Lifetime Android user moves to iPhone, my thoughts post move

Forums › Apple iOS and devices › Lifetime Android user moves to iPhone, my thoughts post move

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KiwiSurfer

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#2626758 25-Dec-2020 21:33

Interesting that you find that Apple maps works ok for you - my wife has recently been forced to switch to Apple for work, a phone that she has to carry 24/7 - so she has switched from Android which she has been using for many years. She finds that Apple Maps often won't find the same locations that Google maps will find on my Samsung.

Having gone from Apple Maps (iOS) to Google maps (Android), and also having a SO still using Apple Maps I have observed gaps on both sides. I find when Google and Apple differs, it is around 50:50 which one has the better data. Sometimes I pull out my Android and I'm able to find the location and my SO can't, other times it's entirely the other way around. Sometimes both will have some data for the location we are going to but it's 50:50 which has the better exact coordinates (e.g. one might have number 50 right outside the letterbox with the other having it at a random location along the street). And on top of that, both can have very different routing options for navigation (influenced by different data e.g. Apple seems to rely on official sources for traffic whereas Google seems to be crowdsourced?). It's become an amusing game between the two of us which app gives us the best routing/location!

I do like the UX of Apple though and miss it now that I'm on Android.

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KiwiSurfer

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#2626760 25-Dec-2020 21:43

SheriffNZ:

I do enjoy a game I play with apple maps where I turn off the suggested route to follow a route which I think will get me there quick and watch the eta drop. If it knew that time was faster, why wasn’t that the suggested route from the beginning?

FWIW I see this frequently on Google Maps too. There are several routes I regularly travel on that I just ignore the suggested Apple/Google routing (usually for the 'last mile' to work/home) and suddenly see an improvement in ETA once I break off the suggested route. Both will sometimes even route me a long way around even when there is obviously a much more direct route (probably reacting to bad traffic data maybe). I think it would make sense for Google/Apple nor to route too many people down side streets etc cos it will clog up these routes--so their algorithms will prefer higher capacity main roads even if they might be slower.

SheriffNZ

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#2626763 25-Dec-2020 22:27

KiwiSurfer:
SheriffNZ:

I do enjoy a game I play with apple maps where I turn off the suggested route to follow a route which I think will get me there quick and watch the eta drop. If it knew that time was faster, why wasn’t that the suggested route from the beginning?

FWIW I see this frequently on Google Maps too. There are several routes I regularly travel on that I just ignore the suggested Apple/Google routing (usually for the 'last mile' to work/home) and suddenly see an improvement in ETA once I break off the suggested route. Both will sometimes even route me a long way around even when there is obviously a much more direct route (probably reacting to bad traffic data maybe). I think it would make sense for Google/Apple nor to route too many people down side streets etc cos it will clog up these routes--so their algorithms will prefer higher capacity main roads even if they might be slower.

Good point. Makes sense. Thanks.

dafman

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#2626826 26-Dec-2020 11:52

Yabanize:

What bluetooth settings do you miss? Have you tried pressing the i button next to a bluetooth device? Can show a few more options particularly on Apple headphones

For eg, when listening to music, the ability to check battery level, link directly into the bluetooth device settings.

michaelmurfy

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#2626904 26-Dec-2020 13:19

dafman:

For eg, when listening to music, the ability to check battery level, link directly into the bluetooth device settings.

There is the battery widget which will show all connected devices.

But I, too was a lifetime Android user starting off with the HTC Dream (the very first Android phone). I switched to the iPhone about 3 years ago and have since not looked back. I like how my phone reliability lasts at-least a full day on battery, how the alarm wakes me up each morning without an issue and the quality of apps.

I use Apple Carplay however use Google Maps with this. You can ask Siri "Navigate to Wellington Airport using Google Maps" as an example. I've been using Gmail / Google Workspace for too long now so moving is an absolute pain to do.

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Yabanize

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#2626909 26-Dec-2020 14:08

dafman:
Yabanize:

What bluetooth settings do you miss? Have you tried pressing the i button next to a bluetooth device? Can show a few more options particularly on Apple headphones

For eg, when listening to music, the ability to check battery level, link directly into the bluetooth device settings.

When I use my generic Bluetooth headphones or speakers the battery level appears in the headphone icon at the top right of the screen, when I use my Apple AirPods it doesn’t but there are other ways to check the battery.

Some speakers like UE boom also have their own apps with extra settings

sir1963

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#2630874 6-Jan-2021 00:28

MadEngineer: Never seen anyone use Apple maps.

Never used Google Maps.

dafman

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#2631043 6-Jan-2021 09:39

sir1963:

MadEngineer: Never seen anyone use Apple maps.

Never used Google Maps.

I've continued to switch between both Apple and Google maps on Carplay since moving to iOS. Google maps definitely has the edge - especially in identifying locations that are not straightforward street addresses, eg businesses etc. Google was also much better when navigating the spaghetti junction of motorways/exits in Auckland by clearly identifying next exits, whereas Apple was much more vague and on one occasion I missed an exit.

But for 99% of journeys, Apple is just as helpful - so, although I may jump over to Google from time to time, Apple Maps will remain my go-to first option.

freitasm

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#2631044 6-Jan-2021 09:47

Funny thing I read today: Google iOS apps haven't been updated in more than a month now.

Sure, it could be that like many other companies Google decided not to release anything during a holiday period (in case something breaks) but that doesn't stop people already linking it to Apple enforcing privacy disclosure requirements, which started just after the last Google apps updates came out.

But why let a good conspiracy theory go unused?

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dafman

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#2631046 6-Jan-2021 09:55

Some further observations from my switch to iOS from a lifetime of Android ...

I like:

- Privacy. One of the core reasons I changed. I recently discovered the phone displays a flag whenever an app is using location, and I can go and see which apps have used location recently.

- Airplay. I'm finally getting my head around this and will definitely be an active user of this as I invest in Airplay devices over time (eg, my upcoming replacement Yamaha HT receiver.)

- my phone says 'good morning' each day (I'm easily pleased). But in general, the iPhone does seem to do a good job of keeping me well advised on what it is doing and when, eg do not disturb

- the haptic engine beats any android phone I have used in the past

- Carplay always works when I plug in my phone, whereas Android Auto was a bit of a lottery

I miss:

- the inability to 'add to home screen' for third party browsers. Yes, I can do so with Safari, but I prefer Brave for its ad blocking features (try navigating a CNN story with ads, it's near unreadable).

- the inability to turn off the app library. I prefer a minimalist phone and Apple's ideas of appropriate app grouping differs from mine, so it's a nuisance screen.

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