The Android Thread

[Corteks]

Phone calls and text is the least of interest in the feature set. So, rather than a phone with all these other things jammed in, I want those other things, with a phoen jammed in there somewhere

LoL, considering how much other crap phones do they pretty much are this way now. Even when I was fixing phones a few years back (really before smartphones were massively widespread over here) a lot of the faults actually didn't have anything to do with phone calls or SMS.

[Slurm]

To be completely honest, it sounds like you want a tablet more than a smartphone.

I also firmly believe that no smart phones camera will ever come close to a proper dslr.

yeah, probably. Battery life would be the biggest concern, then actualy storage space. I can do 20 - 30 gigs of photographs in a day. Id want at least a weeks storage and the battery life to support the transfers, plus the music, gps, sound recording... Obviously Im dreaming for the moment.

And I agree to your second point. I have great cameras and fantastic lenses. Why step backwards?

[frogman]

yeah, probably. Battery life would be the biggest concern, then actualy storage space. I can do 20 - 30 gigs of photographs in a day. Id want at least a weeks storage and the battery life to support the transfers, plus the music, gps, sound recording... Obviously Im dreaming for the moment.

And I agree to your second point. I have great cameras and fantastic lenses. Why step backwards?

Hrm. For that amount, I would be going with a bunch of large sd cards. I cant think of an easy way to transfer from SD -> HD though, so you would have to have a basecamp set up with an sd reader and large storage solution.

Anyone who suggests a camera phone for anything other than happy snaps or the like needs their head examined.

[Slurm]

Yeah, large SD/CF cards are getting cheaper, but its still a matter of creating a redundant storage system for use in the field. Copying data from the camera storage to two forms of additional storage.

I'm not altogether in agreement with you on the happy snaps call though. I've been seeing some really excellent photography from iphones and the like lately. You are only really limited by focal length, tiny tiny sensors, annoying and frustrating shutter delay and horrible low light sensitivity. Pretty much the same limitations of point and shoot digitals just a few years ago.

learn the limitations of your device, work with them, make them work for you, and you can come up with some good results it seems.

Or just spray and pray.

[flauntster]

yeh id like a half decent camera on my next phone .. the n95 was pretty impressive for pics, pity my lcd didnt last long :/
i dont expect dslr quality, but its so handy being able to get a half decent pic of something when youre out and about, from something that fits in your pocket

ive noticed on flickr that some of the HTCs have 8 megapixel cameras (not that megapixels is everything).. but i dont think these are avail here

http://www.flickr.com/cameras/htc/evo4g/
http://www.flickr.com/cameras/htc/droid_incredible/

[Slurm]

yeh id like a half decent camera on my next phone .. the n95 was pretty impressive for pics, pity my lcd didnt last long :/
i dont expect dslr quality, but its so handy being able to get a half decent pic of something when youre out and about, from something that fits in your pocket

ive noticed on flickr that some of the HTCs have 8 megapixel cameras (not that megapixels is everything).. but i dont think these are avail here

http://www.flickr.com/cameras/htc/evo4g/
http://www.flickr.com/cameras/htc/droid_incredible/

For something that fits in your pocket, check out the fuji digital rangefinder just announced at photokina.



Sorry to hijack phone thread with camera stuff, but there seems to be a fair bit of overlap.

[j-mo]

http://wccftech.com/2010/09/19/buste...-battery-life/

[Corteks]

“To also help with Battery Life you can do these steps exactly:

1. Turn your device ON and Charge the device for 8 hours or more
2. Unplug the device and Turn the phone OFF and charge for 1 hour
3. Unplug the device Turn ON wait 2 minutes and Turn OFF and charge for another hour.

Your battery life should almost double, we have tested this on our devices and other agents have seen a major difference as well”


Read more: http://wccftech.com/2010/09/19/buste...#ixzz103HLrV3Z

LoLs @ this supposedly working o.0

[j-mo]

LoLs @ this supposedly working o.0

hahha, I didn't actually read the article, but lol at that bit

give it a go and report back!

[Corteks]

Heh maybe if I'm feeling incredibly bored or something :P
Although I'm really not willing to believe it unless I saw it in person eh. It seriously doesn't seem to make any freakin' sense.

[frisky]

What features would you use?

To be honest, I dont know if GPS works outside of network coverage. I would have thought it did because of the whole global bit of GPS, but I could be wrong.

And dedicated devices are always going to be better than something that can do everything. But if you can replace a device with something that does 80% of the functionality then that may be worth it. How about two devices. How about three?

GPS works independent of nework (otherwise its not GPS, its just an approximate location from network towers). I just had mine working in a plane this morning, in airline mode. I guess GPS is not covered by the airline mode as it only receives the signals rather than transmitting anything.

Phone GPS are not fantastic though, Slurm you could always go for a GPS phone e.g. Garmin Asus Nüvifone M10, heres the money quote "A10 focuses on pedestrian-friendly features and navigation for Europe and Asia-Pacific"
http://asia.cnet.com/reviews/mobilep...244511p,00.htm

[Slurm]

GPS works independent of nework (otherwise its not GPS, its just an approximate location from network towers). I just had mine working in a plane this morning, in airline mode. I guess GPS is not covered by the airline mode as it only receives the signals rather than transmitting anything.

Phone GPS are not fantastic though, Slurm you could always go for a GPS phone e.g. Garmin Asus Nüvifone M10, heres the money quote "A10 focuses on pedestrian-friendly features and navigation for Europe and Asia-Pacific"
http://asia.cnet.com/reviews/mobilep...244511p,00.htm

Oooh nice.

But I have a Garmin Vista HCX which does mapping as well. It will have to get better than that before I'd consider retiring this lovely gadget.

[badr]

Hi OSC, despite the last page, this thead is calling yoooooou

[fatnick]

LoLs @ this supposedly working o.0

the article goes to confirm the myth:

Does it Work? As stupid and outlandish as it sounds, it actually works. Look through the thread on XDA Forums and see for yourself. Many users have verified that the procedure increased their phone’s battery life.
Status: Highly plausible. Essentially confirmed.
What You Should Do: I personally never tried this trick nor will I ever do so. You can either spend 10 hours trying to increase your phone’s battery or play Abduction! on it.


Read more: http://wccftech.com/2010/09/19/buste...#ixzz104yl3Vsm

This practice (or a similar one) is used often with high tech batteries to somehow reset the battery management chip so that it manages to charge the battery to its fullest capacity at rest. It is hard to measure how full a battery is when it is being used, so the technique of turning it off and charging somemore, turning back on to reset the 1st (phantom) delta peak that initially happens and then trickle charged at the end without the management system cutting off current.

i wish i could find this article that explained all this shiz. the battery management is good in these devices, but are 'too automated' in that they keep the battery at max efficiency but not capacity

if that makes sense

[Hoser]

LoLs @ this supposedly working o.0

Sounds like a good way to overcharge your battery and fuck up its longevity... Maybe?

"A candle that burns twice as bright burns half as long"

[frogman]

http://www.androidpolice.com/2010/09...in-early-2011/

Want

[Corteks]

the article goes to confirm the myth:

This practice (or a similar one) is used often with high tech batteries to somehow reset the battery management chip so that it manages to charge the battery to its fullest capacity at rest. It is hard to measure how full a battery is when it is being used, so the technique of turning it off and charging somemore, turning back on to reset the 1st (phantom) delta peak that initially happens and then trickle charged at the end without the management system cutting off current.

i wish i could find this article that explained all this shiz. the battery management is good in these devices, but are 'too automated' in that they keep the battery at max efficiency but not capacity

if that makes sense

I read the article, still find it a little hard to believe but it's not like I have a massive understanding of batteries either.

That does kinda make sense. Well it offers a little more explanation than the article does, LoL.

[Halu]

Are the screens less fragile when you drop them? lol

[frogman]

Are the screens less fragile when you drop them? lol

Yes.

[Hoser]

Now my iphone is dead I'm keen to switch teams. Any suggestions? I'm looking for something touch screen, can't have slider, flip etc must be fairly rugged.

Been looking at these:
http://www.htc.com/au/product/legend/overview.html

I'd prefer something a bit faster but don't wanna pay top $$...

[Wortho]

I believe HTC Dream is newer, more powerful and I think cheaper, I wouldn't go the Magic if you use your phone for media because it doesn't have a headphone jack otherwise it's a fairly sturdy phone.

Check out the Samsung Galaxy aswell but I have a feeling that will be fookin exxy.

[Hoser]

Cheers for that looking now. Isn't dream a slider tho? If so it's no good... I see desire's are cheaper now http://www.becextech.com.au/catalog/...roducts_id=358

Also if I'm on 3 will I need a next G version for when I'ma roaming???

[j-mo]

I spoke to a couple of clients yesterday that went from iPhone 3GS to Samsung Galaxy and they hate them.

Muuuuch slower apparently.

[frogman]

Now my iphone is dead I'm keen to switch teams. Any suggestions? I'm looking for something touch screen, can't have slider, flip etc must be fairly rugged.

Been looking at these:
http://www.htc.com/au/product/legend/overview.html

I'd prefer something a bit faster but don't wanna pay top $$...

I have that phone and love it. I have dropped it couple of times and its still going strong. Of you want rugged though you will need to get a case.

I'm not sure when they are being sold but check out the desire hd.

[frogman]

I spoke to a couple of clients yesterday that went from iPhone 3GS to Samsung Galaxy and they hate them.

Muuuuch slower apparently.

Samsung phones. I don't trust them for a reason.

[Wortho]

Cheers for that looking now. Isn't dream a slider tho? If so it's no good... I see desire's are cheaper now http://www.becextech.com.au/catalog/...roducts_id=358

Also if I'm on 3 will I need a next G version for when I'ma roaming???

Ohh I meant Desire. I get confused with the two >_<

[LabRat]

Cheers for that looking now. Isn't dream a slider tho? If so it's no good... I see desire's are cheaper now http://www.becextech.com.au/catalog/...roducts_id=358

Also if I'm on 3 will I need a next G version for when I'ma roaming???

did you have any problems with 3 and data roaming charges with your iphone

[Hoser]

did you have any problems with 3 and data roaming charges with your iphone

Nope worked fine.

[Petar]

[frogman]

im confused

[frogman]

and slightly aroused

[frisky]

NOTE: To read the QR codes ("quick response" 2-dimensional barcodes) below install Barcode Scanner http://www.appbrain.com/app/barcode-...client.android
and just run the app and point it at the QR code and it will convert it to a URL and ask if you want to open the link in your browser.
--

OK. I know why the SGS has occasional lag.

Galaxy S hardware is different from previous generation’s Android phones.
To extend /data partition, the place where all your apps are installed and personal data are stored, Samsung use 2GB from the internal SD card.

There’s nothing wrong with this approach, but they use the proprietary RFS filesystem they build as a legacy FAT, adding journalisation and POSIX permission. Both are required to run safely Android.
Unfortunately, this filesystem tries too hard and don’t provide a consistent experience with many applications installed or a few days uptime.

There are two options to fix; either:
- OneClickLagFix, which installs linux EXT2 filesystem to fix http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=784691

- Voodoo, which installs linux EXT4 filesystem to fix http://project-voodoo.org/

OCLF is a normal app available in the store. 1st it downloads update.zip to /sdcard and instructs you to boot to recovery menu and run update.zip to Root the phone. I had lots of trouble getting to the recovery menu, the trick is to hold down the UP VOLUME, HOME, and ON buttons, then after the splash screen appears, release the ON button but keep holding the other two until you get the recovery menu. Then use the UP/DOWN volume buttons to select the required option ("install update.zip") and the HOME button to execute. After Rooting, various options to run OCLF become available, and OCLF also has menu options to undo all your changes.

I ran OCLF first and it improved the lag situation (I have lag particularly when say installing a shortcut on a homescreen, waiting for the list of applications to pop up normally takes about 5 seconds) but not as much as I hoped. I then uninstalled and installed Voodoo which seemed to speed up the system even further. NB. Voodoo is distrubuted just as an update.zip which you need to install. So I've done that but I'm not sure how to uninstall if I need to

Anyway, I just ran Quadrant benchmark

with results something like:

except my score was actually 1757 rather than 2191, still beating a Nexus One with Android 2.2
(NB: Anyone know how to take a screenshot of the phone - I presume theres an app for that...)

I should have run Quadrant before trying the lag fixes - I'd be interested to see what other Quandrant scores people are getting, not just for SGS phones.

//OK, I just read the Voodoo FAQ http://project-voodoo.org/faq and am trying to follow it to uninstall Voodoo and rerun Quandrant...

[frogman]

(NB: Anyone know how to take a screenshot of the phone - I presume theres an app for that...)

Are you rooted?

[frisky]

Are you rooted?

yep, but only for the last hour or so... why do you ask, "big boy"

[frogman]

Because if you are rooted you can get an app from the market. Try ShootMe.

If you arent "You'll need a good ADB compatible driver that works with the Android SDK. Once you install the SDK there is an application called DDMS within the tools directory. Once launched, select your device on the left then open the Device menu and click Screen Capture. "

Note I havent tried either.

[frisky]

yeah my phone is rooted alright
managed to uninstall the voodoo lag fix, the reran Quandrant benchmark - this time 798 compared to 1757 with the voodoo lag fix. 798 is slightly slower than the "Samsung Galaxy S" benchmark, probably cos I have a few things installed chewing resources, e.g. ADW.Launcher rather than the standard launcher, and also WidgetLocker

(Widgetlocker = awesome, can install widgets on lockscreen so you can go direct to contacts or camera or email with one swipe from the lockscreen)

Ran the OneClickLagFix app, this time trying the "V2.1+" method rather than the "V1+" method... took ages before it told me it was finished... and now it won't boot
tried all the options in the recovery menu EXCEPT the factory reset.

I'll have to wait till I go home to try some more stuff (e.g. flash a ROM), as the only way I could get files onto my phone at work was to email them to myself then download them from the phone.

If all else fails and I need to do a factory reset I have my list of installed apps saved on Appbrain so it would be pretty quick to reinstall them all...

(btw, www.appbrain.com is awesome, allows you to save lists of apps then download them in one go from the phone, also provides lists of recommended apps based on what you have installed, etc.)

[frogman]

(btw, www.appbrain.com is awesome, allows you to save lists of apps then download them in one go from the phone, also provides lists of recommended apps based on what you have installed, etc.)

So I assume you have http://www.appbrain.com/app/com.apps...demonkeys.apps as well

Sucks about your phone. You are past my experience level with that stuff

[frisky]

Yeah I have the appbrain app, and my syncing is up to date so I know what apps I had installed... (including just adding that ShootMe to my install queue )

So I assume you have http://www.appbrain.com/app/com.apps...demonkeys.apps as well

Sucks about your phone. You are past my experience level with that stuff

Yeah well, my experience level = 0 before today, I don't know what came over me... but given this has happened its a good opportunity to try some stuff I otherwise might not have... e.g. there is a new updated ROM for Australia (http://forum.ausdroid.net/thread-304.html), or I could just go the whole hog and stuff waiting for Samsung/3 and just install Froyo (Android 2.2) from e.g. www.samfirmware.com ...

And now, after the fact, I have discovered the best backup app, which I should have used after rooting the phone but before doing anything else... Titanium Backup *root

The ONLY tool that can backup, restore, freeze your apps + data + Market links! Even protected apps! 0-click Batch/scheduled backups! Donate version has 0-click batch restores, Dropbox sync & MORE!

looks the goods, lesson learned... least I have nothing irreplaceable on my phone yet being only 2 weeks old

[Paj]

I got froyo on my desire finally... it rules! the UI is better, the software is better, get Apps2SD, more features and its noticeably faster. its like having a whole new phone!

I just downloaded mini squadron - its awesome.

[frisky]

I now have the latest Android 2.2 Samsung firmware and a rooted phone that works
I followed the thread on XDA developers http://ip208-100-42-21.static.xda-de...d.php?t=790686

Quadrant score is now 925 without a lagfix installed - improved over a score of ~800 for a stock SGS running Android 2.1. Next up, lagfix and then reinstall all my apps...
Froyo is very pretty

[Corteks]

Which Android Browser is Fastest?

[frogman]

Yeah im still debating whether or not the root and update to froyo. I really should pull my ring out and do it, but im so lazy and i have no major complaints about my phone that i want to fix.

[Corteks]

LoL I feel the same. I want Froyo but really everything works pretty damn great already.

[frogman]

My phone has been slow in a couple of places and so I have decided to bite the bullet and root my phone.

Just need a memory card now

Wish me luck.

[Corteks]

Good luck!

Tell us how it goes!

[frogman]

Good luck!

Tell us how it goes!

Yeah will do. will probably end up doing it on the weekend.

[Curare]

What's the best mp3 player out there. The standard htc one is ok, but I think it's tinny, not that I can see why, it shouldn't have any effect on sound quality, but I'm willing to investigate.

Any help?

[frogman]

Have you tried tunewiki?

If not read this page and get back to me

http://tutorial.downloadatoz.com/10-...c-fans-ii.html

[frisky]

Update, if anyone cares. I absolutely love the Android OS and the freedom and choice it gives you to do what the fuck you want with your phone.

I now have shortcuts set up on my lockscreen I can swipe to go straight to phone, camera, SMS, email, internet, voume off, direct from the lockscreen. My phone is an FTP server I can upload a file onto it from anywhere. I have an encrypted partition where I have stored credit card & password info. I have a different, better application launcher than stock (LauncherPro), and have customised this to suit my phone (e.g. 5x5 icon grid rather than 4x4). I have used Tasker to automatically load my mp3 player when I plug in headphones, and reduce the volume of notifications overnight. I have backed up all my apps and settings (Titanium backup) so I can get them all back at any time. I have integrated my google Calendar, Task List & Mail with widgets on my homescreens, and the widgets are scrollable under LauncherPro (unlike with stock app launcher). Etc...

However I knew there was a reason I was hesistant about buying a Samsung phone They completely fucked up the file system (1), (2), (3), not to mention the GPS (4), and have been very slow to get out fixes... (see (4) and the many places that predicted an update to Android 2.2. 'Froyo' for Samsung phones by end of September...)

Apart from that, I love my phone , the screen is brilliant and usable in direct sunlight, and apps when not making database queries are blazingly fast. Fortunately Samsung have been leaking lots of firmwares and open sourcing their code etc for the community so I've been able to fix the issues... not sure how average Joe would find the phone, waiting 20s for the application database to load, etc.

Anyway, if anyone else has a SGS and is experiencing lag, don't bother with the OCLF (OneClickLagFix) available on the Android market, as this fix only applies an EXT2 buffer over the original RFS file system, and after a period of time the problems in the underlying RFS make themselves apparent in lag again (I experienced this personally after a few days). The true fix is the Voodoo-lagfix (5), (6) which compeletly replaces the 2GB application data partition on the internal SD card with EXT4 filesystem, however this fix is only available for Android 2.1 'Eclair', so after playing with 2.2 'Froyo' I flashed back to Eclair, but the latest European firmware with best performance "JM8" (7) and applied a variation of the voodoo fix to which using the latest stock kernels (8).

Phone now runs awesome, even after restoring 100+ apps using Titanium backup and having LauncherPro, Power Stip & Widget Locker resident in memory all the time. I'll be keeping this setup until the official 2.2 Froyo firmware is released and the voodoo fix (or some other permanent fix) comes out (unless Samsung by some miracle fix the RFS filesystem problems themselves, which they did not do on any of the leaked 2.2 firmwares).


Short version: Samsung Galaxy S rules, but you have to be willing to mod your phone to get best performance.

[HERETIK]

it's _just_ a phone.