Thinking of moving back to android

[CarLuver]

i have an apple 13 pro max for almost 2 years . was given to me from a relative is one of the reason i changed . i was an android guy in the past. the 13 has worked well ,but i always liked Android for it customizing . And a lot of andriod apps are free while the exact same thing cost money on apple.

The only thing i really need is a good tracking software to track my mother. I can live without i message, and use whatsapp, which is what the rest of the world seems to use.

Now that the pixel 10 is out i may buy one . Is there any tracking app which works well with both android and apple. I used life 360 before , but apple seems to shut down the location every few days was what i was experiencing .

So any suggestion on a tracking app?

 

[dishdude]

Google Family Link might work, it's available on iOS. Just got my Pixel 10 Pro XL this afternoon, it rocks. I'm guessing Mom has an iPhone? With RCS the iMessage thing is a non issue.

 

[2009Caraman]

edited/removed

 

[Zee09]

Yeah toss that Apple iPhone over your left shoulder into the grassy knoll ....

.

 

[rstcso]

The only thing i really need is a good tracking software to track my mother. I can live without i message, and use whatsapp, which is what the rest of the world seems to use.

Have you considered using an Apple AirTag or an Android equivalent? My wife has an AirTag in her purse when we're traveling, in addition to having them in our luggage and backpacks. Super easy to find her when needed.

I've seen where these are used with Alzheimer's patients, being attached to shoe laces, etc. If she's remembering to take her phone, she'll most likely remember to take whatever the device is placed in. If she's still driving, place one in her car in a location radio waves won't be blocked. Change the batteries annually.

My wife's been a lifetime Android user, but last upgrade I convinced her to get an iPhone so she could FaceTime the grandkids. It's been over six months with the iPhone and she curses it, and me, daily.

Buy the Pixel 10 with confidence you'll know where your Mom is when needed.

 

[fozzdesy2001]

Have you considered using an Apple AirTag or an Android equivalent? My wife has an AirTag in her purse when we're traveling, in addition to having them in our luggage and backpacks. Super easy to find her when needed.

I've seen where these are used with Alzheimer's patients, being attached to shoe laces, etc. If she's remembering to take her phone, she'll most likely remember to take whatever the device is placed in. If she's still driving, place one in her car in a location radio waves won't be blocked. Change the batteries annually.

My wife's been a lifetime Android user, but last upgrade I convinced her to get an iPhone so she could FaceTime the grandkids. It's been over six months with the iPhone and she curses it, and me, daily.

Buy the Pixel 10 with confidence you'll know where your Mom is when needed.

Galaxy S25 are really nice too, but I'm biased since the S3 came out a long time ago, nothing else

 

[Arc]

Galaxy S25 are really nice too, but I'm biased since the S3 came out a long time ago, nothing else

I still had an S4 in my garage for Spotify and internet use until a couple months back but the last battery got hot and swelled up and I never replaced it. Those were really good phones back then. Probably faster than the S23 I'm using now.

 

[alarmguy]

Interesting.
Does your mom have an iPhone?
If so simply set up "Share location" also Enter your information under emergency contacts.
As an example, I just pulled up my location on my phone and that is the exact room (under the roof) I am sitting in while I type this on my Mac mini but have my cell phone here with me. This is what displays on my phone screen.

Also if she had an Apple Watch and wore it. It would alert you to any emergency such as if she fell.

Im sure Android offers much the same but no denying Apple has it all packaged together in a neat bundle for those who learn the system.
BTW I am not promoting Apple, just offering thoughts. If I didnt like the Apple world I would strongly look to get a google Pixel 9 or better (if there is one) as much as I hate google, I tend to get bored sometimes of the same thing, even though it works perfect. I have nothing against Android other than I like my Desktop, Laptop and phone on the same platform which is Apple and granted with a bit better security too. It just makes my life easier but I am bored and would like something new in a phone and my newest iPhone 15 plus is only a few months old. I wonder what type of device will one day replace the everyday cell phones of all brands.

We also have AirTags on anything of value including our past dog and will be on our new dog as soon as he grows a bit for a larger collar. Some suggested you can use them as well. Heck we have them on our keychains too! *LOL* Saves the stress once in a while of where we put our keys down!

 

[CarLuver]

yes she does have an iphone and its the only reason i am hesitant to change. i must admit that the apple tracking app works well. I have apple tracker in her vehicle also

 

[srfdude]

I switched a couple years ago to I14, from Android. I think the phone is a mechanical/physical masterpiece. On the other hand IOS, well it sucks. It is designed for total social interaction, and they have forgotten the user experience for other computer type usage. When my 14 dies, back to android.

 

[alarmguy]

I switched a couple years ago to I14, from Android. I think the phone is a mechanical/physical masterpiece. On the other hand IOS, well it sucks. It is designed for total social interaction, and they have forgotten the user experience for other computer type usage. When my 14 dies, back to android.

The other computer usage is why I am using an iPhone
Everything I do seamlessly in integrates with my Apple laptop and my Apple desktop.
From photos, messaging, passwords to other authorization types like when you get text an authorization code. It will self populates no matter what device I’m on.

I have nothing against android (read my previous posts) but to make an android phone work with the Windows or Apple operating system it would not be seamless and would require thought and planning.

More or less everything I do on my phone shows up on my desktop in my laptop and everything I do on my desktop and laptop is available on my phone
But that doesn’t mean that’s for everybody by any means, just works for me. After decades of the windows operating system I just got tired of it.

One thing for sure are there is a long adjustment period when you switch from Windows.
I used to get so pissed off looking for thingsLOL

 

[Pablo]

Other that some user interface the differences are not large anymore

 

[alarmguy]

Other that some user interface the differences are not large anymore

Not so sure I would agree, took a long time to get used to iPhones when I switched from Android and I used to have a work supplied iPhone, so two phones at the time. With that said all I did with the work phone was use it for phone calls and it was tethered to my work iPad.

HERE IS THE BIG ONE. With a newer iPhone starting with the iPhone 14. You get free satellite texting when you have no cell coverage and you get free emergency services when you have no coverage. It's not that important to me, I seem to have coverage everywhere, HOWEVER I am not as sure that would be the case should we start venturing into the ocean from the local waters here so it would be a plus knowing I have this.

ALSO if the OP has his moms iPhone correctly set up with emergency contacts god forbid she is ever in an accident it will notify him. It she had an Apple Watch it would also call him if she fell

 

[Pablo]

Not so sure I would agree, took a long time to get used to iPhones when I switched from Android and I used to have a work supplied iPhone, so two phones at the time. With that said all I did with the work phone was use it for phone calls and it was tethered to my work iPad.

HERE IS THE BIG ONE. With a newer iPhone starting with the iPhone 14. You get free satellite texting when you have no cell coverage and you get free emergency services when you have no coverage. It's not that important to me, I seem to have coverage everywhere, HOWEVER I am not as sure that would be the case should we start venturing into the ocean from the local waters here so it would be a plus knowing I have this.

ALSO if the OP has his moms iPhone correctly set up with emergency contacts god forbid she is ever in an accident it will notify him. It she had an Apple Watch it would also call him if she fell

This is true (bold)

I guess I was speaking in general. I got used to and love my i14. The curve was not steep for me. Some less cringy apps available on iphone, yet tons of sketchy/cringy android apps, but iPhone security that people used to prop is not so much anymore.

Ima get a watch at some point.

Generally people think they are vastly different, maybe they were 8 years ago, now not as much.

What I like is I can add little extras without an app. I can monitor the battery life in my various music devices on my iphone with a couple changes - not sure if I could do this with my Android, for example, used to need an app.

 

[alarmguy]

This is true (bold)

I guess I was speaking in general. I got used to and love my i14. The curve was not steep for me. Some less cringy apps available on iphone, yet tons of sketchy/cringy android apps, but iPhone security that people used to prop is not so much anymore.

Ima get a watch at some point.

Generally people think they are vastly different, maybe they were 8 years ago, now not as much.

What I like is I can add little extras without an app. I can monitor the battery life in my various music devices on my iphone with a couple changes - not sure if I could do this with my Android, for example, used to need an app.

I think you are into health. The watch is amazing. All the heart tracking, just love data, also by category. Like when I play pickleball I tell my watch, it tracks my heart rate for all the games I play until I tell it to stop and then sets a graph. Dozens of other criteria depending if you take the time to set it up, right down to your respiration rate while you sleep and heart rate etc.

Being its Apple, this stuff isnt just a toy. Here is an example. (you know my past posts about the ECG function and how it got me attention a couple year ago from my doctors)

Here is another, I just checked it for the first time in a while because of the Cancer Drug I was on Orgovyx (im going to update that soon, I am scheduled for a heart echogram as a check up mid Sept)

A side effect of Orgovyx can be heart function, Cleveland Clinic says 60% of those on the drug are not monitored properly, well I was one of them not being monitored.

Here it is, on my watch. I started the drug around Jan 10 and continued until July 13th, as of today I still feel like a train wreck waiting for the effects to wear off, look what the watch turned up.

 

[dishdude]

The other computer usage is why I am using an iPhone
Everything I do seamlessly in integrates with my Apple laptop and my Apple desktop.
From photos, messaging, passwords to other authorization types like when you get text an authorization code. It will self populates no matter what device I’m on.

Android does too

 

[dishdude]

Not so sure I would agree, took a long time to get used to iPhones when I switched from Android and I used to have a work supplied iPhone, so two phones at the time. With that said all I did with the work phone was use it for phone calls and it was tethered to my work iPad.

HERE IS THE BIG ONE. With a newer iPhone starting with the iPhone 14. You get free satellite texting when you have no cell coverage and you get free emergency services when you have no coverage. It's not that important to me, I seem to have coverage everywhere, HOWEVER I am not as sure that would be the case should we start venturing into the ocean from the local waters here so it would be a plus knowing I have this.

ALSO if the OP has his moms iPhone correctly set up with emergency contacts god forbid she is ever in an accident it will notify him. It she had an Apple Watch it would also call him if she fell

Android does too

 

[alarmguy]

Android does too

I assume you are saying if you are using a Chrome laptop and desktop? If so that is great for Chrome lovers.

So let's say, you log onto your banking site from your desktop or your laptop, your password auto populates no matter what device you are on and then the second authorization code in a text message to your cell phone autopopulates with that authorization code on your desktop or laptop?

That would be one example of Apple integration.
Also Google/Android does not offer free satellite texting. The cell phone carriers have to offer it for you to get it. Last I knew T-Mobile was onboard and Verizon just joined. You also need a satellite capable phone so pick carefully because it's not automatic you will get it with Android. IN fact until they catch up it will be rare and some Android phones never.
All iPhone 14 and above have it built in.

Automatic Crash detection and fall detection is on all Apple devices as well (talking about iPhones 14s and later) along with emergency transmissions. In the Android world any number of phones may have it but very few that can transmit via satellite.

BTW- I am not selling Apple products, whatever makes one happy. However no one can deny the seamless integration among Apple products with each other along with a complete array of services that work right out of the box.. If that doesnt matter it's all good, however it's what makes Apple who they are.
No doubt Android tries to keep up but it's impossible among hundreds of different models of phones and dozens of different makers.

 

[KrisZ]

Other that some user interface the differences are not large anymore

I agree. It's almost like arguing which brand of gas to use. These are commodities these days.
Now, if we still had Blackberry and the tiled Windows phone, there would be some variety in the market.

Sadly that is gone and we have the usual two camps arguing the virtues of their so called choice.

 

[alarmguy]

^^^
Choice is good isn't it?
Windows, Android, Apple
Something for everyone, Ive had them all in one form or another.
Including a Windows phone and Windows music player both a marketplace failure though.
Decades of Windows computers but never again.