iPhone 12 iPhone & Google Services

[djr7572]

As an iPhone user, I'm just wondering if there's many of you out there who use a lot of Google services (Calendar/Keep/GMail/Photos/Google 1 etc) on your iPhone itself? For instance, you're unsatisfied with some of Apple's native apps and you're opting to use the Google equivalent (Calendar/Mail etc) instead.

For example, I'm now using Google Calendar instead of Apple's native Calendar ... GMail instead of Apple's native emai app (which seems to always be a total train wreck of an app that they can't seem to fix).

If you DO use a lot of Google services on your iPhone, are you enjoying that experience?

Google apps/services just seem so much more powerful and feature-rich compared to Apple's native apps.

I feel like this is my way of 'liberating/freeing' myself from the prison that is the Apple ecosystem without actually switching to an Android device. If I completely immerse myself into the Google ecosystem, I can easily change devices down the road without having to worry about having everything locked into the Apple ecosystem. If i change phones (jump to Android), just log into Google and there's all your stuff!

Would absolutely love to make the switch to Android, but I can't give up iMessage ... I've tried ... and every time I jump to the dark side, I find that I can't live without iMessage so I come back.

 

[LFC2020]

Would absolutely love to make the switch to Android, but I can't give up iMessage ... I've tried ... and every time I jump to the dark side, I find that I can't live without iMessage so I come back.

Those that leave realize how much of a horrible experience android is especially on Samsung phones and end up returning.

No upside in leaving the most polished operating system only so you can end up on a inferior platform.

Googles own apps even work better on iOS.

 

[djr7572]

Those that leave realize how much of a horrible experience android is especially on Samsung phones and end up returning.

No upside in leaving the most polished operating system only so you can end up on a inferior platform.

Googles own apps even work better on iOS.

'Most polished operating system' ... I'd have to agree there. There's a buttery-smoothness to iOS that nothing else can match. These new flagships from Samsung and the like, boast these high refresh rates - and they are fast, and smooth, but they're just not the kind of smooth that iOS is. iOS is like a different kind of smooth. Android seems more 'jerky' and abrupt while iOS is like butter.

'Google's own apps even work better on iOS' .... I think you're onto something here. In Fact, the few times I have jumped to Android and came back, one of the biggest things I noticed was how much better apps IN GENERAL run on iOS compared to Android (all apps - not just Google's apps). Not sure why that is, but it's always something I notice.

Things I continue to hate about iOS:

* Siri (mostly useless)

* Lack of ability to customize

*Notifications are not front and center like they are on Android - this is how I always miss notifications because you have to go look for them by pulling down the left side. I've always hated the way that iOS manages Notifications.

* Wish I had hands-free Google Assistant

 

[LFC2020]

'Most polished operating system' ... I'd have to agree there. There's a buttery-smoothness to iOS that nothing else can match. These new flagships from Samsung and the like, boast these high refresh rates - and they are fast, and smooth, but they're just not the kind of smooth that iOS is. iOS is like a different kind of smooth. Android seems more 'jerky' and abrupt while iOS is like butter.

'Google's own apps even work better on iOS' .... I think you're onto something here. In Fact, the few times I have jumped to Android and came back, one of the biggest things I noticed was how much better apps IN GENERAL run on iOS compared to Android (all apps - not just Google's apps). Not sure why that is, but it's always something I notice.

Things I continue to hate about iOS:

* Siri (mostly useless)

* Lack of ability to customize

*Notifications are not front and center like they are on Android - this is how I always miss notifications because you have to go look for them by pulling down the left side. I've always hated the way that iOS manages Notifications.

* Wish I had hands-free Google Assistant

Couldn’t agree more mate.

I want the bloody home bar gone, stands out like dog balls.

Like apple to allow us some customization on the Lock Screen, maybe iOS 16 🤔😂

 

[eyoungren]

As an iPhone user, I'm just wondering if there's many of you out there who use a lot of Google services (Calendar/Keep/GMail/Photos/Google 1 etc) on your iPhone itself? For instance, you're unsatisfied with some of Apple's native apps and you're opting to use the Google equivalent (Calendar/Mail etc) instead.

For example, I'm now using Google Calendar instead of Apple's native Calendar ... GMail instead of Apple's native emai app (which seems to always be a total train wreck of an app that they can't seem to fix).

If you DO use a lot of Google services on your iPhone, are you enjoying that experience?

Google apps/services just seem so much more powerful and feature-rich compared to Apple's native apps.

I feel like this is my way of 'liberating/freeing' myself from the prison that is the Apple ecosystem without actually switching to an Android device. If I completely immerse myself into the Google ecosystem, I can easily change devices down the road without having to worry about having everything locked into the Apple ecosystem. If i change phones (jump to Android), just log into Google and there's all your stuff!

Would absolutely love to make the switch to Android, but I can't give up iMessage ... I've tried ... and every time I jump to the dark side, I find that I can't live without iMessage so I come back.

I've used Google's services since 2012 when I got the iPhone 5. Because Apple introduced the Lightning port and iOS 6, my brand new iPhone 5 would not sync with my PowerBook G4. I was forced to find alternative methods and Google was one of those.

Unlike Apple's services, Google works on just about any platform - including my old Macs.

PS…iMessage. AirMessage. I went to Android in 2019 and have used this to continue to use iMessage on my Pixel. Leverages my Mac Mini.

 

[eyoungren]

Those that leave realize how much of a horrible experience android is especially on Samsung phones and end up returning.

No upside in leaving the most polished operating system only so you can end up on a inferior platform.

Googles own apps even work better on iOS.

I have to disagree. I was on iPhone from 2012 to 2019. Apple made a habit of making it difficult for me to use their services because I didn't have brand new, less than two year old Macs.

So far my Pixel has worked just fine and I've not had any issues. With AirMessage I can still leverage iMessage on my Pixel as well.

I'm not advocating for Android though, just relating my experience. I use Android and iOS daily (I still have five old iPhones and a 6th gen iPad). My computers are all Macs, except for one PC laptop.

But you know, Google works on a 17" PowerBook G4. iMessage…doesn't.

 

[LFC2020]

have to disagree. I was on iPhone from 2012 to 219. Apple made a habit of making it difficult for me to use their services because I didn't have brand new, less than two year old Macs.

Really? Had a iMac for almost 10 years, didn’t run into any issues. 🤔

 

[Robbosan]

I have to disagree. I was on iPhone from 2012 to 2019. Apple made a habit of making it difficult for me to use their services because I didn't have brand new, less than two year old Macs.

I am typing this on a late 2015 27"K iMac, what service am i missing out on?

 

[eyoungren]

Really? Had a iMac for almost 10 years, didn’t run into any issues. 🤔

My first Intel Mac, Snow Leopard only, was purchased in 2014. My second Intel Mac was sent to me in late 2018 and my first MacPro purchase was made in May of 2020. I have two Mac Minis, one is max Lion and the other is max El Cap - but I run Mojave through a patch.

From January 2017 to May 2020 my daily driver was a Quad PowerMac G5.

So, yes, really. iCloud services, except for email, don't work on PowerPC Macs. By the time I got to Snow Leopard, Apple support was long gone. iOS 6 requires a minimum of iTunes 10.6.4 to sync, and guess what? 10.6.3 is the last version that runs on PowerPC.

Want to sync an iOS 7 30-pin device on a Mac running Lion? Can't, because Apple cut off 30-pin devices from syncing on Lion Macs.

On and on…

 

[Apple_Robert]

'Most polished operating system' ... I'd have to agree there. There's a buttery-smoothness to iOS that nothing else can match. These new flagships from Samsung and the like, boast these high refresh rates - and they are fast, and smooth, but they're just not the kind of smooth that iOS is. iOS is like a different kind of smooth. Android seems more 'jerky' and abrupt while iOS is like butter.

'Google's own apps even work better on iOS' .... I think you're onto something here. In Fact, the few times I have jumped to Android and came back, one of the biggest things I noticed was how much better apps IN GENERAL run on iOS compared to Android (all apps - not just Google's apps). Not sure why that is, but it's always something I notice.

Things I continue to hate about iOS:

* Siri (mostly useless)

* Lack of ability to customize

*Notifications are not front and center like they are on Android - this is how I always miss notifications because you have to go look for them by pulling down the left side. I've always hated the way that iOS manages Notifications.

* Wish I had hands-free Google Assistant

You can make a notification persistent. That action makes it stay on the screen until you remove it.

 

[eyoungren]

I am typing this on a late 2015 27"K iMac, what service am i missing out on?

Google service or iCloud service? Sorry, bit confused with the question.

My youngest Mac is an early 2009 MacPro 4,1 upgraded to a 5,1. I can run Mojave on it, which still works - but I only got this new to me MP in May of 2020. Before that my youngest Mac was a early 2009 Mini and I've only had that since December 2019.

I am typing this on a 2008 MBP running Mojave, but only because of dosdude's patcher.

 

[djr7572]

You can make a notification persistent. That action makes it stay on the screen until you remove it.

This is true, and I've only come to realize this in the last few days. So I went in and changed the Notifications to 'Persistent' on the apps that I absolutely cannot miss notifications from.

 

[Apple_Robert]

This is true, and I've only come to realize this in the last few days. So I went in and changed the Notifications to 'Persistent' on the apps that I absolutely cannot miss notifications from.

In my way of thinking, the setting should be persistent by default. After all, we want to be reminded. If the notification comes and goes, we may not remember to go looking for unread notifications every time. I also think there should be the option for persistent sound with the persistent notification much like the app "Due."

There is a reason why the Google apps seem to perform much better than iOS. The reason is Google is given the freedom to invade and abuse a user's privacy. That is why Google can offer more customization, whereas iOS cannot.

I get people like to better customize their user experience on whatever device they are using. What price is being paid for that ability? That is what people need to stop and consider, in my opinion. Knowledge is power.

 

[eyoungren]

I get people like to better customize their user experience on whatever device they are using. What price is being paid for that ability? That is what people need to stop and consider, in my opinion. Knowledge is power.

There are certain things I don't allow Google, despite having used them as a service for several years. For one, gmail is not and never has been my primary email. I have two that I use and one of those is for business or people I expect to receive spam from or that I don't want having my ISP email.

My gmail accounts are mainly used for garbage and throwaway purposes. So, none of my financial stuff has any connection to Google. That said, Google does have my debit card because I use their storage and want to buy an app on occasion.

I use 2FA with Google and have my devices as an authenticator. I'm far more worried about other sites and businesses security measures.

 

[Apple_Robert]

There are certain things I don't allow Google, despite having used them as a service for several years. For one, gmail is not and never has been my primary email. I have two that I use and one of those is for business or people I expect to receive spam from or that I don't want having my ISP email.

My gmail accounts are mainly used for garbage and throwaway purposes. So, none of my financial stuff has any connection to Google. That said, Google does have my debit card because I use their storage and want to buy an app on occasion.

I use 2FA with Google and have my devices as an authenticator. I'm far more worried about other sites and businesses security measures.

You have made an informed decision and I respect that, even though we disagree.

 

[eyoungren]

You have made an informed decision and I respect that, even though we disagree.

Well, it's a balancing act.

For the record, I did use Google Maps's services to blur my house on Google Maps. If you (or someone) happened to know my address and looked it up on Google Maps you'd see nothing but a giant blob.

I give Google the minimum amount of info I can to use whatever service I need at the time.

But there is no argument from me in that iOS and iPhone are more secure.

 

[djr7572]

In my way of thinking, the setting should be persistent by default. After all, we want to be reminded. If the notification comes and goes, we may not remember to go looking for unread notifications every time. I also think there should be the option for persistent sound with the persistent notification much like the app "Due."

There is a reason why the Google apps seem to perform much better than iOS. The reason is Google is given the freedom to invade and abuse a user's privacy. That is why Google can offer more customization, whereas iOS cannot.

I get people like to better customize their user experience on whatever device they are using. What price is being paid for that ability? That is what people need to stop and consider, in my opinion. Knowledge is power.

But isn't that how we get functionality from our apps - particularly Google apps - by providing information about ourselves?

I'm as much for privacy protection as the next person, but I've also always felt that in order for these apps/services to give us what we want, they rely on information from us. Right?

There's a lot of people that seem hyper-paranoid all the time about entities like Google having their personal information. But it would seem to me that they need some of your information in order to return the service and functionality that we want from them.

I guess I kind of threw my hands up in the air a long time ago when it comes to trying to protect my own information/privacy. I just figure, they've probably got it all at this point anyway, right? I actively tweak privacy settings that I feel are either not necessary or I feel are too intrusive. So I do take measures to protect myself, but at the same time, I just figure Google needs my info in order to get functionality from their apps and services.

 

[eyoungren]

I guess I kind of threw my hands up in the air a long time ago when it comes to trying to protect my own information/privacy. I just figure, they've probably got it all at this point anyway, right? I actively tweak privacy settings that I feel are either not necessary or I feel are too intrusive. So I do take measures to protect myself, but at the same time, I just figure Google needs my info in order to get functionality from their apps and services.

I think the best you can do is manage things by trying not to stand out. This is one of the reasons that I don't give out my primary emails to entities I don't trust. I use passwords that for me are easy to remember but mean nothing to anyone else and I engage 2FA wherever I can.

Beyond that I'm not into advertising my personal data.

 

[Apple_Robert]

But isn't that how we get functionality from our apps - particularly Google apps - by providing information about ourselves?

I'm as much for privacy protection as the next person, but I've also always felt that in order for these apps/services to give us what we want, they rely on information from us. Right?

There's a lot of people that seem hyper-paranoid all the time about entities like Google having their personal information. But it would seem to me that they need some of your information in order to return the service and functionality that we want from them.

I guess I kind of threw my hands up in the air a long time ago when it comes to trying to protect my own information/privacy. I just figure, they've probably got it all at this point anyway, right? I actively tweak privacy settings that I feel are either not necessary or I feel are too intrusive. So I do take measures to protect myself, but at the same time, I just figure Google needs my info in order to get functionality from their apps and services.

You are right. In order for a Google app to function to its fullest capability, the end user has to be willing to allow Google inside the vault. If a user makes an informed decision to allow that, I have no problem with that.

If that is where you are at this point in time with your devices, no one can rightfully say you did the wrong thing (per se) seeing how its your device and your data, not the responders.

Google apps are not alone in this discussion. There are also a lot of third party iOS apps that require access to the user vault to perform as the developer intended.

What app can I use that will help get me from point A to point B, without putting my privacy and personal information at risk? That is what we all need to constantly ask ourselves and guard against, regardless of whether its Google or Apple.

 

[djr7572]

You are right. In order for a Google app to function to its fullest capability, the end user has to be willing to allow Google inside the vault. If a user makes an informed decision to allow that, I have no problem with that.

If that is where you are at this point in time with your devices, no one can rightfully say you did the wrong thing (per se) seeing how its your device and your data, not the responders.

Google apps are not alone in this discussion. There are also a lot of third party iOS apps that require access to the user vault to perform as the developer intended.

What app can I use that will help get me from point A to point B, without putting my privacy and personal information at risk? That is what we all need to constantly ask ourselves and guard against, regardless of whether its Google or Apple.

Very true

 

[dk001]

Before I started migrating away from heavy use of Google Services (original gmail tester) I found them to be a better option than most stock Apple iOS apps. Like you said, you can use them on just about any platform.

 

[lordhamster]

For a long time, I used pure google on Apple.
Gmail, Calendar, Contact, Photos.

I now have shifted my calendar, contacts and photos to iCloud... only hanging on to the gmail because I have my own custom domain there.

That said... I may switch the contacts & calendar back as I find the Google integration and calendar to be more convenient. Still debating.

 

[curdy]

I was gifted a Google Home device 2 years ago and since then have adapted Google apps such as Google Home, Google Calendar (shared with my spouse who also has an iPhone), and I use the Gmail app on my iPhone and iPad. We have multiple Google Home devices in our house with smart devices throughout so this just works for us but I have an iPhone, iPad, MacBook Pro, Apple Watch, etc.

 

[TouchedByAl]

I feel split on this topic. I’ve tried to mostly use Apple’s built in apps over the last few years more because they were built in and optimized for the phone with growing concern over the data google can snoop over. The Apple apps are fine for basic features but there’s something lacking in them that make me look elsewhere. I love all of the things googles apps can do and the more tie ins you have the better. That being said the one complaint I have is the excessive battery drain these apps have. No matter what phone I use if they are running they are doing things in the background and I don’t care for that. So I don’t know. It’s like flipping a coin for me because I like services that give me what I need, which google does quite well versus apps that are more then adequate and work fine but have their issues like the built in apps do.

 

[javisan]

I use Google services heavily, and don't care about impacts to privacy. I receive what I believe to be a better user experience than many Apple native apps. I love Google Photos and Apple can't even come close to it for photo sharing with friends and family. I replaced the iOS stock mail app with Gmail. Google Sheets & Docs are lightyears ahead of Apple Pages and Numbers (IMHO). I also use Google Maps, although I do admit that I do it out of habit, as I recognize that Apple Maps has significantly improved as of late.