Google chairman Eric Schmidt took to his Google+ page this weekend, laying out the basic guidelines for any iOS user making the switch to Android. The process might seem daunting at first, given a certain level of investment one might have in an ecosystem, but Schmidt relates the switch to the same people that went from PC to Mac years ago – once you go Mac, you don’t go back. As a little poke at Apple, Schmidt also references the latest data, that Google’s Android OS controls 80% of the world’s smartphone market. It’s quite the stat, so he wants to make sure that converts are in for a smooth transition to Android.
With steps clearly spelled out, setting up a stock Android device has never been easier. Simply log in to a WiFi point or connect to your cell network, add a Google account you already have or sign up for one, download any apps you’d like, update to the latest version of Android, and you are off to the races. Schmidt also dives into making sure you have all of your contacts and music as well, which most people are mainly concerned with – people don’t want to lose all of their valuable media in the switch.
Schmidt name dropped a few of the best Android phones that would make great holiday gifts for any tech lover, such as the Galaxy S4, Droid Ultra and of course, Google’s own Nexus 5.
Oh, that Eric Schmidt. Such a nice guy.
“once you go Mac, you don’t go back”
Incorrect, I and many people regularly switch between OSX, Windows, and Linux. Restricting yourself to one is dumb.
Very handy. I’m getting my Mom a Moto X and she’s worried about losing her contacts. I’ll follow these steps when setting up her phone.
“…download in the Google Play Store all the applications you normally use (for example, Instagram)”
For this, Sir Eric Schmidt, I present to you, the internet.
The most important step on there is turning off imessage before you switch. If you don’t, you’ll never get any texts from anyone with an iphone. If you forget to turn it off and sell or get rid of your iphone, Apple won’t do anything to fix it. You’re basically screwed for a month until it times out on Apple’s servers. My wife just switched from an iphone 4 to the Moto X, and even though she turned imessage off, several of her friend’s iphones still try to send her imessages instead of SMS. It’s annoying as hell and Apple has no way(or desire) to fix it.
More like desire unless they somehow get iMessage on android but thats like saying pigs will fly
You have to turn off iMessage AND FaceTime. Turning off iMessage lane won’t dove the issue if FaceTime is still activated using your number. Once you turn off both, you will immediately gets texts to your new Android phone.
I’m pretty sure we turned facetime off too, but I’ll double check tonight. What’s strange is it’s only certain people’s iphones that are still trying to use imessage to communicate with her, most have switched to sms. Maybe each iphone has to periodically check in with apple to see which of their contacts has imessage and some haven’t yet?
I like how he says in step 1,b to make sure you’re on the latest version, 4.3 or 4.4. What world is he living in? Like it’s that easy to hit “Update” and get the latest version. Oh wait, that’s Apple that makes it that easy.
My brother made the switch recently (after years of him being anti-android). He asked me if there is a way to transfer his itunes (including playlists) to his android. I have no clue, since I don’t use itunes. Does anyone know of way?
Google Music Manager
https://support.google.com/googleplay/answer/1229970?hl=en
It is really simple.
If he has copy protected media then he might want to get the DRM-free versions of his songs. I wrote about this here: http://www.droid-life.com/2012/11/13/the-nightmare-of-maintaining-your-music-library/
Why not mention the LG G2?
Ultra? Was he high when he wrote this? Moto X blows Ultra away. It’s not even close.
Does everything that the X does, plus a bigger screen. So, how does the X blow it away?
actually it does more than the x. such as that pic sharing and the cool circle widget. screen size is relative to the person deciding to buy. bigger screen with same resolution equals not as good. but it is bigger. which means it doesnt fit in the hand as good. the droid also has more bloat. so not as good. but it does have full kevlar. which makes it better. or does it?
i guess each has their pros and cons. most of which is subjective. or is that objective. so why does it really matter to the op at all? at least he gave kudos to moto. just surprised it isnt their flagship x that he referenced.
Bigger screen equals less pixel density
No extra bloat
Better in hand feel
Customizable
Has 4.4!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Better design
Got mine for $49
Has a developer edition available (don’t have it, but that’s a plus)
Available on every carrier (so you can be matchy-matchy with your ol lady)
So no, the ultra doesn’t even come close.
I’m surprised that he did not mention the Moto X.
Totally! I was giving someone a lesson on the Moto X just yesterday. This person had an iphone and was looking towards a new phone. He loved the way it felt and looked and loved the bigger screen than the iphone. Then I showed him the battery life I had left, that was a shocker to him. Now he’s questioning me on different functions….in other words, he’s really interested now.
80% of the market. Very impressive. IPhone free, never have never will
The font for this site and the pictures are way TOO big. I think whoever designed it, is someone in a convalescent home, and needs to update their eye glass prescription. The site is very hard to read now and not convenient.
The site reminds of something like going from Android to iOS. You go backwards with the OS look, and features.
Yea, the site is scaling to different screen sizes. Since it’s doing that, it takes forever for the large picture previews to load too.
The new site is made by someone who has the worst vision in the world! I do not understand the need for font that is the size of Texas. It makes it really hard to quickly scan articles anymore.
i think i broke my finger using the scroll wheel so much
Agreed. If I resize my browser window to 4″ across it’s fine though, lol
Hold control and scroll wheel down till the size is small enough for you. I had to do like 4-5 clicks
The site looks perfectly fine to me, but I’m on a 27″ iMac with a 2560×1440 resolution if that makes any difference. 🙂
Step 1: place iphone directly in toilet
Step 2: buy an android
Step 3: profit
You forgot the requisite step 1.5: Build a log cabin on top of said iPhone.
Ha this made me lol for real…. You are killing me man.
You are a d*ck to toilets
#CinemaSins
One of my favorite Youtube channels of all time. Props.
*Step 1: sell iPhone for cost of nexus 5
Take note, Ron
мʏ вɛѕт ғʀιɛɴɖ’ѕ мօтнɛʀ-ιɴ-ʟαա мαĸɛѕ $75 αɴ нօυʀ օɴ тнɛ ʟαքтօք. ѕнɛ нαѕ вɛɛɴ υɴɛмքʟօʏɛɖ ғօʀ ɴιɴɛ мօɴтнѕ вυт ʟαѕт мօɴтн нɛʀ ιɴƈօмɛ աαѕ $12595 ʝυѕт աօʀĸιɴɢ օɴ тнɛ ʟαքтօք ғօʀ α ғɛա нօυʀѕ. ʏօυ ƈօυʟɖ тʀʏ нɛʀɛ fox200.com
Step one should be “If all you use your phone for is selfies, don’t switch”
Eric Schmidt is the biggest troll and its hilarious.
droid ultra?! that piece of 16 gb internal only, glossy back crap!
Droid Ultra??? Maxx, X or gtfo
Funny how Disqus thinks “5 up | 0 down” is better than “8 up | 1 down”. No offense rthvk!
100% positive versus 87.5% positive. I think Disqus is right. No offense rthvk!
Makes sense, I stand corrected.
How did I get to bgr.com ????