Use Chrome and Other Google Apps
Your first step is installing Google’s native iOS apps for any services you use. There are apps for Gmail, Calendar, Maps, Drive, Docs, Sheets, Translate, and a couple other less popular apps. You’ll also want to install the Chrome browser and set it as your primary browser. Explore the app options and plug in as many customization options as possible. The Google search app, for example, allows for significant news feed customization.
Use Google Cloud Services, Too
While you can use Google’s applications with other cloud services, you’ll have a better experience if you use Google’s services. Part of the reason to use Chrome is to sync your browsing history, bookmarks, passwords and more. This way you can check out tabs and other information from your laptop or desktop on your iPhone. This will sync with any kind of platform.
Install and Use Gboard
Gboard is Google’s keyboard for iOS. It’s built into the Google search app, so you have it already. It replaces the built-in keyboard and ads two exceptionally useful features: Google search from within the keyboard and searchable emojis. Everything is essentially the same, though Google can theoretically track everything you’re typing if they want to. To install the keyboard, open the Google app’s settings by tapping the gear in the upper-left and then tap “Gboard.” Follow the instructions from there to install and enable the Gboard keyboard.
You also get access to Google’s text-to-speech tools from the keyboard. Just like with Siri, you can tap the microphone icon on your keyboard to start translating words into written text. Google’s algorithm, however, is far more effective than Apple’s Siri system, so text-to-speech will be more useful.
Setting Google Apps as Your Default Apps
Once you have everything installed, you’ll need to set it up as your primary tools. Unfortunately, Apple doesn’t have an excellent way to make this happen. Instead, you need to rely on Google’s apps to communicate with each other. Use the settings from within each app (typically called “App Settings”) to get everything to communicate. You can also use an app like Opener to force certain kinds of links to open in certain kinds of apps.
Set Up “OK Google”
Set up the “OK Google” command word to enable hands-free voice search. Unfortunately, it only works when you’re currently using the app. That means open and in the foreground – you can’t invoke the voice keyword from any other scenario.
- Open the Google app and tap the gear in the upper-left to enter Settings.
- Tap “Voice Search.”
- Toggle “‘OK Google’ Hotword” to on.
Consider Jailbreaking Your Phone
Serious Google devotees will want to consider jailbreaking. iOS offers limited opportunities for deep customization with it. When you jailbreak your device, you disable Apple’s built-in restrictions of how the user can change the device. This can cause major breakage, so it’s not for the faint of heart. But if you can hack it (and you have an older version of iOS on your device), you can make it happen. Then you can install virtually anything on your iPhone, enable screen-off “OK Google,” and more. It just depends on what you can find. Jailbreaking methods change frequently, so check out a forum like /r/jailbreak for the latest details.
Conclusion
With all the Google apps installed on your phone, you might find that you have enough of a Google experience to suit you. But if you want your iPhone to be more like Android, look into jailbreaking your iPhone.
