iOS to Android issues

[WisamHS]

Hello everyone,

I live in Dubai and im a new Android user. This is my first post on the forums as I am new to the android world and community.

I was using the iPhone 4, in my personal opinion the iPhone is a stupid phone with very minimal smart phone features, but what really makes it special is the ease of use and the insane amount of applications available to it.

So I did alot of research and I loved android and its features, so I ended up buying the SG2.

I was too excited as I started using it, the features are great, the hardware is amazing, but as I got deeper I started realizing I didnt do "enough" research

When I was using the iphone, I heavily use Viber, Tango, Facebook and local apps in Dubai.

1- Android has ZERO local apps in dubai, I found out its still not fully supported here.

2- I can only access free apps in the market and not all of them too.

3- Android doesnt support arabic font unless you root it.

4- Facebook app sucks compared to iOS FB app. (and it doesnt read arabic)

5- Viber still not available. Still in Beta phase.

6- Tango and some other apps for some reason only works in 3G not in Wifi. Not only that, but if I raise tango volume to more than 50% the other person will start hearing their own voice.

As little as those problems seem to be, theyre really important to me, I found myself forced to go back to iPhone and I dont know what to do with my SG2 now

I just wanted to share this story...maybe some of you can shed some light on things that I dont know yet about the Android world.

 

[cydia.ghost]

If you are talking about a samsung galaxy s2, I would buy it from you! How is that for a fix. I personally thing that the hardware available for android is far superior to iOS, and I am a current iPhone 4 user. But as you say, software is where it is at, and iPhone TODAY has a larger software base. That is changing fast.

Another option that may solve some of you issues is to email the developer of the software you would like to have and tell them your situation. They can email you the app directly. This would give you more access to software, but only if you can side load apps on your handset.

 

[Bnice]

I would suggest you research some more. If Dubai is not a big support of Android then you will be limited. Also look to see what other options are available for you.

 

[ninja_reject]

There are definitely something great keyboard apps that handle languages beautifully, like multiling. Try searching Arabic ime or Arabic keyboard in the market. I am sorry if that won't work for you though, because that is a great phone.

 

[mikedt]

1- Android has ZERO local apps in dubai, I found out its still not fully supported here.

2- I can only access free apps in the market and not all of them too.

Google really needs to get this situation fixed with the Market, especially for us international users. Maybe they could do what Apple does, and add the ability to select a particular country's Market. As long as one has a credit card for a particular country, e.g. I have a UK credit card although I'm in China, yet I can't buy any applications. This is an unacceptable situation.

 

[WisamHS]

If you are talking about a samsung galaxy s2, I would buy it from you! How is that for a fix. I personally thing that the hardware available for android is far superior to iOS, and I am a current iPhone 4 user. But as you say, software is where it is at, and iPhone TODAY has a larger software base. That is changing fast.

Another option that may solve some of you issues is to email the developer of the software you would like to have and tell them your situation. They can email you the app directly. This would give you more access to software, but only if you can side load apps on your handset.

Its not that I want to sell the phone, I love the phone it is great, but I wish this didnt happen to me.

I do hope the market gets larger soon, its not only that, but I somehow feel that there is no enough support or attention from developers towards android. late updates and such.

 

[WisamHS]

There are definitely something great keyboard apps that handle languages beautifully, like multiling. Try searching Arabic ime or Arabic keyboard in the market. I am sorry if that won't work for you though, because that is a great phone.

Keyboard is not the problem, I found a keyboard long time ago. Keyboard doesnt fix font support. you can type the letters but they're all disconnected.

Language to some extent I can live with, coz firefox supports arabic. but language problem + fb prob + viber prob + tango prob + wifi prob, all together is too much for me

 

[janpetras]

There are more apps for the android than there are for the iphone.
anyway, a quick solution for you is to install Market Enabler, that enables you to fool the market into thinking ur from the us and that gives you access to all the apps.

et voila.

 

[Guamguy]

Paid Market access has something to do with the financial laws of each nation which differs from country to country.

Having said that, most "paid" apps on the Android Market are just ad free versions of free apps. You're not really missing much.

Here are ways to get full market access:

[HOWTO] Android Market Enabler, Paid Apps, Every Country - Page 8 - xda-developers

xda-developers - View Single Post - [HOWTO] Android Market Enabler, Paid Apps, Every Country

As for Tango, it advertises in the Android Market as working with Wifi. So I'm not sure what's going on.

Me thinks that you need to strictly buy Android phones that are truly intended for the region.

HTC Corporation Middle East & Africa

SAMSUNG United Arab Emirates - Main

I would think you may have to consider selling the phone you have or live with English. You probably bought the phone from an importer, the model of which is likely to be either European or an Asian version.

The SGSII is not officially supported in the UAE.

Yet.

Although i feel that isn't going to take long. You can either get an officially Arabic versions, like I can see with the official MENA versions of the Nexus S i9023, HTC Sensation, Desire S or Incredible S, or wait for the official MENA versions of the SGS2.