Is a Switch-To-Android App in the Works for iOS Users?
Is Google making the bold move to aim for iOS users? According to a recent article from Google9to5, Google is working on an iOS app called ‘Switch to Android’.
If we consider that there are basically two major mobile operating systems, Android and iOS, users need to choose between these two options. And it isn't easy to migrate from one to the other - the companies made sure of that.
While doing this has its benefits, it is also a double-edged sword. Users who have grown accustomed to one OS will usually stay with what is familiar to them and will rarely change sides. Apple has already started to blur this boundary with their ‘Move to iOS’ app that's available in the Google Play Store. Now it seems that Google is retaliating.
Currently, users are restricted to using Google Drive to move files and data from iOS to an Android device. The way it works is that users would back up as much of the iOS data as they can to Google Drive, and then from there, they can transfer it to their Android devices. This is not an ideal solution. Not only is it archaic, but it is slow and clunky. Definitely not what you’d expect from twenty-first-century technology. Also, you cannot transfer certain important files, such as apps, which means you will lose this in the switch.
The ‘Switch to Android’ app should resolve this and make it much easier to transfer your data and apps from your iOS device to your new Android device. At least that’s the hope. From the little bit of information that has been released, it would appear that iPhone users would enter their Apple credentials into the ‘Switch to Android’ app, which would then enable them to move their data to the new Android device.
However, there is very little clarity on how exactly this process would work. Will Google have a reference table that they use to install the Android equivalent of the iOS app on the new phone? Will there be any way to move over paid-for apps without having to buy the Android version? In that case, how many useful apps would users be able to transfer? And is it worth it?
Closing Words
At the moment, the ‘Switch to Android’ app has not been released to the Play Store yet. We look forward to seeing how the app works and what difference it will make once it is released. If you consider that Apple released their ‘Move to iOS’ app five years ago, we find it odd that Google is only retaliating now.
I got an impression from the title that the switch would magically transform an Apple IOS device into an Android one. Is that technically possible or doable? I don’t really need 2 phones with different operating systems, IOS works very well for me. OTOH Android was always a pain especially with obsolescence issues. (planned) YMMV of course.
Really truly wish ghacks would cover Apple devices/software more extensively. You’re ignoring a big chunk of the market by snubbing it. And by the way, Linux has a much smaller user base than Apple but gets more coverage? Why?
Who is this author, didn’t see any bio on ghacks? Is Ashwin still onboard?
>magically transform an Apple IOS device into an Android one. Is that technically possible or doable?
No. Technically it might be, but Apple doesn’t allow installation of any other OS on iPhones.
Apple devices are boring, though… :)
Yes, he is :)
In five years 150,000 downloads of Move to iOS.
Not too popular.
Google’s mover thing won’t get much interest either, I’d suspect.
With ‘Switch to iOS’ Apple installs automatically iOS equivalent of the Android apps. It also copies the data.
@ilev:
With the extremely annoying exception of WhatsApp chat history. A total pain in the butt.