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What would make you leave Apple?

crococarbs

crococarbs

macrumors member
Original poster
TL;DR: Apple Maps ads triggered me, a step away from what I liked most about them, no ads and privacy, so time to explore alternatives.

I have been happily living in the "walled garden" for many years, deeply invested in the ecosystem with icloud photos, files and backups, etc. I have been happy to pay extra for Apple devices just because things work so well.

But recently a few of Apple's decisions have are making me second-guess if I should explore alternatives, for example adding ads to the App Store and Maps. Also, whenever I use my Linux computers, the friction of trying to use Apple services from those is very high, sometimes totally impractical (photos from the iCloud web interface kinda suck) or impossible (no AirDrop in Linux).

I am currently testing a few things: using Immich for personal/local cloud photos, got an old cheap pixel phone to try out "degoogling" it as much as I can, using Proton services for calendar+mail+cloud files, KDE Connect and LocalSend for sending files between devices, even testing Asahi linux on one of my macs (those guys are wizards!). The experience so far varies from "OK" to "janky", but usable, and at least I have control moving forward.

So where do you draw the line? What would make you switch?
 
fatTribble said:
For me it would have to be better than what I get from Apple.

As much as I’d like to think my acts of rebellion trigger alarm bells with CEOs who will call me to see what’s wrong, they don’t.
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Fair, I do think Apple's devices and services are hard to beat when keeping it inside the ecosystem.

FWIW idea of switching is NOT about "teaching Apple CEO a lesson", it's about opening up my options and not being over reliant on one platform.

As I mentioned, I feel Apple is taking steps away from what I like the most about them, so I'd like to know I can have access to my photos without having to use the Photos mac app for example, if I need to change.
 
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I don't know where the line is. Perhaps, Apple cutting off third party services from running on their devices.

With very few exceptions, all my services are third party. The exceptions I either don't care about or have some sort of workaround for.

I can come or go at will because of that. I only stay because I prefer iOS/iDevices and Macs.
 
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eyoungren said:
I don't know where the line is. Perhaps, Apple cutting off third party services from running on their devices.

With very few exceptions, all my services are third party. The exceptions I either don't care about or have some sort of workaround for.

I can come or go at will because of that. I only stay because I prefer iOS.
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How does Google Messages compare to Imessage?
 
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ClaraStahlbaum said:
How does Google Messages compare to Imessage?
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IDK. I used Google Messages back in 2020 for all of maybe a month. Android allows you to use different 'launchers'. A launcher is basically an overall 'theme' or look to your homescreens and icons. They usually come with different apps that replace the standard apps.

My launcher of choice was/is Nova Launcher. Nova Launcher has a different messages app. With it's customization I was able to change SMS to the same 'blue'' you'd get from iMessage. So, I used that until I came back to iOS. But the concept of launchers is a big part of Android. You don't have to use the 'stock' apps, 'look and feel' if you prefer something else.

I still have my Pixel, so Nova Launcher is still installed. I just don't use it for messages anymore because there is no SIM in this phone.

EDIT. Oh, I also had AirMessage, which allowed me to set up an older Mac and leverage it's ability to use iMessage on my Pixel. Only downside was that it required a separate app. I didn't use it much, but it was available. Google says it's still around.
 
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eyoungren said:
IDK. I used Google Messages back in 2020 for all of maybe a month. Android allows you to use different 'launchers'. A launcher is basically an overall 'theme' or look to your homescreens and icons. They usually come with different apps that replace the standard apps.

My launcher of choice was/is Nova Launcher. Nova Launcher has a different messages app. With it's customization I was able to change SMS to the same 'blue'' you'd get from iMessage. So, I used that until I came back to iOS. But the concept of launchers is a big part of Android. You don't have to use the 'stock' apps, 'look and feel' if you prefer something else.

I still have my Pixel, so Nova Launcher is still installed. I just don't use it for messages anymore because there is no SIM in this phone.

EDIT. Oh, I also had AirMessage, which allowed me to set up an older Mac and leverage it's ability to use iMessage on my Pixel. Only downside was that it required a separate app. I didn't use it much, but it was available. Google says it's still around.
Click to expand...

I remember using different Launchers but I can't recall any specific themes, my memory is hazy of using the Samsung A53. Samsung messages is dead, so that is one thing that has changed significantly - as I would be using Google Messages. Now it is RCS messaging, one thing I am concerned about is the possibility of Google randomly deleting text threads and stuff which I've heard about.
 
ClaraStahlbaum said:
I remember using different Launchers but I can't recall any specific themes, my memory is hazy of using the Samsung A53. Samsung messages is dead, so that is one thing that has changed significantly - as I would be using Google Messages. Now it is RCS messaging, one thing I am concerned about is the possibility of Google randomly deleting text threads and stuff which I've heard about.
Click to expand...
Technically, Samsung and other manufacturers are using their own 'launchers'. That is, the apps and homescreens, etc would be Samsung's launcher and so on. I'm not sure if you can install different ones on those branded devices. That's one of the reasons I went with a Pixel in 2020. It was an experiment (for me) to test out Android and I didn't want other manufacturers apps and styling to get in the way.

Of course both Android and Apple use RCS now, which back then was just a talking point. You're one up on me though, as I've heard nothing about Google removing messages.

Technically, Google and Apple (and presumably other manufacturers) can reach out and remove apps. But that's a pretty extreme measure only for the most serious cases. I don't think Apple has ever done it (I may be wrong), but as Apple is actually in complete control of their ecosystem they COULD do something like that if it warranted.

People just don't like to think that of Apple as it's easier to look at Google as being more likely to do that sort of thing.
 
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I mean, Apple products are still some of the most secure and private devices you can by on the consumer market. Ads are ugly but they are not targeted using your personal info (like the way Google etc. does). For the security part (the part I personally care most about, by the way), just have a read of their Platform Security Guide and try to think of another consumer electronics company that cares this much about security. The answer is there isn’t another one.
 
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Nothing. Ever. I doubt anybody is going to make an ecosystem like Apple, unfortunately. The Apple Watch is also life changing for me ... especially training for my first marathon.
 
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