I’ve a confession, of types. For the previous a number of years, I’ve largely been an Android and Home windows person. Home windows and Android are nice working methods that compete fairly properly in opposition to Apple’s Mac OS for computer systems and iOS for telephones. However, as a tech journalist and CEO of an web security group that serves all system customers, I bought somewhat bit rusty when it got here to the Apple ecosystem. It wasn’t all the time this manner. For a few years, I used to be primarily a Mac person. I’ve all the time had an iPhone. It’s simply that the one I had was getting a bit outdated.
About two weeks in the past, I made a decision to repair this by buying a number of Apple merchandise. I began with an Apple iPhone 16 Professional Max. It doesn’t work with my Google Pixel 3 watch, so I purchased an Apple Watch Collection 10. And, though my Pixel Earbuds do work with the iPhone, I nonetheless purchased an Apple AirPod 2 Professional, partially to check out the hearing-aid operate, which would be the topic of a future column. Lastly, after realizing my outdated MacBook Air was too outdated to help the newest model of Mac OS, I purchased a refurbished 512 GB Mac Mini. Though I don’t personal each Apple product, I now have a cross part of their newest choices.
Studying curve and trade-offs
Every time one switches platforms, there’s all the time a studying curve. When you’re making an attempt to get used to a brand new system, there’s typically a interval while you want you hadn’t switched. Within the broad scheme of issues, Android and iOS are fairly related as are Home windows and Mac. However the variations within the person interfaces are simply sufficient to confuse you for some time.
There are additionally commerce offs on the subject of options. Though the iPhone and different Apple merchandise have options that could be missing in Android and Home windows, Apple merchandise don’t have some options that I’ve gotten used to within the different platforms.
For instance, Android has a constant option to transfer again both inside an app or from an app to the house display by swiping to the appropriate. If you wish to make the interface even easier, you may activate “3-button navigation” and all the time have “Go Back,” “Home” and “Switch Apps” buttons on the underside of your display.
iOS has a few of these options. Like Android, you may swipe as much as go dwelling and up and left or proper to modify apps, however there is no such thing as a common option to again out of issues. Typically swiping to the appropriate takes you again, however typically it doesn’t. Some apps have an arrow key to take you again, however it might be on high of the display or on the underside. Others have an X on the display to shut that window and take you again. Others have the phrase “Done.” Typically it’s apparent the right way to shut a window and return. At different occasions, I’ve to hunt round to determine it out. Over time, it’s getting simpler, however in contrast with Android, it’s cumbersome, which is odd contemplating the Apple Mac is understood for its ease of use and constant person interface.
One other factor that I discover barely annoying is having to click on on an icon on the house display to get to iPhone settings. You are able to do that with Android, however you too can swipe down from the highest to get to a management panel that features a hyperlink for Settings together with an influence button that allows you to energy off or restart along with different choices. iOS makes it fairly simple to show off your telephone, however to restart with out powering down, you need to shortly press up quantity, then down quantity after which maintain the aspect button for a really very long time. I suppose Apple doesn’t need you to restart.
iPhone additionally has a management panel you entry by swiping diagonally down from the highest proper, however it doesn’t provide a restart button or a settings button, although I like you can swipe up in that management panel to see a option to shortly management or cease any audio that’s enjoying.
Closing apps
Apple has stated there’s no motive to shut apps as a result of they don’t take any system assets, however I typically discover it annoying to have too many apps open as a result of it means having to scroll by means of all of them if I wish to swap apps. Android has a “close all” choice that I typically use to shut all my open apps. To try this on iOS, I’ve to swipe up on every one. I’ve since discovered that it’s simpler simply to return to the house display or the app library and re-click on the app icon.
Many joyful iOS customers
I’m certain there are many joyful iPhone customers questioning why I’m complaining a couple of system that they discover simple to make use of. The actual fact is that the best to make use of system is all the time the one , and I’m certain lots of iOS customers would complain in the event that they all of a sudden switched to Android. I spoke with one iPhone person who didn’t even know what I used to be speaking about till he appeared intently at his apps.
What I’m loving about iPhone
Regardless of my complaints, I’m having fun with the iPhone. It has an magnificence and a smoothness to it that begins with the lock display and carries by means of to all features of the person interface. It has extra respect for customers’ privateness and safety, equivalent to requiring all apps to ask permission earlier than they will monitor you. Even the PIN you sort to log-in is safer — six digits as a substitute of 4 — however it’s additionally extra annoying to have to make use of a six-digit PIN. While you use Google Pay on an Android, you merely put your telephone subsequent to the terminal. Apple requires you to double-click the aspect button. Once more, it’s safer however somewhat extra time consuming. Nonetheless, these could also be good trade-offs to extend safety.
There are some issues I’m loving equivalent to how simple it’s to show a telephone name right into a Facetime video from inside the telephone app. I want Facetime have been obtainable on Android, however it’s frequent for Apple to limit its apps to its merchandise whereas Google, Meta and most different corporations make apps for each platforms.
Simply as I admire Google’s ecosystem that features a watch, earbuds and a system to search out your different Google gadgets, I like that Apple additionally has its ecosystem, although once more, I want the 2 fashionable cell working methods would help the opposite’s equipment. I’m additionally loving AirTags and the actual fact you should purchase cheap third-party tags that work with Apple’s Discover My App and that each iOS system on the planet may help you discover an AirTagged merchandise that you’ll have misplaced. Google not too long ago launched its model of that, however there aren’t sufficient Android telephones within the U.S. to reliably assist you to discover a lacking system.
I additionally like the feel and appear of the Apple Watch, however I do have some complaints when evaluating its health options with the Google Pixel Watch 3, however that, plus recommendations on the right way to get round these limitations, would be the topic of a future column.
$3 and seven days to switch Clipper card
There was one problem that I didn’t anticipate. I had earlier transferred my Clipper card for Bay Space trains and buses from a bodily card to my Android telephone, however to switch it from Android to iPhone (or vice versa), I needed to pay a $3 price and wait as much as seven days for the bodily card to reach so I can then switch it to the iPhone. That strikes me as an annoying and pointless course of. The least they might have accomplished was waive that $3 “lost card” cost.
In the interim a minimum of, I’m leaving my Android telephone, watch and earbuds at dwelling and taking my iPhone with me after I’m on the go. However my Pixel telephone stays totally charged on its stand on my desk, prepared to make use of at any second together with the Pixel Watch and earbuds. I’ve sufficient like to go round.
Larry Magid is a tech journalist and web security activist. Contact him at larry@larrymagid.com.
