You don't need to be an 'investor' to invest in Singletrack: 6 days left: 95% of target - Find out more
So after a few years with Apple I am back on Android for a bit. Note this is not an iOS bashing thread - I really like it - however for various reasons (going back to Garmin as a training watch instead of my Apple Wact, needing full dual sim capabilities etc) I have moved back across. I am still very much in the iPad camp also and won't be moving to an Android tablet any time soon.
In all honesty having used iOS pretty much exclusively for the last three years and now back to Android I think there are some things Apple do way better than Android (iOS is just so slick, apps seem more mature as a rule and the way the whole Apple ecosystem hangs together is very well implemented), some things Google does better (widgets are still miles ahead and the ability to drill down and customise pretty much the whole phone to how you want it) and some things they are pretty equal on (ie if you took both out of the box and left them be the day to day experience would be about the same).
I was using a Samsung A70. Actually a really good phone as is the A71 but as I haven't had a new phone in a couple of years have gone for a Galaxy S20+ 5g just because I wanted a decent camera and it's going to be my daily driver for the next couple of years at least. I know the S21 range is being announced today but the Ultra aside, if the rumours are true and processor aside, they are actually down-spec'ing the S21 and S21+. I did look at some of the higher end Xiamomi phones - excellent by all accounts - but Sky Mobile had some good deals on so just bit the bullet.
Have been slowly re-familiarising myself with Android over the last few days and trying to get my muscle memory back for the slightly differing gestures etc. Just going through the software update to Android 11 and One UI 3 is there anything I should be tinkering with, any secret settings I may have missed whilst I've been away from Android and any must have apps?
First time Android user here after of 5 days having an iphone for as long as I've had a smartphone.
google Pixel 5 with android 11 OS.
It's different in a kind of the same kind of way.
Widgets - not even sure what they are yet but seen them mentioned on various screens.
I really want a number instead of a blob as a notification on an app icon (how many unread messages not that there are some) but can't see how to do that on 11 (though I can on 10).
The camera app is pretty average imo. I was hoping for pro mode with a bit more control like my wife's Huawei - bizarrely this one is a bit apple like and all controlling.
@convert - I am just installing A11 so will have a look at the bits you mention. There will be a way you can do it but just need to work it out.
The advanced Android settings is the bit I have forgotten the most of.
Just gone from an S9 to S20 FE - couldn't justify the much larger monthly cost for the S20, and the FE is bigger, with a screen that's not quite as good. Has the same cameras and slightly less system ram/ Long time Android / S Series phone user. I 'should' also be getting a free Samsung Active watch for buying the phone, but Samsung playing silly arSes as I didn't have a delivery note, so screen shots of the DPD delivery notification and a DPD's own picture of the phone on my doorstep have been sent.
Have been slowly re-familiarising myself with Android over the last few days and trying to get my muscle memory back for the slightly differing gestures etc. Just going through the software update to Android 11 and One UI 3 is there anything I should be tinkering with, any secret settings I may have missed whilst I’ve been away from Android and any must have apps?
Don't think there's much in it these days - I had an iPhone as my only phone for a few months last year and while I went back to Android fairly fast it certainly wouldn't be a major issue if I were stuck with an iPhone. Personally I find Android a little more polished, what you call slick was (IME) over-simplification, and things like all the icons on the home page and the notifications ended up irritating me. The apps do tend to be a bit more polished on iOS, but again the differences are very minor and not a deal-breaker.
The OH has the G20 + 5g and its a great phone. Im on a S10. I've beenbwith Android almost since day one with the HTC Desire. I got the 1st Note the day it came out and everyone laughed at my "massive" phone and I've had the S7 S8 S9 and S10.
I bought myself an ipad pro at the beginning of lockdown after years of avoiding Apple i'm sold and my next phone will be an Apple. I also prefer the style of the new iPhone just got to convince the boss.
Its just a ****ing phone, jesus.
I think there's something to be said for pixel phones as they are vanilla android as opposed to a slightly modified version you get with Samsung etc.
I'm on my first pixel phone after years with LG, Samsung, HTC etc. And it does seem to be better to me in quite subtle ways.
i use both (iOS with work, Android personal), but I prefer Android. Probably due to all the google stuff I also use (chromebooks/nest/smart speakers etc)
There's not a lot in it. It's just personal preference. Drives the rest of the family mad though (they're all apple; even to the extent of all extended family on both sides. I always like to be different...)
There’s not a lot in it. It’s just personal preference. Drives the rest of the family mad though (they’re all apple; even to the extent of all extended family on both sides. I always like to be different…)
This was me for a long time 🙂 But then my sister in Oz and my nieces and nephews etc were all Facetiming my family over here etc so just fell into line. But this was before WhatsApp etc offered video calling so now there's not much in it again.
But yes, I liked to be different too...
Frankly whatever bloody phone is the one that will charge reliably would be the one that gets my vote. Currently have an S9 with USB-C and and iPhone from work with the Apple proprietary lightning or whatever connection and they're both crap although the Samsung is far worse. Trying to get devices to charge is the bane of my life. Might have to see if I can get a new port put on the Samsung.
I wouldn't buy a Huawei on principle though
USC-c can be problematic as if you get a bit of muck in the hole, it won't contact properly.
You can pick it out with a sim card removal tool or another needle type poker, but now I've just bought some bungs which will hopefully aviod the issue:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B085PZ7H22/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o09_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
My xiaomi lasts all day whatever I’m doing. Do apple phones last? Checking the battery size on an iPhone 12 it says it’s a 2800 . Surely that’s tiny and not enough. How come xiaomi manage to squeeze a huge battery in?
One question for those more familiar with Android than I am. Is there a way of jumping back to the top of a web page or document? On iOS if you double-tap the clock in the top left it scrolls automagically back to the top which is really handy sometimes...
My xiaomi lasts all day whatever I’m doing. Do apple phones last? Checking the battery size on an iPhone 12 it says it’s a 2800 . Surely that’s tiny and not enough. How come xiaomi manage to squeeze a huge battery in?
Average battery size seems to be about 3000 - 3200.
The less crap you have running in the background makes more of a difference though, in my experience, and don't forget 'screen-on' time - the screen being on is the biggest battery drain. setting the screen time out to 30 seconds can make a huge difference.
Currently have an S9 with USB-C and and iPhone from work with the Apple proprietary lightning or whatever connection and they’re both crap although the Samsung is far worse.
As wired charging is crap I presume you won't be one of those complaining when Apple remove the lightning port in the future* so you can only charge wirelessly 🙂
*At which point Samsung will take the piss relentlessly... till they do the same a year later.
Checking the battery size on an iPhone 12 it says it’s a 2800 . Surely that’s tiny and not enough. How come xiaomi manage to squeeze a huge battery in?
I'd say you are looking at it the wrong way round. The question is why do Xiaomi need such a huge battery to get through a day? The answer is that Apples homebrew silicon is vastly more efficient. It's also easier to optimise power efficiency if you make both the hardware and the OS.
Yay, I'm getting a free Samsung Active watch - they did the promotion before Christmas, but my son samshed his phone after Christmas, so I said I'd try for an upgrade. Voda said as it was 3 months early I'd have to pay £100 but on contacting their on-line support, they did it for nothing. I thought no more until Voda sent me a message saying 'don't forget to claim for your watch' - Samsung had extended the offer ! My wife has the full blown Samsung watch and it's great.
You will like the active watch. I have the active 2 and it's great.
only issue is that it won't connect to Samsung health on my ancient Sony phone so am thinking of getting an s10e as an upgrade
I really want a number instead of a blob as a notification on an app icon (how many unread messages not that there are some) but can’t see how to do that on 11 (though I can on 10).
You don't get that with the standard Google launcher. But you can install a different launcher such as Nova that gives you much more customisation options - including badges with numbers. I use it on a Samsung, much prefer it over Samsung's One UI.