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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Switch from Iphone to Android - top tips

64 replies

HidingFromDD · 29/06/2018 05:58

(and I know IANBU but couldn't find another topic)

So have finally decided to move away from iphone and have ordered the P20 Pro, primarily because the camera looks great, but also because I find over the last few years Apple have increasingly controlled what you are (and aren't) 'allowed' to do and I don't like that.

But, I've had an Iphone for years (also have a macbook) and know the first few weeks are going to be painful. Any top tips? Has anyone use a transfer programme to move the data from one to the other?

Also, anyone got the P20 Pro and has any good tips for that?

I have googled all of this, but wanted people's personal experience

thanks

OP posts:

FinallyHere · 29/06/2018 07:05

Im not sure I can help...

As a techie, I actively avoided apple products for years, much preferring the control you get from other brands. I struggled more and more , then ended up with end to end iphone, iPad and Mac.

Sorry, not what you want to hear...

BertieBotts · 29/06/2018 07:09

First thing you do, go and remove all of the bloat you'll never use from your phone.

Then, widgets. Explore the store for your most often used apps and see if you can get widgets for them. I love widgets and they are a huge part of why I'd never go to Apple. They make my phone feel functional.

positivity123 · 29/06/2018 07:15

Castbox is a good podcast app for Android.
I've turned my life over to Google so all email, calendar and photos. Photos is the big one as I can access them anywhere.

needtimealone · 29/06/2018 07:19

I've done it also. I now love the android as its so customisable, took a long time to get used to it and was incredibly frustrating, my only tip is to not throw the towel in too early

llangennith · 29/06/2018 08:01

Reluctant IPhone user here, scared of change What’s a widget?

DesperateToPassDrivingTest · 29/06/2018 10:03

Oh no! Have you already made the switch? I can't actually wait for my contract to end so I can actually go BACK to Apple... it's the Samsung keyboard for texting & emailing that I haven't got the hang of - iPhone / iPad is so much better, in my opinion. However, you CAN do more things with a Samsung, so it really is a preference and pros and cons kind of thing...

ProfessorMoody · 29/06/2018 10:04

Enjoy it!

I was an apple user for years. I would never go back now, there is just so much freedom with Android.

GladAllOver · 29/06/2018 10:07

There are several good alternatives to the Samsung keyboard. I use SwiftKey. Very configurable.

DesperateToPassDrivingTest · 29/06/2018 10:09

Thanks GladAllOver - I will check SwiftKey out! Very useful info :)

DarthLipgloss · 29/06/2018 10:13

I did this last year, went to Samsung Galaxy fron iphone. Samsung have an app that transfers everything over from the old phone to the new. It worked perfectly. Think it was called Connect but the Galaxy told me what to do....

MissionItsPossible · 29/06/2018 10:14

I went the other way. I find my iphone quite instant whereas Android always felt clunky and slow to respond.

One thing I HATE about iphones is trying to select text. God, it's so difficult to do. They have also got rid of the button you use to scroll through long bits of text so if you want to edit a link to a website you have to delete it all

FuckPants · 29/06/2018 10:18

My husband made the switch from IOS to Android this year, he had used IOS for years and he really began to hate how restrictive it is, he uses an S9 and he loves it, all I can say is give it a few days and after that you'll wonder why you didn't switch sooner.

BertieBotts · 29/06/2018 10:19

A widget it something you can put on the home screen to show information or allow you to interact directly without launching an app fullscreen. On Android, your home screen is separate from your list of apps. If you want to you can make the home screen emulate Apple by just showing you app shortcuts, but I have all sorts on mine - a clock and weather app so I can see the weather and time at a glance, my calendar so I can see what's coming up, live train times, to do list, you can find a widget to do almost anything you want but these are what I find useful.

And yes you can choose from loads of third party keyboards if you don't like the one which comes with the phone. That's the nice thing about Android, it's all customisable, you don't have to break into the phone's security to change things like that.

Actually I ought to look for a keyboard which will let me type (and use autocorrect) in multiple languages without switching the keyboard itself. My last Samsung let me do this but my current one will only autocorrect to English unless I actually switch to the German keyboard, and it's been bugging me ever since I changed.

Drchinnery · 29/06/2018 10:22

I switched from iPhone last year, best thing I did! I much prefer it. Iphone set up always seems so outdated and restrictive and never changes much. It seems a bit complicated at first but you get used to it quickly. There is an app you can use to switch from one to the other but it was a while ago so I can't think what it was called, not very helpful I know, but if you ask in a phone shop they may be able to tell you.

SubtitlesOn · 29/06/2018 11:01

We have an iPad that DH was given free - would never buy one cos hate apple controlling everything

But we all have Sony android phones and love freedom in them

iPad is so restrictive as people have said

Can't print from it or connect it yo anything cos no sockets

BertieBotts · 29/06/2018 12:38

Ironically my phone is the only thing which will connect to our bloody printer and only wirelessly

SadieHH · 29/06/2018 12:47

Not here for a fight, promise! But I've been a committed (and heavy) iPhone user since their launch in 2007 and I'm yet to find a single thing that I can't do. What are all these things that Apple is not letting you do?

opinionatedfreak · 29/06/2018 12:52

subtitleson have to disagree with you. I print from my iPad all the time.

I have a wireless printer but with our increasing use of wireless that was a sensible move. It lives on a shelf in the hall cupboard out of sight!! Leaving the surfaces in my living room beautifully uncluttered!

PuppyMonkey · 29/06/2018 12:52

Another one wondering what I’m being restricted from doing on my iPhone, apart from people always saying they can get more apps on android... whatever.

TheWorldAsh · 29/06/2018 13:08

Make sure you get an Android phone that gets regular updates (in reality that means the Google Pixel ones) as otherwise yourself exposing yourself to a lot of risks for the extra 'freedom'

Turn off iMessage before your wipe your iPhone.

Be very careful about what apps you download from the Google Play Store and only use the google play store - malware is much more prevalent on Android especially older versions of Android. See my first point above.

I'm curious as to what those who say Apple 'lockdown' iOS want to do? Aside from customisations to the home screen? And not allowing non-App Store apps.

(Personally I'd like the iOS home screen to have more options but I'm not sacrificing the security, speed and interoperability between other Apple devices for that - oh and you can have third party keyboards on iOS too)

Good luck OP.

SubtitlesOn · 29/06/2018 13:46

@opinionatedfreak yes I agree if you have a wireless printer but not if you have one that needs USB connections to print

I have no idea what version of iPad this is but it has no connections at all apart from to charge

opinionatedfreak · 29/06/2018 14:36

subtitleson but you can't print from any tablet unless you do so wirelessly.

This is like complaining your microwave doesn't keep stuff cold!

Tablets are not designed to have wired connectivity. Sounds like you need/want a laptop!

BertieBotts · 29/06/2018 15:11

The charging cable will end in a USB... if you can do it like that from a Sony (which would surprise me) then you can do it like that from an iPad too.

Original poster

HidingFromDD · 29/06/2018 16:19

Well thanks, I knew you lot would be more useful than all the tech websites .

The phone has turned up and there's a helpful little app that transfers everything, so once it's finished moving everything across I shall see if I can actually get it to work!

With regards to people asking about what you can't do on the iphone, actually it's more to do with the whole 'seamless integration' I have issues with. Upgrades to iTunes have increasingly made it more and more difficult to move stuff around, I don't like the iPhoto elements, and really just want to be able to store stuff how I want, not how the iphone wants. Now I know there are ways around a lot of this, but if I'm going to have to sort this out I may as well just sort it out on Android and save myself considerable amount of money as well.

The security element is a concern and I'll be looking into what I need to do on that one, until then I'll make sure that nothing on there is linked to any financial information

Thanks again for all your help and I'll update you with the progress!

OP posts:

SadieHH · 29/06/2018 16:55

Enjoy your new phone, new tech is always exciting! Still not getting what you mean but hey ho, have fun exploring (no sarcasm intended!).

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