Some questions before I make the switch

[XXNUZ]

I've been a long time Windows Phone user, and really love the platform. However, with the Android M announcements and where Microsoft has been taking Windows Phone with Windows 10, I've decided I'm moving to Android. Before I do, I would like to know some thing about Android.

1. Is it possible to toggle cellular data in the action center?
2. Is it possible to toggle location in the action center?
3. Is the default keyboard usable?
4. Is launching Google Now quick and easy?
5. Can Google Now integrate fully with 3rd party apps?
6. Can services like Skype push calls as if they were cellular calls?
7. Apps:
-Is there a fast, good looking, and fluid tech news reader available?
-Is there a good Cyanide and Happiness viewer?
-Is there a photo editor with many advanced and customizable effects such as cloning and painting?
-Are there any fast and full file managers?
-Are the first party Google apps fast and reliable?
-Is there a good movie/video editor with Instagram upload?
-Is there a good selection of high quality games from independent developers?
That's all, thanks for helping!

 

[SpookDroid]

Hi there! Hope you do choose Android eventually, although I will be honest, the learning curve will throw you off for a few days. Nothing critical, but that's why we're here, to help!

1) Some devices still have the toggle, some don't. But you can do so in the settings (Mobile Data)
2) Yup. Not sure if it'll work differently on M, but on LP it toggles location entirely (before it toggled GPS, now it's ALL location settings). Long pressing the toggle will let you select High, Moderate, or Low accuracy for power saving purposes (GPS, WiFi, Cell)
3)Depends on your phone, but most are. In any case, most of us use SwiftKey anyway.
4) As easy as pressing and holding the home button or, if selected, just by saying 'OK Google'
5) Not fully, but it's getting better. Some apps will let you integrate fully with it, though.
6)This depends on Skype as a service, not if it's Android or Windows. If you use Skype as VoIP, yes, it does let you push messages and calls, but you're receiving them in the Skype app. To get them as 'normal' calls, you'd have to get a Skype Out Number if I recall correctly... something similar to Google Voice.
7) -Flipboard!
-No idea what any of those are :S But I'd stay clear of Cyanide to keep my Happiness
-Full-on Photoshop or Google's Snapseed.
-Loads! ES File Manager is the one I use
-Yup. Some are buggy, but so are they in other platforms, so not much we can do there At least they're more tightly integrated with the system itself than in other platforms.
-Again, quite a few options there. Most top-notch phones come with a video editor included.
-Loads again! Sometimes hard to find, but there are quite some that are outstanding. Still iOS gets a lot of 'firsts', but that's quickly improving.

 

[belodion]

Hello and welcome to green robot territory!

Posted via the Android Central App

 

[B. Diddy]

Welcome to Android Central!

3. Is the default keyboard usable?

Regardless of how good or bad the default keyboard is, you have plenty of other options in the Google Play Store. There's always Google Keyboard (which is obviously free and ad-free), which is quite good. I like Fleksy, which has uncanny autocorrect.

4. Is launching Google Now quick and easy?

You can also set Google Now to listen for "OK Google" from any screen, not just from the Google Now screen. This does use more battery, though.

5. Can Google Now integrate fully with 3rd party apps?

Here's a list of 3rd party apps that integrate with Google Now: https://www.google.com/landing/now/integrations.html

6. Can services like Skype push calls as if they were cellular calls?

Google Voice may be what you're looking for.

-Are there any fast and full file managers?

I like Total Commander. X-Plore has also been recommended.

-Are the first party Google apps fast and reliable?

It depends on which ones you're talking about. Some are excellent, and some not so good. It depends a bit on how much Google concentrates on them. But the ones that Google pays attention to get updated at least once a month, if only for bugfixes and performance improvement.

 

[STARGATE]

Hello and welcome to the forums at Android Central!

Hopefully you find Android to be your OS of choice.

Sent From my Gold Platinum Galaxy S6 Edge

 

[xocomaox]

Welcome to the forums. You'll definitely be able to learn a lot about the OS and what flexibility it has to offer here on these boards. Please don't hesitate to ask questions (although I see you have no problem with that, lol).

 

[Golfdriver97]

Welcome to the forums. Spook and B. Diddy got most of your questions. However:

Is it possible to toggle cellular data in the action center?

Not sure by what you mean by the action center, but there is no way to kill the Cell data in the notification shade. But, there are always workarounds that aren't too difficult.
With a thrid party launcher like Nova (my personal favorite) you can create an app shortcut. There is one called Data Usage, and that will bring your mobile data toggle to one click as opposed to going through settings and such. I will attach a screenshot in a few minutes.

 

[Neo_ii_Droid]

Greetings and welcome aboard the AC! Hope you enjoy your time and experience here on Android Central.

 

[itguyjax8430]

Welcome to Android Central!

You have a lot of good questions, have you decided what phone you may be going with?

 

[B. Diddy]

Not sure by what you mean by the action center, but there is no way to kill the Cell data in the notification shade.

There are actually a few phones out there that have a one-touch mobile data toggle, like the Asus Zenfone 2. This is dependent on how the manufacturer modifies the Android interface. But most phones don't have this option.

 

[xocomaox]

There are actually a few phones out there that have a one-touch mobile data toggle, like the Asus Zenfone 2. This is dependent on how the manufacturer modifies the Android interface. But most phones don't have this option.

There are even more options available with thirds party apps that allow you to do this and much more.

 

[SpookDroid]

There are actually a few phones out there that have a one-touch mobile data toggle, like the Asus Zenfone 2. This is dependent on how the manufacturer modifies the Android interface. But most phones don't have this option.

Yup, G4 (at least international version) has the mobile data toggle Wish there was a way to just kill the phone radio other than turning on Airplane mode though.

 

[xocomaox]

Yup, G4 (at least international version) has the mobile data toggle Wish there was a way to just kill the phone radio other than turning on Airplane mode though.

Run the following in a Terminal session:

su killall rild

 

[SpookDroid]

wouldn't that require root?
I don't want to dabble in rooting or terminal commands haha. I have enough of those on a PC

 

[xocomaox]

wouldn't that require root?
I don't want to dabble in rooting or terminal commands haha. I have enough of those on a PC

Yes, it does. I was just offering the possibility. ultimately what this command does is invoke super user, then reset the radios. They all come back after about 10 seconds, and boy does it drain your battery during this time. but it resolves data connection issues pretty well.

 

[SpookDroid]

Mmm... didn't know that. And you say they come back to life on their own?! Zombie radios! haha

I guess I just want to use my device with WiFi only sometimes without having the ugly plane icon taking up space.

 

[LeoRex]

What Spook said..

Welcome.

 

[VW Maverick]

Welcome to Android Central and Mobile Nations.

Mav.