Thinking about switching from iPhone... have lots of questions...

[iPhoneMilk]

Hey everyone, I have a ton of questions.

I'm a gadget lover, not an iPhone "fanboy" Though I have stuck with the iPhone for all 3 verisions now, and currently hold a 3Gs, this is only due to the fact that i love gadgets and the iPhone has been the best choice up till what i THINK is now, the new Android 2.0 direction is looking great, and the Droid phone has great hardware features...

So before i'm convinced and switch over, i have some Questions about the Android OS in general. I hope someone can help me with.

1. Right now if my iPhone crashes, or i have to restore it i have no stress in the world because i have my iPhone backed up, literally everything is backed up. So i just hit restore and boom it's back.

Is there a similar function so that if my phone crashes... that will keep things backed up and synced so i won't lose anything?

I don't want to have to reinstall Apps, put back on my music, and sync my contacts again, i'm asking if there's a one stop shop solution to that?


2. Open Development, everyone always says that Android is an OPEN Os right?

So here's an example to why i'm trying to get the right idea about this.

Right now on my iPhone i can record video and upload it via the youtube App.

i noticed that the DROID can do the same thing. Here's my question in relation to open development. is there an App that allowes me to upload those videos at HIGH Quality to youtube instead of crunched down low quality? because right now on my iPhone when it uploads it;s low quality.
So does the open development side of Android allow for ways to get around that and upload at high quality?

3. How cutomizable is the UI with themes and such? i can't find any good videos anywhere on this. or information

I think i'll stop right here actually and wait for some people to answer before i ask more questions.


Thanks!

 

[trick202]

Contacts and mail etc are backed up, but where everything else is concerned, the iPhone is better at restoring.

UNLESS

you root and rom your phone (a bit like jailbreaking only much easier). Then, you can back up everything to your SD card (yep, better than the iphones sealed arrangement).

If you keep the phone stock, you'll have to reinstall apps - but it's the work of moments. Oh, and by the way: it won't crash nearly as much as you iPhone!

UI customisation is (in my opinion) the best out there at the moment. iPhone is (ironically) probably the worst! LOADS of widgets, themes, theme apps etc

Not sure on the quality issue, but I know you can upload directly to youtube.

 

[iPhoneMilk]

What about Android 2? is that rootable?

what's the downside to Rooting?

 

[Ken Amisraelhai]

What about Android 2? is that rootable?

No, it isn't.

 

[trick202]

Downside to rooting is that it can/may/does invalidate your warranty - same as jb'ing the iphone.

Android 2.0 will be rootable very soon after it's launch - it may not even affect rooting.

Can anyone jump in and tell me if they needed to re-root after 1.6 update? I don't think they did.

2.0 will be brilliant. I'm so pleased google have injected some more momentum into the system.

 

[trick202]

What about Android 2? is that rootable?

No, it isn't.

Why not? How do you know when it's not released yet?

 

[iPhoneMilk]

Thanks for your replies so far guys.


I was reading that there's an App to install that helps out with backing up your Apps to your SD card, Confirm Deny?

How soon do you think it would be for themes to show up for android 2?

Keep in mind all of my questions are for android 2.0 because the phone i'm thinking about getting is the Moto Droid.

 

[trick202]

Again - try not to think of it as android 2. It's just android with tweaks, so everything will still work as will previous versions..........

Android 2.0 add some extra functionality to the standard 1.6: multiple gmail accounts etc

 

[iPhoneMilk]

Ok great!,

any other tips or useful information that you can give me where Android has a "One up" on the iPhone OS?

 

[trick202]

It doesn't make you look like a homo?

 

[sergey]

Hey everyone, I have a ton of questions.

I'm a gadget lover, not an iPhone "fanboy" Though I have stuck with the iPhone for all 3 verisions now, and currently hold a 3Gs, this is only due to the fact that i love gadgets and the iPhone has been the best choice up till what i THINK is now, the new Android 2.0 direction is looking great, and the Droid phone has great hardware features...

Same situation, except the 3GS is my first iPhone.

What's the rush? I'd wait until it's released, reviewed and everybody here has given some real-world input on it. Then go try out the different phones before making a decision.

And Sony Ericsson may make an announcement regarding its android phone: poss. 4in screen, 8mp camera, customized ui, etc on Nov. 4
Sony Ericsson's Android-Based Xperia X3 May Launch Early Next Month

Personally, I'm going to wait until Android is mature and there is a huge user base and lots of apps in the market before it becomes a serious contender for my money. And when the contract ends. I love gadgets, but it's too expensive to switch mid-contract.

 

[kingcobra2010]

Before you buy any phone think long and hard. Do you want a phone that is old tech (iphone) and the only reason you buy it because your friends have one. Or do you want to be the first phone that will impress your friends and will than likely be the standard after people realize its functionality. When the palm pre was released, it was only meant for business persons. The main reason there were complaints because the phone was bought by people who did not need the pre's functionality and expected a iphone feel. Do not get me wrong. Iphone made the scene and they brought a lot to the table. Now, however, they have not progressed & they have locked out possible functionality because of greed. It reminds me when I was a pc guy (ever since I finished with the vic 20 and commodore 64) but then I changed to mac. Win 7 was the last windows operating system I used because it is just crap (even though more people use windows does not mean it is good - mac is definitely better now). I still use xp for some of my older programs. Just like the iphone was good then but now it just does not meet the standard (more like a teenagers phone now). If you are still using the iphone, then your just letting life pass you by. Once the palm pre gets the flash 10 working on the phone, then it will be more of a dual purpose professional/teenager phone. I can see teenagers playing flash games on the pre while also listening to music, looking at flash trailers of movies while there out with there friends to see what they will watch after a test/dinner, etc. I speculate that once flash hits the mobile pda/netbook/phone market, palm pre will surely be the winner. The droid will run flash just like the winmo phones -> very very slow if your multitasking flash. See example YouTube - Palm Pre Flash Player Video. If they used the droid phone to show off flash the same way -> the film would have been laughable (droid does semi multitasking and definitely can not multitask resource hog programs like flash). Droid definitely would have either crashed or your system would start to look like it is in slow mo. If you have a winmo phone you probably know what I mean when i say slow mo. If you want a very good phone, then get a palm pre because in the near future I suspect everyone else will be using the pre if they can weather the misinformation about the phone. PS Do not look at megapixels when you are deciding on your phone pic. 3 vs 5 megapixels when not produce a difference. If you want great pictures then get an slr camera not a camera phone. And if you want great video get an hd camcorder not your phone. Soon palm pre will be able to get vid recording for your youtube pages.

 

[trick202]

Yeahhhhhhhh, not sure I'm going the Palm Pre route. Thanks anyway

 

[kingcobra2010]

not really meant for followers. comment it meant for people that want to be at the for front. But the comment you made lets me know where your at. Thats why we have choices. But I am not going to sit and watch weaker phones try to predominate based solely on their name. Now if you know you had a winner your comment would have been more a challenge than a statement that says I just settle for things because that is what I do.

 

[kingcobra2010]

I suspect that you will try to remove the comment because your scared of debate. Your efforts will lead to a dead end since when I show my palm pre off people will look at their phone and state that their phone can not do that. Remember my statement because when you look back and there is a pre in your hand, you will look back and why you ever supported the other phones.

 

[MarvinAndroid]

Soo.... here we go:

1. Phone Crashes

I have had my G1 since it was first available and I've never had it crash to the point where I lost data. Actually... the worst thing that has happened so far was a spontaneous reboot (once or twice) when I did something strange with application. But the phone just 'rebooted' and was back to normal after that. In the odd case where the phone could crash to the point where you loose data, there isn't any kind of full phone system retore that I've heard of (maybe because there isn't much need for one). There would be some data you would loose in a few applications but most data from applications is stored on your SD card... so the phone could be totally wiped and that data would still be there. And stuff like your Contacts, Calendar, Gmail etc is all stored "in the cloud" not on your phone, so you would never loose that stuff.

I guess you would technically have to re-install apps you had installed to your phone if the thing completely 'crashed' but honestly I don't see how it would simply crash and wipe out your data. I'm actuall kind of surprised to hear that is possible on an I-phone.. that's kind of scary.

2. Open Development

This is one of the coolest things about Android. With a few very rare exceptions.. anybody can make almost any application for an Android phone and some of those apps will actually change the basic functions of the phone (things which Apple would NEVER allow). In my experience.. when there is something that bothers me about the phone.. something that is missing... I do a search and somebody has come up with an application to fix it or add it. One example is SMS Popup. On my standard G1 (out of the box) when I get a text message it puts a little notification in the notifcation bar and flashes the light. That's fine.. it works. BUT... I like the way the iPhone pops up a little box when you get an SMS so you can preview it and see who sent it right at a glance. Well, I took a look and somebody created SMS Popup which does exactly that... and puts a picture of the contact there and gives you buttons so you can reply quickly or dismiss the message. Problem solved... phone improved. It's been on my phone most of the time I've owned it and it's great. Another example is download aHome to add more screens to your desktop etc.

3. Customize the UI

Android gives you a bit more freedom with how you customize your interface. You only have three home screens to start out with.. but you can put apps wherever you want and you can create folders and shortcuts. You have widgets which display information and sometimes change settings quickly etc. You can obviously change the background image easily enough... but if you download "aHome" or "Open Home" you can install full "themes" which will even change your application Icons etc and give you more home screens to flip through (I think with aHome you can have up to 10). You have a lot more freedom out of the box with Android... but once you start downloading apps and widgets.. there is no comparison.. you can do almost anything.

 

[kingcobra2010]

do almost anything except for what others are doing. They said that about winmo but is it doing everything. Nop unless you what it to crash. Actually hardly any phone will cause you to lose data when it crashes. So your point is mute. I am talking about productivity. I worked with one of my associates android phone. It can not do everything. Wait until flash comes out then say it can do what the pre can do with flash. If it could adobe would have already displayed it since the droid os has been out longer. Your phone has not been tested yet but it soon will be. Then you will see your hyped up ballon bust.

 

[trick202]

I suspect that you will try to remove the comment because your scared of debate. Your efforts will lead to a dead end since when I show my palm pre off people will look at their phone and state that their phone can not do that. Remember my statement because when you look back and there is a pre in your hand, you will look back and why you ever supported the other phones.

I'm on an Android forum. I have an Android phone. I'm happy with it, it does what I need it to.

I'm not on a Palm Pre forum telling people "resistance is futile, you will be assimilated".

Strangely (rightly or wrongly, I don't know) I have not considered, been excited by, or wanted the Palm Pre. I could go and get one this very afternoon if I wanted one, but I'm just so indifferent about it, I'll stick with what works for me thanks.

I'm not closed off, I'm just content. As for you? I dunno. What's it like on your planet?

oh, and it's "moot", not "mute".

 

[kingcobra2010]

Please do not send me a link that shows the droid opening one flash program with nothing else running in the background. I have already seen that video. Even then you can see the droid stuttering to render the flash. Flash owns the multimedia on the net. So it is surely a big deal if you truely want a net phone. Note that the palm pre has 3 flash apps running.

 

[trick202]

I think I speak for everyone when I say that we are really, honestly happy for you that you like your Pre (If you even have one).

We quite like Android devices over here on androidforums.com - go figure!

We don't bash the pre, many people on here have had one/tried one.

 

[kingcobra2010]

I am very happy with my phone but I am not happy with palm for the way they have handled the situation. They are a smaller company that has been pushed around by bigger companies that have a significantly inferior product. You are content because you do not push the limits. You remind of the iphone people or people who use windows now. I look for the best phone but you look to be content so that you do not have to learn something new. Leaders will change for the better. Followers stay with what they have and never push the limits. I was a windows person for years (ever since 286 pcs) and I was content for what it could do but I played with the mac. it was different but it was better/ stable/ faster. Let me guess you probably have a pc as well.

 

[MarvinAndroid]

Please do not send me a link that shows the droid opening one flash program with nothing else running in the background. I have already seen that video. Even then you can see the droid stuttering to render the flash. Flash owns the multimedia on the net. So it is surely a big deal if you truely want a net phone. Note that the palm pre has 3 flash apps running.

Flash 10 isn't even completed or released for the Droid yet.. it's due to come out early next year. So we can't really talk about Flash between the two devices yet. Any video you might have seen must have been on early hardware and early software.. so it's not a very reliable source. Secondly... the Droid runs on an equal processor to the Pre and also has other hardware to offload some of the burden... so from a raw power point of view the phones are on fairly equal ground. Android multitasks VERY well and I've never had a problem with having several apps open at the same time. I can do it on my G1 and it might slow the phone down afer a while, but the G1 is also only the first in a long line of Android phones and the Droid is a major leap beyond that. I'm sure it will do fine.

I think the Pre is a nice device and I was actually considering buying it at one time... but Android is more interesting to me. I like the fact that Android is a more open system, more people are developing apps for it... it just fits my needs and desires and frankly the Pre doesn't. Sorry if this is harsh but your comments seem a bit out of place here and you are coming across as obnoxious and uninformed.

 

[trick202]

I have both to be honest.

I've had an iPhone, a symbian device, a winmo phone and now an Android phone. I'm happy for the moment, but lets see.

As for leaders.....that would be the iPhone right? And followers? Well, come on Palm, you're lagging behind by some distance.

It amuses me that you found openness and cutting edges on a mac. Why not linux?

I'll just sit here and wait for your next serving of tripe (oh, and not have to learn anything new)

The point is: you're happy with what you have, we're happy with what we have. The OP wanted advice on Android coming from iPhone.

Why are you trolling?

 

[kingcobra2010]

Actually I have played with ubuntu. It is not good. Do you use linux or are you stating something just to state something. Second off about processors. I will put this in simple terms windows and mac have the same processor. Mac shuts down faster, loads programs faster, and shuts down faster with everything equal ->hdd, ram, vid card. Because the operating system is steamlined. Speed is dependent on the operating system. That is why you can run cloud os and google os on the old pent m systems without a problem. Get the facts straight. Actually flash is out and has been out but it is in developers hand because they can not get it to run any many phone (winmo and droid) without causing excessive lag and battery drain with multiple apps open. Guess what is the only phone that can run the flash 10 and 10.1 without difficulty -> palm pre. How misinformed are you guys

 

[daytona]

i may be new to this forum, but it's clear that kingcobra2010 is hijacking this thread, and not offering relevant advice about switching from iphone to android.

kingcobra2010 - if you're that adamant about the pre, start a new thread about it. your advice just isnt relevant here. fwiw, Gizmodo thinks Palm has already lost:
How Palm Lost (Like Apple in the '80s) - Palm pre - Gizmodo