Tonight, I put my order in for my Galaxy Nexus. It took a while, this transition of mine; and honestly, I don't know why it did. I've stated before my reservations about making the switch from iOS to a better operating system, but now, I've found that they won't be making a big enough impact to have even been a concern in the first place.

If you're in a similar situation, you might be having some of the same thoughts that I did when I decided to make the switch. Join me past the break so I can settle your qualms about the entire process. 

Media

Since I'm coming from an iPhone, media plays a big role in my switch – and I assume in many others' switches, as well. I've been a fairly religious user of iTunes for the past six years. iTunes gave me a one-stop shop for music, television shows, and movies that were guaranteed to work with my iDevices. But at $0.99 per song, or $1.99 per SD television episode, or upwards of $9.99 for a movie, I really couldn't afford to consume all the media I would've liked. Enter streaming services. 

I pay $10 a month for Spotify and another $10 for Rdio; although I was a serious (and bigger) fan of the latter for a while, it just doesn't have the selection that Spotify does, so my subscription status may be changing soon. With Spotify, I can have an unlimited amount of listens to an almost-unlimited amount of music and other audio tracks. I can also sync an unlimited amount of those tracks to my mobile devices. My iPad and iPhone are always topped off with my favorite tunes that are literally fractions of a cent to play per month. Check around to find the best service for you, and make sure that the one you like the most is available in your country.

If you're a big video watcher, then you'll probably already have subscriptions to Netflix or Hulu or some other service. I'm not, so I don't, but I know that a lot of people couldn't live without their movies; if you're that kind of person, make sure your version of Android has apps for the services that you use the most. Also make sure that the device you want will support those apps. 

Apps

Apps, of course, are a big part of any ecosystem. I have purchased many apps, but they've mostly been $0.99 and are universal so I can use them on my iPad. I use my iPad every day, so my previous purchases shouldn't make me feel like I've wasted any money. At the same time, I really wish my existing apps could transfer to my new platform. Regardless, I think I'll be fine: most Android apps have free and paid versions, and sometimes the only difference between the two is a few ads.

Conclusion

My thoughts towards switching platforms have changed dramatically in the past few months. Whether that's a result of actually considering a change in device or because streaming services and free apps make a world of difference, I may never know. What I do know is that using a smartphone should be a pleasurable experience. There needs to be fun and productivity together – a combination that seems not to exist on iOS anymore. 

I'm eagerly awaiting my Googlephone. It should be here Friday. I'm all set up with required files, my Google accounts, and streaming services so I can get right to work when I boot up my Nexus for the first time. I hope that this little guide has helped you decide if a switch is right for you, too. I'll follow up with all of you when I've had some time to truly settle into Android, to let you know just how helpful these tips have been.

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