Setting up phones is a nightmare

Posted by bariumbitmap 3 days ago

Setting up phones is a nightmare(joelchrono.xyz)

76 points | 84 commentspage 2

deejaaymac 7 hours ago|

If you use android and don't choose GrapheneOS then idk what to tell you, its been an awesome experience with no issues for the last ~5ish years I've used it.

microtonal 6 hours ago|

Yep, no cloud storage upsells, no pushy AI crap, just a fast barebones smartphone and you can pick what you want on top.

juancn 6 hours ago||

iPhones are basically effort free, it takes a while, but 99% of it is transferred without a hitch, some poorly written apps may need an extra step.

freitasm 5 hours ago||

Another thing that annoys me on Android is the setup experience itself. All my recent device presentcthe same behaviour: login with a Google account, transfer data, setup voice assistant and some other defaults,done.

Then after the first app updates is done, a notification comes with "let's finish setting up your phone" and again asks to setup voice assistant, check defaults and whatever else is in the flow.

Has no one noticed that the setup flow seems to run twice?

And it's not one specific device. I do it with eight to ten devices a year, from different OEM, writing reviews and testing. They all have the same behaviour.

freitasm 5 hours ago|

Another annoying thing: very few apps are copied from old device to new devices and bring their settings and most importantly login. Of about 80 apps on my device, only five or so are ready to use after a migration.

Going through dozens of apps, doing logins, 2FAcand changing settings is a PITA.

Devs do a poor job on that front.

jeroenhd 2 hours ago||

Developers basically need to opt out not to use that feature. 2FA apps do that for understandable reasons (including on iOS).

In my experience just about everything but WhatsApp and maybe Signal work out of the box for apps downloaded through GPlay.

1970-01-01 6 hours ago||

Setting up enshittified devices is the nightmare. Don't curse out on all phones because they made a poor purchase decision. You're literally buying it wrong. Next time go with a slightly used device that's fully supported by GrapheneOS and marvel at the frictionless setup.

hollow-moe 7 hours ago||

I fear every single time I have to switch phones. Being degoogled means I first have to choose hardware based on custom ROMs compatibility, and fight the thing to just install the ROM. Then the fun begins, for every single stupid feature I have to install and setup a solution (app) optionally restoring a backup individually. Contacts, calendar, files, maps, passwords, airtag protection, email, IM, keyboard, weather, notes, smart garbage:tm:, alternative YouTube client...The state of current tech is pityful, if it wasn't what I was doing to put food on the table I wouldn't want any of this garbage 10 meters near me. Edit: Before any of the geniuses here says "at least you can use alternatives" I don't want to hear your copium, it's obvious this won't last.

ray_v 6 hours ago||

Is it not clear that's it's just the well-known phenomenon, "enshittification" at play?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enshittification

dismalaf 6 hours ago||

This is literally the midwit meme...

Here's how you actually set up an Android phone:

- log into Google account

- select a few checkboxes (basically just if you want to restore apps or not)

- done, everything else is automatic

All the fuckery they decided to do because they think they're tech savvy wasn't required.

urbandw311er 1 hour ago|

You don’t sound very tech savvy yourself to be honest! Well, certainly not security conscious or in anyway concerned about data privacy.

iberator 7 hours ago|

It is not. Takes like 30 seconds

Pikamander2 7 hours ago|

If you want your brand new phone to be filled with adware apps and obnoxious default settings, sure.

hagbard_c 6 hours ago|||

You bought the wrong phone and/or put the wrong distribution on it. Having said this it does take more than 30 seconds to get a new device up to your personal specs unless you're fine with whatever vendor distribution runs on it - which can work if you choose the right vendor but mostly ends up with your device serving someone else. I'd say it takes closer to 30 minutes than 30 seconds but I'm fine with taking this time given that my average Android phone lifetime is a bit over 8 years. I'm currently using a Redmi Note 5 Pro from 2018 which I'll soon relegate to second device status once I have a replacement, probably a Motorola G75 or something similar. That device should also last me around 8 years. Before the Redmi I'm using now I used a Motorola Defy from 2010 which, incidentally, is still in use as a trailer camera. Android devices can last a very long time because the firmware is open. Eventually they'll be too slow or lack the memory to support more recent Android distributions - which is what made me replace the Defy with the Redmi - but that does not mean they end up taking space in a drawer somewhere. They're in use here as trailer camera, media player, 3D printer controller and more.

dismalaf 6 hours ago|||

Customizing it to your liking is different than "setting it up".