All Things Android - Apps, Phones, Tablets - Discussion

Yeah, it's kinda a "some people use it, some don't" thing. The keyboard on mine isn't bad, I use it primarily because I hate how the onscreen covers the screen + i type faster.

November...i can wait that long...I hope.

 

I just got a text from VM...apparently changing your phone number, which used to be a free service, will now cost $10 online and $15 to go through it with a live agent. I've already had to change my number three times since I started their service because I keep getting "used" numbers that are subscribed to all sorts of telemarketing spam calls.

This just a couple months after bumping all of their plans up by $10 per month without adding anything to any of them.

On top of that, in October they're going to start throttling data after 2GB of use per month...as if it isn't already pathetically slow. Then again, at the current speeds, I'll probably never be able to hit 2GB in a single month anyway, even using tethering as my main connection.

Eh...I guess it's still cheaper than any other service, but I just hate that they take more and give less.

 

Music to my ears

 

ICS Launcher anyone? Best thing about it... just like the new Market, it scales with whatever DPI you have set!

Spoiler

 

The 'running apps' thing doesn't look so good when it covers the entire screen IMO.

I think Google have missed a trick, that part of the UI would make a great task manager.

 

Full root and CWM on the Sprint GSII... now just have to wait for ROMs

 

Agreed, I do not like it covering the whole screen, seems like a big waste of space + do I really need a thumbnail for the app...its pretty self explanatory IMO.

You have the phone already? How are you liking it?

 

Nope DYING for it though. Its on backorder, should get it wed or thurs.

 

Want a free $2 credit for the Amazon Appstore? Click the link below and tweet it.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html?ie=UTF8&ref=tsm_1_tw_s_app_tweetsave&docId=1000675891

 

Cool thanks!

 

No problemo.

 

Very nice...now, what do I want to spend those $2 on?

 

I tried out a Samsung Epic 4G Galaxy S whatever with a keyboard.

Not impressed. I don't know which version of touchwiz this thing has, but I do not like it. The phone itself seems like build quality was last on its list. The screen is way too oversaturated, the retina display looks better to me still. The dot pitch is still too granular on the screen the Epic 4G has. Black levels are impressive but not worth the other negatives of this screen. From the front, this phone looks like a gussied up Samsung Focus, imo.
As far as speed, it is smooth but in a typically Android way... somewhat inelegant. I do like the keyboard better than any Blackberry keyboard I've used, never liked Blackberry's keyboards anyways. Only complaint about that is that it makes the phone ridiculously thick... that and the font of the letters and numbers is very similar and there's no clear distinction between letters and numbers... on first use I was getting a bit confused between the 0 and O, oddly enough.

I'm sounding way too much like an iDrone. =/

 

You weren't using a current Galaxy S device. The Epic 4G and the Mesmerize (both CDMA) were the worst out of all the OG Galaxy S devices.

If you were to use a GS II you would have walked away with a different perspective. I have an iPhone 4 and I can tell you, the GS2 out classes it on smoothness with pretty much everything. Browser included. Also, none of the US Galaxy S devices have gotten Gingerbread yet... and GB adds a bunch to the table.

The Samsung GS2 is almost like the Nissan GT-R. REALLY powerful, defines the performance category for it's class, and looks good while doing it... but it has a light build... mostly plastics, but the parts on the inside are top-shelf.

Apple's iPhone is like a BMW M3 4-door. Quick, has something for everyone, has impeccable build quality with aluminum and glass, and costs more.

 

I suppose the Galaxy S II is a phone you have to see in person, because from videos and pictures, I don't find that a remotely attractive phone. =s

 

Matter of taste, I guess.

Personally I find the iPhone's design boring and the OS equally so.

 

Boring? Perhaps. I was trying to force myself to have that opinion when I was going through the "I have to hate the iPhone so I don't convince myself to buy one" phase.

At least it doesn't look cheap. Or have overly-garish red accents like a few HTC phones do.

iOS is getting a bit old though.

 

Iphone looks more garish to me than other phones, and just plain stupid with glass on both sides. I'd rather have plastic than glass...

 

Also what I tried convincing myself of while I was going through that phase.

The iPhone doesn't look garish at all... I mean, it literally doesn't fit the definition of garish.

 

The iPhone 4 is sleek, but to me it is ridiculous to put glass on both sides of the phone.



On a side note: Samsung Galaxy S II makes its AT&T debut October 2nd for $199 on contract -- Engadget only 11 more days for at&t's variant!

 

Yeah, like I said, I had the same mindset. I even made fun of that fact to my dad when I would talk to him about how terrible Apple is.

In practice, it's nice. The disadvantage is that you pretty much have to use a case if you don't want to risk damaging the glass. Form over function, sadly, though it does look nice and feels much nicer than plastic IMO.

 

How the hell do you use that $2 Amazon Appstore credit? I just bought an app for $1.99, but it charged my credit card.

 

I bought the Plex app for $4.99 last night and I was only charged $2.99.

It seemed to automatically take it off the price in my case... did you buy it on your device or the store in your browser? I went the browser route...

EDIT: Oh how far we've come since 2006...

<param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/sjDKrK3uJgg?version=3&amp;hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/sjDKrK3uJgg?version=3&amp;hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width='480' height="360" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object>

 

any good games

 

4.7" screen with 1280 x 720 resolution? If verizon doesn't pick this up, I shall cry myself to sleep every night

Samsung SHV-E120L comes out of the development dark, is the Xtina to LG's Britney -- Engadget

Samsung SHV-E120L Specs Leaked, 4.7-Inch HD Screen In

 

My phone is no longer on backorder, should be here tomorrow or friday (i hope)

 

So should my new headphones! Yeaaa all around!

I finally got Bose to replace my Triports. I like the Sony MDR-XB700's, but the Bose are where it's at for me. The Sony's don't disappear on your head like the Bose do. They're sending my the new AE2's.

 

Want! Want! Want! O_O

 

That's it! I'm packing up and moving to Canada, 3 year contracts be dammed.


In other news, would resetting the battery stats in CWM solve my battery drain woe. It seems like the battery isn't calibrated or something because if I have like 30 percent left or something, and plug it in, it'll be at 100 percent in like 15-20 minutes.

EDIT: I'm also sick of the annoying force closes..i was just trying to type an address into the maps app to star it so I could use it for directions....damn app kicked me back to the home screen. I'm rebooting now but it's frustrating nonetheless. Not to mention missing text messages and stuff..it's getting on my nerves tbh.

 

You are starting to have the same issues Mastershroom was having... you just don't have enough RAM, and Android is only halfway competent at pagefiles.

Sidenote: My Infuse 4G now has Exynos. An Exynos 3110 to be exact. Apparently Samsung has renamed Hummingbird to Exynos.

Sidenote2: This is the phone I will be buying:

Samsung Galaxy S II X (Samsung Hercules) Specs | Technical Specifications | PDAdb.net - Smartphone, Tablet, Netbook, PDA, PNA & Mobile Device Specifications Database

The international version of T-Mobile's GS2. Penta-band, dual-core APQ8060 @ 1.5GHz, 1GB of RAM, and a 4.5" S-AMOLED+. Dreams really do come true.

 

Hehe, that's coming out on Telus too!

In other news, the Artix 2 looks pretty solid.

 

Whoa! Nice find.

About my phone: Yeah, it's getting up there...I'm stuck waiting to hear about the Nexus Prime but I might bite the bullet and end up getting the Stratosphere if it launches in two weeks per the rumormill.

Maybe I should consider going back to the stock 2.2 build....*rubs chin*

 

I've been video conferencing with Telus for about two weeks now...

I agree! The Atrix should have been OMAP to begin with. Or a dual-core Snapdragon of some sort.

EDIT: Wouldn't you know... MobileSyrup posted this right after I posted here... http://mobilesyrup.com/2011/09/22/video-telus-samsung-galaxy-s-ii-x-quick-overview/

Stock software... *shudders*

 

What is the best Android tablet that can access the android market, for as cheap as possible? I'm talking < $200 if at all possible, cheaper the better, thanks. I'd prefer smaller than bigger too, like 7" and smaller is fine by me. Capacitive touchscreen preferred but know at this price point probably not possible. Since I don't want to shell another $30/mo to my cell company, and mainly want basic functionality with wi-fi web browsing, I'd like something small and cheap.

 

You want to look into the Nook Color. You'll have to tinker with it but it's no big deal.

I would avoid generic branded tablets like the "aPad" and their ilk...it's way too easy to end up buying one that doesn't have much community support and then you'd be screwed.

 

Thanks. By tinker what do you mean? Is it native Android, or will I need to root it? Certified pre-owned ones go for $159 at Overstock.com. Might be an option.

 

It comes stock with B&N's customized Android, which you can really only use to read books and such. You can load CyanogenMod 7.1 on it and do almost everything you can do on a real tablet.

Also, AFAIK, CM7 is super easy to load on the Nook Color.

EDIT: since when is the forum separating out A-F-A-I-K and making it into the actual "as far as I know"? LOL

 

Heheh. I wonder if they will carry the Nexus Prime.

 

hah, it's not that bad right? The only bloatware on the Droid 1 was Amazon MP3 store.

 

You might want to consider a pre-paid/pay-as-you-go carrier. I use Virgin Mobile, which is run by Sprint. I pay $25 a month for 300 minutes, unlimited messaging and unlimited 3G data. I don't know about tablets, but I have the Motorola Triumph, a pretty powerful Android phone with a 4.1" screen. Works with WiFi too.

 

Well currently I'm on my sister's plan (God bless her soul) and only am paying the $10/mo for the added phone. Can't beat that deal, and really don't care much for using the internet data plan, won't use it much at all.

 

SGS 2 is awesome and the 4.5" screen is humongous, but i love it

 

But that's a Qualcomm CPU!

Challenge accepted!

 

The APQ8060 is a beast when done right. HTC hasn't been able to do anything right with Qualcomm it seems, and from what I've seen of the Samsung Hercules, "beast" would be a fitting description.

HTC has always had decent hardware, but it's their lack of proper hardware drivers that have pissed me off to no end. Audio quality would be a good example of that. The Qualcomm SoC's are capable of truly decent audio, but you have to have good drivers or else it's going to sound like a hot mess... que the Desire HD.

 

That is the absolute true.

 

Facebook is "incompatible" with my phone.

What the hell?

Anyone have a Facebook app apk they can give me?

 

I'll never understand HTC's driver woes...I mean did they not learn anything from the infamous TyTn graphics driver (or lack there of) woes?

I'm really finding it hard to hold off on upgrading: My power button's now pretty much completely broken: I'll randomly get the "Power Off" dialog box over and over as the slightest motion triggers the loose button. I'll also try to turn off the screen, only to get the power off box...a fit of button mashing, light tapping with a finger nail and back button pushing ensues.

At this rate, I'm going over my options. The Droid 3's not THAT bad is it?:



I mean just look at that keyboard. My other option is the Droid Charge and the Samsung Stratosphere (an Epic 4G with LTE) that's rumored to come out in 2 weeks.

What would you pick?

 

It's ok, HTC have Beats Audio now.

 

I can get you one.

HAL: "Just a moment..."

EDIT: Here you go. Just pulled from the Market... Facebook APK

I'm glad I wasn't drinking anything when I read that... cognac through the nasal passages just isn't cool.

 

Hoo Boy! I'm SO excited!