Now that I’m officially Mobot’s “Head Apple Fanboy” (iPhone 5, iPod touch, MacBook Pro, iMac, new iPad, iPhone 2G in a drawer somewhere), you can expect loads more features like these, advocating turning your back on smelly old Android and embracing the “world’s most advanced mobile operating system”, iOS.
I jest, of course, but I do have some hopefully useful tips for those who have made the leap, in particular how to transfer your Android contacts to your iDevice.
While iOS is arguably the most intuitive operating system on the market (for the most part), it’s not entirely obvious how to sync Google contacts with your iDevice. Maybe Apple is being dickish ‘cause it hates Mountain View.
In any case, it’s not exactly difficult; it’s simply a case of knowing where to look. Where not to look, as I discovered, is in the phonebook or the Contacts app. Having a little ‘Sync’ button in there would make too much sense. Ahem.
Your Android contacts should sync with Google automatically, but it won’t do any harm to force a manual sync. On your Android phone, simply tap Menu > Settings > Accounts & sync > Google > Sync now (making sure ‘Sync contacts’ is ticked at the top).
Now all your contacts are backed up on ye olde Google servers, and it’s simply a case of using your iDevice to go grab ‘em.
For starters, tap Settings > Mail, Contacts, Calendars > Add Account. This next screen is potentially a tad confusing, as we want Microsoft Exchange, not Google Mail.
Under Email, enter your Gmail address – the one you used to set up your Android phone. Incidentally, it’s always amusing when Android owners insist that they don’t have a Gmail account. Yes, you do. You might not use it, but you need one to get up and running with Android.
If, for whatever reason, you can’t remember your Gmail username, follow the steps above to sync your Android contacts (Menu > Settings > Accounts & sync). Under ‘Google’, you’ll see your Gmail address.
Where were we? Ah, we’re setting up this Microsoft Exchange account. So, enter your Gmail address and password and tap Next.
Under Server, enter m.google.com, leave Domain blank, and Username is just your Gmail address again. Tap Next.
On the final screen, you have the option to sync your Mail, Contacts, and/or Calendars. Finally, hit Save.
For Facebook contacts, tap Settings, scroll all the way down to the bottom of the screen, tap Facebook then enter your details. Simples.
And that’s that. Tap the Phone app on your iDevice’s home screen, and you’ll see your contacts in all their glory.
Boom! No more smelly Android (joke).
