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Setting up phones is a nightmare

joelchrono.xyz

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Re: Setting up phones is a nightmare

#31

Post by wtmt »

sentientslug wrote: post #21
nvartolomei wrote: post #15

Upgraded to one of the latest iPhone recently. First time I clicked on “transfer data from old phone”. I’m used to reinstalling the operating system every couple of months from when I used Windows. It took maybe 15 minutes with close to 0 interactions. Everything was transferred. I was already authenticated in apps. What took manual steps was eSIM transfers. I don’t remember exact steps so there could have been a bit…

eSIM transfer also typically doesn’t require any intervention, usually it just goes across to the new device

The key word here is “typically”.

Transferring eSIM from one iPhone to another can be restricted by the carrier. Here in India, the second largest carrier (Airtel), does not support the native iOS eSIM transfer process. It’s a separate set of steps (the ones published on Airtel’s website won’t work, despite customer care claiming that it does). What works is almost like applying for a new or replacement eSIM.

Re: Setting up phones is a nightmare

#32

Post by microtonal »

nvartolomei wrote: post #15

Upgraded to one of the latest iPhone recently. First time I clicked on “transfer data from old phone”. I’m used to reinstalling the operating system every couple of months from when I used Windows. It took maybe 15 minutes with close to 0 interactions. Everything was transferred. I was already authenticated in apps. What took manual steps was eSIM transfers. I don’t remember exact steps so there could have been a bit…

For some reason, iMessage always ends up in a very weird state when I transfer to a new iPhone. Also, some apps don't get restored settings, but I think they opt out (usually banking, credit card, insurance apps, etc.).

Re: Setting up phones is a nightmare

#33

Post by dismalaf »

monooso wrote: post #12
addaon wrote: post #2

The article is about how setting up /Android/ phones is a nightmare. Contrasting it to my experience setting up iPhones is… dramatic.

A Samsung phone. I've owned several (not Samsung) Android phones, and have never had to deal with such nonsense.

On Samsung phones you can skip making a Samsung account. All the Google bits still work and it's basically the same as having a Pixel, except you'll have a few unused apps, a different camera and phone app and a very slightly different UI.

Re: Setting up phones is a nightmare

#34

Post by hagbard_c »

Pikamander2 wrote: post #7
iberator wrote: post #5

It is not. Takes like 30 seconds

If you want your brand new phone to be filled with adware apps and obnoxious default settings, sure.

You bought the wrong phone and/or put the wrong distribution on it. Having said this it does take more than 30 seconds to get a new device up to your personal specs unless you're fine with whatever vendor distribution runs on it - which can work if you choose the right vendor but mostly ends up with your device serving someone else. I'd say it takes closer to 30 minutes than 30 seconds but I'm fine with taking this time given that my average Android phone lifetime is a bit over 8 years. I'm currently using a Redmi Note 5 Pro from 2018 which I'll soon relegate to second device status once I have a replacement, probably a Motorola G75 or something similar. That device should also last me around 8 years. Before the Redmi I'm using now I used a Motorola Defy from 2010 which, incidentally, is still in use as a trailer camera. Android devices can last a very long time because the firmware is open. Eventually they'll be too slow or lack the memory to support more recent Android distributions - which is what made me replace the Defy with the Redmi - but that does not mean they end up taking space in a drawer somewhere. They're in use here as trailer camera, media player, 3D printer controller and more.

Re: Setting up phones is a nightmare

#35

Post by fn-mote »

dismalaf wrote: post #20
sonofhans wrote: post #8

“Phones” in the title is doing lots of heavy lifting. “Android phones” is the key missing piece. I love Free software too, and I wish I could run more of my life on it, but it’s no longer my hobby. I like cars, too, but I don’t work on a hobby car. The author’s experience is why I use proprietary stuff like Apple for these parts of my life. A new Apple device is usually a non-event: charge it, authenticate, wait for…

95% of what was written in this article isn't required to set up an Android phone. You can literally log into your Google account on first boot and everything is done for you, automatically.

The point is that you have to turn off preferences and uninstall apps that come with the phone. (Samsung apps and OneDrive are mentioned.)

So you don’t have to do this, but if you don’t, you are under even more surveillance and experience more advertising.

Re: Setting up phones is a nightmare

#36

Post by microtonal »

deejaaymac wrote: post #16

If you use android and don't choose GrapheneOS then idk what to tell you, its been an awesome experience with no issues for the last ~5ish years I've used it.

Yep, no cloud storage upsells, no pushy AI crap, just a fast barebones smartphone and you can pick what you want on top.

Re: Setting up phones is a nightmare

#37

Post by fn-mote »

hagbard_c wrote: post #18
sonofhans wrote: post #8

“Phones” in the title is doing lots of heavy lifting. “Android phones” is the key missing piece. I love Free software too, and I wish I could run more of my life on it, but it’s no longer my hobby. I like cars, too, but I don’t work on a hobby car. The author’s experience is why I use proprietary stuff like Apple for these parts of my life. A new Apple device is usually a non-event: charge it, authenticate, wait for…

What is it in your life which makes it 'impossible' to use free software, Google-free AOSP-derived Android distributions being part of this? I run close to exclusively free software and have done so for decades and have yet to feel the need to change this. Of course there are exceptions, e.g. I need to run proprietary applications for banking and electronic ID but those are the exceptions to the rule. My server runs…

The author is technical, but apparently the parents are not. “It works for me” turns into “just spy on my family members”.

Re: Setting up phones is a nightmare

#38

Post by bigyabai »

bigyabai wrote: post #22
latexr wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That type of rhetoric won’t get you what you want. Don’t dismiss something just because you don’t like it. iOS devices are not toys, and even if they were there is value in toys, and even if there weren’t it is provably false that “nobody wants those”. Furthermore, if Google dropped Android it is misguided to believe “the FOSS community” would handle it and everything would be roses. What you’d have then are a couple…

> iOS devices are not toys iOS devices are. My iPad is the most useless piece of technology I own, calling it a "computer" is an insult to the actual computers I own. It's a toy, and not even a fun toy compared to my Nintendo Switch. Android handles serious workloads fine, macOS takes software seriously. iOS is the only operating system that treats gatchapon as the pinnacle of high-performance workloads.

Hell, I'll double-down if you really disagree with me. ChromeOS, the operating system/spyware installed on e-waste like Chromebooks, has a more serious OS than iOS. It is more functional and capable, and undeniably the better professional OS. I say that with no love for ChromeOS.

iOS exists in a class of it's own, functionality-wise. A class much closer to game consoles than anything resembling a computer.

Re: Setting up phones is a nightmare

#39

Post by microtonal »

jeroenhd wrote: post #11
butILoveLife wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

To be fair, they are doing with a Samsung phone, and Samsung is the Apple of Android (Big marketing budget, mid quality if we are being generous). Samsung as a company is a universal No Buy. The fact OP bought Samsung makes me raise an eyebrow. Credit to Apple where credit is due. When I unboxed my first iphone, I was happy to give Apple all my personal information, birthday, emails, ssn.... It was bizarre, I'm usual…

Samsung's UI and software behaviour may be shitty in general, but they're one of the few manufacturers reliably offering timely long-term security updates. When you go beyond Samsung, you quickly end up with brands promising "quarterly updates" or having months-long delays fixing CVEs. Plus, when they do something novel, they do it quite well. Their flagship phones have great price/performance if you buy them a month…

Pixel is much cleaner and ships security updates monthly like clockwork. Plus you can install GrapheneOS and you get security updates multiple times per month, no AI nonsense and sandboxed Google Play Services if you need it.

Re: Setting up phones is a nightmare

#40

Post by fn-mote »

DiabloD3 wrote: post #3
addaon wrote: post #2

The article is about how setting up /Android/ phones is a nightmare. Contrasting it to my experience setting up iPhones is… dramatic.

Yes, its a nightmare because Android is becoming more and more like iOS: anything that the user used to be able to do... they can no longer do. Android phone manufacturers want $1200 for something that is a toy, just like the Apple iToys. Nobody wants those, and nobody wants this. Google needs to get out of the business and let the FOSS community handle it.

> Android is becoming more and more like iOS: anything that the user used to be able to do... they can no longer do

The article shows this is not true, if you know the similar process for iOS.

The article could be compared to the iPhone setup process. There are some preferences to uncheck, but there is no third party spying software on an iPhone when it arrives. Contrast to Samsung.

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