New Nexus 5 owner...

[dgr874]

I bought a nexus 5 about a week ago and am looking into exploring the Android way of doing things I'm mostly a iPhone 5 user and I even use windows phones (Lumia 920) off and on.

I have so far failed to find that "wow" factor I thought would exist with this system. I know that android does things differently and I know I have to get used to that. But, it still, seems like its a more functional app launcher like the iPhone is. I certainly appreciate the fact that it is very customizable but I don't really have the desire to do that as I usually use my devices close to stock.

Is there something I'm missing? Some app or way of doing things that would open my eyes to android? If anyone wants to point me in the right direction for this issue I'm having, I would be grateful.

Thanks in advance.

 

[swy05]

Better off just sticking with your iPhone.

Someone made a reply in one of the threads along time ago and it rings true.

The guy from Shawshank Redemption gets out of jail and kills himself because he doesn't know what to do with his freedom.

Btw what does customizing have to do with being stock? So you don't want an easy way to see new emails, download files to a true file system, etc?

If not, see the above Shawshank Redemption line.

 

[Aika]

It's not going to wow you because iOS and Android are functionally very similar and once you are in an app there is little to distinguish the two.

Ultimately for me it comes down to the "little" things that add up to a better experience like being able to specify default apps, a notification drawer that isn't terrible, the back button, widgets and easier access to the file system. Having an amazing screen helps too and I find the scrolling works better.

I keep my Nexus 5 stock (other than using ART instead of Dalvik), you don't have to customise to find value in Android.

 

[mclld]

You may just prefer ios and nothing wrong with that, everyone has different tastes. There is no need to try an convince yourself you like Android more. I would say just use it a week without touching your iphone and then come to a decision

 

[appledes7]

I switched to Android over a year ago. I love it and my Nexus 5. Having said that, I do not believe Android has a wow factor.

Having widgets and being able to customize my home screen doesn't wow me. Heck, I don't know why that would wow anyone. If there is anything about Android that wows me, its that you still can't create a calendar event with your voice through Google Now. Or that when I say to create a calendar event at 5 PM it recognizes 5 PM yet wants to make the event at 4.

 

[dgr874]

Thanks everyone so far. I just wanted to make a choice bases upon real experiences' not just some FUD that I read online.

 

[mattopotamus]

I switched to Android over a year ago. I love it and my Nexus 5. Having said that, I do not believe Android has a wow factor.

Having widgets and being able to customize my home screen doesn't wow me. Heck, I don't know why that would wow anyone. If there is anything about Android that wows me, its that you still can't create a calendar event with your voice through Google Now. Or that when I say to create a calendar event at 5 PM it recognizes 5 PM yet wants to make the event at 4.

Drives me crazy haha. Create event...hair cut Saturday at 2:00pm. It then creates and event for 6 pm

 

[appledes7]

Drives me crazy haha. Create event...hair cut Saturday at 2:00pm. It then creates and event for 6 pm

And lets not forget the fact that a lot of actions still require touch input to actually complete the action. Whats the point of using your voice to create a calendar event if you eventually have to pick up your phone and use the touch screen to make it? At least with Siri you can confirm events and reminders via voice.

 

[mattopotamus]

And lets not forget the fact that a lot of actions still require touch input to actually complete the action. Whats the point of using your voice to create a calendar event if you eventually have to pick up your phone and use the touch screen to make it? At least with Siri you can confirm events and reminders via voice.

It will auto create the event without you touching the button it just takes a second.

 

[appledes7]

It will auto create the event without you touching the button it just takes a second.

Actually a lot of actions don't do that. Only a few will automatically complete the action after a couple seconds. Reminders and calendar events (calendar pictured above) require that you physically pick up the phone, find the button to complete the action, and use the touch screen to do so. You cannot use your voice to complete it. Some actions will offer a timer, but not all of them. This is a testament to Google's inconsistencies.

Notice on the image of Google maps, it shows a blue line which is the timer. On the reminder it doesn't show it. Nor does it show it on the previous image with a calendar event. There are a couple other actions that require touch input, these are just the ones I can think of off the top of my head.

 

[appledes7]

And of course there are the times it just doesn't get what you are saying and does a Google search.

 

[tbayrgs]

I switched to Android over a year ago. I love it and my Nexus 5. Having said that, I do not believe Android has a wow factor.

Having widgets and being able to customize my home screen doesn't wow me. Heck, I don't know why that would wow anyone. If there is anything about Android that wows me, its that you still can't create a calendar event with your voice through Google Now. Or that when I say to create a calendar event at 5 PM it recognizes 5 PM yet wants to make the event at 4.

Alright, had to chime in with a slightly related pet peeve I have with editing appointments on stock Calendar app on Android.

Why the hell can I not change the designated calendar for an appointment using the stock calendar app and Google calendars? For example, I create an appointment and inadvertently select my 'Home' calendar when I meant to add it to my 'Work' calendar. Only way to change this if you're using the stock calendar app with Google calendar services is to delete and reschedule it--utter nonsense, IMO.

The kicker is that I can edit the calendar (again, a Google calendar) using the stock calendar on iOS.

Stuff like this is why you need to be able to select different default apps in Android--too often the stock app is deficient (calendar, messaging, email-->the non-Gmail app). I'd love to be able to select default apps in iOS but I guess I don't miss the functionality as much because I find the stock apps more than adequate--not always the case in Android. Again, this is just my experience, of course. YMMV.

 

[sixrom]

And lets not forget the fact that a lot of actions still require touch input to actually complete the action. Whats the point of using your voice to create a calendar event if you eventually have to pick up your phone and use the touch screen to make it? At least with Siri you can confirm events and reminders via voice.

I make all my appointments, events and tasks in mere seconds by voice using Google Now on my Nexus 5. No typing required. It's accurate and better for my heavy usage than Siri on my iPhone 5S.

Those who can't accomplish this haven't spent the five minutes it takes to read a quick tutorial. Just like the time required to learn a Mac if previously one used Windows, willingness to learn something new pays off handsomely.

Failing to invest in educating oneself results in a failed experience. It's as simple as that.

 

[appledes7]

Alright, had to chime in with a slightly related pet peeve I have with editing appointments on stock Calendar app on Android.

Why the hell can I not change the designated calendar for an appointment using the stock calendar app and Google calendars? For example, I create an appointment and inadvertently select my 'Home' calendar when I meant to add it to my 'Work' calendar. Only way to change this if you're using the stock calendar app with Google calendar services is to delete and reschedule it--utter nonsense, IMO.

The kicker is that I can edit the calendar (again, a Google calendar) using the stock calendar on iOS. :roll eyes:

Stuff like this is why you need to be able to select different default apps in Android--too often the stock app is deficient (calendar, messaging, email-->the non-Gmail app). I'd love to be able to select default apps in iOS but I guess I don't miss the functionality as much because I find the stock apps more than adequate--not always the case in Android. Again, this is just my experience, of course. YMMV.

Wow I never noticed that! And dang that is annoying!

----------

I make all my appointments, events and tasks in mere seconds by voice using Google Now on my Nexus 5. No typing required. It's accurate and better for my heavy usage than Siri on my iPhone 5S.

Those who can't accomplish this haven't spent the five minutes it takes to read a quick tutorial. Just like the time required to learn a Mac if previously one used Windows, willingness to learn something new pays off handsomely.

Failing to invest in educating oneself results in a failed experience. It's as simple as that.

Sorry you so obviously feel offended by me pointing out one of Google's inconsistencies. The simple point I was making is that some actions require touch input and some don't.

Take the Moto X for example. What is the point of having an always listening feature if you need to go over to your phone, pick it up, find the button, and use the touch screen to complete an action? It completely defeats the whole reason the always listening feature even exists.

Whether or not it is faster or slower is not part of this discussion nor has it even been something I have debated. The simple fact is that with Siri you can use your voice to confirm just about every action. Google Now is inconsistent in this aspect. Not to mention the fact that Siri will actually interact with you. If you are in the car and need to send a text without looking at your phone, she can read it back to you so you don't send something that doesn't make sense. Google Now has been around for almost a year and a half and still can't do that.

 

[dgr874]

Thank you everyone! I am learning a lot!

 

[Lloydbm41]

I bought a nexus 5 about a week ago and am looking into exploring the Android way of doing things I'm mostly a iPhone 5 user and I even use windows phones (Lumia 920) off and on.

I have so far failed to find that "wow" factor I thought would exist with this system. I know that android does things differently and I know I have to get used to that. But, it still, seems like its a more functional app launcher like the iPhone is. I certainly appreciate the fact that it is very customizable but I don't really have the desire to do that as I usually use my devices close to stock.

Is there something I'm missing? Some app or way of doing things that would open my eyes to android? If anyone wants to point me in the right direction for this issue I'm having, I would be grateful.

Thanks in advance.

I use all 3 as well. There is no wow factor in any of them, but there is a creepy factor when you do a search in Google or Amazon and then you go to a site like AppleInsider and all of a sudden there is an ad at the top showing you something you just looked at.

A lot has to do with your comfort level with a UI. Right now, I am forcing myself to use my Lumia 520 for everything. It's difficult because I am so used to Android now. Same thing happened when I tried Android 2 years ago for the first time and thought it was crap compared to iOS. (Although it was crap back then. ) So I doubt you will ever see the wow factor. I certainly haven't. There is some really cool stuff they all do though.

 

[Dr McKay]

I bought a nexus 5 about a week ago and am looking into exploring the Android way of doing things I'm mostly a iPhone 5 user and I even use windows phones (Lumia 920) off and on.

I have so far failed to find that "wow" factor I thought would exist with this system. I know that android does things differently and I know I have to get used to that. But, it still, seems like its a more functional app launcher like the iPhone is. I certainly appreciate the fact that it is very customizable but I don't really have the desire to do that as I usually use my devices close to stock.

Is there something I'm missing? Some app or way of doing things that would open my eyes to android? If anyone wants to point me in the right direction for this issue I'm having, I would be grateful.

Thanks in advance.

Well did you feel constrained by the iPhone or did you run into limitations of iOS that held you back from achieving things? Every reason I prefer Android is something it can do that iOS can't. And then after that its things that Android does easier than iOS, without jumping through hoops etc.

If the iPhone did everything you want a phone to do, and you were happy with the screen size, then there will be no "wow" factor with jumping to Android. If you were happy with iOS you might as well stay with it, otherwise you'll just be doing the same things just differently.

 

[superwoman]

Alright, had to chime in with a slightly related pet peeve I have with editing appointments on stock Calendar app on Android.

Why the hell can I not change the designated calendar for an appointment using the stock calendar app and Google calendars? For example, I create an appointment and inadvertently select my 'Home' calendar when I meant to add it to my 'Work' calendar. Only way to change this if you're using the stock calendar app with Google calendar services is to delete and reschedule it--utter nonsense, IMO.

You're absolutely spot on on this one. It's one of very few things that annoys me. My solution is to access the Google Calendar through the desktop browser to change it. But I don't need to do it that often, so I can live with it.

 

[dgr874]

Well did you feel constrained by the iPhone or did you run into limitations of iOS that held you back from achieving things? Every reason I prefer Android is something it can do that iOS can't. And then after that its things that Android does easier than iOS, without jumping through hoops etc.

If the iPhone did everything you want a phone to do, and you were happy with the screen size, then there will be no "wow" factor with jumping to Android. If you were happy with iOS you might as well stay with it, otherwise you'll just be doing the same things just differently.

The one thing that started it was when I found out how difficult it was to attach multiple documents to an email. After that I started looking at larger screens and knew that's what I wanted in a new phone. Once the nexus 5 came out I jumped on it to test it for myself.

 

[Internaut]

Ultimately, the Nexus 5 is really just another smart phone. At the high end, they're all pretty much equivalent these days, so if you're used to the high end iPhone experience, there can be no wow factor in pure Androd. Some Android users love the widgets, but the Google phone doesn't showcase these terribly well, at least out of the box.

If you want a wow factor, look to Nokia (innovation in mobile photography, but Windows) or HTC One (Sense is pretty nice, and the speakers are amazing, for a phone). Alternatively, back to the iPhone comfort zone. As comfort zones go, it's pretty good.

 

[vikingjunior]

I like the fact that Google now doesn't automatically add the calendar event as I like to see that it got the information correct.

 

[mattopotamus]

You're absolutely spot on on this one. It's one of very few things that annoys me. My solution is to access the Google Calendar through the desktop browser to change it. But I don't need to do it that often, so I can live with it.

Business calendar is similar to stock but fixes a lot of these issues.

 

[Vegastouch]

There are many little things Android does that iOS cant. Sharing for example is pretty cool on Android. You need more than a week to find all it can do. If you have always been with iOS, it takes a few weeks to get used to and see all it can do.
A Wow factor? I dont know about that but it does give me "cool" factor as in i like that a lot when doing these things. Google Now can send texts but just using your voice and it works well for me.

I dont set appointments hardly ever so i havent experienced that portion of it with GN. When i have ive just used Keep.

 

[Sensamic]

If Android doesn't have a wow factor please tell me what's the wow factor on iOS?

 

[soulreaver99]

If Android doesn't have a wow factor please tell me what's the wow factor on iOS?

It comes in gold! Lol