Related
I’m going to start this off by saying that this is not a review of the AT&T Tilt, the HTC Advantage, or the iPhone. These devices have been reviewed in depth already. This is more of a reflection on my use of the 3 devices mentioned. My primary phone is the AT&T Tilt, my wife uses the iPhone, and I bought a HTC Advantage 2 week ago.
I wanted to see if the Advantage would augment or even replace my laptop and Tilt, like a true convergence device. I mentioned the iPhone because my wife has one, and so I have access to the use of it along with the 2 other HTC devices.
All of the devices mentioned are box stock so to speak. They are locked to AT&T with the exception of the Advantage, which as you know can work on any GSM network, but for me it is used on AT&T’s network.
I was able to use all 3 while on a week’s Christmas vacation trip to Minnesota (I live in Jacksonville, FL.) to see my parents. I transitioned to the Advantage one week prior to leaving to get used to it. It worked as expected, sync’s to my laptop with Vista and Mobile Device Center no problem, as does my Tilt. Connected to AT&T’s network no problem. I was always able to get my e-mails and made and received calls on it, and Bluetooth worked flawlessly. I paired my Jawbone with no problems. The only software problem I encountered with it so far has been with Windows live services. It would fail to sync completely, signing out and then back in repeatedly. I have had zero lock ups and have not had to reset it yet. The GPS worked without a hitch and was able to use it with both Google maps and Live search to navigate. The only problem I can find to fault this device with is the size and weight, but I knew that when I got it. It is not designed to be carried around with you all day. I found myself leaving it in the car or on the desk and checking it throughout the day. I did carry it with me while walking around the Mall of America in Minneapolis. Throughout the whole trip I had excellent network coverage and the high speed 3g worked everywhere I was at. All and all the Advantage did everything it was advertised to do.
While at my parent’s house in Rochester, I also used my Tilt. Once again it worked as it has always been working. The only problem I have with my Tilt is it has a tendency to drop calls while using the Bluetooth headset (Jawbone). This has happened several times and I have read here on these forums that I am not alone with this problem.
To be honest, after using both devices I think the Advantage is at a slight disadvantage. Now, I realize they are meant for two entirely different types of users. I can do everything I need to do on the Tilt. The Advantage can do everything the Tilt can do, and has way more storage. The size, weight, and portability are just too much to work around for me. I must say though, that looking at that nice big VGA screen on the Advantage will spoil you.
I am more than happy with the performance of both devices, as well as the other HTC devices I have used in the past. (AT&T 8525)
Here’s the other point I wanted to make, and why I have mentioned the iPhone. I pay all my bills online, so I needed to be able to log on to my bank as well as other creditors to make payments. Of the 8 online bill paying websites I needed to access, I was only able to complete 3 of the tasks. The websites would not render correctly no matter what changes to the display I made. As a note I use a program called PIE+ by Rensoft, and it works great on my Tilt and the Advantage. I was able to log on and complete the other 5 transactions with the wife’s iPhone, in the Safari browser no problem what so ever. That’s the only thing I like about the iPhone, and it is not enough of a reason to switch to one, she likes that phone and it’s nice, but I prefer the functionality of windows mobile.
I would like to add that I am not a noob, nor am I an expert at using WM6; I learn new stuff about it every day on this site. I thought it might be interesting for someone to read about my experience with these 3 devices, and how they were used in my everyday life.
In conclusion, I would say that for me, the choice clear. I will stay with my Tilt, and possibly find a new home for the Advantage. I don’t know though, it’s like a guilty pleasure to use the Advantage.
One more thing I just thought of, maybe a HTC Shift is what I need.
Anyway thanks for reading.
My week with my advantage
It all started on christmas eve, i bought my advantage off someone on these forums, who got conned into buying an ameo with a blocked imei. Im 17 so i hardly ever call, and when i do its when im out with my K800i. It has been like this since i got my hermes in June. And texts work for me, so its a perfect buy, way cheaper then normal, and probably the best spec of a pda phone there is.
I got it out of the box, and i was actually surprised by the size. I thought it would be bigger, but its not really massive, seeing as i had a hermes. Its probably the same depth as a hermes, and width is about double the hermes, and height is id say about 1cm shorter then the hermes length. And, most importantly, it fits into my school blazer pocket perfectly, so no belt clip.
Straight away, i downloaded the latest athena project rom. I was surprised by the amount of apps cooked in, coming rom hermes where every rom is stripped bare, because of the half size rom.
I fired it up, played around a bit, but i found that even with double the ram, and more then 50% extra processing power, it was the same speed. But thinking about it, this is probably because it has to render double the number of pixels.
I downloaded google maps, tried to get a gps fix, and so far ive been able to get a fix in my house fdrom my bedroom window [5 satellites] and the living room window [3 satellites] i havent been able to when ive been in a car. I got tomtom for it, and the success has been the same. But quick gps does i think speed up getting a fix, but it may just be psychological.
The best app on the rom is id say real vga. The icon are massive on 192 dpi, and when i changed to 96 dpi, at first it was tiny, but now im used to it. Another massive plus is snapvue. The calendar is great and the viewing od new sms at the bottom is excellent. Then only thing wrong with it so far is that the clock never syncs fast. its always approx 10 secs after the normal clock. And, when i turn it on in the morning, it shows the time it was turned off at at night. And by turn off, i mean like screen off, not power down.
Yesterday, i had some trouble with it, when i turned the screen off, it wouldnt turn back on, i had to soft-reset. it did this twice in a row. but since then it hasnt done it.
That is the only problem so far [touch wood] that has caused a soft reset.
Wisbar advance desktop wouldnt work, but now i worked out that 96 dpi is just like qvga? lol. so my old hermes WA2 and WAD themes will work.
Thanks for reading, and i liked your "review" cib911.
x
cib911 - After getting a good case for my Athena (Tough-as-Nuts; it has the same quality as a good holster), I don't even notice its on my belt most of the time. I even have moments where I think I've lost it and reach down to make sure its still there. When I had some cheaper cases in the beginning it was a drag, literally. Especially one that had a swivel belt clip which held it so far from the belt it had leverage to twist the belt outward with each step. But the good case makes it an easy carry-everyday item now.
Hey cib911, I'm gonna assume you flew. Did you use the Advantage on the flight, around 3hours would be my guess. How was the battery life and what were you using it for? music? Movies? Work?
I've been considering one to add to my TyTn / Fujitsu p1510 stable.
thanks
cib911 said:
I’m going to start this off by saying that this is not a review of the AT&T Tilt, the HTC Advantage, or the iPhone. These devices have been reviewed in depth already. This is more of a reflection on my use of the 3 devices mentioned. My primary phone is the AT&T Tilt, my wife uses the iPhone, and I bought a HTC Advantage 2 week ago.
I wanted to see if the Advantage would augment or even replace my laptop and Tilt, like a true convergence device. I mentioned the iPhone because my wife has one, and so I have access to the use of it along with the 2 other HTC devices.
All of the devices mentioned are box stock so to speak. They are locked to AT&T with the exception of the Advantage, which as you know can work on any GSM network, but for me it is used on AT&T’s network.
I was able to use all 3 while on a week’s Christmas vacation trip to Minnesota (I live in Jacksonville, FL.) to see my parents. I transitioned to the Advantage one week prior to leaving to get used to it. It worked as expected, sync’s to my laptop with Vista and Mobile Device Center no problem, as does my Tilt. Connected to AT&T’s network no problem. I was always able to get my e-mails and made and received calls on it, and Bluetooth worked flawlessly. I paired my Jawbone with no problems. The only software problem I encountered with it so far has been with Windows live services. It would fail to sync completely, signing out and then back in repeatedly. I have had zero lock ups and have not had to reset it yet. The GPS worked without a hitch and was able to use it with both Google maps and Live search to navigate. The only problem I can find to fault this device with is the size and weight, but I knew that when I got it. It is not designed to be carried around with you all day. I found myself leaving it in the car or on the desk and checking it throughout the day. I did carry it with me while walking around the Mall of America in Minneapolis. Throughout the whole trip I had excellent network coverage and the high speed 3g worked everywhere I was at. All and all the Advantage did everything it was advertised to do.
While at my parent’s house in Rochester, I also used my Tilt. Once again it worked as it has always been working. The only problem I have with my Tilt is it has a tendency to drop calls while using the Bluetooth headset (Jawbone). This has happened several times and I have read here on these forums that I am not alone with this problem.
To be honest, after using both devices I think the Advantage is at a slight disadvantage. Now, I realize they are meant for two entirely different types of users. I can do everything I need to do on the Tilt. The Advantage can do everything the Tilt can do, and has way more storage. The size, weight, and portability are just too much to work around for me. I must say though, that looking at that nice big VGA screen on the Advantage will spoil you.
I am more than happy with the performance of both devices, as well as the other HTC devices I have used in the past. (AT&T 8525)
Here’s the other point I wanted to make, and why I have mentioned the iPhone. I pay all my bills online, so I needed to be able to log on to my bank as well as other creditors to make payments. Of the 8 online bill paying websites I needed to access, I was only able to complete 3 of the tasks. The websites would not render correctly no matter what changes to the display I made. As a note I use a program called PIE+ by Rensoft, and it works great on my Tilt and the Advantage. I was able to log on and complete the other 5 transactions with the wife’s iPhone, in the Safari browser no problem what so ever. That’s the only thing I like about the iPhone, and it is not enough of a reason to switch to one, she likes that phone and it’s nice, but I prefer the functionality of windows mobile.
I would like to add that I am not a noob, nor am I an expert at using WM6; I learn new stuff about it every day on this site. I thought it might be interesting for someone to read about my experience with these 3 devices, and how they were used in my everyday life.
In conclusion, I would say that for me, the choice clear. I will stay with my Tilt, and possibly find a new home for the Advantage. I don’t know though, it’s like a guilty pleasure to use the Advantage.
One more thing I just thought of, maybe a HTC Shift is what I need.
Anyway thanks for reading.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i would try opera. it works on all the sites i do online payments on. i would also try my rom. u'll be spoiled by it and with hardspl u can always return to stock if needed for warrenty.
what i would do is loose the keyboard like i did because of the teksoft fingertouch keyboard included in my rom and use the qwerty layout which is layout 1(ull see on the bottom left hand corner a red square with number. thats used to change layout).
without the keyboard the athena is now close to moto razr thin. but as wide as about 2 razrs side by side.
coming from a hermes i do not have a problem with the size. it fits into my jeans pockets and i love the power of the device. with my rom the device just flies. i can throw everything at it and do anything i want with it.
rorydaredkign said:
It all started on christmas eve, i bought my advantage off someone on these forums, who got conned into buying an ameo with a blocked imei. Im 17 so i hardly ever call, and when i do its when im out with my K800i. It has been like this since i got my hermes in June. And texts work for me, so its a perfect buy, way cheaper then normal, and probably the best spec of a pda phone there is.
I got it out of the box, and i was actually surprised by the size. I thought it would be bigger, but its not really massive, seeing as i had a hermes. Its probably the same depth as a hermes, and width is about double the hermes, and height is id say about 1cm shorter then the hermes length. And, most importantly, it fits into my school blazer pocket perfectly, so no belt clip.
Straight away, i downloaded the latest athena project rom. I was surprised by the amount of apps cooked in, coming rom hermes where every rom is stripped bare, because of the half size rom.
I fired it up, played around a bit, but i found that even with double the ram, and more then 50% extra processing power, it was the same speed. But thinking about it, this is probably because it has to render double the number of pixels.
I downloaded google maps, tried to get a gps fix, and so far ive been able to get a fix in my house fdrom my bedroom window [5 satellites] and the living room window [3 satellites] i havent been able to when ive been in a car. I got tomtom for it, and the success has been the same. But quick gps does i think speed up getting a fix, but it may just be psychological.
The best app on the rom is id say real vga. The icon are massive on 192 dpi, and when i changed to 96 dpi, at first it was tiny, but now im used to it. Another massive plus is snapvue. The calendar is great and the viewing od new sms at the bottom is excellent. Then only thing wrong with it so far is that the clock never syncs fast. its always approx 10 secs after the normal clock. And, when i turn it on in the morning, it shows the time it was turned off at at night. And by turn off, i mean like screen off, not power down.
Yesterday, i had some trouble with it, when i turned the screen off, it wouldnt turn back on, i had to soft-reset. it did this twice in a row. but since then it hasnt done it.
That is the only problem so far [touch wood] that has caused a soft reset.
Wisbar advance desktop wouldnt work, but now i worked out that 96 dpi is just like qvga? lol. so my old hermes WA2 and WAD themes will work.
Thanks for reading, and i liked your "review" cib911.
x
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
quick gps is ment to speed up the time for a lock so it isnt ur imagination. i am glad u love my rom and ur device. only comment i have is with the gps i actually get as good signal in my car as out of it.
i use the htc branded case and it sits in between the dashboard and front windshield of my car. it doesnt move around bc of the design of my car and the device with case. it is pretty much stuck in there and wont move no matter what i do with the car yet i can still remove it by hand from that spot.
Hey cib911, I'm gonna assume you flew. Did you use the Advantage on the flight, around 3hours would be my guess. How was the battery life and what were you using it for? music? Movies? Work?
I've been considering one to add to my TyTn / Fujitsu p1510 stable.
thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes I did use it on the flight. 1 hour to ATL. and 2 hours to MSP. The battery held up fine. I haven't put any music or movies on it yet, but played some games. I use it more for e-mail and as a lap top replacement.
i would try opera. it works on all the sites i do online payments on. i would also try my rom. u'll be spoiled by it and with hardspl u can always return to stock if needed for warrenty.
what i would do is loose the keyboard like i did because of the teksoft fingertouch keyboard included in my rom and use the qwerty layout which is layout 1(ull see on the bottom left hand corner a red square with number. thats used to change layout).
without the keyboard the athena is now close to moto razr thin. but as wide as about 2 razrs side by side.
coming from a hermes i do not have a problem with the size. it fits into my jeans pockets and i love the power of the device. with my rom the device just flies. i can throw everything at it and do anything i want with it.
Today 06:27 PM
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Glad you mentioned your ROM, I haven't had to courage to try it yet. Don't want to brick it, plus I'm still adding cabs and configuring it. I am thinking about flashing it now though.
cib911 said:
Glad you mentioned your ROM, I haven't had to courage to try it yet. Don't want to brick it, plus I'm still adding cabs and configuring it. I am thinking about flashing it now though.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just do it, unlock with Olipro's unlocker (best do all 3 steps) then flash the ROM - you won't regret it and it's almost impossible to brick your device.
Confucious said:
Just do it, unlock with Olipro's unlocker (best do all 3 steps) then flash the ROM - you won't regret it and it's almost impossible to brick your device.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
olipro is right: his ROM makes a world of difference to the usability of the athena. its a great device but in the end the size just got too much for me. there were also one or two disappointments for me. im an internet addict and found that neither opera nor pie did full enough job for me. i also thought video playback was less than acceptible, with lipsync gradually worsening throughout many films and general playback quality a bit hit and miss. it was possible to convert movies to a format that worked well but this was too much of a trial for me. perhaps i expected too much of the athena's raw power but try copying a video recorded on an N95 (330mhz ARM proocessor) onto the microdrive and playing it with tcpmp or coreplayer and you'll see that the athena was clearly never designed to play movies. this rendered the 8gb of storage a little redundant for me, and it remained pretty empty.
taking its relative spec into account i never thought the device showed itself any more nippy than the hermes. web pages for example rendered around the same speed on both devices, but i get the feeling that's a fault with windows mobile as a whole and not the athena.
overall i loved texting on the athena. there's something about the feel of it (minus the silly keyboard) that i grew fond of, and theres an abundance of really great apps out there, but in the end it never fulfilled my expectations and i felt obliged to sell it before its value depleted further.
if the size doesnt bother you and you're not too bothered about watching movies you'll definitely be sold when you try black touch though. its great, and no doubt it's helped HTC a lot as the stock ROMs are crap. without black touch i would have sold my athena months ago.
For the past 4 weeks I had HTC send me 2 replacement batteries and T-mobile sent me two replacement phones (one with a new battery), and my phone still overheats (over 100 degrees).
I swaping all my microsdhc and even took it out, and did notsolve the problem either.
The only thing left is the Sim card. Is it possible for a sim card to cause this? This is getting extremely frustrating.
The good thing is both HTC and TMobile have been really understanding, if not...I would be on other carrier with a different phone.
Jason
The sim is just a storage chip with a tiny amount of data on.. it doesn't actively do anything. It must be caused by something else.. is your phone overheating while charging or connected by usb, or does it happen all the time?
Only when I use the phone (talk, gps, edge, or wifi...FYI, I'm only running one at a time) it overheats.
Anyway, I just got my new sim and the back looks differnet than the one I got in November.
I have to say my phone runs cooler w/o the sim.
If you want to monitor the temp of your phone, download the Y-mobile "My Account" from the market, and check the battery status.
Jason
My phone is always over 100 degrees F, right now it's 102 and reaches over 112 easily
It seems pretty normal to me, the phone never shuts off or anything
My biggest regret is how slow this stupid thing is, you figure it being able to cook eggs would mean it's got some nice horsepower but this thing makes me wish I waited for the new palm OS
My phone is always over 100 degrees F, right now it's 102 and reaches over 112 easily
It seems pretty normal to me, the phone never shuts off or anything
My biggest regret is how slow this stupid thing is, you figure it being able to cook eggs would mean it's got some nice horsepower but this thing makes me wish I waited for the new palm OS
It also LOVES to double post as you can see
That's a triple post.....
Nah, I made that last post afterwards I didn't edit the post, although I wouldn't be surprised to hit a triple or even the elusive "super-quad" with this dumb thing
same problem here
I was going through the same thing. I mostly ran into this when I was using my fone as a thether. I kinda got worried so I contacted tmo andhtc and they said that it will get hot like that because of the wifi running as well as my screen never timing out. To top it all I was tethering through the usb. So it easly ran up to 115F. When it got that high I would jus bull out the battery and leave the back off for about 5 mins. If u run into this issue while ur fone is doing little or no activity then worry but if ur using data or multiple apps at once then its no biggie.
Aw jeez, I went to check setcpu and my post went bye bye
So a high temp all the time ISN'T normal?
I got:
JF 1.51 ADP
SetCPU 128/528
Advanced Task Manager, and I tend to keep everything killed besides aHome and Better Keyboard
I don't see any problems besides it giving me third degree burns and setting whatever I place it on on fire, goes slow hot or cold too
SetCPU
128/528 is a big jump, why not use default 384/528? Might help some of your performance issues.
Just a thought.
I thought it scaled itself accordingly and only went to 128 when I'm not running anything or the screen's off to save battery?
steveyos said:
I thought it scaled itself accordingly and only went to 128 when I'm not running anything or the screen's off to save battery?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It doesnt scale instantly.. cyanogen's done some init.rc mods to help this in his newer builds but theres always a reaction time between opening an app and the speed ramping up.
My properly configured g1 is pretty damn fast for a mobile device.. It sounds like you're ranting on about a problem you caused through lack of research. Good work.
steveyos said:
... makes me wish I waited for the new palm OS
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What new palmOS?
PalmOS is dead and isn't coming back unless someone picks up Access Linux (which is said to have a palmOS Garnet 6 VM only for legacy palmOS support), but that doesn't seem likely as they've been pushing it as stable for years and have yet to sell it to anybody. It is now also pointless to support legacy palmos apps since *virtually nobody* has been developing for that platform since it died a few years ago.
This new thing that palm is selling... is not palmos. Its "webos" and is basically what apple phone v1 was and what chromeos sounds like it will be... i.e. no locally installed apps (except phone stuff) - all apps are net apps.
goldenarmZ said:
The sim is just a storage chip with a tiny amount of data on.. it doesn't actively do anything.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
While I doubt it's the cause of the overheating, SIM chips are more than just passive storage. They do contain processors and can perform calculations (one of the main functions of SIMs in phones is to provide cryptographic computation for network access.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smart_card
My phone only gets warm when I'm tethering, charging or downloading large files over 3G.
goldenarmZ said:
It doesnt scale instantly.. cyanogen's done some init.rc mods to help this in his newer builds but theres always a reaction time between opening an app and the speed ramping up.
My properly configured g1 is pretty damn fast for a mobile device.. It sounds like you're ranting on about a problem you caused through lack of research. Good work.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I actually leave my house now and then, so I rely on people like you to help me while throwing in a snotty comment at the end with these kinds of things because they bore me GOOD WORK THANKS
lbcoder said:
What new palmOS?
PalmOS is dead and isn't coming back unless someone picks up Access Linux (which is said to have a palmOS Garnet 6 VM only for legacy palmOS support), but that doesn't seem likely as they've been pushing it as stable for years and have yet to sell it to anybody. It is now also pointless to support legacy palmos apps since *virtually nobody* has been developing for that platform since it died a few years ago.
This new thing that palm is selling... is not palmos. Its "webos" and is basically what apple phone v1 was and what chromeos sounds like it will be... i.e. no locally installed apps (except phone stuff) - all apps are net apps.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh for real? The hell with that, I'll take android's poopified linux over that junk any day
steveyos said:
I actually leave my house now and then, so I rely on people like you to help me while throwing in a snotty comment at the end with these kinds of things because they bore me GOOD WORK THANKS
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ha. Snotty comments are the price you pay for getting help from geeks.
Enjoy the outside world.. I'll just sit here getting progressively more pale-skinned and bitter as I cry into my coffee about my ever worsening social isolation, dolefully masturbating into an old sock over thoughts of the ladies nipples I'll never see. Because that's what we do.
steveyos said:
I actually leave my house now and then, so I rely on people like you to help me while throwing in a snotty comment at the end with these kinds of things because they bore me GOOD WORK THANKS
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The snide comments are like little genuine seal of approvals that guarantee a real certified geek posted your reply. Let's compare a certified geek reply with an off-brand imposter:
The question:
I just upgraded from JF to Cyanogen but my G1 won't boot past the loading screen. HELP!
Geek Reply:
Reboot into recovery and wipe. And learn to search; this problem has been posted in the FAQ and many previous threads. Also I hope you get hit by a bus so the average aggregate human intelligence increases. <-- unbearably high pretentiousness authenticates the quality of the Geek reply.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Non-geek reply:
Lulz i had dis problem to. I just thru my laem g1 away and got iphone 3G!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Overheating
My phone got up to 102 once. It was from having it set at 583 MHz constant. I took it out of my pocket and almost dropped it because it was hot. Also as someone said earlier, it gets very hot while tethering. Any prolonged data use will cause it to heat up. I don't think it's really anything to worry about though. I'd imagine that it would cut off before any sort of damage could occur
Hi all,
Well, I'm a bit confused here and slightly disappointed.
After all the hype surrounding the Leo pre-release, I was well up for it when my mobes was due for a contract renewal, but reading the forums and speaking to people such as Vodascum it seems all it not as good as I had hoped. There seem to be loads of people plagued with problems and issues which doesn't seem like a good thing at all.
The phone seems to have an awesome hardware package and an extremely good HTC skin over the WM6.5 base, but is it worth the hassles that people seem to be experiencing? Will WM7 solve everything and make it a true iphone killer?
What are your thoughts? Have you been struck with issues? Is it worth getting in the hope WM7 will make it better? My Diamond is ace, but it's getting old and needs replacement. I previously REALLY wanted a Leo, but I'm not so sure now - help meeee!
Cheers ta.
I love mine, Had the pink spot issue but that was solved with a patch. I have played around with various CookedROMS but have reverted to 1.61 as it seems stable.
Personally, I don't regret all the hassle I went through getting hold of it. and wouldn't hesitate recommending it!
TA
There's more people on this forum that are happy with their HD2 than there are ones that are unhappy with it.
I think you've only seen the 1 sided argument that is unfortunately getting shouted about.
Some people are having a few minor issues, and a smaller number of people are having some major issues, but there's a very large number of people that are having no issues, or very slight ones that they simply don't care about.
For example, the pink hue on photos is so barely noticable on my phone that it really doesn't matter (unless I take a picture of a piece of white paper and then reduce the image size by 80%). Also, I can type like a madman on it, barely making a mistake, but others say it's the worst keyboard in the world (or that it's "KILLING THEM"!!)
The only real way for you to find out is to get one. Most service providers give you 14 days to return something you don't want, and it's a legal requirement to provide at least 7 days, so just get one and have a play. Decide for yourself. No-one can tell you whether you'll like it or not.
I think johncmolyneux pretty much sums it up. I have had/have some problems(Slow loading SMS is the main one) BUT im still a very happy chap. I would only advise you not to get this phone if you don't want to spend time tweaking it. Without installing a few extra apps and making some tweaks here and there i wouldn't be anywhere near as happy. For me thats the main reason i got it. I wanted something i could really play with and customise as opposed to other more locked down devices.
jp_iles said:
Hi all,
...There seem to be loads of people plagued with problems and issues which doesn't seem like a good thing at all....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm not sure I'd say there are "loads of people" who are "plagued with problems". Rather, there seems to be a tiny but vocal minority of people here on this forum who do nothing but complain about issues that the majority of people haven't experienced.
The HD2 is an excellent phone and I'd happily recommend it to anyone.
+1
Myself and a few of the Mods on 4WM have HD2's and they are very good indeed. There are a few users who fiddle with settings, install dodgy tweaks then complain when things go wrong.
Give it a try- hopefully you won't be disappointed
I've not had any problems with mine and I'm very pleased with it indeed. Still running the stock 1.43 ROM with all the hotfixes applied. Go for it. I'm sure you won't regret it.
jp_iles said:
.... I previously REALLY wanted a Leo, but I'm not so sure now - help meeee!
Cheers ta.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hello,
I truly understand your dilemma. Read the threads below then go find yourself a device and play with it.
The key to your decision is this; if you are happy and able to find the time to tweak your device as necessary then you will end up enjoying it. If you don't have the time or are easily frustrated or prefer the simplicity offered by other packages such as Nolia and iphone then DON't buy this phone.
DO NOT buy this phone without playing with one in the metal first.
Hope this helps.
WB
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=595166
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=575604
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=583638
I'm also running the 1.43 stock rom.
I never had any issues with the sms not being sent.
The pink dot is fixed by the patch.
No other bugs for me, this is truly one of the best investments I've done.
People having problems with their phones probably would write here and even start new threads, but as long as the phone is working well there's no reason to write or for that matter, start a new thread just to say "my phone owns". Which is probably why you've got the impression of many people having trouble with their HD2's.
As I said, many people have had the sms-sending issue, which I've never experienced.
The ONLY real bug I have is the slow loading of the SMS's, which I hope will be solved. It does not kill me however.
Funny story, yesterday me and my friend (who has an iPhone) tried skype over our mobiles, as we both have use the GPRS for free but have different operators we finally found a way to call eachother for free.
We first tried skype over WiFi and it worked great. He then turned to the 3G and tried to call me, while Skype told him that this function is not available. So on the iPhone 3G-calling did not work (I don't know if there is a workaround for this or not, it doesn't matter, it's not standard and if you want to make it work you'd have to tweak it which makes the iPhone no better than WinMo).
I then tried the 3G and it worked perfectly.
I really can't see what all this WinMo bashing is about. I've played around with the iPhone and it is so boring, I could never imagine trading my HD2 for the iPhone.
Of 120 who have responded to a poll on the HD2 on this site, 3 had opted to return it, 4 hated it and were stuck with it (I'd bet at least one of those has since recanted), 12 were ambivalent and 89 either liked or loved the device. The balance of nine related to the plans of non-owners of the device, of whom six were keen to get one and three weren't.
You can find the poll and the results here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=592375
jakem is correct in regard to the noisy minority, but then that is only really to be expected - if you have problems you are likely to complain. NeilM may be even closer to the truth in terms of ill-advised 'tweaking'.
There was a surge of slightly suspicious negative postings by very new members that led to speculation around a smear campaign - you pays your money and you takes your choice on that one.
Personally, you would have to prise mine out of my cold, dead hand...
The phone is great - had a Nokia N95 so not familiar with tweaks so ran the HD2 stock 1.43 ROM and it has been fine, fine, fine. Due to useful sites like this, I have got a few of the tweaks on and set the phone up how I like it. Was thinking of an iPhone last year but would not touch one now as it would be rubbish in comparison!
Would recommend you get one, read the manual and take your time before loading lots of apps, etc on it!!
jp_iles, if you loved your Diamond you will certainly love the Leo. I had a Diamond and thought it was awesome, granted battery life was terrible, GPS was inaccurate, camera was rubbish but this didn't stop it being the best phone I've ever owned until now . The Leo does have some problems and can be twitchy but IMO this just adds to it's charm, I'm sure the guys/girls here at XDA will do the same as they did for my Diamond and keep releasing/patching/tweaking stuff which will just evolve the Leo into something even better than it is now.
I had my hd2 for a week. It never ran more than 5 minutes at one time. It is gone in for repair. I will miss it. I will not replace it. Having been an early adopter for more than a decade, I know there is always a price t pay one way or another. My computers, laptops, micro pc, pocket pcs and cell phones have all taken a back seat to this device. Hope this helps you in your decision.
i love my hd2, wouldnt trade it for all the iphones in cupertino.
I absolutely LOVE this phone!
I still have my Touch Pro knocking about and I was using today to do some bits and pieces, it's utterly pants in comparison!! The size of the screen is useless, the resistive screen is SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO unresponsive compared to the capacitive on the HD2 (having said that, the ability to accurately "write" using a stylus or your nail is definitely missed).
The speed of the HD2 is just spot on (though I wouldn't turn down "more" speed!). The GPS lock-on time is infinitely better than any other phone/external GPS receiver I have ever used. I don't know what more to say, it's amazing!
I. LOVE. THIS. PHONE.
It is a nice phone, well in my opinion , the
1. build quality seems solid but do not drop this beautiful piece of hardware
2. vibration feedback motor resonates a little but not annoying
3. earpiece and handsfree(back) speaker have irritating resonating sound
4. wired headset produces this irritating resonance as well
5. phone calls made with earpiece or back speaker are too loud
6. phone calls and music do have good quality on both BT carkit and BT stereo headset thus use these when possible
7. when having a call it is still possible to "press" wrong buttons with ears or even when in pocket
8. reliable software
9. nice camera but whitebalance corrects white to be pink
10. gps reception is excellent
well that's about it.
I really would like 3, 4 and 5 corrected.
Thanks for the swift responses peeps, lots of useful thoughts.
I'm still really miffed that Vodascum aren't offering it any more to non-business customers, although I'm sure I got my Diamond when they were only offering it to business customers. Meh - I shall try the "I'm leaving you" trick to get a nice deal out of them. If that doesn't work, I'm off to O2 - we have internal transmitters at work so thats a bonus.
Thanks again.
JP
I'm not sure I'd say there are "loads of people" who are "plagued with problems". Rather, there seems to be a tiny but vocal minority of people here on this forum who do nothing but complain about issues that the majority of people haven't experienced.
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Click to collapse
Exactly. That sums it up perfectly.
Look at this thread: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=592375
75% are happy with the device. Another 10% are ambivalent. That is a better result than the iPhone reached in recent satisfaction surveys - despite that HTC has no reality distortion field like Apple.
Hi
I come from Diamond, then HD and now HD2. The HD2 is the best of all those because it is really very fast and excellent big display. Some thoughts:
1- HD camera is probably a little bit better than HD2 one. HD2 has the flash and this is good, but pictures seem more focused and crispy on HD
2- USB connector is a microUSB, not the worldwide miniUSB. I bought a couple of adaptors on ebay to allow reuse of all my cables at home, work and car
3- Stop the tentation to throw it away after the first hours of usage because you cannot select on the screen list boxes and check boxes! HD2 does not have stylus and it requires a little bit of experience (couple of days) to hit in the right place the small icons or list boxes
But in any case I would never come back to HD.
Regards
Stefano
stefanospizzica said:
2- USB connector is a microUSB, not the worldwide miniUSB. I bought a couple of adaptors on ebay to allow reuse of all my cables at home, work and car
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
A few times I heard it was an advantage. Still don't understand why.
I always used to use this place when I had my windows phones and found it a brilliant source of information.
I have just bought (not arrived yet) a Galaxy S and thought I'd have a look on here and I am amazed at the problems and people moaning about there devices, I read loads of official reviews and they all praise the device highly, in fact almost as high as the big Apple.
I am completely new to Android so most of the terminology is different to the old Windows mobile so I guess I shall get used to this.
But it seems this Galaxy S is plagued with lag and gps issues, this concerns me a lot as I am a heavy gps user, have I made the wrong choice in going for an Android device, would be nice to hear some positives
There are many positives on the SGS. In my opinion (from a short, but intense ownership period) the lag issue isn't as bad as it might sound.
In certain ocasions it does lag and I've ended up waiting 4 or 5 seconds for an app to open or do something.
But those events were rare and might be reduced in the upcoming Froyo ROM.
Not something that will ruin the experience I'd say, since the unit has many positive aspects, including the amazing display.
If you are a heavy GPS user I'm afraid that there are no good news. The current GPS performance is a disaster (and no proper testing was made in any professional review). Personally I consider it not to have GPS as it is so unreliable that it cannot be trusted.
IMHO that is the only critical flaw that the SGS has right now.
Don't panic yet. Perhaps it can be solved with a firmware upgrade (maybe it is not hardware-related). In any case if GPS is really important to you and you can still return your unit, I'd do it (I will do that with mine). Get your money back and watch what happens.
If Samsung/Broadcom fix the GPS issue, then it will be a good terminal worth buying again.
well, i've been along time wm user and apple user. Got the galaxy s a few weeks back, right around the time there was massive stock shortages in australia, however my galaxy s never had any gps issues. I'n my personal opinion samsung have fixed the issue with the GPS in the later firmware revisions.
Lag, well i was running stock firmware without any mods for a few weeks, not too many issues. Yes it was a little laggy at times (typically when opening big apps), but copilot ran fine better than any wm device or apple device using tomtom.
Be sure to only kill apps that your not using, dont kill email and other important things because you'll notice the lag much more.
Just upgraded to jm5 firmware with all the mods and stuff, yes its much faster but running stock is good too. I would never go back to a windows mobile or apple device, even if it was free.
good luck, just my 2c.
THUDUK said:
I always used to use this place when I had my windows phones and found it a brilliant source of information.
I have just bought (not arrived yet) a Galaxy S and thought I'd have a look on here and I am amazed at the problems and people moaning about there devices, I read loads of official reviews and they all praise the device highly, in fact almost as high as the big Apple.
I am completely new to Android so most of the terminology is different to the old Windows mobile so I guess I shall get used to this.
But it seems this Galaxy S is plagued with lag and gps issues, this concerns me a lot as I am a heavy gps user, have I made the wrong choice in going for an Android device, would be nice to hear some positives
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Coming from a windows mobile device there is truly no comparison. I've owned and test many windows mobile devices in the past, and the Galaxy series far superior than anything previously made in my opinion. The small lag/gps issues will be fixed with minor build revisions. (unless GPS was hardware but doubtful) anyways Enjoy the device, peace!
Well my JF3 stock phone lags ALOT. Installed ca 100 apps. Not tried any of the fixes. But the lag is really really bad. Just going into calendar/dialer/contacts can take 5-10 sec. Not acceptable at all
borchgrevink said:
Well my JF3 stock phone lags ALOT. Installed ca 100 apps. Not tried any of the fixes. But the lag is really really bad. Just going into calendar/dialer/contacts can take 5-10 sec. Not acceptable at all
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
100 apps
Perhaps that is the source of the problem.
I came from a windows then apple and when i got the apple iPhone wow big difference...but then..unless you jailbreak you cant customized it...so then it became boring...was waiting for the iphone 4..but it looked the same...no real multitasking..plane the same...so moved to the gs and yes i got the jf3 firmware...yes gps issue...tried all the methods found...and some it worked...but then i was able to update via flashing my rom to M2 and gps issue has been solve...the lag is solve..the phine is faster..the android community is more vibrant than the iphone and that's because apple don't like ppl tweaking with their device...
So i can say that galaxy s is ideal if you are a power user..as you can customizer it to your hearts content
No real issues except the gps one (which is HUGE). The rest is nothing serious.
And the phone can be tweaked in so many ways, used like a pc, download torrents, watch movies directly without reconverting, copying music and photos without sync (I hate apple so much because of this). Also went from iphone 3g and my choice was between iphone 4 and galaxy s. Iphone 4 has a load of fun games, but the device is from Big Brother, no flexibility at all.
And as a artist/photographer the huge super Amoled was just wow.
Again, the gps issue spoils it all. I do hope Samsung fixes it because it is a pity to sell it and get the Iphone (
THUDUK said:
I always used to use this place when I had my windows phones and found it a brilliant source of information.
I have just bought (not arrived yet) a Galaxy S and thought I'd have a look on here and I am amazed at the problems and people moaning about there devices, I read loads of official reviews and they all praise the device highly, in fact almost as high as the big Apple.
I am completely new to Android so most of the terminology is different to the old Windows mobile so I guess I shall get used to this.
But it seems this Galaxy S is plagued with lag and gps issues, this concerns me a lot as I am a heavy gps user, have I made the wrong choice in going for an Android device, would be nice to hear some positives
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Most people with this phone don't really have any problems. We have a lot of people on this board with what appear to be faulty GPS units (can't get a lock at all) who are very stubborn and don't seem to want to return their faulty devices, so they spam away on here. If you read through the complaint threads, you will see that it is mostly the same 10-15 people posting over and over how terrible their GPS is, and how horribly their phone lags.
That aside, if you buy a device that has an old (JF series) firmware, then you will have to flash it to a newer one if occasional lagging bothers you. Another alternative is to wait for an official firmware release before buying your phone, but that doesn't seem to be an option since you've already ordered it.
Either way, don't take the complaining on this forum as any sort of proof of widespread issues without first trying the device yourself.
Totally agree with the above. It is not as bad as some make out. I use my GPS all the time without any issues at all. Lags are minimal with later firmware. I hope you enjoy your GS.
Frankly, I do not have the issue with GPS, I use Google Maps Navigator a lot.
Lag issue has been addressed by JG1 or newer test firmware.
PS: I had at least 2 WinMo phones in the past, and I have to say that I love android phone.
borchgrevink said:
Well my JF3 stock phone lags ALOT. Installed ca 100 apps. Not tried any of the fixes. But the lag is really really bad. Just going into calendar/dialer/contacts can take 5-10 sec. Not acceptable at all
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
do you need all 100 apps to do work? that's the real problem.
I believe none of the WinMo (6.5) phone can takes 100 apps in 1 single phone and still working.
Roy Ngan said:
do you need all 100 apps to do work? that's the real problem.
I believe none of the WinMo (6.5) phone can takes 100 apps in 1 single phone and still working.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I do not need all, but they are not running all at the same time. So it should work just fine.
Sent from my GT-I9000 using XDA App
When I got mine it was between the iphone 4 and the SGS, I had an iphone 3G before, and did have a good play with the iphone 4, but ultimately it felt the same, and I felt I would get bored with it.
So I got the SGS.
At first I regretted it - it was slow and unstable, and with terrible battery life.
I've since updated to JM2, rooted, done the EXT4 hack and installed Autokiller and use optimum settings on that. I installed launcher pro instead of touch wiz, and a few nice little widgets and a few apps and games.
Now, I'd almost go so far as to say I now prefer it to the iphone 4. Yes, perhaps you shouldn't have to do all this, but I bought the phone, and I was damned if I'm going to waste my money selling and buying an iphone 4, I was determined to make it work, and now it does work, I put all the tweaking to the back of my mind - now I don't try and keep up with all the latest firmwares, instead, I am just enjoying the phone and the Android OS. The only time I will now change is when a good, official Froyo firmware is released.
The positives for me are, sheer speed (when all of the above patches / hacks are performed), the customisation options that are simply not there for the iphone - you can change virtually every aspect of your phone to your tastes - try that on an iphone. You can literally make your phone unique from any other. The screen size - yes the iphone is sharper, but you have to virtually hold your eyeball to the screen to notice - for me, the benefits of having a larger, more colourful screen are immediately apparent. Much better media support, no more converting most videos to play on it.
The downsides - well the GPS is a reported downside - Google Navigator simply didnt work for me when I tried it, but that was with stock firmware, I've not tried it since I performed my above fixes (and tweaked a number of GPS settings too). The camera is pretty rubbish IMO, imagine a 3GS camera with a few more pixels and a few more options and you're not a million miles away (but on the flipside you get 720 video recording)... no flash either. The battery life still isn't amazing - it's still very poor compared to an iphone, but ultimately, its no worse than any other android phone.
Personally, I think the SGS is up there with anything out at the moment. I wouldn't go back to the iphone at the moment - before I'd reconsider this, I'd be wanted a 4+ inch display for starters, and a lot more customisation options...
Heck... I even rediscovered the art of bluetooth file transfers again the other day!!
borchgrevink said:
I do not need all, but they are not running all at the same time. So it should work just fine.
Sent from my GT-I9000 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
do you use samsung default widgets try disabling them. Many people have found their phone stopped lagging so much once they disable the samsungs default widgets
tameracingdriver said:
When I got mine it was between the iphone 4 and the SGS, I had an iphone 3G before, and did have a good play with the iphone 4, but ultimately it felt the same, and I felt I would get bored with it.
So I got the SGS.
At first I regretted it - it was slow and unstable, and with terrible battery life.
I've since updated to JM2, rooted, done the EXT4 hack and installed Autokiller and use optimum settings on that. I installed launcher pro instead of touch wiz, and a few nice little widgets and a few apps and games.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah see that's what a lot new users say. The whole point of linux though is customizing on a kernel level. Literally everything can be customized, and changed, tweaked, and even ported to other devices haha..
I don't get how there is even a comparison between Apple products and the new lines of Linux based phones already out and will be releasing in just a mere 3 months. What about Microsoft as well, check out metro UI, they're something to think about. Apple is done, they give their users nothing, like I said before, you have 1 billion people with an iphone and EVERY single one is the same hah.. where's the diversity?!
If you want to ditch the lag,why don't you just get launcher pro and call it a day, worked like a charm on my old captivate with the STOCK rom hah.. so yeah
Dopedangel said:
do you use samsung default widgets try disabling them. Many people have found their phone stopped lagging so much once they disable the samsungs default widgets
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Exactly what are they all called?
RyanZA said:
Most people with this phone don't really have any problems. We have a lot of people on this board with what appear to be faulty GPS units (can't get a lock at all) who are very stubborn and don't seem to want to return their faulty devices, so they spam away on here. If you read through the complaint threads, you will see that it is mostly the same 10-15 people posting over and over how terrible their GPS is, and how horribly their phone lags.
That aside, if you buy a device that has an old (JF series) firmware, then you will have to flash it to a newer one if occasional lagging bothers you. Another alternative is to wait for an official firmware release before buying your phone, but that doesn't seem to be an option since you've already ordered it.
Either way, don't take the complaining on this forum as any sort of proof of widespread issues without first trying the device yourself.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Let's clarify one thing.
I tested 7 (seven!!!) of these phone.
They were ALL broken, with a miserable GPS.
It's not spam. It's the reality. You're probably have no idea what you're talking about.
nricci said:
Let's clarify one thing.
I tested 7 (seven!!!) of these phone.
They were ALL broken, with a miserable GPS.
It's not spam. It's the reality. You're probably have no idea what you're talking about.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I can open google maps navigation, put in a destination, and drive whole following the maps/prompt and end up at my destination, with the prompts being completely accurate.
I can post/geotag my location with any program and it gets it instantly within 50m or so (This would be AGPS I think).
What exactly is the problem? What are you trying to do with your GPS?
The BCM4751 should be able to resolve and maintain a position down to nearly 2m. What you think is working, is actually the broken.
I am interested to know how many of you have experienced faults I have read about while frequenting these forums.
The reason for me wondering this is because my Xperia PLAY is just out of warranty (2 years) and I'm considering buying a new handset while I can as it seems to be out of production, and before long all that will be available is used devices. The device didn't succeed much in terms of android updates and support from Sony (they had too much invested in the DOA PS Vita) but alas, no other device compares to it in terms of gaming with particular regard to emulator support. This is primarily a gaming-centric device (hdmi-out would have made it golden) and I honestly don't see its crown being taken any time soon. I think this is reason enough for me to hold onto one but unsure of if a new one in warranty is necessary, hence the poll.
Tlrtheory has made several posts regarding his thoughts on the xperia play. He had moved XP to an HTC One-x and to an iphone 5 only to come back to an XP. Sorry I contact link any comments as I am away from my laptop. Will post some later.
Sent from my R800at using xda premium
Its definitely a fun little device to have, but I can't use it as a daily driver.
The XP does one thing well, and only one. Portable gaming.
While its inconvenient to carry around a Dual shock 3 and a separate device, its a much more pleasurable experience than using my XP. Dem joysticks.
If you have the opportunity, use a newer device in conjunction with an XP.
My main problem with my XP is that it showed its age rather quickly, and even using stock gingerbread, it can barely perform the games it used to blaze through. I'm unsure whether its my processor, the SD Card, or the device is just plain old, but the XP does not live up to its former glory.
After about a year, no matter what I tried, I was unable to perform basic tasks without encountering extreme amounts of lag, while gaming was un-enjoyable. Mine is collecting dust, with an occasional power on and play when my tablet is out of juice.
Sent from my Nexus 7
My experience with PLAY has been fantastic. It plays almost all available emulators at full speed. My only gripe was the amount of support from Sony was lackluster to say the least. But as a basic Android phone, it works splendid.
I haven't experienced any problems that I've read yet, I've gotten my phone stolen half way through its contract so the one I have now is about a year and a half years old. But the main problem people seem to report would be the flex cable.
Power button sometimes gets stuck and my volume buttons and back cover are VERY squeaky.
Actually my Power Buttons fine, it's just that the varnish has gone so now theres a massive LED light now..
And I'm not sure if this is normal but my R Trigger feels looser than the L Trigger.
The paint on the 4 front buttons (back,search,home, and settings) started to chip off and another big problem that hasn't happened to me yet but lots of people complain about is the flex cable
Sent from my Xperia Play (r800x)
Yes also for me, the paint is starting to come off.
AzNTypeR said:
And I'm not sure if this is normal but my R Trigger feels looser than the L Trigger.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Same here, its very loose :/ L is fine though..
The only other problem i have is my back button being too squishy, theres no force needed to push it!
I have had no problems with the power button because I never use it :silly: I mapped search to be power instead as its easier to access and I never used search lol
Zilch for me.
...the only problem I really have is that the previous owner messed up the front camera when replacing the flex cable. My original Xperia Play (which is now in the hands of a long-time friend) has absolutely NO hardware issues at all.
The only real problems were that:
• Internal memory sucked (which we can easily remedy with Link2SD - I've done it and now I have 471 installs while having 283MB free)
• Stock launcher was weak (also an easy fix - I've found ssLauncher to be the smoothest, most aesthetically appealing option)
• Stock browser was laggy (get Opera, it's not only the best mobile browser, but it's completely smooth on Xperia Play)
• Didn't natively come with notifcation toggles (which can be fixed with notifications)
...but by far and large... the biggest complaint is just that it's not "officially" supporting ICS. I take a rather extreme stance of "are you guys on crack?!" when someone tries to point this out as a valid point. This is not a damn iPhone... meaning it doesn't work on the same restrictive principles as the iPhone. On iOS, there's no getting around the fact that you need a newer FW to get features. On Android, we aren't so much affected in the same manner. Yeah 4.2.2 brings lock screen widgets... but everything dating back to 2.1 has already had those features through external apps like widgetlocker. We can get data management without 4.x.x, and even have that holo theme take over our Xperia Play. So, for us... anything above 2.3.7 is more of a bragging right... and it's a bragging right that compromises the stability of our games and compromises how much of the RAM we have... that ain't very "baller" to me.
Somebody give this guy a medal, please? Makes me love my XPlay even more (even if "she's" very sickly).
My xPlay is more than year old, and so far she don't have any hardware issues. And even when i get newer phone, i plan to flash some gingerbread rom without phone capabilities and use it as psx/c64 platform untill she dies in my hands...
Sent from my R800i using xda app-developers app
My R800x is almost 2 years old, still have that despite moving to a R800at, which was in new condition. But both phones and my R800x are in great condition with no hardware issues whatsoever.
And despite playing with a GS3 for 2 weeks it was nice but didnt wave my flag, so I went, nah, and went back to my PLAY. No regrets when I moved from R800x to R800at, especially since i snagged a prototype AT&T model with no branding on it and it was already bootloader unlocked. Had to unlock the sim lock but that was no big deal. Is our phone dated hardware wise yes, but would I give it up for a GS4, nope. I know some people will think it odd and call me crazy but there is nothing like using this phone for some online MC3 or Lets Golf 2 or shadowgun or Bards Tale, or especially the Tiger Arcade CPS1/CPS2/NeoGeo emulators......
Best thing on the world for phone and gaming in my opinion. $ony needs to make another XP2, but doubtful since they want to try and resuscitate the Vita... anyways, no issues but per bliss.
ozzmanj1 said:
a prototype AT&T model with no branding on it and it was already bootloader unlocked. Had to unlock the sim lock but that was no big deal.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
does it have an hdmi out as the first demo units did or is it a later prototype without please?
Sent from my C6603 using Tapatalk
ps3taker said:
does it have an hdmi out as the first demo units did or is it a later prototype without please?
Sent from my C6603 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No HDMI out, I had made a thread on it, see post 8 for images:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2088271
Noticed the ebay listing is gone, one of the photos showed the back with the battery out and it clearly states "Prototype not for sale", and on the bottom of the front keys there is a serialized number on it. Also the IMEI starts with 044 which I have read means its a proto model. If you'd like me to make a photo of the back let me know, of course I will blur out the last half of the IMEI #.
Edit - Added photos. See attached.
My contract ends next week and... I decided to stay with my XP. I know is little bit outdated and latest games not running smoothly but it's still fun.
Later someone mention that better is to connect to tv and use pad to play but try to do that waiting in queue or bus, during lunch time or waiting for your missus trying another dress...
If want to play good quality game I turn on my PC or Xbox.
Modified ROMs give us nearly all functions that new phones have. I not much gamer to have extra pocket device with me and smudging on screen to play is not fun either. I still have hope that Sony realize that chase after Apple, Samsung etc. Is not only copy other devices but to make some unique moves. Sometimes I thinks that get rid Ericsson was mistake, I used since 1018 long time ago.
Back to topic. I have my XP for 2 yeaes now, no major issues.
I have problem with touchpads, they not working always. I need to turn off phone, remove battery and they back. Tried different roms, kernel, back to stock and even send twice to Sony. I can live with that.
Heard that ribbon is problem. I have change that but it happen when fallen down to river with my XP inside pocket. When dried out phone back to life but later screen started flickering.
Sorry for boring post but I love my XP.
Sent from my R800i using xda app-developers app
ozzmanj1 said:
Tlrtheory has made several posts regarding his thoughts on the xperia play. He had moved XP to an HTC One-x and to an iphone 5 only to come back to an XP. Sorry I contact link any comments as I am away from my laptop. Will post some later.
Sent from my R800at using xda premium
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Yeah I remember reading it and thinking I'd quite like a white XP too but all that is available for sale in the UK are used ones (don't buy used electronics) or grossly overpriced ones (£400+ for a 2011 handset? dafk!).
Replacing my XP with something different isn't really on my mind, but more just that of preserving a working one because it is still the damned best handheld you can get even if its capabilities as a phone are questionable. Its inevitable I will have to replace it eventually given that app developers won't support GB forever. When that day comes, Sony won't even be a brand I consider unless they get a grip on the future of PS Mobile and release an Xperia PLAY 2. It will be Nexus all the way for me with their great pricing and software support. But even then I will still want to hold onto my XP as a great gaming machine.
Its a great shame Sony doesn't realise the potential of a gaming/phone hybrid. The XP had a lacklustre launch with lacklustre specs with a lacklustre marketing campaign, and despite this it was still a great handset in many ways and earned itself itself a strong following. Sony (and pretty much any multinational company) only cares about the sales figures and not the big picture. Smartphones are and will continue to eat into dedicated gaming handhelds; PS Vita is the past and devices like the XP are what they need to move PS Mobile as a strategy going forwards.
Leraeniesh said:
Its definitely a fun little device to have, but I can't use it as a daily driver.
The XP does one thing well, and only one. Portable gaming.
While its inconvenient to carry around a Dual shock 3 and a separate device, its a much more pleasurable experience than using my XP. Dem joysticks.
If you have the opportunity, use a newer device in conjunction with an XP.
My main problem with my XP is that it showed its age rather quickly, and even using stock gingerbread, it can barely perform the games it used to blaze through. I'm unsure whether its my processor, the SD Card, or the device is just plain old, but the XP does not live up to its former glory.
After about a year, no matter what I tried, I was unable to perform basic tasks without encountering extreme amounts of lag, while gaming was un-enjoyable. Mine is collecting dust, with an occasional power on and play when my tablet is out of juice.
Sent from my Nexus 7
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Sounds very much like a hardware problem with your device, either that or the SD card. Its definitely not something I have experienced. I decrapified my handset from useless apps from day one and experience little to no lag, ever. Nexus+XP might be something I consider going forwards but the XP is definitely irreplaceable in terms of gaming, which is a shame.
Mega5657 said:
My experience with PLAY has been fantastic. It plays almost all available emulators at full speed. My only gripe was the amount of support from Sony was lackluster to say the least. But as a basic Android phone, it works splendid.
I haven't experienced any problems that I've read yet, I've gotten my phone stolen half way through its contract so the one I have now is about a year and a half years old. But the main problem people seem to report would be the flex cable.
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Yes I agree with you and everyone else in regards to the flex cable. It was clearly designed poorly to avoid ware.
I have a bad feeling that mine is slowly on its way too. It didn't used to make any noise when opening/closing the slider but it makes an unmistakably odd crackling noise now. This is the main reason I'm considering replacing it with a new handset while I can... not worth the heartache later
CyberScopes said:
Power button sometimes gets stuck and my volume buttons and back cover are VERY squeaky.
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Only had my power button get stuck the once and I rarely use the volume buttons tbh.
The back cover is definitely very squeaky. I'm probably in the minority here but I'm a big fan of plastic housing for phones because of its durability and shock resistance, but the XP's back cover was poorly designed and adds to the growing list of problems for us 1st worlders, lol.
AzNTypeR said:
Actually my Power Buttons fine, it's just that the varnish has gone so now theres a massive LED light now..
And I'm not sure if this is normal but my R Trigger feels looser than the L Trigger.
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Same here with the R trigger. Its lost its springiness. This I think has something to do with how we hold our devices when making a call, so it seems Apple users aren't alone in "holding it wrong" lol.
abdel12345 said:
The paint on the 4 front buttons (back,search,home, and settings) started to chip off and another big problem that hasn't happened to me yet but lots of people complain about is the flex cable
Sent from my Xperia Play (r800x)
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This started to happen to my device very slightly but since getting the Trident case, no further ware on the buttons has occurred.
TLRtheory said:
Zilch for me.
...the only problem I really have is that the previous owner messed up the front camera when replacing the flex cable. My original Xperia Play (which is now in the hands of a long-time friend) has absolutely NO hardware issues at all.
The only real problems were that:
• Internal memory sucked (which we can easily remedy with Link2SD - I've done it and now I have 471 installs while having 283MB free)
• Stock launcher was weak (also an easy fix - I've found ssLauncher to be the smoothest, most aesthetically appealing option)
• Stock browser was laggy (get Opera, it's not only the best mobile browser, but it's completely smooth on Xperia Play)
• Didn't natively come with notifcation toggles (which can be fixed with notifications)
...but by far and large... the biggest complaint is just that it's not "officially" supporting ICS. I take a rather extreme stance of "are you guys on crack?!" when someone tries to point this out as a valid point. This is not a damn iPhone... meaning it doesn't work on the same restrictive principles as the iPhone. On iOS, there's no getting around the fact that you need a newer FW to get features. On Android, we aren't so much affected in the same manner. Yeah 4.2.2 brings lock screen widgets... but everything dating back to 2.1 has already had those features through external apps like widgetlocker. We can get data management without 4.x.x, and even have that holo theme take over our Xperia Play. So, for us... anything above 2.3.7 is more of a bragging right... and it's a bragging right that compromises the stability of our games and compromises how much of the RAM we have... that ain't very "baller" to me.
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Well pretty much the same. I have only had minor issues so far with mine, with the R1 button losing springiness, ware on the front buttons and the housing scratching the gamepad. My main concern is with the flex cable; it now sounds unhealthy when opening/closing the device, where it didn't before. Do you notice anything with yours?
I agree with you. Link2SD is a REQUIREMENT for XP users and I never worry about internal storage any more.
Meh. I have no problem with the stock launcher. Sure it doesn't have all the bells and whistles of say a Samsung device but what it lacks in features is makes up for in simplicity and stability.
The stock browser was worse than aweful; it was atrocious. After a few weeks of using it I replaced it. Opera is indeed the best browser available for android. I tried Firefox and others, which were largely very unstable and overall just rubbish for multiple different reasons.
I agree on the ICS issue. though I do think it was something that could have been avoided if it had been released with current specs on launch day. But alas, it didn't and there's no point crying about it now. The real shame is not that it didn't get ICS, its that the lacklustre launch specs and sales campaign that probably stopped it from getting the sales it deserved and resultantly killed off much chance we had of seeing a successor to it.
Bakisha said:
My xPlay is more than year old, and so far she don't have any hardware issues. And even when i get newer phone, i plan to flash some gingerbread rom without phone capabilities and use it as psx/c64 platform untill she dies in my hands...
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Hope its good health continues for you. Its gaming capabilities are definitely not in doubt, even 2 years later :good:
ozzmanj1 said:
My R800x is almost 2 years old, still have that despite moving to a R800at, which was in new condition. But both phones and my R800x are in great condition with no hardware issues whatsoever.
And despite playing with a GS3 for 2 weeks it was nice but didnt wave my flag, so I went, nah, and went back to my PLAY. No regrets when I moved from R800x to R800at, especially since i snagged a prototype AT&T model with no branding on it and it was already bootloader unlocked. Had to unlock the sim lock but that was no big deal. Is our phone dated hardware wise yes, but would I give it up for a GS4, nope. I know some people will think it odd and call me crazy but there is nothing like using this phone for some online MC3 or Lets Golf 2 or shadowgun or Bards Tale, or especially the Tiger Arcade CPS1/CPS2/NeoGeo emulators......
Best thing on the world for phone and gaming in my opinion. $ony needs to make another XP2, but doubtful since they want to try and resuscitate the Vita... anyways, no issues but per bliss.
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You're not crazy, I use the XP for all my portable gaming needs. Its a real shame we won't ever likely see a successor or even a challenger to it. But at least if the majority of devices stay working without the aforementioned faults, what remains is a great and unbeaten gaming device.
ps3taker said:
does it have an hdmi out as the first demo units did or is it a later prototype without please?
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This was on developer units. Dire shame this feature never made the cut.
bartmw said:
My contract ends next week and... I decided to stay with my XP. I know is little bit outdated and latest games not running smoothly but it's still fun.
Later someone mention that better is to connect to tv and use pad to play but try to do that waiting in queue or bus, during lunch time or waiting for your missus trying another dress...
If want to play good quality game I turn on my PC or Xbox.
Modified ROMs give us nearly all functions that new phones have. I not much gamer to have extra pocket device with me and smudging on screen to play is not fun either. I still have hope that Sony realize that chase after Apple, Samsung etc. Is not only copy other devices but to make some unique moves. Sometimes I thinks that get rid Ericsson was mistake, I used since 1018 long time ago.
Back to topic. I have my XP for 2 yeaes now, no major issues.
I have problem with touchpads, they not working always. I need to turn off phone, remove battery and they back. Tried different roms, kernel, back to stock and even send twice to Sony. I can live with that.
Heard that ribbon is problem. I have change that but it happen when fallen down to river with my XP inside pocket. When dried out phone back to life but later screen started flickering.
Sorry for boring post but I love my XP.
Sent from my R800i using xda app-developers app
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You're right. Who the hell uses a dualshock controller or one of those ridiculously obese and unportable controller attachments? It looks and is retarded. People are mad if they think otherwise.
I also know someone who got their XP damp (dropped in puddle) and the ribbon went a few months later. Sounds like this is something to try and avoid.
Also, another problem is that the Front Camera's gone completely Green and Fuzzy. May be down to the amount of times that I've dropped it, before it wasn't that bad but now it simply refuses to work.
On my third Play, but not through anything breaking by itself. My first was stolen, my second didn't survive my dropping it in a sink full of water. Water = not good for sure, and I'm paranoid about the flex cable. Interestingly each that I had tried with let me overclock to 1.5GHz at stock voltage, but I use OC sparingly.
It's an absolute essential to get the Trident case IMO, it saved my last play from being dropped on concrete twice I'm sure and to protect the buttons. Honestly, if anyone is thinking about getting it and worrying about the price: please if you can at all afford it, just get it. It'll save you money on a broken phone some day.
And also honestly it's the only phone for me, even if imperfect. I can either choose between GB and some new 4.0+ only apps not being available (for me, BBC radio player), or ICS and some circle button and game incompatibilities (krisdee's Hybrid rom + LuPus ICS/GB 480p seems a viable combination for game performance and general stability at least though, which is great). Not tried JB. But either way, it's more game playing than I'd do on any device without buttons regardless of the specs. Even if it only played emulators, it would still be "cool" to me.
I agree Opera is the smoothest browser, I've always found that, particularly on GB. And yes the speakers are so very useful, I use it as a mini "radio" all the time.
I seriously don't know how you guys have problems.. i bought mine 2nd hand a year ago and only problem I've faced is the housing seems to fade/damage easily. going to replace it soon. otherwise no prob.