First Impressions

Today I dropped my Google Nexus S for the last time. I called around to a couple of repair shops and learned that it would cost me at least $200 to fix the shattered screen/LCD. Time to shop for a new phone! I would have happily spent $200 on another Android phone, but after spending too much time trying to figure out which Android phone is the best/almost as great as an iPhone,  I decided to bite the bullet and make the switch.

Less than 12 hours in, a few thoughts on the switch from a Google Nexus S running Android 4 to an iPhone 4s:

What I miss about the Nexus S:

• Having gone through a few Android phones (2 Nexus Ones, 1 Nexus S), the setup on Android is a breeze if you have a Google account. Everything just works -- your mail, contacts, calendars, and apps are all there automagically. I would hope migrating iPhones is just as painless, but I don't know (yet).
• Not surprisingly, I really miss the Gmail integration. It all worked for me, and well. Most common email actions are one click in Gmail on Android (reply, archive, delete). All are 2 in Mail. Support for multiple accounts works really well. I've downloaded the Gmail app and I like it more than Mail, but there doesn't seem to be support for multiple accounts. Is there a better iOS email app out there?
• Android 4.0 is very swipe-y. I falsely assumed that was something copied from iOS. I actually miss the swipey-ness.

What I like about the iPhone 4s:

• It's very responsive and feels fast.
• Much better keyboard. I read a lot of email on my Nexus S, but didn't write a lot because the keyboard sucks. It's much better in 4.0, but it still sucks.
• More apps, duh. What are some of your favorites? So far I've installed: Gmail, Twitter, Foursquare, Instagram, Rdio, Pepperplate, Kindle, Readability, Strw, Chase (banking), Facebook, and iTransNYC.
• I haven't used it much yet, but I think I'm going to love the camera.
• Siri might grow on me, I don't know yet. 

What I don't like about the iPhone 4s:

• Why can't I get rid of Newstand?!
• Unread email counts are very prominent. I always have a lot of unread messages, so this isn't a useful indicator for me. 
• iTunes 

Comments

[dansays]

You can turn off the unread email count badge. Settings > Notifications > Mail > Badge App Icon (off). Should work the same for the Gmail app.

Apps: Cinemagram, Connectrode, Last Rocket, Scorekeeper, Zombies Run!, FlightTrack, Calcbot, Tweetbot, Weightbot, Instacast. And people who use Gmail heavily seem to like Sparrow.

Don't forget to turn Find My iPhone on, and to lock it down: http://blogs.channel4.com/benjamin-cohen-on-technology/the-lessons-i-learnt-from-my-iphone-mugging/3658

[dansays]

Oh, and Ride the City. The web version is broken in Mobile Safari, but the app works great.

[dansays]

And Reeder, if you're into the whole RSS thing.

[David Jacobs]

I replaced my iPhone last week (don't ask), and I am doing things a little differently. I have all notifications off except for Messages, and I actually left Mail off my phone as well. Why I need to check mail, I just do so in the browser.

Other apps I recommend (all on my home screen): Strategery, Soulver, TaskPaper, Tweetbot. Chartbeat's app is really good. I second the recommendation of the Last Rocket as well.

[Alaina]

David - I found a case for your new phone!
http://www.etsy.com/listing/96815662/iphone-4s-case-cool-pokemon-gameboy?ref=sr_gallery_7&ga_search_query=iphone+case&ga_order=most_relevant&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_ship_to=US&ga_page=7&ga_search_type=handmade