Unsure - move on to Android or not.

[Dodgeman]

Firstly, what kind of watch are you looking for? This because I really wanted the iW3 but will now be purchasing a Garmin VivoActive 3. My needs are primarily waterproof, GPS fitness watch. It has great reviews and between 7-14 days battery life. If you want a watch with storage for music on it, perhaps the Fitbit Ionic coming out very soon.

I made the leap to Android, primarily Samsung about 4-5 years ago and have not been able or tempted to come back until the recent release of the iPX, I made a post about this though called Off the Fence!!!

All of that being said, things to consider is transferring data to your iMac if you use one, i.e. Photos, there are work arounds required, but they are not deal breakers, esp if you use drop box or any other cloud based storage that you can drag photos into the Photos app.

It took me at least 3 months to warm up to the operating system, which has IMPROVED greatly. Then I started having fun with it and realizing how much was available to me with Android OS.

The only thing that DOES bother me is the updates, it takes a bit for the newest to come across due to carriers having to test/modify the update, and they are less than motivated to keep up imo. That being said, I go by the rule that if I love the way the phone works when I buy it, I can patiently wait for new bells and whistles. They are a bit faster with security issues, but still not as good as Apple.

I just bought the Note 8 and am so far loving it. No buyers remorse at all. And you have no idea how much i wanted that AW3.

Yeah I’ve had an older Samsung and this is my 3rd iPhone. I keeping coming back to it for some odd reason.
I’m on my second Apple Watch. Series 2 Stainless Black.
I use to have a Nike FuelBand, just something to tell time and track workouts at the gym for lifting; nothing crazy.
I got the aw because it did all those things plus it displayed my notifications. That part was huge because I can leave my phone in an area and still do work needed w/o carrying the phone and never miss a beat, but Samsung’s Watch does the same thing.

Either way I played with the phone and I probably need to play with it more but I am tempted. The note 8 and pen is a bit much for what I need that’s why I’m leaning more towards the s8+. I also wonder if I’d like the infinity edge screen.
Either way I’d eventually sell off my Apple stuff and pick up the Samsung products. I even had last years Apple TV model that I have never even opened.

I’m on the fence and I’m going to give it a couple more days of thoughts.

Some family members have Apple so it’s a bit easier to stay in touch and I love the ease of use.

 

[MRU]

I will just say this ...

There is no right or wrong answer here whatever you decide.

Only what works better or is more suitable for you.

I know it's a forum and people will eschew the virtues of one device or platform over the other, and often to very polarising extents.

But at the end of the day, rest assured whatever you decide works for you, that's OK. Regardless of other users opinions or preferences, and it's OK regardless of hardware specifications or OS platform differences.

Enjoy whatever you end up utilising ...

 

[Septembersrain]

I always owned Android devices and didn't get an iPhone until the 5c.

Honestly, Android isn't for everyone. It takes some adjustments if you've never used it before or it's been years since you had one.

Not trying to dissuade you but if you go into it with an open mind and want to give it a chance, that's good. It's not an easy transition for some.

I use a Note 3 regularly, so I keep myself immersed in Android while I use a 6s and 7 Plus as well.

Ultimately, it's up to you if you think you really want to give it a chance. Just don't give up in a few days unless you really just can't stand it.

 

[Dodgeman]

Yeah. I’m a tad bit worried trying to get the settings to mirror my iPhone would annoy me.
I also hope I can’t transfer most of the information in my device (notes & such) as I think I can’t get the most common stuff.
I will welcome the new features I’m after security wise.
[doublepost=1506910840][/doublepost]This can’t be for real:

So I update my AW to os4. There’s some nice improvements but now I realize that I’m the activity app I can not mute the daily “reminders” in the settings...?
I also notice that I could set the reminder for every 3,6,8,12 hours before if I recall correctly it was something similar to that and now there is nothing similar to that??
Is this accurate or am I missing the settings somewhere?

 

[Dodgeman]

...and it really tries to sink my music to my watch automatically???

 

[Winterfibre]

The apple ecosystem is more secure than anything android has got.

 

[Yankee512]

The apple ecosystem is more secure than anything android has got.

Sure it is. Lol

 

[convergent]

All you can do is give it a go and see.

Leaving apple watch is too tough to me. Certainly with the new siri watch face i love how i have all my meetings in one scroll.

I just took the plunge to a Note8 and Gear S3 Frontier this weekend. AT&T had a deal... $300 credit for trading in anything (Galaxy S5 in my case) and Gear S3 for $49. I was really worried about giving up the Apple Watch, but this far I am very impressed with the Gear S3. It looks so much better... like a real watch. And its very fast and does a lot of things without as much tweaking as I did with the Apple Watch. There are surely some things that it isn't going to do that the AW does, but the reverse is true too. I find the interface so much more intuitive.

The best features?
I wouldn’t say that. Don’t plan on using any cloud services nor do I plan on using iMessage either.

iMessage is the one thing that you would have a problem with if you had been using it... especially for group messages. That is really the main thing I'm going to have to work through with my family (all iPhone) to get them onto a different messaging app for our family chats.

I don't think you'll have to much trouble mimicking your apps and layout on the Note8. I've found almost no apps missing. There are a few things like my bank lets me finger print authenticate in iOS, but not on Android. Some stuff like that. Also I use iPassword, and thus far that hasn't been a great experience on Android. But I'm looking forward to Waze in the car with Android Auto.

As someone else said, there isn't really a bad choice here... two competitive products that are no longer trying to clone each other. I was not impressed with the iPhone X and was wanting something new and a little different... the iPhone 8 was the safe choice, but just seemed like a faster version of what I already had.

 

[CPTmom2wp]

So I love the ease of use of my iPhone and the fact I can pretty much work most features/notifications settings how I like them.
I don’t use much FaceTime, don’t use iMessage at all, I don’t use iCloud but I do like backing up the device to the computer and being able to move my info to the new device.
I’m not a fan of almost every app costing money and having to buy music vs. and android device that usually offers most of these options at no cost.

So I’m here debating on moving to a Samsung device, one of the S8 or Note 8 models. I’d get a better screen, longer battery life, more options to customize the device, and More free apps/music.

I’m only torn due to the fact that I don’t hate the iPhone and I’m thinking once I get the Samsung I hope I don’t make a mistake. Sure it can back up via a cloud that I don’t use as well but outside of that I can’t really see too much that is keeping me with Apple. The fact that the S8/S8+/Note 8 May have more customization settings than I’ll use (take the camera for instance) is the only downside if you’ll call it that, that presents it self.
Before I make my decision is there anything else I should consider?
Any thoughts?
(I also know the forum I’m asking this on, but I’m looking for a reasonable discussion to make sure I’m making a solid decision)
[doublepost=1506830954][/doublepost]I will also point out I’d be giving up my 6s and my AW2. I might consider going towards the Gear S3 Watch, but that doesn’t feel as polished and I’m not sure I’ll be a huge fan of it... just thought I’d add that...

I think that for many of us, the Apple ecosphere is the primary reason for remaining. Our home has a 27" desktop iMac, MacBook Pro, 3 Apple TV's and of course multiples of the aforementioned iPhones. It is wonderful to have our phones sync'd together with everything each of us wants, including calendars, iCloud storage, movies, notes, Apple Music, etc., etc.

I also think it is worthwhile to note that Apple quality is unsurpassed. Our computers have never crashed (fingers crossed) despite becoming ancient prior to trading them in on a new model (primarily due to need based ability to run new software). At various times the family has had to work in a PC environment with Dell, HP, Samsung, and felt in every case that the quality was lacking in both hardware and software. Failure was expected by the IT professionals who were tasked to keep them updated and running. So while there might be similar or newer features rushed out by other companies, they are often buggy and unreliable over the long term. Apple, of course, also has problems with new releases, but seems to quickly resolve those problems accurately and permanently. One example is the recently released FitBit watch vs. the Apple watch.

Lest you think we are apple fanatics (well......maybe :0)), one of us has just ordered an Apple Watch 3 due to feeling that the value to an Apple Watch just wasn't there until the 3 came out. Value yet to be determined.........

Good Luck on your decision!

 

[convergent]

I think that for many of us, the Apple ecosphere is the primary reason for remaining. Our home has a 27" desktop iMac, MacBook Pro, 3 Apple TV's and of course multiples of the aforementioned iPhones. It is wonderful to have our phones sync'd together with everything each of us wants, including calendars, iCloud storage, movies, notes, Apple Music, etc., etc.

I also think it is worthwhile to note that Apple quality is unsurpassed. Our computers have never crashed (fingers crossed) despite becoming ancient prior to trading them in on a new model (primarily due to need based ability to run new software). At various times the family has had to work in a PC environment with Dell, HP, Samsung, and felt in every case that the quality was lacking in both hardware and software. Failure was expected by the IT professionals who were tasked to keep them updated and running. So while there might be similar or newer features rushed out by other companies, they are often buggy and unreliable over the long term. Apple, of course, also has problems with new releases, but seems to quickly resolve those problems accurately and permanently. One example is the recently released FitBit watch vs. the Apple watch.

Lest you think we are apple fanatics (well......maybe :0)), one of us has just ordered an Apple Watch 3 due to feeling that the value to an Apple Watch just wasn't there until the 3 came out. Value yet to be determined.........

Good Luck on your decision!

Its great that you've had a flawless experience with everything Apple, and problems with other stuff. I have a similar family of Apple gear and we've had an overall good experience, but also had problems. The good part about Apple is being able to go the Apple Store for help. I've had thousands of dollars in repairs under AppleCare. So Apple is no more "perfect" than any other tech company. They have good service, but you also pay for that. In fact, just had my 6s Plus replaced this weekend on the last day of its AppleCare... now I'm on my own.

Also, as far as Windows computers... your biggest problem there is "maintained by IT professionals", or they were inferior hardware. Big companies load so much IT crap on them that they run terribly. A non-bloated install of Windows 10 runs equally well to MacOS in my experience, and I have run both for a long time, after a hiatus from Windows during their rough patch.

All that said, Apple's ecosystem is very sticky. Once you are in, its hard to get out. I'm on the quest now to find a comparable multi-vendor workable solution so I'm not at the mercy of one company... and in this case a company I'm not that thrilled with where they seem to be headed.

 

[Winterfibre]

Sure it is. Lol

what you trying to say?

 

[Dodgeman]

I just took the plunge to a Note8 and Gear S3 Frontier this weekend. AT&T had a deal... $300 credit for trading in anything (Galaxy S5 in my case) and Gear S3 for $49. I was really worried about giving up the Apple Watch, but this far I am very impressed with the Gear S3. It looks so much better... like a real watch. And its very fast and does a lot of things without as much tweaking as I did with the Apple Watch. There are surely some things that it isn't going to do that the AW does, but the reverse is true too. I find the interface so much more intuitive.



iMessage is the one thing that you would have a problem with if you had been using it... especially for group messages. That is really the main thing I'm going to have to work through with my family (all iPhone) to get them onto a different messaging app for our family chats.

I don't think you'll have to much trouble mimicking your apps and layout on the Note8. I've found almost no apps missing. There are a few things like my bank lets me finger print authenticate in iOS, but not on Android. Some stuff like that. Also I use iPassword, and thus far that hasn't been a great experience on Android. But I'm looking forward to Waze in the car with Android Auto.

As someone else said, there isn't really a bad choice here... two competitive products that are no longer trying to clone each other. I was not impressed with the iPhone X and was wanting something new and a little different... the iPhone 8 was the safe choice, but just seemed like a faster version of what I already had.

That’s good to hear and it sounds like a great deal. What have you noticed is the difference between the Apple Watch and the Samsung Watch?
I updated my Apple Watch here recently and the software isn’t bad but I’ve noticed I don’t get too many move reminders or updates which is what I like. Before there was a setting to customize that but I think it’s gone.

—> The only thing I’m hating about my AW now is let’s say I go to my car and have music steaming from my iPhone well the aw displays that screen for the music control. That’s even once I turn my music off. It’s kind of annoying seeing it on the watch as I control everything on the phone from the car.
Not sure how to stop that screen from auto loading... anyone else notice that?
[doublepost=1506992877][/doublepost]Actually I just figured out the music/now playing auto launch setting. I guess it’s cool that these new features become enabled to showcase but they are annoying to turn off.

 

[convergent]

That’s good to hear and it sounds like a great deal. What have you noticed is the difference between the Apple Watch and the Samsung Watch?
I updated my Apple Watch here recently and the software isn’t bad but I’ve noticed I don’t get too many move reminders or updates which is what I like. Before there was a setting to customize that but I think it’s gone.

—> The only thing I’m hating about my AW now is let’s say I go to my car and have music steaming from my iPhone well the aw displays that screen for the music control. That’s even once I turn my music off. It’s kind of annoying seeing it on the watch as I control everything on the phone from the car.
Not sure how to stop that screen from auto loading... anyone else notice that?
[doublepost=1506992877][/doublepost]Actually I just figured out the music/now playing auto launch setting. I guess it’s cool that these new features become enabled to showcase but they are annoying to turn off.

Granted I've only had a day with the Gear S3, so I'm sure I'll find some pros and cons in time. I went to the gym for the first time tonight and man this is a better experience. I struggled when my hands got sweaty to swipe left and right between apps, and also within the workout app while running. The Gear S uses the dial twist to navigate and it is so much better. Also, the whole thing is more intuitive. Apple Music is controllable from the watch, but not quite as good... may need to switch to another music streaming service that is better supported... will have to battle with the family on that one.

I miss the complications in the faces... that's a cool feature for customizing. But the flip side is there is a store with faces ... tons of them. And because its round, they look like real watch faces.

 

[mi7chy]

Only go through the effort of changing to a new ecosystem if you like exploring new technologies and actually utilizing the capabilities. Otherwise, it's like moving from a station wagon to a sports car and driving it like a station wagon.

 

[Dodgeman]

Granted I've only had a day with the Gear S3, so I'm sure I'll find some pros and cons in time. I went to the gym for the first time tonight and man this is a better experience. I struggled when my hands got sweaty to swipe left and right between apps, and also within the workout app while running. The Gear S uses the dial twist to navigate and it is so much better. Also, the whole thing is more intuitive. Apple Music is controllable from the watch, but not quite as good... may need to switch to another music streaming service that is better supported... will have to battle with the family on that one.

I miss the complications in the faces... that's a cool feature for customizing. But the flip side is there is a store with faces ... tons of them. And because its round, they look like real watch faces.

Yeah. The S3 Watch looks great. I hear there isn’t much support for apps out there and some major apps lacking. (I heard no Spotify app on S3)
Either way I think it’ll be fine. I don’t use many apps on my Apple Watch. My main priorities are Notfications then the occasional fitness tracking. (Not to mention the S3 looks like a real rugged watch & is cheaper than my Stainless AW.)

What made you convert to the Samsung side from Apple Convergent?

I’m not as frustrated in this phone and watch as I was a week or 2 ago, but I’m still leaning on making that decision. That & there’s some nice trade in deals I may want to take advantage of. I’m also thinking of waiting it out just to see what the X is going to look like.

Tomorrow I may take a trip to a local Samsung hub in B.B. and see if I can play around with the S3 a bit.
I’ve had some time playing with the s8+ and I like it. Only thing I’m going to miss to from Apple is the simplicity.
If I used More Apple products or Apple specific features that’d weigh in on me more but I’m just not there...
[doublepost=1507002500][/doublepost]

Only go through the effort of changing to a new ecosystem if you like exploring new technologies and actually utilizing the capabilities. Otherwise, it's like moving from a station wagon to a sports car and driving it like a station wagon.

Yeah but which one of those options looks/feels better?

 

[convergent]

Yeah. The S3 Watch looks great. I hear there isn’t much support for apps out there and some major apps lacking. (I heard no Spotify app on S3)
Either way I think it’ll be fine. I don’t use many apps on my Apple Watch. My main priorities are Notfications then the occasional fitness tracking. (Not to mention the S3 looks like a real rugged watch & is cheaper than my Stainless AW.)

What made you convert to the Samsung side from Apple Convergent?

I’m not as frustrated in this phone and watch as I was a week or 2 ago, but I’m still leaning on making that decision. That & there’s some nice trade in deals I may want to take advantage of. I’m also thinking of waiting it out just to see what the X is going to look like.

Tomorrow I may take a trip to a local Samsung hub in B.B. and see if I can play around with the S3 a bit.
I’ve had some time playing with the s8+ and I like it. Only thing I’m going to miss to from Apple is the simplicity.
If I used More Apple products or Apple specific features that’d weigh in on me more but I’m just not there...
[doublepost=1507002500][/doublepost]

Yeah but which one of those options looks/feels better?

You are mistaken on Spotify. Not only does Spotify have an app for Gear S3 that allows direct streaming, they are adding (or already added) the ability to save a playlist to your Gear S3 for offline playback. I'm still an Apple Music subscriber so I can just control from the watch what I started from the phone.

Otherwise, there are less applications available for the Gear S3, but I wasn't using that many on the AW that I couldn't live without. The major stuff for messages, email, news, weather, world clock, workout, etc. are all there. And of course the ability to add more faces which is kind of cool.

As for what caused me to shift. For the last several years... basically since Tim Cook took the reins... I've felt that Apple has been not going in a direction I'm aligned with. He seems to be more interested in political issues than technology much of the time. Apple has become an iPhone company with everything else basically being reduced to accessories for the iPhone. Most updates in MacOS have been features to get parity with the iPhone. The movement to the Surface Pro (which I love by the way) started my movement away. Then the Airport abandonment and I moved to Netgear Orbi. I just realized I want to try and not be so tied to one ecosystem that I'm at that companies mercy. And the Apple ecosystem is deeply sticky... its so hard to get away from it once you are embedded. But they also have support second to none and brick and mortar stores you can go to with problems. I have plenty of problems with Apple gear breaking... but you can get it fixed. Nevertheless, I feel like if I didn't make a break to try something else now, I'd never do it. I don't care for the X, and the 8+ is nearly indistinguisable from what I've had for 2 years.

So I may still shift back, but it will be family pressure and/or support fears that would do it... because the phone/watch combo I have now I am really liking.