How to switch from an iPhone to an Android phone-PC Magazine

With dozens of slick Android smartphones on the market, it is understandable why you want to leave a iPhone. Here is how you do it right.

Had enough of AT&T's coverage problems, and not to want to buy the same mobile phone twice? Allow us to help with that.

Two years ago, we would have been hard pressed to come up with reasons for an iPhone owner to switch to Android. It is no longer a problem thanks to the introduction of super-fast 4 G phones, high-resolution 4.3-inch screens, free GPS navigation and the Android market expansion.

Whether you are considering making the jump or have already pulled the trigger, here is a guide to ensure that the transition from iOS to Android OS goes smoothly:

Basic features

Go into an advanced phone. We review dozens of Android handsets across the Board; some of the forecast models are actually quite good now. But trust us; If you come from a slick iPhone, will you want to feel like you upgraded. Go to a 4-inch or 4.3-inch LCD, a 1 GHz or higher processor and a high resolution monitor. Get a 4 G phone, if possible, and without a doubt, to ensure that it is running at least Android 2.2. There is a dramatic difference in the feel and responsiveness of us, say, an EON LG ally and a high-end Samsung Galaxy S 4 G. Although it is $ 50 or $ 100 be amended more up front, that works out to chump over two years smartphone contract. HTC Inspire 4 G on AT&T, Samsung Galaxy S 4 G for T-Mobile, HTC EVO 4 G for Sprint and Verizon Motorola Droid X on are all great choices.

Change your boot screen paradigm. On Android is unlike the iPhone, it's about how you created your screen home. Not just stick with the default icons: install your favorite applications and useful widgets, and set the layout using multiple home screens you can a swipe between. Don't miss the four buttons along the bottom of the screen: the home page and menu buttons are, in particular, your friends, and help to clarify the almost any confusing situation on the screen itself.

Move your data in the cloud. Some of the best properties are Androids its various over-the-air sync settings for Google contacts, calendars, and e-mail. Many Android units you can combine Facebook, Twitter and Microsoft Exchange contacts with your phone's built-in address book. While there are ways to synchronize the local Microsoft Outlook data with an Android phone, the cumbersome and often unreliable.

See drain battery. Android is notorious for its poor standby battery life; most owners find it even worse than the iPhone. You extend the battery life, turn off the GPS and Wi-Fi when you're not using them. importantly, reduce or disable background polling for Facebook, Twitter and different e-mail accounts. You can always run a manual synchronization with a single button press with a moment's notice. (See also our detailed guide to improve your Android phone battery life.)

Synchronize your media the right way. With the iPhone, it is about iTunes. On Android, you have several options, including swapping microSD memory cards, wireless synchronization with double Twist, and dragging and dropping files directly via USB. No one is really superior; it comes down to personal preference. If you have lots of songs in your iTunes music library, you need to upgrade them to iTunes Plus (unprotected) in order to play them on your Android phone.

Enjoy Android Apps

The Google Voice decision. Google Voice, you can manage as many phones as you want from a central number. You can make and receive calls from within Gmail, manage your text messages and voice mail on your PC and block individual numbers from calling you. If you have an Android device, you can load the Google Voice app that integrates directly with us and you can make calls using your Google Voice number as caller id. There are some problems, latency, but. (Read our comprehensive guide about setting up and using Google Voice for more information).

Free Google Maps GPS Navigation. Any phone with GPS and Google Maps can direct you around on foot, or the on-screen step-by-step directions, as a passenger could read you in the car. But Android phones goes a step further and can serve as actual, voice-enabled, turn-by-turn navigation devices. Google Maps Navigation provides even features is missing many standalone GPS devices as an animated satellite view, photo realistic Street views of destinations and a flexible voice input mode, who understand complex instructions like "go to the museum with the Picasso exhibition in San Francisco."

Try to speak with your phone. Seen as navigation app is not the only ones who understand the voting instructions; You can also run voice searches in Android. Download Voice app from the Android market actions; It allows you to send text messages, Cue up tracks, call the contact persons or companies and created e-mail messages by using your voice.

Head to the market. You can now browse the Android market on market.android.com in a Web browser, as well as on the phone. You will find that most of the iOS apps have Android equivalents, except for Netflix, Hulu, iMovie and many games. Try Gamelofts site on gameloft.com for big game. Have taken note of the various adaptation apps.inf; You have much more room for manoeuvre in an amendment to the US, than you do with an iPhone, including the installation of alternative keyboards like Swype. You can also do things Apple would never approve of, such as download and install retro game console emulators.

About Android? Ready to move to an iPhone? Control how to Switch from an Android phone for the iPhone.

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