Considering Note 8 after 10 years with Apple

[onmytenthlife]

Hey Everyone - thanks to the helpers who pass on their experience and knowledge. Sorry if my questions are rudimentary, but the internet is usually not so clear about some basic functionality. Let me tell you what I'm moving away from in Apple, and what I'd like to happen with my next phone. I am a very heavy voice command power user and Siri has broke my heart.

Why I'm leaving Apple:
~ I use Google everything and use none of the Apple native apps except for texting.
~ Native apps cannot be deleted
~ Siri will only add calendar events to iCal
~ Siri will only email through it's own email app
~ Siri is just......terrible in general.

What I want out of my next Phone (Google Pixel 2 vs. Galaxy Note 8)
~ I dont want native apps - I'm still trying to figure out what "Android" even is. Is it open? Is it google?
~ WIll Samsung make me use their apps?
~ I want to use voice commands that use google calendar and gmail without having to worry about some hack around Samsungs ecosystem

Thanks folks - I LOVE a lot about the Note 8, but I needs my google world. Thoughts?

 

[ajb1965]

Hey Everyone - thanks to the helpers who pass on their experience and knowledge. Sorry if my questions are rudimentary, but the internet is usually not so clear about some basic functionality. Let me tell you what I'm moving away from in Apple, and what I'd like to happen with my next phone. I am a very heavy voice command power user and Siri has broke my heart.

Why I'm leaving Apple:
~ I use Google everything and use none of the Apple native apps except for texting.
~ Native apps cannot be deleted
~ Siri will only add calendar events to iCal
~ Siri will only email through it's own email app
~ Siri is just......terrible in general.

What I want out of my next Phone (Google Pixel 2 vs. Galaxy Note 8)
~ I dont want native apps - I'm still trying to figure out what "Android" even is. Is it open? Is it google?
~ WIll Samsung make me use their apps?
~ I want to use voice commands that use google calendar and gmail without having to worry about some hack around Samsungs ecosystem

Thanks folks - I LOVE a lot about the Note 8, but I needs my google world. Thoughts?

Hello and welcome to Android Central. I'll try to answer some of your questions.

Native apps - Not sure what you mean by "native" Just about every Android manufacturer creates their own apps for standard things like phone dialing, SmS messaging, etc. However, you can replace any of these apps and make them default. Unlike iOS where if you want a different keyboard you can install it but you can't just have it come on by default, Android lets you swap out just about every app the manufacturer puts on the phone. If you don't like Samsung's keyboard, swap it out. If you don't like LG's SMS app, swap it out etc. You can set the new app as the default for that feature.

Android is open and is owned by Alphabet Corp, the overlords of the Googles. Google does put specific guidelines and rules for how apps are developed, what the phone manufacturers are supposed to do with certain aspects of Android etc, but again it's pretty hot swappable. If you don't like a particular app that comes with your phone, delete or disable it and install the one that suits you best.

Voice Commands - Yes there is Bixby on Samsung, but you can still use Google Assistant for most tasks. There are some specifc tasks that only Bixby can do right now "open camera and take a selfie" etc, but you can set reminders, send texts etc from the Assistant just by saying "Ok Google" It will use whatever app you have set for default to perform the action in. So if you ditched LG's calendar app for Nine and set Nine as the default, Google would place any new calendar events in Nine.

That's a short answer, but the even better news is there are hundreds and hundreds of folks here that are super smart and always willing to answer any questions you have!

 

[Carlo Villa]

Wow you have lived in a very closed system LOL

Native apps? Do you mean the pre-installed apps from ie. Samsung or Verizon? Texting, mail, voice commands, etc?

Most of the time you can disable them but not delete, you don't have to use them, Android is Google but most carriers ie. Verizon, T-Mobile etc lay their own "skin" on top of Android....so in other words Samsung puts "Touchwiz" or whatever is called now on top of Android.... only the Pixel is a pure Android Operating System
.
I use Gmail for mail
.
Samsung's own texting app and / or Whatsapp for texting (I love Whatsapp, iPhone and Android can use it)

.

.Google voice command is awesone

.
I use Google calendar only
.
I hope this helps


PS. I love love love the SPen, I'm an artist and NEED the SPen with its amazing program....

 

[ezeuzo1]

Hey Everyone - thanks to the helpers who pass on their experience and knowledge. Sorry if my questions are rudimentary, but the internet is usually not so clear about some basic functionality. Let me tell you what I'm moving away from in Apple, and what I'd like to happen with my next phone. I am a very heavy voice command power user and Siri has broke my heart.

Why I'm leaving Apple:
~ I use Google everything and use none of the Apple native apps except for texting.
~ Native apps cannot be deleted
~ Siri will only add calendar events to iCal
~ Siri will only email through it's own email app
~ Siri is just......terrible in general.

What I want out of my next Phone (Google Pixel 2 vs. Galaxy Note 8)
~ I dont want native apps - I'm still trying to figure out what "Android" even is. Is it open? Is it google?
~ WIll Samsung make me use their apps?
~ I want to use voice commands that use google calendar and gmail without having to worry about some hack around Samsungs ecosystem

Thanks folks - I LOVE a lot about the Note 8, but I needs my google world. Thoughts?

If you're trying to go straight Google then the next Pixel is easily the choice to make. Samsung phones are nice but tend to have their own versions of already existing Google apps. The Note 8 will force Bixby on you even though the Google assistant is superior (in my opinion). With the Pixel you'll get unlimited storage on Google Photos at full quality. You'll get stock/pure Android and timely software updates. Great camera also. Plus other good stuff.

There are lots of great things about the Note 8. But if, like you've said, you want a pure Android experience without native apps (bloatware) then it's the Pixel. Easily.