The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.
← Previous pageNext page →

    All Things Android - Apps, Phones, Tablets - Discussion

    Discussion in 'Smartphones and Tablets' started by H.A.L. 9000, Aug 1, 2010.

  1. BigNerd

    BigNerd Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    538
    Messages:
    1,013
    Likes Received:
    9
    Trophy Points:
    31
  2. Nick

    Nick Professor Carnista

    Reputations:
    3,870
    Messages:
    4,089
    Likes Received:
    643
    Trophy Points:
    181
    So, 4.1 is rolling out for the Galaxy Nexus. I haven't received the alert yet :(

    Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2
     
  3. hockeymass

    hockeymass that one guy

    Reputations:
    1,450
    Messages:
    3,669
    Likes Received:
    85
    Trophy Points:
    116
    I'm getting really irritated with VZW dragging its feet on OTA updates. HSPA+ Nexus 4.1 update is already rolling out, but no indication whatsoever on when the CDMA one will be hitting my phone.
     
  4. Nick

    Nick Professor Carnista

    Reputations:
    3,870
    Messages:
    4,089
    Likes Received:
    643
    Trophy Points:
    181
    So, I'm running stock Jellybean on my Nexus! Just clear the framework until it finds the update.

    Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2
     
  5. Voodooi

    Voodooi AFK for a while...

    Reputations:
    1,850
    Messages:
    2,874
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    55
    I almost grabbed the latest HTC One V, but held back too long and now it's no longer on sale. The reason I held back is it didn't have the GSM requirements for a Canadian carrier that has 40$/mo = Unlimited Canada-Wide Calls/Texts/Data ...I would of been forced to go with 50$/mo Local/Texts/2GB.

    It's very difficult to find the perfect phone with a GSM of 1700/2100 - not a huge selection and most you cannot see in person and have to order them online (imported from T-Mobile USA). What's even more difficult to find is an Android phone, with good/decent specs (5mp cam/720p) and a blackberry-like keyboard that runs in that frequency (non-existent I think).
     
  6. H.A.L. 9000

    H.A.L. 9000 Occam's Chainsaw

    Reputations:
    6,415
    Messages:
    5,296
    Likes Received:
    552
    Trophy Points:
    281
    Which is why 1700MHz AWS 3G needs to burn in a fire. All of it. The EM waves need to just spontaneously combust.
     
  7. Voodooi

    Voodooi AFK for a while...

    Reputations:
    1,850
    Messages:
    2,874
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    55
    Do you know why the best carriers go with 1700/2100 (at least in Canada)?

    Is it because the "big 3" (Bell/Rogers AT&T/Telus) control the other frequencies and other carriers aren't allowed to use their frequencies?

    Seems odd that the carrier with the best plan in the country went with that frequency.

    Their Link:
    http://shop.windmobile.ca/#__utma=1.365714154.1341694443.1342161267.1342163791.4&__utmb=1.1.10.1342163791&__utmc=1&__utmx=-&__utmz=1.1342163791.4.2.utmcsr=google|utmccn=(organic)|utmcmd=organic|utmctr=(not%20provided)&__utmv=-&__utmk=201152046

    They've only been around for a few years - I believe they're an Egyptian based company.

    Edit: One more question. Why don't all smartphones have every frequency built into them? I think Google's flagship is one of the very few?

    Do the big companies make secret business deals with the phone manufacturers in order to monopolize most of the phones?
     
  8. hockeymass

    hockeymass that one guy

    Reputations:
    1,450
    Messages:
    3,669
    Likes Received:
    85
    Trophy Points:
    116
    Not the CDMA version, right? I think it's GSM only at this point. Or at least I hope it is, because I spent a significant amount of time unlocking, rooting, and flashing the Jelly Belly ROM last night. (it's an easy process when you know what you're doing, but I didn't)
     
  9. Nick

    Nick Professor Carnista

    Reputations:
    3,870
    Messages:
    4,089
    Likes Received:
    643
    Trophy Points:
    181
    I have the GSM version. How's battery life?

    Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2
     
  10. hockeymass

    hockeymass that one guy

    Reputations:
    1,450
    Messages:
    3,669
    Likes Received:
    85
    Trophy Points:
    116
    Pretty similar to what it was under 4.0.4.
     
  11. Rodster

    Rodster Merica

    Reputations:
    1,805
    Messages:
    5,043
    Likes Received:
    396
    Trophy Points:
    251
    Anyone getting a Nexus 7? They are already in stock at Office Depot. They can't sell them until tomorrow per Google.
     
  12. mrXniick

    mrXniick 8

    Reputations:
    1,548
    Messages:
    1,461
    Likes Received:
    4
    Trophy Points:
    56
    Most likely going to get one, but still unsure.
     
  13. Rodster

    Rodster Merica

    Reputations:
    1,805
    Messages:
    5,043
    Likes Received:
    396
    Trophy Points:
    251
    ASUS released the Transformer Infinity 10.1 with the 1920x1200 display. It's got a built in MicroSD slot which the Nexus 7 doesn't have. The only negative is that it runs ICS and Jelly Bean runs really sweet.

    Decisions, decisions. :rolleyes:
     
  14. H.A.L. 9000

    H.A.L. 9000 Occam's Chainsaw

    Reputations:
    6,415
    Messages:
    5,296
    Likes Received:
    552
    Trophy Points:
    281
    Using a two finger swipe to collapse/expand certain notifications in JB 4.1...

    Anyone remember my render I did a while back and how I thought it should be implemented? Seems me and someone at Google think a lot alike. :rolleyes:
     
  15. MGS2392

    MGS2392 NAND Cat!

    Reputations:
    972
    Messages:
    1,479
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    I recall listing expandable notifications as one of the features that they should add to JB, a while back in this thread. I'm not too fond of the 2 finger swipe since its harder for one handed use.
     
  16. mrXniick

    mrXniick 8

    Reputations:
    1,548
    Messages:
    1,461
    Likes Received:
    4
    Trophy Points:
    56
    I do remember this.. haha, and I do like the implementation in jelly bean
     
  17. hockeymass

    hockeymass that one guy

    Reputations:
    1,450
    Messages:
    3,669
    Likes Received:
    85
    Trophy Points:
    116
    Having played with Jelly Bean for a few days now, I'm hugely satisfied with my Nexus. JB is what ICS should have been (not that ICS wasn't great in its own right). The smoothness is just awesome, feels like a whole new phone.

    A few weeks ago, I was considering making my next phone an iPhone. Now I'm definitely sticking with Android.
     
  18. sgogeta4

    sgogeta4 Notebook Nobel Laureate

    Reputations:
    2,389
    Messages:
    10,552
    Likes Received:
    7
    Trophy Points:
    456
    Which ROM are you using that uses JB on the GN??
     
  19. hockeymass

    hockeymass that one guy

    Reputations:
    1,450
    Messages:
    3,669
    Likes Received:
    85
    Trophy Points:
    116
    Jelly Belly. Right now I'm on version 3.1, but I think I'm going to flash 3.6 tonight if I have time, since it fixes some connectivity issues that I've been having.
     
  20. H.A.L. 9000

    H.A.L. 9000 Occam's Chainsaw

    Reputations:
    6,415
    Messages:
    5,296
    Likes Received:
    552
    Trophy Points:
    281
    The Atrix HD, US GS3, HTC One X, HTC One S, and several more are just the same phone in a different wrapper.

    SAD.

    Until there's differentiation in the market I won't be buying another high end handset from any of the US carriers. INTL only for me.
     
  21. hockeymass

    hockeymass that one guy

    Reputations:
    1,450
    Messages:
    3,669
    Likes Received:
    85
    Trophy Points:
    116
    Care to elaborate?
     
  22. Micaiah

    Micaiah Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    1,333
    Messages:
    1,915
    Likes Received:
    41
    Trophy Points:
    66
    I believe he's referring to every high end Android phone in the United States utilizing the Snapdragon S4, with the only differentiation being the physical shell.

    ...Unfortunately until nVidia or Samsung can integrate LTE into their SoC, that's just the way it is. TI just needs to revamp their SoC altogether.
     
  23. H.A.L. 9000

    H.A.L. 9000 Occam's Chainsaw

    Reputations:
    6,415
    Messages:
    5,296
    Likes Received:
    552
    Trophy Points:
    281
    ^Tailgunner is correct.

    Exynos 5, OMAP 5 and Tegra 4 better all be LTE capable with US bands or else I'll be on HSPA+ forever.

    I refuse to support a monopoly. S4 has a monopoly on the current market since it's a one stop LTE solution that's cheap to implement.
     
  24. HottSushiz

    HottSushiz Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    1
    Messages:
    177
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    So after being with iOS for 2 years then switching to android for a few months then back into iOS for another 6 months i swapped back to android via the Galaxy Nexus. Right now I'm loving the customization, ice cream sandwich and the screen.

    But the thing i love most about android is really PowerAmp. It's the only app i've payed for in my whole life with smartphones. When the iPhone 5 hits I'll try that for a while. But I'm thinking of purchasing a android device specifically for music. Is there anything available that suits my specifications.
     
  25. hockeymass

    hockeymass that one guy

    Reputations:
    1,450
    Messages:
    3,669
    Likes Received:
    85
    Trophy Points:
    116
    Samsung makes the Galaxy Player series, which is essentially an Android based iPod touch. Wifi only.
     
  26. Micaiah

    Micaiah Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    1,333
    Messages:
    1,915
    Likes Received:
    41
    Trophy Points:
    66
    The Sony Walkman Z series are not as good of a value as the Galaxy players but it does have the Tegra 2 chipset and better sound quality.
     
  27. H.A.L. 9000

    H.A.L. 9000 Occam's Chainsaw

    Reputations:
    6,415
    Messages:
    5,296
    Likes Received:
    552
    Trophy Points:
    281
    MIUI with the Nokia Meego theme. Love it.

    [​IMG]
     
  28. hockeymass

    hockeymass that one guy

    Reputations:
    1,450
    Messages:
    3,669
    Likes Received:
    85
    Trophy Points:
    116
  29. H.A.L. 9000

    H.A.L. 9000 Occam's Chainsaw

    Reputations:
    6,415
    Messages:
    5,296
    Likes Received:
    552
    Trophy Points:
    281
    Yes. Galaxy S2 i777. Runs as smooth as butter. :)
     
  30. Phistachio

    Phistachio A. Scriabin

    Reputations:
    1,930
    Messages:
    2,588
    Likes Received:
    145
    Trophy Points:
    81
  31. H.A.L. 9000

    H.A.L. 9000 Occam's Chainsaw

    Reputations:
    6,415
    Messages:
    5,296
    Likes Received:
    552
    Trophy Points:
    281
    Why? lol. It's so radically different than regular Android that it's kinda like a breath of fresh air sometimes. I love ICS/JB, but MIUI has some killer features of it's own that CM9/10 has nowhere on their roadmap. Plus you can make it anything you want it to be. Literally every part of the OS can be skinned. Another thing that I've learned I can't live without is that MIUI will light the phone up when receiving a TXT. CM6/CM7/CM9/CM10 won't. I don't know why that hasn't been written into the CM device frameworks yet.

    Here's some more screens for those interested. :)

    Stock CM9 lock screen w/music for contrast:
    [​IMG]

    MIUI Lockscreen:
    [​IMG]

    MIUI Online Theme Repo:
    [​IMG]

    About Screen:
    [​IMG]
     
  32. slapshot30

    slapshot30 Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    50
    Messages:
    236
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Is that the newest version of MIUI (v4 I believe)? Last time I had it, barely any of the themes worked. Other than that I agree with you.

    Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2
     
  33. Tinderbox (UK)

    Tinderbox (UK) BAKED BEAN KING

    Reputations:
    4,745
    Messages:
    8,513
    Likes Received:
    3,823
    Trophy Points:
    431
  34. vaio.phil

    vaio.phil Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    237
    Messages:
    379
    Likes Received:
    5
    Trophy Points:
    31
    ^ awesome judge!!
     
  35. H.A.L. 9000

    H.A.L. 9000 Occam's Chainsaw

    Reputations:
    6,415
    Messages:
    5,296
    Likes Received:
    552
    Trophy Points:
    281
    Actually, version 2.7.6... but it's based on CM9 which is ICS 4.0.4. That's one of the major reasons that it's insanely smooth.
     
  36. Nick

    Nick Professor Carnista

    Reputations:
    3,870
    Messages:
    4,089
    Likes Received:
    643
    Trophy Points:
    181
    LG Optimus T:

    Cons:

    Small screen
    Android 2.2
    Slow processor
    Poor touch screen

    Pros:

    Um, long battery life?

    Thankfully it's only a temp phone.

    Sent from my LG-P509 using Tapatalk 2
     
  37. Tinderbox (UK)

    Tinderbox (UK) BAKED BEAN KING

    Reputations:
    4,745
    Messages:
    8,513
    Likes Received:
    3,823
    Trophy Points:
    431
  38. TearTaker

    TearTaker Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    141
    Messages:
    683
    Likes Received:
    6
    Trophy Points:
    31
    I played with my managers GS3 today. It was ten times smoother than my note. I don't think my note has a powerful enough cpu to power the screen. Anyways, I really do plan on selling it now. So looking at phones. I will miss the big screen. I read a lot and whatnot. So I was thinking the GS3 or nexus. I saw Hal got the meizu mx. Is that worth looking at? Or is now a bad time to buy a new phone? Any input is greatly appreciated.
     
  39. slapshot30

    slapshot30 Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    50
    Messages:
    236
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Do all the themes work fine?

    Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2
     
  40. ahl395

    ahl395 Ahlball

    Reputations:
    3,867
    Messages:
    8,218
    Likes Received:
    72
    Trophy Points:
    216
    One thing I do like about MIUI is the text notifications. They are awesome. :D Being able to reply right in the drop down.
     
  41. H.A.L. 9000

    H.A.L. 9000 Occam's Chainsaw

    Reputations:
    6,415
    Messages:
    5,296
    Likes Received:
    552
    Trophy Points:
    281
    I'm guessing you have the AT&T Note? Exynos should push that screen fine with no stuttering.

    But yea, the GS3 is a really nice phone. I can't explicitly comment on the Meizu yet, but it's getting better benches than either the Exynos or S4 version GS3, and it's based on Exynos 4412. So it should be pretty beastly.

    So far they've all worked for me...

    Indeed, that is awesome.
     
  42. TearTaker

    TearTaker Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    141
    Messages:
    683
    Likes Received:
    6
    Trophy Points:
    31
    I have the international Galaxy Note. I know it uses a different cpu bu either way my phone is not as smooth as it should be. I've installed roms that have made it better but it's far from fluid like it was on the GS3. Is the meizu mx a newer phone?
     
  43. HottSushiz

    HottSushiz Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    1
    Messages:
    177
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Hi is there anything similar with iOS where i can just hook it up to iTunes then hit back up so when i restore my iPhone or upgrade i will have the exact same thing as before but on Android?

    I need to unroot my Galaxy Nexus but the process wipes everything off. I want to be sure that when i sync everything back on. Everything will still be there.
     
  44. TearTaker

    TearTaker Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    141
    Messages:
    683
    Likes Received:
    6
    Trophy Points:
    31
    I think I have decided on the Galaxy Nexus. It seems it will get the most up to date and fastest software updates and it's screen is still fairly big.
     
  45. H.A.L. 9000

    H.A.L. 9000 Occam's Chainsaw

    Reputations:
    6,415
    Messages:
    5,296
    Likes Received:
    552
    Trophy Points:
    281
    If you're talking about the internal storage, I don't think that's ever touched. If you're talking about apps and app preferences, use Titanium Backup to backup/restore ONLY 3rd party apps... no system data or apps.

    It's definitely a great phone. Just remember it doesn't have external SD storage. That's the only deal-breaker for me.
     
  46. Tinderbox (UK)

    Tinderbox (UK) BAKED BEAN KING

    Reputations:
    4,745
    Messages:
    8,513
    Likes Received:
    3,823
    Trophy Points:
    431
    Is there an app to show me my frame-rate/fps when i play a video.

    Thanks

    John.
     
  47. TearTaker

    TearTaker Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    141
    Messages:
    683
    Likes Received:
    6
    Trophy Points:
    31
    Thanks, HAL. Apparently I am a noob. I decided to restore my phone to default to give it one last go, because I love this phone. Turns out it was just the different launchers. My phone really doesn't play well with any launcher other than the stock twlauncher. Anyways, it's much smoother now so I will keep it.
     
  48. H.A.L. 9000

    H.A.L. 9000 Occam's Chainsaw

    Reputations:
    6,415
    Messages:
    5,296
    Likes Received:
    552
    Trophy Points:
    281
    Are you on Gingerbread or ICS?
     
  49. TearTaker

    TearTaker Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    141
    Messages:
    683
    Likes Received:
    6
    Trophy Points:
    31
    I am on ICS. It made my phone smoother going from Gingerbread. It was the same way on Gingerbread too.
     
  50. H.A.L. 9000

    H.A.L. 9000 Occam's Chainsaw

    Reputations:
    6,415
    Messages:
    5,296
    Likes Received:
    552
    Trophy Points:
    281
    And you're still on the Samsung ICS for the Note's apps, correct?

    I say that because Samsung has slipped up with ICS. It's 10x smoother with CM9. People have been going from Samsung's ICS to CM9 only to find their phone runs smooth as glass. It has something to do with Samsung's OpenGL libs. Also, 2D performance is noticeably increased in CM9.
     
← Previous pageNext page →