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How many people are staying with Apple because of features available only within the ecosystem?

Hieveryone

Hieveryone

macrumors 603
Original poster
Apr 11, 2014
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I want to switch to Android, but all my friends use iPhone. So I need to stay within the ecosystem, because I don't know if they have a text messaging plan.

I know people who have spent thousands in the App Store and iTunes and so they don't want to switch either.

Are you in that situation? Please explain.
 
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Luckily I think I'm in a good position still. I have an Apple Watch, iPhone and MacBook. I'd absolutely stick with Apple for the MacBook just because I don't think there is a better computing experience. But all of my music is streamed via Apple Music which is available on Android. In terms of apps, all the ones I still use are free and for the ones that I bought, they were almost always games that I no longer play or care to play.
Overall, I think I could make a fairly seamless transition over to Android. That being said, I really don't want too. I love how fluid and fast iOS is. I like how it just works all the time. That being said, the hardware is severely lagging behind. Competitors are putting out phones with 64GB base storage and Apple is still at 16GB atm. Competitors are adding wireless charging, fast charging, water proof, etc. and Apple looks to be adding a new color and removing a headphone jack. Again, I don't want to move over to Android, but the OS can only cover up severely behind hardware for so long in my opinion.
 
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Hieveryone said:
I want to switch to Android, but all my friends use iPhone. So I need to stay within the ecosystem, because I don't know if they have a text messaging plan.

I know people who have spent thousands in the App Store and iTunes and so they don't want to switch either.

Are you in that situation? Please explain.
Click to expand...
Aside from text messaging plans there are plenty of messaging apps that anyone can install and use for messaging (that just uses data).
 
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Not really due to content but features. Continuity (primarily iMessage+SMS forwarding and iPhone Cellular Calls) is very important to me as I actually do most of my communications via iPad instead of iPhone.

As I've yet to see an Android tablet I like more than the iPad, I'm sticking with iPhone/iOS.
 
If you still use a lot of your purchased apps, it might be worth staying with iOS. I answered a similar question on this earlier this morning... might be useful here...

erayser said:
I agree with @The Game 161 comment that it isn't easy for Apple users to adapt to Android if they are dependent on the Apple Ecosystem.

Times have changed for me so it was a little easier to adapt. iMessage was great when it was first introduced because we paid for texting for most plans at the time. Most current plans include unlimited texting now. For international people that text me use Whatsapp or Hangouts.

I rarely facetime... and if I do... it's with my wife or kids. They all have gmail... so we use hangouts for facetime if we really need to video chat... or they can facetime me on my 6+.

Since we have been cable cutters for about 8+ years, all we do is stream... so we haven't bought any movies in a long time. Mainly stream music and videos (Kodi, Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime) now. If we do purchase movies, it's through amazon prime since it can be accessed on any platform. I don't buy music anymore since streaming is available now... and most carriers allow you to stream without it counting against your data. Downloading music and movies is just wasted storage space for me now.

Most of the apps that are useful to me are a free downloads for both platforms. I don't game on my mobile devices... I have my gaming rig (in sig), ps4, xbox one for gaming.

It's possible to adapt if you break away from the Apple Ecosystem... even just a little. There are other ways to sync contacts, pics, documents to both platforms. I don't use iCloud, I go with a 3rd party 1TB cloud that syncs pics and documents... and use Google Contacts to sync my contacts to both devices. I didn't totally break away from Apple, I still use Apple music on my S7 Edge. :)

Again... if you depend on the Apple Ecosystem, I would just stick with iOS. Nothing wrong with that. I like both platforms... both are not perfect... but both does what I need it to do. Plus... I want to just enjoy new tech... no matter what platform it's on. ;)
Click to expand...

Hope it helps...
 
Definitely one of the main reasons as I know there are alternatives as well, but for the most part Apple has created something so seamless it would be silly to leave. Once you become years entrenched in the ecosystem they pretty much have you for a very long time barring anything substantial changing which I don't see
 
iOS still remains more rounded, but there are definitely some weaknesses in the OS that are becoming more and more prominent. I do a lot of setup and such for my in-laws and the Apple solution can be such a mess (both their fault and not).

That being said, one of my in-laws has an Android device and that can be even less forgiving.
 
s15119 said:
I went to Android and with the next iPhone I'll be coming back. #1 Reason is apple has a better operating system and you can actually upgrade that OS. I'll never buy another Samsung phone again.
Click to expand...

You know Samsung does not equal to Android and Samsung just one of the phone makers using Android?

I use Nexus 5X and 6P and iPhone 6S and iPhone SE. I perfer Android more than iOS, but I try to keep both.
[doublepost=1471048879][/doublepost]
RedOrchestra said:
Unfortunately I'm thousands into iBooks, DRM-protected iBooks ... which absolutely prevents me from taking my business elsewhere. I just never thought I would get myself in this deep.
Click to expand...

This is exactly why I buy books from Amazon and Google Play Store. I streaming music using google Play Music and I emailing with GMail.

Never going to walled garden. Walled garden sucks
 
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LovingTeddy said:
You know Samsung does not equal to Android and Samsung just one of the phone makers using Android?

I use Nexus 5X and 6P and iPhone 6S and iPhone SE. I perfer Android more than iOS, but I try to keep both.
[doublepost=1471048879][/doublepost]

This is exactly why I buy books from Amazon and Google Play Store. I streaming music using google Play Music and I emailing with GMail.

Never going to walled garden. Walled garden sucks
Click to expand...

Very true on the wall garden part, Apple Music is on Android now too which might make it easier for people.
 
This is exactly why I had to reluctantly switch back to iPhone from the Galaxy S7 Edge. Loved that phone but getting removed from iMessage and messing up all my group chains was a nightmare!

Pathetic to use a phone for just the texting, but it really was quite annoying ha
 
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For someone who's been using iPhones for over 5 years I'm not all that invested in Apple's ecosystem. My only other Apple device is an iPad mini 4, and I only have one purchased app, and no media purchased through iTunes. iMessage is no big deal to me since I have unlimited texts, as do most people I know, and I actually do most of my text communication via Facebook Messenger, since that works on all devices and platforms.

I stay with Apple mainly out of habit and the fact that as I always say, iPhones do the basics really well and reliably.
 
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I bought nothing but iPhones from the very first one in 2007 up to the 6 Plus. But Apple has truly disgusted me lately with their absolutely astonishing decision to put 2011-levels of storage in their base model (on a phone.....with a 4K camera...).

The sad, pathetic reason why my iPhone 6 Plus is so sluggish and slow (with it's 1GB RAM), while the Galaxy Note 3 (released 3 years ago) is still snappy and fast as hell. Specs aren't just for fanboys - they really do matter.

Now I primarily use my Nexus 5X - it's an amazing phone. I definitely have a lot invested in Apple's app store, but I've found that I only actually used a small number of those apps and almost all of them exist in the Google Play store on Android (or equivalents).
 
AxoNeuron said:
I bought nothing but iPhones from the very first one in 2007 up to the 6 Plus. But Apple has truly disgusted me lately with their absolutely astonishing decision to put 2011-levels of storage in their base model (on a phone.....with a 4K camera...).

The sad, pathetic reason why my iPhone 6 Plus is so sluggish and slow (with it's 1GB RAM), while the Galaxy Note 3 (released 3 years ago) is still snappy and fast as hell. Specs aren't just for fanboys - they really do matter.

Now I primarily use my Nexus 5X - it's an amazing phone. I definitely have a lot invested in Apple's app store, but I've found that I only actually used a small number of those apps and almost all of them exist in the Google Play store on Android (or equivalents).
Click to expand...

1. Yes, the iPhone 6 Plus I had was ATROCIOUSLY slow. Very un-apple like and dissapointing.

2. If it exists in google play, can you transfer the purchase and avoid paying twice?
 
AppleFan91 said:
Luckily I think I'm in a good position still. I have an Apple Watch, iPhone and MacBook. I'd absolutely stick with Apple for the MacBook just because I don't think there is a better computing experience. But all of my music is streamed via Apple Music which is available on Android. In terms of apps, all the ones I still use are free and for the ones that I bought, they were almost always games that I no longer play or care to play.
Overall, I think I could make a fairly seamless transition over to Android. That being said, I really don't want too. I love how fluid and fast iOS is. I like how it just works all the time. That being said, the hardware is severely lagging behind. Competitors are putting out phones with 64GB base storage and Apple is still at 16GB atm. Competitors are adding wireless charging, fast charging, water proof, etc. and itAgain, I don't want to move over to Android, but the OS can only cover up severely behind hardware for so long in my opinion.
Click to expand...

With the iPhone 7, it's more than than adding a new color or deleting the 3.5 Jack as you stated.

The iPhone 7 is rumored to be more water resistant, larger battery, 3D Touch integrated into the Home button, Tru-Tone Display, 32 GB base option, second speaker, Improved camera, A10/M10 Processors, Possible wireless charging.

Those are just the rumored specifications, which to some, is a fairly decent improvement in my opinion. And again, if the 3.5 Jack is removed, does Apple have something else in store aside from a second speaker? We don't know until confirmed by Apple.

iOS, Apple's ecosystem and the security are worth my money in staying. Android is doing a lot of things right, but I cannot justify the Sacrifice leaving Apple behind for Android software, no matter how nice the Note 7 is, which it will do great.
 
My biggest reason for staying now is my employer only supports corporate email on iOS, actually. I'm so reliant on my work email.
 
Mainly for the ecosystem and some iOS only apps. I use tweetbot and overcast and don't think they are available on iOS.

Then there are also features such as AirPlay, continuity, handoff, iCloud Keychain, airdrop, the upcoming universal clipboard and iCloud desktop features, and losing access to them would be quite inconvenient.

Recently, my iPhone had some problems and Apple replaced it free of charge. Can I get the same service with other brands?

Also, I am not sure what the Android ecosystem could offer me. Can't say I am that desperate for the ability to customise my phone the way Android allows me to.
 
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