Commentary from former Android user leaving iOS for Android again...

Elysian said:
Did they add it to the X? My 6s+ sure didn't.

edit: Are you talking about LED flash? That's crap.
Click to expand...

Ya, the LED flash when notifications. I don't use it. but I don't think it's what you get on Androids where you get a light that shows up when you get a notification.
 
Razeus said:
Ya, the LED flash when notifications. I don't use it. but I don't think it's what you get on Androids where you get a light that shows up when you get a notification.
Click to expand...

I don't have my phone face down very often, so never bothered with the LED flash. The notification light on the front face of Androids is really nice. On the Essential Phone it's in the very narrow earpiece slit, so it's actually on the top corner, and it's easy to see from a lot of angles.
 
Razeus said:
Ya, the LED flash when notifications. I don't use it. but I don't think it's what you get on Androids where you get a light that shows up when you get a notification.
Click to expand...

That's a Blackberry innovation (multicolour notification LED).
One of the things I miss on this Android.
 
So far, no complaints running Android. I would like to figure out how to put the number of notifications on the icon in the launcher, thought there was a way to do that, but maybe not on the stock launcher, but that's about it. Otherwise it's been a very nice, very smooth experience, and I'm so glad to have Podkicker back. iOS doesn't have many podcast apps that compare to Podkicker Pro. Downcast was okay, but not on the level with Podkicker.
 
Elysian said:
So far, no complaints running Android. I would like to figure out how to put the number of notifications on the icon in the launcher, thought there was a way to do that, but maybe not on the stock launcher, but that's about it. Otherwise it's been a very nice, very smooth experience, and I'm so glad to have Podkicker back. iOS doesn't have many podcast apps that compare to Podkicker Pro. Downcast was okay, but not on the level with Podkicker.
Click to expand...

Pocket Casts

/end
 
My Essential Phone resumed the podcast I was listening to in Podkicker Pro 18 hours and one reboot after I paused it, when I got in my truck this morning. That's what I'm talking about.
 
So I've figured out something that bugs me about vanilla Android. There doesn't seem to be a per device volume setting, so when I'm using Bluetooth earbuds and turn the volume down, then get in my truck, the volume stays down and I have to turn it back up... Going to have to look for a way to fix this, default on iOS is per device...

edit: There's an app for that :lol:

https://android.gadgethacks.com/how...r-bluetooth-accessories-individually-0176034/
 
Last edited:
Razeus said:
What didn't you like about the X?
Click to expand...

I don't like the loss of touch id. I hate having to lift the phone or go tapping at it. That's a lg thing I didn't like either (but at least that gave me a notification light or secondary screen on the v20). Using it I feel like the screen size outside of updated apps it's more like a bigger iphone 8 in terms of screen estate. I got use to the gestures but just not feeling it. I need like a plus size version of the x to actually like it. Overall feel in the hand and camera, I like it. Outside of that, the plus is a better phone. The screen is something I forget about after using it. It's a good screen but not amazing in my eyes, just like the plus screen good but not amazing. It's better than the lcd for sure but as a guy who's owned every galaxy phone it doesn't phase me.
 
nycdarkness said:
I don't like the loss of touch id. I hate having to lift the phone or go tapping at it. That's a lg thing I didn't like either (but at least that gave me a notification light or secondary screen on the v20). Using it I feel like the screen size outside of updated apps it's more like a bigger iphone 8 in terms of screen estate. I got use to the gestures but just not feeling it. I need like a plus size version of the x to actually like it. Overall feel in the hand and camera, I like it. Outside of that, the plus is a better phone. The screen is something I forget about after using it. It's a good screen but not amazing in my eyes, just like the plus screen good but not amazing. It's better than the lcd for sure but as a guy who's owned every galaxy phone it doesn't phase me.
Click to expand...

I picked up my 6S Plus for the first time since Nov 3. My god, the thing is a brick. I guess I just wanted a bigger screen. The thing is humungous.
 
Razeus said:
I picked up my 6S Plus for the first time since Nov 3. My god, the thing is a brick. I guess I just wanted a bigger screen. The thing is humungous.
Click to expand...

It's a tall phone and it's shape never made it easy on the hands in width. However, I was a note user since the first gen so the iphone plus size never really bothered me. I like iphone x size though, but it really needs work. The notch is meh, I can live with it. Apple needs to learn the concept of a notification light, it's annoying to not have one (I have the apple watch but I don't wear the watch at home), if it had like an always on display function it would help at least. I don't care about price as that's whatevers in my eyes. However, for people who pay 1250 after tax like I did this is crap for the money. Not total crap but this is more like a 800 dollar phone in my eyes for what it does. Speedy, good cam, good display, + apple tax should be 800. We got 600 dollar phones that do the same thing come on apple.
 
Got my X yesterday, nice phone. No lag but still learning the interface been a while since I used iOS.
 
3 years ago my wife and I got our first smartphones. My wife got the iphone 5s, and I got the Moto X (2nd Generation). For the andriod I loved it, it was easy to use, very user friendly and everything I wanted to do with it was very intuitive.

The iphone though, it was the biggest piece of garbage ever. It was not user friendly and it was very non-intuitive. I really felt like Apple went out of their way to make the thing very unfriendly. It also felt like so much of the space on it was taken up by Apples junk that my wife didn't want.

My wife has an android now. She is much happier with it, I am much happier with it, everything she wants to do with her phone is easy, user friendly, and very intuitive.

Will never go to Apple ever again.
 
Regarding the OP, Elysian's experiences + everything I've read about the Essential + Apple pissing me off yet again today - Loving this new Android phone.

Nothing to add that hasn't been said, and have a learning curve ahead of me, but this - wish I had not waited so long to come back to Android.
 
After having it and working with/learning Android again, just a few thoughts.

Pure Android on the essential PH1 is butter smooth for me. The old stutter/scroll I lived with on the Notes isn't here.

-Battery life - running live wallpapers (so sweet on the eyes) and quite a bit of texting with a few YT videos in between, 12 hours use yesterday left me with approximately 60% battery left. Unofficial, but with the same use I put my iphone through, the Essential seems much more efficient.

- The screen is amazing. Colors are rich and vivid with great contrast. I did notice a touch of backlight bleed though.

-Android usability - It's night and day from ~3 years ago, but it does take a bit of getting used to. The swipe up to answer a call from the lock screen almost defeated me yesterday :p

-Fingerprint reader - almost too sensitive. I have to tap it a couple of times before it recognizes my print. I don't know if that's an Android issue or an Essential issue though it did improve drastically with updates, so...

-Playstore - head and shoulders above what it used to be. It seems they're trying to vet the apps now? That's a great thing, but I wish there were a way to filter according to user ratings.

All told the switch back to Android hasn't been difficult at all, but I'm sure I still haven't hit some of the major features of the OS. That said, absolutely zero buyers remorse or regret over dumping Apple, even with the paid apps I lose in doing so.

Loving it.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top