Transition from iOS to Android - Seeking Experts

AMDZen

Lifer
Apr 15, 2004
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OK So here is the deal. I've owned iPhone's since the first one. I would consider myself a VERY advanced user on iOS. I am very close to making the leap from iOS to Android, namely because the HTC ONE is just super sexy and exudes all of the things I love about Apple. I've always told myself that I would love to mess around with Android but wouldn't buy a plastic phone that I can flex in my hand. The HTC ONE has finally come along to make this a reality.

iPhones are very restrictive if you don't jailbreak them, however, once Jailbroken there is basically nothing you can do on Android phone that you can't do on an iPhone. In fact, given my limited knowledge on Android devices, the iPhone can do a few things that I don't know if Android can do. Thus this thread. I want to find out if Android can do some of these things and get as much information as I can before I make the dive.

I hope there are people on this forum with great knowledge of both iOS and Android that can help answer some of these questions. If you don't have great knowledge of th iOS Jailbreak community then you probably can't answer some of my questions.

First things first. I understand that you can unlock the bootloader on many Android phones. It sounds like you currently can do this on the HTC ONE and that unless AT&T patches it soon, when I make my purchase I should be able to do this right away. Does this include unlocking the phone? Can unlocking the phone be done via software? This isn't a huge concern but traveling would be much easier if the answer is yes. Once I have unlocked the bootloader, I understand I can load custom ROMs as they are released for the phone. However, right away I should be able to load custom "launchers" correct? Not sure if I'm using the correct terminology there. Obviously I need some information on this.

Also, what will be the best way to transfer my contacts? I understand that this should be simple, just want everyones feedback on this. Can I simply export them via Bluetooth?

Now on to the more difficult questions. First off. I play a lot of online games where you create an account and then your app is tied to that account. A few examples are like the "Storm8" games that are on iOS and Android as well as Dark Summoner which I know is on both. Puzzle & Dragons is another great example. I currently have multiple iteration's of "Puzzle and Dragons" running on my iPhone with multiple user accounts so that I can have multiple characters in that game. Can this be done with Android?

A few threads I found on this:

http://android.stackexchange.com/qu...stances-of-the-same-app-logged-in-to-differen

http://stackoverflow.com/questions/13583511/how-to-install-two-instances-by-one-apk

However it doesn't look like this is possible. Then someone came along with an idea to rename the .apk and it looks like there may be hope. Hoping some folks can shed some light on this here and if not I might tread over there to see if they can help.

Is there an Android equivalent to iFile? iFile is a great tool on iOS that makes doing the above possible. Browsing throughout the iOS file system to do all kinds of things. I am really hoping there is an equivalent app for Android. I think another app that may be required is UDID changer. Which changes the ID of the app so that it looks like its coming from another device. This way you can have multiple accounts all with different UDIDs.

Other apps that I am wondering about equivalent apps to:

MyWi - tethering app made very easy. I don't want to pay AT&T for tethering my phone. I assume android has this but is it through Google Play or do I load another less official app sore to get this?

Also apps like "Fake location" where you can change where you are in case an app doesn't like to function based on where you are located. Sends a different location to an individual app to fake it out.

iBlacklist - as i understand Android does have blacklist apps so you can block certain numbers from bothering you and sending them strait to voicemail.

XBMC - I'm sure android has this, i think it was on Android first.

Game Emulators and ROMs - I'm also sure android has this as the same developers have made them for both. Again, do I get these through Google play or alternative means.

Is there an equivalent to Cydia, where developers can kind of submit there stuff and you can add different sources to get material or is it all through seperate app stores.

I know i have a lot more questions but this is a good start. Please post away.
EDIT POST REPLY REPLY WITH QUOTE
 

poofyhairguy

Lifer
Nov 20, 2005
14,612
318
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First things first. I understand that you can unlock the bootloader on many Android phones. It sounds like you currently can do this on the HTC ONE and that unless AT&T patches it soon, when I make my purchase I should be able to do this right away. Does this include unlocking the phone? Can unlocking the phone be done via software?

That is different on many devices. I will let someone else answer for the AT&T One.

However, right away I should be able to load custom "launchers" correct?

Yup.

Also, what will be the best way to transfer my contacts? I understand that this should be simple, just want everyones feedback on this. Can I simply export them via Bluetooth?

I would sync them to a Google account in iOS then load that in Android.

Can this be done with Android?

yup. I have multiple Play Store accounts on one device.

Is there an Android equivalent to iFile?

There are a million file manager apps in Android, many are free.

I think another app that may be required is UDID changer.

I do something like this with Titanium.

MyWi - tethering app made very easy. I don't want to pay AT&T for tethering my phone. I assume android has this but is it through Google Play or do I load another less official app sore to get this?

Get something from Google Play that will work easily with root access.

Is there an equivalent to Cydia, where developers can kind of submit there stuff and you can add different sources to get material or is it all through seperate app stores.

In Android, Google Play is the Cydia store. There is no walled garden. The issue is if you have root access to the device.
 

AMDZen

Lifer
Apr 15, 2004
12,589
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You didn't fully understand my multiple apps question but I get that it is confusing. I want to install the same application multiple times and have the game server side see a different device for each instance of the app (apk)

Puzzle and Dragons is the best example I can give. The game you start creating a "character" if you will and I have 6 different characters. You can't have more then one in the game, so to sidestep that I have 6 instances of the app all with different UDID codes. However it looks like "Titanium" might be something along the lines of UDID changer for iOS. Thanks for that bit of information as I need to explore more on this app.

Onto other stuff. I know there are other app stores though. I know you want to stay away from some because of malware but i'm not scared. Can get a security app if I need to, are there other app stores that provide content you can't put on Google's store? Such as emulators and ROMs, since its gray area in the legal department.
 

AMDZen

Lifer
Apr 15, 2004
12,589
0
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One thing it looks like I'm cool on is the contacts. I didn't want to sync with Google because I can't stand that interface and when it pulls contacts back it doesn't do it correctly. I also have contacts on my google account that I don't want on my phone and vice versa. I could delete them all but its a pain

But I've solved that as it looks like I found a good contacts backup app to use is on both android and iPhone.

http://mycontactsbackup.globile.biz/#iPhone

One issue solved.
 
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poofyhairguy

Lifer
Nov 20, 2005
14,612
318
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Can get a security app if I need to, are there other app stores that provide content you can't put on Google's store? Such as emulators and ROMs, since its gray area in the legal department.

Um, Google doesn't give a damn about legal gray. Emulators, wifi hacking apps, etc all in the Play Store. Its the wild west compared to the iOS apps store.

Only time I have heard Google kicking apps out is if they are malware, or if the logo/name infringes and someone complains.
 

AMDZen

Lifer
Apr 15, 2004
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Hmmm. Interesting.

So what if any of the other app stores should I look into? I've heard AppBrain is cool as it does the same thing as iOS Store's genius and will look at other apps you have and recommend others like it.

Any others people recommend?
 

lopri

Elite Member
Jul 27, 2002
13,312
687
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Yeah as you realized importing contacts is easy as importing .vcf files into "Peoples" in Android, whichever way you prefer.

If you choose a right phone (e.g. N4), you don't need a tethering app. Tethering is built-in to them and I did not have to install any 3rd party app nor do I have to pay extra to carriers for tethering. YMMV. In any case, there are tons of tethering apps out there so it shouldn't be a big deal to find something to your liking. Since I have had no use of them I can't say which one is good.
 

poofyhairguy

Lifer
Nov 20, 2005
14,612
318
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Hmmm. Interesting.

So what if any of the other app stores should I look into? I've heard AppBrain is cool as it does the same thing as iOS Store's genius and will look at other apps you have and recommend others like it.

Any others people recommend?

I also use the Slide Me app store for I think an emulator that had a logo in violation, F-Droid for open-source stuff like ad-away (check that out), and Amazon's app store for the free app a day.
 

Imported

Lifer
Sep 2, 2000
14,679
23
81
Not going to line by line.. I don't know some of the answers so I won't go there.

There is an all-in-one toolkit for the HTC One to unlock the bootloader, flash recovery and root. http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2242635 - However, it's also good to know how to do it manually.

The HTC One has a transfer utility. Opened mine up and it says you connect via iTunes or BT with the iPhone. I haven't tried either as I transferred from another Android phone, so it was done over WiFi. Transfers contacts, pictures, etc.

I use ES File Explorer for my file purposes.

F-Droid (as previously mentioned, for AdAway) and Amazon are other app stores.
 

jidery

Member
Mar 31, 2012
120
0
0
Simple rule of thumb is pretty much anything can be done within android, it just depends on how much time you want to put towards it.
 

Bateluer

Lifer
Jun 23, 2001
27,730
8
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Um, Google doesn't give a damn about legal gray. Emulators, wifi hacking apps, etc all in the Play Store. Its the wild west compared to the iOS apps store.

Only time I have heard Google kicking apps out is if they are malware, or if the logo/name infringes and someone complains.

Occasionally Google has removed emulators when the content owners have complained. However, they simply get removed from the Play Store. One is usually able to find the apk floating around the Internet or even directly downloaded from the developer's site.
 

lothar

Diamond Member
Jan 5, 2000
6,674
7
76
I also use the Slide Me app store for I think an emulator that had a logo in violation, F-Droid for open-source stuff like ad-away (check that out), and Amazon's app store for the free app a day.
People still use Amazon's app store?
The "free app of day" effect wore off for me well over a year ago.

Mostly crap apps, apps on Amazon are 2 months behind the Play Store versions in updates, crazy notifications, etc...
 

AMDZen

Lifer
Apr 15, 2004
12,589
0
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So was the 3gs and 3g crap since it was plastic?

Yes. They were. I went from an iPhone 1 to an iphone4. Nothing in between. And my iphone 4 is getting long in the tooth and im finally wanting an upgrade. Looks like ill be going HTC one although i still have a few other concerns before i make the leap.
 

AMDZen

Lifer
Apr 15, 2004
12,589
0
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If you are going to make the switch I would hold off just a little bit. Google has hinted its going to launch some "unbreakable" phones.

http://www.ubergizmo.com/2013/04/new-motorola-phones-could-be-unbreakable-google-ceo-drops-hint/

I am intrigued about waiting but one concern. If i wait could htc/at&t lockup te bootloader making root impossible until a hack is found? The last thing i want to do is wait and decide i want the htc one anyway and then not have ability to root.
 

Imported

Lifer
Sep 2, 2000
14,679
23
81
I am intrigued about waiting but one concern. If i wait could htc/at&t lockup te bootloader making root impossible until a hack is found? The last thing i want to do is wait and decide i want the htc one anyway and then not have ability to root.

The last HTC flagship on AT&T phone wasn't locked so many are speculating that the One won't.. but no one really knows. So yes, they could end up locking it but hopefully it'd create enough of a shitstorm that they'd reverse. You could always buy the unlocked ones directly from HTC without the subsidy.
 

AMDZen

Lifer
Apr 15, 2004
12,589
0
76
Another quick ?

If I change my Launcher from Sense to say ... Nova, do I just uninstall Nova and I'm automatically back with Sense or ... how does that work exactly.
 

Oyeve

Lifer
Oct 18, 1999
22,060
881
126
I do miss googles untested apps section in the store. They took that down a couple of years ago. Found some nifty stuff back in the day. I guess all that stuff is on the net now as side-loadable APKs.
 
Feb 19, 2001
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Another quick ?

If I change my Launcher from Sense to say ... Nova, do I just uninstall Nova and I'm automatically back with Sense or ... how does that work exactly.

I believe in Nova (or at least apex), you're allowed to choose the default launcher. Default launcher is probably Nova atm for you, but as long as you change it back to Sense, you can have both installed.

Certainly uninstalling it makes you fall back to the other available launcher, or if you have multiple too, Android will ask you to choose default launcher at that time.
 

Yuriman

Diamond Member
Jun 25, 2004
5,530
141
106
Another quick ?

If I change my Launcher from Sense to say ... Nova, do I just uninstall Nova and I'm automatically back with Sense or ... how does that work exactly.

Sense applies to more than just the launcher though. Even with Nova the UI will not be exactly the same on the One as on the N4 because parts of the UI (even when viewing the launcher) are not launcher controlled. That is to say, you'll still have Sense even with Nova, you just won't have the Sense launcher.

I personally use an AOSP (android open source project) ROM on my GS2 as its much faster and (to me) looks better than Touchwiz.

There are ways to modify those other parts of the UI without changing ROMs but typically it's more difficult than it's worth, easier to find a ROM where someone has already done the work.

Good luck with the One!
 
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AMDZen

Lifer
Apr 15, 2004
12,589
0
76
I do miss googles untested apps section in the store. They took that down a couple of years ago. Found some nifty stuff back in the day. I guess all that stuff is on the net now as side-loadable APKs.

So there isn't another app store I can install that has all of that kind of stuff compiled? That is pretty much exactly what I'm looking for