Thinking about going from iPhone 5 to LG G2

[Lyn2012]

Over the past few years I have considered going Android a couple of times but have resisted due to the problems of reliably syncing iCal and Contacts to an Android phone over USB, no cloud storage wanted. However, now Apple and Mavericks together have broken the straightforward iTunes syncing of this data to the iPhone, (as well as iOS7 breaking the chapter navigation for Audiobooks), it seems a good time to reconsider getting the large screen phone I'd love.

My main questions are listed below and I would appreciate any information people can give me before I take the plunge.

1. Is any reliable two way syncing now available over USB from Android (specifically LG G2) to iMac - as I said before, no iCloud or any other cloud syncing options please.
   
   
2. Is there an email function like iOS Mail? I have about 10 email addresses, and need to access them all centrally on my phone via POP (don't want to use IMAP). Some email addresses from my websites, others are Yahoo - and even a Gmail one, but I don't use this one anyway.
   
   
3. Is there an app that plays ALAC files without converting?
   
   
4. Is there an app that plays m4b audiobooks (without DRM) and keeps full chapter navigation (i.e. can see the chapters and navigate between them, not just go forward or backwards sequentially).
   
   
5. Backing up the phone to iMac over USB - what options are there?
   
   
6. When browsing in Safari I double tap the screen and the text I am reading expands to fill the screen making it easier to read. Does the stock browser on Android do this, or is there another browser I could use that does?
   
   
7. For anyone with the LG G2 - is the speakerphone any good? I use it all the time on my iP5 instead of holding the phone to my ear so for me, it's very important the speaker is good.
   
   
8. Siri substitute - I only use the basics while driving such as "play playlist/album/artist", "send text message to XXX", "call XXX", "pause music" - is there an equivalent to use on the LG G2?

I think that's about it for now, my thanks and appreciation in advance to people who reply.

 

[rockitdog]

Don't do it. The G2 is a blazing fast phone with great specs on paper and tons of 1/2 baked software. Couldn't be any less user friendly. The awkward rear button placement is the least concerning thing when it comes to this device. This is a classic android device that does not live up to the hype!

 

[JerZyT28]

Go to a store and check it out..only you can know what you like. Don't listen to sheeps

 

[Lyn2012]

I did but a quick play in the store where it is handcuffed to a bench and no wifi available doesn't really help. What I'd really like is to buy it, take it home and play with it for a week to see if I like it, if not, return it to the shop for a refund. If Apple can do this why can't anybody else?

 

[jsw]

I'd strongly consider the soon-to-be-released Nexus 5, which appears to be LG G2-based, if you go this route. Also, I'm basing my answers on my experience with my Nexus 4, which will not have the same installed options as a carrier-branded LG G2. But, anyway:

Is any reliable two way syncing now available over USB from Android (specifically LG G2) to iMac - as I said before, no iCloud or any other cloud syncing options please.

I'll defer to others here (I use cloud services), but Android File Transfer lets you see/access all the files on the device via USB, so one would assume you could do so.

Is there an email function like iOS Mail? I have about 10 email addresses, and need to access them all centrally on my phone via POP (don't want to use IMAP). Some email addresses from my websites, others are Yahoo - and even a Gmail one, but I don't use this one anyway.

Yup. It's called "Email" (not being sarcastic - that's the name) and it works like iOS Mail. Multiple accounts, etc.

Is there an app that plays ALAC files without converting?

Unsure. I upload iTunes files to Play Music, which isn't what you want to do.

Is there an app that plays m4b audiobooks (without DRM) and keeps full chapter navigation (i.e. can see the chapters and navigate between them, not just go forward or backwards sequentially).

Not sure - I use Audible and don't listen to m4b.

Backing up the phone to iMac over USB - what options are there?

Connect via USB, drag files over. ;-) Actually, that works fine, but I'm not sure of the way to do so "properly" on the Mac; I use Helium, which is cloud-based.

[*]When browsing in Safari I double tap the screen and the text I am reading expands to fill the screen making it easier to read. Does the stock browser on Android do this, or is there another browser I could use that does?

Chrome does this. I don't know if the stock one does.

For anyone with the LG G2 - is the speakerphone any good? I use it all the time on my iP5 instead of holding the phone to my ear so for me, it's very important the speaker is good.

I don't know.

Siri substitute - I only use the basics while driving such as "play playlist/album/artist", "send text message to XXX", "call XXX", "pause music" - is there an equivalent to use on the LG G2?

Yes, at least on a Google-branded device, Google Now does the same thing in very similar ways. The Moto X does so without any need to press anything - it's always listening.

 

[JerZyT28]

If you do want an opinion...I also recommend nexus 5

 

[jsw]

One other tangential comment: you're right to want a week to play with it. Android (no matter which flavor, what carrier options, what manufacturer skins, etc.) is different, sometimes subtly and sometimes blatantly, than iOS.

To fully see if you like it, you need to immerse yourself in it for a period of time. As you said, you cannot tell from sitting with one for three minutes in a store.

You might prefer iOS - many do. You might prefer Android - many do. More than likely, you'll find things about each you wish the other had. However, if you only have a few minutes, you won't like it, any more than you'd like iOS if you were very familiar with Android (well... iOS 7 is looking more Android-ish, so maybe that's changing). You need time to adjust, and then time to decide if you like that adjustment.

 

[bigjnyc]

You manage 10 email addresses using POP? that must get pretty messy

 

[ReallyBigFeet]

Can't imagine doing 10 email addresses via POP. IMAP sure, but not POP.

Regardless, there are plenty of email apps on Android that work almost identically to iOS Mail. A few even invoke the "VIP" tag model to pop them to their own respective folder as priority mail. But you won't find much missing on the mail side. Even Samsung's native mail client is almost identical to iOS mail, albeit a bit more difficult to navigate nested subfolders in your inbox.

 

[spinedoc77]

The G2 is a great phone, but it all depends what you want out of a phone. G2 versus iphone one thing stands out head and shoulders above the rest, that is battery life. You are talking 23.5 hours of TALK time on the G2, I forget what the ip5 officially is, but I think it's like 8 hours. The other thing that stands out is the screen on the G2, it's incredible. So if battery life and having a big incredible screen are important to you, then the G2 is the only answer.

To contrast that though, if Siri is important to you then stay with iOS. Android has no viable personal assistant, they just have goofy solutions which work poorly at best. iOS is still the best OS for smooth operation, you do something and it just works, no tinkering, no adjustments, no sideloading apk's, no rooting, everything just works. If you get frustrated easily at having to tinker a bit then Android in general isn't for you.

With that said, the G2 withing the Android microcosm is a bit odd IMO. The rear buttons I could do without, in fact I dislike them the more I own the phone, but I overlook them because the rest of the phone is so incredible. Also the LG UI is very good, but I don't think I would choose it over iOS. I run Cyanogenmod 4.3 on my G2 and it's an incredible ROM, MUCH MUCH better than stock LG and very stable. If you are not afraid of getting your hands a little dirty you cannot go wrong with cyanogenmod if you want that "stock" android feel but with a ton of options on top of it.

 

[boateng]

htc one nexus 5?

 

[gotluck]

I echo spinedoc very good response.

The nexus 5 is also worth consideration as the software problem will be solved out of the box. The g2's battery life will be superior no doubt, but definitely be willing to get your hands dirty if you go with the g2.

 

[Lava Lamp Freak]

Is there an app that plays ALAC files without converting?

I have used iSyncr for syncing and Poweramp Music Player for listening. Poweramp plays ALAC without transcoding.

http://www.jrtstudio.com/iSyncr-iTunes-for-Android

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.maxmpz.audioplayer

 

[Fanaticalism]

[*]Is any reliable two way syncing now available over USB from Android (specifically LG G2) to iMac - as I said before, no iCloud or any other cloud syncing options please.

This is android, drag and drop.

Download Android File Transfer onto your mac and when you plug your phone in, it automatically launches

[*]Is there an email function like iOS Mail? I have about 10 email addresses, and need to access them all centrally on my phone via POP (don't want to use IMAP). Some email addresses from my websites, others are Yahoo - and even a Gmail one, but I don't use this one anyway.

All have the ability to have multiple accounts under one app, but not sure if the functionality will be what you're looking for.

This one seems to the most popular.

[*]Is there an app that plays ALAC files without converting?

Poweramp

[*]Is there an app that plays m4b audiobooks (without DRM) and keeps full chapter navigation (i.e. can see the chapters and navigate between them, not just go forward or backwards sequentially).

I'm sure there are others, but I found this one

[*]Backing up the phone to iMac over USB - what options are there?

Can't help here.

[*]When browsing in Safari I double tap the screen and the text I am reading expands to fill the screen making it easier to read. Does the stock browser on Android do this, or is there another browser I could use that does?

Chrome

[*]Siri substitute - I only use the basics while driving such as "play playlist/album/artist", "send text message to XXX", "call XXX", "pause music" - is there an equivalent to use on the LG G2?

I think Google now will be fine for what you are looking to use it for, but I will reinforce what has been mentioned already, wait for the Nexus 5.

 

[KentuckyHouse]

See my signature for a list of what devices I currently own and have owned, so this isn't my first rodeo with either platform.

That being said, I picked up a used 32gb iPhone 5s over the weekend (should be here tomorrow and will replace my iPhone 5) and I just secured a trade last night of my 32gb S4 for a G2. I'm pretty excited about both and it should be fun to compare and contrast not only the iPhone 5s with the G2, but also the 5s with the 5 and the G2 with the S4.

A couple of months ago, I'd have said that I would never own a phone with no SD support as after having the S3, S4, and Note 2 I'd become spoiled by it. But after using the Moto X for the last month and a half, I've finally weened myself off it. I've been wanting to do this for a while because I've always intended on picking up the Nexus 5 which we all know won't have SD support. Now that I've done it, it opens up a whole new world of phones.

 

[mattopotamus]

The G2 is a great phone, but it all depends what you want out of a phone. G2 versus iphone one thing stands out head and shoulders above the rest, that is battery life. You are talking 23.5 hours of TALK time on the G2, I forget what the ip5 officially is, but I think it's like 8 hours. The other thing that stands out is the screen on the G2, it's incredible. So if battery life and having a big incredible screen are important to you, then the G2 is the only answer.

To contrast that though, if Siri is important to you then stay with iOS. Android has no viable personal assistant, they just have goofy solutions which work poorly at best. iOS is still the best OS for smooth operation, you do something and it just works, no tinkering, no adjustments, no sideloading apk's, no rooting, everything just works. If you get frustrated easily at having to tinker a bit then Android in general isn't for you.

With that said, the G2 withing the Android microcosm is a bit odd IMO. The rear buttons I could do without, in fact I dislike them the more I own the phone, but I overlook them because the rest of the phone is so incredible. Also the LG UI is very good, but I don't think I would choose it over iOS. I run Cyanogenmod 4.3 on my G2 and it's an incredible ROM, MUCH MUCH better than stock LG and very stable. If you are not afraid of getting your hands a little dirty you cannot go wrong with cyanogenmod if you want that "stock" android feel but with a ton of options on top of it.

are LG phones easy to unlock the bootloader and root?

 

[chagla]

Android backup/restore can be simple and complicated at the same time.

easiest method: when you sign in with your google account, there is an option to select regarding backup. this is handy because when you switch device, all of your settings and apps will be downloaded on your new phone.

apps method: there are tons of Android apps that can manage your device backup automatically on your device. There is "ultimate backup pro" or "titanium backup". both are great.

manual method: some big companies like Samsung (samsung kies), LG (LG suite), etc provide their own software to manage device.

hardcore/root method: take a CWM nand backup. this is similar to taking a snapshot of your entire device. again this isn't the only way to backup your device. you can make backup/restore on the device itself. how cool is that?

hope it helps.

btw, if you do get an Android, i'd also highly recommend to try the apps on my signature. they are all different and offer very unique functionality.

 

[bova80]

are LG phones easy to unlock the bootloader and root?

this phone is incredibly easy to root and flash new roms. development is really coming along now and there are a ton of roms available with new ones coming out each day.

After having an iphone for 5 years this is my first android phone and I couldn't be happier with it. But if you aren't into tinkering and what not then android probably isn't for you.

 

[mattopotamus]

this phone is incredibly easy to root and flash new roms. development is really coming along now and there are a ton of roms available with new ones coming out each day.

After having an iphone for 5 years this is my first android phone and I couldn't be happier with it. But if you aren't into tinkering and what not then android probably isn't for you.

I always root and flash roms

 

[spinedoc77]

are LG phones easy to unlock the bootloader and root?

I'm not sure what unlocking the bootloader means, I'm a complete noob and am really only good at following directions, lol. The G2 is ridiculously easy to root. You basically download the LG drivers, put your phone into usb debug, and run the root file on your pc with it connected, done.

 

[mattopotamus]

I'm not sure what unlocking the bootloader means, I'm a complete noob and am really only good at following directions, lol. The G2 is ridiculously easy to root. You basically download the LG drivers, put your phone into usb debug, and run the root file on your pc with it connected, done.

Ahh it probably has an unlocked bootloader then

 

[bova80]

I tried out cyanogenmod 10.2 and paranoid android 3 and while they are cool, I still like the stock lg ui.

 

[spinedoc77]

I tried out cyanogenmod 10.2 and paranoid android 3 and while they are cool, I still like the stock lg ui.

Nothing wrong with the stock UI, I think LG did a great job.

 

[Lyn2012]

A big thank you to everyone who has posted a reply. You have all given me much to consider and I will be waiting to see the Nexus 5 before making a final decision.