few, if any, apps are available for it that work with iOS/Android/Windows/Mac.
I had a Chromebook for a while. Those are good options only for casual users, which in reality is probably the majority of people. But for anyone who needs to do anything outside of a browser or Google compatible apps, it's not the right fit.
So you're really stuck with Mac vs. Windows. If you use Chrome as your browser you get some flexibility regardless of which OS your phone is.
Not sure about everyone else but I'm signed up to waaaaay too many cloud services, messengers, social networks and emails. If it's got a "box", "cloud" or "drive" in the title, I've probably got some files floating around in there. The result is multiple duplicate mp3s, docs and photos across all my devices, a messy status bar and slow wifi due to files syncing constantly all over the place.
All a bit of a mess. One day I'll sit down and sort it out - and this is predominantly Apple although I've just bought a Nexus 6 so I'll see how easy it is to wedge that into the mix.
All a bit of a mess. One day I'll sit down and sort it out - and this is predominantly Apple although I've just bought a Nexus 6 so I'll see how easy it is to wedge that into the mix.
Continuity of voice calls with Airdroid?
Speeding through things such as AirDroid 3 Download Now Available, Bringing Continuity to Android | BGR (2014-12-03) and https://www.airdroid.com I don't see:
Gentle with me, please. I don't use Android, but I might
Speeding through things such as AirDroid 3 Download Now Available, Bringing Continuity to Android | BGR (2014-12-03) and https://www.airdroid.com I don't see:
- a voice call begun (or answered) on on a Mac, continued on an Android handset
Gentle with me, please. I don't use Android, but I might
yes you are missing something. that thing is that it only works on macs. what happens when your at your work computer which is running windows?Speeding through things such as AirDroid 3 Download Now Available, Bringing Continuity to Android | BGR (2014-12-03) and https://www.airdroid.com I don't see:
am I missing something?
- a voice call begun (or answered) on on a Mac, continued on an Android handset
Gentle with me, please. I don't use Android, but I might
That is interesting to know then thanks. I hope Android or the OEM's soon come up with an easier solution as it would be much less faff to just back up the device in one operation. It doesn't sound as bad as it used to be though.
Maybe I'm crazy, but I actually take the opportunity to redo my homepages each time I get a new device. That goes for both Android and iOS.
It's like how, if you don't move homes very often, after a while the garage and basement and attic fill up with junk you never use. Same thing if you keep using the same device setup.
When you start fresh, you realize which apps you've actually used all the time, and they're the ones you want front and center. Ones you thought you'd use, but don't, can stay off the screen. (Well, not with iOS, alas, but in a "misc" folder.)
I used to fight this and want the same setup, but over time I've come to realize that change is good
I don't worry about it because you can install Chrome on Windows. That's my portal to Google. Even Google Drive can be set up as another folder on your PC.
Maybe I'm crazy, but I actually take the opportunity to redo my homepages each time I get a new device. That goes for both Android and iOS.
It's like how, if you don't move homes very often, after a while the garage and basement and attic fill up with junk you never use. Same thing if you keep using the same device setup.
When you start fresh, you realize which apps you've actually used all the time, and they're the ones you want front and center. Ones you thought you'd use, but don't, can stay off the screen. (Well, not with iOS, alas, but in a "misc" folder.)
I used to fight this and want the same setup, but over time I've come to realize that change is good
I must admit I clean my device out often anyway and rarely install new apps of late. I'm probably one of the more boring users as my phone is just an everyday tool to me and is very plain to look at with very few apps etc. For me backing up with little effort and being able to restore with a new phone is a bonus because it takes up less of my free time.
Whatever works for the person though.
So far this advantage has not helped Microsoft and has not hurt Google. They're have more handsets running google then handsets running iOS. Microsoft is far behind. The universal app thing, is long overdue and should been there on day one. Now I fear its too little too late.
The question is, what exactly do you need to sync, and for what purpose? Personal photos, game accounts, text messages? You should also take into account that total synchronisation makes your personal data especially vulnerable. Well, Apple has done some good work on security, - to the extent where it's starting to freak me out. Windows 10 might be great - but it won't make me dispose of all gadgets that I already own.
Personally I ended up installing a small number of third party apps on all my various devices, such as Pocket for bookmarks, Slack for text messages, and some local cloud services for pictures. Also trying not to share too much and not to sync without obvious need.
Personally I ended up installing a small number of third party apps on all my various devices, such as Pocket for bookmarks, Slack for text messages, and some local cloud services for pictures. Also trying not to share too much and not to sync without obvious need.
