Switching to Note 3 from iPhone 5

[LosingMyMind]

Awesome. I find myself always shutting things off to save battery. Thanks for the tips!

 

[LosingMyMind]

Ichi,

What widget is that?


Getting back to the iOS conversation...

Yeah, I can pretty much guarantee that everyone in this thread concerned about their migration to Android from iOS should put those concerns aside.

The first day or two with Android is a little frustrating because everything is done a bit differently. However, for me, it took a very short period of time before I was throwing widgets on my screen and installing a wealth of Apps from the Google Play store.

...speaking of which, you will be amazed by how many more free apps there are than what was available on the iTunes App Store.

Don't worry about the malware. I would recommend installing AVAST or LOOKOUT. Both are free. You can scan every file you download before you actually install it.
Two of my favorite apps are MIGHTY TEXT and ANDROID DESKTOP NOTIFICATIONS. Do look into them. They allow you to read/send text messages from your PC/Laptop and see all the incoming notifications from your phone while it is charging elsewhere.

Buy a spare battery. They are pretty cheap. The great thing about Android phones is that when your battery goes low, you don't have to race to find somewhere to charge your phone. You simply swap out the battery. Try doing THAT on an Apple phone.

Also concur with Ichi_Bear on getting a Micro SD card. I have a Sandisk 64GB as well. The only bad thing is that you can't put apps on the external card, that is, unless you root the phone. However, the nice thing about the Note III is that it starts at 32GB, and trust me, you'll never use that much space for your apps.

So, despite missing iOS somewhat, you can see I have found my happy place, for the moment, with Android.

I'll be fine, I hope. Lol. I'm still on contract with iPhone until next year, so I'll be using both phones. So this right here will let me compare side by side. From all the reading on this site, the bragging and boasting, I'm so jealous I don't have one in my hands right now. This week is gonna kill me waiting!!

 

[NJRonbo]

From all the reading on this site, the bragging and boasting, I'm so jealous I don't have one in my hands right now. This week is gonna kill me waiting!!

Well, this is an Android forum so opinions will be more bias.

However, I think you will get addicted to the larger screen size. I am excited moving up from the Note II just for the HD display.

 

[Ichi_Bear]

The widget is the Falcon Pro widget. It's in the Google Play app store. I love it as I tweet a lot!

Regarding the micro SD card issue, I have limited storage for apps. That is the reason I have a card. I store all my media and files on it.

Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 4

 

[Oofa]

Why did you pick such a large Android phone? Just for the drastic difference in size compared to an iPhone? I think that will be what will take getting used to much more than the Android OS. The whole Android thing is super simple and anyone that gives you too many rules and "must-do's" is just trying to make more of Android than it is. Any child can operate either system. There are no secrets about either systems and iPhone being "simple and boring" is what some people like after trying out both. The fact that you can customize every aspect of use might not be all that great after the initial honeymoon period ends. Android is fun and customizable and I use it right along side on my iPhone but after a while you might feel more trapped than with iOS because you have too many options and you just want to get things done without all the bloat. Too many of the Android apps are really bad and really amateurish so just be careful what you download and use the rating system for guidance. You should have fun but I certainly would not get rid of my iPhone.

 

[LosingMyMind]

Well, this is an Android forum so opinions will be more bias.

Of course, another reason why I'm not tossing all my iDevices out at the moment. I appreciate all the advices and tips, but I need to see both devices in action, in my face and hands before I make a final decision.

 

[NJRonbo]

Why did you pick such a large Android phone? Just for the drastic difference in size compared to an iPhone?

Oofa,

So my story is this...

Had an iPhone 4. When the iPhone 5 was announced last year I was pissed off Apple did not go to a larger sized phone.

I went with the Galaxy S3. Loved the larger screen.

Then, the next month, the Galaxy Note II was announced. I wanted even a larger screen so fortunately I was able to ditch the S3 and move to the Note II.

Now I want even a larger screen. So, the Note III is the next logical choice.

For me, the screen size is everything. I would not go with the Galaxy Mega -- that is too big, but I would definitely max out at any phone with a 6" screen.

Rumor is Apple is going to release a 6" iPhone next year. We'll se if that actually pans out.

In the meantime, I think there is a good sect of the Android population that just want to keep moving up to larger screens.

 

[dkhmwilliams]

Of course, another reason why I'm not tossing all my iDevices out at the moment. I appreciate all the advices and tips, but I need to see both devices in action, in my face and hands before I make a final decision.

This is smart. When it comes down to it, it's about your user experience and not what others recommend.


Sent from my smokin hot, white, 64 GB, iPhone 5 on AT&T wrapped in a classic black BookBook case. FTW!

 

[LosingMyMind]

Why did you pick such a large Android phone? Just for the drastic difference in size compared to an iPhone? I think that will be what will take getting used to much more than the Android OS. The whole Android thing is super simple and anyone that gives you too many rules and "must-do's" is just trying to make more of Android than it is. Any child can operate either system. There are no secrets about either systems and iPhone being "simple and boring" is what some people like after trying out both. The fact that you can customize every aspect of use might not be all that great after the initial honeymoon period ends. Android is fun and customizable and I use it right along side on my iPhone but after a while you might feel more trapped than with iOS because you have too many options and you just want to get things done without all the bloat. Too many of the Android apps are really bad and really amateurish so just be careful what you download and use the rating system for guidance. You should have fun but I certainly would not get rid of my iPhone.

I still have my iPhone. I'm just sick of it at the moment and want to try something different. I like the size because I'll no longer need to drag my ipad out and about. It's an all in one, I'm on the road a lot so it seems more convenient and much lighter. Less to carry is always best for me.

 

[MrMLK]

With all that said, you would think that I am putting down Android. Really, I love the Note II and the experience I have had with it. However, if rumors are true about Apple making a 6" iPhone next year, I would definitely go back in a heartbeat. Until then I think that you are going to really love the Note III.

As another big Apple user who switched to the Note 2 last year, I agree with a lot of what you said. I actually gave my iPad to my mother in law because I was just never using it. The only two things I miss about iOS are the seamless transfer of data from an old device to a new one, and the video player that reads meta data and automatically sorts TV shows by show/season/episode.

Having said that, while I used to think I would go back to iOS if Apple came out with a giant phone, there are just too many things I have gotten used to that I couldn't give up:

1) Home screen widgets. The large clock, the giant weather, the volume controls, the battery widget, the tiny shortcuts to the 20 or so apps I use all the time. I have a very busy home screen, and I just don't think I could give it up.
2) Multiview and Popup video. I would estimate that I spend several hours a day using one of these functions. Triple Town with a TV show at the top is my new addiction.
3) Chrome. I know you can use Chrome on the iPhone, but it isn't integrated and links will not open it by default. Chrome is my default browser on my iMac and Macbook, and having history/tabs/bookmarks/etc synced across all my devices is just ever so nice.
4) Notification bar. While iOS wins for the way it shows notifications on the lock screen, Android is much better about letting me know once I am using the device.

There are a lot of other things I really like about Android, but I could probably give them up if I had to. The four things I mention above would be very hard to let go of.

...
5. Use your phone like this for a week or two, and slowly start playing with adding more screens, widgets, apps, etc.

Good advice, but you forgot step 6.

6. Go totally overboard and add as a many widgets as you can:

 

[fishmd]

I can't wait to ditch the old tired iOS and iPhone. I have stuck with the iPhone since the 3GS and had every phone since that time. Funny thing is, I have also always jail broken my iPhones because I never liked the stock iOS. I have finally come to realize that over the years, most of the tweaks that I use come from Android ideas. Now with how difficult it is becoming to jailbreak the iphones, there is no telling how long it may be before I could upgrade my iOS to ios7. (Last year it took about 4-5 months for ios6 jailbreak!).

The note 3 looks amazing and the more reviews I see the more excited I get about this phone. I cannot wait to get it. (Anyone wanna buy a pristine iPhone 5 haha)

 

[LosingMyMind]

Good advice, but you forgot step 6.

6. Go totally overboard and add as a many widgets as you can:

View attachment 83036

OMG!! All those would drive me nuts!! Lucky for you, you didn't inherit the (OCD)(CDO) gene. Lol I'm dizzy now

 

[Ichi_Bear]

The user experience has improved a lot with the recent Android OS updates. I know it can be slightly different depending on brand and carrier. Bloatware can be an issue. I'm very happy with my Galaxy S3 and hopefully the 4.2.2 OS update will be ready to rock soon (Lockscreen widgets, yeay!). I have an unlocked phone so bloatware isn't much of an issue. As far as handset size goes, it's just the right size for me (small hands). Never liked the Samsung keyboard but that was easily remedied by downloading the SwiftKey keyboard and then the free Google keyboard which is my daily driver now. Both are very good responsive keyboards. That's what I love about Android. You can really tailor your phone to suit your style and needs.

Sent using a Samsung Galaxy S3
I'm usually on Twitter @Ichi_Bear ;-)

 

[LosingMyMind]

I can't wait to ditch the old tired iOS and iPhone. I have stuck with the iPhone since the 3GS and had every phone since that time. Funny thing is, I have also always jail broken my iPhones because I never liked the stock iOS. I have finally come to realize that over the years, most of the tweaks that I use come from Android ideas. Now with how difficult it is becoming to jailbreak the iphones, there is no telling how long it may be before I could upgrade my iOS to ios7. (Last year it took about 4-5 months for ios6 jailbreak!).

The note 3 looks amazing and the more reviews I see the more excited I get about this phone. I cannot wait to get it. (Anyone wanna buy a pristine iPhone 5 haha)

I'm keeping my iPhone handy just in case. I'm excited to finally try something new for a change. I've been bored for so long with iOS, just to stubborn to move on.

 

[MrMLK]

OMG!! All those would drive me nuts!! Lucky for you, you didn't inherit the (OCD)(CDO) gene. Lol I'm dizzy now

I don't know if it helps or hurts, but I only have one home screen. Everything is packed into that one.

 

[Ichi_Bear]

My home screens are very tidy...... ^_^

Sent using a Samsung Galaxy S3 and Tapatalk 4

I'm usually on Twitter @Ichi_Bear ;-)

 

[KevLar72]

Haha, I'm 5 foot nothing with hands the size of a 12 year old. This phone is going to be massive for me but I don't care. I'm switching because I'm bored to death with iOS in general, there updates are bs. Never anything new, only tweaks here and there. It's very basic and generic IMO. I want to be able to do more with it than just look at it repeatedly thinking, what a sucker I am , yet I keep upgrading because it "looks" good.

I applaud you for being daring enough to make the switch !
Yes IOS is very boring and it's just more thing I hate about it .
I think once you get the hang of what the Android OS is capable of you won't go back !
It really isn't that much once it's second nature. You'r going to love it ! Especially with 4.3 and TRIM support.
If it's help you need then PM me.. I'll help you out !

 

[Central n ohios best]

Yes my figure isn't right I was being sarcastic, but relative to the total number of Android users of course a small percentage have 4.3. It's a fragmented mess, and if iOS operated this way Android folk would be all over iOS for it.

Actually like me they wouldn't care imo.

Sent from my T-Mobile LG Escape using Tapatalk 2

 

[john248]

When I got my 1st Android phone (Droid X in 2010), it was all about putting a ton of widgets and folders on the home screen. If you look at old "Post Your Homescreen" threads on various Android forums, you'll see a lot of creative and aesthetically pleasing layouts. But all of that died down more than a year ago once people realized they weren't using as many widgets or homepages they thought they would. Now having simpler and cleaner homepages is the norm with many (at least people who are on forums) preferring a more stock Android appearance. Obviously, we're not going to get a stock Android experience with TouchWiz overlayed, but this doesn't matter so much as we are buying a niche yet popular phablet with the benefits of the S-pen.

Bouncing between an Android phone and an iPhone (4, 4S) before just settling on an Android device, it's best to just keep it simple. Download the apps and widgets that you think you will need and actually use. Delete them if you don't find them necessary anymore; I cannot stress this enough as you might have a rogue app that turns out to be a battery hog for some reason down the line because of a buggy update. Download your apps one by one. Play with the settings right away before downloading the next app. What works for me is: #1 homepage just has a clock/weather widget; #2 homepage just has a calendar widget and a few folders; #3 homepage just has apps/folders/toggles that I use frequently. I like to keep the pages clean and also use Nova Launcher and will use DashClock.

I don't see much of a reason (subjective) to go back to the iPhone unless things change there. They need a phone with at least a 5" screen and more going on in terms of usability of the pages themselves. They'll never have expandable memory like Samsung does which is a bummer though at least they now have 64 GB phones and the lack of removable battery sucks. Oh and buying all the Apple accessories became quite annoying unless you have an iPad as well.. which I don't.

 

[Botti]

Yes my figure isn't right I was being sarcastic, but relative to the total number of Android users of course a small percentage have 4.3. It's a fragmented mess, and if iOS operated this way Android folk would be all over iOS for it.

I'm starting to feel that not every firmware update is a good one. Most of the time they'll just bring misery by changing things and introducing compatibility issues for installed programs. Hardly ever has any firmware update actually solved any of MY issues or given features I would care about. I might be getting old, but I kinda like it when they don't give those android updates. I don't own iOS device, but from the news it seems like you have the same problem nowadays.