VanKurt

Hello!
After using an iPhone for several years I was thinking about moving to Android (Galaxy Nexus, Android 4.0). However, I would like to clarify a few things beforehand, so I'm not disappointed afterwards ;-)

For example, I think the notifications on the iPhone are really well implemented. For all programs (if desired) there can be notifications on the lockscreen (e.g. email, SMS, eBay events, news, etc.). With one sweep on such an element it is shown directly in the appropriate app.

How is this done in Android? In particular, Android 4.0? Is there a similar functionality?

Thanks!

lunatic59

Considering that no one actually has the released version of Ice Cream Sandwich (4.0) it's hard to speculate the differences. However, with Gingerbread (2.3) and Honeycomb (3.x) and even FroYo (2.2) you have many options. For example, the notification bar ... the inspiration for iOS's "new" notifications, is there at the lockscreen on pretty much every phone. Pull down the notifications and click on the one you want and it takes you right to the app. Or, you can use a lockscreen replacement app like WidgetLocker that let's you load up your lockscreen with any widget available to the phone so you can see everything without having to unlock the phone.

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Bnice

@vankurt, what iphone are you referring to? To me, Android notification has been ahead of ios since the beginning.Now iphone4s has the notification like Android as Lunatic stated.

VanKurt

Hi!
@Bnice: I'm currently using an iPhone 3gs (about 4 years old).

@lunatic59: But I think the Emulator is already available, so thousands of developers should already be using 4.0. Also there are many videos etc., so I thought there might be some info on this topic.

So if I understood you correctly the notification bar is the only option for getting notifications without using custom lockscreens? Mh, I was hoping for something a little quicker (like notifications directly on the lockscreen, so I could just turn my phone on, take a quick look and turn it back off if nothing's there without having to do some extra input).

But thanks for your explaination!

lunatic59

You are correct in that the SDK has been released to developers, so it's very close, but there are no consumer phones running it. You are asking for speculation rather than experience, so if we guess wrong, don't hold it against anyone.

That is the Android paradigm. Many aspects of your device can be enhanced well beyond the stock capability of the stock Android system, or iOS for that matter with these apps. While I found psychotron's response to be a little short, he is essentially correct. If you would prefer to have a device work out of the box with minimal configuration, perhaps an iPhone is a better choice for you. Mind you that when you need functionality beyond what the stock setup brings to the table, only Android is going to offer you the room to completely customize.

jerofld

Android devices typically have an LED that blinks when you have a new notification, so you don't even have to wake the screen to see if you have a new message. And you can customize notification sounds for email, particular people, Gtalk, etc.

Custom lockscreens are ridiculously easy to use, too. You download from the market and run it from the app tray once to set up what you want. ICS is supposed to have a customizable lockscreen. Sense 3.0+ has customizable buttons on the lockscreen. Many apps also can put notifications on the lockscreen, if they are built to do it (music players do this often).

Droidtothemax

Not sure what is so hard to dl an app off the market like these fine people here mentioned in widgetlocker. I have it and set it up to show me what is popping up when it is woke up and on lock screen.

The factory one installed wont do that, least I know it don't on my HTC device.

Or like the other gentleman said, set up different ring tones. I have also done that and I know each one and once it goes off, I don't even need to check phone if not interested in that tone.

Android notifications curbstomp iOS notifications. ....they are just now getting the LED light.....after how many implementation of iPhones? No comparison IMO.

VanKurt

But I think you're right. I don't want to search & pay for dozens of apps only to get the basic functionality other smartphone systems like iOS or Windows Phone offer right from the start. Don't get me wrong: for everyone who has enough time & money on their hands this kind of customization may be a lot of fun. But I don't consider myself one of those people...

Last edited by EarlyMon; October 30th, 2011 at 04:32 PM. Reason: removed quote of deleted post

lunatic59

Agreed, but not entirely over the line. We do monitor behavior here so if a post becomes personal it is dealt with appropriately.

This a bit of hyperbole. You asked about one feature specifically which can be achieved with either paid or free solutions, with minimal configuration and additional functionality beyond the out-of-the-box configurations of any OS. If you objection is paying, then you're in for a rude awaking on both iOS and WindowsPhone 7. You'll find much of the free offerings to be limited and immature. If your objection is having to decide which solution is best for you and you prefer that to be mandated by the device, then perhaps Android isn't a good choice for you.

Just so you know, these lock screen apps need only be configured once for them to be used indefinitely. There is not constant tweaking and configuring that the detractors of Android would have you believe.

Good luck with whatever you choose to buy. If you do indeed decide to give Android a try, we will be here to help you get acclimated.

thedosbox

It's a fair point, as there's a large market of people like you. It's just rather unfortunate that there's an element of android users who come off as arrogant simply because they want to tweak their toys and expect everyone else to as well.

Anyhow, bear in mind that there are manufacturer customizations that have done a lot of this work for you - e.g. HTC Sense, Samsung TouchWiz.

chanchan05

HTC Sense 3.0 lockscreen allows notifications on the locksreen AFAIK, but I still find widgetlocker more to my liking.

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Bnice

I'm sure what you are looking for is available.Just remember with Android you are dealing with many devices. Research the devices you like and make sure the features you want that device has it.

EarlyMon

Unfriendly post deleted. OP, around here, we don't go for that. If it happens again to you, please tap that !Report button next to each app, and we'll come running.

I'd like to summarize and hopefully simplify if I may.

In the past, the Google Nexus phones offered a kind of complete, but bare-bones interface we called "vanilla Android."

Some people liked it (I used it for a while) but many prefer what they consider the user friendly add-ons from various makers - chief among these - HTC Sense, Motorola Blur, and Samsung TouchWiz.

The customizations include various behaviors in the notification bar.

Google has responded to that market preference by incorporating many UI features into ICS.

ICS, like the HTC Sense, is now more people-centric, rather than app-centric in many ways.

The typical customizations required with any phone basically just involve setting up your screen appearance (out of the box, nice layouts are there, ready to use without any goofing around) and favorite apps (mail logins, etc).

I go hog-wild with customization, I'm a tech-head, my wife (a fine artist) doesn't - she just uses out-of-the-box Android and has always been very happy with it (vanilla Android first, she considered Sense a big improvement).

So, while Android is about choice, those choices need not become time-consuming or overbearing.

iPhones are great and getting better. While I personally like to joke that iOS 5 is what we used to call Android 1.6, the truth is - competition is good for the consumer and we all benefit.

With Android, you'll tend to install fewer apps than with an iPhone to get full functionality, on Android, lots of stuff is simply built-in. And, most of the helpful Android apps are simply free, unlike the iPhone world. So, one of the Android advantages is you don't nickeled and dimed as much.

With the Nexus phone running ICS, you'll get your phone updates directly from Google and tend to be ahead of the rest of us where feature updates are concerned.

Hope this helps!

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Frisco

Psychotron said:

"If installing a custom lock screen is too much work for you, stick with the iPhone since you can't handle a phone with choices."

but meant to say:

"Installing a custom lock screen is fun and rewarding, isn't it? Stick with us, my friend, as we love to help out with this stuff here at Android Forums. "

clockwork cat

My Samsung Galaxy S "Vibrant" has the notifications in the lockscreen "out of the box". I suppose it really depends on the individual phone.