Still researching move to Android and have more questions

[robjulo]

I've been researching moving to Android. I'm trying to thoroughly research this because I have a significant number of Apple products in the house including several iPads, iPod Touch a Macbook Pro and an iMac. Here are the areas that are important I was/am confused about, some of which I think I have answers for.

iMessage - very important because my daughter only has an iPod touch. Google hangouts seems like it is the answer. We've tested the text messaging and video chat and it seems to work well so problem solved. A couple of remaining questions though (not as critical for me). Does hangouts (or any other app_ allow for an SMS text to show up on my iPad? IE, if someone texts me will it show up on my iPad, like iMessages does. If a group message is sent from iMessage, can I respond with my Android phone to the entire group?

Facetime - again important because my daughter has an iPod touch. Google hangouts seemed to work well.

Music - seems like Google Play is the answer. My understanding is that I can get Google play to monitor my music library so that if a new purchase is made and downloaded to my music, it will show up in Google Play automatically - correct?

Photos - I'm still confused on this one. I want a situation similar to photostream where everything is automatically synced. I thought about dropbox. I can easily use automator on my iMac to monitor my dropbox folder and automatically import photos in Aperture (which then automatically get into the photostream). However, my understanding is that the dropbox App will not auto-upload photos from the Android Phone unless you open the App - correct? So I also researched Google Drive and/or Google+ photos and I am confused. I've read that photos will auto-upload (without opening an App) via Google+ photos. Is there a way to get those same photos to sync on my local machine so that Aperture can monitor that folder and auto-import the photos? I have a local Google Drive folder (which seems to work just like Dropbox) but photos in Google+ don't show up in Google Drive, as far as I can tell. I have tried picasa but that seems to be a one-way sync (computer to Google+)

I appreciate the help.

 

[tbayrgs]

I haven't used anything for messaging other than iMessage and SMS so I'll defer to others with more expertise. Otherwise, I was in your shoes not too long ago so I'll try to help out with what I know.

Music - seems like Google Play is the answer. My understanding is that I can get Google play to monitor my music library so that if a new purchase is made and downloaded to my music, it will show up in Google Play automatically - correct?

This is correct. You run the Music Manager app on your Mac, configure it to monitor your iTunes library and voila, anything added to your iTunes library will be added to your Google Music library, should you choose to set it up that way. The Google Play Music app can then stream your library or you can use the app to play music store locally on your device (can load music from your iTunes library right on your device, assuming you have the available storage).

Photos - I'm still confused on this one. I want a situation similar to photostream where everything is automatically synced. I thought about dropbox. I can easily use automator on my iMac to monitor my dropbox folder and automatically import photos in Aperture (which then automatically get into the photostream). However, my understanding is that the dropbox App will not auto-upload photos from the Android Phone unless you open the App - correct? So I also researched Google Drive and/or Google+ photos and I am confused. I've read that photos will auto-upload (without opening an App) via Google+ photos. Is there a way to get those same photos to sync on my local machine so that Aperture can monitor that folder and auto-import the photos? I have a local Google Drive folder (which seems to work just like Dropbox) but photos in Google+ don't show up in Google Drive, as far as I can tell. I have tried picasa but that seems to be a one-way sync (computer to Google+)

I appreciate the help.

Regarding Dropbox--what you describe is exactly what I do (substitute iPhoto for Aperture, otherwise the same) and while you have to open the Dropbox app on an iPhone to have it upload photos/videos, it doesn't have to be done with the Android app. As soon as I'm on my home wifi network, my photos/videos are automatically uploaded and Automator then imports everything into iPhoto. Super simple and even a step up from Photostream in that it will upload videos. Downside is there isn't a way to view your Photostream on an Android device but if you keep those photos in Dropbox they'll be viewable.

I also have my photos automatically uploaded to Google+ but am basically using it as a backup for my photos.

 

[Explicitic]

iMessage - Yes, any messages you receive through Google Hangouts will show up on the Hangouts app you have installed on any Android or iOS device as long as you log in with the SAME Google account. I don't believe you will be able to respond to a group message sent through iMessage because that's apart of the iMessage app and that alone.

Facetime - Yes, Hangouts will be fine if it works well enough. I haven't tried it out myself but it's free. There is always Skype as well.

Music - As long as you have the Google Music Manager installed and running on your computer, it will automatically upload any music you have from (a) specific folder(s) and iTunes to the cloud where you can stream them through http://music.google.com and the Play Music app on an Android device. Google allows 20,000 free songs without the ability to purchase more storage. That can be circumvented by using multiple Google accounts, however. If you don't feel like using a whole bunch of data and streaming all your music, the Android app also has the option to make songs available offline.

Photos - No idea. I'm not a big photography guy...

 

[robjulo]

I appreciate the help.

I was confused on the photos and dropbox because their instructions are either dated or incorrect and indicate you still have to open the App to start background downloading. Based on tbayrgs' post and other research, it is clear that is not true.

 

[kiltedthrower]

If you use Google+, it will automatically upload photos. The Dropbox app will upload photos on WiFi or you can manually push it to upload. There is an app (I can't remember the name that will automatically sync photos to Dropbox.

Yes on Google Music.

Tango and Skype work well for video chat on Android, not sure about iproducts. Google hangouts do work well.

 

[sbddude]

I have use the Facebook messenger and google hang outs. I prefer Facebook messenger because it seems to be more reliable with notifications.

For photos, dropbox works as the others have described. Another alternative that I use is sugarsync. I like that because you get more free space (5gb, plis more wih referrals. I have 30gb free). I use sugar sync only for photos, and use dropbox for other things.

 

[torana355]

You can also use Google drive for your photos, you get 5GB for free.

Edit: Ignore my post, i see you have already mentioned Google drive.

 

[Chodite]

Concerning photos - I recently made the switch, while 2 of my family members still have iPhones. Photostream is still a big deal for us.

I've got my Dropbox set up so that every pic (and video!) is automatically uploaded to my Dropbox from my S4, without me doing a thing. Dropbox app on the phone does not need to be opened.

I've got the Dropbox app running 24/7 on my Mac @ home. There is a Camera Uploads Dropbox folder on my Mac which gets these S4 photos as soon as I take them. For now - I'm simply dragging those photos into iPhoto and boom - they're now on Photostream. Somewhat of a manual process, but literally takes 2 seconds.

There IS an automated process to the above. Pretty sure I saw it on here. I'll link to it if I can find it.

 

[vineetm]

What about this?
I use this personally and have no issues with it.
spending some money for android is good cuz it is better.

 

[Dlcinnc]

I am in the same situation. An iPad and MBA but now leaving my iPhone 4 for the Galaxy S4. Very excited but have a question about iMessage. Do you have to turn it off on all your other Apple devices? Can you just quit it or should I delete from MBA? I rely on texting with my family who all have iPhones and don't want to chance missing messages.

Thanks!

 

[Chodite]

I am in the same situation. An iPad and MBA but now leaving my iPhone 4 for the Galaxy S4. Very excited but have a question about iMessage. Do you have to turn it off on all your other Apple devices? Can you just quit it or should I delete from MBA? I rely on texting with my family who all have iPhones and don't want to chance missing messages.

Thanks!

I had to disable iMessage on my iPhone 5 to stop messages from going there instead of my new phone. Since iMessage is not associated with your phone # on your MBA (iPad, etc.) - you should be fine leaving iMessage enabled on those devices. Just make sure to disable it on your iPhone.

 

[ssmats]

Photostream to android:
My issue is getting the photos taken with iPhones from photostream to automatically sync with the android phone over wifi in the background.
I can auto sync from android to photostream via a script and Dropbox but not in the opposite direction. Other family members have iPhones and I want to be able to see their photos from my android phone.

 

[Alfuh]

Not sure if anyone clarified this, but once you disassociate iMessage with your phone number you CAN be in group texts and respond to everyone at once.

The only difference is that for everyone else it will be a text message thread, not an iMessage thread. I use Go SMS for this and it works just fine.

I think everyone answered the other questions pretty well, but to make sure you are set with photos: I use google+ as online backup and then from time to time I will plug in my GS3, have the computer recognize it like a camera and then it syncs everything over iPhoto just like plugging in any camera.

 

[Chodite]

Photostream to android:
My issue is getting the photos taken with iPhones from photostream to automatically sync with the android phone over wifi in the background.
I can auto sync from android to photostream via a script and Dropbox but not in the opposite direction. Other family members have iPhones and I want to be able to see their photos from my android phone.

If you can find this solution, I'll be one happy guy

 

[robjulo]

Photostream to android:
My issue is getting the photos taken with iPhones from photostream to automatically sync with the android phone over wifi in the background.
I can auto sync from android to photostream via a script and Dropbox but not in the opposite direction. Other family members have iPhones and I want to be able to see their photos from my android phone.

I tinkered with this with automator and Aperture but could never figure out a process flow to get it to work going from Photostream to dropbox.

 

[ssmats]

Photostream to android:
My issue is getting the photos taken with iPhones from photostream to automatically sync with the android phone over wifi in the background.
I can auto sync from android to photostream via a script and Dropbox but not in the opposite direction. Other family members have iPhones and I want to be able to see their photos from my android phone.

My solution:

I wrote an automator script to copy photos from the photostream folder as they appear, to a folder in the Dropbox folder (I created a new folder called 'Photostream'). (for details google "photostream automator", 1st result will give you enough hints on how to do it)

On Mac the photostream folder is a in the hidden Library folder:
{USERNAME}/Library/Application Support/iLifeAssetManagement/assets/sub


You can then browse this folder with the Dropbox app, or sync a local folder on the Android phone to it with the Dropsync app.

 

[robjulo]

My solution:

I wrote an automator script to copy photos from the photostream folder as they appear, to a folder in the Dropbox folder (I created a new folder called 'Photostream'). (for details google "photostream automator", 1st result will give you enough hints on how to do it)

On Mac the photostream folder is a in the hidden Library folder:
{USERNAME}/Library/Application Support/iLifeAssetManagement/assets/sub


You can then browse this folder with the Dropbox app, or sync a local folder on the Android phone to it with the Dropsync app.

Thanks, I will check this out.

Couple of questions. Is that the library folder for photostreams for all applications, ie both Aperture and iPhoto.

Do photos get "doubled". In other words, if I have a script to bring the photos from dropbox into Aperture (and therefore into the photostream), will the photos then get doubled up as dropbox monitors the photostream or does dropbox realize it is the same photo.

 

[ssmats]

Thanks, I will check this out.

Couple of questions. Is that the library folder for photostreams for all applications, ie both Aperture and iPhoto.

Do photos get "doubled". In other words, if I have a script to bring the photos from dropbox into Aperture (and therefore into the photostream), will the photos then get doubled up as dropbox monitors the photostream or does dropbox realize it is the same photo.

Q1
It's where the photo stream photos get uploaded to on the computer.
Q2
Photos don't appear twice in the same folder, but there will be duplicates in different folders on your computer.

Photos taken with an iPhone go from iPhone via iCloud to photostream on the computer.
Then my script copies them from there to the 'Photostream' subfolder in Dropbox to allow them to be visible from the droid phone.
You'll end up with at least 2 copies of each photo. One in the /<user>/library/.../sub... folder and one in the Dropbox/Photostream folder.

If you have an android phone with auto photo upload enabled on Dropbox, every photo will get uploaded to the Dropbox/camera uploads folder. Then your automated script will copy it to photostream. Then my script would copy it back to the Dropbox/photostream folder. So you'll have 3 copies of each photo.

Yes, there is some redundancy there, but if you can think of another simpler alternative that works, please let me know!

 

[slu]

My solution:

I wrote an automator script to copy photos from the photostream folder as they appear, to a folder in the Dropbox folder (I created a new folder called 'Photostream'). (for details google "photostream automator", 1st result will give you enough hints on how to do it)

On Mac the photostream folder is a in the hidden Library folder:
{USERNAME}/Library/Application Support/iLifeAssetManagement/assets/sub


You can then browse this folder with the Dropbox app, or sync a local folder on the Android phone to it with the Dropsync app.

I did the same thing except I used Google Drive instead of dropbox. My main problem with this is that it copies photos that I took with my phone and not just photos that got uploaded to photostream from other sources. If this is not a big deal, this is a good way to go.

 

[ssmats]

I did the same thing except I used Google Drive instead of dropbox. My main problem with this is that it copies photos that I took with my phone and not just photos that got uploaded to photostream from other sources. If this is not a big deal, this is a good way to go.

I'm interested to know if you are getting duplicate photos when you use Google Drive instead of Dropbox?

 

[slu]

I'm interested to know if you are getting duplicate photos when you use Google Drive instead of Dropbox?

Yup.

 

[robjulo]

My solution:

I wrote an automator script to copy photos from the photostream folder as they appear, to a folder in the Dropbox folder (I created a new folder called 'Photostream'). (for details google "photostream automator", 1st result will give you enough hints on how to do it)

On Mac the photostream folder is a in the hidden Library folder:
{USERNAME}/Library/Application Support/iLifeAssetManagement/assets/sub


You can then browse this folder with the Dropbox app, or sync a local folder on the Android phone to it with the Dropsync app.

Do you mind telling me the script you use? I'm trying to use automator but not sure the right one. Also having difficulty because I cannot find a way to choose the hidden library folder when setting up the script in Automator.

Thanks for any help you can give.

Nevermind, I just saw your prior reference and will read that