All Things Android - Apps, Phones, Tablets - Discussion

I guarantee this will go into more tablets than smartphones. When compared to Apple's A5 in the iPad 2, Penwell just isn't that impressive to me.

First of all it's a single core with HT. There aren't two whole threads to execute across, just one with software that fills in the gaps in instructions forming a quasi thread. Plus Atom in all it's forms is "in-order" where all the Cortex A9's and newer are "out-of-order". I do like that it has a full dual channel 32-bit memory controller. Tegra 2/3, and certain Qualcomm chipsets like the S3 are the only SoC's on the market that use a single 32-bit channel. The SGX540 is pretty tired at this point, even though it still makes for a good mid-range GPU.

 

That's exactly the same argument behind re-opening the desktop section but it gets shot down each and every time.

 

Droid 3 update: physically I love it...the software I hate.

Where do I begin....I finally gave up on the stock launcher and switched to Go and disabled all the system animations. While motorola's was certainly nice, at least 50% of the time it would stutter and lag badly...to the point where opening the app drawer would be accompanied by a pause and a "please wait..." message. It's almost as if the UI wasn't properly optimized for the phone...like they never tested it on a device under daily use with apps open.

It got to the point where I used motorola's task manager to manually kill apps that were running. I didn't touch the evil "auto end" list though.

I still feel like even though go is installed and set as default that the motorola UI is still running though. Hitting the home key doesn't instantly show my icons in go..they take a min to load as if they were closed by the phone. Go, while more consistently smoother than motorola's ui, still isn't as buttery as on the OG Droid...giving even more suspicion to processes run amok.

Finally, even with go, i've found that the phone trips up a bit when music is playing in the background. This occurs both in doggcatcher and in the motorola music app. Basically i'll be listening and the audio will sometimes drop out for a split second. When im using the phone it occurs when i'm doing something that I assume creates a small spike in cpu usage, like opening a menu, launching something, or when the phone underlines mispelled/bad grammar text.

It'll occur when the phone is locked and in a pocket as well, and when these drops occur, I get input lag..where I can type faster than the phone can keep up.

I think I'm most disappointed in Motorola's software because they clearly don't care about how it runs. The way it seems that Sanjay himself talked about it to The Verge made it seem that they do it only for differentiation due to carrier requests, not because they sincerely feel like it betters the user experience. Honestly it shows in the quality of their work compared to Samsung and HTC's efforts, which feel polished to nearly a Ritz-Carlton sheen, and do their best to help..not annoy due to bugs.

Hell, they didn't even put in enough RAM to ensure it would run smoothly under a typical user workload. I shouldn't have to manually end apps just to get a phone that isn't embarrassing to use and show friends. I shoudnt have to fight with it to ensure I wont have to listen to stuttery music while I drive with google navi, or worse...have the phone decide to close the music player while im driving due to lack of resources. My Droid 1 from 09 did that crap.

Even though the stratosphere was a rebooting mess it didn't do this...not once.

What a joke. And don't even get me started on the camera UI. It's a joke too.

My next steps is to root and try to freeze as many verizon/motorola apps as possible. If that doesn't work then im off to try custom rom's.

Its sad because I honestly didn't mind moto's UI aesthetically.

Edit: motorola's task manager shows that, indeed, "homescreen" is running and consuming 51 mb of RAM....no really, that ain't a typo. Im going to end it and see what happens.

Edit 2: Motorola's task manager won't let you end "apps that are essential to the proper function of your phone." To Android's own I go!

Edit 3: I can't end it in android's own task manager either. Even though I can click "end" on the dialog box that appears, the app doesn't really end.

 

^Now you know what I mean when I say Moto's software sucks. Samsung is much better in that regard. Plus with Moto's locked bootloader, there's no getting around some of those issues even with second-init p-ROMS.

I do agree with you on the hardware though. They know how to make a sturdy, durable device.

 

This is why I refused to buy the RAZR, despite being smitten with the hardware. Even the demo unit in the VZW store ran like crap.

It's either stock Android or nothing for me.

 

So it's not fragmentation, it's differentiation:

Google's Schmidt Not Convinced Android is Fragmented | News & Opinion | PCMag.com

That makes it all better.

 

I wish I had the "not this **** again" facepalm queued up.

fragmentationfragmentationfragmentation fragmentationfragmentationfragmentation fragmentationfragmentationfragmentationfragmentation fragmentationfragmentationfragmentationfragmentation fragmentationfragmentationfragmentationfragmentation fragmentationfragmentationfragmentationfragmentation fragmentationfragmentation

 

Same reason I skipped on RAZR. I love things with carbon-fiber finish and I really tried to like the demo unit (how cool is that to have a sheet of Kevlar slapped on the back of your phone?), but I couldn't stand the custom UI. Even my sister's Droid Charge seems to run smoother than RAZR, even though it has a single-core.

 

Not sure what you mean here.

You already admitted yourself you prefer a pure Google experience so "differentiation" is an issue for you. You didn't buy the RAZR because of Moto's skin and posters here have demonstrated that because of things like this, it makes Android phone ownership not as pleasant as it should be. I have had numerous issues with MotoBlur (that even Sprint acknowledges) and now I won't even touch a Moto phone.

That is not a "positive" to me for Android (as Schmidt is trying to point out)... it's a hindrance.

 

Differentiation via skins is different than "fragmentation" breaking app compatibility. If the skins are done properly and don't consume unnecessary resources (i.e. Samsung's customizations) they can be a nice selling point. The problem with Motorola's Blur is that it's bad coding and wastes clock cycles and memory. I would most certainly buy a Moto handset that did not include Blur, as they have made huge strides in the quality of their hardware.

The difference is that people that know nothing think that "Android fragmentation" means that there are apps that only work on Motorola's version of Android 2.2.2, which is not the case. Also, it irritates me when people fling around stupid buzzwords like fragmentation. So there.

 

You're not understanding the point of my post.

"Differentiation" is not always positive as Schmidt is trying to point out.

Since you seem to be irritated by the use of the word "fragmentation" (which to me goes beyond just application inter-operability across OS versions), I'll use "differentiation" from here on out.

Differentiation, whether it be hardware or UI... is a big issue for Android to me... no matter how Schmidt tries to spin it. I think you agree by the fact you went to a Nexus.

 

No, the fact that I personally prefer stock Android does not mean there is a lack of a market for modified Android experiences. I happen not to like them, personally, but some people do. Blur, however, is just bad.

 

Yeah, I'm hoping that the ICS build will help but I gotta have a camera and it's not working quite yet.

Yikes. I'm shocked that the RAZR still isn't buttery smooth. Sad really.

 

LOL. Compare sites...

Samsung Galaxy S2 (S II) | Samsung's Thinnest Smartphone - SAMSUNG UK

Samsung Galaxy S II Android Smartphone

It's quite obvious which market they favor..

Another thing, does anyone notice the apps they have under utilities on the US site? Root Explorer? Really? Obviously they expect everyone to root their phone.

 

You thought that was bad, when the SGSII site first went up, they were pimping ATK...no seriously. I wanted to facepalm so badly...

 

Ha! Seriously? Oh Samsung... lol.

 

Seriously. I wanted to take a screenshot but didnt bother for some reason.

 

My next phone is either going to be a Nexus, a GSIII, or this little man : Sony Xperia S: 12MP, 720p display and NFC - SlashGear

 

SE are/were the same, recommending apps that required root.
I think they stopped after someone pointed out what they were.

Don't you still have like a year to go on your contract?
Also, screen-res aside, the Xperia S is a step backwards from the Galaxy S2.

 

Oh right, the contract...

Yeah, it's a bit... But it's still a nice phone! Maybe if they change the specs into TI on their next phone...

 

Hope this possible alliance between Samsung and Olympus works out. Samsung could finally have a camera phone that might even rival Nokia! That and if they ever put back their Wolfson DAC, I'd sell my phone in a heart beat.

 

It's weird, the rumours all seem to have them pegged to use the NovaThor SoCs in their lower-spec handsets, which makes no sense as they're superior to Qualcomm's chips both in terms of the CPU and the GPU.

I doubt SE will ever move away from Qualcomm, which wouldn't be a bad thing if they at least used up-to-date chips but they're basically too cheap/lazy to do so.

 

Just curious what everyone is using, has tried, and likes the best (and why).

I've heard good things about Codename Android and am testing that out now, compared to stock. Just installed it, so no battery life figures yet. Things that bugged me about the stock that I wanted in my ROM were: battery percentage text in the notification bar, power settings in notification menu, more responsive screen rotation, unlocked tethering, better autobrightness settings, removable (of my unused) Google/VZW apps, and better battery life. I generally just like more options so I can fiddle around and test out. Will eventually get to overclocking/undervolting.

 

Samsung Galaxy Note Notepad hands-on at CES: it's like a Note, but analog - Engadget

 

hi guys, i can't convince my friend to buy an iPhone 4S, so she'll be buying an android phone. can you tell me which phones have gotten the Ice Cream Sandwich OS which was released over two months ago so far apart from the nexus 3? and what phone would you recommend she buys (without a huge screen)?

thanks.

 

Heh, imagine if you had kids, and you promised them a Galaxy Note, and you gave them that Notepad instead... So much troll win!

YOU DON'T BELONG HERE! Thank God she didn't take your advice! She is actually smart!

lol, jk

Joking aside, the Galaxy Nexus not the Nexus 3, is the only one with out of the box ICS. The Galaxy S II has already ICS, stable but still beta.

She should get either the Nexus or the GSII. The only 2 options with ICS available at the moment...

 

If you look at it that way, there are over a dozen phones out there at the moment. -_-

 

Anyone know when the AT&T Note is supposed to be launching?

It seems like the standard Galaxy Note (N7000) has a battery that's a bit thicker than that of the GSM Galaxy Nexus but otherwise should fit ok.
However, the Nexus' battery is in some way integral to the NFC functioning ( a downright retarded set-up if you ask me) and the Note's battery doesn't have 'Near Field Communication' written on it - but the AT&T Note does have NFC support apparently, so if the battery is the same shape as the N7000's but NFC-capable, I think I've found a decent extended battery for my Nexus

 

Installing Android SDK platforms. This is gonna take a long time...

 

Sony Ericssons and HTC's are still in Alpha, and extremely unstable, while Samsung devices have been having ICS for some time and the latest leak (XXLP2 4.0.3) is a Daily Use ROM, with very few bugs.

 

Now have you actually tried it? Or is it another one of your hear and says? Because I have been running ICS for the last month, with very few issues. Please, tell me more about "extremely unstable".

 

Derp, of course I haven't tried ICS on HTC nor on SE, because I don't own any of those devices, and my dad doesn't let me root and unlock the BL on his Arc S...

 

Well there you go, cut the generalising statements and stick with the facts.

 

Nrvermind this.

 

I won't know until about a month before it happens. By then it'll already be on the web.

 

Cyanogenmod 7 has pretty much all of the above...not sure about its availability for the Galaxy Nexus, but it's pretty widely distributed among Android phones. I have it on my Moto Triumph and I love it.

 

CM7 is only Gingerbread though, not ICS.

I think you're much better off heading over to the likes of XDA-devs and asking there.

 

Samsung Galaxy Nexus - xda-developers

 

One thing that would be useful, if there's any way you could confirm this for me, is whether or not it will have NFC support.

 

Until AT&T has vendor support for NFC, likely no. But it might still have the technology, just have it disabled in software like the i777.

 

Does the i777 have one of those NFC batteries then?

 

It does indeed, so does the Skyrocket.

 

As I've mentioned, I think the Note's battery will fit the GSM Nexus ( with an expanded battery cover of course) but I'd rather not have to forgo NFC for better battery life.
So I'm trying to find a version of the Note's battery that supports NFC.

I found this but I don't want to spend money unless I know for a fact it's genuine.

Plus I need to try the standard Note's battery to check it fits the Nexus ok...

 

^I do believe it would work. Although I can't guarantee it, Samsung only uses one type of NFC chip...

 

Well, the issues are whether or not a battery for the Note will fit the 'bay' in the Nexus.
And also whether the battery in question genuinely has the NFC chip in it.

 

If it states NFC on the battery it's in there. Samsung hasn't used it in any other place. It's always in the battery, but don't ask me why... I have no idea why they put it there. There has to be a reason.

But yea... the indentions along the top edge seem to line up and the physical size looks the same, but IDK about thickness. They look like a dead ringer for each other though.

 

Assuming the site has used the correct picture, not just some stock image.
I believe the Korean Note is supposed to support NFC, so hopefully it's genuine but I don't know yet.

I've e-mailed the site seeking clarification and also PMed a user on XDA who has a Korean Note.
*fingers crossed* the answers are the ones I want to hear...

That's what TailGunner ( the guy who swapped a GSM Nexus for a Note) said, that they're basically the same size but the Note's battery is thicker - thicker I can deal with, some long fit into the Nexus.

I think I'm going to have to open up the demo handset at work and try the battery in my Nexus - unfortunately the demo unit's in a sort of clamp-style holder that wouldn't look out of place in Helga's House of Pain...

 

Just discovered there's been working CM7 for my phone for awhile on RootzWiki. Damn me for not checking anywhere but xda

Hmm... to CM7 or MIUI?

I like MIUI at first whenever i install it, but it seems after awhile I miss regular android's UI

 

To CM7! Yo-Ho!

 

So Step, have you received your Galaxy Nexus yet? If so... how do you like it?