Best complete solution to replace Apple products

[AndyCr15]

which I guess means you are also required to use Chrome on a tablet or smartphone to do the same thing

No, it's built in to Android.

In regard to the Mac and iPhone link, all the photos I take on my iPhone are synced to my Mac so I have copies on both. The photos are all tagged and stored in the same way on both devices. I can send texts from the Mac and make/receive phone calls. The iPhone syncs perfectly with my iTunes music library and again means I have local copies of all my music on all devices.

Yeah, I get all that on Android (well, maybe not tagged photos, I'm not sure, I don't need to tag photo's with Google Photos. Type in 'white dress' and any photo with a white dress in is there, which I would suggest is better). Technically I can call from my PC using Hangouts, I've done it to Canada, the quality was amazing. I'm not sure if UK to UK are free though, or maybe a penny a minute. I can do this with the phone off too.

The Apple Watch screen lights up as soon as you lift your wrist so the screen not being on all the time isn’t really an issue (and if the raise to wake doesn’t work on you want to know the time without raising your arm, you can double tap the watch face).

It's this I want to avoid tbh. Obviously it is seen as a little rude to be checking your watch, so I like to try and be as subtle about it as possible. I can see the recording of runs as a plus, for those that run. Music can be played from Android phones too. I would like the occasional heart rate readings through the day. Directions from Google maps also on Android although no taps when you need to turn, which I can see is a nice plus.

I can imagine, if you lock your PC the unlock when watch nearby being a nice addition too.

All in all I honestly don't think the whole eco system argument is that big a thing. I think Google does it just as well, but they don't limit what devices you include, like Apple do, so for me it possible has the edge.

Again, I'm not trying to start the Google vs Apple or Android vs iOS argument, I honestly was just interested in why it's touted so highly.

 

[Rilot]

All of those things you can do with an Android Wear watch too. However, it just doesn't work as well.
Back when I was running Android I had a Moto 360 and then later an LG Urbane. Both were OK but I frequently had issues with them disconnecting from the phone and then them refusing to reconnect without forcing the phone to forgot the watch and re-pair. This was with a Nexus 6P.
I switched to an Apple Watch at the launch of the Series 1/2 and have never looked back. It works flawlessly and the battery life is significantly better than either the 360 or the Urbane.

I think this is the main draw of the Apple ecosystem. In many ways you can do more with Android, Windows, or whatever, and can customise things more. But with Apple it always just works with no faff. I totally get the reasons why people prefer Android and hate iOS. Some people love to fiddle and mess with their tech. I used to but as I got older and my time was taken up more and more with my family I just want things to work. If it doesn't work or causes me to have to mess about to get it to work then it just gets dumped so I can spend my time doing things that I want to do.

 

[AndyCr15]

To be fair, the 360 IMO wasn't a particularly good watch. Never tried the Urbane. I do get what your saying though. Apple generally keep it simple and that means it's less likely to have things that can go wrong, so is often a smoother experience. I was a little surprised to see all this gesture control in the X tbh. Seems a little complicated for iOS?

 

[mrochester]

No, it's built in to Android.



Yeah, I get all that on Android (well, maybe not tagged photos, I'm not sure, I don't need to tag photo's with Google Photos. Type in 'white dress' and any photo with a white dress in is there, which I would suggest is better). Technically I can call from my PC using Hangouts, I've done it to Canada, the quality was amazing. I'm not sure if UK to UK are free though, or maybe a penny a minute. I can do this with the phone off too.



It's this I want to avoid tbh. Obviously it is seen as a little rude to be checking your watch, so I like to try and be as subtle about it as possible. I can see the recording of runs as a plus, for those that run. Music can be played from Android phones too. I would like the occasional heart rate readings through the day. Directions from Google maps also on Android although no taps when you need to turn, which I can see is a nice plus.

I can imagine, if you lock your PC the unlock when watch nearby being a nice addition too.

All in all I honestly don't think the whole eco system argument is that big a thing. I think Google does it just as well, but they don't limit what devices you include, like Apple do, so for me it possible has the edge.

Again, I'm not trying to start the Google vs Apple or Android vs iOS argument, I honestly was just interested in why it's touted so highly.

Sorry, the vast majority of my video watching on the TV is streamed from my laptop, so I don't think something being built into Android would be helpful.

 

[AndyCr15]

No, with Chromecast you're not really meant to stream through another source. Can I ask what you're watching that wont stream direct to the Chromecast? Even if it's local mkv or mp4's, I'm sure I've seen an app that will stream it from an HDD to a Chromecast. (AllCast maybe?)

Does Apple let you carry on using your laptop while you stream it to TV?

The other option would be to simply set your laptop as a DLNA server. I have a file server that does that for me for local files. To me these look cleaner options than mirroring a screen, but obviously if that's how you're set up, that's nice and easy.

**EDIT** Anyway, that was a response to you specifically asking about casting from a phone or a tablet? Why then come back to me saying that wont work on your laptop? It wasn't meant to!

 

[Hater]

Yes, you can stream things to an Apple TV and go on using your laptop.

 

[stewski]

I haven’t mentioned price.

The tech industry eg https://www.theverge.com/2017/8/11/16122668/best-tablet-ipad-samsung-galaxy-tab-android-windows

I’m not sure what you’re angle is really? If you don’t like the iPad that’s fine, but it is top of the tablet class. Sales, reviews, features etc.

Why assume an 'angle' from a simple question about who's opinion states that the iPad is currently 'class leading', to my knowledge the verge (who's opinions I value) doesn't constitute 'the tech industry'. Personally I have never bought any consumer electronics without some consideration of price V performance (though I understand some people do).

On opinions of the current state of the art in tablets, to my eyes opinions are divided:
http://www.expertreviews.co.uk/tabl...et-2017-buying-guide-the-best-tablets-of-2017
Expert reviews lead with the surface pro 4 over the 10 inch iPad pro at number 2

PC mag take a more realistic approach IMHO than a blunt top 10 list, pegging a bunch of tablet purchases at similar review levels, but each differentiated by price performance and features.
http://uk.pcmag.com/tablets/10395/guide/the-best-tablets-of-2017

Tech advisor lead with the iPad over the apple galaxy tab S3 at number 2
http://www.techadvisor.co.uk/test-centre/tablets/best-tablets-for-2017-3265725/

Trusted reviews are taken with the new Media Pad M3 from Huawei and don't mention an apple device until the 9.7" 2017 iPad at number 7 of 8
http://www.trustedreviews.com/guide/best-tablets

The telegraph take a banding by prices approach (again I agree rather than a linear list) and hold the iPad in an Apple brand specific "class" but also list contenders in the same price range.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/0/best-tablets-buy-2017/


All in all I wouldn't say there is a conclusive tech opinion that Apple tablets are class leading, obviously in my price bracket £150-200, second hand is the only realistic Apple option and having used several older generation Apple iPad's, I'd say the ability for the brand to retain resale value makes that a non starter, when compared to newer alternatives in that price range.

There is no agenda here, I will however state, Apple is known to have one of, if not the greatest Brand value in the world (between them and Google afaik)
http://fortune.com/2017/02/02/google-tops-apple-brand-value/
What is brand value:
https://www.forbes.com/sites/steveo...s-finally-and-how-to-control-it/#6c91d55f13b2

‘A brand’s value is merely the sum total of how much extra people will pay, or how often they choose, the expectations, memories, stories and relationships of one brand over the alternatives.’

in my opinion many Apple products are very well designed and implemented I do not often find the price to performance ratio when compared to the competition a good proposition for me, I am not often influenced by labels or fashion particularly in technology. If you hold a brand such as Apple in high regard in this field I have no problem with that, For tablets I would suggest it is not due entirely to 'class leading products' in any objective way and there is no 'tech consensus' in that regard that I know of.

 

[mrochester]

No, with Chromecast you're not really meant to stream through another source. Can I ask what you're watching that wont stream direct to the Chromecast? Even if it's local mkv or mp4's, I'm sure I've seen an app that will stream it from an HDD to a Chromecast. (AllCast maybe?)

Does Apple let you carry on using your laptop while you stream it to TV?

The other option would be to simply set your laptop as a DLNA server. I have a file server that does that for me for local files. To me these look cleaner options than mirroring a screen, but obviously if that's how you're set up, that's nice and easy.

**EDIT** Anyway, that was a response to you specifically asking about casting from a phone or a tablet? Why then come back to me saying that wont work on your laptop? It wasn't meant to!

It’s MP4s I tend to watch. They open and play in QuickTime.

Yes I can carry on using the laptop for other things while the video is being streamed to the TV.

 

[Kemik]

Don't really see the point in your limitations. It's very easy to work cross-OS these days.

E.g. I changed from a MBP, iPhone, and Nexus tablet to a Dell (couldn't justify MBP prices with the spec they had), iPhone, iPad, and Fitbit. I've never been stopped doing anything using the cross-OS'.

 

[Deleted member 138126]

I think this is the main draw of the Apple ecosystem. In many ways you can do more with Android, Windows, or whatever, and can customise things more. But with Apple it always just works with no faff. I totally get the reasons why people prefer Android and hate iOS. Some people love to fiddle and mess with their tech. I used to but as I got older and my time was taken up more and more with my family I just want things to work. If it doesn't work or causes me to have to mess about to get it to work then it just gets dumped so I can spend my time doing things that I want to do.

Spot on. Agree 100%.