Thinking about making the switch to iOS..

[The iGentleman]

I've been using Android full time for the past few days, first ICS and now today JB on a Galaxy Nexus and I could probably ramble on for quite a while about my first impreessions but I'll try to briefly summarize why I won't switch over full time to Android. There a a lot of things that I like in Android and can certainly understand the attraction that leads many to prefer it--customization and flexibility alone are far ahead of iOS. Android devices really are far closer to being fully functional handheld computers than an iOS device. The problem for me though is they falter inside an Apple ecosystem and I have to sacrifice too much functionality in this regard. I'll try to explain:

1). Poor integraton with iCloud. Our home has 7 devices sharing information via iCloud and out of the box Android cannot replace this functionality--I had to use two third party apps for Calendar and Contact syncing and there is no automatic syncing via push. I know I can use Google services but don't want to have to reconfigure 6 other devices to do so. I also lose Find My iPhone functionality and can't sync my reminders.

2). No AirPlay. We have TVs scattered throughout our house and use AirPlay quite a bit, either to share video, music or play games with my kids. Also, no Remote app. I'm sure there are third party apps in Android that my work but not as well as Apple's app.

3). No iMessage. I use this a ton--most of my messages are to other Apple devices so it's allowed me to keep my grandfathered text plan of only 200 texts/month. My daughter and son also send me messages via iMessage from their iPod and iPad.

4). Cost of apps. I realize this is my own doing living in an Apple world for the past few years but switching to Android would necessitate repurchasing a lot of apps.

5). A bunch of little things--don't know another way to explain it. First is just the feel of the OS and the apps. On iOS everything just feels and looks better. Any of the apps I've used on both systems just feel more polished and sophisticated on iOS--only way I can really explain it. Another example--switching audio output on the iPhone is a breeze. Doing the same thing in Android requires that I shut off bluetooth and then restart it.

These things alone outweigh the advantages offered by Android for my specific needs. I won't deny that Android offered greater overall functionality than iOS but it just doesn't fulfill my needs as well. I'll continue to play with it over the next few months until the next iPhone comes out but don't anticipate a full switch. Just my $0.02.

So basically, you're just saying you're already entrenched in the Apple ecosystem.

 

[tbayrgs]

So basically, you're just saying you're already entrenched in the Apple ecosystem.

Basically, yes your right. However seeing as these forums focus on the Apple world and I suspect there might be quite a few others in a similar situation to myself, I thought my experience might prove useful to anyone else considering the switch. What I find interesting is going the other direction would appear to be easier (introducing an iPhone into a non-Apple environment), at least in regards to my first point. If I had previously been using an Android device synced with Google (email, calendar, contacts, etc), I would be able to continue to do so with an iPhone. I suspect this is likely due to Apple's tight control and limit to their 'walled garden', in this case iCloud and AirPlay. So I've fallen into their well designed trap but to this point I don't mind as it works so well for my needs.

Again, I'm not trying to dissuade anyone from Android--there are some really great devices out on the market right now and in situations other than my own, they are the equal or superior to the iPhone, depending on one's situation or needs.

 

[The iGentleman]

Basically, yes your right. However seeing as these forums focus on the Apple world and I suspect there might be quite a few others in a similar situation to myself, I thought my experience might prove useful to anyone else considering the switch. What I find interesting is going the other direction would appear to be easier (introducing an iPhone into a non-Apple environment), at least in regards to my first point. If I had previously been using an Android device synced with Google (email, calendar, contacts, etc), I would be able to continue to do so with an iPhone. I suspect this is likely due to Apple's tight control and limit to their 'walled garden', in this case iCloud and AirPlay. So I've fallen into their well designed trap but to this point I don't mind as it works so well for my needs.

Again, I'm not trying to dissuade anyone from Android--there are some really great devices out on the market right now and in situations other than my own, they are the equal or superior to the iPhone, depending on one's situation or needs.

I think what you said is very telling...a well designed trap. It really is brilliant when you think about it. The deeper you get in the Apple ecosystem, the harder it will be to leave. I think this is why Apple refuses to use industry standards such as micro-usb and dlna. When an Apple user leave iOS, they need new car chargers, wall chargers, usb cables, etc. Another example is what you said about airplay. You have a bunch of airplay compatible devices, but they don't conform to the industry dlna standard, so if you change devices, you can't use them with it. Whereas if they were DLNA compatible, it would be a seamless switch. It really is smart the way they set their ecosystem up. On the other hand, it could also turn some people off from entering their ecosystem. But hey, the system works lol.

 

[blakjak220]

I think what you said is very telling...a well designed trap. It really is brilliant when you think about it. The deeper you get in the Apple ecosystem, the harder it will be to leave. I think this is why Apple refuses to use industry standards such as micro-usb and dlna. When an Apple user leave iOS, they need new car chargers, wall chargers, usb cables, etc. Another example is what you said about airplay. You have a bunch of airplay compatible devices, but they don't conform to the industry dlna standard, so if you change devices, you can't use them with it. Whereas if they were DLNA compatible, it would be a seamless switch. It really is smart the way they set their ecosystem up. On the other hand, it could also turn some people off from entering their ecosystem. But hey, the system works lol.

That's one of the things that's dissuaded me from Apple products in the past.... The unwillingness to make it easy on the consumer. They're products are already priced well over the competition (whether you think it's justified or not) and then they go and make it impossible to interchange their accessories with anything else.
I have a cellphone, a kindle, an android tablet, a bluetooth and a portable speaker that ALL use micro USB.. so I can carry one charger and have it all taken care of... And if I decided to buy a different tablet, phone, speaker, etc.. I can still use all my old chargers.. very convenient.