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    7 Ways to Android-ify Your iPhone

    Switching from Android to iOS is usually a shock, but it surely does not should be. 
    Andrew Lanxon/CNET

    So you’ve got made the large leap from an Android cellphone to an iPhone. Maybe the iPhone 13 lastly received you over, or possibly you’ve got preordered the 2022 iPhone SE. Whichever Apple handheld you are now carrying, it is definitely an adjustment to navigate iOS after you’ve got been accustomed to Android. On the one hand, it is thrilling: You’re now a part of the blue bubble membership, and you’ll discover all of the useful options within the newly launched iOS 15.4.But you additionally should study a brand new working system that shares some similarities with Android but feels totally completely different. For instance, you possibly can’t set up apps from simply anyplace. You’ll have to get them from the Apple App Store and solely the App Store. Or what about the truth that you are still compelled to make use of a inflexible app grid, and might’t place apps wherever you please? You can also’t see info just like the time and notifications even when the show is off as you possibly can with many Android telephones. Annoying. If that is all beginning to sound acquainted, you could be joyful to know that there are methods to make your iPhone really feel much more like your previous Android cellphone. For occasion, do you know you possibly can add widgets, create customized app icons or use a third-party keyboard that is extra like what you are used to? I’ll stroll you thru a number of modifications which may make your new iPhone extra Android-like in simply the methods you need.Create a customized house display screen with widgets and Smart StackWidgets, and for that matter, a customized house display screen, are a handy option to maintain info at your fingertips, however maybe extra importantly you get to create a very customized expertise.Good information. Your iPhone helps widgets on the house display screen as nicely, and so they’re fairly superior. You can add a single widget, or create what’s referred to as a Smart Stack that can rotate by way of a collection of widgets primarily based on which widgets you work together with and the time of day.  Place a widget in your iPhone’s display screen by long-pressing in a clean spot. I often do it simply above the apps within the dock (the place the row of dots are for every house display screen). Tap on the plus signal within the top-left nook, after which drag and drop widgets to your display screen.  Create a Smart Stack of your individual by dragging widgets of the identical dimension on high of each other.Just maintain stacking widgets till you are joyful. 
    Animated picture by Jason Cipriani/CNET
    You cannot set up themes or launchers, however you possibly can nonetheless customise the iPhone’s look If you are used to creating customized app icons, you will be happy to know that your iPhone can help customized icons, too. You’ll want to make use of the Shortcuts app with the intention to obtain your customized look, and be prepared to take a position a while in every new creation — it’s a must to do it on an app-by-app foundation. So as an alternative of getting the inventory Mail, Safari or Messages app icons, you possibly can as an alternative use the AOL Mail icon, or no matter picture you need, to exchange the default icons.  Hopefully Apple will add help for theme or icon packs sooner or later, however as of proper now, the steps outlined on this submit are pretty much as good because it will get.  Use FaceTime to speak together with your Android friendsYes, you learn that appropriately. In iOS 15, you possibly can FaceTime with family and friends members who haven’t got an Apple machine. It may not make your iPhone really feel extra like your previous Android cellphone in the identical approach as different tips about this record. But it may assist with the transition because it gives a option to simply video-chat together with your Android mates with out having to put in a brand new app.  FaceTime calling works a bit in a different way once you’re speaking with customers of non-Apple gadgets. You have to generate a hyperlink that they will click on or faucet to hitch the decision from an internet browser. Just open the FaceTime app and faucet the Create Link button to get began. From there, you possibly can merely copy the hyperlink or faucet an app like Messages or Mail to share the invite together with your pal or member of the family. 

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    Miss Google’s keyboard? You can obtain our favourite, and in addition study some iPhone keyboard suggestions The little issues will be what we find yourself lacking probably the most about our previous gadgets. Take the keyboard for example. Google’s keyboard, Gboard, is beloved by many Android customers. But do not fret, you possibly can set up third-party keyboards on the iPhone, though you could discover they don’t seem to be as feature-packed because the Android equivalents. Android’s Gboard is obtainable on the iPhone if you wish to give it a shot.  However, in case you discover that third-party keyboards simply do not reduce it, listed here are a few of my private methods for getting probably the most out of the iPhone’s keyboard.  Move the cursor by long-pressing on the spacebar till the keys disappear, turning it right into a trackpad of kinds. Here’s a submit with a elaborate animated picture that reveals you the way it works.Create customized textual content alternative shortcuts by going to Settings > General > Keyboard > Text Replacement. This makes it simpler to kind cuss phrases (sorry not sorry, Mom), or shortly enter info like your e-mail deal with.You can swipe-to-type on the iPhone’s keyboard, identical to you possibly can on nearly each Android keyboard. If it isn’t working, make sure that it is turned on by going to Settings > General > Keyboard > Slide to Type and ensuring the change is within the On place.Psst. Google’s keyboard is obtainable on the iPhone. 
    Jason Cipriani/CNET
    You’re not locked in to Apple’s default apps. Use Google’s apps as an alternativeYou’re in luck. Google does a superb job of retaining the identical apps you’ve got come to know and love on Android up to date on the iPhone. Instead of linking you to each single Google app, I’ll as an alternative level you to Google’s developer web page within the App Store the place yow will discover all the apps which might be accessible for the iPhone (or iPad).  You could also be shocked at simply what number of apps Google has constructed for the iPhone. Google Maps, Gmail, the Chrome browser, Google Docs, Google Drive and Google Keep are simply the tip of the iceberg. See the subsequent part for an much more pervasive Google app.You can use Google Assistant as an alternative of Siri to your search wants.
    Screenshots by Jason Cipriani/CNET
    Don’t like Siri? Use Google Assistant One of the apps Google has made accessible on the iPhone that is price declaring is Google Assistant. I do know Siri has a foul status in some methods, and I will not get into that debate right here, however for many who want to use Google’s digital assistant over Apple’s, you possibly can obtain and set up the devoted app.  But that does not remedy the issue of not having the ability to say, “Hey, Google” and have your iPhone reply. In order to do this, you will have to create a Shortcut within the Shortcuts app that can use Siri to launch Google Assistant.  With Google Assistant put in in your cellphone, open the Shortcuts app and faucet on the plus signal to create a brand new shortcut. Tap Add Action > Apps > Assistant > Ask Google and switch off Show When Run. Name the Shortcut both “Hey, Google” or “OK, Google.” The subsequent time you need to discuss to Google Assistant, activate Siri (maintain within the aspect button or say, “Hey, Siri”) after which use the title of your Shortcut.  For instance, you possibly can say “Hey, Siri, OK, Google, what’s the weather?” And Siri will move your request to the Google Assistant app.  It’s clunky and never superb, however in case you actually do not like Siri, it will get the job completed. 
    Sarah Tew/CNET
    Face ID is not excellent. Here’s easy methods to make it higher If you are switching from an Android cellphone with fingerprint unlock, Face ID can really feel irritating if it does not at all times acknowledge your face (like in case your head is half-buried in a pillow) and unlock your iPhone in a correct period of time. Here’s what I recommend: Add an alternate look, which is rather like scanning your face a second time; that is the equal of scanning 4 fingerprints in your previous Android cellphone as an alternative of only one. But as an alternative of placing on sun shades or another accent to alter your look, undergo the registration course of with the “typical” look that provides you probably the most bother. If that is simply off the bed with raveled hair and luggage underneath your eyes, so be it. This sort of information is saved solely in your cellphone, and that is face unlock, not a magnificence contest.To scan your face once more, open Settings > Face ID & Passcode and faucet Set Up an Alternate Appearance.  Now that your iPhone appears to be like and feels extra like your previous cellphone, take a while to get to know iOS a bit of higher. Check out these settings it’s good to change, and ensure you’re maintaining on the newest iOS 15 options. Oh, and there are hidden options you need to learn about too.

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