1. Install Google apps
Most Android phones ship with Google made apps like Places and Latitude. It turns out that Google has many Google apps in the Apple App Store. Search for “Google” in the App Store and download Google Mobile App (with Goggles), Places, Voice, Latitude, Books, Earth, Shopper, Translate, and even lesser known Google features like Panoramio and Authenticator. Google still has a bigger app selection for Android, but their most popular apps are also available for iOS.
If there is a Google app that you like that is not in the app store (Gmail, Buzz, ect.), go to the mobile version of the web app and save it to the home screen. The iPhone also supports Google Docs editing in the browser like Android does.
There is also a YouTube app and an Apple customized Maps app pre-installed.
2. Customize
iOS has limited customization when compared to Android, but there are some things you can do to make your phone more like Android. Start by adding a cool background. Then you can add your favorite Google app (or a folder with a bunch of Google apps) to your dock so you feel more at home. Put some Google apps on your main screen. Set Google as your browser homepage.
3. Sync
iOS does support sync for some Google features. First, add your Gmail account to the Mail app. Then in the Settings for Mail, Contacts, & Calendars, you can enable Calendar and Notes for syncing. There’s no dedicated sync for Contacts, but the Address Book app on your Mac syncs with Google Contacts. Import them into your Address Book and then you can sync with your iPhone. If you want better Google Calendar support, check out CalenGoo ($6.99).
4. Make folders
You may be used to the Android launcher, where only your favorite apps go on the home screen, and the others are tucked away in your app drawer. On the iPhone, all your apps go on the home screen. Making folders can kind of remedy this. Think of it as a bunch of mini app drawers with 12 (or 20 for iPad users) apps each. A different drawer for each type of app. Make a folder for your favorite apps and drop it in the dock. Now it’s even more like a mini launcher. You can even make a dedicated page just for your folders, and put your favorite apps on another page.
5. Make use of voice commands
Holding down the home button on your iPhone will bring up a voice commands window. Voice commands are something Google really excels at. You can do the basic voice commands, but nothing as accurate or full-featured as Google’s Voice Actions. If you want that voice-searching goodness found in Android, use the Google Mobile App.
That’s pretty much all you can do without jailbreaking – but if you want to go to the dark side, this is where it gets interesting.
JAILBROKEN
6. Customize the lock screen
There are many apps in Cydia that will allow you to change the lock screen, like some simple Android apps that allow you to do the same. Add widgets, change the theme, and more.
7. Get better notifications
The Cydia app “MobileNotifier” gives you great notifications on your iOS device. This is a lot better than the iPhone’s default intrusive notifications.
8. Access quick settings
SBSettings allows you to toggle quick setting by swiping across the menu bar and selecting an option from the menu, much like the Android power control widget or the setting toggles that some skins/ROMs have.
9. Get a real launcher
If you download the Cydia app “Infinifolders,” you can make scrollable folders over the 12 app limit. So load up a single folder will all your apps, name it Launcher, Apps, Drawer, or whatever you fancy, and plop it in the dock. The only thing different about this launcher is that apps on the home screen will not appear in your launcher.
10. Theme up
If you want to go the extreme route, there are several Android-style themes in Cydia than can be run through the free app Winterboard.
JAILED & JAILBROKEN
11. Mobile Hotspot – The iPhone 4 includes a mobile hotspot feature, but it costs an extra $20 per month. You can do this option, but the Cydia app “MyWi” allows you to use a hotspot for just one fee of $20. Over a 2 year contract, MyWi’s $20 fee will save you money over the $480 that the default hotspot would cost.
12. Look on the bright side
Even though Android offers many features better than the iPhone, there still are some things than the iPhone is better at. It has more games, more apps over all, and many of the apps are better. You’re also less likely to run into bugs and glitches.
So there you have it. Whether you take the jailbreak route or not, there are ways to feel more at home if you’ve switched to iPhone from Android. Be on the look out for “How to Make Your Android More Like iPhone” in the future.
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