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Seriously considering the move to Android.
- Thread starter gc15
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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.
This post is everything that's wrong with these forums....
Heavens you people are dense and biased.
The keyboard is "the end of the world", a "sick, twisted joke" and all manner of other hyperbole.
And anytime a positive comes up for iOS - we're "clinging" to one of the few things iOS does better as if we can't seem to let go of inferior technology because we are stubborn or stupid.
Last I saw, we were just pointing out that iOS has a more robust, intuitive backup solution (which was asked about). And in response we get posts like yours above.
Lol its unbelievable you think yourself some champion of objectivity. You prefer Android and as such post biased comments FOR Android (as you said, you can PREFER something and not think its perfect). THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH THIS. The fact that you post as if you are some singular force for objectivity on these forums and the rest of us trying to make this a two-sided conversation are blind and "clinging" is what's overtly annoying.
Embrace who you are. You are an Android fan. You like it and prefer it to Apple. Newsflash - I prefer iOS and therefore think the Apple keyboard is actually FASTER to type on
. I tested this yesterday. I typed the same sentence on both my devices multiple times and used all the "glorious options" at my disposal on my HTC One (the line of suggestions, the swyping). I was still much more comfortable on my iPhone - despite only having the one option.....Unbelievable I know - perhaps I was in the Twilight Zone or some alternate reality. But them's the facts. For the consumer base as a whole - more options = better. For each individual person, more options isn't necessarily better. And given the numerous options offered in the smartphone industry, from blackberry to iphone to Android to WP8 - crying about iOS being a sick joke really is tired.
And if Android is as easy to integrate into an Apple-heavy workflow as you claim (and I agree - it is), why does it even matter what iOS does?
Really, if you want to ignore my post (which I assume you will and give me a "stop being so defensive" response), at least answer that last question for me.
This post is everything that's wrong with these forums....
Heavens you people are dense and biased.
The keyboard is "the end of the world", a "sick, twisted joke" and all manner of other hyperbole.
And anytime a positive comes up for iOS - we're "clinging" to one of the few things iOS does better as if we can't seem to let go of inferior technology because we are stubborn or stupid.
Last I saw, we were just pointing out that iOS has a more robust, intuitive backup solution (which was asked about). And in response we get posts like yours above.
Lol its unbelievable you think yourself some champion of objectivity. You prefer Android and as such post biased comments FOR Android (as you said, you can PREFER something and not think its perfect). THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH THIS. The fact that you post as if you are some singular force for objectivity on these forums and the rest of us trying to make this a two-sided conversation are blind and "clinging" is what's overtly annoying.
Embrace who you are. You are an Android fan. You like it and prefer it to Apple. Newsflash - I prefer iOS and therefore think the Apple keyboard is actually FASTER to type on
Unbelievable I know - perhaps I was in the Twilight Zone or some alternate reality. But them's the facts. For the consumer base as a whole - more options = better. For each individual person, more options isn't necessarily better. And given the numerous options offered in the smartphone industry, from blackberry to iphone to Android to WP8 - crying about iOS being a sick joke really is tired.
And if Android is as easy to integrate into an Apple-heavy workflow as you claim (and I agree - it is), why does it even matter what iOS does?
Really, if you want to ignore my post (which I assume you will and give me a "stop being so defensive" response), at least answer that last question for me.
I must've struck a chord.
The only problem with the iPhone keyboard that I have is not being able to long press letters to get to numbers & alphanumeric symbols and I also have difficulties placing the cursor on screen due to my big hands. Other than that I'm pretty efficient with it and for a keyboard with this screen size (iPhone 4s) it is rather amazing. Yes it doesn't give you multiple choice words but for the most commonly used words, the corrections are almost always accurate. If I had to rate it, I definitely prefer it to swyping but still not as good as swift key.
Just my 2 pennies.
Just my 2 pennies.
I would be very pissed if I couldn't use a keyboard like swiftkey where the words are predicted almost magically and I can mix Spanish, Catalan and English without having to do anything.
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Yes that's the joy with swiftkey. It just magically knows what I'm thinking. I've been using it since it first went into beta so it's had countless emails & texts to learn my style over the years. Absolutely love it.
I find that the iOS backup solution to be very handy if you upgrade from one iPhone to another. However, if you choose to upgrade to a different device, then there are limitations to what you can do and what services that are available to you.
I upgraded from a Nokia N97 to an HTC Desire Z to a Galaxy S3. There are limits to what I can back up and recover. From the N97 to the DZ, I was able to transfer my contacts which was most important at the time via the SIM. Everything else in terms of apps was different. Email was OK as it was in my internet provider's email system.
When I upgraded to the Galaxy S3, I manually installed my apps. Some were HTC specific, so I had to find substitutes. Some I don't need anymore because of newer features on the SGS3. I think my contacts were with my Google account, so they transferred over. The Samsung Contact app was different than the HTC and required manual linking of contacts. This is another instance where a backup would not be seemless because of the differences in contact apps. Email was in Gmail. Browser shortcuts depended on the browser. My Opera browser links transferred automatically. I've switched to Chrome so, Chrome synced with my desktop browser now.
I upgraded from a Nokia N97 to an HTC Desire Z to a Galaxy S3. There are limits to what I can back up and recover. From the N97 to the DZ, I was able to transfer my contacts which was most important at the time via the SIM. Everything else in terms of apps was different. Email was OK as it was in my internet provider's email system.
When I upgraded to the Galaxy S3, I manually installed my apps. Some were HTC specific, so I had to find substitutes. Some I don't need anymore because of newer features on the SGS3. I think my contacts were with my Google account, so they transferred over. The Samsung Contact app was different than the HTC and required manual linking of contacts. This is another instance where a backup would not be seemless because of the differences in contact apps. Email was in Gmail. Browser shortcuts depended on the browser. My Opera browser links transferred automatically. I've switched to Chrome so, Chrome synced with my desktop browser now.
I first had a Sony Xperia X10i and i just couldn't handle Android. The device itself was a high-end smartphone back then but Android lagged too often, it didn't feel smooth. Also the update politics of most Android manufacturers sucks!
This is why i went to iOS with the 4S back in 2011. But since Apple is only milking the cash cow with its iPhone i'm considering going back :/
This is why i went to iOS with the 4S back in 2011. But since Apple is only milking the cash cow with its iPhone i'm considering going back :/
If you haven't tried iOS 7 yet, I'd encourage you and anyone else considering switch to at least wait and check it out.
Although if things like default browsers, alternate keyboards and spec sheets are important to you - I'd say you should've gone Android about a year ago!
Both offer great experiences, and depending on what your use case is, one may feel better than the other. I will say iOS 7 does some cool things (and I have a feeling there will be new features that haven't yet been announced - still holding out hope for quick reply).
My first android experience is with my new 2013 Nexus seven. I really enjoy it on the tablet and the functionality it offers over the iOS system. I have used individual android phones before but I've never owned one. After researching the Samsung Galaxy S4, moto X, and the HTC one The hardware blows iPhone 5 out of the water. I am not sure the experience on an android cell phone when compared to an iOS cell phone and how much it differs or watch one is better.
I am slightly invested in the iOS ecosystem but not so much that I am unwilling to switch over to android. However my concern is that the cellphone experience won't be as good of a quality as the tablet experience I've had so far with android.
Does anyone else have any opinions on the Samsung Galaxy S4 or maybe even waiting for the S5 to replace the iPhone 5?
I am slightly invested in the iOS ecosystem but not so much that I am unwilling to switch over to android. However my concern is that the cellphone experience won't be as good of a quality as the tablet experience I've had so far with android.
Does anyone else have any opinions on the Samsung Galaxy S4 or maybe even waiting for the S5 to replace the iPhone 5?
i've also been through this, i had iphone 2-4 and then i got GS3, although i was missing the imessage and itunes there was tonnes of other features which didn't let me miss those iphone features.
the hardware - really big and gorgeous display, snappy processor, better speaker, big battery, etc.
the software - tonnes of touchwiz features and LOVELY animations, metric tonnes of android features, (and i wanted even more customization so i rooted it and flashed ROM) and changed everything from the look of software to the battery life.
switch to android it's better for you.
the hardware - really big and gorgeous display, snappy processor, better speaker, big battery, etc.
the software - tonnes of touchwiz features and LOVELY animations, metric tonnes of android features, (and i wanted even more customization so i rooted it and flashed ROM) and changed everything from the look of software to the battery life.
switch to android it's better for you.
Ignorant comments. A massive problem with MacRumors forums....
Devs are not allowed to update apps with iOS 7 specific data until the public release....
Regarding the backup situation:
I fully agree that the set-it-and-forget-it iCloud solution is overall better than what Android has to offer (aside from an excessive annual fee unless you somehow can fit everything within 5GB).
On Android, aside from wallpapers and app info, you're pretty much on your own for backups. I grant that.
However, there are at least two issues with iOS backups:
(1) Your average user isn't necessarily going to remember to set up iCloud backups, to set up payment for > 5GB, to ensure things are being backed up (they sometimes fail), to know whether or not they've set iTunes settings in a way that stops the iCloud backup, and so on - it's so "set it and forget it" that sometimes you can be lulled into assuming it's enabled and working when it isn't.
(2) You cannot do partial restores. A friend of mine has had intermittent iPhone issues that have spanned a few phones, years, and iOS versions and so obviously are due to software. When she does a clean factory restore and adds things manually, all is well. When she does an iCloud (or iTunes) restore, the phone starts acting flaky. She has no way of only restoring part of her info (she ultimately just abandoned the old stuff). Android apps allow that, as does a jailbroken iPhone. I wish standard iOS restore allowed it as well. Yes, technically, the restore files could be broken up, but that's non-trivial, to say the least.
I fully agree that the set-it-and-forget-it iCloud solution is overall better than what Android has to offer (aside from an excessive annual fee unless you somehow can fit everything within 5GB).
On Android, aside from wallpapers and app info, you're pretty much on your own for backups. I grant that.
However, there are at least two issues with iOS backups:
(1) Your average user isn't necessarily going to remember to set up iCloud backups, to set up payment for > 5GB, to ensure things are being backed up (they sometimes fail), to know whether or not they've set iTunes settings in a way that stops the iCloud backup, and so on - it's so "set it and forget it" that sometimes you can be lulled into assuming it's enabled and working when it isn't.
(2) You cannot do partial restores. A friend of mine has had intermittent iPhone issues that have spanned a few phones, years, and iOS versions and so obviously are due to software. When she does a clean factory restore and adds things manually, all is well. When she does an iCloud (or iTunes) restore, the phone starts acting flaky. She has no way of only restoring part of her info (she ultimately just abandoned the old stuff). Android apps allow that, as does a jailbroken iPhone. I wish standard iOS restore allowed it as well. Yes, technically, the restore files could be broken up, but that's non-trivial, to say the least.
Why are you so defensive when it comes to Apple products? Even if someone is mis/ill-informed, why the incessant need to lash out?
That being said, if every single post in this side of the forum bothers you so much, why even bother posting here? It's as if you feel it is your responsibility to swoop in like a night in shining armor to restore order in favor of everything Apple.
I post the same type of comment in the iOS 7 subforum when posters complain about beta stuff.....its a beta. People should relax.
This has nothing to do with Android.
I recently switched from an iPhone 4S to a HTC One. I wanted a bigger screen, and I wanted widgets. I love being able to see information on my screen without having to go into specific apps.
Not only do widgets provide information at a glance, but they provide additional functionality, too.
I love being able to put my device to sleep with a touch of a button. It eliminates having to reach up to the top power button of the One so often.
(It's the little discrete lock screen icon in the middle there):
Also love being able to toggle on/off my lock screen when I don't need it at home. It was always frustrating to have to put in my pin code everrrrrry single time I wanted to access my phone even if I was at home. Quickly changing sound profiles too is nice.
Widgets can really change the experience of the phone. Ditto my Nexus 7. Just a touch of the screen and the device is put to sleep/locked.
Advice to the OP, move to Android. You seem bored with iOS and might as well try something new. Either get stuck with the same grid icons swiping in all four directions and tapping each individual app icon to view info or tweak an Android using Dashclock and Flipboard. I didnt try Android until late-2011 and didnt like the OS at first until Ice Cream Sandwich. Gingerbread lagged and look like a cheap copy of iOS. It took me months to truly understand. At first glance, it wasnt for me. Then as time wore on, I realized which apps to use and not to use and customization became an art to me. Android had so much depth. I still learn NEW things after nearly 2 years.
Now if you love to plays games, an audiophile, and prefer longer batt, stick to iPhone. With me, I only need a few BASIC needs from a phone and Android simply gives me that opportunity thay closed platforms like iOS, WP, and BB10 dont do.
1) I like to change my 3rd party apps to default. This is so true with the contacts/dialer app. The iOS phone/contact looks so dated. You see only names at first but u wont see a pic after u click the name. Android has pic icon next to the names. Sometimes I might have contacts with the same first name but have no last name for them. I have a pic to see them to differentiate. The ICS/JB is much nicer now compared to Gingerbread where I had to use TouchPal Contacts to replace the dialer. And contacts are automatically saved to my Gmail. Another great app is QuickPic. That is like my preferred Gallery app which can include videos from TV shows.
2) App Backup & Restore - sometimes an update is not really an update and the app gets worse. App Backup & Restore to the rescue. I can easily go back to the much more stable version. No need to SSH.
3) Bluetooth transfer - I dont have WiFi in my house. I use one in the mall right next to where I live. Bluetooth transfer is such an old idea but is so convenient esp if I want to send a new contact to my backup Android. The contact photo icons will all look the same. I could care less of Air Drop. Bluetooth and NFC will likely have a greater reach than just iOS to iOS.
4) Simple drag and drop - iTunes after 9.2 was known to use 100% CPU usage for Windows users. Google it. There is a fix but I dont want deal with iTunes anymore! Drag and drop is the way to go for me. I completely uninstalled iTunes because iOS devices relies so much on it to organize files. Such a cancer to my computer.
Not to mention stuff like removable battery and expandable memory slot on diff Androids esp from Samsung. A 64 GB can be had for $60 now! Why pay subsidized $399 for a 64 GB iPhone 5?
The magic of Apple was lost after SJ died. By that time, Google started to surpass Apple in innovation. And Google's online services are clearly superior to Apple's and the only thing they needed to catchup was design which they are closing the gap with. I havent gotten excited anything from Apple since the iPhone 4. Apple is like a 38-year old company. Getting stale. SJ brought the sex appeal and passion to the devices but now he is gone. Google has only been around since 1998. Look at Google Glass. That could be the next big thing to have from the geniuses at Google. And I'm looking forward more to the next Nexus phone and Key Lime Pie than anything Apple will announce next months.
The torch has been passed like MJ to Kobe to LeBron. It went from Microsoft (desktop OS) to Apple (mobile OS) to Google (mobile OS/online services). It is Google's turn to shine.
Now if you love to plays games, an audiophile, and prefer longer batt, stick to iPhone. With me, I only need a few BASIC needs from a phone and Android simply gives me that opportunity thay closed platforms like iOS, WP, and BB10 dont do.
1) I like to change my 3rd party apps to default. This is so true with the contacts/dialer app. The iOS phone/contact looks so dated. You see only names at first but u wont see a pic after u click the name. Android has pic icon next to the names. Sometimes I might have contacts with the same first name but have no last name for them. I have a pic to see them to differentiate. The ICS/JB is much nicer now compared to Gingerbread where I had to use TouchPal Contacts to replace the dialer. And contacts are automatically saved to my Gmail. Another great app is QuickPic. That is like my preferred Gallery app which can include videos from TV shows.
2) App Backup & Restore - sometimes an update is not really an update and the app gets worse. App Backup & Restore to the rescue. I can easily go back to the much more stable version. No need to SSH.
3) Bluetooth transfer - I dont have WiFi in my house. I use one in the mall right next to where I live. Bluetooth transfer is such an old idea but is so convenient esp if I want to send a new contact to my backup Android. The contact photo icons will all look the same. I could care less of Air Drop. Bluetooth and NFC will likely have a greater reach than just iOS to iOS.
4) Simple drag and drop - iTunes after 9.2 was known to use 100% CPU usage for Windows users. Google it. There is a fix but I dont want deal with iTunes anymore! Drag and drop is the way to go for me. I completely uninstalled iTunes because iOS devices relies so much on it to organize files. Such a cancer to my computer.
Not to mention stuff like removable battery and expandable memory slot on diff Androids esp from Samsung. A 64 GB can be had for $60 now! Why pay subsidized $399 for a 64 GB iPhone 5?
The magic of Apple was lost after SJ died. By that time, Google started to surpass Apple in innovation. And Google's online services are clearly superior to Apple's and the only thing they needed to catchup was design which they are closing the gap with. I havent gotten excited anything from Apple since the iPhone 4. Apple is like a 38-year old company. Getting stale. SJ brought the sex appeal and passion to the devices but now he is gone. Google has only been around since 1998. Look at Google Glass. That could be the next big thing to have from the geniuses at Google. And I'm looking forward more to the next Nexus phone and Key Lime Pie than anything Apple will announce next months.
The torch has been passed like MJ to Kobe to LeBron. It went from Microsoft (desktop OS) to Apple (mobile OS) to Google (mobile OS/online services). It is Google's turn to shine.