[bhauer]

I was briefly excited to hear they had separated media synchronization from the atrocity of iTunes. I just experimented with the "Apple Devices App" for PC. Unfortunately, the experience has been poor, which is what I should have anticipated given Apple's track record for PC software.

First, the linked documentation provides no information about where to get the Apple Devices App. It turns out, it's only available from the Microsoft App Store. Fair enough, but odd that the documentation never says that. Second concern: yikes, this synchronization app is 188 Mb in size. But whatever, I have tons of storage on my PC, so let's proceed.

The final and biggest issue: the app simply never recognizes my phone. The phone is unlocked and has trusted the computer. It shows up in Windows Explorer as a storage device (significantly hobbled by Apple's needless file system obfuscation, but that's not new). The Apple Devices App never stops saying "Connect a device to proceed."

All told, a typical Apple software experience.

If Android weren't so awful, I'd be much happier. The way Android devices appear as just a standard storage device with a normal file system is so much easier to deal with.

[NoPedantsThanks]

Apple's fear of proper I/O strikes again.

Forcing customers to use a shitty JUKEBOX app to manage all the content (including applications) on a handheld Unix computer was embarrassing on day one. But after a decade... and then more... it's offensive to those customers.

Now they made the already-shambolic Windows situation even worse. It's bad enough on Mac, where the videos you shot yourself inexplicably wind up in the "TV" app now. Why the hell would you look in Apple TV for stuff you shot on your phone?

[dangus]

This isn’t embarrassing. Apple is supporting their “older way” of doing things for longer than anyone else.

The fact that they let you do via cable so many things that their competitors have deprecated entirely or moved to cloud is commendable. These apps all still support iPods as well.

Tell me how to buy an album from Google and have it automatically sync to your iPhone when it’s plugged in to the computer. No cloud.

Tell me how to make a backup image of your Android phone without touching a Google account. Apple’s sync app can do it for you. Let me guess, you have to use a developer tool that wasn’t intended for the consumer?

Not sure what the hell you're talking about regarding Apple TV.

[lern_too_spel]

The APIs for doing these things are open on Android. You do not need to rely on Google for the software, meaning the options are better than the single broken option that Apple provides. You can use syncthing for p2p sync over the Internet or adb sync over the cable or even rsync and all the tools built on top.

Also, Google doesn't sell albums, but you can buy music from Amazon or any other store you like and have good sync support instead of being limited to iTunes.

[dangus]

I’m also pretty sure that syncthing won’t help you with local full device backups and restores right? Isn’t the only way to do that to turn on developer options and use adb or another program that interacts with adb to backup? Google doesn’t even intend the user to do that judging by the way it’s hidden behind developer options, their only full device backup solution is cloud based.

So the question here is “how does Grandma sync content and make full device backups without the cloud?”

It sounds like Google’s option is to implement it yourself. You’ve got to go out and find the right software for your needs and none of it is made by Google.

For full device backups you have to be well-informed enough to enable Android debugging (which, again, is a developer feature and is labeled as such), or to get a third party program like syncthing/rsync. You have to build your sync stack on your own without Google’s help.

That DIY situation fine for a lot of people and it is true that it’s more powerful and open than what Apple gives you. But Apple is selling you a solution that is much more friendly to the average person and represents a complete solution without relying on third party software.

I can tell a 70 year old who refuses to use the cloud how to plug their iPhone into a Mac or PC and take a regular backup without needing to put their data on a cloud. On the Mac you don’t even have to install software, and on the PC the software comes from Apple directly. I don’t have to explain how to tap the build number seven times to enable developer options.

[lern_too_spel]

A 70 year old who refuses to use the cloud and doesn't know how to use developer options after following directions from a backup app but can follow the directions in iTunes backup is a rare (maybe nonexistent) thing.

[TheNightman]

Never had a problem like this on Mac. When I shoot a video on my iPhone, it’s in the photo library on my Mac. Same with downloads, photos, passwords, safari tabs, clipboard and more. No transferring of files required at all, let alone through the Apple TV app?

[donatj]

> If Android weren't so awful

What's so awful about Android? When was the last time you used it. I use both regularly and frankly find a lot of what Android does these days better.

Heck, Apple Music on Android is even my Music app of choice.

[burntwater]

I've switched back and fourth multiple times. After about 10 years on Android I recently switched back to iPhone for one feature and one feature only - its integrations with hearing aids. In every other way I can think of, I find Android so much better. I remember having the same reaction when I switched 10 years ago too.

Well, I switched for another reason - I've had three Pixel phones, and all three phones had hardware failures in less than 2 years, so there is that.

[lern_too_spel]

Android 14 added hearing aid support.

I'm with you on Google's hardware being just awful, but though iPhone hardware is better, the software makes it nigh unusable, and without at least another decade of regulatory action, Apple won't allow me to replace the bits I don't like with better software.

[ffsm8]

The cross device integrations really are the biggest selling point of apple devices. They don't always work, and some work better then others... But every other ecosystem is just smaller.

I.e. you can get your sms from an android on your windows PC through multiple applications, but it's not built-in and you still need to configure it. Same with the easy switching with air pods. Also available for select headphones and various devices, but not built-in.

I am always giggling about apple fanboys being outraged about windows including advertising in the start menu however, considering apple inserts an advert for their cloud storage in the settings app that can't even be dismissed/disabled.

And that's ignoring the constant reminders that you really should use apple music, the gaming service etc

[jamesrr39]

> If Android weren't so awful

Just curious, what is it that people don't like about Android?

[asciimov]

Updates. No guarantee that you will get the next OS update even on a brand new phone. Which stinks when financial apps require you be on the latest OS.

Yes, this happened to me a decade ago on 2 different Android devices. Since then I've moved my family and extended family to iOS and my ongoing tech support is dramatically reduced.

[rickdeckard]

A lot happens in a decade, at some point even a browser flushes its cache and fetches new data... ;)

[asciimov]

Sure does. I have no problem with using android, but as long as I have to do family tech support, I'll stick to iPhones.

[ripdog]

Just buy Samsung or pixel. 7 years of updates guaranteed.

[asciimov]

Sure I can do that.

It's a lot harder to tell older relatives, just go buy a Samsung Android. Likely they will come back with some low end android that the salesperson said was on sale.

Where as If I tell, go get an Apple iPhone. They can pick that up and get the "right one", which ever it is.

[ripdog]

I'm not sure I understand. Your relatives can remember to buy Apple but not Samsung?

Also, Samsung offers lower end phones with lesser but still good update policies. They're good phones but a lot cheaper than any iPhone, which should satisfy your older relatives.

[asciimov]

Yeah, it's amazing.

If I say buy an Apple iPhone and its very likely they turn up with an iPhone maybe not the one I told them but a new Apple iPhone.

But if I say Samsung Android, they are just as likely to buy some weird no-name Android because it was a color they wanted or size or something the salesman pushed on them cause "Android is Android right?"

[ThePowerOfFuet]

You should try a Pixel with GrapheneOS.

[asciimov]

I know a lot has changed in 10 years, but I'm sure glad to be done with flashing an alternative OS onto my phone to get continued support or to rid it of bloat.

[mplewis]

Consistency of user experience. Reliable security updates for old devices that still function. Heavy integration with the Google spyware ecosystem. Poor CPU performance and battery life. Low-quality peripherals such as cameras. Manufacturer defects in Google-branded devices.

[sngz]

> Consistency of user experience.

like how the back gesture works on iphones across generation and apps?

> Reliable security updates for old devices that still function

7 years of update isn't long enough?

> Heavy integration with the Google spyware ecosystem

last I checked iOS is closed source. Run your own OS or just don't use google apps. I bet most people are using gmail and google maps on their iphones too.

> Poor CPU performance and battery life.

compared to which android phone? and is this before or after apple throttles your iphone?

> Low-quality peripherals such as cameras

flag ship androids consistently have better camera hardware compared to iphones, iphone just makes it up with better camera software. You could go the sony route if you don't live in the U.S. to get a better overall camera focused phone.

> Manufacturer defects in Google-branded device

good thing you have options in android ecosystem.

[sngz]

Probably cause it doesn't have an apple logo on it