Sample Android iPhone Theme Created with ADWLauncher
If you are new to Android Central, Welcome! You might already be a member of our sister site, [Only registered users can view links. ]. Android Central has the resources you need to make your switch over to Android fun.
With Android's [Only registered users can view links. ], for almost every top iPhone app, there's an [Only registered users can view links. ]. Fans argue over which phone is best but both can get the job done. Switching to Android is like driving a new car: everything is there but laid out a little differently. [Only registered users can view links. ] →
The difference between Apple and Google is philosophical. Apple takes a one-size-fits-all approach with one phone, one on-screen keyboard, and one store. Apple offers no widgets, removable batteries, 4G, Notification LED, microSD, NFC, DLNA, turn-by-turn navigation, or Flash. The quickest way to simplify something is to take out features and options. It is like a shoe store with one style shoe, only in size 7.
Android takes the opposite approach. Android phones come in every size and style from 2.5" to 5.3", with physical keyboards and without. There are dozens of basic Android features below still not in iPhones. Not all will be important to you but some will be. Plus you can change settings and customize your new Android almost any way you want. You can set almost anything including having the phone vibrate when you touch a key. The more features and options, the longer it takes to set up initially, but it's worth it.
Android gives you freedom of choice over almost everything. But freedom, by its nature adds complexity. For many, it is a price happily paid.
Choosing a Phone
See the Phone Comparison for specs on many of the top new phones. Over the two or more years you might have this phone, you may spend $2,000+ so get the one you want. Android is evolving so quickly that no phone stays on top for long so get the best you can. Let's start by considering the basic features.
4G - Speed Thrills
Make sure you get 4G (or LTE). Monthly plans are often just as much for slow phones as fast ones. You may have this phone a long time. Don't get one that is already slow. To turn 4G on:
• Tap Home > Menu > Settings > Wireless > 4G.
• To add a 4G icon to a home screen: Long-press an empty spot on a home screen then tap Shortcuts > Settings > 4G.
Get the right size for you
What is the Right Size Phone? Only you can answer that question. Android phone comes in sizes from 2.5" to 5.3". A survey of 5,000 phone owners found that Only 9% Want a Screen Under 4". See what feels right for you. Don't let anyone tell you the one size phone you are to buy. See the Sizing Chart: What is the Right Size Phone?
Notification LED [Only registered users can view links. ] a Notification LED for incoming or missed calls, emails, texts, Facebook or calendar events, etc. Most Androids not only have a Notification LED but the Flashlight Alerts app can also turn the camera LED into a notification LED (tutorial).
microSD
A microSD card is about [Only registered users can view links. ]. [Only registered users can view links. ] or [Only registered users can view links. ]. Get a "Class 10" microSD for fast 10 MB/s speeds. The [Only registered users can view links. ] and are supported by microSDXC compatible phones such as the [Only registered users can view links. ]. The [Only registered users can view links. ] app frees up space on your phone by moving apps to your SD card.
Removable Battery
Apple will [Only registered users can view links. ] for $85 but you lose your phone for [Only registered users can view links. ]. Android replacement batteries are typically $30-$50. For most Androids, you can pop off the back cover and put in a spare battery. Better yet, get an extended life battery.
Video Calls
Flagship Android phones typically have 1 or 2MP front cameras for HD video chat. That coupled with 4G gives you an amazing opportunity for Video Calls. Android Qik, [Only registered users can view links. ] and [Only registered users can view links. ] give you free unlimited video calls over WiFi, 3G and 4G. [Only registered users can view links. ].
LED Displays
The iPhone 4S LCD display is nice but Apple uses [Only registered users can view links. ] that are always on with an LCD layer blocking light to produce colors. Organic LED phones like the Galaxy Nexus and Galaxy S II don't need backlights so blacks take almost no power because the LED's are off. [Only registered users can view links. ] but not this year.
DLNA Mirror Video to TV's DLNA allows you to see whatever is on your phone on your compatible TV, Blu-ray player, PS3, or Xbox so you can watch HD movies or make presentations right from your phone. iPhone 4S only works [Only registered users can view links. ].
Full Facebook Sync
Most Androids automatically update with Facebook friends' photos, status, messages, phones, events, birthdays, emails, and notifications. Incoming calls pop-up with updated Facebook profile photos. The free [Only registered users can view links. ] app does even more. Full Facebook-iPhone integration may [Only registered users can view links. ].
Flash
Much of the web including this site rely on Adobe Flash for multimedia but [Only registered users can view links. ] on the iPhone. Unfortunately the HTML5 standard to replace Flash is still not finalized. But you will have Flash now.
NFC [Only registered users can view links. ] that the new iPhone would have Near Field Communication (NFC) for instant payments, keycard, and ID like the Galaxy S II, but it didn't. Android NFC can share a contact, photo, song, application, and video or pair Bluetooth or WiFi devices. See the Google NFC Demo.
Good Vibrations
Set your Android to Vibrate (Haptic Feedback) if your phone must be quiet. Almost all modern phones have this option...except the iPhone. To set your Android to vibrate, tap Home > Menu > Settings > Sound > Silent Mode ON and Vibrate ON. Apps like Executive Assistant lets you customize repeating LED, sounds, and vibration reminders for missed call, emails, texts, calendar, tasks, Facebook, Twitter, etc.
Setup Your Phone
Once you have chosen your phone, let's get started having some fun with it. We will find your old features and try out some new ones. You can click the Getting Started button at the top of any page for more help.
Gmail [Only registered users can view links. ] is at the heart of Android's Cloud Sync and once you are on Android, Apples limitations are removed. You will get notifications when Gmail is pushed to your phone, full Priority Inbox capabilities, and can forward multiple email accounts to your Gmail. See the Gmail Tips.
Your Contacts and Calendars
You need a Gmail account if you don't already have one to transfer over your calendars, contact names, birthdays, email addresses, and phone numbers. Transfer your iPhone/iPad to Gmail if you haven't already ([Only registered users can view links. ]):
1. Connect your iPhone/iPad to your PC using the USB cable.
2. Open iTunes on your computer and select your iPhone or iPad and click the iTunes Info tab.
3. Check "Sync Contacts with" then select Google Contacts from the drop-down menu.
4. Tap Configure and enter your Google email address and password.
You can also sync your iPhone to Google [Only registered users can view links. ]. Here are more [Only registered users can view links. ] on syncing Outlook and using the [Only registered users can view links. ] program ([Only registered users can view links. ]). Also see the Contacts Tips for more.
Sync to the Cloud
Android syncs to the cloud. On your phone tap Menu > Settings > Accounts & Sync > Add account > Google > Contacts, Gmail, Calendar, etc. Then add Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and other account syncs as well. Most Androids can sync to all of these accounts automatically. When someone changes their home phone on Facebook, your phone will be updated as well.
Your Photos and Videos
1. Backup the photos and videos to your computer using the USB cable if you haven't already:
- - On a Windows PC, Click My Computer > {your iPhone} > Explore. Drag all of your photos and videos to a new folder on your PC.
- - On a Mac, open Image Capture and set up a new folder as the destination and click Download all.
2. Copy photos and videos from your PC to your Android: Connect your Android to your PC with the USB cable.
- - On your computer, create a folder on your phone called Pictures if it is not already there.
- - Sill using your computer, drag the photos and videos to your phone's Picture folder then disconnect your phone.
3. Reboot the phone: Press Power for 10 seconds > Power Off > Wait 20 seconds > Press Power for 10 seconds.
Your Music
iTunes music is owned by Apple and even the file name is encoded to make is nearly impossible to find on your iPhone. The good news is that you no longer have to use iTunes! ([Only registered users can view links. ].) Use the steps above to set up a Music folder on your phone if you don't already have one and drag your music files and folders (copies) from your computer to your phone. Here are some of our favorite [Only registered users can view links. ]: [Only registered users can view links. ] ([Only registered users can view links. ]), [Only registered users can view links. ], [Only registered users can view links. ], [Only registered users can view links. ] ([Only registered users can view links. ]), and [Only registered users can view links. ]. [Only registered users can view links. ] and [Only registered users can view links. ] are not [Only registered users can view links. ] so they can be moved to a new phone without issue.
Battery Life
Android phones are fire-breathing dragons with a big displays, powerful 4G, and a half-dozen other radios. But if you know the Power Management Tricks, you can get a great battery life.
Live Icons
A Live Icon is an icon that updates with information. The iPhone Calendar icon is a good example. With Android there are endless 1x1 widgets that use the space of one icon. For instance, the iPhone Clock Icon is stuck at 10:15 and the Weather Icon is stuck at 73°. These are [Only registered users can view links. ] and [Only registered users can view links. ] Live Icons using [Only registered users can view links. ].
Toggles
Toggles are simple widgets that lets you change settings without going through menus (and a [Only registered users can view links. ] to Jailbreak an iPhone). But you don't have to break anything with an Android. This [Only registered users can view links. ] can keep your display on whenever your phone is charging. To put your Power Control Widgets on a homescreen, long-press an empty spot, then tap Widgets > Power Settings. Popular free Toggles include the Curvefish [Only registered users can view links. ], [Only registered users can view links. ] [Only registered users can view links. ], and [Only registered users can view links. ] widgets but there are [Only registered users can view links. ].
Widgets [Only registered users can view links. ] show live information on-screen without opening the app such as weather, email, calendars, and almost anything else. Here are some favorites:
• [Only registered users can view links. ] - The amazing clock widget in words instead of numbers. [Only registered users can view links. ] - Estimates battery time left. [Only registered users can view links. ] - Day and date in a 1x1 widget. ([Only registered users can view links. ] with color options)
Endless App Options
Apple has the iTunes company store. The Android Market has endless apps and the same app on Android is often less expensive or even free. But that is just the beginning. Google allows you to have access to competing markets plus [Only registered users can view links. ] lets you "share" your actual app files with a friend.
Free App of the Day
Here is another app you will never see on an iPhone. The [Only registered users can view links. ] offers thousands of apps at discount prices including the "Free App of the Day".
Paid Apps for free
Here is another great market to try. [Only registered users can view links. ] has a constantly changing assortment of normally paid apps for free including mature content.
Get the Rest of the Apps
Android has apps you won't find on the iPhone. [Only registered users can view links. ] puts the real battery percentage in the Notification Bar. [Only registered users can view links. ] has the temperature. You can now also have the full version of [Only registered users can view links. ] to identify places, products, books, barcodes, and translates text in a photo. Plus you can have the full [Only registered users can view links. ] to send texts for free, read voicemail transcripts, and more.
Notifications done right
Apple's new iOS 5 Notifications brings some features of Android's Notifications and the Android Executive Assistant app to iOS 5. As a first attempt, Apple has done well but Executive Assistant offers so much more control over repeating notifications, ringtones, vibrations, etc. Take a look. See the Notification Tips for more.
Don't just backup, share
Apple's [Only registered users can view links. ] lets iPhone users backup information. But the point of a document is to share it. [Only registered users can view links. ] ([Only registered users can view links. ] for 2.25GB for free) lets you backup files for instant use on almost any smartphone or computer, not just Apples. But more importantly, you can share your documents with others.
Let's Work Together [Only registered users can view links. ] let anyone you chose edit files on almost any PC or smartphones including Androids and BlackBerry's as well as iPhones, iPad's, and Macs.
Try before you buy
The Android Market gives you 15 minutes to try out an app on your phone to see if the options and features are right for you. If not, uninstall it for a full refund. Apple still gives [Only registered users can view links. ] but you have them now!
Theming
Theming is [Only registered users can view links. ] to Jailbreak an iPhone (and break your warranty). But with apps like ADWLauncher it is easy to make your Android look like an iPhone or anything else. Here is a simple way to change icons and the wallpaper to look like the iPhone 4S in the example screen shot at the top.
Folders
iPhone lets you put up to 12 apps in a folder. The free Android [Only registered users can view links. ] app takes folders to a whole new level. You can have more than 12 apps in a folder and sort the apps as you like. You can change folder icons and customize shortcut icons and names. The screenshot at the top shows Settings, Newsstand, and Game Center folders. See: Folder Organizer Tutorial.
Visual Voicemail
Most flagship Android phones come with Visual Voicemail that lets you see the caller's photo when you play their message (Oh, that's who that is!). The [Only registered users can view links. ]. In addition, many Androids will show you their updated Facebook photo and Status when you look at their voicemail. See Visual Voicemail for details. Tap here to see a sample.
No music store limits
You no longer need to buy music from iTunes. With Android you can buy music from Google or you can opt for a number of competitors. [Only registered users can view links. ] for instance offers almost every song available, typically for about 30% less than iTunes. The best part is that [Only registered users can view links. ] is not [Only registered users can view links. ] so songs can be moved to a new phone without issue!
Music for free [Only registered users can view links. ] has nearly every song as well...for free.
True Hands-free
The iPhone Siri app requires you to push buttons to use it. Vlingo can turn on and operate totally from your voice. Still Siri has included many of Vlingo's other features and was an important step for Apple. How to use Vlingo is below.
Navigation
The iPhone 4S has [Only registered users can view links. ] and no [Only registered users can view links. ]. With Android, turn-by-turn navigation is included for free.
Real Live Wallpaper Live Wallpaper is animated. The [Only registered users can view links. ], [Only registered users can view links. ], [Only registered users can view links. ], [Only registered users can view links. ], [Only registered users can view links. ] slide down your screen, and [Only registered users can view links. ]. It's fun to see how the Live Wallpaper responds to your touch or movements. See the Live Wallpaper Tips.
More than just an Apple Newsstand
The [Only registered users can view links. ] is an iPhone folder for iTunes media subscriptions, typically costing $1 to $5 a month each. With Android, you can have a Newsstand folder for all of your media content. With so many free media apps in Android, you may not see a reason to pay for subscriptions. (How to create folders)
Find all of your friends
Apple Apple's Find my Friends app finds friends with iPhones excluding the [Only registered users can view links. ] who have other phones. The Latitude feature in Google Maps lets you find friends with all different sorts of phones.
Swype
That icon is for the [Only registered users can view links. ] keyboard holder of multiple World Texting Speed Records. Apple prohibits the use of any keyboard but their own, so no Swype. Android lets you use any Keyboard you like. See the Keyboard Tips.
Take control
With your computer, you take for granted that you can see your files. iPhones do not give you this control but Android does. Apps like [Only registered users can view links. ] and [Only registered users can view links. ] let you cut, copy, and paste files as you need.
Predictive Keyboards
You can have a real predictive keyboard now. Keyboards like [Only registered users can view links. ] can be even faster for many users than Swype. SwiftKey users can easily break the world record because SwiftKey learns what you have typed once and then predicts your words.
A Games Center for all of your games
The iPhone [Only registered users can view links. ] is for iTunes games. With Android you can also have a Game Center folder for all of your games from Android Market, Amazon, Getjar, and dozens of other sources.
Multitasking With Android any app can multitask. Android Multitasking automatically saves your work when you go to another app. You can start an email, start a text, open a web page, listen to music, and you can go right back where you left off in the email. Long-press Home to see your Recent Apps.
Open Source [Only registered users can view links. ]. No one is licensed to modify the Apple keyboard, email, browser, contacts, or other Apple apps. [Only registered users can view links. ]. If a developer doesn't like a stock Android keyboard or other app, they can change it and re-release it back into the Android Market. Google uses licensing to reduce fragmentation so [Only registered users can view links. ].
Bluetooth Mouse and Keyboards
← See that mouse pointer? The Galaxy S II lets you to connect a Bluetooth wireless mouse or keyboard. This along with HDMI mirroring allows easy control while on an monitor or HDTV. See this video showing USB Host, Bluetooth, and HDMI out from [Only registered users can view links. ].
USB Host USB Host lets you plug in a memory thumb drive, PS3 Game Controller, mouse, or keyboard into a micro USB Host adapter as shown in these videos at [Only registered users can view links. ]. Play a game on your phone with a real controller
More Icons
You can place up to 16 apps per screen on an iPhone but you can move them around any way you like even leaving gaps between icons! Plus the Android [Only registered users can view links. ] ([Only registered users can view links. ]) app lets you have 4x6, 5x6, or 5x7 icons per screen, with 20+ apps per folder. Plus you can change icons and nest folders in folders just like a PC.
Try Out Some Apps Here are a few more of the many Applications you may want to try. Here are links to more tips and some key apps. [Only registered users can view links. ] and Google [Only registered users can view links. ] must be installed for searches to work properly. • Flashlight: Turn your camera LED into a flashlight with an app like [Only registered users can view links. ]. • [Only registered users can view links. ] lets you tap a preset brightness or set any brightness you like. • Email Tips + [Only registered users can view links. ] add many features. Corporate users: check out [Only registered users can view links. ] ([Only registered users can view links. ]) or [Only registered users can view links. ] ([Only registered users can view links. ]). • Messaging Tips + Consider [Only registered users can view links. ] or • [Only registered users can view links. ] to replace the messaging app • Browser Tips + Consider great options like [Only registered users can view links. ] or • [Only registered users can view links. ] • Lock screen: [Only registered users can view links. ] - Disables lock screen, phone opens fast. • [Only registered users can view links. ] ($2) lets you customize it. • Simple Theming + [Only registered users can view links. ] ([Only registered users can view links. ], [Only registered users can view links. ]), [Only registered users can view links. ] ([Only registered users can view links. ]), [Only registered users can view links. ] ($0): change Icons, layout, and theme without rooting. • Facebook: [Only registered users can view links. ] (free, [Only registered users can view links. ]) expands options for Facebook notifications, events, contact & profile sync, photos, etc. • Backup Tips: [Only registered users can view links. ] ($5) - Automatically backup messages, contacts, bookmarks, home screens, alarms, dictionary, etc. [Only registered users can view links. ]. • Folder Tips: [Only registered users can view links. ] ([Only registered users can view links. ]) - Sets up folders, change icons, and increase from 4x4 icons to 4x6 or even 5x6. See: Folders
[Only registered users can view links. ] has included many of the features of found in the Android app, [Only registered users can view links. ] for over a year. Vlingo even pre-dates Google [Only registered users can view links. ]. 30 states now have text while driving bans so apps like Vlingo have become increasingly important.
Vlingo is free in the [Only registered users can view links. ] and [Only registered users can view links. ]. One big upgrade over Siri is that Siri is not hands-free. You must still push buttons on the iPhone to use Siri. Vlingo's [Only registered users can view links. ] lets you just start by saying, "Hey, Vlingo." [Only registered users can view links. ]
Details
• Learns: Vlingo learns and [Only registered users can view links. ] at recognizing how you speak.
• Bluetooth: Vlingo also works with Android A2DP compliant headsets.
Setup
Tap Menu > Settings to change settings.
• InCar Settings to change the Wake up command, etc.
• SafeReader to set up how Vlingo will read and announce texts and emails.
Examples
Here are examples of commands Vlingo can answer on screen or by voice.
Call, Email, or Text
"Call Mom mobile" - "Call taxi" - "Call tow truck" - "Call Best Buy" - "Call plumber"
"Redial"
"Text Will; Let's grab a late lunch."
"Email Janet; Are you available to watch Hunter this weekend?"
"Email John; Subject, Running Late; Message, John, I’ll be 10 minutes late for the meeting."
Find
"Find a sushi restaurant"
"Movie times in Boston"
"Hotels in Seattle for tomorrow night"
"Beach front hotels in Miami"
"Downtown hotel in Dallas."
Social features
"Where are my friends?"
"Twitter status; Excited for the new season of Gossip Girl."
"Update Facebook status; Headed to New York for the weekend!"
Directions and Maps
"Get directions to 1600 Pennsylvania Ave"
"Navigate to Statue of Liberty" (the boat dock, not the island comes up)
"Map of New York"
Alarm Clock
"Open alarm clock"
"Set alarm for 30 minutes"
"Set alarm for 7 AM"
Search
"Get directions to the Smithsonian"
"Why do some sunsets look red?"
"Where is Harry Potter playing?"
"Find Italian restaurants nearby"
"Find sports bars"
"Golf courses near Orlando"
Other Apps
"Open calendar" - "Open calculator" - etc.
Music: "Play music"
Browser: "Go to Google.com"
Find Answers
"Who was the tenth President of the United States?"
"What does poison ivy look like?"
"Search: population of Portugal"
Last edited by milominderbinder; 11-30-2011 at 02:43 PM.
If you answer "Yes" to these questions, you may not want an iPhone. The iPhone 4S is stil missing these features.
Do you want:
1. A faster 4G/LTE phone?
2. Any size other than small?
3. A real Notification LED?
4. microSD option to add 32GB or even [Only registered users can view links. ]?
5. Removable/Upgradeable Battery?
6. HD Video Chat not VGA Chat?
7. LED Display?
8. DLNA for presentations or watch movies on your TV?
9. A full Facebook Sync (photos pop up when they call?)
10. Flash until HTML5 is ratified?
11. Near Field Communication (NFC) to share a song or app
12. Controllable Haptic feedback (vibrate on key-touch)?
13. Full Gmail (Priority Inbox, etc.)?
14. Live Icons?
15. Toggles to turn settings on/off?
16. Widgets to see apps without opening them?
17. [Only registered users can view links. ] with the free paid app of the day?
18. Other app stores like [Only registered users can view links. ] for free paid apps?
19. [Only registered users can view links. ] music options and [Only registered users can view links. ].
20. Notification bar apps like the Weather Channel for temperature?
21. Full Notification control: how often to repeat, vibrate, LED, etc.?
22. 15-Minute free trial on apps?
23. Theming to change your phone into anything?
24. Visual Voicemail with Contact Photos?
25. True hands-free Voice Commands?
26. [Only registered users can view links. ] for free?
27. Live Wallpaper?
28. [Only registered users can view links. ], the keyboard that set the typing records?
29. A Real predictive keyboards like [Only registered users can view links. ]?
30. To connect a Bluetooth wireless mouse or keyboard, PS3 game controller?
31. USB Host lets you plug in a memory thumb drive, PS3 Game Controller, etc.
32. To see, delete, rename, or move actual files just like on a PC?
4.5" Phone Sizing Chart showing the [Only registered users can view links. ] Keyboard
What is the Right Size Phone?
Only you can answer that question. Go hold the different phones. Take time to play with them and try out the features. After a half-hour or longer, what feels right to you?
Android Central's recent Readers Choice survey found that Only 9% Want a Screen Under 4". That makes sense because that is about how many wear Women's Small or Men's XS gloves or smaller.
The chart shows reaching with your right thumb only while holding a typical 4.5" phone. Hopefully this is not while driving or in class because that would be wrong, right?
Notice how the keyboard is positioned right over the easiest area to reach with one hand? But let's break this down a bit. When you are typing on a laptop or PC, what size keyboard do you prefer? 15"? 17"? 20"?
You probably didn't say 3.5". Even a 10" tablet is pretty small to use both hands but you can easily use a two-thumb keyboard like the [Only registered users can view links. ].
For those times when you are typing and holding the phone with one hand, take a look at the sizing chart above. Look at how the SwiftKey keyboard is optimized for one-handed typing:
Green is an average Men's Medium glove (size 9)
Yellow is a Men's Small glove (size 8½)
Red is a men's XS Extra Small glove (size 8)
Again, no sizing chart can tell you what will feel best to you. That's why phones have screen sizes from 2.5" to 5.3". Plus the current phones are so thin and light that they all feel smaller.
In the end, phones are like shoes. Try them and see what feels right for you. Don't let anyone tell you the one size phone you are to buy.
Last edited by milominderbinder; 12-03-2011 at 12:31 PM.
Good post; I noticed on the alternate browser links you linked to Dolphin and Opera Mini. Perhaps those should be to Dolphin HD and Opera Mobile (for at least year-old smartphones).
one handy tip, hold down on the adress bar in your browser to share content via text email facebook and what ever other app it shows up, i had an iphone for a week and i so missed this option, very bad, and well have freedom on all your ringtones, zedge is the best app for that.
This seems like a great resource for new users looking to learn about what customizations or features are available for Android. It does seem obvious that it is also written by someone who has never really used an iPhone before. For example, folders for icons have been available on the iPhone since iOS 3.
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