New Nexus 5 owner...

[tbayrgs]

I like the fact that Google now doesn't automatically add the calendar event as I like to see that it got the information correct.

Both voice assistants (iOS and Android) do that. The issue I have with using Google Now is that I have to physically touch the screen to confirm the event--kinda defeats the benefit of hand-free in the first place.

If Google Now would then allow you to confirm the appointment by voice, it would be infinitely more useful.

 

[appledes7]

I like the fact that Google now doesn't automatically add the calendar event as I like to see that it got the information correct.

Siri can tell you what the event is so when you confirm by voice, you won't create a messed up event. Google Now can't tell you what the event is before creating it or confirm by voice.

 

[dgr874]

thanks again everyone, its been a great discussion.

 

[dgr874]

Actually a lot of actions don't do that. Only a few will automatically complete the action after a couple seconds. Reminders and calendar events (calendar pictured above) require that you physically pick up the phone, find the button to complete the action, and use the touch screen to do so. You cannot use your voice to complete it. Some actions will offer a timer, but not all of them. This is a testament to Google's inconsistencies.

Notice on the image of Google maps, it shows a blue line which is the timer. On the reminder it doesn't show it. Nor does it show it on the previous image with a calendar event. There are a couple other actions that require touch input, these are just the ones I can think of off the top of my head.

WTH? I just tried this and sure enough it cant get it right. What is the point of voice activation when you cant complete the task? I thought one of the advantages of having Google Now on a google phone was that it was really baked into the OS and could do a lot more than the app on iOS. Is the Moto X able to complete tasks or does it work like the Nexus 5?

 

[vikingjunior]

O boy were complaining about having to hit the screen to confirm? What do you want it to do next tie your shoes automatically. I'm happy with it. I'm sure in time you will get your reminder to be set by all voice.

 

[tbayrgs]

O boy were complaining about having to hit the screen to confirm? What do you want it to do next tie your shoes automatically. I'm happy with it. I'm sure in time you will get your reminder to be set by all voice.

I don't see how the complaint is excessive. The primary purpose of 'voice activation or voice assistance' is replacing the need to manually navigate using the touch screen. Yes, there are cases where being able to dictate a long message or command is alone a benefit, saving the time it would need to manual type out the same request. However, a bigger benefit, at least as I see it, is using it for situations when manually typing/navigating isn't an option, such as when driving or in the midst of doing other activities when access to the phone is limited. Having to still use the touch screen in these situation completely defeats the benefit of using voice commands in the first place.

The new Google Experience Launcher on the Nexus 5 or 'always on' aspect of the Moto X trump Siri further in that you do not hold a button or touch the screen to activate the voice functionality, yet by requiring a manual input at the very end of the command, completely negates this benefit.

I don't know if there is some patent issues involved but I can't otherwise see why Google doesn't implement a voice confirmation to execute voice commands--makes no sense at all.

 

[chagla]

I bought a nexus 5 about a week ago and am looking into exploring the Android way of doing things I'm mostly a iPhone 5 user and I even use windows phones (Lumia 920) off and on.

I have so far failed to find that "wow" factor I thought would exist with this system. I know that android does things differently and I know I have to get used to that. But, it still, seems like its a more functional app launcher like the iPhone is. I certainly appreciate the fact that it is very customizable but I don't really have the desire to do that as I usually use my devices close to stock.

Is there something I'm missing? Some app or way of doing things that would open my eyes to android? If anyone wants to point me in the right direction for this issue I'm having, I would be grateful.

Thanks in advance.

what do you consider a "wow"?

i'd recommend installing a few apps - airdroid, mysms, es file explorer. unified remote

with airdroid, you can do almost everything through wifi. no wires needed. send sms, transfer any file to phone from pc. this works on windows, linux, osx. does this wow you?

mysms - you can send/receive sms without having physical access to your phone. it could be at home and you colud be in the office. a wow?

es file explorer - this is like windows explorer or os x finder. you have to know that on iphone there is no user accessible file system. and ios has a terrible way of file management. android is more like pc. you can send/receive any file. your files are separate from your apps. on ios you put only supported files inside a specific app and if that app is delete, all of your files are gone too. not the same on android. ur files stay.

there are of course a number of other utitliy apps - sms backup restore, call log backup restore etc. again an android phone is pretty self sustained. you can back it on the phone and restore data from the phone. you dont need a computer. you can also cloud backup from google or others.

you dont have to customize your phone. its a choice. the examples i just gave can provide you some additional function.

 

[appledes7]

WTH? I just tried this and sure enough it cant get it right. What is the point of voice activation when you cant complete the task? I thought one of the advantages of having Google Now on a google phone was that it was really baked into the OS and could do a lot more than the app on iOS. Is the Moto X able to complete tasks or does it work like the Nexus 5?

With the Moto X, the always listening feature just records what you say and then inputs that into Google Now. So even on the Moto X you still have to use the screen to complete actions. Totally defeats the purpose of voice activation and always listening when you still have to look at and use the touch screen. At least with Siri and a physical button to invoke Siri, I don't have to look at the phone or use the touch screen at all to complete like 99% of the available tasks.

 

[superwoman]

Business calendar is similar to stock but fixes a lot of these issues.

Thanks for the tip. I gave it a go, but honestly, I think it's vastly inferior to the stock app, the calendar fix notwithstanding. I will stay with the stock app and live with the bug. Hopefully Google will fix it.

 

[mattopotamus]

Thanks for the tip. I gave it a go, but honestly, I think it's vastly inferior to the stock app, the calendar fix notwithstanding. I will stay with the stock app and live with the bug. Hopefully Google will fix it.

My favorite part of the business calendar is the way it gives you a list when you tap on a day. I hate the way the stock one looks.

 

[jrswizzle]

es file explorer - this is like windows explorer or os x finder. you have to know that on iphone there is no user accessible file system. and ios has a terrible way of file management. android is more like pc. you can send/receive any file. your files are separate from your apps. on ios you put only supported files inside a specific app and if that app is delete, all of your files are gone too. not the same on android. ur files stay.

I actually prefer iOS's file management because I tend to pear down the apps I use to one per function/task. That way, instead of navigating a sometimes poorly named directory and potentially screwing with things that need to be left alone, I just open the word processing app and all my stuff is there.

The only drawback is the files being saved in that app - but iCloud takes care of music, movies, documents, spreadsheets, powerpoints, pictures and home videos. If I were to delete any of the apps that I use to edit/show any of these file types, all the data is stored/backed up automatically and I don't have to worry about it.

I find it rather funny that those who claim Android is the future get so bent out of shape because iOS doesn't display a file system UI that's existed for decades.....perhaps some evolution is in order? Maybe there's a better way? I'm not saying iOS's way is better in every instance....just that in general it seems to contradict the idea that Android is more advanced/forward-thinking.

To me, iOS's way is just easier. Instead of the ridiculous import/export commands I get with options to save everywhere but the phone's memory (which is for some reason called 'SD Card'), I simply hold-click, and save a photo from dropbox or the web. And I know that all my photos are in my camera roll and automatically synced to iCloud.

And to recall said photo - instead of navigating a file system, I simply open the app and there it is. I guess the difference lies in the fact I don't save tons of files to my phone - therefore I don't need a file system to organize it all (I also don't care to mess with system files - but that's a different argument).

 

[chagla]

I actually prefer iOS's file management because I tend to pear down the apps I use to one per function/task. That way, instead of navigating a sometimes poorly named directory and potentially screwing with things that need to be left alone, I just open the word processing app and all my stuff is there.

The only drawback is the files being saved in that app - but iCloud takes care of music, movies, documents, spreadsheets, powerpoints, pictures and home videos. If I were to delete any of the apps that I use to edit/show any of these file types, all the data is stored/backed up automatically and I don't have to worry about it.

I find it rather funny that those who claim Android is the future get so bent out of shape because iOS doesn't display a file system UI that's existed for decades.....perhaps some evolution is in order? Maybe there's a better way? I'm not saying iOS's way is better in every instance....just that in general it seems to contradict the idea that Android is more advanced/forward-thinking.

To me, iOS's way is just easier. Instead of the ridiculous import/export commands I get with options to save everywhere but the phone's memory (which is for some reason called 'SD Card'), I simply hold-click, and save a photo from dropbox or the web. And I know that all my photos are in my camera roll and automatically synced to iCloud.

And to recall said photo - instead of navigating a file system, I simply open the app and there it is. I guess the difference lies in the fact I don't save tons of files to my phone - therefore I don't need a file system to organize it all (I also don't care to mess with system files - but that's a different argument).

being able to access file system is one of the main reasons i choose to use Android. it puts you in charge of your content. and i like to know where my stuff is.

poorly naming files and documents is entirely users responsibility. when you open an office suite on Android, it also shows your documents or whatever you create/edit. the difference is that its opening it from a file system. it means same file can be opened by ANOTHER app. which allows you to SHARE the file. it could be any file.

why is it that on ios you can only email picture? if i have a file on my android, i can email it, i can share it using nfc,bluetooth,wifi etc. THAT makes a big difference. you can manipulate your files.

also relying on icloud or other cloud based backup is not a reliable backup method. weak signal? slow connection? cloud has some advantage but i'd take local backup over cloud backup anytime.

with regards to ios file system - what is so great about not being in control of your own data? not being able to manage your own files? not being able to share them? have you tried saving anything other than pictures? it doesn't sound like you have used ANdroid to save files from web. you can set a default location for your downloads or you can have it prompt you everytime. also who said you have to navigate to locate your media files (music, pics vdoes ? android gallery, music apps etc are able to recognize your media files and display them appropriately. no matter which folder they are located.

i want to give you a little more insight on ios file. so ibooks and adobe both can open pdf files. therefore it is possible that you *may* end up with same pdf (its just one example) inside multiple apps. what if you have a document that was edited? because of the filesystem android can offer many functions which ios cant do.

i don't dispute that ios is not easy to use. but that ease comes at a cost of sacrificing some functionalities that i personally find imperative for me. i need to be able to email any file i want, being able to download files and transfer to any computer right away using wifi. i like doing back up of my phone on my phone and restore it from my phone. you can easily say you don't need certain function and adjust yourself.

 

[Stuntman06]

I have so far failed to find that "wow" factor I thought would exist with this system. I know that android does things differently and I know I have to get used to that. But, it still, seems like its a more functional app launcher like the iPhone is. I certainly appreciate the fact that it is very customizable but I don't really have the desire to do that as I usually use my devices close to stock.

Is there something I'm missing? Some app or way of doing things that would open my eyes to android? If anyone wants to point me in the right direction for this issue I'm having, I would be grateful.

Thanks in advance.

Different things wow different people. I don't know what exactly would wow you. I'll name a few things that I like about Android that is not available in iOS.

The first is default apps. When you tap on a link in say, email in iOS, it always launches Safari. Although you can install other browsers, you cannot tell iOS to launch some other browser instead of Safari when you tap on a link. With Android, you can. This applies not only to browsers, but many other apps as well. You can have Google Maps instead of Apple Maps launch whenever you select a location. You can have a different email app launch when you receive an email.

With Android, you can use third party keyboards. For instance, some people want a keyboard that has an extra row of keys for numbers instead of having to tap a button to switch to the numbers keyboard. With Android, you can use third party keyboards that have different features if you prefer. With iOS, you cannot choose a different keyboard.

You can use different launchers on Android. Personally, I use Nova Prime launcher. I don't like having that app dock always on every single home page. With Nova, I can remove that dock. With the extra screen space on my phone, I can configure it to allow 6 rows of screen objects (instead of just 4 plus dock). Nova also has many other features. There are also other launchers. Themer is a fairly new one that has a whole bunch of pre-defined looks.

I'm not sure if these would wow you. There are a lot of things that Android can do. You'll have to explore to see if any of the features is something you really like.

 

[jrswizzle]

being able to access file system is one of the main reasons i choose to use Android. it puts you in charge of your content. and i like to know where my stuff is.

poorly naming files and documents is entirely users responsibility. when you open an office suite on Android, it also shows your documents or whatever you create/edit. the difference is that its opening it from a file system. it means same file can be opened by ANOTHER app. which allows you to SHARE the file. it could be any file.

why is it that on ios you can only email picture? if i have a file on my android, i can email it, i can share it using nfc,bluetooth,wifi etc. THAT makes a big difference. you can manipulate your files.

also relying on icloud or other cloud based backup is not a reliable backup method. weak signal? slow connection? cloud has some advantage but i'd take local backup over cloud backup anytime.

with regards to ios file system - what is so great about not being in control of your own data? not being able to manage your own files? not being able to share them? have you tried saving anything other than pictures? it doesn't sound like you have used ANdroid to save files from web. you can set a default location for your downloads or you can have it prompt you everytime. also who said you have to navigate to locate your media files (music, pics vdoes ? android gallery, music apps etc are able to recognize your media files and display them appropriately. no matter which folder they are located.

i want to give you a little more insight on ios file. so ibooks and adobe both can open pdf files. therefore it is possible that you *may* end up with same pdf (its just one example) inside multiple apps. what if you have a document that was edited? because of the filesystem android can offer many functions which ios cant do.

i don't dispute that ios is not easy to use. but that ease comes at a cost of sacrificing some functionalities that i personally find imperative for me. i need to be able to email any file i want, being able to download files and transfer to any computer right away using wifi. i like doing back up of my phone on my phone and restore it from my phone. you can easily say you don't need certain function and adjust yourself.

If I download a PDF off the internet it's saved in iBooks. If I download a spreadsheet - in Numbers....and on and on with the iWork suite. I don't download movies straight from a browser (because if I'm going to torrent something, I do it on my computer).

I'm not sure what else there is to download from a browser? I'll give you the limitations of attachments. That's been an oversight for years and I think its idiotic. But as far as having files organized and feeling like I have "control" - your post sounds really over dramatic to me. That may answer your question.....

If I can edit, save, share, and delete files on my phone, I have plenty of control. I can do all of these things on my iPhone or iPad. Perhaps because I'm used to the way one is supposed to do those things. I haven't found ANY benefit for my use case having access to a file system on my Nexus 5. If anything - having the main SSD of the phone named "SD Card" (not my doing, it came that way) made it confusing to simply export a photo from dropbox.

I like simple. I like one app for each file type. I like efficiency - aka no redundant services or apps. That's why I like Apple. It works for me. Opening up system files and folders and what not means nothing nor does it add anything to my experience.

Dismissing Apple's method out of hand isn't smart. Maybe you feel the need to do other things. But if you're talking the functions I mentioned above, the things most all of us do regularly, maybe Apple's way is just a next step in the evolution of the "file explorer" UI. I'm just saying - it seems funny to see those who claim Android is so vastly superior and ahead of Apple - yet those same people rail against Apple's system in favor of a file method that's been around for decades.

 

[dgr874]

I'm still going back and forth everyday...

 

[appledes7]

If I download a PDF off the internet it's saved in iBooks. If I download a spreadsheet - in Numbers....and on and on with the iWork suite. I don't download movies straight from a browser (because if I'm going to torrent something, I do it on my computer).

I'm not sure what else there is to download from a browser? I'll give you the limitations of attachments. That's been an oversight for years and I think its idiotic. But as far as having files organized and feeling like I have "control" - your post sounds really over dramatic to me. That may answer your question.....

If I can edit, save, share, and delete files on my phone, I have plenty of control. I can do all of these things on my iPhone or iPad. Perhaps because I'm used to the way one is supposed to do those things. I haven't found ANY benefit for my use case having access to a file system on my Nexus 5. If anything - having the main SSD of the phone named "SD Card" (not my doing, it came that way) made it confusing to simply export a photo from dropbox.

I like simple. I like one app for each file type. I like efficiency - aka no redundant services or apps. That's why I like Apple. It works for me. Opening up system files and folders and what not means nothing nor does it add anything to my experience.

Dismissing Apple's method out of hand isn't smart. Maybe you feel the need to do other things. But if you're talking the functions I mentioned above, the things most all of us do regularly, maybe Apple's way is just a next step in the evolution of the "file explorer" UI. I'm just saying - it seems funny to see those who claim Android is so vastly superior and ahead of Apple - yet those same people rail against Apple's system in favor of a file method that's been around for decades.

There are a few rare cases when I have found a file system to be a good thing to have. But I think it is vastly overrated in the Android community. My mom has a Nexus 7 and does a better job of representing the average user. You think she cares about a file system? Heck no.

 

[Stuntman06]

There are a few rare cases when I have found a file system to be a good thing to have. But I think it is vastly overrated in the Android community. My mom has a Nexus 7 and does a better job of representing the average user. You think she cares about a file system? Heck no.

I find a file system more useful on a PC than on a phone. On my PC, I usually have many files of different types associated with say a "project" and I keep these files in the same folder. When I want to view files associated with this project, I go to the folder and open whichever file I need to view whether it is a PDF, document, spreadsheet or whatever.

On my phone, I generally don't associate different file types together. Usually, I am just interested in pictures, or notifications or emails. The way I access different files on a phone is just different than on a PC. I do on occasion find the file system useful, but it is not very common.

 

[dgr874]

Thanks everyone for the spirited debate. I learned a lot. However, I shipped my Nexus 5 back yesterday.

Thanks again everyone.