Rita El Khuri / Android Authority
Should send the file to the laptop in 2025 should be easy, okay? Apparently not for me, because my tech setup is distributed between Apple, Google and Microsoft. This is a disappointing multi -phase process for most of the work. Message to my kids? No. Drop a file from my phone to my computer? Or right. These are the kinds of things that you live in a scattered tech world.
I come from the background of Android and Windows. I am a huge fan of Android and buy each nexus device from 4 to 6p. Now I stop a Red Magic 10 Pro. But my wife is loyal to the iPhone, and my children use iPad. I just added an iPhone to my joint to stay connected, and when it was time to take a new laptop, I went with the 14 -inch M1 MacBook Pro. Apple TV 4K was inevitable. But I still use a powerful Windows PC, an Xbox, an Android tablet, and Quest 2 VR from time to time. None of my devices work together.
How is your tech ecosystem setup?
31 votes
All in on Google/Android
6 %
On the apple all in
16 %
Android and Windows
39 %
Apple and Google Mixed
10 %
Three or more and I have a headache
23 %
I don’t even know anything. Aid
6 %
My chaos cross -platform setup
Ryan Hans / Android Authority
I swear that I did not go out to make my life complicated. Android and Windows did the right thing until I threw an iPhone into the mix. Inspired by hardware quality, I found myself throwing more apple gadgets into the mix. Home Pod Money, Air Pods, and even an Apple Watch. One thing caused the other thing, and now I am bouncing on just to stay connected between the environmental system.
Windows remains the focus of my digital setup. I am a fan of Windows 11 (comments from the crowd of angry PC Master Race). My Android Phone is my main mobile device, while my Android tablet is reportedly my most used tech. However, Apple TV 4K is none of the other, and the home pod Manis that I have compatible with it provides an extraordinary room -filled sound. In addition, they look cool. But then there are messages.
What breaks every day
Dhu Bhutani / Android Authority
A large number of messages, file sharing, and other small features of life are pure chaos thanks to this broken setup.
Messaging The worst culprit. I use iMessage with my children because it is private and safe and it only works with their iPad. I don’t have to worry about them, and Apple provides the best tools for family safety. But none of this works on my Android or my computer, so I take just a phone to keep in touch with my young children. They do not have mobile numbers, so RCS has no option. There are very few options that are as easy and safe as iMessage, so we are there.
File sharing Nearly another. If you are included in Apple, the air drop is excellent. Nothing compares anything else. The quick share only works between Android and Windows, and yet, it is not permanent. Windows Phone Link doesn’t work mostly. If I want to move the picture from my Android to my Mac, I have to upload it to the Google Drive or email it myself and then download it again.
Audio Scattered My home pod mini only works with Apple Devices without interruption. I can establish a Bluetooth connection with my Android, but Apple keeps leaving it and I need to set up a new session every time. I have a Google nest lay around the mini and some Amazon EcoPex, none of them have no sound standards like home pods, but at least I can use spotifies with them.
Password There are an ongoing resentment. I was using Google Passwords and Apple password and updated both of them permanently. I realize that Apple’s password for Chrome is an extension, and I have tried it, but I love Google’s passwords more. This is worse with the passers only. Something is easy to use by scanning the QR code with my phone, but others refused to sign me until I was on the device when I created them, and I often forget which one was.
How do I run it all
Andy Walker / Android Authority
Drawer is not all the punishment and sadness in the household. I have succeeded in creating some routines that keep everything together. Google is my glue. Calendar, drive, and allow me to keep my unconsciousness. I’ve recently sought an attempt to dig and go with third party apps, but this has only created a lot of chaos, so I have returned to Google.
My devices are divided for purpose. Android as my Daily Driver, and my iPhone as a family center. My PC is my work horse, but when I’m going, my MacBook M1 Pro is a machine worthy and reliable animal. A Plex server allows me to share media in all these devices. I have been confessing to my Apple Watch somewhat, with disappointment from my now ally fit bat charge 6.
Cost to live between ecosystem
Ryan Hans / Android Authority
The actual cost here is not financial. It is time and mental energy. I have to manage sync issues, track apps defects, and remember what device is logged in. I miss the messages. I reset the files. I get out of accounts. It is tiring.
Anyone who lives in the scattered world knows this mental tax. You have to remember what works, and how to root around things that they don’t do. It increases. You just don’t rely on your own tools to work, and I think this was the real beauty behind the Apple ecosystem.
I am not willing to give up the defeat
At this point it seems that I should just go to everyone with Apple. However, I go about its ecosystem. But the Walled Of Economic System sucks in their own way. I love Android and I like gaming with my brother and friends. The PC is the place where it is. What we need is to start creating a friction cross -platform environmental system to collect our goods and counter Apple.
Google is already on the right path, but barely. Each platform just wants you all with them. None of them really play well with each other. Unless it changes, my life will be in a state of chaos.
