Your Favorite Android Apps NOT Found On iOS

[onthecouchagain]

lolz good luck with that. All the apps you can pick out are utility apps and just not needed on ios.

Classic response. Pure gold.

----------

Can I get that wallpaper?

If it's 1080x1920 :C

I'm afraid it's not that big.

 

[chagla]

iOS File Managers
"it's available on iOS"

i hate to burst your bubbles but you do realize that all of these are sandboxed apps on ios right? ES Explorer (and other typical file managers) on Android on the other hand is a full featured file manager.

basically these ios managers can only see the content of that folder it resides in. it has no idea what is outside. essentially these apps you mentioned are just ONE single folder manager. in IOS, you put files INSIDE an app, so if you delete the app, your files are gone.

on android, your files are separated from apps. so you can delete/replace your apps but your files will remain intact. also you can manage every file/folder on Android.

 

[skratch77]

Man ole man, there are lots of equivalents to 95% of what you listed. And I am not sure anyone, even Android users care that much about widgets. Really, widgets?

Bit torrent
Mp3 music downloaded
Snes /n64 emulator

Just a few I use that have no iOS apps that come close to being the same.

Google and swiftkey keyboards are also my favorite keyboards

 

[jamojamo]

It's not only quick information at a glance, which is great in itself, but it's also about the functionality of widgets.

For example, I have one of my home screens set up with direct-dials of my most frequently contacted people. So with one touch, I can place a call. No need to search through a scrolling contact list nor type a person's name into a search bar.

...snip...

You never heard of Favorites in iOS Phone "app"? You dont have to scroll or search, come on.

I know you love trying to make it seem like iOS makes you jump through hoops but this example really makes you look like some of the bottom dwellers of <Insert any brand here> haters.

 

[samcraig]

You never heard of Favorites in iOS Phone "app"? You dont have to scroll or search, come on.

I know you love trying to make it seem like iOS makes you jump through hoops but this example really makes you look like some of the bottom dwellers of <Insert any brand here> haters.

Or maybe an innocent mistake because he didn't know that was possible on iOS. Not everything is a conspiracy theory.

 

[onthecouchagain]

You never heard of Favorites in iOS Phone "app"? You dont have to scroll or search, come on.

I know you love trying to make it seem like iOS makes you jump through hoops but this example really makes you look like some of the bottom dwellers of <Insert any brand here> haters.

I have heard of favorites. It's a feature pretty universal to all modern phones and I used it when I had my 5. I admittedly forgot about that for my example above, but...

That still requires going into your contacts app, clicking on the "Favorites" tab on the bottom if it's not already on it (I actually don't remember if iOS "remembers" the last tab it was in or not), then possibly scrolling depending on how long it is, then finally reaching the last step (the same one/final step that a direct-dial on the home screen of an Android device would do) to place the call.

Multiple steps versus one.

 

[samcraig]

This isn't an app - but something I favor in Android over iOS

And excuse my ignorance if this has been changed in iOS7

When I attach photos to an email - they don't all get renamed "photo 1, 2, 3" or worse -

They retain their file names. Even better - it's easy to change a file name of a photo to whatever I want before sending. I don't remember being able to do that in iOS and it's very handy. That way if I sent a friend or a colleague a photo - the can see from the filename what it is.

Admittedly - that's a personal preference of mine.

 

[onthecouchagain]

I know you love trying to make it seem like iOS makes you jump through hoops but this example really makes you look like some of the bottom dwellers of <Insert any brand here> haters.

Try to believe that I'm not "hating" just for the sake of "hating."

If iOS offered widgets (or some more clever way) of doing the same things faster, easier, and more intelligently, I'd say iOS was better at doing those things. It just isn't the case. At this point in time, the flexibility of Android allows users to cater their phone to their specific preferences and needs so that you can accomplish most of the same tasks faster and more conveniently.

Direct-dials are just one example. Having a dedicated back button or a dedicated menu button also goes an incredibly long way in making things easier/faster to access and change.

Control Center is a great step for iOS users, yet it's not customizable. I could think of a few things to replace the stopwatch in Control Center that would be far more useful.

This is not about Apple versus Google just for the sake of supporting one team or the other. I'm happy to say iOS is better than Android the day it becomes better than Android. Heck, I did it for a number of years when Android was in its hay days.

 

[jamojamo]

I have heard of favorites. It's a feature pretty universal to all modern phones and I used it when I had my 5. I admittedly forgot about that for my example above, but...

That still requires going into your contacts app, clicking on the "Favorites" tab on the bottom if it's not already on it (I actually don't remember if iOS "remembers" the last tab it was in or not), then possibly scrolling depending on how long it is, then finally reaching the last step (the same one/final step that a direct-dial on the home screen of an Android device would do) to place the call.

Multiple steps versus one.

Based on this response, I am going to assume you just aren't informed of the various ways to add to - or make calls to favorites, all from the Phone app. It's not as complicated as you are making out in your posts. Is it clicking on one number on a home screen? No, it isn't.

It's all good anyway, I know you have no desire to switch to iPhone so it's not something I'd expect you to care about.

I have no desire to engage in a drawn out conversation about which is better or worse, because in the end it doesn't matter. My post was just trying to correct something you refrained from referencing.

Carry on....

 

[onthecouchagain]

Based on this response, I am going to assume you just aren't informed of the various ways to add to - or make calls to favorites, all from the Phone app. It's not as complicated as you are making out in your posts. Is it clicking on one number on a home screen? No, it isn't.

It's all good anyway, I know you have no desire to switch to iPhone so it's not something I'd expect you to care about.

I have no desire to engage in a drawn out conversation about which is better or worse, because in the end it doesn't matter. My post was just trying to correct something you refrained from referencing.

Carry on....

That's fair. I'm aware you can just hit Phone app and you can just redial the last person or the last few people on the list. That's an even faster way than Favorites. I mean, I know how to use a smart phone.

I'm not trying to say any of this is complicated, per se, but there's no denying the flexibility of Android allowing one to accomplish some/most of these same tasks faster.

Anyway, fair conversation.

 

[NuggetSauce]

Virus scanning apps!

just kiddin'

C64, NES and SNES Emulators, definitely.

 

[onthecouchagain]

C64, NES and SNES Emulators, definitely.

And PSX!

Love playing me some classic Final Fantasy VII or Xenogears on my Nexus 7. I own the games, too, but it's just easier to load it up on my tablet.

 

[Cnasty]

You caught my attention!

Which apps and how?!?

 

[Mxbzz]

Llama - I love being able to create schedules based off cell tower location. I have Llama configured to put my phone on silent while at work, and switch to Normal anywhere else. I also have it set a prompt to unlock my front door after setting various conditions are met (must be connected to tower near home, with WiFi connected, battery not charging, etc). Really neat stuff

 

[macrem]

what's bad about app/widget providing you useful information? also same questions for you as above.

As widgets are not apps, I'd say that's an off-topic discussion.

and please find me equivalents to these apps:
- gesture search

Gesture search is an app that allows you to search contacts, applications, settings, music and bookmarks.

On iOS there are apps which search with voice, keyboard, gestures too. I like the built in search functionality in iOS the best. iOS search will find results in more places (i.e., calendar events) than gesture search.

The unique feature of gesture search is that it allows searching using gestures. Gesture search is a Google app. I can see why it is not bundled by default. It is kind of gimmicky. You can type faster than you can gesture and it searches less places that built in Android search. That said, the developers did a nice job on gesture search!

- airdroid

iCloud/Messages. iCloud allows, for instance, locating any of the owner's Apple devices (including Macs) on a map, to remotely lock or wipe the iOS device remotely from any other Apple device via an app or via any device or computer with a browser. With Activation Lock, on iOS the owner's password is required to turn off "Find My X", to erase, reactivate or use the device.

The SMS functionality of Airdroid can be found in iOS Messages, which seems like a more logical place for such functionality.

- mysms

mysms Messenger

- unified remote

5 Best iOS Apps to Use iPhone as a PC or Mac Remote Control

- *any file manager*

I posted links to iOS file manager apps above.

- *any alternative keyboard*

AFAIK Apple has not allowed any alternative keyboards in the iOS App Store. You could jailbreak your iOS device to get custom keyboard apps. I don't see the point though. I personally do like it better on Android that lower case letters display as lower case on the keyboard but not enough to bother trying to tweak it.

 

[macrem]

Right, where are the swipe typing apps on iOS though? The absence of that functionality is one of the main things keeping me from getting iOS devices at the moment.

Swype for iPhone

Another app I've used a lot is Streamie. It lets you watch streams that have been blocked for your region or mobile devices, by emulating a webpage using java. It works like a charm and has let me view tournaments perfectly well on my Note 2 while the forums have been filled with iPad users crying that they've been cut off from the action.

Top 3 Streaming Apps for iOS

On iOS I use built in VPN functionality for "blocked for your region" content. Switch it on and it enables ALL apps to have access to ALL content (as well as creating an encrypted tunnel between you and the content). You're just talking with tech-unsaavy iPad users as if they represent all iOS users.

 

[Savor]

I apologize if I created a duplicated thread last night. Opera Mini, slow Wi-Fi, and a mobile version of this site got me confused if the first thread was created.

Another useful app I have on my primary phone is called 4G Toggle. Since for some reason I cant turn off 4G automatically in Sense 5, 4G Toggle let's me turn off and switch to 2G only to save battery and LTE is still new to my country. I noticed my signal bars stay consistent with GSM only than at auto-mode when the bar goes up and down and stays at 2-3 bars.

My most used apps or features I use on a daily basis is quite simple -

BlinkFeed/weather widget update
Messages
Phone/People
Stock Browser/Opera Mini
GMail
Viber
Note Lite (much better than the default one)
Notification Toggle
Screen Off and Lock
Motion Action
QuickPic
Du Battery Saver

Then on certain days during the week if I update or download new content or for whatever reason -

App Backup & Restore
ES File Explorer
MusicManiac Search & Download
UberMusic w/ Metro UI skin
Yahoo! Sports (formerally Sportacular)
Camera
Calendar

Then on rare occasions -

Talkatone (iOS version sucks now!)
Google Voice
GMaps
ConvertPad
Calculator
TV (for IR blaster)
FM Radio
Vevo
YouTube
MovieTube
MoboPlayer
SoundHound
Pandora
IMDB
Flixster
ClickTheCity (Philippines app)
EN-TL Dictionary (English-Tagalog)
Merriam-Webster Dictionary
Most games unless Candy Crush or PvZ2 (Chinese version)

Formerally used -

Deep Sleep Battery Saver
Zedge (ringtones, wallpapers)
Talking Tom
Tweedle (clean Twitter app)
TuneInRadio (dont have WiFi in my condo)
TuneWiki

Dont use Facebook anymore.

I generally use ALOT of my apps unlike when I was with iOS, I'd use abt 20-25 apps of the 100+ including the default ones. The rest I would never use again as many were games I beat, online store apps, news apps, or entertainment apps where the novelty and fun wears off eventually.

And apps I dont use or might use again on Android, I hide it in the drawer, disable it, or use App Backup and Restore to have a stored apk in case I want the app again.

 

[chagla]

thanks. informative post.

however, i would like to point out some differences that are substantial.

airdroid vs icloud/message - although icloud/message offer some functionalities of Airdroid, they dont' offer most important functions such as file management (transfer any file on any computer without wires). (see below explanation), backup/restore, etc. if you have access to any android device, i'd highly urge you to try airdroid.

mysms (ios) - only send messages to other mysms users.
mysms (android) - send messages to ANYBODY, from a web interface without touching your phone as long it has internet access, also backup and sync messages when you switch devices.

so even though made by same developer, they work very differently.

gesture search on android vs ios search - i have a test iphone 4 and i have used the search feature on ios. its kind of like spotlight feature on os x. i agree ios search is quite good. i also think gesture is quite good. like ios search, gesture also indexes your phones content. its just different way of searching but gesture actually learns what you are searching for. if you have access to android device or you are in a store, id ask you to try it. for example - if you write A, it will first display everything (songs, contacts, apps that begin with A), ok. assume thats not what you're looking for so you write the next letter "N". are you looking for "Anna"? are you looking for "angry birds"? lets say now you see a list of "AN..." items and one of them is Anna, a contact and you choose to make a call or text. the next time when you search for A, this previous result will show at the top making it faster to search and it thinks you will call Anna again.

ever wonder why you can't email anything other than pictures on ios? read on....

file manager and keyboard - alternative keyboards are non existent in ios. yes there are some "file managers" on ios except they are actually a folder manager. i think i made another post detailing sandboxed ios app environment. the so called ios file managers can only manage files inside them. these files can't be used or shared by another app. basically you copy your files INSIDE an app. IMO thats a terrible idea mainly because if you delete the app by accident, all of your files are deleted also. in addition you could end up with same file multiple times. example book.pdf file could be inside Adobe Reader, same file inside ibooks, and same file again in some other folder manager that you may have. on Android, you plug in to any computer, copy the file and then on your phone, you can use compatible app to access and use the file. files and apps are separated on Android. so it doesn't matter whether you keep or delete your apps, your files remain intact. and because users are given access to file system, you have fully fledged file managers that are able to view your file system. just like it is on a PC or Os x.

As widgets are not apps, I'd say that's an off-topic discussion.


Gesture search is an app that allows you to search contacts, applications, settings, music and bookmarks.

On iOS there are apps which search with voice, keyboard, gestures too. I like the built in search functionality in iOS the best. iOS search will find results in more places (i.e., calendar events) than gesture search.

The unique feature of gesture search is that it allows searching using gestures. Gesture search is a Google app. I can see why it is not bundled by default. It is kind of gimmicky. You can type faster than you can gesture and it searches less places that built in Android search. That said, the developers did a nice job on gesture search!


iCloud/Messages. iCloud allows, for instance, locating any of the owner's Apple devices (including Macs) on a map, to remotely lock or wipe the iOS device remotely from any other Apple device via an app or via any device or computer with a browser. With Activation Lock, on iOS the owner's password is required to turn off "Find My X", to erase, reactivate or use the device.

The SMS functionality of Airdroid can be found in iOS Messages, which seems like a more logical place for such functionality.


mysms Messenger


5 Best iOS Apps to Use iPhone as a PC or Mac Remote Control


I posted links to iOS file manager apps above.


AFAIK Apple has not allowed any alternative keyboards in the iOS App Store. You could jailbreak your iOS device to get custom keyboard apps. I don't see the point though. I personally do like it better on Android that lower case letters display as lower case on the keyboard but not enough to bother trying to tweak it.

 

[Oohara]

Swype for iPhone

Sorry, but I wouldn't bring jailbreak apps into this comparison, just as I wouldn't bring up root-only apps on the Android side. Additionally, that's the only swipe app on iOS afaik, and a buggy beta version at that (according to the article you linked to). Compared to the several apps available on Android, all very well developed towards their various specialities, and available with a simple official Play Store download.

Top 3 Streaming Apps for iOS

On iOS I use built in VPN functionality for "blocked for your region" content. Switch it on and it enables ALL apps to have access to ALL content (as well as creating an encrypted tunnel between you and the content). You're just talking with tech-unsaavy iPad users as if they represent all iOS users.

Looks like those apps are only for streaming content from your computer. Streamie is for live streaming from the web, to access region/device blocked content from sites like Twitch and Ustream.

 

[Dontazemebro]

Aldiko - but that's just because I've been using it since Cupcake days

Edit .... as we speak I just noticed an update to the card style ui. Way to go Aldiko

 

[coldjeanzzz]

Some great apps in this thread! I love Swipe Home, I always hated having to double tap the home button on my HTC One.

^ Also that Aldiko app is great. I am a total sucker for pretty apps and even if I thought I wasn't going to use something initially I will if the app looks good

 

[mattbaar26]

Definitely google play music, it is what is keeping me from switching to an iOS phone

 

[macrem]

Thanks for your informative post as well.

airdroid vs icloud/message - although icloud/message offer some functionalities of Airdroid, they dont' offer most important functions such as file management (transfer any file on any computer without wires). (see below explanation), backup/restore, etc. if you have access to any android device, i'd highly urge you to try airdroid.

I have tried Airdroid. It's a Swiss Army knife app remix of unrelated features using a potpourri of functions from the API.

About File Management: I get it, I have an Android device. I have never needed a file manager on iOS (nor Android) and prefer apps that do one thing very well than jack of all trades, master of none apps. I have used the file manager on Android, I understand some users think it's the only way to go. A mobile device is not a PC for the vast majority of people.

Backup/restore, etc. are handled by iCloud and iTunes. Just pick up a new iOS device, log in and restore.

The point about apps I linked is "Android Apps NOT Found On iOS" is not true in most cases here. Qualitative comparisons go beyond the scope of this thread. Both OSes have apps that do better jobs.

its just different way of searching but gesture actually learns what you are searching for.

iOS does learn the users previous selection as you described, in fact I think iOS may have been doing this before Android existed. I have Gesture search.

ever wonder why you can't email anything other than pictures on ios? read on....

This is not true. You can email, share, etc. various (references to) documents from various apps. For instance, online video: copy link, send link via email, SMS, various social media websites, stream it to Apple TV. Doc files (stored on server, shared with other devices): email, print, open in another app, etc. I don't need to manage files on my mobile devices.

file manager and keyboard - alternative keyboards are non existent in ios. yes there are some "file managers" on ios except they are actually a folder manager.

This file manager description can actually be applied to Android too, you don't really have full access to the filesystem unless you root it. Android uses the file manager more deeply, like a PC but with access to less data. Both have advantages and disadvantages. iOS emphasizes simplicity, cloud storage and sharing the same files rather than having different versions stored locally on different devices.

 

[Dr McKay]

Most of my apps are available on iOS so it boils down to 2 apps I use that aren't on iOS.

File Manager - The one bundled with Cyanogenmod. I love being able to download any files from the internet and regularly use it to move files around and place them in the relevant folder, e.g downloading mp3's inside Chrome and moving them from the downloads folder to my 'Ringtones' or 'Notifications' folder.

Google Play Music - I use that for my music service now, I left Spotify because I was fed up with a lack of basic features and problems it had. iTunes Radio is not available in the UK either.

It's not the apps that are keeping me away from iOS though, but I won't get into them because it isn't the Thread subject.

 

[strausd]

Google Play Music - I use that for my music service now, I left Spotify because I was fed up with a lack of basic features and problems it had. iTunes Radio is not available in the UK either.

When I was on iOS I used gMusic for that and it worked pretty well.

Considering Google puts so many of their own apps on iOS, I'm surprised they haven't made an official Google Music app for iOS. But gMusic got the job done just fine when I used it.