What features would you miss the most by switching from android to ios

[iahk]

There are some parts of TW that i like (swyping left or right to text or call, etc. And its not hideous, but its just the fact that its there pisses me off.

How hard is it to leave the option to remove it?

If there so insistent on putting their shit on there, at least make it removeable. TW is basically a launcher, and a skin. Let me install a new launcher, and completely REMOVE TW. Same goes for all other skins. (especially sense /puke)

overlays are alot more than just a launcher/skin. people repeatedly make this mistake since they make the same assumptions as other people without looking deeper into it.

touchwiz on your sgs2 is one of the most impressive overlays from a technical standpoint. the launcher and theme are pretty ugly, yes, but that part is fixable by just using another launcher.

touchwiz basically adds hardware acceleration to gingerbread whereas stock doesn't. it also adds a wider variety of video codec support for video playback. you don't need to download a third party video player for that. Also, cm borrowed the status bar screen brightness control from touchwiz. there's also a driving mode you can turn on so your phone will use text to speech to announce incoming alerts. I'll stop there as you probably get the idea now.

 

[akugami]

AMOLED: Wont buy a phone without it. A use my phone as an ereader, and having pure black background with white text looks awesome. Not to mention everything else looks better. I need a big nice screen on my phone.

I use Stanza, owned by Amazon, and use the same color scheme with a black background and white text. Now, it's not a pure black but there is no noticeable bleeding and looks great IMHO. You also don't need iTunes to get books into your iPhone with Stanza.

Google integration: I heavily rely on all of google services. I use google sync for contacts, gmail, and most of all google voice. I have switched over and use it as my main number, so i need to be able to make calls from my gvoice number without it being a pain. (main reason why i cant switch to windows phone)

Google services integration is simply not going to be smooth. Syncing contacts and Gmail integration is fine. But Google Voice is simply not there.

android like launcher: this isnt a big one, and i know id eventually get used to ios, but i love my launcher/home screens/ app drawer. Is there a jailbroken app that replicates an android phone?

Tapping home button once will always get you to the Home screen which is where you can keep common apps. Double tapping the home button will get you to the list of most recently used apps, 4 at a time. I don't do the whole theme mod thing on my iPhone but if you're jailbreaking, you can try out Winterboard or Dreamboard.

not having to use itunes: I think this isnt really a problem anymore. Can someone clarify?

There are ways around iTunes, but for myself, I don't bother. The only annoyance with iTunes for me is slow and laggy at times. Especially if I manually manage my apps.

google music: Not that i use it much, but i did upload all my music to it, and when i occasionally do use it, its nice to have on my phone.

Welcome to iCloud...

tapatalk: is there an ios equivalent? Not a dealbreaker, but it would be nice.

Yes, it's called Tapatalk.

epub reader like aldiko: is there one out for ios?

iBooks...and which app was first, they look like clones...

youtube HD: does ios have it?

No clue...

emulators: i have all older emulators right now, are they also out for ios? (nes, gen, gba, psx, snes, etc)

I know there is MAME, NES, SNES, GBA, GB/GBC, PSX, Genesis, TurboGFX, N64. Not sure on others.

-Android had voice actions first, so its more accurate to say Siri ripped off Android voice actions and wrapped a pretty name around it. Unless you've got a thick accent or mumble badly, Android voice recognition is damn good. There's some 'assistant' type apps out there that aim to mimic Siri, but I can't comment on those.

Umm...iPhones have had "voice actions" for a long long while. Granted it was extremely limited. What Siri did was bump it up a notch so the commands feel more natural and you don't have to use a set syntax or rigid input structure. Voice input has been in phones for a long while and has been on computers as well. I really don't know how you can say Siri ripped off Android in that regard.

 

[theevilsharpie]

So you've ripped the OS from your phone, installed some custom hackjob, and now you're bitching that it doesn't work perfectly?

Lulz.

Yes i rooted and installed a custom ROM because i want a STOCK experience, like the one google intended, not what fucking ATT and samsung want to shove down my throat.

STOCK for your device is whatever Samsung provides. If you want a GOOGLE experience, you need a Google phone. If you want to cram a Google experience into a non-Google phone, be prepared to resolve problems.

 

[Spoooon]

Root and remove using titanium backup?

I think i need to use one for a while to see if i could do it. In my head i think it wont be that bad, but only having one physical button could be a pain.

Do you think if i used a iphone4 i would get the same expericne as the 4s right now (dont care about siri, and i only want to use it for a week or two. I know the 4s is faster, but im trying to get a feel for ios)

Yeah, should be the same experience. The one physical button isn't a big deal, you have onscreen buttons and what not. I don't like the keyboard. I prefer the stock ICS keyboard and Swiftkey.

Realistically, I think if you just put shortcuts for every app on your home screen, use folders to organize them, and stop using widgets, you'll have a taste for the biggest adjustment you'd need to make.

 

[Fingolfin269]

I only miss the widgets and even then I don't miss them that much. I definitely don't miss the battery life. I also don't miss any apps as any app I ever used on my EVO is also available on iOS.

 

[T_Yamamoto]

the hackobilaty

you can OC the iPhone in anyway.
no roms, just themes

etcetc

 

[Nvidiaguy07]

So you've ripped the OS from your phone, installed some custom hackjob, and now you're bitching that it doesn't work perfectly?

Lulz.

STOCK for your device is whatever Samsung provides. If you want a GOOGLE experience, you need a Google phone. If you want to cram a Google experience into a non-Google phone, be prepared to resolve problems.

I dont even know where to start with you.

The post is towards android in general, and IMO CM7 on my phone is barely different than stock on a google phone. Custom hackjob???? ok, thats why MOST people who are smart enough end up using a custom rom. The reason why is most roms that makers/carriers put out are awful. I would be experiencing the same issues, if i were running att's bloatROM. and i dont expect it to work perfectly, just decently. Which would lead me back to my original point, im done with messing, and IMO, you have to in android. I've done my fair like like i stated multiple times in this thread.

Which by my logic, would bring me to the topic of this thread. These are MY problems with android. You might not experience them, but I'm personally done with dealing with them. Your post has nothing to do with the topic and makes no sense. THIS is why i want to switch, i dont want to troubleshoot anymore, or use the OS provided by ATT. I also think many of my problems would not be solved if i were using a google phone. Just like my experience while running the ROM that came with my SGS2 was shit. Why would it be any different?

This is the equivalent to buying a PC from hp/dell/SONY etc. Wiping it and reinstalling windows, and then having problems that are just windows related and blaming it on reinstalling windows. Making the argument that i should have just used the computer like they intended.

Most people want a Google experience, which is why people root. Android needs to realize this or they will die.

One more horrible example is my captivate. Using it the way they intended, it might be one of the worst phones I've ever used, despite good hardware. With CM7, CM9, any custom ROM, the experience is MUCH better.

But like I said, I think I've reached a point where i just want my phone to work. As long as I have an android phone ill have to troubleshoot, and be committed to it, im just coming to the point where i really dont care anymore.

I made the thread to bring up what is actually keeping me, and other people on android, and if i had to switch, which features i would miss most.

This isn't an "Android sucks" thread at all. So if you came here just to defend android, your at the wrong place. This thread is about, features that most android users would miss if they had to switch.

Stay on topic.

LULZ.

 

[Red Storm]

#1 is the Google integration. This is especially useful for Google Talk and Voice.

In addition to that:

All the apps I've paid for.

The customization I can do with Android (without having to worry about jailbreaking/rooting).

LTE (more of a carrier feature but the iPhone still doesn't have it).

Large screens (quite nice for videos).

Minimalistic phone designs (the front of the Nexus is completely smooth and sleek, with only power and volume buttons on the side).

Options, both hardware and software.

No iTunes needed.

 

[cronos]

decent sized screen (4" isn't big, it's 3.5" that's small), google integration, amazon free AOTD.

 

[Nvidiaguy07]

#1 is the Google integration. This is especially useful for Google Talk and Voice.

In addition to that:

All the apps I've paid for.

The customization I can do with Android (without having to worry about jailbreaking/rooting).

LTE (more of a carrier feature but the iPhone still doesn't have it).

Large screens (quite nice for videos).

Minimalistic phone designs (the front of the Nexus is completely smooth and sleek, with only power and volume buttons on the side).

Options, both hardware and software.

No iTunes needed.

I think i need to try out an iphone, to test out google integration, because people seem to be split on the issue. More than anything, this could be a deal breaker for me if its not a good experience.

I can always re-buy apps, but most that i use are free anyway.

Customization will be missed, but i think i could adapt and eventually get used to ios.

One thing that i forgot to mention, is that for people who say ios battery life id better than Android, i think many of them dont realize how much better their battery can be when its running right.

My SGS2 for example was ridiculous, as i would go to bed at night, and have 70% left on my phone if i didnt use it too much. Now with the same apps installed, im at like 30% under the same circumstances. What changed?

If i didnt have the great experience to start with (which i got with CM7, and NOT the rom that came stock on the phone) i would just assume that battery life sucks.

Even my captivate got great battery life from time to time, but sometimes it would just be awful.

Again, just another reason why i want to switch.

 

[theevilsharpie]

Which by my logic, would bring me to the topic of this thread. These are MY problems with android. You might not experience them, but I'm personally done with dealing with them. Your post has nothing to do with the topic and makes no sense. THIS is why i want to switch, i dont want to troubleshoot anymore, or use the OS provided by ATT. I also think many of my problems would not be solved if i were using a google phone. Just like my experience while running the ROM that came with my SGS2 was shit. Why would it be any different?

Despite multiple posts pissing about how many problems you have with your phone, you've only quantified two:

1. Your phone doesn't have a stock Google UI
2. Installing apps drains your battery life for some reason

As far as hating on your phone for not having a complete Google experience, what exactly did you expect? It's not as though Samsung sold you a "stock" Android phone and then switched it out with TouchWiz; it's had their customizations from Day 1. I won't argue your personal preferences, but I think it's silly to be disappointed that your phone isn't something that it never claimed to be.

With regards to your battery drain, one of the functions that manufacturers perform is optimizing Android (read: ensuring the battery usage isn't ridiculous) for the features and quirks of their devices. By installing a custom ROM, you're at the mercy of the ROM authors to ensure that your device works properly and effectively. While I respect what CyanogenMod brings to the Android community, it's not uncommon for them to release a ROM where even basic functionality is broken, nevermind optimizations. If you don't like having to screw with your phone, installing a custom ROM is the LAST thing you want to do. Say what you will about stock ROM's, at least they work. And your app problem? I've never seen anything like it on my Android phones or anyone else's that I know, and that includes phones from Moto, HTC, Google, and Samsung.

This is the equivalent to buying a PC from hp/dell/SONY etc. Wiping it and reinstalling windows, and then having problems that are just windows related and blaming it on reinstalling windows. Making the argument that i should have just used the computer like they intended.

I love your analogy, because if you bought a PC from HP/Dell/Sony etc., installed Windows on it without installing ANY software from anyone else so that it's a PURE Microsoft device, it would undoubtedly perform like shit.

Just like your phone.

Most people want a Google experience, which is why people root. Android needs to realize this or they will die.

Lulz. Most people aren't buying Google phones, yet Android has taken off like a rocket. Yep, Android's doomed.

But like I said, I think I've reached a point where i just want my phone to work. As long as I have an android phone ill have to troubleshoot, and be committed to it, im just coming to the point where i really dont care anymore.

You want the Google experience without the headaches that come with hacking your phone? Get a Google phone. And yes, this is a real, actual suggestion, as it resolves the problems that you've complained about (so far) without pulling you away from the Android ecosystem.

I think i need to try out an iphone...

Just don't install CyanogenMod on it. The battery life might not be very good if you do

 

[VashHT]

I made the switch a short while ago (like 9 months) and like other people said the google services integration is not as good on iOS. The two I miss the most are gtalk and navigation. There are IM programs for iOS but none of them work as well as the stock gtalk one on android imo. Also nav programs on iOS are a rip-off, either they're a subscription based or they're $35+.

I don't like how annoying it is to change settings on iOS, I jail-broke my phone to get toggle buttons for basic stuff like WiFi. Also I miss the ability to change default apps, on android I would leave some things without a default (like addresses) so that I could go to either nav or maps straight from the link.

As far as battery life goes I think iOS definitely has the edge there, with android it felt like I had to watch for background programs that might be eating up battery life. With iOS the battery holds really well if you aren't using it as it limits what background apps can do.

Overall though it's not that hard to switch, if you're able to I would try out an iphone and return it if you don't like it.

 

[alent1234]

for Navigation get Waze. its free and has FREE real time traffic. i tried google nav but it would lose GPS connection on 2 different phones and never worked right.

with waze i keep my iphone on the seat or in one of the cup holders and it never loses a signal

and iphone has better google services than android. apps like zite, feedly, push gmail are better than setting up google sync on android

 

[iahk]

for Navigation get Waze. its free and has FREE real time traffic. i tried google nav but it would lose GPS connection on 2 different phones and never worked right.

with waze i keep my iphone on the seat or in one of the cup holders and it never loses a signal

and iphone has better google services than android. apps like zite, feedly, push gmail are better than setting up google sync on android

Hm, my sister needs a free gps navigation app. I'll have her try out waze.

And what did you mean about those apps having better google services on iphone? Feedly is on android too (and is my favorite reader). I sync it to google account just fine? And Gmail being better on ios?

 

[alent1234]

i use gmail over active sync. i always hated the gmail app on android with its constant polling for new email and a 200 message limit. all my gmail is on my iphone, always. you can do it on android too, but the email app on iOS is the best

and on iOS 5 the lock screen is awesom. i have my email set to show up on the lock screen and most times i just scroll through it and never even unlock my iphone. way faster than on android when you have to go into the email program

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

Might have been answered but you can sync gmail using exchange/activesync and it gets your calendars and contacts too....

 

[Red Storm]

i use gmail over active sync. i always hated the gmail app on android with its constant polling for new email and a 200 message limit. all my gmail is on my iphone, always. you can do it on android too, but the email app on iOS is the best

and on iOS 5 the lock screen is awesom. i have my email set to show up on the lock screen and most times i just scroll through it and never even unlock my iphone. way faster than on android when you have to go into the email program

Gmail is just one aspect of Google integration, but I don't recall a 200 message limit. I know I can set the sync to go back any number of days, but I've left it at the default 30. Having my Chrome bookmarks synced across every device I use (as well as active tabs), and being able to pick up and resume chats from any device is also very useful for me.


On an Android phone you can either put whatever widgets you want on your lockscreen via an app (email/text list, weather, etc.), or just look at your notifications from the lock screen as I do on my Nexus.

 

[Puddle Jumper]

I think CM7 may be a bigger contributor to your issues with Android than you realize. Even on my Nook color which is officially supported by CM and is running an official release I get fairly frequent force closes while I have never had a single force close from any of those same apps on my Galaxy S2 running the stock rom. Since the Galaxy S2 doesn't have a final release of CM7 I can only image the stability would be less than perfect.

If you want stock Android without any headaches get a Nexus otherwise you should expect any custom rom to be a potential source of problems.

Just to provide a counterpoint I also have a Galaxy S2 and while I spent a lot of time flashing custom roms and tweaking my Captivate I have been perfectly satisfied with the stock experience on my S2. In fact I would be less happy with the phone if it was running AOSP Gingerbread since that would mean giving up the hardware accelerated browser and launcher Touchwiz provides.

 

[Nvidiaguy07]

Another rom, another problem. I installed shostock, and my battery was OK for a while, now it went right down the crapper again.

Barely used my phone today, and now im at 12% after 9 hours. Awesome.

any suggestions?

Anxiously awaiting the ip5 btw....

 

[pm]

You know, it's funny. My ShoStock did the same thing today.

I went from 100% to 28% in 4h37m. The phone itself is pretty warm too - got a "force close" on Google Play Books this morning (which was weird) and then Winamp crashed too.

I've been running Shostock 1.1 for over a week and everything has been fine... I have no idea what's going on today. I'm not doing anything different than usual. Up until today, my phone has been rock solid and the battery life has been excellent...

 

[Dulanic]

Sometimes it's the ROM sometimes it's a gone crazy app that acts up if you don't wipe data. I have gotten in the habit of not really restoring apps + data anymore. It can cause issues. Or it can be something as simple as a bug in the manufacturers code that locked on GPS or something else. That's a occasional sammy thing I have seen.

 

[Nvidiaguy07]

Sometimes it's the ROM sometimes it's a gone crazy app that acts up if you don't wipe data. I have gotten in the habit of not really restoring apps + data anymore. It can cause issues. Or it can be something as simple as a bug in the manufacturers code that locked on GPS or something else. That's a occasional sammy thing I have seen.

always wipe, go from stock etc. No matter what it seems like whatever rom i use degrades over time. Im trying to look into my betterbatterystats dump to see what the problem is.