Where do you "config" the exchange account? Mine was set up at the apple store...and I had no idea what the sales guy was doing at the time.
Can you step me through this?
Thanks!
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Extremely Early first impressions of the iPhone 4s by an Android User
- Thread starter VydorScope
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Where do you "config" the exchange account? Mine was set up at the apple store...and I had no idea what the sales guy was doing at the time.
Can you step me through this?
Thanks!
Some of this stuff you just aren't going to find on the iPhone unless you jailbreak. iPhones really are more for the mainstream user where as Android is more for the "tech minded" in my opinion...there are a lot more mainstream users out there which is why Apple does so great but most people aren't going to need a Call Blocker or a good signal meter...the 5 bars in the status bar is just fine.
PDANet is for setting up a wireless hotspot or to connect the phone to a computer via USB? The iPhone has this...you just have to pay $20 a month for it I believe (unless of course you jailbreak).
What the Apple rep likely did was set you up with a Google mail account rather than an Exchange account.
The difference is that with a Google mail account, your phone has to periodically check the gmail server for new messages, while with an Exchange account, the instant you get a new email or update a contact, it is "pushed" to your phone. Much better.
This tutorial explains step-by-step how to set up Gmail as an Exchange account on the iPhone. Make sure you delete your existing account first.
Thanks...
I like my phone to ring as loud as possible when I have an incoming call, but
I certainly don't need that sort of volume for an incoming email indicator. There's no way to have separate volume controls for this?
You can do this through your carrier. If you're with Verizon, there's a spam controls page where you can block up to 5 numbers at a time.
Yep, that is what I did but I did not let the ATT store ppl setup my phone beyond activating it.
Another first time iPhone user from Android.
The build quality is quite remarkable, this is the most quality feeling phone I've ever had.
The sync thing still confuses the hell out of me as I never know if i choose to sync if its going to wipe my phone. So basically I just do everything manually which i feel is probably limiting the usefulness of my phone as I also cannot then utilize wireless sync. I never use it on my ipods either as i just manually do everything.
I desperately miss the "back" button. I've come to rely on it much more than i had anticipated. I'm already a bit annoyed at having to start over at the home screen all the time. I do know about the "multitasking" option by double clicking the home button but it just doesnt feel right...yet. Also it isnt as nice as the back button in certain situations.
It's so fast... like wow... fast. The presentation of everything is pretty impressive, though that is an iOS thing i suppose. The reception is much better than my D-Inc.
I know its been said a million times when referring to the iPhone but... it just works. Everything just seems smooth and polished. There's a streamlined feeling to everything.
Also as the OP said, notifications is lacking but I'm glad something is there besides just badges on icons.
The build quality is quite remarkable, this is the most quality feeling phone I've ever had.
The sync thing still confuses the hell out of me as I never know if i choose to sync if its going to wipe my phone. So basically I just do everything manually which i feel is probably limiting the usefulness of my phone as I also cannot then utilize wireless sync. I never use it on my ipods either as i just manually do everything.
I desperately miss the "back" button. I've come to rely on it much more than i had anticipated. I'm already a bit annoyed at having to start over at the home screen all the time. I do know about the "multitasking" option by double clicking the home button but it just doesnt feel right...yet. Also it isnt as nice as the back button in certain situations.
It's so fast... like wow... fast. The presentation of everything is pretty impressive, though that is an iOS thing i suppose. The reception is much better than my D-Inc.
I know its been said a million times when referring to the iPhone but... it just works. Everything just seems smooth and polished. There's a streamlined feeling to everything.
Also as the OP said, notifications is lacking but I'm glad something is there besides just badges on icons.
Unfortunately this is where Blackberry shines,no other phone has a more customizable notification system or sheer sound volume than them jailbroken ,rooted or not.
Hmm did not know about that will have to try it.
yeah, for example if you are at the home screen and double click the home button it will bring up a string of recently used programs. If you hold on in you can then delete the ones you don't want on that list anymore.. a clean up of sorts.
Also if an app is "misbehaving" you can force quit it by doing the above as well.
I also switched from an HTC android Incredible to a 4S, 16GB.
Bought mine in southern Maryland. Got to the store at 8 am, and there were about a dozen folks in line in front of me, less than I expected.
I expected there to be differences between my Droid and the 4S and of course there are. Some improvements, some annoyances I haven't resolved.
One of these is how long the display stays lit on the 4S if there is no activity going on...this was adjustable on the Droid. I haven't found the adjustment if there is one on the 4S.
The other is syncing regularly with my Gmail contacts. Doing so is counter-intuitive and involves using iTunes on my computer. Yikes! What a messy solution.
I also haven't figured out how to adjust the volume settings for the various signals and warnings.
It would be nice to have "widgets" on the home screen to turn Wi-Fi and Network on and off, and save battery time without having to drill down through menus. Also, I've found no "Call Blocker" that will work without jailbreaking the phone, which I do not want to do. Suggestions?
There also was a good signal strength meter available on the Android called Real Signal. Haven't found one yet for the 4S. And where is the PDANet app?
I do like the look and feel of the 4S.
You need to add your Google Account as Exchange rather than the regular way. Once you do contacts can be turned on for syncing.
http://www.google.com/support/mobile/bin/answer.py?answer=138740
It may need some time to get fully synced but once set up it works great.
ETA: Oops someone else beat me to it.
Cool I was wondering how you do that! Did not get a chance to Google for it yet.
For those looking for turn by turn GPS check out Waze...it looks pretty good and looking forward to trying it out myself.
It's nice to read other former Android user's reactions. I'm coming from a Droid 1 and there are a few things I miss.
- No LED light that blinks different colors when I have a text, a Kik message, email, etc. That was a really handy way for my phone to get my attention that I have a message or something without turning on the screen all the time.
- Controlling volume of different alerts and things, I definitely agree on that one. I also do miss a back button...
- No Google Nav Right now I have Map Quest and Waze (both free) but I haven't tried them out yet. But even with Google Nav, my phone was so slow and crashed so often that I had issues getting Google Nav to cooperate when I needed it too!
Other than that, I'm a very happy new iPhone user. The absolute best feature is the speech to text. The microphone icon that comes up on the keyboard is how to use it, if you haven't found it yet, and it works SO well! I can dictate an entire text message (say punctuation out loud) and it almost never missed a word (and I have a Jersey accent, haha). It's AMAZING and such a time saver.
- No LED light that blinks different colors when I have a text, a Kik message, email, etc. That was a really handy way for my phone to get my attention that I have a message or something without turning on the screen all the time.
- Controlling volume of different alerts and things, I definitely agree on that one. I also do miss a back button...
- No Google Nav
Right now I have Map Quest and Waze (both free) but I haven't tried them out yet. But even with Google Nav, my phone was so slow and crashed so often that I had issues getting Google Nav to cooperate when I needed it too!Other than that, I'm a very happy new iPhone user. The absolute best feature is the speech to text. The microphone icon that comes up on the keyboard is how to use it, if you haven't found it yet, and it works SO well! I can dictate an entire text message (say punctuation out loud) and it almost never missed a word (and I have a Jersey accent, haha). It's AMAZING and such a time saver.
As for the GPS it was never that great on my Nexus, and since I have a Garmin in my truck.. never used it so wont miss it, BUT I did see that Garmin plans to release their software for iPhone. So that should help, dunno how much they will charge though.
I appreciate the great review.
I'm actually a long time iPhone user that was considering switching to Android because I was getting bored with iOS. I've been to one of the local AT&T stores a couple of times checking out the Galaxy 2 II.
Since upgrading to iOS 5 yesterday I am back to being completely satisfied with my iPhone but I sure appreciate your perspectives.
As far as Nav apps go I have Navigon and have been very satisfied with it. Not cheap and it's a huge file...over 2 gig....because all the maps are loaded on the phone. This means it isn't using data as you're driving along and it isn't reliant on having cell signal to do it's job.
Thanks again!
Steve
I'm actually a long time iPhone user that was considering switching to Android because I was getting bored with iOS. I've been to one of the local AT&T stores a couple of times checking out the Galaxy 2 II.
Since upgrading to iOS 5 yesterday I am back to being completely satisfied with my iPhone but I sure appreciate your perspectives.
As far as Nav apps go I have Navigon and have been very satisfied with it. Not cheap and it's a huge file...over 2 gig....because all the maps are loaded on the phone. This means it isn't using data as you're driving along and it isn't reliant on having cell signal to do it's job.
Thanks again!
Steve
I will also chime in as I am coming from a Droid X and I want to give every mobile OS a shot so plunged on the iPhone
First, the speed of this phone is awesome, everything just works, On my Droid X I always felt something was quirky or something not just right or fluid, even with custom ROMs on it
Battery life is also awesome, I don't know why android has trouble with this but maybe it also has to deal with screen size too, I don't know but I bet ICS improves on that
I was a little worried about the screen but after 5mins of using it I forgot this was a 3.5in screen. The keyboard is amazing and I am more accurate on that then any other previous phone I have had.
Everything flows and makes sense too its just bang bang boom on iPhone, on android I always felt that you had to think through a process and stuff but thats just me
Really going to miss the free navigation on my phone even though I only sometimes used it, I was glad to know I had free navigation if I ever need to find anything
I will miss on android the customization you could do with root like change fonts, themes, etc. I will have to see what jail breaking can do before I give the clear winner their
I haven't had real quirks yet about it its a really good phone and hope to enjoy the Apple Experience on the iPhone
First, the speed of this phone is awesome, everything just works, On my Droid X I always felt something was quirky or something not just right or fluid, even with custom ROMs on it
Battery life is also awesome, I don't know why android has trouble with this but maybe it also has to deal with screen size too, I don't know but I bet ICS improves on that
I was a little worried about the screen but after 5mins of using it I forgot this was a 3.5in screen. The keyboard is amazing and I am more accurate on that then any other previous phone I have had.
Everything flows and makes sense too its just bang bang boom on iPhone, on android I always felt that you had to think through a process and stuff but thats just me
Really going to miss the free navigation on my phone even though I only sometimes used it, I was glad to know I had free navigation if I ever need to find anything
I will miss on android the customization you could do with root like change fonts, themes, etc. I will have to see what jail breaking can do before I give the clear winner their
I haven't had real quirks yet about it its a really good phone and hope to enjoy the Apple Experience on the iPhone
You will be the first person I heard of that thinks Garmin is better than Googles Nav.
But isn't Google Nav reliant on having cell signal to load map data?
Coverage is getting better everywhere but there are still places out in the boonies with no coverage.
Steve
Ya, Google Navigation will decide whether I keep my 4S or end up returning it.
Telenav is $.99 for the first month and then $25 for a year.
I've tried a few nav apps and I will say that without a doubt, google nav is the best. By far.
I just switched from the Epic. I am pretty amazed by how much better the iPhones display is versus Super AMOLED. Side by side, the iPhone looks much nicer. On the other hand, both phones have about the same footprint, but the 4" screen is so much bigger than 3.5". Apple really dropped the ball here, they should have at least gone to 3.7".
I really miss the back and menu buttons from android. Every time I want to change a setting in an iPhone app, I have to go looking around for the right button. On Android, it is always there when you need it.
GMail on Android is better than Mail.
Lastly, I REALLY REALLY hate iTunes. I have a macbook air and a windows pc and Apple won't let me keep them all in sync. Soemtimes I need to sync with my mac since there are a lot of iOS utilities that are OSX-only, but I don't want to backup all my apps on the precious SSD space on my Air. SO I prefer to sync with my desktop and... the whole thing is a disaster. Add to that some latent syncing issues from iOS 5 betas on my iPad... It's a nightmare. I can't wait for iCloud to kill iTunes entirely.
Maybe if you only use it for Gmail, but I hate the android gmail app since it doesn't let you zoom; at least on my android device.
Also google nav is nice (especially for free), but since it uses data I prefer to use my Navigon. Sure you have to purchase it, but it's only one time and I can use it for all my iOS devices including iPad.
OP, forgive me if someone else has mentioned this as I didn't read through every post in the thread first, but you mentioned the Otterbox Defender as being bigger than you expected. A good alternative, that still offers a ton of protection (and the built in port covers) is the Otterbox Commuter. It's got a silicone wrap around the phone and a hard plastic cover that goes over that. It won't mess with a screen protector and offers very good drop protection.
I had one on my 3GS for 2 years and there's not a scratch on it. I put another one on my 4S before I left the store yesterday. I can't recommend this case highly enough.
BTW, this has to be one of the best, most fair-minded reviews I've ever read from someone switching from one platform to another. Kudos to you for that! I couldn't agree more about the status bar icons that are lacking in iOS, but maybe, just maybe, Apple will listen on that someday. As others have mentioned, there are fixes for this if (and when) a jailbreak comes out for iOS5, but until then, a good alternative is using Boxcar and routing your notifications through that. I won't go into detail, but it really helps consolidate things (and they still show up in your Notification Center).
Thanks again for the great review!
I had one on my 3GS for 2 years and there's not a scratch on it. I put another one on my 4S before I left the store yesterday. I can't recommend this case highly enough.
BTW, this has to be one of the best, most fair-minded reviews I've ever read from someone switching from one platform to another. Kudos to you for that! I couldn't agree more about the status bar icons that are lacking in iOS, but maybe, just maybe, Apple will listen on that someday. As others have mentioned, there are fixes for this if (and when) a jailbreak comes out for iOS5, but until then, a good alternative is using Boxcar and routing your notifications through that. I won't go into detail, but it really helps consolidate things (and they still show up in your Notification Center).
Thanks again for the great review!
Personally I have found them to be identical, from an average gmail user's perspective. I used a Nexus 1 before getting the 4S and I have no gripes while using either.