yeah but they don’t have linux versions of any of their software. an increasing number of people are ditching windows because of microsoft’s intensifying enshittification and hackintoshes are dying because of the mac transition to apple silicon
Nice cherry picked examples. iMessage isn't available on other platforms, and it's impossible to join a shared iphotos album from a non apple device. Two features that are arguably the most important for non apple users.
I moved from an android to iPhone, I was still using a lot of Google apps because that is where all my stuff was. I am changing everything over to proton that I can.
convenience is my guess, since so many ppl are in the google/gmail ecosystem. it just makes sense for most to be part of the same for communication purposes. i mean, it makes sense, but it sucks.
been slowly helping ppl in my circle of influence, which is mostly comprised of ios/mac users, ween off the google teet & helping them dip their toes in the open source world. it’s an uphill battle, but one i’m willing to fight.
Often times it’s because other people are using it. Those people can’t use iCloud but I can use Google Docs and stuff. Hell, my MacBook can hang with my phone but my own PC isn’t connected, either. And then after that, are you really gunna expect most people to use and manage two different systems?
I use iCloud for photos, Safari on my phone and laptop because they’re connected easily that way, and have a few important documents on iCloud as well like all my stuff for job applications or sheet music so that I have access if I need that stuff elsewhere. And yet I still have Google drive for some things and use Google Sheets because it’s easy to share.
Not understanding why someone might not go all-in on a specific brand is more of a lack of imagination on your part than some failing on theirs.
A lot of non work related accounts are switching to 2FA and Google authentication is the most well known compatible app. Most definitely not the best though.
I have Maps installed but never use it. I have Chat installed for that one weird friend who only has Google Chat because she says all her friends are there.
I can elaborate why I have Google Maps installed on an iPhone, despite that I can use Apple Maps, which is pre-installed:
Google Maps is way better in announcing directions when travelling with a car, because it announces several times ahead: at 4 km before an intersection, at 800 m and finally when to actually drive through an intersection. This is more helpful than Apples announcement, which is just once a few kilometers ahead of the point where to change direction. Also, intersections are depicted more clearly in Google Maps.
Additional to that, I find that the woman from Google sounds way more nicer than that bitch from Apple. Apples voice has a pissed-off undertone, probably because it needs to tell you directions in the first place.
On the other hand, the street-view feature is better on Apple Maps.
I understand the purpose of the Google app on Android, but what is the purpose to have the effort of installing it in iOS while you have "the power of Google" in safari or whatever browser you use?