Is it possible to be happier outside the Apple ecosystem?

[circatee]

I am with Apple for two reasons:
1. The integration, sync, and workflow processes between my Apple devices
2. No energy or desire to constantly configure Android device(s)

 

[tbayrgs]

I am with Apple for two reasons:
1. The integration, sync, and workflow processes between my Apple devices
2. No energy or desire to constantly configure Android device(s)

1. Understandable but less of an obstacle than it’s been in the past.

Apple has been my ecosystem of choice going back to the first iPhone but I’ve also used Android much most of the past 12 years on secondary devices. What I’ve discovered over time is that there are better 3rd party apps for nearly every app that Apple offers and most are platform agnostic. I use alternative Calendar, Maps, Mail, Music, Podcast, Task management, Notes, Photos, News apps and others that all match or exceed Apple’s offerings.

2. Another outdated stereotype. When I set up my new Pixel, it follows a process that basically mirrors Apple’s and restores from a cloud backup of my previous Pixel.

 

[lowendlinux]

I'm indifferent to the whole thing.. KDE connect connects my computer and phone which is all I really need, there is little appeal to using a computer I don't own to sync. Then there is the sign in, graphene doesn't require me to sign into a service, MacOS allows me to run my computer that way but iOS doesn't

 

[edubfromktown]

Apple pipe dream eco$ystem marketing caca wreaks as bad as others.

Finding a balance between cost, efficiency and long term viability is where I roam.

For met it includes:

A pair of (corp liquidated purchased for <$200 each) HP C1030 Elite 16 GB RAM i7 Chromebooks.

Mac Studio Max M1 and Pro M3 14" MBP

5 Raspberry Pi (4's and a 5).

 

[throAU]

I can not stand how samsung phones (majority of android) have duplicate samsung apps and google apps that can't be removed.

 

[onthebuses]

What's cool about Apple is that they don't bind you to their ecosystem. I use Google, Yahoo and Dropbox on my iPhone, and one or two things that are part of the Apple ecosystem - together.

I think you will find that is why the EU drafted law to ensure equal competition or some such. Prior to it Apple had an unfair advantage, in the eyes of the EU. Being forced to use the App Store and being unable to change default apps etc, does bind you to Apple ecosystem. I don’t agree with the EU. But a lot of people do. The EU certainly hasn’t finished either. I do wonder how far they will go, Apple can’t pull out of Europe so their hands are tied. Within the EU the Apple ecosystem is being pulled at to try and break it apart.

 

[rumourmonger]

The trick is using platform agnostic tools for things like contacts, calendar, notes, documents, photos and cloud storage.

This – right here!

If you use Apple's locked garden agnostic services and software you won't even feel like you are locked down and you can move any day you really want to move.

I will go ahead and even say that in fact services which are seemingly a "lock" (w.r.t. interacting with just you) are not really so – like photos, contacts - are usually one app install (and let it sync) away when it comes to migration; i.e. you can just export and import your contacts elsewhere, install Google Photos (or Ente in my case; or something else) and your photos are no longer only in Apple ecosystem, calendar is just your email really - so if your email is not in Apple's ecosystem - moving calendar is trivial… et cetera.

It will be tricky if you use icloud.com email or iMessage because then these services not only interact with you but with others as well in your context. I have my mail on my domain so I have never used @icloud.com anywhere worthwhile – in fact it's main usage are: using Sign in with Apple at forums et cetera and using it as the forwarding email for my SimpleLogin aliases (because I have stopped using HME which comes with iCloud+).

Pleasantly enough, my geography doesn't care one hoot about iMessage and FaceTime.

This is my approx. switch plan (that has already happened/happening; created with https://privacypack.org/)

The only reason I have not moved back to Android yet is the fact that Google tracks everything on it and it uses it for ads and it doesn't even hide the fact. Somehow it makes me disgusted. Yes, there's Graphene (and that's what I use on my spare phone) but it leads to lots of compromises - broken apps etc and for me it's not worth it. The day Google lets go of this tracking completely and in fact creates and exposes `Android Account API` sort of things except `Google Account API` in an Android OS (no they wont't do it) will be the day many iPhone users will starting moving back to Android.

But if I want to move away from iOS - I won't miss a thing otherwise the "perception" of safety and privacy on a 100% closed source OS. Almost all my services and software are already not in locked down into Apple's world. It will be matter of hours for me - as much time it takes in this process

 

[TechRunner]

I can not stand how samsung phones (majority of android) have duplicate samsung apps and google apps that can't be removed.

That was always my biggest gripe with the Samsungs I owned. Needless bloat.

 

[circatee]

1. Understandable but less of an obstacle than it’s been in the past.

Apple has been my ecosystem of choice going back to the first iPhone but I’ve also used Android much most of the past 12 years on secondary devices. What I’ve discovered over time is that there are better 3rd party apps for nearly every app that Apple offers and most are platform agnostic. I use alternative Calendar, Maps, Mail, Music, Podcast, Task management, Notes, Photos, News apps and others that all match or exceed Apple’s offerings.

2. Another outdated stereotype. When I set up my new Pixel, it follows a process that basically mirrors Apple’s and restores from a cloud backup of my previous Pixel.

Hmm, to be clear, number 2 for me, is personal. And to be clear, if I need to setup an Android device now, it would have to be from scratch, and not from a restore.

I might get an Android from work, and set it up from scratch to see what the process is like now, all these years later.
I am certainly open to options and choices...

 

[NUFC2025]

I come to the conclusion that being locked in to any system is not for me so I made the decision about all my photos that are precious to me get printed and put into old style photo albums.

I do have them backed up online and on small portable hard drives that are kept in a safe place and stored in various locations off-site because when the day comes I want my family to be able to access all of these.

Maybe it's an age thing.

I don't really care about apps as I don't really use many apart from banking and online shopping.

 

[AlaskaMoose]

Would you be happier if you bought your Apple stuff used? Because that’s what I’ve been doing and it’s a much better experience than buying new, for me.

Yes, one can be refurbished and extend the warranty. I usually buy with a student or other discounts. The savings aren't that great, however. What I do is to turn the discount ($) into Apple Care.