Is the grass greener?

[madsci954]

So the missus recently jumped shipped from iPhone to Android, and she's trying to convert me. She originally got a Note II but switched to a Nexus 4. And I'm looking at the same phone.

I'm just curious what the best way to transition everything would be be. At them moment, I'm pretty invested in OSX/iOS. I have an iPhone 4S (the phone to be replaced), an iPad Mini, and a MBA, both which I'm keeping. My primary email is an @me address, but I have an old @gmail one I will use. Contacts, Calendars, and Notes are synced through iCloud. For photos, I import into iPhoto on my MBA, touch up, add to Albums, then manage them through iTunes. All my music is through Spotify.

So my question is, what is the best way I can transition from my iPhone to the Nexus? What software would I need? MBA runs ML, no Windows partition, nor do I have a Windows machine so I'm limited to Mac apps only.

I plan on ordering the phone through Google directly, try for a week after I get it, and if I don't like it, return it.

Thank you for the feedback.

 

[mattopotamus]

So the missus recently jumped shipped from iPhone to Android, and she's trying to convert me. She originally got a Note II but switched to a Nexus 4. And I'm looking at the same phone.

I'm just curious what the best way to transition everything would be be. At them moment, I'm pretty invested in OSX/iOS. I have an iPhone 4S (the phone to be replaced), an iPad Mini, and a MBA, both which I'm keeping. My primary email is an @me address, but I have an old @gmail one I will use. Contacts, Calendars, and Notes are synced through iCloud. For photos, I import into iPhoto on my MBA, touch up, add to Albums, then manage them through iTunes. All my music is through Spotify.

So my question is, what is the best way I can transition from my iPhone to the Nexus? What software would I need? MBA runs ML, no Windows partition, nor do I have a Windows machine so I'm limited to Mac apps only.

I plan on ordering the phone through Google directly, try for a week after I get it, and if I don't like it, return it.

Thank you for the feedback.

I know this is not related to helping you sync the phone across devices, but the last sentence you wrote really stuck out in my head. If you end up not liking the phone and return it, be prepared to wait a month for a refund. It is ridiculous how long they take. I had to return a charging orb and it took right at a full month.

 

[jman240]

Also a 4S owner here and looking to do the same thing. I currently have a Nexus 7 and I can say hands down the best decision I made was to stick with services that span multiple devices and operating systems.

I use Gmail as my primary email account and via CardDav and CalDav on the iOS and Mac sides it all syncs up beautifully. Notes and contacts sync through Gmail just fine on all platforms. I would transition to Gmail as a primary account if I were you and also look into more "open" style platforms for content etc.

For instance I use Amazon instant video in lieu of play or iTunes because it works just about everywhere, I use kindle in lieu of play or iBooks because, again, works about everywhere. Of course you could really go the open route and buy DRM free eBooks / rip your own movies but that's all personal taste. I know you weren't asking about content but its just an example of where using services that span devices and OSs makes switching easier.

Some things I will miss:
- iMessage sync - use google talk or facebook chat or just SMS depending on friends heh.
-Find my friends - easily replaced with either latitude (though it can suck) or glympse.
-Photostream - use drop box or Google+
-documents in icloud - this part of icloud sucks, just use drive or drop box.
-backups - i think android has some built in, haven't tested this.

 

[paulsalter]

me.com email can be setup so no problems with keeping that as primary, but you will not get push email

export contacts/calendar from icloud and import into google, turn off these items in icloud on your mac and enable the google versions (if you use address book/ical)
**there are paid apps to sync icloud/google, if you want to keep both but not tried them

I use G+/Picasa app on my Mac for photos, phone uploads to a private gallery, I then touch up photos with Picasa and share if I want (similar to photostream)

I have started using the web pages of google services so do not use local apps anymore (except Picasa)

 

[MRU]

The grass is greener... The amoled saturation/vibrancy makes sure of that....

 

[tbayrgs]

My situation is very similar to yours--family uses all Apple gear except for my phone. I initially used a third party app to manager contacts and calendar on iCloud on my Android phone (search for Smoothsync in Google Play store) but later moved everything over to Google services to allow for easier syncing across all devices.

I set up automatic upload of photos from my Android phone to Dropbox (nicer than Photostream as it also uploads videos) but still use Photostream on my iPad and my family uses it on their iDevices, so I set up an Automator script on my Mac to automatically import any new photos/videos as they appear in Dropbox to my iPhoto library--works like a charm.

Best part is I have both an iPhone and Note 2 so it's now much easier to just move the sim from one phone to the other without missing a beat.

 

[ugahairydawgs]

Email is easy enough....iCloud uses IMAP. You'll need these apps for contacts and calendar.

Be wary of Google's customer service. Getting a refund from them isn't always as easy as you think.

 

[stevensr123]

Email is easy enough....iCloud uses IMAP. You'll need these apps for contacts and calendar.

Be wary of Google's customer service. Getting a refund from them isn't always as easy as you think.

The thjg is though, with apple they are basically like a a dictator. If you go with them you are ****ed and tied down to one plat form, otherwise it's pain to get out of it.

Use google services? You can use it on windows, mac, iOS, android, windows mobile etc if anyone gets restricted so much and jumps themselves solely into iOS....they are idiots.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

So the missus recently jumped shipped from iPhone to Android, and she's trying to convert me. She originally got a Note II but switched to a Nexus 4. And I'm looking at the same phone.

You might as well try it and if your wife has a phone already and you like the overall feel of it, then why not.

I was the opposite where I was a long time Android user and my wife converted me to iPhone. Couldn't be happier and its always worth trying something different

 

[madsci954]

Thanks all for the feedback, it sounds like the transition will be smooth

I didn't know Google's CS was so flaky I might go to our local T-Mobile store, try one out, and buy through them, save a few phone call hassles.

Ultimately, I'm not 100% sure I'm sold on Android, because iOS has suited me perfectly for years, but I am interested in trying it out. Hense my topic title: is the grass greener?

 

[ugahairydawgs]

The thjg is though, with apple they are basically like a a dictator. If you go with them you are ****ed and tied down to one plat form, otherwise it's pain to get out of it.

Use google services? You can use it on windows, mac, iOS, android, windows mobile etc if anyone gets restricted so much and jumps themselves solely into iOS....they are idiots.

Its really not that hard to jump to another platform if need be. iCloud stuff works great (I personally use it) and keeps all of my Apple stuff lined up well. If I ever try Android again at any point and it actually sticks it wouldn't take me 30 minutes, from start to finish, to have my data exported from my iCloud account and have it up and running in a Google account.

 

[ugahairydawgs]

Thanks all for the feedback, it sounds like the transition will be smooth

I didn't know Google's CS was so flaky I might go to our local T-Mobile store, try one out, and buy through them, save a few phone call hassles.

Ultimately, I'm not 100% sure I'm sold on Android, because iOS has suited me perfectly for years, but I am interested in trying it out. Hense my topic title: is the grass greener?

Every once and a while I get the itch to try something new and I grab some sort of Android device. Every time (up to this point at least) I've made my way back to iOS.

One thing that could work if you just want to see how your mobile life can integrate with Android.....why not just buy a Nexus 7 for $200 (even less if you jump on one of these refurb deals that has been around in the past few weeks) and use that as a way to test the waters?

 

[jrswizzle]

Every once and a while I get the itch to try something new and I grab some sort of Android device. Every time (up to this point at least) I've made my way back to iOS.

One thing that could work if you just want to see how your mobile life can integrate with Android.....why not just buy a Nexus 7 for $200 (even less if you jump on one of these refurb deals that has been around in the past few weeks) and use that as a way to test the waters?

I would caution against using an Android tablet to test Android....

The lack of tablet optimized apps turned me off to the whole thing when I first tried that....having a much better experience with the Nexus 4.

Just coming from a guy who thought the same thing.

 

[ugahairydawgs]

I would caution against using an Android tablet to test Android....

The lack of tablet optimized apps turned me off to the whole thing when I first tried that....having a much better experience with the Nexus 4.

Just coming from a guy who thought the same thing.

That's a fair point. Although at this point the line between phone and small tablet for Android based devices is starting to get murkier and murkier.

 

[jrswizzle]

That's a fair point. Although at this point the line between phone and small tablet for Android based devices is starting to get murkier and murkier.

Lol true....

 

[SpyderBite]

No matter which direction you go; pc to Mac, Mac to Pc. With an android or an iPhone.. You can always use a 3rd party conduit to sync all your platforms.

For example, I just sold my Mac and got an Alienware with Windows 7. Everything else in my ecosystem is iOS. I use memotoo.com to sync iCloud with my calendar in Thunderbird and vice versa. It's $20 per year but worth it to somebody who wants to preserve that iCloud ecosystem with their android and/or windows devices.

 

[bmac4]

So the missus recently jumped shipped from iPhone to Android, and she's trying to convert me. She originally got a Note II but switched to a Nexus 4. And I'm looking at the same phone.

I'm just curious what the best way to transition everything would be be. At them moment, I'm pretty invested in OSX/iOS. I have an iPhone 4S (the phone to be replaced), an iPad Mini, and a MBA, both which I'm keeping. My primary email is an @me address, but I have an old @gmail one I will use. Contacts, Calendars, and Notes are synced through iCloud. For photos, I import into iPhoto on my MBA, touch up, add to Albums, then manage them through iTunes. All my music is through Spotify.

So my question is, what is the best way I can transition from my iPhone to the Nexus? What software would I need? MBA runs ML, no Windows partition, nor do I have a Windows machine so I'm limited to Mac apps only.

I plan on ordering the phone through Google directly, try for a week after I get it, and if I don't like it, return it.

Thank you for the feedback.

I have switch between iOS and android 3 times now. I like android better and have used it for longer, but the switch was not bad at all. I started out on iOS with the iphone 3g then the iphone 4. There was no iCloud when I left for Google. I then used an htc, nexus s, and then the galaxy nexus. I decided I wanted to try iOS again so I got the iphone 5. I am now using the note 2 and could not be happier. Switching that much has not been much of a problem at all. I don't pay for too many apps just music, and because of the play music app on Android I never have to worry about my music.

The only time I would say that this switch would be hard was if you have paid for a lot of apps on iOS. I would almost say it may not be worth the switch. If you have not I would say go for it. If it does not work out you can at least say you have tried android and will know that you like iOS better. I really just think people don't give android a change, and go into the switch with the mindset of it not living up to iOS. Just go into with an open mind. I guess the same can be said for android user too.

 

[onthecouchagain]

It's greener, it's bluer, it's redder, it's whatever color you want it to be because Android gives you choices!

 

[Vegastouch]

So the missus recently jumped shipped from iPhone to Android, and she's trying to convert me. She originally got a Note II but switched to a Nexus 4. And I'm looking at the same phone.

I'm just curious what the best way to transition everything would be be. At them moment, I'm pretty invested in OSX/iOS. I have an iPhone 4S (the phone to be replaced), an iPad Mini, and a MBA, both which I'm keeping. My primary email is an @me address, but I have an old @gmail one I will use. Contacts, Calendars, and Notes are synced through iCloud. For photos, I import into iPhoto on my MBA, touch up, add to Albums, then manage them through iTunes. All my music is through Spotify.

So my question is, what is the best way I can transition from my iPhone to the Nexus? What software would I need? MBA runs ML, no Windows partition, nor do I have a Windows machine so I'm limited to Mac apps only.

I plan on ordering the phone through Google directly, try for a week after I get it, and if I don't like it, return it.

Thank you for the feedback.

Just sell it yourself if you dont like it. It will be quicker and who knows...i havent looked lately but you may get more for it on eBay. Honestly though, i dont see how some of you go back to that small narrow screen after having a bigger one.

 

[maflynn]

It can be greener as you see different choices but it all depends on what you're looking for.

Both platforms have their advantages and disadvantages. Which platform aligns with your needs and its advantages and can you live with the disadvantages.

I've used both platforms and found the iOS/OSX integration to be one of the major pluses that the iPhone offers. I easily sync my notes, calendar, iTunes and even photos (within aperture).

True Android syncs with its google products, provided you're willing to use them but I'm happy with using the apple products.

Its human nature to look over the fence and think that life is better on the other side when in actuality its the same but different - if that makes sense

 

[torana355]

I made the same transition without a hitch, all you need to download is an app called "Android file transfer" which allows you to copy music, pictures, ringtones ect to the Nexus 4 on OSX. All your contacts can be easily exported and imported into your gmail account.