Tips to new Android User?

[pokeyph]

Hey guys, so I have used an iPhone my entire life, and I decided to switch to Android because iOS 7 sucks. I got a Galaxy S4 and I wanted suggestions on what to do with the operating system. i already have it rooted, which was a lot easier than I thought it would be. I originally wanted to install stock Android (4.2.2 or 4.2.3) on it, but looking at the process, it seems extremely complex, and I'm pretty sure I would screw something up. But if you guys have any app suggestions, any widget suggestions, case suggestions, or things like that, let me know. I can't wait to use my new phone!

 

[Lendo]

From one N00b to another, Welcome to the Forums

 

[HNNNNNGHHH]

Welcome to Android Central forums!

Since your move from iOS to Android, you need to know that Android is about customization: you can choose almost every aspect and change it as you wish. Since you own a Samsung Galaxy S4, here are some things to consider:

• Depending on the version of the Galaxy S4 you've received, your available internal storage will vary. (The regular touchwiz-packed S4 will only have around 8.8GBs of internal memory due to the amount of space the extra features of the OS takes up. The Google Play Edition S4 has more available memory due to a smaller system)
• Are you happy with Touchwiz on your Galaxy S4 or are you craving the Nexus/vanilla android experience? If you want a more 'stock vanilla android' experience, you can opt for apps such as Nova Launcher which will give you a Jelly Bean-like homescreen in place of the Touchwiz launcher most Samsung android handsets have by default.
• If you're willing to root this bad boy, rest assured that the rooting process isn't as complex as it looks and it's quite safe as long as you know what you're doing and are fine with voiding your warranty should you feel inclined upon doing so. However, you need to know which Galaxy S4 variant you have, as there are different methods for doing so for each variant. (If you bought the S4 from a US carrier such as AT&T or T-Mobile, then the carrier you've bought the phone from and are currently subscribed to is your phone variant. If you bought the phone from a third-party online reseller, you may have the more powerful international S4 variant packing an octa-core Exynos processor. Root methods can be found here: GalaxyS4Root.com - Learn How To Root Samsung Galaxy S4, install custom ROMs, and more!)
• If you already have root, you can either keep the stock ROM or use the custom recovery you've installed during the process of obtaining root to flash custom ROMs or tweaks for various things.
  You can refer to sites such as xda-developers if you're interested in tinkering with your SGS4.
  

Anyway, that's pretty much it. The rest is just common knowledge about android that all/most users already know. I'm not too fond of giving app recommendations as I'm a bit biased when it comes to such things.

Either way, have fun!

 

[meyerweb#CB]

Search the forums and blogs, and read what looks interesting or informative. Here's a bunch of stuff about the S4

Android Central Community Search | Android Central=

Read the help and how to articles: Help, How-To, and Tips for Android | Android Central

Read the iPhone user's guide to Android: http://forums.androidcentral.com/general-help-how/137252-apple-users-guide-android.html (It's a little dated, but still useful.)

 

[shaytoon21]

some really useful apps/widgets i can suggest that has helped me are:
- google now
- if ur into music; google sound search (amazing) no more shazam or soundhound. use the widget it comes with, youll thank me later.
- the default calendar widget is very handy when you have it set to 2x2 or how ever big u want to see upcoming events.
- google drive, bc you can upload most things on your phone to drive, especially if you install the desktop version on your computer, you can access on your phone n vice versa.
- google navigation, the greatest gps.
- google translate.
- assistive light widget for a quick flahslight. (already installed if u have s4)
- multi window, one of my favorite feautres on s4 (let me know if u havent figured out how to use it yet)

you mentioned you rooted ur phone, im not sure if youre able to use this but if you dont like touchwiz, download nova launcher and watch your phone turn into something more amazing than it already is. thats all i can think of for now, just let us knw if u have any other ?s

 

[rkleung]

I definitely agree with the Google Drive app as well as Google Maps. As a matter of fact, take a look at all of the Google apps out there. I have most of them and I love it.

 

[iN8ter]

I definitely agree with the Google Drive app as well as Google Maps. As a matter of fact, take a look at all of the Google apps out there. I have most of them and I love it.

I use Microsoft services on my device. Other than Search (actually looking for stuff, I don't really use Google Now), Maps, and YouTube I have no need for Google's services - and no matter what major platform I move to I know I will be supported. Google really sort of ties you down to Android or iOS pretty much these days. I'm not content with only two options, as I am not really a fan of no particular mobile OS, and use what I feel like using.

I have been through the whole "change from one set of services to another" when you move platforms and find out the services you were using are poorly supported there... That trouble is not worth it.

That being said, at least on my Samsung device, there are clear advantages to using Microsoft's services over Google's: Outlook.com has Tasks support via EAS - Google Tasks require 3rd party applications and those apps aren't as good as the built-in support in Samsung's Calendar app. Skype works over Cellular and supports file transfer (any type of file i.e. a Word document or ZIP file). OneNote Mobile poops all over Google Keep, especially since the latest update...

Many reasons, but being able to use them flawlessly with desktop applications as well as migrate from mobile platform to platform without a serious degradation in user experience is also a big win for me going from Google to Microsoft services.

Android doesn't = Google to me. Just like iOS doesn't = iCloud because when I used iOS I didn't use any of their PIM services, Photo Stream, or anything like that. That stuff is not portable and I was using 3 mobile OSes basically all the time every day back then (Windows Phone, Android, iOS) on 3 devices I carried everywhere.