Introduction, I have been a long time iPhone user. In general, I have been a long time Apple user. I have a iPhones iPads iPods MacBooks an Apple Watch is. I have had AirPods, and in general I am more of the Apple world
I started playing around with android, seeing how accessible it would be. And some posts on this website, you would’ve seen me say. Oh android is good. You just need to get used to it.
But is it really that good now,?
Here are the good things and bad things of android and iOS.
The good about android.
I can use text to speech engines that aren’t on iOS like our age, voice for English and a cappella
Some phones still have to fingerprint sensor, Apple completely dropped it, except on the iPhone SE, mid range models of phones
Some phones have the headphones Jack, I know the ASOS rug seven and are 0G7 ultimate have a headphone jack
Good battery, life, android devices have a, good enough, battery life.
Good variety of sounds, android has a good variety of songs to choose from when it comes to ringtones text times and alarms.
Different hardware choices, android have different how do I choices, which may be good for some people as they want to get a more cheaper phone?
Some phone still has expandable storage, remember, SD cards?
The bad things about android.
Talkback is finicky, I can really access to notification centre., The notification centre does pop up sometimes, but most of the time it doesn’t want to show up.
I hate the way new apps are handled, is there a way to make it not be on the bottom of the screen on my Google device?
Some devices of the heat for the simplest of tasks and reasons.
Paul hardware choices, and the good things about android section. I was that how android was good when it comes to hardware choices, but not all hardware choices are good. You can still find a Nokia C. 30 or 32 GB of storage, which isn’t good for today’s day and age.
Google assistant is downright horrid on some phones.
Different shortcuts to enable talk back, talkback didn’t even want to turn on when I was in the store a few days ago testing, android phones
Paul, battery life, and most occasions, and the more expensive finds a better battery life.
More customisable, this might be a good thing for some, but not for all.
Available to be hacked and have malicious code and put on Android devices, because android is such an open sourced operating system android is it a higher as a phone with Internet with your software?
Google applications doesn’t have the same accessibility is that iOS counterparts, for some reason.
Good things about iOS, easy to setup, better, accessibility, features, more cleaner interface, I can use iMessage, iOS, 17 looks to be a good one, more accessible apps, almost never experience, better hardware, good battery, Great hardware choices, big, but not heavy
Bad things about iOS, weird ways. Some home screens are handled, some apps that are accessible on. Android aren’t accessible, can’t change, sunscreen, or synthesiser, like their own choices for synthesises, but there aren’t as many on android is, there is an android like the most in for sizes on android and iOS.
Face ID isn’t good, I don’t like it still, some devices have done like bad battery, Apple purposefully slows down all the devices
By Dominic, 29 August, 2023
Forum
Other Apple Chat
Comments
Pixel 5
I currently rock an old iPhone SE 2nd Gen (2020 model). However, I attempted a Pixel 5 prior to this. There are indeed some nice features about Android in general, though I am still under the belief that whatever works for each person, is 'that' persons best system. Personally Apple owns me because I can never leave the rotor or the customizable gestures on iOS. Now, I realize that Android also has custom gestures.... kinda sorta. And even a rotor-esque feature (Flick down, then up quickly, and vice versa), but it just doesn't compare to IOS's rotor/custom gesture combo.
Thanks for posting the above though, I'm sure it will help give a little insight to anyone thinking of switching from one to the other. 😎📱
Give it time before you decide
Call me jaded if you want but for most things android and iOS really aren't that different, especially if you're using a pixel. Give it a little time, maybe go customize your talkback gestures some kind of way that seems good to you and one thing about android that might be a little weird at first is it really helps to know where all the icons are on the screen. Flicking around works but it's not as easy as you're probably used to with voiceover, there are lots more things to flick through so I'd suggest exploring your screen especially in new apps, it gets easier with time but it was really weird to me at first. I can't really help you with new apps getting put on the bottom of your screen because I'm always using a braille display or Braille screen input so it's faster for me to just open up the search box in my recent apps list and go from there but I bet there's a way to do what you want.
@Dominic
The following link is based off of the Pixel 3, but it might help with the 'new apps on bottom' issue you are experiencing.
Link: https://support.google.com/pixelphone/thread/137539432/how-do-i-remove-the-bar-recently-opened-apps-at-bottom-of-home-screen-pixel-3-android-12?hl=en
To summarize, there should be a setting called 'Home Screen Suggestions', disable this to win. 📱
HTH. 😃
I’m talking about the recently installed apps
The recently installed apps, but I installed it with the bottom of the screen, this happens on all my android devices
I'm going to ask one more time and then I'm going to leave it.
Why do you refuse to look through your posts before posting them?
I understand that on android it's a bit harder to edit but this is a blindness forum where we need to understand what is being said as clearly as possible.
I don't want to get into this again so am only asking once more and will drop it afterward but please try to at least edit your posts because at the moement it says paul instead of pore and there are lodes of little mistakes.
I'm not saying this is your english homework but you need to try at least. I'm telling you man, if you want a job in the future to do with computers and you just use voice to text and don't check your spelling; your boss is more likely to fire you because of these little errors.
I could ask you through email but feel like putting it out here will hopefully stick more than just an email you can delete and throw away.
Anyway, if you're thinking of switching back to the IPhone, I think you need to do it within 30 days of buying it.
As for the bottom row of apps, you might be able to get a launcher that changes that but i've not used android enough to let you know about a good one. I have heard nova launcher is good but you'll have to try it and see for yourself.
I actually find dictation to be a bit better on android, then on
iOS, surprisingly. I don’t know why, it just seems a little bit better on iOS, android, then on iOS.
Thanks for the insight
Thanks for the pro/con list. Why did you get the Pixel phone if you prefer iPhone?
I'd honestly consider getting the Pixel myself, but I love AirTags and my AirPods. And just waiting for the Pixel watch to get better.
Reasoning for getting a pixel phone
I want to the package when it would have both the watch and the phone., And I didn’t want to buy the watch and phone separately. The Google pixel was the only option.
Re: I'm going to ask one more time and I'm going to leave it
@Brad because it's Dominic who will never listen - just check the title of the post, and also because AppleVis doesn't make it a requirement. As far as this very post is concerned, I stopped in the middle because of the frequency of errors and maybe because I have little appetite for yet another hackneyed iOS vs. Android comparison with more substance or flesh.
iOS versus android
Not all of my posts have dictation errors, it’s only like 50% of them. Not to mention touch typing is slow, and I do have a Bluetooth keyboard, but I don’t have compatible batteries. Using a braille display is out of the question, and iOS, everything is going downhill. That’s why I just keep my dictation as it is and click the send button.. Editing iOS is trash, dictation on Google is just a little percent better, and I feel that both android 14 and iOS 17 will be small improvements to access ability. Now, if iOS can just change or allow the way for us to change sound schemes on iPhones, logic, and UnCommentary screen reader on android that would be absolutely incredible. I will take all of my android devices, so on marketplace, eBay or God knows what else, and change my sounds into the windows XP sounds if that was ever an option.. Just imagine, me turning on my device. 00 my goodness! I love windows XP, but if we could also use a Windows 10, Windows 11, android, or, how about, the signs for the Galaxy assistant was assistant! Perfect.
In a perfect world, android is just slowly starting to gain popularity. iOS is 95% of the market yet, and the iPhones are absolutely exploding everywhere. Galaxy phones are still having their very controversial, exploding issues back from 2016, whilst the iPhones are getting fast wireless charging, and given you the option of using it, more synthesises and sound schemes. Android phones are waiting sick and are going beyond 6.9 inches at this point.. iPhone, still has the headphone jack, the mechanical home button and micro SD card storage expansion. Android phones, have small batteries, whilst an iPhone, phone can last for more than a day on a full charge,. iPhones are using the ultimate Apple Silicon processes, whilst android stuck using the Samsung examiners processes. Call com has not yet made it to the smart phone market,, iPhones still have fingerprints on the home button whilst all android devices have fingerprints on the side button. iOS has became more customisable since 2049, Los Angeles slowly becoming more closest source. That’s what the beautiful world would look like, but now
In the current world.
Android devices have more marketshare better battery life, and are slowly catching up to VoiceOver. VoiceOver is going for an absolute train wreck, with the focus issue, braille, display issues, and several other issues. Android, welcome back eloquence, which will sadly never happen. More people are slowly starting to make the move from android to iOS, but people are upset because of iOS high prices. The iPhone 11 is still $600 at Officeworks, and they refurbished
Amir
Because not, everyone wants to use a keyboard to type on. Not to mention some people don’t have English as their native language, and translation just isn’t an option so that used dictation because yeah
Editing isn't trash on IOS.
Perhaps it's a bit fiddly but it's doable. Anyway like I said, that's the last I'll say on this.
From my understanding about android you should be able to use the xp sounds for your start up and shut down sounds, I'm not sure about talkback sounds but it wouldn't surprise me if you could do that too.
You probably have to find the files, then rename the xp files to what you want, then paste them into the folder with the exact same name then replace the files if it asks you to. It hsould be quite simple.
fascinating
like my 13 pro, iPad 9 and series 7. iPad is OK but not great with a external keyboard. Never will get a Mac due to using windows and prefering it.
Re: Amir
And that's a good justification for continuing to maintain so many errors in posts. By the same token, not everyone wants to tolerate so many semantic, spelling and grammatical issues upon reading posts, so it's up to you - I'm done with the topic, too.
Does android have a custom gesture for dictation?
Probably the most useful feature of voice over in my opinion is the two finger magic tap.
I’m pretty sure android now has an equivalent to play and pause media, and hang up phone calls, but as far as I know, it doesn’t incorporate being able to start and stop dictation.
Does android have its own custom gesture to do this?
Also, it’d be interesting to hear more about androids equivalent to the voice over rotor, something which I can’t imagine myself doing without.
Android's rotor, isn't a rotor.
Basicly you make a l shape, part of a square, then once you've done that, a menu will pop up, you then choose to move by characters, words and so on, then I believe you can use the phone buttons to do so.
I've not used Android in a year or so so it might have changed a bit but i definetly prefer apples way of doing things.
who cares if you come back to iOS just more badly written posts
You still refuse to check and edit your posts. good luck and if you come back to iOS learn how to fix your posts!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Android Rotor
There's an easier way to do the rotor (navigating by headings, words etc) - just swipe to the left or right with 3 fingers. So much easier than iOS.
Rotors & Gestures
From what I remember about the Pixel 5 I had for a very little while; yes the 'L' shape is how you access additional functions. I cannot remember which does what, but for example if you:
• Swipe down, then immediately right (without lifting your finger) then release, you get one set of options.
• Down and left gives another.
• Up and left... up and right...
• Left and down, right and down... and so on, etc.
There is a rotor-like function as well, though I forget what it is called on Android, but it is similar to iOS's rotor; where you:
• Flick down, then immediately up, and vice versa.
Not as intuitive as iOS, but not terrible.
I will forever be an Apple fanboy however, as I am too in love with the iOS rotor, custom gestures, the shortcuts feature and a certain medical device I use that currently only works with VO on iOS.
HTH. 🤷🏻♂️
Re Dennis
If you haven’t read any of my other articles, I have perfectly explained that I haven’t completely abandoned Apple. I still have an M1 map and an iPad, I’ve been writing these posts on my iPad..
Rotor for android
Hi, The Equivalent for Android is the reading controls. Basically it's the same as IOS, but with a few less opptions. There is a much easier way to access the TalkBack menu. just tap three fingers and a list of commands and options will show up. Regarding voice input the two finger double tap does not work. However, it can pause and play media. The only way I found to activate voice typing is slide your finger to the voice input button and lift your finger. Do the same action to stop voice typing.
Typing and editing posts
Dominic,
Have you considered composing and editing your forum posts and comments using a hardware keyboard on either a Mac or Windows computer? In my experience, typing and editing with a hardware keyboard is easier, more reliable, and less error-prone than dictation on any platform. In addition, proofreading and editing your posts before submitting is likely to make them easier for others to understand and engage with.
Well
Why is the screen is? I’ve downloaded on my android phone help either. Not to mention I had to literally spend an hour. Trying to get my android phone talking again. If you were a member of the accessible android WhatsApp group, you’ll know how that went.
Pixel VS Samsong?
which is better? I am looking for something that is better than VO and is relatively as fast as an iphone 13 or 14.
I have been really considering the switch to android but have been avoiding it because the most recent version of android that I have used was either v4 or v5.
I have assumed android has changed a lot since then.
Just posting here looking for advice.
also, any resources on switching or talkback are verry useful for me.
It has changed.
Personally i'd say talkback is as good as voiceover,, but you need to remember it's not the same.
i'd highly recommend checking out a phone first if you can.
As I said in your thread, i'd choose voiceover and apple over Talkback and android because of the OCR stuff apple does.
The latest google pixel in a couple years might do the same thing, AI will have improved hugely since then, but for now apple is the only one that does the on the fly text and picture recognition.