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Apple's First Android App Makes It Easy To Move To iOS 174

Posted by samzenpus from the move-it-on-over dept.
Mark Wilson writes: Apple has released its first ever Android app. No, there's not an Android version of Safari or anything like that, but a tool designed to simplify the process of switching to iOS. The predictably named Move to iOS will appeal to anyone who was persuaded to switch allegiances by the release of the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus, or indeed iOS 9. The app can be used to move contacts, messages, photos and more to a new iPhone or iPad, and is compatible with phones and tablets running Android 4.0 and newer. It works slightly differently to what you may have expected. Rather than uploading data to the cloud, it instead creates private Wi-Fi network between an Android and iOS device and securely transfers it.
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Apple's First Android App Makes It Easy To Move To iOS More

Apple's First Android App Makes It Easy To Move To iOS

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  • Quick poll (Score:5, Insightful)

    by Coisiche ( 2000870 ) on Thursday September 17, 2015 @08:26AM (#50539739)

    Rate the chances of a reverse app to assist migrating from iPhone to Android making it into the Apple store?

    I'll go with never.

    • Re:Quick poll (Score:5, Insightful)

      by thaylin ( 555395 ) on Thursday September 17, 2015 @08:32AM (#50539777)

      I agree, and in my mind that is what makes Android a far superior ecosystem, freedom.

      • hey at least the Apple app store has an adblocker in it unlike Google's which kicks out anything that blocks apps

    • Rate the chances of a reverse app to assist migrating from iPhone to Android making it into the Apple store?

      Actually I bet they do let a similar app from Google in the store, should Google ever put one out, simply for the reason that it would be less of a PR headache and would save them from potential litigation.

      Granted, the nature of such an app would probably mean that the app really needs to come from Samsung or HTC or LG or something and they might tell those guys to fuck right off but if Google do

      • Re: (Score:2)

        by tlhIngan ( 30335 )

        Actually I bet they do let a similar app from Google in the store, should Google ever put one out, simply for the reason that it would be less of a PR headache and would save them from potential litigation.

        Granted, the nature of such an app would probably mean that the app really needs to come from Samsung or HTC or LG or something and they might tell those guys to fuck right off but if Google does it they might allow it

        Well, according to the Switch to Android [android.com] instructions, while it's not one app, G

    • Rate the chances of a reverse app to assist migrating from iPhone to Android making it into the Apple store?

      I'll go with never.

      Worth trying. If it got blocked you'd have a nice anti-trust suit against Apple.

      • Rate the chances of a reverse app to assist migrating from iPhone to Android making it into the Apple store?

        I'll go with never.

        Worth trying. If it got blocked you'd have a nice anti-trust suit against Apple.

        Really? Have you ever tried to migrate someone's email and contacts off of AOHell? Yes, there are third-party apps that purport to do it; but AFAIK, AOL themselves has never made it easy.

      • Perhaps you should google what a "trust" is.
        A single company can not form a trust or be anti-trust.

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by jo_ham ( 604554 )

      It won't make it to the App Store, but you can put one on yourself now if you like since you can now side load apps onto iOS9 as long as you build them from source without paying the $99 developer fee.

      • It won't make it to the App Store, but you can put one on yourself now if you like since you can now side load apps onto iOS9 as long as you build them from source without paying the $99 developer fee.

        Really? That's pretty cool! Does that work sort of like the way the Developer app-distribution does/did? Or what?

        • Re: (Score:2)

          by jo_ham ( 604554 )

          It won't make it to the App Store, but you can put one on yourself now if you like since you can now side load apps onto iOS9 as long as you build them from source without paying the $99 developer fee.

          Really? That's pretty cool! Does that work sort of like the way the Developer app-distribution does/did? Or what?

          I'm not 100% on the details yet - it seems to have been mentioned on AnandTech during the iOS9 roundup and reviews - I'm sure someone will provide more official details soon. There was no fanfare from Apple about it, so it might ultimately turn out to be an error with Xcode. I am hoping not.

          Xcode has always been free, of course, and this new development (if accurate and not misquoted) is clearly designed to encourage app development, and even if true will be limited to those with a Mac or the ability to run

    • The chances are zero because Apple doesn't allow apps that reference Android. And because it wouldn't have any users anyway.

  • Reviews (Score:4, Insightful)

    by Anonymous Coward on Thursday September 17, 2015 @08:27AM (#50539743)

    I pre-ordered an iPhone 6S and I'm moving over from years of being on Android phones. I'm very interested in this app. I took a look at the review on the Play Store (which are mostly one-star reviews), and they all seem to be from Android fan boys about how switching to an iPhone will be the worst decision one can make. Other reviews seem to criticize the apps design scheme.

    These are phones, people. It's not a religion. These things aren't your children.

    • I pre-ordered an iPhone 6S and I'm moving over from years of being on Android phones. I'm very interested in this app. I took a look at the review on the Play Store (which are mostly one-star reviews), and they all seem to be from Android fan boys about how switching to an iPhone will be the worst decision one can make. Other reviews seem to criticize the apps design scheme.

      These are phones, people. It's not a religion. These things aren't your children.

      Damn it. For some reason Firefox had logged me out so I ended up posting this as an Anonymous Coward.

      • Re:Reviews (Score:5, Funny)

        by thaylin ( 555395 ) on Thursday September 17, 2015 @08:31AM (#50539765)

        So the captcha requirement did not tell you that you were commenting as AC? Something tells me you are a perfect fit for IOS /snicker

        • So the captcha requirement did not tell you that you were commenting as AC? Something tells me you are a perfect fit for IOS /snicker

          I don't actually post enough on Slashdot to notice the difference. Also, I'm an American. I don't read before I click. Also, your signature line seems very apropos:

          When you cant win, ad hominem.

          • Re: (Score:2)

            by thaylin ( 555395 )

            I was joking, not seriously making an argument, the /snicker should have given that away.

            • I was joking, not seriously making an argument, the /snicker should have given that away.

              I was joking as well (hence the American joke), but your signature was too good to pass up. Beers.

    • Some of the reviews are because Android apps are supposed to at least TRY to conform to the design spec of Android, and Apple crapped all over that.

      One of the big benefits of Android is that Google does not take a heavy-handed approach to filtering what makes it into their store, and Apple is slapping them in the face with an app whose function AND design would both be instantly rejected if the positions were reversed.

      You think Google would be able to get a Material-designed app into the iOS app store-- let

    • These are phones, people. It's not a religion.

      Burn the heretic!

  • Politically correct (Score:5, Insightful)

    by codeButcher ( 223668 ) on Thursday September 17, 2015 @08:29AM (#50539753)
    "Allegiance" is such a harsh-sounding word. I prefer "inertia-induced lock in".

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by AmiMoJo ( 196126 )

      Not just inertia. If you have a load of paid Android apps and want to switch, you need to buy them all again for iOS.

  • Comment removed (Score:4, Interesting)

    by account_deleted ( 4530225 ) on Thursday September 17, 2015 @09:05AM (#50539959)
    Comment removed based on user account deletion

    • Depends, really.

      For disposable stuff like phones, I have and recommend the Android route. You don't keep a phone for long enough (on average) to call it an investment, since 2 years is a bit of a stretch for most owners.

      For the relatively durable stuff? It depends.

      For the typical email/Facebook/flash-game user, a typical i3 or i5 laptop for $300-$500 or so is just fine, and will last 2 years on average if treated gingerly.

      Now for me, it's a bit different... I bought a 15" MacBook Pro as my primary laptop in

      • The laptop stuff from MSI, Gigabyte etc. looks (at least looks) good. They are motherboard vendors, and graphics card vendors too so I trust them more than HP/Dell/Packard Bell etc. at making hardware, and it's not littered with stickers.

        • The laptop stuff from MSI, Gigabyte etc. looks (at least looks) good. They are motherboard vendors, and graphics card vendors too so I trust them more than HP/Dell/Packard Bell etc. at making hardware, and it's not littered with stickers.

          But there's a HUGE difference between getting some Contract Manufacturer to stuff a PCB and doing the industrial engineering necessary for an entire PRODUCT.

          Apple has a PROVEN track-record in the latter, Gigabyte and MSI, er, don't.

          • To be more explicit vendors that make graphics card anywhere from 20 watts to 250 watts and more know at least something about cooling.

    • True, my SO has a $179 Moto G2 and I have a $199 Asus Zenfone2, both bought unlocked, add a cheap 32GB SD card for music/movies and we are in business.
      I'm sure we can keep them easily for 2 or 3 years.
      The G2 runs a clean version of Android, the Zenfone2 has some bloat that can easily be disabled, and ZenUI is surprisingly fast and good.
      No way I will spend $700 on a phone!

    • Re:misses the point entirely. (Score:4, Insightful)

      by jo_ham ( 604554 ) <joham999 AT gmail DOT com> on Thursday September 17, 2015 @12:23PM (#50541383)

      That's your opinion on why people switched away, but if you use actual facts - i.e., adoption rates of phones and polls conducted asking people why they bought the phone they did the main reason that people switched away from iOS was that they didn't offer large phones and Android manufacturers did.

      When the 6 and 6+ launched the trend swung back the other way.

      I'm sure there were some converts because of price, but from the adoption numbers it's pretty clear people wanted bigger phones and went to Android to get them only to come back when Apple also offered them.

      • but from the adoption numbers it's pretty clear people wanted bigger phones and went to Android to get them only to come back when Apple also offered them.

        What numbers?
        Android still outsell iPhones by about 5:1 worldwide, and the launch of the larger iPhone didn't change much. In fact, Apple has lost market share since their peak of 2012.
        https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/... [wikipedia.org]

        • Re: (Score:2)

          by jo_ham ( 604554 )

          but from the adoption numbers it's pretty clear people wanted bigger phones and went to Android to get them only to come back when Apple also offered them.

          What numbers?
          Android still outsell iPhones by about 5:1 worldwide, and the launch of the larger iPhone didn't change much. In fact, Apple has lost market share since their peak of 2012.
          https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/... [wikipedia.org]

          Apple's numbers from polling people who buy iPhones. They have been tracking this for several years and have determined that an increasing number of people buying iPhones are switching from Android.

          The overall numbers of Android phones sold worldwide is irrelevant - only the proportion of iPhone users who were using something other than iOS on their previous phone.

          It's no surprise that Android phones outsell iPhones overall - Android phones cover the whole gamut from premium to basic, while iPhone is only i

          • Apple's numbers from polling people who buy iPhones

            Yeah, of course we should blindly trust these numbers.

            • Re: (Score:2)

              by jo_ham ( 604554 )

              Apple's numbers from polling people who buy iPhones

              Yeah, of course we should blindly trust these numbers.

              Wow, the Apple Hate is strong in this one!

              Who cares if you trust the numbers. Apple clearly trusts the numbers enough to write and publish an app for the Google Play store because it believes it will be worth the effort (whatever small effort it costs them to assign people to develop and test it).

              I'm not sure what your point is here? Apple has said that an increasing number of iPhone buyers are coming from Android (something it mentioned after the 6 and 6+ launch, and which seems to be continuing) and so it

              • There is probably more people switching from iPhone to Android. Why? Because more smartphones are being sold than ever.

                • Re: (Score:2)

                  by jo_ham ( 604554 )

                  There is probably more people switching from iPhone to Android. Why? Because more smartphones are being sold than ever.

                  So?

                  How does that affect the metric of "number of new iPhone users who used a non-iPhone"?

                  Apple has collected this data. It has talked about this data. It has shown this data during keynotes. They obviously believe that there are enough Android>iOS switchers out there to make the release of a migration app worthwhile (or at the very least, officially support the one that has been on the Play store for some time - it is effectively a licenced version with official Apple artwork and support).

                  It doesn't matt

    • but it really got bad during the financial collapse of 2008.

      Ya know what was really strange to me? During the deep recession of late 2008 to 2010, Apple's stock (and marketshare) SURGED, while the rest of the industry TANKED.

      As you mentioned, Apple products are not bargain-basement; but for whatever reason, they weathered the economic storms of the Recession with AMAZING performance!

      Frankly, it amazed me, too. But facts is facts, and you didn't check them. So here [zdnet.com] you [appleinsider.com] go [linkedin.com]...

    • Google maps "public transport" is - cough - usable since a year or two.
      Neither apple maps nor google maps are in any way great for using public transport.
      You are better of with a paper map.
      Depending on zoom level they only show stations but no routes, or stations vanish if you zoom in deeper.
      Note to Google and Apple: public transport forms a grid like roads, stations only are completely pointless.
      Speaking about Berlin or Paris, e.g.

  • Money in my bank account? (Score:3)

    by CastrTroy ( 595695 ) on Thursday September 17, 2015 @09:07AM (#50539969)

    Does it deposit $400 in my back account? Because that's about the price difference between the lowest priced current iPhone and what I spent on my last 2 phones, which were previously Android, and currently Windows. I don't particularly like iOS, and probably wouldn't choose it anyway, but the high price of the devices is what really keeps me away from even considering it. Especially considering that my last 2 phones have been very sufficient in their specifications, and I really don't think I'd have a better experience with my phone if it was 3mm thinner, or had a slightly faster processor.

    The other thing I like about Android and Windows is that with the phones I choose, I can use an SD card to expand the storage. This is something that's important to me because even a small amount of media (videos, photos, music) can quickly fill up the 16GB iPhone. For $15 I can get a 32 GB MicroSD, and be able to bring way more stuff with me than I could on an iPhone, for a fraction of the price it would cost to upgrade to an iPhone with a reasonable amount of storage.

    • Re:Money in my bank account? (Score:5, Interesting)

      by Dixie_Flatline ( 5077 ) <<moc.liamg> <ta> <hog.naj.tnecniv>> on Thursday September 17, 2015 @12:00PM (#50541165) Homepage

      The phone is expensive, no question, but my last iPhone lasted me 4 years and I expect this new one to do the same. I get support during those 4 years and I don't have to wait for updates. The resale value is really good, too. The cost of an iPhone is a lot less if you consider how much you can sell a phone that's still in good shape.

      But these are all trade-offs, and I won't pretend they're not. I get a lot of things that are important to me by buying an iPhone, but I trade off being able to buy a new, cutting edge phone every year because it costs way too much. If I want to sell it, I can, but I have to go through the ordeal of selling it.

      I *do* regret buying a 16GB phone (I thought I would be okay because 16GB was always plenty on my iPhone 4, even with a healthy music playlist), but streaming music and some smart cloud offloading definitely make this phone liveable, even with games and apps and podcasts. If there's one complaint I have--and that the Apple community and pundits have--it's that stupid 16GB tier.

      • Updates are the reason that I went with Windows this round over Android. My last Android phone never saw a single update, and was stuck on 2.3 for the 3 years I owned it, even though it was released 6 months before Android 4 came out. Windows Phone seems to be much more likely to get updates than most Android phones. I've already received 1 update on my current phone that I've had for 5 months, so it's already a better track record than my last Android phone. As long as it gets Windows 10 (which it seems

      • The phone is expensive, no question, but my last iPhone lasted me 4 years

        That's cute. I had the same phone all the way through highschool and 3/4 of the way through my uni life. And I changed degrees halfway through.

    • The other thing I like about Android and Windows is that with the phones I choose, I can use an SD card to expand the storage. This is something that's important to me because even a small amount of media (videos, photos, music) can quickly fill up the 16GB iPhone. For $15 I can get a 32 GB MicroSD, and be able to bring way more stuff with me than I could on an iPhone, for a fraction of the price it would cost to upgrade to an iPhone with a reasonable amount of storage.

      So what? You're going to carry a wallet-full of SD cards around, just waiting to lose, break or corrupt one (whoops! I guess I shoulda backed that up...)???

      SD Storage-expansion SOUNDS like a good idea; but in practice, it really doesn't fit well with the idea of "my phone goes with me everywhere".

      And with a 128 GB iPhone being available, do you REALLY need more than that WITH YOU at one time? If so, make it available via a home server over VPN. Honest, that's a MUCH more REASONABLE solution than carryin

      • You have a profound misunderstanding of the use case. And you grow increasingly annoying.

      • I rather have a keyring full with SD cards to put into my iOS device than a server in a VPN.

        First of all: without iTunes you barely can not "install" / download anything onto you iPhone, so a VPN is pointless.

        Secondly, I don't have the hardware nor time, nor knowledge to install me a VPN at home.

        Thirdly: I live in Europe. And I'm not a german but a european, in other words, I spent perhaps 50%, perhaps even only 30% of my time in germany.

        So: cellular connections are so expensive I never use them. The idea t

      • The great thing about SD card expansion isn't that I can swap out cards, but rather than I can choose the amount of storage I have available on my phone without paying ridiculous amounts of money for it.

        That's the problem with the iPhone. I would have to spend $200 more, totaling $850 to get the 128 GB version. Instead, I could buy an Android or Windows phone with SDXC support for $300, and spend $60 for a 128 GB Micro SD Card. $360 total for the Android or Windows setup, or $850 for the iPhone. That's a

  • The only options when one replaces an iPhone with another is to start from scratch or do a complete copy of the old phone. Admittedly the latter is a doddle with iTunes, but I'd actually just like an option to copy messages and call history. The rest I'm happy to start from scratch with, but I haven't found an easy way to do it.

  • Hotel Cupertino (Score:5, Funny)

    by njnnja ( 2833511 ) on Thursday September 17, 2015 @11:28AM (#50540927)

    On the information superhighway, cool wind in my hair,
    Warm smell of Doritos, rising up through the air
    Up ahead in the distance, I saw a touchscreen with light
    My laptop's too heavy and my dumb phone sucks
    I had to stop for the night
    There she stood at the genius bar;
    I heard The Joshua Tree
    And I was thinking to myself,
    "This could be Heaven or this could be Siri"
    Then she swiped to unlock it, and she showed me the way
    There were hipsters down the corridor,
    I thought I heard them say...

    Welcome to the Hotel Cupertino!
    Such a lovely place
    Such a lovely interface
    Plenty of apps at the Hotel Cupertino
    Every other year
    Have to buy new gear

    Her mind is Tiffany-twisted, she got the Mercedes bends
    She got a lot of app developers she calls friends
    How they code like some monkeys, in a shop filled with sweat.
    Some code to remember, some code to forget
    So I called up the CEO,
    "Please bring me my 'i'"
    He said, "We haven't had that spirit here since 2009"
    And still those hipsters are calling from far away,
    Amber alert in the middle of the night
    Just to hear them say...

    Welcome to the Hotel Cupertino
    Such a lovely place
    Such a lovely interface
    They livin' it up at the Hotel Cupertino
    Alibis you bring...
    There's just one more thing...
    Selfie sticks now with bluetooth,
    Instagrams look like ice
    And she said "We are all just prisoners here, of the Apple device"
    And in the Apple store,
    Nobody ever feels fleeced
    They trade in all their old device,
    But they never pay the least
    Last thing I remember, I was
    Running for the door
    I had to find the passage back
    To the OS I was on before
    "Relax, " said the genius,
    "It is programmed to receive.
    You can check-out any time you like,
    But you can never leave!

  • How I read this:

    "Company releases tool that utilises its competitor's openness in order to suck in your data into a system that doesn't have that same ease of transfer functionality in return."

    It sounds very much like a one-way-street to me. But I don't use Apple, except in my job, so I may be unaware of some great export tool that makes it really easy to bring all your contacts etc. out of an Apple device to put it in standardised formats for you that need anything but the device you're using to export fr

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