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Google Launches 'Switch to Android' iOS App to Attract iPhone Users
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A bit surprised to hear this. I know my experience is anecdotal, but I've migrated between several Android phones since ~2011 and it went fine.
HTC Incredible -> Galaxy S4 -> Galaxy S6 -> Pixel 3 -> Pixel 5a
For Samsung-to-Samsung you can just tap the NFC chips together, but otherwise plug in a USB cable when the new phone first boots.
What a ridiculous post
Should games on the PlayStation store also be able to point out they are available on Xbox? Or games on Steam point out they are available on Origin?
Or when shopping in a supermarket should Heinz be able to point out in Tesco that their baked beans are also available in Asda (replace Tesco and Asda with two entirely different supermarkets in your country)
I've switched between IOS and Android phones many times during the years. I host all my calendar and contants via my gmail account so I used to pull them all down from there whenever I switched mobile OS before switcher apps. The only annoying thing I found when switching from Android to an iPhone is that my musical library of ripped CD gets totally messed up, most of the album artwork disappears and tracks that were in albums suddenly get put into "various artists". I then have to spend a day putting everything right again.
Several app markets, full file system access, fully inplemented widgts and chat bubbles, LOTS of phones to choose from, phones with USB-C & PD, DEX and dock support (and more), full Google services support or complete de-googling and de-bloating, file/media format support beyond what would fit in one message. More or less and depending on user skill - freedom to use the phone in almost every way, as it suits the user.
I haven't tried the latest Samsung smart switch. Hopefully that's better. What I've used were Google's default restore method, which gave you the option to transfer data from your old phone via "set up my new device" command in Google assistant.
Also, if you don't have any apps on your phone and only use Google services, you probably won't realize any issues. The problem comes when you have other apps. The Google method pretty much ignored any 3rd party data. None of them got transferred.
I was using an Android phone only because of the free unlimited photo storage on Google Photos
It was so convenient to have everything in one place and be able to search pictures from my gallery
Now that it's not free anymore I will switch to iOS
I've been using an Android phone for more than 10 years now (starting with the Galaxy S1), and yes, Android is a bit messy.
One example is the non-consistent settings layout between the phones.
You look online for some hint on how to change a given setting, but because of the Samsung/Xiaomi/LG/... layer on top of Android, you don't have the option, or it's a different name/different section than the one in the tutorial.
Also, as apps have to deal with a wide range of screen/screen ratios, sometimes the layout of third-party apps is a bit strange.
There are some issues due to the fragmentation. For example, if I take a picture with the stock camera app, the quality is very good. However, if I take a picture directly with WhatsApp, the quality is not that good. I assume the AI post-processing is not applied using a third-party camera app.
One issue I've regularly faced across multiple devices/brands is that my phone's compass in Google Maps needs to be calibrated very often. Now that there is an easy street-view quick calibration method, it's not such an issue, but before, I had to move my phone with an 8 shape for a solid minute.
Still, Android is a good platform and there are some advantages compared to iOS
It was never really free. Google would resize AND recompress your photos, even if they're less than the minimum resolution. So people who think they are "backing up" their photos will be severely disappointed.
It was only truly free (meaning the photo quality is intact) for Pixel users for a while, but I think that was no longer as well.
Sales pitch: You can switch your data safely and securely.
Small print: But after you’ve switched your data safely and securely, we will sell it to the highest bidder.
Small print: But after you’ve switched your data safely and securely, we will sell it to the highest bidder.
That's true, but the quality was still very good even after compression, at least for me.
To be honest, I used it more for the search feature than for the backup.
I also have Amazon Prime's unlimited picture backup, but I preferred Google's one by far.
I not only would, I did, but to Samsung not Google.
Recently purchased a Samsung A53 5G and moving my information from an Apple iPhone SE (Original) to the A53 was nearly seamless using Samsung's "Smart Switch" app. I copied my data directly from iPhone to my Samsung phone without using anyone's cloud or 3rd party drive. The only thing I needed to do was enter my username and passwords into a few apps and setup my email accounts.
I've owned a bunch of Apple products, but I've had enough of iTunes. Never liked iTune, and have always felt it was a real PITA. I am quite aware that many love iTunes, but I am not one of them.
For me it was a joy to plug in my Samsung A53 into my lappy and be able to move my video's and files over without dealing with iTunes.
Agree on the different looking skins creating confusion for consumers. It's inevitable due to the open nature of the platform. At the same time, it creates diversity.I've been using an Android phone for more than 10 years now (starting with the Galaxy S1), and yes, Android is a bit messy.
One example is the non-consistent settings layout between the phones.
You look online for some hint on how to change a given setting, but because of the Samsung/Xiaomi/LG/... layer on top of Android, you don't have the option, or it's a different name/different section than the one in the tutorial.
Also, as apps have to deal with a wide range of screen/screen ratios, sometimes the layout of third-party apps is a bit strange.
There are some issues due to the fragmentation. For example, if I take a picture with the stock camera app, the quality is very good. However, if I take a picture directly with WhatsApp, the quality is not that good. I assume the AI post-processing is not applied using a third-party camera app.
One issue I've regularly faced across multiple devices/brands is that my phone's compass in Google Maps needs to be calibrated very often. Now that there is an easy street-view quick calibration method, it's not such an issue, but before, I had to move my phone with an 8 shape for a solid minute.
Still, Android is a good platform and there are some advantages compared to iOS
As for crappy photos from other apps, that's because most of them simply took a screenshot instead of an actual photo using the camera. This is why pretty much most social media influencer (eg. IG, snapchat, etc) use iPhones. With iPhones, there's a standard camera API that Apple used and apps can utilize. Android has camera APIs as well, but each OEM implemented their camera features differently, often times ignoring the standard API support. Thus apps cannot really access the hardware properly. The blame goes to Google as well as their standard camera APIs are lagging so behind in supporting advance features of the hardware. Example: Xiaomi Mi A1. It's an Android One phone, but Xiaomi is forced to use their own camera app since Google's didn't even support dual lens at that time.
Agree on the Google Maps calibration. This is where I feel iPhones have better compass/GPS. iPhones just seem to nail my location more accurately than any Android phone I've used. Also, many mid-ranger and lower don't actually have the magnetometer sensor.
But yeah, in the end, I still use Android as my primary driver for features that Apple would never implement.
That's more of a testament of how good Samsung has become today in software. Congrats on your A53. I think it's a good phone.
Notice any lag/stutter on the A53? I have ordered it, but only yesterday. The performance issue that some of the reviewers complained about was concerning. I then thought of waiting for the Pixel 6A, but it doesn't have face recognition and the fingerprint reader has issues. If you have a lag/stutter-free environment on the A53, did you take any steps to reduce that? Coming from Windows, I am hoping I can take steps to deter any performance issues. Thanks.
Depends on how deep you are in, I suppose. I have an original iPhone SE and an older Mac Mini. The SE's battery is dying again, it probably won't get iOS 16, and more and more of my apps have stopped working properly over the past year. Fragmentation on the iPhone - it is a niche iPhone on the way out, and app developers don't care. The Mac Mini was my base station for the iPhone, as Linux support for the iPhone was almost non-existent. I liked my SE, but I see no successor iPhone I could like as much. The Mac I never liked that much, I generally prefer Linux over MacOS (both from a functionality perspective and regarding look&feel, seriously), and without the SE the Mac's days are numbered, too.
I have been running Android+Linux and iOS+MacOS in parallel for a few years, but it looks like I will abandon Apple. For me things are increasingly easier on the other side - USB-C everywhere, open standards, everything works together, everything can be fixed. My Android battery was dying, too - I ordered a new one and popped it in yesterday (granted, this is rare on Android, too). My Thinkpad could use more storage after all, maybe I will install a 4TB-drive. My Mac can't even handle my external drives, and the new M1-Macs can't handle my scanner/printer. If I was deeper in the Apple ecosystem, things might be different, but it would be a big step and so far I have not been convinced.
No lag so far, but then I realize the Samsung A53 is a mid-range phone. It does not have the power of a Samsung S22 or iPhone 13.
I forgot to mention that I also switched carriers. I went from Verizon to Mint Mobile. The only thing I learned before I did it was that the SIM card is placed in the A53 the opposite of what Mint Mobile said. It was a very seamless move and cut my phone bill in half.
Yes, they should. Nothing stops Heinz from writing a message exactly to that effect.
I have an iPhone 11, and never have problems with it. I also have a Samsung tablet, and it’s so slow that you can barely use it. It’s just about two or three years old. As soon as I can get a deal at my phone company, I’ll be switching to an iPad.
I loathe surveillance capitalism. I certainly don't want to use an OS built on it. Also, I have concerns about security on Android. Finally, most companies' support for updating their hardware with new versions of Android lasts about as long as the lifespan of a mayfly.
I have friends and family who started with Apple devices, got feed up with the high prices, and switched to Android. All of them, without exception, switched back to Apple after one Android device. Perhaps my view is biased, and Apple's recent action in regard to scanning content locally on iPhones has given me pause for thought. Still, I'd rather not switch to Android if I can avoid it. Just my preference of course.