Switching From iOS to Android? Let Eric Schmidt Guide You

Thinking about trading in your iPhone for a slick new Android this holiday season? The move can be anxiety-inducing for even the most tech-savvy smartphone user, but Google executive chairman Eric Schmidt wants to make it a little less stressful.

Schmidt took to Google+ this weekend to share a guide on converting from iOS to Android. "Many of my iPhone friends are converting to Android," he wrote. "The latest high-end phones from Samsung (Galaxy S4 ($42.95 at Amazon)), Motorola (Verizon Droid Ultra ($299.99 at Amazon)) and the Nexus 5 ($725.00 at Amazon) (for AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile) have better screens, are faster, and have a much more intuitive interface. They are a great Christmas present to an iPhone user!"

To ease the transition, Schmidt breaks down every step of moving to Android, including setting up Gmail, downloading apps, and transferring over your contacts and music. The steps are divided into four sections: set up the Android phone, update your iPhone or iPad, connect your music to Google, and take the SIM out of the iPhone and insert it into Android. He also includes a section on backing up your iPhone photos and transferring them over to your Android device.

At the end of the guide, Schmidt, naturally, recommends using Google's own Chrome Web browser instead of Safari and enabling two-factor authentication for your Gmail and Google accounts for added security.

"Like the people who moved from PCs to Macs and never switched back, you will switch from iPhone to Android and never switch back as everything will be in the cloud, backed up, and there are so many choices for you," Schmidt wrote. "80 percent of the world, in the latest surveys, agrees on Android."

If Schmidt's guide doesn't answer all your questions check PCMag's advice on How to Switch From an iPhone to an Android Phone.