Seriously considering the move to Android.

[jrswizzle]

Well, I haven't had to use it yet so I cannot comment on how effective it is (and sorry, I'm not going to test it out by restoring my HTC One ), but I've been using the HTC Backup option built into the settings. It's set up to back up settings, accounts & passwords, bookmarks and apps daily to my Dropbox folder over wifi. There's also a setting to automatically restore backed up settings and data when reinstalling an app. It appears more robust than just the standard Google backup option. Maybe someone else who's had to restore using it cannot offer additional insight.

Ya, I think I saw that, but hadn't configured it as I only found it when looking for a way to restore. There was no prompt when I set up the phone to use some default as a restore option.

I think it's a huge oversight. With all the apps, documents, music and 'stuff' people have and do on their phones these days I find it ridiculous people just glaze over this oversight.

Anyways - thanks for the tips. I'm not going through the hassle to root or unlock (no matter how "easy" it is), just as I preferred not to jailbreak my iPhones. I want a phone that works out of the box - and given my use of iPhones over the years and iCloud's restore options, I can simply sign in and my iPhone is MY iPhone right out of the box.

I find it hugely ironic that this is "no big deal" to some of you who rail on Apple for much smaller inconveniences.

 

[onthecouchagain]

Ya, I think I saw that, but hadn't configured it as I only found it when looking for a way to restore. There was no prompt when I set up the phone to use some default as a restore option.

I think it's a huge oversight. With all the apps, documents, music and 'stuff' people have and do on their phones these days I find it ridiculous people just glaze over this oversight.

Anyways - thanks for the tips. I'm not going through the hassle to root or unlock (no matter how "easy" it is), just as I preferred not to jailbreak my iPhones. I want a phone that works out of the box - and given my use of iPhones over the years and iCloud's restore options, I can simply sign in and my iPhone is MY iPhone right out of the box.

I find it hugely ironic that this is "no big deal" to some of you who rail on Apple for much smaller inconveniences.

Aside from the Nexus 7 replacement (which I didn't even actually want to restore -- it just did it automatically for me when I signed in) I can't remember the last time needing to restore anything.

How often do people switch phones, I mean, even for us phone enthusiasts? Once every few months? How often do flagships Android devices crash entirely to the point of needing to restore? Maybe once in a while when getting a new phone there's a defect and it needs to be exchanged? Again, how often does this happen?

I'm all for Google adding more robust backups, but this isn't a big deal. Again, Google's individual apps can be signed into to get your apps, your Chrome bookmarks, etc. (not to mention the alternative apps that are out on the Play store). It's not a day-to-day issue like some of iOS' shortcomings (keyboard, mail, horrible banner notifications, etc.). I'd be pressing Android to improve things that are more day-to-day, like getting the OS to recognize and ignore accidental palm presses, adding more uniformity throughout the system (why not have the double-tap-hold to zoom in/out across the entire OS instead of just in Google Maps?), etc.

Maybe Google just hasn't found a way to be able to fully save and restore everything 100% given how open to customizing Android is; maybe it's easy for iOS to restore cause it's just bringing back an app drawer, more or less.

: shrug :

Again, all for more robust backup features on Android.

 

[Fanaticalism]

When I restored my replacement nexus 7 from my Google account it had all my apps and wallpaper restored too. The icon and widget placements were back to the default locations but those were the only things I had to re apply.

Interesting. When I purchased my nexus 7 it did the same thing. When I logged into my Gmail, it automatically restored it to the exact same configuration as my S4. This included apps, photos, wallpapers, videos, bookmarks... everything.

 

[onthecouchagain]

Interesting. When I purchased my nexus 7 it did the same thing. When I logged into my Gmail, it automatically restored it to the exact same configuration as my S4. This included apps, photos, wallpapers, videos, bookmarks... everything.

Same here. Like I said, I actually didn't even want it to do that.

 

[ReanimationN]

Aside from the Nexus 7 replacement (which I didn't even actually want to restore -- it just did it automatically for me when I signed in) I can't remember the last time needing to restore anything.

How often do people switch phones, I mean, even for us phone enthusiasts? Once every few months? How often do flagships Android devices crash entirely to the point of needing to restore? Maybe once in a while when getting a new phone there's a defect and it needs to be exchanged? Again, how often does this happen?

Out come the excuses for Android. Having an easy to use, robust backup system for phones is imperative as it's so easy to lose or break a phone. A friend of mine completely destroyed his iPhone while out in the city last week, he dropped it trying to get something out of his pocket- it bounced onto the road and then got run over by two cars. Needless to say it wouldn't even turn on, however once he got a replacement, all he had to do was restore his last backup and everything was back exactly as it was, other than that day's messages.

 

[onthecouchagain]

Out come the excuses for Android. Having an easy to use, robust backup system for phones is imperative as it's so easy to lose or break a phone. A friend of mine completely destroyed his iPhone while out in the city last week, he dropped it trying to get something out of his pocket- it bounced onto the road and then got run over by two cars. Needless to say it wouldn't even turn on, however once he got a replacement, all he had to do was restore his last backup and everything was back exactly as it was, other than that day's messages.

That's a wonderful feature for iOS. You must've missed the part where I said I'm all for Google providing more robust backup feature.

However, it's not that pressing because it's not a day-to-day issue/need. You lose and break your phone every day, often? It's one of those once in a rare while, unfortunate events where you need it. For those cases, there are apps and methods available for Android. It's not like Google doesn't offer a backup system -- it just isn't as robust as Apple's. I have to believe it's cause Android's a more complicated OS to back up; whereas iOS is a bunch of apps in grids.

Did you even finish reading my post? It's not an excuse. It's an explanation why it's not a pressing issue/need. It'd be an excuse if I wasn't for Google improving their back up feature. I clearly said I was.

Try to finish reading the post next time.

 

[gotluck]

I actually never restore from backups, set up as new is best
Contacts sync'd via icloud/Gmail
Keeps problems from creeping up, which I have experienced in both iOS and android.

 

[ReanimationN]

However, it's not that pressing because it's not a day-to-day issue/need. It's one of those once in a rare while, unfortunate events where you need it. There are apps and methods available for Android.

Most of which take work to get going, which most people aren't going to do. It is a day-to-day issue as it's not something you can plan for, it's something you need to be prepared for, like a HDD failing- that's why people make regular backups, they never know when it's going to happen.

Did you even finish reading my post? It's not an excuse. It's an explanation why it's not pressing. It'd be an excuse if I wasn't for Google improving their back up feature. I clearly said I was.

Try to finish reading the post next time.

If you were really all for it, you wouldn't be making excuses for Google as to why it's not that pressing an issue, you'd be saying it's inexcusable instead.

 

[onthecouchagain]

Most of which take work to get going, which most people aren't going to do. It is a day-to-day issue as it's not something you can plan for, it's something you need to be prepared for, like a HDD failing- that's why people make regular backups, they never know when it's going to happen.

If you were really all for it, you wouldn't be making excuses for Google as to why it's not that pressing an issue, you'd be saying it's inexcusable instead.

Newsflash: you can be in support of something but not find it pressing.

What happens when you lose your phone suddenly? You get a replacement, and what happens? Is it impossible to re-sign into your accounts to instantly get your contacts, your emails going, your chats, your apps, your chrome bookmarks, your wallpaper all back? One of the few things, one of the few differences that doesn't make Google backup as robust as Apple's backup is the placement of icons and maybe some app data. I'm for Google's backup to one day include this, but this is not a pressing thing worth worrying about day-to-day. Again, I'm not stopping anyone from calling Google out on this. I'm merely explaining the original curiosity on why not more people are up in arms about it.

It's certainly not more pressing than iOS' shortcomings which are experienced day-to-day (as I mentioned before, the keyboard or the intrusive-but-unfortunately-only-and-best-way-to-be-notified banner notifications). Those are things you have to deal with every day and/or very often. Losing your phone is not. When was the last time you did a restore? Even if it was recent, when was the last time before that?

Please.

----------

PS. How quickly I forget the way iOS vs Android works. If it's one of the few things iOS does better than Android, it's the utmost important thing ever in the world! To the point where we have to pretend like Android doesn't have any sort of reliable and effective backup and that no one who doesn't put it priority at the top of the list of ways Android can improve isn't being serious about it.

Right.

 

[ReanimationN]

Newsflash: you can be in support of something but not find it pressing.

What happens when you lose your phone suddenly? You get a replacement, and what happens? Is it impossible to re-sign into your accounts to instantly get your contacts, your emails going, your chats, your apps, your chrome bookmarks, your wallpaper all back? One of the few things, one of the few differences that doesn't make Google backup as robust as Apple's backup is the placement of icons and maybe some app data.

Like that's not a big deal.

The fact that Android's backup doesn't backup app data is exactly why it sucks. You lose your phone, you lose all the work you had saved in various apps, you lose all your game saves and game progress, you lose every drawing in every art app, every bit of music you create in music apps and so on.

I'm for Google's backup to one day include this, but this is not a pressing thing worth worrying about day-to-day. Again, I'm not stopping anyone from calling Google out on this. I'm merely explaining the original curiosity on why not more people are up in arms about it.

It's certainly not more pressing than iOS' shortcomings which are experienced day-to-day (as I mentioned before, the keyboard or the intrusive-but-unfortunately-only-and-best-way-to-be-notified banner notifications). Those are things you have to deal with every day and/or very often.

Those things that you have mentioned come down to personal preference as to whether you like them or if they bother you. I don't think anyone, if they had a choice, is going to prefer not having a built-in robust backup system that protects them from losing their app data.

Losing your phone is not. When was the last time you did a restore? Even if it was recent, when was the last time before that?

When I updated carrier settings and found Optus had screwed up reception in my area with their latest update. I reverted to the day before's backup and everything was as it was before. Too easy. The time before that was when I upgraded my phone. It's not me that it's saved the most heartache for, it's friends and family- the amount of times I've seen people lose or ruin their phones and receive a new phone and not lose anything valuable or important in the process has made me appreciate how necessary a good backup system is.

 

[onthecouchagain]

Like that's not a big deal.

The fact that Android's backup doesn't backup app data is exactly why it sucks. You lose your phone, you lose all the work you had saved in various apps, you lose all your game saves and game progress, you lose every drawing in every art app, every bit of music you create in music apps and so on.

Those things that you have mentioned come down to personal preference as to whether you like them or if they bother you. I don't think anyone, if they had a choice, is going to prefer not having a built-in robust backup system that protects them from losing their app data.

When I updated carrier settings and found Optus had screwed up reception in my area with their latest update. I reverted to the day before's backup and everything was as it was before. Too easy. The time before that was when I upgraded my phone. It's not me that it's saved the most heartache for, it's friends and family- the amount of times I've seen people lose or ruin their phones and receive a new phone and not lose anything valuable or important in the process has made me appreciate how necessary a good backup system is.

None of these examples are day to day unless you a) lose your phone every day; b) upgrade to a new phone every single day.

Yes, losing app data sucks. That's why I'm all for Google to have a more robust back up. Again, you seem to fail to comprehend this or fail to believe me (why would I be against Android getting better? Unlike certain iOS fanatics, I don't think Android is perfect. Why would I not want Android to get better?). You also speak as if Google's back up services are the only ones available. There are alternatives whether you're game to go those routes or not -- further making it less pressing. But none of this means I don't support Android's stock backups improving. Are you beginning to grasp and/or believe me? It's not that hard. Here's an easier example: I love Google Map's double-tap-and-hold to zoom in/out feature. I'd love it if it was more system-wide. Gallery would be the perfect spot for it. I'm for this feature. Is it pressing? Should I be up in arms over it? No and no. Am I in support of it one day happening? Absolutely. That was easy to get, I hope.

----------

I don't think anyone, if they had a choice, is going to prefer not having a built-in robust backup system that protects them from losing their app data.

Thanks, Captain Obvious.

Guess what? Neither would I. Please show me where I prefer to have a less robust backup system? In fact, I state quite the opposite.

 

[ReanimationN]

None of these examples are day to day unless you a) lose your phone every day; b) upgrade to a new phone every single day.

No, but the possibility of you accidentally losing or breaking your phone is a day-to-day concern, even if it never happens to you. You can't predict when it's going to happen, which makes having a good backup system paramount.

Yes, losing app data sucks. That's why I'm all for Google to have a more robust back up. Again, you seem to fail to comprehend this or fail to believe me (why would I be against Android getting better? Unlike certain iOS fanatics, I don't think Android is perfect. Why would I not want Android to get better?). You also speak as if Google's back up services are the only ones available. There are alternatives whether you're game to go those routes or not -- further making it less pressing. But none of this means I don't support Android's stock backups improving. Are you beginning to grasp and/or believe me? It's not that hard. Here's an easier example: I love Google Map's double-tap-and-hold to zoom in/out feature. I'd love it if it was more system-wide. Gallery would be the perfect spot for it. I'm for this feature. Is it pressing? Should I be up in arms over it? No and no. Am I in support of it one day happening? Absolutely. That was easy to get, I hope.

I get what you're saying, but I also don't think it's something you should play down as not being that big a concern. Wait for the day where your girlfriend breaks her phone, or one of your parents lose theirs, or one of your friends etc, and they don't have a backup of all the important stuff they had on their phone and they come to you asking how they can get whatever they've lost back. Then you'll appreciate how important it is. The drama it causes is never ending.

Guess what? Neither would I. Please show me where I prefer to have a less robust backup system? In fact, I state quite the opposite.

I wasn't trying to say that you'd prefer to not have it, I was pointing out that your examples were poor as they come down to personal preference as to whether you like them or if they bother you. I don't think anyone is going to prefer, or like, not having a robust built-in backup system.

 

[onthecouchagain]

Wait for the day...

It's happened already. They restored from their Google account backup and got back their core stuff in seconds (mail, contacts, apps, bookmarks, settings, etc.). It wasn't that big of an ordeal. Google's back up worked well. And there are better alternatives if you feel the need (how many alternatives do we have for iOS' keyboard, or notification system, or a better browser if I don't like Safari? Etc.). I'm not downplaying anything. Google's backup system is good. Can it and should it get even better? Sure.

 

[ReanimationN]

It's happened already. They restored from their Google account backup and got back their core stuff in seconds (mail, contacts, apps, bookmarks, settings, etc.). It wasn't that big of an ordeal. Google's back up worked well. And there are better alternatives if you feel the need (how many alternatives do we have for iOS' keyboard, or notification system, or a better browser if I don't like Safari? Etc.). I'm not downplaying anything. Google's backup system is good. Can it be even better? Sure.

Well, they were lucky that they had everything important to them in Google's services then. They would have been screwed if they'd had files/info/images/projects important to them scattered across various 3rd party apps.

 

[Dontazemebro]

There's a reason why android doesn't have a more robust back up system similar to icloud. Reason being: Android works on various different handsets. Could you imagine all the hell Google would incur when some idiot tries to restore their HTC One with a backup from a Galaxy S4?

Also Google does provide app data to be backed up but it's something the developer has to implement in the app and hardly any of the developers take advantage of this feature.

 

[gotluck]

An I missing something? Doesn't titanium backup serve all these functions?

Requires root so that means it doesn't count?

 

[gdourado]

An I missing something? Doesn't titanium backup serve all these functions?

Requires root so that means it doesn't count?

From what I read, titanium works for user apps. Not system apps. If you try to restore data from system apps on different handsets, it could go wrong...

 

[Dontazemebro]

An I missing something? Doesn't titanium backup serve all these functions?

Requires root so that means it doesn't count?

Yes you're right however there is an equivalent for non-rooted users called Helium (formerly known as carbon)

----------

From what I read, titanium works for user apps. Not system apps. If you try to restore data from system apps on different handsets, it could go wrong...

Right as well, It backs up both system and user apps and works perfectly fine as long as you're restoring to the same device. You can choose to restore just user apps/data if going to another device but I still wouldn't recommend that. It's better never to backup from one device and restore to another.

 

[onthecouchagain]

Good point, Donta, about the multiple devices.

And yes and yes to the titanium and helium back up solutions. I kept mentioning there are alternatives but you know, people are running out of things to say iOS is better at so they have to cling on and blow out of proportion the few things that are left.

 

[zone23]

You can use Titanium Backup with your dropbox for backing up. This gives you sort of a iCloud type backup.

 

[robjulo]

My thoughts after having a 4S for a long time and using the GS4 on and off for two months (Still have my 4S with ios 7 beta 5 so I can make some comparisons)

Size - I think the GS4 is slightly too big and my 4S is way too small. The 5 is even too small. I find myself hitting buttons by accident on the GS4 because of the large size and at times, it requires two handed operation. I still wouldn't give that up because the extra space is worth it IMO.

Screen - even the 4S is brighter and sharper than my GS4. Difference is definitely noticeable when comparing side by side.

"Today" vs "Google Now" - no comparison. Google Now wins hands down. It predicts where you are going, given past searches and gives you the option to navigate there. With that said, many of "Google Now" features are available on ios.

Gallery - I think the new gallery of ios is very cool with the way it organizes by year and event. Definite winner for ios.

Camera - GS4 has much more flexibility as compared to 4S. Even with ios 7, there seem to be many more filters and effects with the GS4. Picture quality is solid on the GS4 but IMO, it is not quite as good as some of the pics I see with my 4S. YMMV because it may simply be I haven't taken alot of photos yet to do a true comparison

Mail - for the most part, I find ios easier to use but Android has some major advantages because it uses a file system. You don't have to do workarounds to simply reply to an email to a bunch of people and attach a file. With that said, I think the interface of ios mail is slicker, especially swipe to delete. I find the gmail app on both to be awful.

OS look and feel - I like widgets. I don't have a lot but have a few I like to use. ios feels like an App launcher, Android feels more like an OS, I can make it look like I want it to or I can just leave it alone. I think ios 7 looks cartoonish and childlike especially on the 4S where there is hardly any room on the screen.

ecosystem - Apple wins this battle solidly if you have any other Apple products in the house. I have workarounds to get the functionality close (ie monitoring my dropbox folder) but it is not quite the same and you lose out on imessage and facetime. You can use doubletwist on Android which really helps with syncing music.

Notifications - Apple wins hands down IMO on this. Android notifications are horrible, especially in the lock screen (can't use lock screen widgets if you use a PIN). The workarounds currently involve turning on Accessibility services, which at least on the GS4, brings about its own whole host of issues.

fragmentation - Hear a lot about how fragmented Android is and as I am going through what I cannot do with ios 7 on the 4S (ie Airdrop) it struck me that ios is fragmented, it just isn't at the OS level, it is at the feature level.

I'm still not sure which I'lll end up keeping for the next year. I need to play with ios 7 some more and then decide. Hope some of this helps.

 

[ReanimationN]

There's a reason why android doesn't have a more robust back up system similar to icloud. Reason being: Android works on various different handsets. Could you imagine all the hell Google would incur when some idiot tries to restore their HTC One with a backup from a Galaxy S4?

That's true. There'd have to be some sort of system that separates apps and their data, and the system apps/launcher in order to combat the possibility of people doing things like that.

Also Google does provide app data to be backed up but it's something the developer has to implement in the app and hardly any of the developers take advantage of this feature.

That's something everyone should take advantage of.

An I missing something? Doesn't titanium backup serve all these functions?

Requires root so that means it doesn't count?

Tell a friend who has little in the way of technogicical literacy to root their phone and install + set up TB and see how they go.

Good point, Donta, about the multiple devices.

And yes and yes to the titanium and helium back up solutions. I kept mentioning there are alternatives but you know, people are running out of things to say iOS is better at so they have to cling on and blow out of proportion the few things that are left.

They're not apparent to people though. iTunes/iCloud backup is built-in and works effectively invisibly, there's no work involved. All it would take is Google pushing their own built-in version of Helium or iCloud for the problem to disappear.

 

[Technarchy]

Good point, Donta, about the multiple devices.

And yes and yes to the titanium and helium back up solutions. I kept mentioning there are alternatives but you know, people are running out of things to say iOS is better at so they have to cling on and blow out of proportion the few things that are left.

When I upgraded from iPhone 4S to iPhone 5, my iCloud account had everything moved over in about 15 minutes via Wi-Fi No fuss, no drama. One login.

If I get a Galaxy S5 will it be equally easy coming from a GS4?

This is not a counterpoint, but an actual question. Does kies work like this? Restore across Samsung devices? Because as long as it runs iOS I never have an issue getting everything real easy...including app content.

 

[blackhand1001]

Cloud services sound great. I refuse to believe that there are no cloud services for Android? Didn't they make big announcements about these same features at their recent keynote? Thought there was a whole section devoted to photos and editing?

And what if you don't have Macs? Does it still sync?

Android has had cloud services for longer than apple has. Its had them since the beginning. I don't know why people think iCloud was anything new. Android has had contact/photo/calender syncing since the beginning. Its had cloud music for longer too. The other great thing about android is if you don't like googles cloud services you can install third party ones and they can integrate into the core OS functions just as well as google's. With iOS you are stuck with apples services.

 

[mib1800]

When I upgraded from iPhone 4S to iPhone 5, my iCloud account had everything moved over in about 15 minutes via Wi-Fi No fuss, no drama. One login.

If I get a Galaxy S5 will it be equally easy coming from a GS4?

This is not a counterpoint, but an actual question. Does kies work like this? Restore across Samsung devices?

There is no one backup that works for restore across different devices. Nothing as neat as itunes backup. Full stop.

Nowadays many apps/games store their data in the cloud so this deficiency is less of an issue.

Like all things android there is workaround like helium which doesn't need a rocket scientist to understand how to use.

It is not like we need to do this restore everyday. Even with iPhone not everyone pays to have extra storage so you can do icloud backup. For those who doesn't they still need to learn how to do it with cable plug in.