Making the switch. Give some thoughts and advice.

[snowcrash]

I'm about to make the jump to Android. Not sure if it will be the HTC One of the Galaxy S4 yet, but I know that the iPhone 5 will be my last iPhone for a while. Not really excited about the announcement of iOS7 and I'm sure it will be neat and some advancements but I get the feeling it going to be more of "Well Ive's didn't have enough time to make it perfect, wait for iOS8". But who knows. I may (and that's a slight may) wait till after WWDC since we are only about a month away, but I have a feeling it's going to take a lot to change my mindset right now.

Before I get started here is some background. I use to be a Network Engineer and have a solid tech background. I've been on a TON of smartphones throughout the years (every iPhone, Windows phones, Treo, Blackberry and so on) so not worried about any learning curve or anything.

Here is the thing. Ever since the original iPhone I've slowly moved to a full blown Apple ecosystem. MPB, iPad, iPods, AppleTVs, iMac and iPhone. Of course everything is synced with an @me address. That was one of the big selling points to me when it came to Apple. The seamless integration across all devices. Without tinkering. Just setup and move on with my life. I have started noticing that over the past year or so that more often things are starting to break down. Sync issues, iMessage (while great) is very temperamental, contacts don't sync to one device and bookmarks don't sync to another and so on. My thought is if I'm going to have to "tinker" I might as well have more phone freedom and also have a device I can tinker with. Yeah I could JB my iPhone but that's another post all together.

Anyway, I assume that Google is the best route to go for things like Contacts, Calendar, Notes, etc. But to make a long winded post short, for those of you who made the switch from 100% Apple to Android what are some of your do's and don'ts? Pitfalls? How was it getting off @me syncing and moving over to Google? What advice/steps could you give for someone switching?

 

[Chodite]

*swoon* You took the words right out of my mouth. I was close to typing up a similar post tonight. I'd write a paragraph or two explaining the boat I'm in, my background, etc.. but you did it for me

P.S: tomorrow may actually be D-day for me

 

[Tikatika]

*swoon* You took the words right out of my mouth. I was close to typing up a similar post tonight. I'd write a paragraph or two explaining the boat I'm in, my background, etc.. but you did it for me

P.S: tomorrow may actually be D-day for me

Wow, chalk up another with the same questions! Toss in the decision as to which phone to get and I am beginning to think this is turning into a major undertaking. Looking forward to the responses!

 

[miamialley]

I'm in the middle of the switch. I've had the S4 since it was released and still use my Macbook Pro and iPad. While it has taken some work to get a lot sorted out so far (and still not done), I love my S4 and couldn't go back to my iPhone 5. When I use my girlfriend's iPhone 5, I feel like it's this simple little toy that is so limited. A week ago I didn't feel that. I even feel that way with my iPad, too (that I didn't expect).

I ultimately got tired of Apple's habit of withholding features for no d*$% reason. (toggles in the drop down anyone?)

As far as advice, it seems like it's easier to have an Android if you have a PC. Some of the software for syncing seems to be buggy with my Mac and just doesn't integrate smoothly in my limited experience. Definitely use Google to sync calendar and contacts. It works exactly like iCloud syncing in that respect. Cerberus is an excellent Find My iPhone replacement with a ton more features that will impress you. I've also really enjoyed Google Maps much more than Apple Maps and Google Maps on iOS.

That's all I've got for now. I definitely love my S4 and am glad I made the switch.

 

[nyc999]

I'm in the middle of the switch. I've had the S4 since it was released and still use my Macbook Pro and iPad. While it has taken some work to get a lot sorted out so far (and still not done), I love my S4 and couldn't go back to my iPhone 5. When I use my girlfriend's iPhone 5, I feel like it's this simple little toy that is so limited. A week ago I didn't feel that. I even feel that way with my iPad, too (that I didn't expect).

I ultimately got tired of Apple's habit of withholding features for no d*$% reason. (toggles in the drop down anyone?)

As far as advice, it seems like it's easier to have an Android if you have a PC. Some of the software for syncing seems to be buggy with my Mac and just doesn't integrate smoothly in my limited experience. Definitely use Google to sync calendar and contacts. It works exactly like iCloud syncing in that respect. Cerberus is an excellent Find My iPhone replacement with a ton more features that will impress you. I've also really enjoyed Google Maps much more than Apple Maps and Google Maps on iOS.

That's all I've got for now. I definitely love my S4 and am glad I made the switch.

How is the fluidity of the s4 compared to ip5? any lag issues w/s4 so far? how is the battery (and how heavily due to use it?)

I am thinking of trying out the ip5 for 30 days and if I don't like it, I can return it.

By that time, Verizon should hopefully have the S4 out.

 

[Essenar]

As a constant iPhone <--> Android jumper, I have more or less the answers you'll need:

A) Google syncing makes life easier. It's nice to save a contact to your phone, log onto your Gmail and coincidentally find that contact attached to your Gmail account.

B) Widgets make your life easier. Get used to them. I'm not going to lie to you. The Apples to Apples quality of applications is a hands down land slide victory for iOS. Apps are just more refined for iOS. However, Android makes up for it with functionality. So definitely figure out which apps and widgets you need that will make your life easier like a Gmail widget or a messaging widget or a weather widget. Even things like, a TV Guide that shows what TV shows you have to watch or a Calendar widget with your work schedule or assignments. Color Stickies are very useful so you can quickly make a note for yourself.

C) "There's an App for that". Don't rely on the Play Store to find the apps you want. While the Play Store itself can be very rich and fulfilling in terms of filling up your storage, a lot of applications are hidden in hundreds of pages of search results. Even a sort by rating or downloads will leave some gold mines unnoticed. So in that regard, Google is your friend:

http://www.gottabemobile.com/2013/02/14/top-nexus-4-apps-and-widgets-2/

http://community.giffgaff.com/t5/Blog/Top-10-Android-Apps-for-the-Nexus-4/ba-p/7060460

D) The S4 isn't the only King. I would give the Nexus 4 another look. It's unlocked, has Jelly Bean 4.2.2 and WILL have 4.3 when it launches. Quad core Snapdragon S4 Pro, 2GB of ram, fastest GPU available in a phone. It holds its ground against the top dogs but it's $350 unlocked. With the extra $200 you save, you could buy a Nexus 7 lol. Or even use it with off contract pricing which is a much better savings.

As for don't's:
Android isn't like iOS in the sense that, things do not stop running when you hit the home button. Be in special charge of what you allow to hit notifications or run in the background because apps WILL drain your battery if they're unchecked.

 

[ChazUK]

I currently use iOS, Android and Windows Phone and pretty much have all that I can in sync across all three. WP can be lacking though due to Google's lack of wp support at this time.

Email, contacts, calendar are all done through my GMail for all three.

Music is uploaded to Google Music. I use the native music app on Android, GMusic on my iPhone and iPad and Gooroovster to access all of my music on Windows Phone.

Pictures are backed up to Drop box and Google Drive. On my PC, I have my iOS photo stream folder located in my Google Drive folder so anything I sync to photo stream is then pushed to Google Drive. WP lacks both Google Drive and DropBox support sadly.

I can't immediately think of much else but I'm quite content with how I have things set up.

 

[Krimsonmyst]

As someone who did it about a year and a half ago - my one, and almost my ONLY recommendation would be do it all in one hit.

Go all Google, straight away. The longer you take to drip feed all your information across OS's will make it that much more tedious.

Do what I did - when you get your shiny new S4/One, sit down and dedicate a few hours to creating accounts, downloading apps, syncing data etc.

Good luck!

 

[Chodite]

As someone who did it about a year and a half ago - my one, and almost my ONLY recommendation would be do it all in one hit.

Go all Google, straight away. The longer you take to drip feed all your information across OS's will make it that much more tedious.

Do what I did - when you get your shiny new S4/One, sit down and dedicate a few hours to creating accounts, downloading apps, syncing data etc.

Good luck!

My problem is that I've had Gmail since it rolled out (by invite only!) like 9 years ago. I must have 5,000 contacts, 90% of which I don't even have contact with anymore. My fear is that they'll all be imported into my new Android phone and would create one hell of a mess.

 

[ChazUK]

Can you, or anyone else, please explain this process step-by-step?

I saw your post edited to exclude the above but, in case you were interested.

This is being done on Windows and I have no OS X machines around to test this on so it may be a Windows only thing.

Firstly, I've got Photostream enabled on my iPhone/iPad, uploading pictures to photostream.
Secondly, I also have Google Drive and iCloud applications installed on my PC.

In iCloud settings, I've moved the PhotoStream folder into a Google Drive directory like so:

Now what happens when my PC is turned on, the iCloud application first pulls the PhotoStream photos onto my PC which are then pushed up to Google Drive as the Google Drive application syncs.

↑ iPhone/iPad uploads to Photostream.

↓ iCloud Downloads to PC.

↑ Google Drive uploads to Google Drive.

There is nothing to sugest the same couldn't be done with Dropbox either!

 

[Chodite]

I saw your post edited to exclude the above but, in case you were interested.

Excellent! Thank you x100

 

[ugahairydawgs]

My problem is that I've had Gmail since it rolled out (by invite only!) like 9 years ago. I must have 5,000 contacts, 90% of which I don't even have contact with anymore. My fear is that they'll all be imported into my new Android phone and would create one hell of a mess.

Sounds like you are in serious need of cleaning up your Gmail contacts.

 

[Chodite]

Sounds like you are in serious need of cleaning up your Gmail contacts.

Indeed. Though the problem with Gmail (or WAS a problem), is that ANYONE I ever had email contact with, was automatically added to my contacts. Not cool.

 

[KentuckyHouse]

My problem is that I've had Gmail since it rolled out (by invite only!) like 9 years ago. I must have 5,000 contacts, 90% of which I don't even have contact with anymore. My fear is that they'll all be imported into my new Android phone and would create one hell of a mess.

You can always do the cleanup on your desktop before you ever get the phone and log in. Just go to http://www.google.com/contacts, log in, and you'll see all your contacts right there. It would be a heck of a lot easier to modify their contents on a desktop as opposed to your new phone.

 

[ugahairydawgs]

Indeed. Though the problem with Gmail (or WAS a problem), is that ANYONE I ever had email contact with, was automatically added to my contacts. Not cool.

Yeah.....I'm not much of a fan of how Google likes to automatically do random things with contacts either (the pulling of pictures and other Google+ info and automatically adding it to the contact info is my biggest pet peeve), so I eventually switched it all over to iCloud.

 

[snowcrash]

Yeah.....I'm not much of a fan of how Google likes to automatically do random things with contacts either (the pulling of pictures and other Google+ info and automatically adding it to the contact info is my biggest pet peeve), so I eventually switched it all over to iCloud.

Can you use iCloud contacts with Andriod devices?

 

[ugahairydawgs]

Can you use iCloud contacts with Andriod devices?

Yeah.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/...wsMSwxLDEsIm9yZy5kbWZzLmNhcmRkYXYuaWNsb3VkIl0.

 

[onthecouchagain]

There is a world to discover with Android, and it is worth the adventure. Good luck to all willing to take it.

 

[snowcrash]

There is a world to discover with Android, and it is worth the adventure. Good luck to all willing to take it.

Thanks! Follow your HTC One posts and pretty excited to switch. Leaning heavy to the HTC. I like the S4 but after playing with both for a while I have a feeling a lot of the sensor things on the S4 will be shut off and I kind of like Sense more the TW personally but not 100% yet. Debating waiting till after Google I/O and WWDC "just in case".

Of course coming from 100% Apple environment the thought is a little daunting. Re-buying all my apps, moving EVERYTHING over to other services and systems etc. Though it's prob a GREAT time for some spring cleaning and rebuilding my iMac and MBP

 

[onthecouchagain]

Thanks! Follow your HTC One posts and pretty excited to switch. Leaning heavy to the HTC. I like the S4 but after playing with both for a while I have a feeling a lot of the sensor things on the S4 will be shut off and I kind of like Sense more the TW personally but not 100% yet. Debating waiting till after Google I/O and WWDC "just in case".

Of course coming from 100% Apple environment the thought is a little daunting. Re-buying all my apps, moving EVERYTHING over to other services and systems etc. Though it's prob a GREAT time for some spring cleaning and rebuilding my iMac and MBP

I, too, lamented losing my apps and having to re-buy, re-find everything, but I will say the process wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. Of course, this depends on how much money and time you put into iOS, but I really found I got over the losses pretty quickly.

 

[unlinked]

My problem is that I've had Gmail since it rolled out (by invite only!) like 9 years ago. I must have 5,000 contacts, 90% of which I don't even have contact with anymore. My fear is that they'll all be imported into my new Android phone and would create one hell of a mess.

I'm pretty sure the phone app will only use contacts that have a phone number available so it shouldn't be too much of a mess.

 

[Kashsystems]

Thanks! Follow your HTC One posts and pretty excited to switch. Leaning heavy to the HTC. I like the S4 but after playing with both for a while I have a feeling a lot of the sensor things on the S4 will be shut off and I kind of like Sense more the TW personally but not 100% yet. Debating waiting till after Google I/O and WWDC "just in case".

Of course coming from 100% Apple environment the thought is a little daunting. Re-buying all my apps, moving EVERYTHING over to other services and systems etc. Though it's prob a GREAT time for some spring cleaning and rebuilding my iMac and MBP

To be honest I just switched to the S4 and if I had to spend 100 dollars or more on repurchasing apps, I wouldn't have done it.

 

[mclld]

I don't get the whole mentality of " I have spent X dollars on apps, cant switch". Hell people lose much more money when buying cars or whatever. Also, blowing money month on just random junk, fast food etc.

 

[ugahairydawgs]

I don't get the whole mentality of " I have spent X dollars on apps, cant switch". Hell people lose much more money when buying cars or whatever. Also, blowing money month on just random junk, fast food etc.

For most people....a phone is not a big deal for them. If they've spent $50 on apps for iOS they really don't feel compelled to do it again for Android.

For someone who looks at tech, or even just phones, as a hobby....then yeah, the added cost of platform jumping isn't a huge deal in the grand scheme of things. But for the vast majority of people....they just don't care enough to make a move.

 

[KentuckyHouse]

Yeah.....I'm not much of a fan of how Google likes to automatically do random things with contacts either (the pulling of pictures and other Google+ info and automatically adding it to the contact info is my biggest pet peeve), so I eventually switched it all over to iCloud.

You do realize you can opt to not pull all that stuff into your contacts, right?

----------

I don't get the whole mentality of " I have spent X dollars on apps, cant switch". Hell people lose much more money when buying cars or whatever. Also, blowing money month on just random junk, fast food etc.

I'm with you. Plus, it's a one-time thing. Like iOS, once you switch to Android and purchase the apps you want/need, they're always available going forward. It's really not as big a deal as people make it out to be.