iOS vs Android when using Microsoft Services

[upsidedown]

It took months for me to finally get my Android phone to a state where I find it easy to use when I migrated from my Verizon 929. I am all in on MS services, but finally moved to the S7 for work and apps.

So here is what I found:

When I tried to automatically set up my outlook.com services on the phone, they only registered as IMAP so I did not have full integration. I had to set them up MANUALLY using the Google EXCHANGE setting on the Accounts page. Interestingly, when set up under MICROSOFT EXCHANGE ACTIVE SYNC on the accounts setup screen, I did not have access to all my sub calendars.

Once the services were set up, you can use any Android app that you like for email, calendar, contacts, etc. I use the Calendar app from Google, and Outlook app for email (though I use it sometimes for calendar. For some reason, Google Calendar app does NOT let you change the color of the multiple outlook calendars. The option is not in the settings screen. I found an app called Calendar Colors that works brilliantly and resolved this issue.

I tried a ton of Launchers, looking to balance ease of access and usability. I tried ZenUI, Nova, Touchwiz (stock on the Samsung), SquareHome2, and Arrow. I found Arrow had the right balance for me between customizability and ease of use.

Photos are set to back up to OneDrive, but I also simultaneously upload to Google Photos (why not, it's free).

I find Cortana more useful then Google Assistant so use that more.

Groove was fine, but Spotify family pricing is needed.

Good luck/

 

[DJCBS]

MS services and apps are far superior on Apple devices than they are on Android, email and calender, onedrive, groove, office all look and work better on ios.

I completely disagree. I find they work far far better on Android. Starting with the fact that they can tie more deeply into the OS.

 

[DQuiLon]

In my opinion, it all depends on what you are planing to do with your phone.... and also what you plan to install and use on a daily basis...

In all honesty I have been an Android user for 6 years now, and most of my Microsoft services were delegated to my laptop which for the most part of those years was my "secondary" device.... Now I recently got a Surface Book and started using it more than my phone and Microsoft services are also on the rise in terms of my personal usage... so.

If you are going to use your Android phone for services such as Skype, Email, and such you will be ok. I actually prefer using the Gmail app with my microsoft account credentials... and ironically I use the Windows 10 Mail app with my gmail credentials...

Android OS has a slight advantage in productivity (depending on the particular device that you get) in that the recent version 7 of the system allows for native Windows splitting, and is a better multitasking experience than iOS... Also, with Android you do get proper Mouse cursor if you ever use a Mouse with your phone or Android tablet, and the difference will be up to the manufacturer to implement the proper mouse controls... I.E. my Sony only allows for "left click" in every situation, and you need to treat it like a finger tap... you can click-and-hold for long taps and such..... but my wife's Asus tablet allows for "left click" and a back function when "right clicking", which is super helpful for navigating the OS...

I have use Office in Android and while is very limited as a creation tool it is the best option as a viewer/presenter. My Android phones have had always wired external display capabilities and I've taken advantage of this in more than one occasion for PowerPoint shows.

I prefer Google's Remote Desktop, over Microsoft one, however I am sure that Microsoft's offering is at least just as good. In my case, I had the credentials all set and it was very simply to just tap and use.

Just my 2c

 

[TheZeeMan]

App quality is irrelevant to this question. Not being able to set true default app alternatives in iOS relegates it to a second class alternative. If you are going to use a service as your default, you need to be able to set it as default. Android wins this regardless of app quality. That being said, used the rest, switched to Windows phones and never looked back.

I'm not so sure about this. When I switched to an iPhone, I tried using the default mail app, but because I had a live.com account, it forced me to install Outlook and outlook wanted to take over everything, although I couldn't get the contacts to sync so I ended up just keeping iOS's default contact app.

 

[nCogNeato]

I've exclusively used Windows Phone/Mobile since 2007.

• Samsung BlackJack, Windows Mobile 5
• Samsung BlackJack II, Windows Mobile 6
• Samsung Focus, Windows Phone 7
• Lumia 1520, Windows Phone 8/8.1/10/back to 8.1
• Lumia 640, Windows 8.1

I love the mobile Windows OS for a thousand reasons.

Over the last 10 years, I have converted many family, friend, and coworkers to the mobile Windows ecosystem.

With that said, I have reluctantly decided to look elsewhere for my next phone purchase, and have spent an obscene amount of time researching this.

My conclusion:

• Microsoft products are better on Android than iOS.
• If NFC (Android Pay) is important to you, buy one of the upcoming Nokia models (6, 5, or 3).
• If you don't want NFC, buy the Moto G5 Plus (motorola.com/us/products/moto-g-plus).
• If you want to spend more than $300 on a phone, Nokia will be releasing a flagship model later this year.

If Microsoft ever decides to release a "Surface Phone" that can run full Windows 10 OS, I'll retire my Android in a heartbeat. But until then, I wish all fellow Windows Phone/Mobile lovers the best if they decide to hold out longer than I have.