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Phones Switching to Nexus 4 - My Experience
- Thread starter slu
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Nice. I may have a setting wrong as well. I'll check it out on my Mac and update the thread later.
awesome thread!
This is where I am too....wanting to try something different but having an all Apple household. How about controlling the AppleTV? The battery in my remote is out and so I have been using the remote app instead.
So with what was said about itunes sync....can you still purchase from you randroid phone from itunes? Is there a way to still use Match?
This is where I am too....wanting to try something different but having an all Apple household. How about controlling the AppleTV? The battery in my remote is out and so I have been using the remote app instead.
So with what was said about itunes sync....can you still purchase from you randroid phone from itunes? Is there a way to still use Match?
So the daughter is now asleep and I just cracked open my Nexus 4.
Initial impressions:
Packaging reminded me of iPhone packaging, which is not a bad thing. While I have not ever bought another smartphone so I don't know if they all come like this these days, but this was certainly on equal footing with Apple.
Only the basics are included, but that is fine with me. I didn't need headphones, so I am glad they didn't include them so it keeps the cost down a few bucks. The charger also is very Apple-like, albeit a bit larger. I still am thinking of getting a wireless charger, so I am not sure the slightly larger charger will matter to me all that much.
I am impressed with the build quality. The phone feels very solid in my hand. It seems to be the same thickness as my iPhone 4, but also slightly lighter. Just from holding it, I don't think I will have any issues with one hand operation due to screen size. I think I am going to prefer the placement of the power button since I usually use my phone with my left hand. The phone all looks "prettier" (for lack of a better word) in person. I had seem many pictures online, but the real thing is more impressive. But that can happen with a lot of electronics.
Now, to turn it on and set it up! Will report back later.
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Don't yet know about the AppleTV remote, but I will check out the Play store and see what they have.
I think you can purchase from the Google Play store and have it automatically sync to your iTunes. This is something I will also check into.
You cannot use iTunes Match, the Google Music does the same things as Match for free. I already use it on my iPhone with a 3rd Party App.
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Weird - it does not upload my Smart Playlists and I can find no related setting on Music Manager on my Mac to sync them. I checked the Play Web Interface and they weren't there either. Odd. I may have to look into this more.
Initial impressions:
Packaging reminded me of iPhone packaging, which is not a bad thing. While I have not ever bought another smartphone so I don't know if they all come like this these days, but this was certainly on equal footing with Apple.
Only the basics are included, but that is fine with me. I didn't need headphones, so I am glad they didn't include them so it keeps the cost down a few bucks. The charger also is very Apple-like, albeit a bit larger. I still am thinking of getting a wireless charger, so I am not sure the slightly larger charger will matter to me all that much.
I am impressed with the build quality. The phone feels very solid in my hand. It seems to be the same thickness as my iPhone 4, but also slightly lighter. Just from holding it, I don't think I will have any issues with one hand operation due to screen size. I think I am going to prefer the placement of the power button since I usually use my phone with my left hand. The phone all looks "prettier" (for lack of a better word) in person. I had seem many pictures online, but the real thing is more impressive. But that can happen with a lot of electronics.
Now, to turn it on and set it up! Will report back later.
----------
Don't yet know about the AppleTV remote, but I will check out the Play store and see what they have.
I think you can purchase from the Google Play store and have it automatically sync to your iTunes. This is something I will also check into.
You cannot use iTunes Match, the Google Music does the same things as Match for free. I already use it on my iPhone with a 3rd Party App.
----------
Weird - it does not upload my Smart Playlists and I can find no related setting on Music Manager on my Mac to sync them. I checked the Play Web Interface and they weren't there either. Odd. I may have to look into this more.
More Inital Impression
1. I like the little vibration it does when you turn it on.
2. Setup was very quick and easy. Again, reminds me of setting up a new iPhone. Just input my Google Account info, answer a couple of questions, and done!
3. My cell signal doesn't seem as good in the same place. This obviously could change as I move around the house.
4. Not being able to add non-Google accounts to the Gmail app kinda stinks. I will check out some of the suggestions for a third party client.
5. Took me a minute to find the APN Settings. Once I did though, setting up for ST was easy.
Next post will be from the Nexus!
1. I like the little vibration it does when you turn it on.
2. Setup was very quick and easy. Again, reminds me of setting up a new iPhone. Just input my Google Account info, answer a couple of questions, and done!
3. My cell signal doesn't seem as good in the same place. This obviously could change as I move around the house.
4. Not being able to add non-Google accounts to the Gmail app kinda stinks. I will check out some of the suggestions for a third party client.
5. Took me a minute to find the APN Settings. Once I did though, setting up for ST was easy.
Next post will be from the Nexus!
No - I think you can buy from the Play store on Android and have it import to iTunes on the Mac.
Some more thoughts, posted from the phone:
The phone is much faster than the iPhone 4, but that is to be expected given this is a more modern phone.
The keyboard is neat. It will take some getting used to, but the gesture typing works pretty well.
Due to the larger size, my hand is getting a bit sore. This is something else to get used to though.
Not a big fan of the stock messaging app so far. Seems to take too many clicks to do things. Will be looking at alternatives.
I'd say the comparison to changing from Windows to Mac made earlier is a pretty good analogy for my experience thus far.
The phone is much faster than the iPhone 4, but that is to be expected given this is a more modern phone.
The keyboard is neat. It will take some getting used to, but the gesture typing works pretty well.
Due to the larger size, my hand is getting a bit sore. This is something else to get used to though.
Not a big fan of the stock messaging app so far. Seems to take too many clicks to do things. Will be looking at alternatives.
I'd say the comparison to changing from Windows to Mac made earlier is a pretty good analogy for my experience thus far.
This is the way I got my playlists up to Google from iTunes.
Click on Music Manager on computer (looks like headphones in top bar on computer)
Click on Preferences
On the Upload page, select the radio button for "by Playlist" and your playlists will appear.
Select the playlists and voila, songs and playlists uploaded.
Not sure if that will work after the initial uploads but I don't see why it wouldn't. If I add songs to playlists when I buy them new Google sees them and updates the Google Music/Play playlists
Hope that helps.
Click on Music Manager on computer (looks like headphones in top bar on computer)
Click on Preferences
On the Upload page, select the radio button for "by Playlist" and your playlists will appear.
Select the playlists and voila, songs and playlists uploaded.
Not sure if that will work after the initial uploads but I don't see why it wouldn't. If I add songs to playlists when I buy them new Google sees them and updates the Google Music/Play playlists
Hope that helps.
Cannot control an AppleTV from Android without having a jail broken AppleTV.
I got photo syncing with iPhoto working via Drop box and Automator, but might try a different solution from Doubletwist called Airsync. I'll post more details tomorrow.
I got photo syncing with iPhoto working via Drop box and Automator, but might try a different solution from Doubletwist called Airsync. I'll post more details tomorrow.
unfortunately, there is no way to control appletv using anything other than an apple product (unless you have a second gen jailbroken ATV) If you use apple tv or airports, you need to keep either an ipad or ipod touch
This is the a problem I have with Apple. They never allow their stuff to work on anything else but Apple products. Google allows all their services on iOS, and windows. If their stuff is good why don't they share it instead of keep it locked to their products? If sure would make things a lot easier.
Glad to see someone here share their experience with the N4. It's an amazing phone, no doubt, and my selection when I decided to move to Android last month.
However, I have since switched back. It's not an issue of insane frustration, or 'oh wow I can't use this, hate it', not at all. It's those minor things.
I have been an Apple user since Xmas 2010, when I got my 4th gen iPod touch (never had an iPhone). I used it extensively over 2 years. Now, the battery sucks, it's slow as hell, and lags everywhere. Capacity at 8 GB didn't help either. As my phone, I was using a very old Sony Ericsson k800i (from 2007, I think). So basically, I was carrying two devices.
So I decide to go Android, seeing as I had the iPod for music and I could use the Nexus for everything else (music on Android is just.....no. I hate every music app there is, too complicated - and most are really ugly).
The Nexus was a breath of fresh air. It's very fast, things load really quick, and the extra RAM really makes up for it. So I started looking for alternatives of things I used to use everyday on my iPod - Tweetbot, Air Video, Sleep Cycle, Flipboard, etc...I found most of them, and was satisfied.
The customization on Android was a big plus. I love how you can change everything about your phone easily, you can really make it yours.
But then came the annoyances. Such as:
1- Email is TERRIBLE on Android (at least using Gmail's official app and some others). You can't zoom out (why!!!), it doesn't show pictures automatically (which it should, but you can fix that), iCloud email integration takes extra steps, it doesn't scale images......just no.
On iOS, I've been using the default mail app for YEARS. It works perfectly. I don't need Mailbox (amazing app, though and iOS exclusive!). I just need iCloud and Gmail in the same app, scaled emails, images loading automatically, and zooming actually working. And the stock mail app does it all.
2. Notifications. I do not like the way Android does it. So I have to basically pull down the notification shade if I've using my phone (considering the details don't show up)? Just pop a notification like iOS does. If the phone is off, well that's a whole different story.
The light is great when I'm not around my phone (and something iPhones should have), but when I'm at my desk and it's there, I want it to tell me IMMEDIATELY what the notification is. Turn on my screen and show it. If I don't act on it, then activate the LED light. Android doesn't even turn on the screen, it just defaults to using the notification sound and light (if enabled). There should be a hybrid between them and they should work together.
3. Fluidness. I tried an iPhone 5 in the Apple Store and that thing was so much more fluid and responsive than my Nexus (even though Nexus does true multitasking) that I actually got one. The iPhone may have many flaws, but goddamn it, iOS is still lights years ahead in polish and fluidity. Nothing lags on an iPhone 5 (not that I know of). The Nexus? Not so much.
4. App quality and diversity. Android has a great marketplace, but most apps suck (same goes for iOS, though). However, try finding this on Android:
- Tweetbot
- Vine
- Haze
- Air Video
- Tons of games (like Infinity Blade 2)
- Camera+
etc....
The big guns are on par on both platforms, some apps are actually better on Android (like Any.DO), but most are behind in terms of UI quality and responsiveness (due to the OS and the way you can easily do animation on iOS). It's the little things, mostly.
5. Connectivity if you have iOS products (which you do). AirPlay is really great, but only works on iOS. iCloud is great, but where are Photo Streams on Android? Nowhere. iMessage? Nada. I have to go and download a cross-platform messenger just to be able to chat with people. It's just more steps to doing anything app related.
6. Games. Most are iOS exclusive, the ports on Android kinda perform worse than their iOS versions (with some exceptions, of course).
7. Music/iTunes. I'm a big music person. I love having my library on iTunes and wirelessly syncing (yes, it works most of the time!) to my iPhone without cables. Just select any song/album/playlist/artist/genre you want and sync. And the music app on iOS is simple and easy to use. Get Scroblr from Cydia (free) and it will even do live last.fm scrobbling (if you use that). Android lets you drag and drop.....but I hate that kind of way to put songs on your device, it's so 2002. I want a manager. And iTunes does this well.
Next, iTunes (the app on iOS). I like browsing new music, movies, tv shows, etc...even check new courses on iTunes U. Nothing like this on Android. Well, you have the Play Store, but finding music on there....wow, no thanks.
But Android/Nexus 4 does have great things:
1. Tasker. If you don't know about this app, Google it. It's basically the best app you will ever find for Android, so useful. Wish iOS had it.
2. Big(ger) screens (depends on the device, but yeah)
3. USB connectivity, drag and drop (nothing a jailbreak can't give you, but Android does this natively)
4. NFC for those who use it
5. Customization in every aspect
However, I have since switched back. It's not an issue of insane frustration, or 'oh wow I can't use this, hate it', not at all. It's those minor things.
I have been an Apple user since Xmas 2010, when I got my 4th gen iPod touch (never had an iPhone). I used it extensively over 2 years. Now, the battery sucks, it's slow as hell, and lags everywhere. Capacity at 8 GB didn't help either. As my phone, I was using a very old Sony Ericsson k800i (from 2007, I think). So basically, I was carrying two devices.
So I decide to go Android, seeing as I had the iPod for music and I could use the Nexus for everything else (music on Android is just.....no. I hate every music app there is, too complicated - and most are really ugly).
The Nexus was a breath of fresh air. It's very fast, things load really quick, and the extra RAM really makes up for it. So I started looking for alternatives of things I used to use everyday on my iPod - Tweetbot, Air Video, Sleep Cycle, Flipboard, etc...I found most of them, and was satisfied.
The customization on Android was a big plus. I love how you can change everything about your phone easily, you can really make it yours.
But then came the annoyances. Such as:
1- Email is TERRIBLE on Android (at least using Gmail's official app and some others). You can't zoom out (why!!!), it doesn't show pictures automatically (which it should, but you can fix that), iCloud email integration takes extra steps, it doesn't scale images......just no.
On iOS, I've been using the default mail app for YEARS. It works perfectly. I don't need Mailbox (amazing app, though and iOS exclusive!). I just need iCloud and Gmail in the same app, scaled emails, images loading automatically, and zooming actually working. And the stock mail app does it all.
2. Notifications. I do not like the way Android does it. So I have to basically pull down the notification shade if I've using my phone (considering the details don't show up)? Just pop a notification like iOS does. If the phone is off, well that's a whole different story.
The light is great when I'm not around my phone (and something iPhones should have), but when I'm at my desk and it's there, I want it to tell me IMMEDIATELY what the notification is. Turn on my screen and show it. If I don't act on it, then activate the LED light. Android doesn't even turn on the screen, it just defaults to using the notification sound and light (if enabled). There should be a hybrid between them and they should work together.
3. Fluidness. I tried an iPhone 5 in the Apple Store and that thing was so much more fluid and responsive than my Nexus (even though Nexus does true multitasking) that I actually got one. The iPhone may have many flaws, but goddamn it, iOS is still lights years ahead in polish and fluidity. Nothing lags on an iPhone 5 (not that I know of). The Nexus? Not so much.
4. App quality and diversity. Android has a great marketplace, but most apps suck (same goes for iOS, though). However, try finding this on Android:
- Tweetbot
- Vine
- Haze
- Air Video
- Tons of games (like Infinity Blade 2)
- Camera+
etc....
The big guns are on par on both platforms, some apps are actually better on Android (like Any.DO), but most are behind in terms of UI quality and responsiveness (due to the OS and the way you can easily do animation on iOS). It's the little things, mostly.
5. Connectivity if you have iOS products (which you do). AirPlay is really great, but only works on iOS. iCloud is great, but where are Photo Streams on Android? Nowhere. iMessage? Nada. I have to go and download a cross-platform messenger just to be able to chat with people. It's just more steps to doing anything app related.
6. Games. Most are iOS exclusive, the ports on Android kinda perform worse than their iOS versions (with some exceptions, of course).
7. Music/iTunes. I'm a big music person. I love having my library on iTunes and wirelessly syncing (yes, it works most of the time!) to my iPhone without cables. Just select any song/album/playlist/artist/genre you want and sync. And the music app on iOS is simple and easy to use. Get Scroblr from Cydia (free) and it will even do live last.fm scrobbling (if you use that). Android lets you drag and drop.....but I hate that kind of way to put songs on your device, it's so 2002. I want a manager. And iTunes does this well.
Next, iTunes (the app on iOS). I like browsing new music, movies, tv shows, etc...even check new courses on iTunes U. Nothing like this on Android. Well, you have the Play Store, but finding music on there....wow, no thanks.
But Android/Nexus 4 does have great things:
1. Tasker. If you don't know about this app, Google it. It's basically the best app you will ever find for Android, so useful. Wish iOS had it.
2. Big(ger) screens (depends on the device, but yeah)
3. USB connectivity, drag and drop (nothing a jailbreak can't give you, but Android does this natively)
4. NFC for those who use it
5. Customization in every aspect
The notification you got while making the screenshot made me lol.
Yea I notice that when I put the image up. I laughed as well.
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So the Apple stuff not syncing well with your phone is not because Google does not want them to. It is on Apple. They don't want to allow their apps and features to be use on anything, but Apple products. I understand that it keeps people loyal, but come they could let things work cross platform. Google has no problem doing this. I just did not let myself get to invested in one or the other, so the transition is much easier. I never used my icloud email. I really had no idea people did. I don't know the small things that Apple does kind of bothers me.
I agree it is annoying, but makes sense from a business standpoint. Oddly enough the Hue lights, sold in apple stores, works with my nexus 4 and actually as unofficial apps that are better than the one phillips makes. For example, the 3rd party app I can set up so my lights turn on as soon as my phone connects to my wifi router....the official app has no such thing =/
Yea I get it they want to keep customers so they get them hook and deeply invested into Apple, and transitioning can be too much to ask. Like I said I try not to get too invested any one ecosystem cause it makes switching way easier.
On the flip side, I love the wireless charger. The time it takes is no big deal b.c I charge the phone at night. About the slipping, the first nexus 4 I had, had weak magnets inside the phone (there are magnets to make the phone stick to the charger) so it slipped off the charger. They sent me a new phone and the issue was gone. I did a lot of forum searching b.c people thought it was their charger, but it was in fact the phone.