Switching from WP7.5 to Android

**Guidos Dad** · 08-03-2012, 08:42 PM

Well, I fired up my Verizon Galaxy Nexus tonight that I recently purchased off of ebay. This is my first foray into an android phone coming from WP7.5 (Trophy). This Nexus I bought was rooted by the previous owner and has loaded on it Vicious Toro Jelly Bean 4.1.1 For you Android veterans that probably means more to you than I as to exactly what I got.

From some reading up on android and the operating systems, I gathered from what I read that Jelly Bean was worth getting if I could, so I happened on this one and got it. Phone seems to be running pretty smooth going in and out of the different apps and such.

I got my home email account set up along with the google account I already had and I got my corporate exchange account set up OK. So I have email, calendars and contacts all set up.

Going to be a learning curve I can see already. Just a different way things are set up thats for sure from what I'm used to with the windows phone. With the windows phone you got the front Tile screen where you do what "customizing" you can do with a windows phone, and then the 2nd screen with all your apps listed alphabetically. On the Nexus I seems like I got screens all over the place! Got to figure out using folders and these things call widgets!

I like it so far. The Nexus is a really nice looking phone. Maybe I'll post some other impressions/comparisons later as I go through the Nexus more and learn about android!

**sayheysarah** · 08-04-2012, 09:18 AM

It takes some time to get your homescreens the way you want them, but once you do you will love it. I got my gnex yesterday and had jelly bean on it within an hour!

**Guidos Dad** · 08-04-2012, 09:59 AM

Took some quick shots of our remodeled kitchen with the camera this morning. Decent looking shots. Still need to mess with the camera and learn the settings and such. Just did some quick point and shoot. Like the quick focus and shoot on it.

The windows phone has that dedicated hard button for the camera on the lower right corner. Part of me finds me missing that but, in some ways I like it better with the icon on the front of one of my main home screen. the hard button on the WP i had a tendency to push it by accident taking the one in or out of my pocket and opening the camera up. That I found a pain if that happened.

**Guidos Dad** · 08-04-2012, 10:02 AM

Originally Posted by sayheysarah

It takes some time to get your homescreens the way you want them, but once you do you will love it. I got my gnex yesterday and had jelly bean on it within an hour!

Besides smoother operation I've read and having the Google Now feature, which I accessed onto it, what are some of the other main features/improvements with Jelly Bean? Just wondering.

**Guidos Dad** · 08-04-2012, 06:55 PM

Loaded ISyncr for Mac today and got all my music synced from Itunes off the Mac laptop. So I'm happy!

Everything working smooth so far.

**Guidos Dad** · 08-05-2012, 07:49 AM

Widgets. Started working with some last night. Set some up for email my calendar and the Weather channel. So these are kind of like the Live Tiles on WP but they they appear to be capable of delivering you more information than Live Tiles.

**turdbogls** · 08-06-2012, 10:40 AM

Originally Posted by RocDel

Besides smoother operation I've read and having the Google Now feature, which I accessed onto it, what are some of the other main features/improvements with Jelly Bean? Just wondering.

here is the official change log coming from ICS.

the only one i can't get working is the calendar colors....who knows why though

**zulu308** · 08-06-2012, 02:36 PM

I had WP7 (mango), gave the phone to my dad and switched to Gnex ICS, haven't really looked back.

one thing you will like is the navigation, which failed miserably on WP. That POS ding tone was the last straw.

**Guidos Dad** · 08-06-2012, 07:29 PM

I like the notifications I get on the GNex. I have three email accounts set up and its nice that I can have multiple notifications and with just a swipe down of the screen I see all the accounts I've received from. On the wp I had a tile for each account along with messaging and you have to open up individually. Unless there was a way to combined mail accounts that I'd not figured out.

**Guidos Dad** · 08-06-2012, 07:36 PM

Originally Posted by turdbogls

here is the official change log coming from ICS.

the only one i can't get working is the calendar colors....who knows why though

When I synced my Outlook account from work I noticed on my calendar events from outlook are in a brown color while the Google calendar events came in a green color.

**Guidos Dad** · 08-06-2012, 07:42 PM

I downloaded Ringtone Maker and made a couple ringtones from songs in my music library. Pretty easy to use gives you sliders to select where in the song to start and how much to include. It gives you the option I think to save the complete song as a ringtone. Not sure why anyone would do that but probably makes it easy and quick to make it if your original sound file is short to begin with.

**Guidos Dad** · 08-06-2012, 08:55 PM

ISyncr for Mac. Ok downloaded this over the weekend, worked fine syncing my Itunes music off the Mac laptop. Tonight got notification of an update for this. It downloads the update, goes to install but then comes up with the Error.... Couldn't install on USB storage or SD card. Try it twice, same error, rebooting the phone and tried a third time, same error. Anyone with clues what's going on having maybe seen this?

I've sent an email to JRT Studio to inquire with them about the problem.

**Guidos Dad** · 08-10-2012, 05:29 AM

Loaded up the Android Facebook app. I do not spend much time at all on this, but look on it once in a great while. The app is pretty functional. If you're a real Facebook junkie though, I can say this is where you would appreciate a windows phone and its integration with Facebook. With the built in peoples hub you have at your fingertip instant info on what's going on with you friends and family without needing to go into an app or the website. You can also set up a live tile for any one specific person you want to follow.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Android Central Forums

**Guidos Dad** · 08-10-2012, 06:42 AM

I wanted to mention that as I've typed emails, text messages and stuff like this on android central, the spell checking, auto correcting, and such appears to be better handled on here than on my Trophy.

I have to say so far my experience with android thus far has been very enjoyable and trouble free other than my problem updating the iSyncr app. Maybe it has more to do with earlier versions of the android OS but thus far I've not seen the issues with it like I've read from different sources and peoples comments on.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Android Central Forums

**bakerbert** · 08-10-2012, 07:21 AM

Welcome to Android

With your phone running Jelly Bean, you might run in to a few apps that are not ready yet. (HBO to GO) I don't think any phone has the official OTA yet.

For home screen setup: keep an eye on the "share you screen shot thread". its amazing what people can do with this phone. (ask most anyone and they will be happy to tell you how they are set up

)

I always recommend a custom launcher (I use APEX ) This will allow you to change just about everything on your home screen (number of screens, set up gestures to open apps, resize widgets, change icons and a ton of other stuff)

Any other questions you might have ask away, you came to the right place and welcome again.

**Guidos Dad** · 08-10-2012, 12:29 PM

Originally Posted by bakerbert

Welcome to Android

With your phone running Jelly Bean, you might run in to a few apps that are not ready yet. (HBO to GO) I don't think any phone has the official OTA yet.

For home screen setup: keep an eye on the "share you screen shot thread". its amazing what people can do with this phone. (ask most anyone and they will be happy to tell you how they are set up

)

I always recommend a custom launcher (I use APEX ) This will allow you to change just about everything on your home screen (number of screens, set up gestures to open apps, resize widgets, change icons and a ton of other stuff)

Any other questions you might have ask away, you came to the right place and welcome again.

Thank you for responding. I took a quick minute to check out the site on that custom launcher. When I get some more time this evening I will look more for sure at that. I like the idea of being able to choose the number of home screens. I was talking to someone at work in fact yesterday who has a Droid Incredible 2 I think it is and the 7 home screens that are on it is one thing he's never liked. I'll have to show him this.

What you mention about the apps and the version of Jelly Bean I have may very well be the problem I'm having with iSyncr, but its funny it initially loaded OK and worked syncing my music but now have the problem with the updated. I'll keep your offer handy on questions.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Android Central Forums

**elvisgp** · 08-10-2012, 04:53 PM

Originally Posted by RocDel

Thank you for responding. I took a quick minute to check out the site on that custom launcher. When I get some more time this evening I will look more for sure at that. I like the idea of being able to choose the number of home screens. I was talking to someone at work in fact yesterday who has a Droid Incredible 2 I think it is and the 7 home screens that are on it is one thing he's never liked. I'll have to show him this.

What you mention about the apps and the version of Jelly Bean I have may very well be the problem I'm having with iSyncr, but its funny it initially loaded OK and worked syncing my music but now have the problem with the updated. I'll keep your offer handy on questions.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Android Central Forums

The isyncr problem is most likely due to the update which probably broke compatibility with jelly bean. welcome to android and I'm glad that you are enjoying your experience from windows phone. Widgets and live tiles are very similar to each other, the only difference being that widgets are scrollable and can be customized more(colors, size, and the like.) I suggest using Google play music to sync over your iTunes music from your Mac to your phone. Oh and btw, why did you switch from windows phone?

Sent from my jelly bean flavored nexus

**Guidos Dad** · 08-10-2012, 08:03 PM

Originally Posted by elvisgp

The isyncr problem is most likely due to the update which probably broke compatibility with jelly bean. welcome to android and I'm glad that you are enjoying your experience from windows phone. Widgets and live tiles are very similar to each other, the only difference being that widgets are scrollable and can be customized more(colors, size, and the like.) I suggest using Google play music to sync over your iTunes music from your Mac to your phone. Oh and btw, why did you switch from windows phone?

Sent from my jelly bean flavored nexus

I just wanted to try out first hand myself android. I'm off contract right now with Verizon since April. I still like windows but I'm not very hope full that Verizon is going to embrace wp8 very enthusiastically so I just decided to look for a Verizon Nexus to buy on eBay and figured I'd try out android for a few months and see how things develop with wp8. Will I switch back at some point, who knows?

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Android Central Forums

**Guidos Dad** · 08-10-2012, 08:18 PM

Originally Posted by elvisgp

The isyncr problem is most likely due to the update which probably broke compatibility with jelly bean. welcome to android and I'm glad that you are enjoying your experience from windows phone. Widgets and live tiles are very similar to each other, the only difference being that widgets are scrollable and can be customized more(colors, size, and the like.) I suggest using Google play music to sync over your iTunes music from your Mac to your phone. Oh and btw, why did you switch from windows phone?

Sent from my jelly bean flavored nexus

I didn't realize the Google play music, it will sync with iTunes. I was reading thru the Help on it and the part on the Mac file transfer app to download to the Mac to link with the phone. It did not say anything specific about iTunes. I assume you then sync with iTunes to download the music files? Sorry for all the questions. Appreciate the help and suggestions.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Android Central Forums

**elvisgp** · 08-10-2012, 08:45 PM

Originally Posted by RocDel

I didn't realize the Google play music, it will sync with iTunes. I was reading thru the Help on it and the part on the Mac file transfer app to download to the Mac to link with the phone. It did not say anything specific about iTunes. I assume you then sync with iTunes to download the music files? Sorry for all the questions. Appreciate the help and suggestions.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Android Central Forums

Your welcome. And you need to download the Google music manager on your Mac, and then run that program, it will run you through the set up and then start to syc your music from iTunes to your phone. This may take a while if you have a lot of songs, but in the end, it is well worth it. Once all your music is on your phone, you can select the ones you want to be kept offline. The rest of the songs will be streamed from the cloud.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Android Central Forums

**elvisgp** · 08-10-2012, 09:42 PM

I thought I would show you my home screens to give you an idea on the purpose of widgets.
This is my main home screen. The only widgets I have here are a simple clock widget and a hotspot toggle widget so I can tether my phone to my nexus 7. The rest of what I have here is folders with the main apps that I use in it.

Scroll to the right and you have my social network and media home screen. I have a scrollable Facebook widget(android pro widget w/ lucid theme in he play store,) which I can post my status, like things, comment, and look at my news feed from(this is like the people hub.) Next I have more folders with media apps in it like games.

Scroll to the left from my main screen and you have my music page. I'm using the stock play store widget, and it shows my recent music played. As you can see, I love the rock band rise against! Lol. Anyway, this widget just offers me easy access to my recently played albums. Next I have my music control widget which allows me easy access to playing and stopping a song. I hope this helps you understand widgets!

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Android Central Forums

**Guidos Dad** · 08-10-2012, 10:34 PM

Thanks for the widgets tutorial! Some interesting ideas. That's been part of the fun of digging into this Nexus and android looking at different ways functionally set things up to flow easy around the phone. So, your using the Apex launcher? How would you compare it to Nova? I saw that in Google play also.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Android Central Forums

**elvisgp** · 08-10-2012, 10:37 PM

Actually I'm using the stock jelly bean launcher. I haven't really tried any custom launchers because the stock launcher is good enough for me.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Android Central Forums

**Guidos Dad** · 08-10-2012, 10:42 PM

Originally Posted by elvisgp

Actually I'm using the stock jelly bean launcher. I haven't really tried any custom launchers because the stock launcher is good enough for me.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Android Central Forums

Oops...got you confused with another who recommended Apex. Really like what you've done though with the widgets! I'm going to look at them in detail. I'm looking for good ideas to set something like wp's "live feed" of your Facebook contacts.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Android Central Forums

**still1** · 08-10-2012, 11:45 PM

Originally Posted by turdbogls

here is the official change log coming from ICS.

the only one i can't get working is the calendar colors....who knows why though

Originally Posted by RocDel

When I synced my Outlook account from work I noticed on my calendar events from outlook are in a brown color while the Google calendar events came in a green color.

The reason why you guys see those colors are because that the color set by default in Google calender in web browser.... Go to calendar here

change colors for your calendar on left side under "My calendar" .. If you hoover over you should see a drop down with color selection

or select events and edit it and change the events color... let calender app sync the changes(To sync quickly goto settings--> Google sync then uncheck calendar and check it again)... you should see the new color in your calendar app in Android..

@turdbogls change the color and you should see it in the app.