Ditching apple.. info needed

bornintheuk · Mar 10, 2013

So i've had an iphone for so long i can't remember and i'm frankly bored with the stock ios and lack of anything big happening. The iphone 5 is in my opnion a let down with ios6 on iphone 4/4s theres nothing stand out on the iphone 5 certainly not to justify the price.

So i'm looking at getting a Galaxy.. probably the S3.. One big thing for me is when i jailbreak an iphone almost all of the features are included as standard in a galaxy phone.

1. I do like though is to get quick reply for sms.. is there a recommended app that gives me this on android?

2. I also like to use my own tones rather than stock tones.. is there an app for this?

3. different wallpapers on the "Lockscreen" and the "app screen" can this be done? in addition to this all my wallpapers are naturally edited for iphone 4 screen size.. will these fit an s3?

4. Whats the best way to back up an android phone? icloud on iphone is easy and 9 times out of 10 you always get all pics, apps, contacts etc back even after updates etc

And generally any other hints.. recommended downloads.. advantages etc.. should be getting a new phone a few weeks or so.

El Presidente · Mar 10, 2013

Eyup bornintheuk, welcome to AF!

1. The SGS3 might have a quick reply option in the stock SMS app. Failing that, I use Sliding Messaging and that has a quick reply function. If you like the stock app, but just want a quick reply option, take a look at SMS Popup

2. You don't need an app, just put a folder called "Ringtones" or "Notifications" on your SD Card, put your tones in either and the tones will pop up in their respective lists when you go to set tones.

3. Yep, Widgetlocker will do this, but if you don't want to pay for the functionality, holo locker might do it. I use this and it does the job on my Nexus 7.

4. There's an app called Carbon Backup which will backup apps, settings etc. Your contacts can be backed up to your Google Account and for SMS, there are plenty of SMS Backup and Restore apps on Play.

Re. your other questions, what do you intend on doing with your phone? Music, Games, videos etc?

If you want some phone specific advice, head to our SGS3 forum here: Samsung Galaxy S3 - Android Forums

Hope that helps.

ardchoille · Mar 10, 2013

#4: Android syncs much of the phone content to your google/gmail account (calendar, apps, contacts, gmail, etc.). Once you're on an Android phone, download the Google Drive app and your files will also be sync'd. If you're an rss fanatic like me, download the Google Reader app and your news feeds will sync too. If you use the Chrome web browser on Android, your bookmarks and other items will sync as well, and you can share bookmarks between Chrome for Android and Chrome for desktop.

These items stay sync'd so you don't have to worry about manually sync'ing anything.

I was on Apple products for a year and switched back to Android last month. Welcome to the dark side

bornintheuk · Mar 10, 2013

Wow thanks for the fast repy and the links to apps, i've bookmarked those ready so i can get them and start playing straight away. Must say its so much easier having this level of customisation from the play store rather than like apple having to jailbreak to get it.

I use the phone for music, videos and social networking.. thought with a better screensize than im used to i feel games may start getting used a lot more. lol.

Ive also been linked to this Kies Samsung which apparantly uses my current itunes backup?

DragonSlayer95 · Mar 10, 2013

1. I do like though is to get quick reply for sms.. is there a recommended app that gives me this on android?

completely stock, no, but you can load on go sms pro which gives you a pop up reply box. If your interested in rooting (ios jailbreak), some custom roms have this option without loading a 3rd party sms app.

2. I also like to use my own tones rather than stock tones.. is there an app for this?

Yes, once you find the right app, and go to ring tone selection, it'll give you 2 options "media storage" which is stock ring tones. And "file manager" which allows you to pick your custom ringtone

3. different wallpapers on the "Lockscreen" and the "app screen" can this be done? in addition to this all my wallpapers are naturally edited for iphone 4 screen size.. will these fit an s3?

different for lock and home yes, also with some resizing it is possible

4. Whats the best way to back up an android phone? icloud on iphone is easy and 9 times out of 10 you always get all pics, apps, contacts etc back even after updates etc

if an OTA update, your phone won't get wiped, otherwise the cloud is a good way to back up. An app called "my backup" let's you back up everything from texts, contacts, apps (without app data unless your rooted) and so on to your sd card to their online server.

Hope this helps you out.

Welcome to android forums

ardchoille · Mar 10, 2013

bornintheuk said:
Wow thanks for the fast repy and the links to apps, i've bookmarked those ready so i can get them and start playing straight away. Must say its so much easier having this level of customisation from the play store rather than like apple having to jailbreak to get it.

I use the phone for music, videos and social networking.. thought with a better screensize than im used to i feel games may start getting used a lot more. lol.

Ive also been linked to this Kies Samsung which apparantly uses my current itunes backup?

After being on an iPhone, you're going to love the screen size of the Galaxy S3

ardchoille · Mar 10, 2013

Gotta love this community! Within 15 minutes of posting the OP, several people jumped in with some very informative posts

bornintheuk · Mar 10, 2013

thank you guys, i've bookmarked the recommended apps ready for ordering the new phone. I am very impressed with the level of customisation and the options available through the play store.

I admit i never thought i'd leave apple but i feel very underwhelmed by the iphone5 and the stock ios is dull an stale.

DragonSlayer95 · Mar 10, 2013

bornintheuk said:
thank you guys, i've bookmarked the recommended apps ready for ordering the new phone. I am very impressed with the level of customisation and the options available through the play store.

I admit i never thought i'd leave apple but i feel very underwhelmed by the iphone5 and the stock ios is dull an stale.

Granted I've never owned an apple product, I've heard how bland and very little customizable ios is, couldn't imagine choosing them over android.

Glad your making the switch

Being an s3 owner myself, I'm pretty sure you'll enjoy your new toy

ardchoille · Mar 10, 2013

bornintheuk said:
thank you guys, i've bookmarked the recommended apps ready for ordering the new phone. I am very impressed with the level of customisation and the options available through the play store.

I admit i never thought i'd leave apple but i feel very underwhelmed by the iphone5 and the stock ios is dull an stale.

Another thing you should check out in the play store is launchers. There are several and each one brings the ability to heavily customize your home screen. The word "boring" is one thing you'll probably never hear about Android.

DragonSlayer95 · Mar 10, 2013

ardchoille said:
Another thing you should check out in the play store is launchers. There are several and each one brings the ability to heavily customize your home screen. The word "boring" is one thing you'll probably never hear about Android.

+1

Until I got my s3, I never was a fan of touchwiz, but the tw weather widget is just sweet

bornintheuk · Mar 10, 2013

ardchoille said:
After being on an iPhone, you're going to love the screen size of the Galaxy S3

Yes i picked up a friends s3 and checked out speed and a few basic features.. picked up my iphone 4 and felt a bit.. "oh.. is that it.." lol

DragonSlayer95 said:
Granted I've never owned an apple product, I've heard how bland and very little customizable ios is, couldn't imagine choosing them over android.

Glad your making the switch

Being an s3 owner myself, I'm pretty sure you'll enjoy your new toy

I'm looking forward to making the change.. upgrade due in 2 weeks and can't come fast enough. theres basically no customisation on IOS unless you jailbreak. which i do all the time as i hate the dull stock ios.

DragonSlayer95 · Mar 10, 2013

bornintheuk said:
Yes i picked up a friends s3 and checked out speed and a few basic features.. picked up my iphone 4 and felt a bit.. "oh.. is that it.." lol

:rofl: iphone just felt so tiny afterwards huh?

I'm looking forward to making the change.. upgrade due in 2 weeks and can't come fast enough. theres basically no customisation on IOS unless you jailbreak. which i do all the time as i hate the dull stock ios.

You can customize android in nearly any way without root.

Once you root, the possibilities are endless

bornintheuk · Mar 10, 2013

DragonSlayer95 said:
+1

Until I got my s3, I never was a fan of touchwiz, but the tw weather widget is just sweet

DragonSlayer95 said:
:rofl: iphone just felt so tiny afterwards huh?

It really did! and it was insanely slow compared to the S3.. very much give me food for thought! Started doing some serious research certainly my apple die hard nature died a death lol.. apple release fast with little change but by god you pay over the odds for it!

Bnice · Mar 10, 2013

Give yourself time to learn how to navigate around the os, Android is not like ios with one home button, Android phones have 3 to 4 capacitive buttons.

bornintheuk · Mar 11, 2013

Recoil1 said:
This ^^^

It takes about 3 weeks to really unlearn the way the Iphone does things and relearn the way android does them. Since you have been on the Iphone for so long most functions have become second nature and hopping to a new system will take a little time to adapt.

It usually starts out the first couple weeks like why doesn't the S3 do it this way but after getting use to how android arranges thing and getting you mind wrapped around the thought process around week 4 you will be asking yourself why didn't apple do it this way?

Just be patient as you learn the new way to do things with your android phone and you will be rewarded with an intuitive, powerfull and customizable experiance.

I played with an S3 in the shop today noticed a few different ways of navigating. I prefer this over the Iphone one touch.. my iphone 4 the home button is dead i currently use a jailbreak tweak to get around it.. I dont think apple realise with only the one button control it takes very heavy use and breaks easy.

Checked out the titanium and white S3 and i like them both.. not long to go and not to sound like a petulant child or anything.. but i want it now! lol!

Stayfly2407 · Mar 11, 2013

I just sold my iPhone 5, I'll be picking up a GS4!

novox77 · Mar 11, 2013

One of my fav features of Android is the ability to mount the phone as a USB storage device simply by plugging it in to your computer via USB. then you can copy music, photos, videos, or whatever, and when you're done and unplug, Android finds it all automatically. If you're comfortable with using a file system, Android will be a cinch.

iPhone is a phone that has some computer-like qualities. An Android device is a computer that also makes phone calls.

I find the biggest UX difference between iOS and Android is that Android tends to rely a LOT more on the long-press event. It is the equivalent of a right-click on a PC. Many things can be long-pressed, and you'll find a lot of functionality under that event.

bornintheuk · Mar 11, 2013

novox77 said:
One of my fav features of Android is the ability to mount the phone as a USB storage device simply by plugging it in to your computer via USB. then you can copy music, photos, videos, or whatever, and when you're done and unplug, Android finds it all automatically. If you're comfortable with using a file system, Android will be a cinch.

iPhone is a phone that has some computer-like qualities. An Android device is a computer that also makes phone calls.

I find the biggest UX difference between iOS and Android is that Android tends to rely a LOT more on the long-press event. It is the equivalent of a right-click on a PC. Many things can be long-pressed, and you'll find a lot of functionality under that event.

I'm very comfortable with usb storage on a computer dragging and dropping to move files around etc, going to make a point of putting all photos etc on my laptop so i can drag and drop to phone when i get it. My ringtons/sms tones i may need to convert back to mp3 as there all set for iphone at the min. But thats easy done. I can't wait to start playing around.

bornintheuk · Mar 11, 2013

Also i've found a website selling Micro SD cards that have the android logo beside them. There San Disk Class-10-UHS-1-30MB_s Are theses safe to buy if i wanted to order one now before the phone arrives so i can start putting pictures and music on it? and creating a notifications folder.

Bnice · Mar 11, 2013

Well you might want to wait a little longer before you purchase the s3, the s4 will be announce on 3/14/13. Just something to consider.

http://androidandme.com/2013/03/sma...lip-brings-us-one-step-closer-to-the-big-day/

bornintheuk · Mar 12, 2013

Bnice said:
Well you might want to wait a little longer before you purchase the s3, the s4 will be announce on 3/14/13. Just something to consider.

New Samsung Galaxy S IV teaser clip brings us one step closer to ‘the big day’ | Android and Me

I did think I that but it means waiting til prob June or July and the financial cost of a new top of the range phone might be to much. The S3 I can easily afford and it's a big step up from an iphone4. Upgrade can't come soon enough really fallen out with iPhone. Lol. Gonna order a 32gig sd card to get photos and musi ready in advance. So just contacts to transfer from iPhone to s3

ryancmatchett · Mar 12, 2013

Good luck and you should be happy with your choice...
I wonder if the S3 will be reduced in price as the S4 gets nearer to release?
Also about the contacts.. Make sure to upload all your contacts into your Gmail account ahead of time, they will automatically be available on your new phone when you sign into it. Best way that I have found to store and to keep safe all my contacts!
Have fun and glad to see you moving up!

Shocky · Mar 12, 2013

Should have wait for the S4.

Or considered the HTC One, Droid DNA or Xperia Z.

bornintheuk · Mar 12, 2013

ryancmatchett said:
Good luck and you should be happy with your choice...
I wonder if the S3 will be reduced in price as the S4 gets nearer to release?
Also about the contacts.. Make sure to upload all your contacts into your Gmail account ahead of time, they will automatically be available on your new phone when you sign into it. Best way that I have found to store and to keep safe all my contacts!
Have fun and glad to see you moving up!

Just finished setting up a new gmail and ordered an SD card getting prepared. Thanks!

Ditching apple.. info needed

Well-Known Member

Beware The Milky Pirate!

Android Expert

Well-Known Member

Resident Air Bender

Android Expert

Android Expert

Well-Known Member

Resident Air Bender

Android Expert

Resident Air Bender

Well-Known Member

Resident Air Bender

Well-Known Member

Bnice

Guest

Well-Known Member

Lurker

Leeeroy Jennnkinnns!

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Bnice

Guest

Well-Known Member

Android Expert

Android Expert

Well-Known Member

BEST TECH IN 2023

Smartphones

Best Android Phones

Upcoming

Best iPhones

Upcoming

Tablets

Best Tablets

Upcoming

Laptops

Best Laptops

Upcoming

Televisions

Best TVs

Upcoming

Game Consoles

Best Game Consoles

Upcoming

Wearables

Best Wearables

Upcoming

Smart Home

Smart Home Tech

Upcoming

Similar threads