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LIVEFRMNYC

macrumors G3
Oct 27, 2009
8,877
10,987
Google Now on iOS is identical to Google Now on Android. Both are downloadable apps and show the same info. Google Launcher adds Google Now/Search into the launcher, but even then you still have to download both apps to get the functionality.

Google Camera is also a downloadable app and incorporates PhotoSphere within the app. Google provides the same PhotoSphere camera as an app on iOS. Google Camera is not part of stock Android

You do realize that Google has essentially stripped every core app from within Android and made them individual apps, right? These same core apps are available on iOS. There is no advantage for Android here.

There's one advantage that's more device specific but still only on Android. That's using the always listening "Okay Google" feature. On iOS it's currently only available within the app.
 

Lloydbm41

Suspended
Oct 17, 2013
4,019
1,456
Central California
There's one advantage that's more device specific but still only on Android. That's using the always listening "Okay Google" feature. On iOS it's currently only available within the app.

Good point. And while I don't use the 'Okay, Google' auto-detect feature often on either my Nexus 5 or Moto X, it is an awesome feature and love having it there on standby for those situations when I do need it. Usually while driving or when my hands are dirty.
I do get the feeling that Siri I is heading in the same direction. Maybe by the iPhone 7 we'll see it.
 

Oletros

macrumors 603
Jul 27, 2009
6,002
60
Premià de Mar
Google Now on iOS is identical to Google Now on Android. Both are downloadable apps and show the same info. Google Launcher adds Google Now/Search into the launcher, but even then you still have to download both apps to get the functionality.

Google Camera is also a downloadable app and incorporates PhotoSphere within the app. Google provides the same PhotoSphere camera as an app on iOS. Google Camera is not part of stock Android

You do realize that Google has essentially stripped every core app from within Android and made them individual apps, right? These same core apps are available on iOS. There is no advantage for Android here.

No you don't have to download anything, they are part of Google's Android
 

Lloydbm41

Suspended
Oct 17, 2013
4,019
1,456
Central California
No you don't have to download anything, they are part of Google's Android

Just because Google adds the GAPPS package for you with Nexus devices, and the OEM'S include some of those GAPPS in their skins, don't presume that it comes with stock Android. In fact, anyone that downloaded Lollipop found out exactly what comes stock with Android, and it ain't much.

Google has parsed out the apps so they can be updated independent of carriers and OEM's. But the main reason GAPPS are not included with stock Android. Android is freeware. GAPPS are licensed. That is why you have to get them and update them from the Play Store and why forked versions of Android do not have Google Apps.
 

Oletros

macrumors 603
Jul 27, 2009
6,002
60
Premià de Mar
Just because Google adds the GAPPS package for you with Nexus devices, and the OEM'S include some of those GAPPS in their skins, don't presume that it comes with stock Android. In fact, anyone that downloaded Lollipop found out exactly what comes stock with Android, and it ain't much.

Google has parsed out the apps so they can be updated independent of carriers and OEM's. But the main reason GAPPS are not included with stock Android. Android is freeware. GAPPS are licensed. That is why you have to get them and update them from the Play Store and why forked versions of Android do not have Google Apps.

You're confusing stock Android with AOSP
 

Wahlstrm

macrumors 6502a
Dec 4, 2013
865
884
With iOS8 and all the new features, just curious what advantage Android would have.

The app "True caller" worked so wonderful on Android and is quite useless on iOS. On Android it provided great caller-ID with automatic save function to your contacts. Apple won't let them do that in iOS so now it just blocks telemarketers, witch still is nice but I liked the caller-ID/auto update of phonebook function.
 

Savor

Suspended
Jun 18, 2010
3,742
918
As I type this -

I'm downloading music videos using the TubeMate app.

Finished watching the Avengers 2 trailer played on the MoboPlayer mini-player. Playing some music videos I downloaded today like Mr Probz' "Waves" (both og and remix), Duke Dumont's "I Got U", and Faul & Wad Ad vs Pnau's "Changes" while downloading more videos from YouTube or DailyMotion. Finished with my Bluetooth transfer to my other phone.

None of that is possible on iOS. I can't watch a video in a small window on the homescreen while typing this post on my Notes app, downloading other videos, and Bluetooth transferring files to a different branded smartphone.
 

The-Real-Deal82

macrumors P6
Jan 17, 2013
17,314
25,463
Wales, United Kingdom
As I type this -

I'm downloading music videos using the TubeMate app.

Finished watching the Avengers 2 trailer played on the MoboPlayer mini-player. Playing some music videos I downloaded today like Mr Probz' "Waves" (both og and remix), Duke Dumont's "I Got U", and Faul & Wad Ad vs Pnau's "Changes" while downloading more videos from YouTube or DailyMotion. Finished with my Bluetooth transfer to my other phone.

None of that is possible on iOS. I can't watch a video in a small window on the homescreen while typing this post on my Notes app, downloading other videos, and Bluetooth transferring files to a different branded smartphone.
You can download youtube videos in the background on an iPhone with 'vDownload'. You can't watch a video while doing other things on the homescreen though. It'll be down to the individual to decide whether that is a good or bad thing.
 

LouisLoh

macrumors regular
Sep 26, 2010
235
1,322
As I type this -

I'm downloading music videos using the TubeMate app.

Finished watching the Avengers 2 trailer played on the MoboPlayer mini-player. Playing some music videos I downloaded today like Mr Probz' "Waves" (both og and remix), Duke Dumont's "I Got U", and Faul & Wad Ad vs Pnau's "Changes" while downloading more videos from YouTube or DailyMotion. Finished with my Bluetooth transfer to my other phone.

None of that is possible on iOS. I can't watch a video in a small window on the homescreen while typing this post on my Notes app, downloading other videos, and Bluetooth transferring files to a different branded smartphone.

You need to be introduced to the world of jailbreaking. :)
 

I7guy

macrumors Nehalem
Nov 30, 2013
35,156
25,262
Gotta be in it to win it
As I type this -

I'm downloading music videos using the TubeMate app.

Finished watching the Avengers 2 trailer played on the MoboPlayer mini-player. Playing some music videos I downloaded today like Mr Probz' "Waves" (both og and remix), Duke Dumont's "I Got U", and Faul & Wad Ad vs Pnau's "Changes" while downloading more videos from YouTube or DailyMotion. Finished with my Bluetooth transfer to my other phone.

None of that is possible on iOS. I can't watch a video in a small window on the homescreen while typing this post on my Notes app, downloading other videos, and Bluetooth transferring files to a different branded smartphone.

I'm glad you like your phone, but care not in the least. Please don't take offense, none meant.
 

wesk702

macrumors 68000
Original poster
Jul 7, 2007
1,809
368
The hood
You can download youtube videos in the background on an iPhone with 'vDownload'. You can't watch a video while doing other things on the homescreen though. It'll be down to the individual to decide whether that is a good or bad thing.

This is the one feature I want the most. I'd prefer not to jailbreak anymore since I use Applepay. I know it's in a secure enclave, but especially China being the source of the latest JB and new concerns with Chinese iCloud issues, I'd rather not take any risk. If this were available soon I'd love it for 8.2.
 

gotluck

macrumors 603
Dec 8, 2011
5,717
1,260
East Central Florida
No. I'm actually not. Stock Android is AOSP. GAPPS are excluded.

Yeah I definitely consider gapps part of stock android. I don't really want an aosp device, and would call such an aosp device rather than stock. I agree with the notion that GPE/Nexus are 'stock'

It's all semantics anyway :)

----------

I'm glad you like your phone, but care not in the least. Please don't take offense, none meant.

interesting that you feel the need to make this comment..

What can android do that ios cant? he answers and you say you don't care? cool story bro?

----------

Actually I've always referred to Nexus devices as AOSP...until the Nexus 5 came along and now it has become the Gapps ROM.

Nexus devices aren't aosp though, because of the gapps.. even before the nexus 5. I'm not sure I follow
 

The-Real-Deal82

macrumors P6
Jan 17, 2013
17,314
25,463
Wales, United Kingdom
This is the one feature I want the most. I'd prefer not to jailbreak anymore since I use Applepay. I know it's in a secure enclave, but especially China being the source of the latest JB and new concerns with Chinese iCloud issues, I'd rather not take any risk. If this were available soon I'd love it for 8.2.

You don't have to jailbreak to use that app, it's available in the App Store. I've never jail broken any of my iPhone's. :)

Video Downloader Lite Super - VDownload. by George Young
https://appsto.re/us/ggRzN.i
 

pdqgp

macrumors 68020
Mar 23, 2010
2,131
5,460
There's one advantage that's more device specific but still only on Android. That's using the always listening "Okay Google" feature. On iOS it's currently only available within the app.

It's also not as fully integrated. I know on my iPad I've not been able to take a reminder from a meeting I have coming up and email the contacts. You also don't get notifications, whereby on my Note 3, notifications for things will pop up. Thus if I have an appointment, my iPad doesn't notifiy me that "I need to leave now" whereby on my Note 3 if there's a traffic accident that's putting the drive say 15 minutes slower, my phone will notify me so I can change my routine and leave sooner than expected. I also don't get the "what's nearby" updates. Thus when I was on a recent trip to San Francisco, I used my phone to tell me what was going on and around vs my iPad because my phone gave me what's around right away. Perhaps it's supposed to work, I've got the settings marked on but on the iPad it never works for me.
 
Last edited:

Lloydbm41

Suspended
Oct 17, 2013
4,019
1,456
Central California
It's also not as fully integrated. I know on my iPad I've not been able to take a reminder from a meeting I have coming up and email the contacts. You also don't get notifications, whereby on my Note 3, notifications for things will pop up. Thus if I have an appointment, my iPad doesn't notifiy me that "I need to leave now" whereby on my Note 3 if there's a traffic accident that's putting the drive say 15 minutes slower, my phone will notify me so I can change my routine and leave sooner than expected. I also don't get the "what's nearby" updates. Thus when I was on a recent trip to San Francisco, I used my phone to tell me what was going on and around vs my iPad because my phone gave me what's around right away. Perhaps it's supposed to work, I've got the settings marked on but on the iPad it never works for me.

I believe you have to leave Google Now open in the background AND change the phone setting to 'allow' Google access to your location 'always'.

This is iOS sandboxing in action and not much else Google can do.
 

LIVEFRMNYC

macrumors G3
Oct 27, 2009
8,877
10,987
It's also not as fully integrated. I know on my iPad I've not been able to take a reminder from a meeting I have coming up and email the contacts. You also don't get notifications, whereby on my Note 3, notifications for things will pop up. Thus if I have an appointment, my iPad doesn't notifiy me that "I need to leave now" whereby on my Note 3 if there's a traffic accident that's putting the drive say 15 minutes slower, my phone will notify me so I can change my routine and leave sooner than expected. I also don't get the "what's nearby" updates. Thus when I was on a recent trip to San Francisco, I used my phone to tell me what was going on and around vs my iPad because my phone gave me what's around right away. Perhaps it's supposed to work, I've got the settings marked on but on the iPad it never works for me.

I have the same experience on my iPad 2. I get no notifications from Google Now even thought I set it to notify me. I don't have an iPhone anymore to test whether or not it's a issue on that too.
 

Tinmania

macrumors 68040
Aug 8, 2011
3,528
1,016
Aridzona
Google Now on iOS is identical to Google Now on Android.
That is false.

On Android, but not on iOS, Google Now can do the following:

  1. Set an alarm.
  2. Send an email.
  3. Send a text.
  4. Post to a social network.
  5. Search local content on the device.
  6. Play local music.
  7. Play radio from Google Play.
  8. Identify a song.
  9. Identify what is on TV.
  10. Look up travel plans.
https://support.google.com/websearch/answer/2940021?hl=en

Plus all the normal search and information providing functionality.
On iOS you need Siri and Google Now to have the same kind of functionality.

On my Note 4 Google is listening always: even when the phone is off and locked (and not charging). Doesn't even seem to affect battery.



Michael
 

Lloydbm41

Suspended
Oct 17, 2013
4,019
1,456
Central California
That is false.

Well, since you cut off the rest of my post, I was referring to the info provided in Google Now on both platforms. The info cards on both my phones are identical and pop up with identical information.

Let me repost it here:
Google Now on iOS is identical to Google Now on Android. Both are downloadable apps and show the same info.

As for the rest of your post, functionality of services would be a redundancy on an iPhone. Why would I have Google now send a text or set a reminder when I have Siri? Everything you listed is done via Siri on an iPhone. If I want TO DO functions via Google Now, I'll use my Nexus 5 instead.

You get my meaning here? Information is identical. Functionality is not (nor would we expect it to be).
 

jrswizzle

macrumors 603
Aug 23, 2012
6,107
129
McKinney, TX
Well, since you cut off the rest of my post, I was referring to the info provided in Google Now on both platforms. The info cards on both my phones are identical and pop up with identical information.
As for the rest of your post, functionality of services would be a redundancy on an iPhone. Why would I have Google now send a text or set a reminder when I have Siri? Everything you listed is done via Siri on an iPhone. If I want TO DO functions via Google Now, I'll use my Nexus 5 instead.

You get my meaning here? Information is identical. Functionality is not (nor would we expect it to be).

This is a key distinction often missed in comparisons like these.

It's not about the end result, but the path you take to get there that differs. Overall, the end results can be accomplished on both platforms, making the path the place where choices come into play. It's all about which paths/functions work best for the user.
 

Tinmania

macrumors 68040
Aug 8, 2011
3,528
1,016
Aridzona
Well, since you cut off the rest of my post, I was referring to the info provided in Google Now on both platforms. The info cards on both my phones are identical and pop up with identical information.

Let me repost it here:


As for the rest of your post, functionality of services would be a redundancy on an iPhone. Why would I have Google now send a text or set a reminder when I have Siri? Everything you listed is done via Siri on an iPhone. If I want TO DO functions via Google Now, I'll use my Nexus 5 instead.

You get my meaning here? Information is identical. Functionality is not (nor would we expect it to be).
As I wrote before: "On iOS you need Siri and Google Now to have the same kind of functionality." That is a big difference in my book--and I use Google Now all the time. On Android (Google Now) does it all. It is simply not the same on iOS.



Michael
 

partouse

macrumors newbie
Oct 19, 2014
9
0
One of the first things I missed from Android is LastPass integration. It makes logging into Web sites and apps so very easy while still keeping all my passwords together in one place across devices. iOS is not quite there yet. TouchID hardware is wonderful, but it was still faster to look up passwords with my Android phone and type them by hand than to switch back and forth between LastPass and other apps and fiddle with Copy/Paste.
 
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