Google chairman Eric Schmidt's easy guide to ditching your iPhone

On Sunday afternoon, Google chairman Eric Schmidt apparently had some free time on his hands, and decided to publish an easy-to-follow 900-word guide to help you through the intimidating process of switching from an iPhone to an Android. "They are a great Christmas present to an iPhone user!" he says of his company's product.

"Like the people who moved from PCs to Macs and never switched back, you will switch from iPhone to Android and never switch back," writes Schmidt, ominously. "[E]verything will be in the cloud, backed up, and there are so many choices for you."

Not only will you be leaving the Cult of Apple, but you'll be joining a growing majority of the world's smartphone users. "80 percent of the world, in the latest surveys, agrees on Android," he adds, likely referring to this recent study from Gartner.

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The bulk of Schmidt's four-point write-up is the kind of "how-to" fare you can already find in Google-able guides all over the internet. Here, here, here, here, here, and here, for example.

To wit: Boot-up your new Android phone, connect your old iPhone (or iPad) to WiFi and make sure it's using the latest version of iOS7, then sync your iCloud contacts with Gmail. You'll be able to port them all over to your Android from there and zap/merge duplicate contacts.

Schmidt dives a bit more into the details, and he does offer some solid advice: Remembering to turn iMessage "off" on your iPhone will save you the headache of wondering why you're missing text messages on your Android, for example.

Of course, he does manage to sneak in a few not-so-stealthy digs at the competition, as bespectacled tech execs are wont to do. "Be sure to use Chrome, not Safari; its safer and better in so many ways."

And even if it is the 138th richest man in the world rolling up his sleeves to pitch products, the whole write-up is kind of... endearing. "With the above complete, you should have your Gmail, apps, contacts, and music all moved over. Verify this on the Android phone :-)," Schmidt concludes. "Comments and additions welcome ! Eric."