Phones Recent Android Switch

[bsmsam]

I've had an iPhone since the 3G was released. I've always loved them, but before that, I loved picking a new phone with every upgrade. My iPhones were always decided for me. I have a 6 Plus, which I love, but wanted something new. I bought an HTC Desire Eye, which I realize isn't quite in the same realm as a 6 Plus, but it was available. Here's where I'm at:

6 Plus -
+ Device itself is beautiful
+ Camera is pretty good
+ Apps are streamlined
- No customization (unless jailbroken)
- Apps constantly crash (Chrome cannot load Tumblr for more than 7 seconds)
- Same thing I've had for practically 7 years
- I had 80GB of "other" appearing, and Apple's advice was to erase and start over. No. (I ended up fixing it myself, but I really hate that they can't give me a definitive reason behind it)

HTC Desire Eye -
+ Can customize a lot
+ Widgets on different home screen keeps main home screen uncluttered
+ 2GB of RAM means I've never had Tumblr quit on me once
- Camera is abysmal in most occasions
- No cases for it in the US
- If I buy music in Google Play, it won't appear in my Music app unless I download it via Mac and manually add it (Are you serious?)
- I feel manhandled by AT&T (Just got the Lollipop upgrade, and it's not even the most current edition)

I thought one of the benefits of Android was having more freedom, but that's not the experience I've had yet. I have only been using the device for about two weeks, and while I do like a lot of qualities, I'm not loving it. I also just received a video from a friend with an iPhone 6, and the playback on my HTC makes it look completely awful. Last night, I had a badge in my status bar to install some caller ID function for $2.99 a month. Getting an advertisement like that on my phone pushed me over the edge.

So, I guess I'm just looking for opinions. Have any of you switched after using one OS for a long time? Are there fixes to my Android issues? I know the camera will remain mediocre, but poor video playback and not being able to have purchased music in my Music app seem crazy to me. I don't understand why there are two separate music apps to begin with. The HTC phone is very fast, but these kinks are frustrating.

Thoughts?

 

[Aika]

If you wanted to experience Android a carrier locked phone isn't the way to go. Why didn't you buy the phone unlocked?

You should be able to find plenty of cases on Amazon.

The Google Play Music app is great, you should use that.

 

[tbayrgs]

If you wanted to experience Android a carrier locked phone isn't the way to go. Why didn't you buy the phone unlocked?

You should be able to find plenty of cases on Amazon.

The Google Play Music app is great, you should use that.

All very good advice, especially considering the high quality of lower priced options, especially the phones from Motorola. You can get an unlocked Moto X with 32GB onboard storage for $350, no contract. Hell, they're even offering red leather as a free upgrade. It also has a near stock Android experience with very little bloatware, if any.

If you'd prefer to spend even less, the Moto G is a great option.

And I'll second Aika's recommendation for Google Play Music--great way to consolidate all of you music in one app with little to no effort. If you install the Google Play Music Manager on your Mac and point it to you iTunes library, it'll automatically upload your entire library to Google Play Music, including any new purchases you make on iTunes. So you'll have access to your own entire library and the ability to use the Google Play Music streaming service (now free with ads if you prefer not to pay a monthly subscription) all in one app. I've been using it on both my iOS and Android devices.

 

[Aika]

All very good advice, especially considering the high quality of lower priced options, especially the phones from Motorola. You can get an unlocked Moto X with 32GB onboard storage for $350, no contract. Hell, they're even offering red leather as a free upgrade. It also has a near stock Android experience with very little bloatware, if any.

Yeah I know the latest LG and Samsung phones have their fans but the Motorola skin (if you can even call it that, it's that unobtrusive) is the only one I could tolerate.

Anyone used to iOS and wanting an Android phone without crapware* should get an off contract Nexus or Motorola device especially in the US where your carriers are particularly dreadful.

*insert joke about Newstand, Tips, Compass, Mail, Stocks etc. here.

BTW the reason the video your friend with an iPhone sent you looks bad is because Android doesn't have iMessage so it was sent as a MMS which heavily compresses data. Ask him to use a cross-platform messaging service instead or have him send it by email. iMessage not being cross-platform is not a flaw of Android.

 

[bsmsam]

All very good advice, especially considering the high quality of lower priced options, especially the phones from Motorola. You can get an unlocked Moto X with 32GB onboard storage for $350, no contract. Hell, they're even offering red leather as a free upgrade. It also has a near stock Android experience with very little bloatware, if any.

If you'd prefer to spend even less, the Moto G is a great option.

And I'll second Aika's recommendation for Google Play Music--great way to consolidate all of you music in one app with little to no effort. If you install the Google Play Music Manager on your Mac and point it to you iTunes library, it'll automatically upload your entire library to Google Play Music, including any new purchases you make on iTunes. So you'll have access to your own entire library and the ability to use the Google Play Music streaming service (now free with ads if you prefer not to pay a monthly subscription) all in one app. I've been using it on both my iOS and Android devices.

Thanks for the recommendation. I'm not even sure how I ended up settling on the Desire Eye, but I was looking for close screen size and storage capacity to my 128gb Plus. I'm picky about the look and feel of the phone itself, and I'm not a big fan of rounded devices. I considered the Motorola X, but it's 1/4 the storage, and I don't love how it looks. Looking at both phones side by side, I obviously went for the most iPhone looking Android device I could find, haha.

BTW the reason the video your friend with an iPhone sent you looks bad is because Android doesn't have iMessage so it was sent as a MMS which heavily compresses data. Ask him to use a cross-platform messaging service instead or have him send it by email. iMessage not being cross-platform is not a flaw of Android.

This makes sense. Annoying, but it makes sense. I'm not going to request my friends have a different app just to send me an MMS.

I went with the Desire Eye because it was in my price range (cheap), and was just a test to see if I'd stick with it and eventually get a nicer device down the line. I will try switching my music app and see how that goes. For everything I dislike, there's a handful of things I do like. Just taking some getting used to, I guess.