First steps for those who come from iOS to Android

You may not have liked Android before and the new features have made you opt for a smartphone with Google's operating system. Or simply, the price of some terminals with Android seems much more logical to you than what you have to pay for an iPhone. Be that as it may, we have created a small guide so that you can take the first steps with an Android and not die trying.

1.- It is not a new ecosystem

You start the smartphone, enter all the data it asks for, and then you find a menu with some icons, which were not like that before, and you don't even know which is the menu button to access all the applications. It is difficult for this to happen, because most likely at some point you have had to use an Android smartphone. In any case, there is no doubt that the typical question usually arises when one is released from prison after 40 years there: "what now?" But luckily, in this case it is nothing different than what iOS was. The ecosystem is very similar. The mobile brings some functions, and we can install new applications that add functions. In essence, it is all of that.

2.- Don't be afraid of viruses

If you come from iOS, surely you have heard before that Android has many more viruses than iOS. In part, that is true, but the truth is that it is not easy for one of those viruses to end up installed on our smartphone in the first days. What's more, most Android users have never had a virus controlling their phone, so you don't have to worry. We can practically say that you can install the applications you want from Google Play, just like you would with the App Store on an iPhone. Some of them may include advertising, or show you many notifications. In the worst case, you will only have to uninstall that app. And even if the mobile ends up infected, it is most likely that you can solve it by resetting the mobile, so do not fear that an application will fry your new smartphone forever.

3.- Google account

The Google account on Android is like the account on iOS. It is necessary to be able to install applications, and it can make a backup of our contacts, application data, etc., which will be very useful to later reinstall everything on another smartphone. The main difference is that, by default, you will not have to retype the password every time you want to install an application, so be careful, do not leave your smartphone to people who have the habit of downloading paid applications. Mainly, avoid brothers-in-law who come to your vacation home, as they may make you spend money on purpose.

4.- Synchronization

This is new, and it is the biggest difference that I find between an iOS smartphone and an Android. Synchronization is the ability of an application to update its data. Although it is better understood with an example. If you have the synchronization active, you will receive mentions from Twitter, or notifications from Facebook. If you have it deactivated, you will only receive all that when you voluntarily access Facebook or Twitter. Synchronization can be activated and deactivated in the quick settings, or by going to Settings> Accounts and synchronization. The best of all is to keep it active, because that way it will be much more similar to what was on an iPhone. However, you can disable it. Above all, it will be useful when you want to save data or battery because you are about to drain it.

5.- Widgets

Widgets are small applications that are always active and that you can have on your desktop. It can be a weather application, an alarm clock, a calculator, a window with email, etc. Many apps have built-in widgets in case you want to add them to the home screen. Do not add them all, the idea is that you only have the main ones, as they also consume battery.

6.- Launcher and Lockscreen

Turn off your Android screen. Turn it on. What you see right now is the Lockscreen, or the screen lock window. It can be changed, because that is just an application, like any other on Android. You just have to install another lockscreen app you want. Normally, the paid ones, which are cheap, are the best option. Pick one that goes well and you like, and put it on forever. Now, unlock the screen. You're looking at the main icons in the bottom bar, a Google search bar in the top section, and the icons you have on your desktop. This is called Launcher. And not only that. When you open the application drawer, where all the installed apps are, you are also browsing the launcher. Again, we are talking about a normal and current application, like all the others, and you can replace it with another. Thus, you can change the appearance of the lock window, the home screen, and the application drawer. The only thing that you cannot change so easily (although you can also), are the Android Settings menus, and the notification bar, as these are native Android elements. However, everything else is customizable, so never think you don't like the way something looks on Android, it's just a matter of paint.