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while everyone is still reveling in Froyo and 2.2 i wondered what the next big thing was.. Not sure if anyones posted this. so here ya go.
taken from Unwiredreview
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By Staska on 30 Jun 10
We’ve been hearing about the upcoming Android Gingerbread release in Q4 for a while now. And also how the new Android user interface will blow our socks off.
Still, everyone’s been pretty sketchy about exact details of what’s actually coming to Android Gingerbread. Until now.
Mobile-review.com’s Eldar Murtazin just went and spilled a boatload of interesting details about the upcoming Android Gingerbread release. Don’t run searching for these details to his blog or his main site, you won’t find anything there yet.
Eldar did all the spilling in his Russian podcast “Digestiv”. It’s audio only, so Google Translate won’t help you much. If you do not speak Russian, you’ll have to trust me on this
Her we go:
Android 3.0 Gingerbread will be released in mid- October (around 15 -16th), 2010. First handsets shipping in November/December – for the Holiday Season.
Minimum hardware requirements for Android 3.0 devices are: 1GHZ CPU, 512MB or RAM, displays from 3.5” and higher. (We all, of course, heard that Android handsets with 2GHz CPU’s are coming)
New 1280×760 resolution available for the devices with displays of 4” and higher. (Anyone thinking about Android tablets now? )
Completely revamped user interface. If you want to get a feeling of what Android 3.0 Gingerbread UX is like, check out the Gallery App on Nexus One. The same overall feel, light animated transitions,etc. Natively, through all the UI.
Android’s split into 2 branches becomes official. 3.0 for top of the line/high end devices. Cheap, low-end mass market handsets will keep Android 2.1/2.2
Eldar also confirmed my musings about the death of third party User Interface shells like HTC Sense, MotoBlur, etc;. Android 3.0 basically kills the need for them.
Still, there’s some hope for third party vendors here – while Google takes over the UI on the high end, vendors get to keep their UI shells/improvements on mass market Android smartphones, running Eclair or Froyo.
Update: I posted an update to this post, where I address Dan Morrill’s tweet, and do some corrections/clarifications regarding the upcoming Android update number issues, “minimum” specs – thay are actually only “recommended”, and the the split between high end Android 3 – low end Android 2.2 devices – it’s not an official Google policy, but it is happening nonetheless.
I'd say. Android 2.x seems to run just fine on the underpowered devices such as the Moment/Intercept, and yet it screams on my EVO. It screams even more with 2.2 and the new java compiler. I'd have a hard time believing that 3.0 is so advanced as to absolutely require 1 GHz. I'd think it's the same as Windows 7. Works swell on an Atom single-core, but really jacks up on an i7.
As for Google taking over the UI aspect, I don't believe for a minute that HTC will stand for it.
ZachPA said:
As for Google taking over the UI aspect, I don't believe for a minute that HTC will stand for it.
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what are you talking about google already Has UI control and they let venders (sprint, verizon) meddle with it to theyre specifications.. This article just confirms they will continue the same business practice.
dsh897 said:
Her we go:
Android 3.0 Gingerbread will be released in mid- October (around 15 -16th), 2010. First handsets shipping in November/December – for the Holiday Season.
Minimum hardware requirements for Android 3.0 devices are: 1GHZ CPU, 512MB or RAM, displays from 3.5” and higher. (We all, of course, heard that Android handsets with 2GHz CPU’s are coming)
New 1280×760 resolution available for the devices with displays of 4” and higher. (Anyone thinking about Android tablets now? )
Completely revamped user interface. If you want to get a feeling of what Android 3.0 Gingerbread UX is like, check out the Gallery App on Nexus One. The same overall feel, light animated transitions,etc. Natively, through all the UI.
Android’s split into 2 branches becomes official. 3.0 for top of the line/high end devices. Cheap, low-end mass market handsets will keep Android 2.1/2.2 And 1.5/1.6 will be reserved for Dell's Halfdumb phones.
Eldar also confirmed my musings about the death of third party User Interface shells like HTC Sense, MotoBlur, etc;. Android 3.0 basically kills the need for them.
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Anyhow, I think vanilla android needs a huge UI refresh. Perhaps I'll look at going senseless with 3.0.
It would be even better if they got TAT to redo it with that flowing curtain UI I saw them demo on engadget. That would be sick.
Spoken into my EVO cause I'm probably driving
EVO-lution of Man said:
It would be even better if they got TAT to redo it with that flowing curtain UI I saw them demo on engadget. That would be sick.
Spoken into my EVO cause I'm probably driving
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That tat ui... I saw thee other day... And damn I liked it... Would lover to see it as a theme...
Really liked the way it flowed...
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA App
anyone got a link to look at that TAT ui?
n1gh7m4r3 said:
anyone got a link to look at that TAT ui?
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http://www.tat.se/home/
i can't get the vid to play at work though
Impressive! I need a tissue...
kingofslackerz said:
http://www.tat.se/home/
i can't get the vid to play at work though
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That is A nice home the UI should definitely be put on gingerbread hopefully Google will work with TAT home
Sent from my HTC Evo 4G
While it's a little bit flashy for me (I like to keep it clean and simple, yet very functional) I'm almost drooling over tat. I want it on my evo right now.
Any word on when it'll be out?
WOW
Thanks for the link, that was impressive. After reading their page, I can't believe they don't have plans to release that on the market, that thing would sell like hotcakes once the word got out. If anyone is testing that and has access to it, could they send me a message here please
kingofslackerz said:
http://www.tat.se/home/
i can't get the vid to play at work though
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I've been looking for a copy of TAT since the G1.
After Gingerbread... Honeycomb
http://gizmodo.com/5628353/samsung-confirms-honeycomb-will-follow-gingerbread-in-android-name+game
First off that TIT home replacement looks pretty cool, I could see a lot of people buying that.
However I don't see it being as big as HTC Sense or Moto Blur, after reading the FAQ it says that they aren't looking to release it in the android market anytime soon, but rather sell it to verizon, sprint, or samsung to use on a flagship TIT phone.
which I think is a huge mistake, especially when Android says 3.0 is going to bring major UI improvements that will decrease the amount of tweaks to the android OS, (HTC Sense, Moto blur)
However android 3.0 sounds great.
The way I think about it is, imagine the chage that 2.1 brought from 1.5 on a Hero (if you had one) or the major UI revamp,
2.0 brought new icons, app improvements, everything looked really nice.
The market in 1.5 and 1.6 looked down right horrible, black background, with grey colors.
2.0 made a huge difference in terms of making android looks like a serios OS.
2.1 improved the lock screen, screens, live wallpapers(few other things)
2.2 brought flash, huge speed improvement, more support, and many many more cool features.
If 3.0 is as hyped up as its supposed to be its gonna be awesome!
However it is needed, because some parts of the android OS need work.
for example the settings, and other menus are black and boring, users like seeing alot of colors and a nice screen and all that good stuff.
yeah, my EVO has an 800*480 screen resolution, but when certain parts of the OS look dark, and boring it doesn't make it look as nice.
Do you guys think ice cream sandwich can keep up with ios's smoothness? I used to hate apple and still don't like itmuch, but if ice cream sandwich won't be at least almost as smooth as ios, then i will definitely think about getting an ipad and selling my android tablet.. ios 5 has a lot of features that can keep up with current android, and it gives a really good experience with buttery smooth transition animation, although a little less feature. I know we should wait till tmr to find out all the features of ics, but do you guys think it will be smooth with no lag, especially the jerkiness when scrolling?
If your tablet is exceedingly jerky you should try wiping it or getting a replacement.
Besides that, I have no doubt that there will be plenty of under the hood improvements along with the UI updates.
Thanar said:
If your tablet is exceedingly jerky you should try wiping it or getting a replacement.
Besides that, I have no doubt that there will be plenty of under the hood improvements along with the UI updates.
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I was going to say... "what jerkiness?"
Cactus42 said:
I was going to say... "what jerkiness?"
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If you've ever used a current ios device then you know exactly what he's talking about. my a500 overclocked at 1.5 on a fresh install, is nowhere near as smooth as an ios device. There are certain jitters when performing certain actions. And lag when typing is a huge issue, that I can't seem to fix regardly of rom choice keyboard choice or overclock settings.
I'd recommend waiting until tomorrow night. They might pull out something "amazing" like with froyo and increase speed across the board again.
What little I have been reading about it Google is really working on UI, including trying to speed up transitions and effects. Whether or not they succeed remains to be seen, so my advice is: don't throw out the baby with the bath-water. Wait until you get a chance to actually try it YOURSELF once it's out and ignore rumours.
Yea comparing to ios, my tablet (usually smooth) is very jittery. And one thing that I haven't been doing much but started doing a lot is using it in portrait mode, and I just can't stand the lag.. and i really hope there will be at least close amount of various animation that are present in ios..and I REALLY hope the scrolling lag will be gone, like in youtube app, or actually any other app, when scrolling while loading image or something, is laggy. After I've spent some time with ios in a retail store, I really can't stand the lag haha..
WereCatf said:
What little I have been reading about it Google is really working on UI, including trying to speed up transitions and effects. Whether or not they succeed remains to be seen, so my advice is: don't throw out the baby with the bath-water. Wait until you get a chance to actually try it YOURSELF once it's out and ignore rumours.
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And yea, I hope they succeed. I will definitely try it out. I THINK windows phone 7 is pretty smooth and ios is of course smooth but was wondering, why the biggest software company cant make their os better. Than apple and microsoft. I mean that in the general transition effect in terms of smoothness, not the OS features.
sw6lee said:
And yea, I hope they succeed. I will definitely try it out. I THINK windows phone 7 is pretty smooth and ios is of course smooth but was wondering, why the biggest software company cant make their os better. Than apple and microsoft. I mean that in the general transition effect in terms of smoothness, not the OS features.
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Well, atleast partially the reason is technical: Apple's iOS is all native code AFAIK and tuned for Apple's hardware. After all, Apple controls all the parts that go to their devices and only choose parts that they know will work on iOS. Google on the other hand has to provide an OS platform that is a lot more malleable and can run on a wide range of devices with wildly differing characteristics, so it creates some overhead. Plus Android isn't native code, so again that creates some execution overhead.
And well, remember that iOS builds on OSX, it's just streamlined and tuned for mobile devices whereas Android is a completely new OS and Google doesn't have much previous experience in OS development. Ie. Apple has a lot of headway compared to Google and it'll take some time for Google to catch up.
WereCatf said:
Well, atleast partially the reason is technical: Apple's iOS is all native code AFAIK and tuned for Apple's hardware. After all, Apple controls all the parts that go to their devices and only choose parts that they know will work on iOS. Google on the other hand has to provide an OS platform that is a lot more malleable and can run on a wide range of devices with wildly differing characteristics, so it creates some overhead. Plus Android isn't native code, so again that creates some execution overhead.
And well, remember that iOS builds on OSX, it's just streamlined and tuned for mobile devices whereas Android is a completely new OS and Google doesn't have much previous experience in OS development. Ie. Apple has a lot of headway compared to Google and it'll take some time for Google to catch up.
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I truly love your informative posts... Thanks for being a part of this community.
Euclid's Brother said:
I truly love your informative posts... Thanks for being a part of this community.
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Eh. I'm somewhat surprised to get such feedback, usually I just hear that I'm an arrogant bastard. But well, thanks. I just saw an opportunity for giving some real feedback in an effort to stop an oncoming flamewar.
WereCatf said:
Eh. I'm somewhat surprised to get such feedback, usually I just hear that I'm an arrogant bastard. But well, thanks. I just saw an opportunity for giving some real feedback in an effort to stop an oncoming flamewar.
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arrogant bastard, a great beer!
Come on, don't give up on android, for sure ios have by far the most smooth scrolling, but android gave you the fun to improving it. I get alot of satisfaction by flashing roms, kernels, overclocking, overcharging or simply playing around with the theme and designing your own styling. It's open and free. ois is all about giving you something that's good at a ridiculously high price...
iOS is definitely more refined when it comes to animations, ascetics, and fine detail. All of which creates a more pleasing (to look at) and responsive UI.
My iOS devices do occasionally succumb to the same animation stutters and laggy keyboard as my Android ones. However, usually only after a jailbreak and installing homebrew.
My biggest complaint with Android tablets (and android in general) is App support. Tablet app selection is dismal on Android and compatibility with 2.3 apps even worse.
sw6lee said:
Do you guys think ice cream sandwich can keep up with ios's smoothness? I used to hate apple and still don't like itmuch, but if ice cream sandwich won't be at least almost as smooth as ios, then i will definitely think about getting an ipad and selling my android tablet.. ios 5 has a lot of features that can keep up with current android, and it gives a really good experience with buttery smooth transition animation, although a little less feature. I know we should wait till tmr to find out all the features of ics, but do you guys think it will be smooth with no lag, especially the jerkiness when scrolling?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
iOS was built from the ground up to use very little memory and CPU cycles. Remember when you couldn't even multitask on there? Well now all that has changed but Apple is sticking to the principle.
Android on the other hand is built upon Linux. Google is doing the very best with the software and tools they have. If you imitate iOS and remove all your widgets and satisfy with just some icons on your home screens it's highly likely you'll mimic very closely the experience of iOS in terms of the OS being lag free. Of course this varies from person to person in what and how many apps they are running, etc. Any apps that run services will take some toll on the system; herein lies an example of a big difference between how Android vs. iOS works.
Widgets also use up a chunk of memory as well as CPU cycles at a time and are one of the priority reasons the software may lag, especially some of those flashy ones like CNN/News widgets, big ones like Music/Video widgets or constantly moving ones like Weather/Time widgets.
We can only wait and see what ICS will bring. There's no guarantee that it will be any faster/smoother than Honeycomb is; for me Honeycomb is pretty damned smooth. Also Vanilla Android/Honeycomb doesn't consist of that many animations to start with unless you get 3rd party launchers...but scrolling for me and launching apps carries little to no lag with it.
Keep in mind also that momentum has built up and hardware has caught up with software demands. My G1 with 1.6 cannot begin to compare to my myTouch4G with 2.3 on it. If the trend continues we can more than likely safely assume that any sort of lag will disappear as more powerful processors are introduced.
Ultimately it's up to you to decide what's more important to you.
I'm not sure I could give up my widgets at this point just to get smoother animations as I have grown accustomed to and am now depending on them.
If you think you like iOS more for any reason, especially if you feel it now matches Android in terms of features, I'd definitely make the switch sooner than later. I'd hate to spend money on Android apps and then have to buy them all over again on iOS.
When would we reasonably except ICS to be available for the Acer Iconia?
Either for Rooted users or in a OTA upgrade?
I'd say about a month. People will probably have it booting (but that'll be about it) day of the source being released though.
Another bloke confirmed that Acer is planning on supporting the A500 with ICS.
So, today is the day. I'm EST, so 10pm for me.
Rather than start a new thread, I'm just throwing this in here incase anyone wants to chat about it later.
youtube.com/android
Of course it's a Samsung event but it should still provide some tasty insights.
//pun off
gammaRascal said:
So, today is the day. I'm EST, so 10pm for me.
Rather than start a new thread, I'm just throwing this in here incase anyone wants to chat about it later.
youtube.com/android
Of course it's a Samsung event but it should still provide some tasty insights.
//pun off
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8:30 for central time
azoller1 said:
8:30 for central time
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Lolwut...
Beyond that, i've never understood why the quality of an os is judged on its fancy animations. Truth be told, when given the option, i turn animations off to the highest degree possible.
all i want to know when moto atrix is getting ics.i also have sgs captivate and it is running on ics port and woking very well.so i also want to have ics on this phone also.pls do it quickly
sx4 said:
all i want to know when moto atrix is getting ics.i also have sgs captivate and it is running on ics port and woking very well.so i also want to have ics on this phone also.pls do it quickly
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Seriously, SEARCH!! there's already too many threads about this. And writing another thread isn't gunna help it get here faster. We need another tegra device to get it first. You'd know this if you SEARCHED!!!!
Sent from my MB860 using XDA App
sx4 said:
all i want to know when moto atrix is getting ics.i also have sgs captivate and it is running on ics port and woking very well.so i also want to have ics on this phone also.pls do it quickly
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This sense of entitlement is why devs are leaving XDA.
There is currently no ICS port. The group working on CM7 will be doing a version for CM9 but as with any version of CM, no etas. Next time use search. If you want ICS badly, you already have it on your captivate.
sx4 said:
all i want to know when moto atrix is getting ics.i also have sgs captivate and it is running on ics port and woking very well.so i also want to have ics on this phone also.pls do it quickly
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Click to collapse
If you want it so bad, port it hisself instead of giving orders in a somewhat polite way.
Sent from my MB860 using XDA App
sx4 said:
all i want to know when moto atrix is getting ics.i also have sgs captivate and it is running on ics port and woking very well.so i also want to have ics on this phone also.pls do it quickly
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Pls do it quickly? Every dev in here is probably cursing your phone and hoping it breaks right before ics leaks. Might want to take your a la carts attitude to the windows phone forums.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium
[opinion]you will never see an official port for ICS from the Atrix, Atrix 2, or any device using the webtop.[/opinion]
In addition, the Atrix 4G has the FP scanner. These two features are going to kill any official support from Motorola. Why?
They are LAZY! The webtop was cobbled together in the first place. This is why the 'the optimus 2x is getting ICS' argument doesn't work in the case of the Atrix. Sure this will leave a bad taste in consumers' mouths, for maybe two seconds until they come out with something new and shiny. Seems people are willing to shell out hundreds of dollars for hardware that isn't even an upgrade, so why bother putting effort into updating software when it isn't profitable?
Its also worth noting that there are some parts of the world where GB isn't even an official release yet! Once they roll out GB in all regions, they will bury support for this phone six feet under, despite the customer objections.
Besides, our clandestine group of developers for the Atrix have pushed out better software than the official Moto devs ever could. You'll see a CM9 port before you even hear an utterance from Motorola to support the Atrix.
SirFork said:
you will never see an official port for ICS from the Atrix, Atrix 2, or any device using the webtop.
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Source please!
CaelanT said:
Source please!
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Aside from Motorola's track record, I have none. Hence, the several paragraphs explaining my reasoning. The lack of correspondence from Motorola (all I have gotten from them are canned almost political-sounding statements) and the present state of affairs for Atrix support in addition to the points I made previously are why I am extremely skeptical of ICS ever coming to the Atrix officially.
Of course I hope that I will eat my own words some day, like an ice cream sandwich
Edited my previous post to reflect as an opinion article not as fact.
SirFork said:
Aside from Motorola's track record, I have none. Hence, the several paragraphs explaining my reasoning. The lack of correspondence from Motorola (all I have gotten from them are canned almost political-sounding statements) and the present state of affairs for Atrix support in addition to the points I made previously are why I am extremely skeptical of ICS ever coming to the Atrix officially.
Of course I hope that I will eat my own words some day, like an ice cream sandwich
Edited my previous post to reflect as an opinion article not as fact.
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Including the fact that since July, Motorola has released or is about to release the Droid 3, Bionic, RAZR, Droid 4, RAZRMAX, Photon 4G, Triumph, and Atrix 2. Throw on the Cliq 2, Atrix, and Droid X2 from earlier in the year.
im running ics on my atrix right now CM9, enginerring build, lots of things broken, def not for public and will not be made available for public for a while. so DO NOT ASK FOR IT. btw all credit to turl and atrix-dev-team. my point is, never say never because its already a fact.
samcripp said:
im running ics on my atrix right now CM9, enginerring build, lots of things broken, def not for public and will not be made available for public for a while. so DO NOT ASK FOR IT. btw all credit to turl and atrix-dev-team. my point is, never say never because its already a fact.
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Great news! I'm sure none of us will be stupid enough to ask for ETA's!
I'm assuming no HW Acceleration and the good stuff. Have you heard about Nvidia's plans to release ICS drivers and binaries for their Tegra 2 and Tegra 3 line early next year?
coolnow said:
Great news! I'm sure none of us will be stupid enough to ask for ETA's!
I'm assuming no HW Acceleration and the good stuff. Have you heard about Nvidia's plans to release ICS drivers and binaries for their Tegra 2 and Tegra 3 line early next year?
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actually is really smooth, the issues are on other things, im not gonna go into detail, but is def very nice and smooth
There you go! Now all ICS on Atrix speculation can be laid to rest!
samcripp said:
actually is really smooth, the issues are on other things, im not gonna go into detail, but is def very nice and smooth
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So you saying hw accel or no hw accel?
sent from a galaxy far far away.
maybe idk, just got it today, sure feels hw accelerated, any ways, no more questions
samcripp said:
maybe idk, just got it today, sure feels hw accelerated, any ways, no more questions
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Thank you for the input mate. I'd get ready to go into hiding if i was you I can just rest easy now
As always, thank you and the Atrix Dev Team, and all the other devs who work on this phone, thank you, thank you, thank you so very much!
;19986019 said:
So you saying hw accel or no hw accel?
sent from a galaxy far far away.
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How about some Android graphics true facts?
• Android has always used some hardware accelerated drawing. Since before 1.0 all window compositing to the display has been done with hardware.
• This means that many of the animations you see have always been hardware accelerated: menus being shown, sliding the notification shade, transitions between activities, pop-ups and dialogs showing and hiding, etc.
• Android did historically use software to render the contents of each window. For example in a UI like there are four windows: the status bar, the wallpaper, the launcher on top of the wallpaper, and the menu. If one of the windows updates its contents, such as highlighting a menu item, then (prior to 3.0) software is used to draw the new contents of that window; however none of the other windows are redrawn at all, and the re-composition of the windows is done in hardware. Likewise, any movement of the windows such as the menu going up and down is all hardware rendering.
• Looking at drawing inside of a window, you don’t necessarily need to do this in hardware to achieve full 60fps rendering. This depends very much on the number of pixels in your display and the speed of your CPU. For example, Nexus S has no trouble doing 60fps rendering of all the normal stuff you see in the Android UI like scrolling lists on its 800x480 screen. The original Droid however struggled with a similar screen resolution.
• "Full" hardware accelerated drawing within a window was added in Android 3.0. The implementation in Android 4.0 is not any more full than in 3.0. Starting with 3.0, if you set the flag in your app saying that hardware accelerated drawing is allowed, then all drawing to the application’s windows will be done with the GPU. The main change in this regard in Android 4.0 is that now apps that are explicitly targeting 4.0 or higher will have acceleration enabled by default rather than having to put " in their manifest. (And the reason this isn’t just turned on for all existing applications is that some types of drawing operations can’t be supported well in hardware and it also impacts the behavior when an application asks to have a part of its UI updated. Forcing hardware accelerated drawing upon existing apps will break a significant number of them, from subtly to significantly.)
• Hardware accelerated drawing is not all full of win. For example on the PVR drivers of devices like the Nexus S and Galaxy Nexus, simply starting to use OpenGL in a process eats about 8MB of RAM. Given that our process overhead is about 2MB, this is pretty huge. That RAM takes away from other things, such as the number of background processes that can be kept running, potentially slowing down things like app switching.
• Because of the overhead of OpenGL, one may very well not want to use it for drawing. For example some of the work we are doing to make Android 4.0 run well on the Nexus S has involved turning off hardware accelerated drawing in parts of the UI so we don’t lose 8MB of RAM in the system process, another 8MB in the phone process, another 8MB in the system UI process, etc. Trust me, you won’t notice -- there is just no benefit on that device in using OpenGL to draw something like the status bar, even with fancy animations going on in there.
• Hardware accelerated drawing is not a magical silver bullet to butter-smooth UI. There are many different efforts that have been going on towards this, such as improved scheduling of foreground vs. background threads in 1.6, rewriting the input system in 2.3, strict mode, concurrent garbage collection, loaders, etc. If you want to achieve 60fps, you have 20 milliseconds to handle each frame. This is not a lot of time. Just touching the flash storage system in the thread that is running the UI can in some cases introduce a delay that puts you out of that timing window, especially if you are writing to storage.
• A recent example of the kinds of interesting things that impact UI smoothness: we noticed that ICS on Nexus S was actually less smooth when scrolling through lists than it was on Gingerbread. It turned out that the reason for this was due to subtle changes in timing, so that sometimes in ICS as the app was retrieving touch events and drawing the screen, it would go to get the next event slightly before it was ready, causing it to visibly miss a frame while tracking the finger even though it was drawing the screen at a solid 60fps.
• When people have historically compared web browser scrolling between Android and iOS, most of the differences they are seeing are not due to hardware accelerated drawing. Originally Android went a different route for its web page rendering and made different compromises: the web page is turned in to a display list, which is continually rendered to the screen, instead of using tiles. This has the benefit that scrolling and zooming never have artifacts of tiles that haven’t yet been drawn. Its downside is that as the graphics on the web page get more complicated to draw the frame rate goes down. As of Android 3.0, the browser now uses tiles, so it can maintain a consistent frame rate as you scroll or zoom, with the negative of having artifacts when newly needed tiles can’t be rendered quickly enough. The tiles themselves are rendered in software, which I believe is the case for iOS as well. (And this tile-based approach could be used prior to 3.0 without hardware accelerated drawing; as mentioned previously, the Nexus S CPU can easily draw the tiles to the window at 60fps.)
• Hardware accleration does not magically make drawing performance problems disappear. There is still a limit to how much the GPU can do. A recent interesting example of this is tablets built with Tegra 2 -- that GPU can touch every pixel of a 1280x800 screen about 2.5 times at 60fps. Now consider the Android 3.0 tablet home screen where you are switching to the all apps list: you need to draw the background (1x all pixels), then the layer of shortcuts and widgets (let’s be nice and say this is .5x all pixels), then the black background of all apps (1x all pixels), and the icons and labels of all apps (.5x all pixels). We’ve already blown our per-pixel budget, and we haven’t even composited the separate windows to the final display yet. To get 60fps animation, Android 3.0 and later use a number of tricks. A big one is that it tries to put all windows into overlays instead of having to copy them to the framebuffer with the GPU. In the case here even with that we are still over-budget, but we have another trick: because the wallpaper on Android is in a separate window, we can make this window larger than the screen to hold the entire bitmap. Now, as you scroll, the movement of the background doesn’t require any drawing, just moving its window... and because this window is in an overlay, it doesn’t even need to be composited to the screen with the GPU.
• As device screen resolution goes up, achieving a 60fps UI is closely related to GPU speed and especially the GPU’s memory bus bandwidth. In fact, if you want to get an idea of the performance of a piece of hardware, always pay close attention to the memory bus bandwidth. There are plenty of times where the CPU (especially with those wonderful NEON instructions) can go a lot faster than the memory bus.
On a side note, the Tegra 2 does not have NEON instructions and only uses single-channel memory, which limits how well GPU acceleration helps with smoothness.
thanks.
sent from a galaxy far far away.
samcripp said:
maybe idk, just got it today, sure feels hw accelerated, any ways, no more questions
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sure would love to see a screenshot or 10. Have seen absolutely zero anywhere else about this happening.
Not saying "prove it" or anything, mind you! Just curious (as is everyone else here).
It's great to know that ATrix CM9 is in the oven. I personally have no doubt that ATRIX will get ICS officially.
The Write Up
Windows Phone 8 has now been out about two weeks and with its eye-catching hardware, beautiful UI, and plethora of new features; has captured the hearts of more people than even I expected. Nokia's Lumia line has been consistently sold out all over the world and is still in high demand while HTC is certainly pulling out all of the stops in bringing their most beautiful device to date into the Windows Phone market. Huaweii seems to be ready to innovate for the first time in quite some time and Samsung is bringing up the rear with the same ol' stuff they've been putting out since the Samsung Behold days but there's a market for everything.
As a student developer, I try to keep a very clear mind about phones as a whole. At present I own a Tegra HTC One X, an AT&T Galaxy Note II, an iPhone 4s, and the AT&T Nokia Lumia 920. It could simply be a honeymoon period but for the past two weeks the Lumia has been my daily driver. I have also been frequenting the forums of numerous tech blogs and news articles, scouring the web for any complaints and praise for both the Note and the Lumia. As it stands, the Lumia seems to be the more sought after of the two with the Note being slightly underwhelming compared to its predecessor. The Lumia is not without its flaws though, the battery life has been subpar on a number of the devices, there is a bug in the NFC usage that causes immense battery drain, and the photos could be slightly sharper. However, for every shortcoming, most of which Nokia says will be repaired with a software update, there are more than enough selling points to justify it. After two weeks, I finally felt it was just to do a review comparing Windows Phone, iOS, and Android.
User Interface
First, I'll start with what you see upon powering on, the UI. The common complaint with Windows Phone, is the lack of a dedicated notification center like the ones you would see on Android or now, iOS. I was truly concerned on coming from using the One X as my daily driver and HTC's amazing Friendstream that the Lumia's activity simply would not be enough. Let me be the first to tell you that not only does the live tile system work, it's removed so many swypes and taps from my typical use that I'm probably saving an hour of battery life a day on that alone. Unlock the screen, swype down, check anything I want, done. It's very simple and very straightforward. I believe Windows Phone's initial marketing statement was, "Get in, get out, get on with your life." It's simple to do just that however it's also easy to get immersed in the live tiles. The customization available despite the lack of backgrounds is quite amazing and sometimes I'll spend half an hour deciding on a particular tile layout that suits me and my present color scheme. The OS is simply aesthetically pleasing, plain and simple. You might be able to download a dozen apps to kick your android UI into gear or Dreamboard your phone but in terms of usability I would have to give the cake to Windows Phone. That said, Android's notification system is right on par with Windows Phone and is certainly no slacker. iOS simply lags behind.
User Interface:
Android: 6
iOS: 7
Windows Phone: 9
Notifications:
Android: 9
iOS: 4
Windows Phone: 8
Camera
With our phones being an extension of our arms, it's only viable that it replace that big clunky camera on a laniard that we were once forced to tote around if we wanted to capture the moment. Now, it's as easy as pulling your phone out and snapping a picture. Windows Phone tried simplifying this further by allowing access to the camera directly from a sleeping phone, a feature imitated and executed well by the competition but born of Windows Phone and the original still seems to execute it best. Each OS aside from iOS has a variation of cameras on a variation of different phones and each have their strengths and weaknesses. My personal preference, hardware aside, is Windows Phone strictly because of the requirement of a hardware camera button. Each OS has it's own photo editing options as well, iOS being the birthing place of instagram, a photo-social network. Android having a ton of applications with filters and editors, and at least Nokia's Windows Phones implementing lenses with work amazingly well. If you haven't gotten to toy around with cinemagraphs then you simply haven't gotten to enjoy a camera on a phone. Overall, I'd say it's safe to give tens across the board on software alone as the hardware preference is just that, a preference.
Camera
Android: 10
iOS: 10
Windows Phone: 10
Hardware Choices
Your general consumer has an idea of what they want but will not be particularly picky. It has to be eye-catching but practical, it has to have screen real-estate but be pocketable. Your phone has to fit you better than you fit it. iOS in this area, is awful. You get one device that most recently has rendered a lot of games ugly due to the screen's aspect ratio shifting drastically. Overall, the iPhone 5 may be the worst in the series despite slightly improved hardware. Android of course has the broadest range of specs, 600 mhz processors making up the low-end of the spectrum and pushing into the quad-core monsters at the higher end. Until Android's most recent iteration, it suffered from a discernible lag that, while not a deal breaker, certainly offered a bit of a low-end feel. However, android is now about up to par with the competition and is finally, "Buttery smooth." on all different kinds of hardware.
Windows Phone devices are also found on a variety of hardware, however what sets it apart and really makes it pull ahead is the availability of many color options. No other OS before it has offered such an array of high end devices in such a wide variety of colors. The Lumia 920 alone comes in five different colors, 3 of which are rare to find on any other quality device. Due to the color variations, I'd have to give this one to Windows Phone as it's proven time and again that it doesn't need the ridiculous hardware to run as fluid as the competition.
Hardware
Android: 9
iOS: 2
Windows Phone: 10
Social
What are our phones for if not communication? Sure, they all make calls with varying quality, they all connect to Facebook, they all send texts and picture messages, they all get the job done. However, who gets it done best? For this comparison, I'm using stock Android. Had I chosen to use HTC's Sense then it likely would've been more favorable for Android but, spoiler alert, stock android doesn't fare too well.
iOS basicaly reinvented the smartphone and have thus created an immeasurable ecosystem spanning across millions of users. Due to this, they are able to have their own video chat that doesn't work with other devices, their own messenger client that only works on their devices, even their own social networks of sorts. They have an ecosystem, but what about the rest of us? Both iOS and Android sync your facebook contacts as well as contacts from other email clients and social networks without much fail and with the installation of third party applications have no issue notifying you of your facebook notifications. However, this isn't about the applications, just the OS itself and aside from what's mentioned, neither have a whole lot to offer. With Windows Phone, I have felt no need to install a facebook application as everything I need is built into the OS. I have facebook chat that sends me all my messages through the same messaging system that my texts come through, I can update my status from my Me tile on a number of different social networks simutaneously, I can take a picture and have it on facebook faster than any other OS, shown clearly in the Smoked by Windows Phone videos and I can do it all without installing anything additional. Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn being baked into the OS has accelerated my social networking to a whole new degree.
The most important aspect of a social network though, the keyboard. I mean sure you can Speech to Text everything but that seldom works out as well as you want it to. android has an excellent keyboard layout by default but the response time on it is notably slower than either other and the predicted text never quite gets me to where I want. It seems as though it doesn't know higher English and any bigger words I use are quickly transformed into two or more little words. iOS is again, a joke. The keyboard layout forces you to go to a separate page to use a period, the auto-correct has spawned numerous sites about how terrible it is, and it's very ill responsive. The first thing you notice about using a Windows Phone is the tactile responsiveness, it seems as though the button is hit maybe even a millisecond before you touch the screen it's so fast and the words are only corrected when it's actually needed. Overall, in terms of the general social networking, I have to give it to Windows Phone here as everything is so deliciously baked in. I should mention though that Android has a plethora of keyboards better than the default at your disposal.
Networking
Android: 5
iOS: 6
Windows Phone: 10
Keyboard
Android: 6
iOS: 4
Windows Phone: 8
Apps and Software and Features, Oh My!
Well, it's not all rainbows and butterflies in the Windows Phone world. The application store isn't 1/10th of the competition yet and the games we do get are often crippled versions of their Android and iOS counterparts. Not only that, we often pay more strictly for the fact that we can get Xbox Live gamer points. However, Xbox live on the phone is amazing and a selling point in itself, it still doesn't justify the sometimes ridiculous price of our games and apps.
iOS is the clear winner as far as games and apps go. Sure, Android has more games and applications but they are never as polished as those on iOS and oftentimes won't work on a good portion of the devices due to fragmentation. Both trump Windows Phone with their high def, 3D games and form fitting applications.
Android and Windows Phone now utilize NFC, iOS's only real shortcoming in this area. Windows Phone has pushed it a step further offering wireless charging on most of their higher end devices which, while gimmicky, is one hell of a gimmick. If you pick up the JBL Charging Speakers then your Nokia will absolutely blow you away.
I would like to clarify, of the 40 or so apps that are must haves on my phones, I can easily find an alternative to 36-38 of them on Windows Phone but those 2-4 apps I can't find really do seem to jump out at me a lot of the time and are a thorn in the side of WP8. That said, with access to native code this will hopefully change.
Goodies
Android: 8
iOS: 9
Windows Phone: 5
Wrap-up
Well, after owning my first long term Windows Phone device I can say that this is as unbiased as I can get aside from a possible honeymoon phase with this pretty little device. This is of course from a basic user standpoint and not a developer standpoint as so many of us like to brag about having. The final score tallied up is:
Android: 53/70
iOS: 42/70
Windows Phone: 60/70
None of the OS's are bad and each could certainly suit you and will vary with your needs. As far as the most generic needs go, Windows Phone pulled out just ahead of Android with iOS trailing behind, left in the dust. If you haven't picked up a Windows Phone and have only gone off of the rumors, I suggest you at least give it a try. Thank you for reading and I hope you all have a happy Turkey Day.
-Poecifer
Thanks for sharing! One thing that interests me about the Windows Phone is editing Microsoft Office files on the go. Currently I have many formatting and compatibility issues trying to do this with my Android device. Have you experimented much with this yet?
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buffjam9011 said:
Thanks for sharing! One thing that interests me about the Windows Phone is editing Microsoft Office files on the go. Currently I have many formatting and compatibility issues trying to do this with my Android device. Have you experimented much with this yet?
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Mainly just wordpad documents, I'll look more into the others and get back to you afterwards. Word files are epic though.
Strangely enough I agree with almost quite everything you say, but your scoring seems to be a little wonky. Your user interface scores were as follows:
Android: 6
iOS: 7
Windows Phone: 9
Very subjective if you ask me. You could ask ten different people what they believe that order should proceed in, and I'm willing to bet their answers will vary greatly. I don't understand how IOS could possibly have a higher interface score than Android if its simply a grid of icons with a horrendous notification system. If you wanted to replicate that on Android you very well could with a launcher, MIUI, etc. Android essentially IS iOS with flexibility; customizable grids on the homescreen, widgets, more intuitive lockscreens, etc. Giving iOS a higher score doesn't seem to make sense to me.
Hardware
Android: 9
iOS: 2
Windows Phone: 10
I'd like to think the massive range of Android phones would overcome the simple fact that Windows phones come in several new colors. I think it's fair to say Android should hold top dog in this regard.
Android: 5
iOS: 6
Windows Phone: 10
Above are the scores for social networking on each mobile OS. Again, if Android by default has every third party application installed automatically integrated, how can you justify giving it not only that low of a score, but below iOS? (While iOS only has facebook/twitter integration).
Also, I'm curious as to which keyboard you used for Android.
But great write up, honestly I don't mean to try and dismantle everything you said, I just don't entirely agree with the scoring. But good work, I gave ya a thanks )
MultiLockOn said:
Strangely enough I agree with almost quite everything you say, but your scoring seems to be a little wonky. Your user interface scores were as follows:
Android: 6
iOS: 7
Windows Phone: 9
Very subjective if you ask me. You could ask ten different people what they believe that order should proceed in, and I'm willing to bet their answers will vary greatly. I don't understand how IOS could possibly have a higher interface score than Android if its simply a grid of icons with a horrendous notification system. If you wanted to replicate that on Android you very well could with a launcher, MIUI, etc. Android essentially IS iOS with flexibility; customizable grids on the homescreen, widgets, more intuitive lockscreens, etc. Giving iOS a higher score doesn't seem to make sense to me.
Hardware
Android: 9
iOS: 2
Windows Phone: 10
I'd like to think the massive range of Android phones would overcome the simple fact that Windows phones come in several new colors. I think it's fair to say Android should hold top dog in this regard.
Android: 5
iOS: 6
Windows Phone: 10
Above are the scores for social networking on each mobile OS. Again, if Android by default has every third party application installed automatically integrated, how can you justify giving it not only that low of a score, but below iOS? (While iOS only has facebook/twitter integration).
Also, I'm curious as to which keyboard you used for Android.
But great write up, honestly I don't mean to try and dismantle everything you said, I just don't entirely agree with the scoring. But good work, I gave ya a thanks )
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not a problem at all, friend. I love criticism regardless and constructive is my favorite flavor. I gave UI to iOS over android because I'm trying to use vanilla android opposed to sense or touchwiz and sadly it still suffers from minute hickups. Had I been reviewing Sense, android and Windows Phone would have certainly been neck and neck.
As far as my hardware statement, as much as the hardware for android differentiates under the hood, they do little to differentiate themselves cosmetically and that seldom makes for a beautiful device even when the power under the hood is insane. It's often left looking like a bunch of generic Samsung phones.
In social networking, I ignored the existence of third party applications and only gave the bonus point to iOS for the ease of setup as both are essentially the same in that regard.
When I use android, I've been using swype since the HTC Dream days and don't feel a need to switch. Swiftkey isn't terrible though.
Again, there may be some bias as I'm still in the honeymoon phase but I made an attempt to be unbiased that at least beats out what you'll get at cNet.
Poecifer said:
Not a problem at all, friend. I love criticism regardless and constructive is my favorite flavor. I gave UI to iOS over android because I'm trying to use vanilla android opposed to sense or touchwiz and sadly it still suffers from minute hickups. Had I been reviewing Sense, android and Windows Phone would have certainly been neck and neck.
As far as my hardware statement, as much as the hardware for android differentiates under the hood, they do little to differentiate themselves cosmetically and that seldom makes for a beautiful device even when the power under the hood is insane. It's often left looking like a bunch of generic Samsung phones.
In social networking, I ignored the existence of third party applications and only gave the bonus point to iOS for the ease of setup as both are essentially the same in that regard.
When I use android, I've been using swype since the HTC Dream days and don't feel a need to switch. Swiftkey isn't terrible though.
Again, there may be some bias as I'm still in the honeymoon phase but I made an attempt to be unbiased that at least beats out what you'll get at cNet.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Most definitely ahaha, cnet is one of the most Apple centric tech sites I've ever seen. And I really do appreciate this write up, I always told myself if I had to move to a locked down OS Windows 8 looked like a viable choice, and now it seems I have a third party to back it up reasonably. It's sad really, most people glance at Windows phone and ate immediately turned away because of how strange the ui is initially. I think it's a beautiful design personally, and they're innovating in their own way.
One thing however. Do you really find sense more appealing then stock android? I've found the last three versions on android (4.0 - 4.2) to be wonderful. Honestly, everything from the notification bar to gapps with the blue tint looks great. I always thought sense was overrated, but more now than ever it seems to be riding on the tailcoat of its gb days. Maybe then I might've thought it sleek and edgy but lately sense hasn't seem to have changed at all, it looks dated. Everything from the app drawer to the notification panel is rather stale looking, I'd go as far to say that the touchwiz nature ux is much preferable, but that's just me.
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MultiLockOn said:
Most definitely ahaha, cnet is one of the most Apple centric tech sites I've ever seen. And I really do appreciate this write up, I always told myself if I had to move to a locked down OS Windows 8 looked like a viable choice, and now it seems I have a third party to back it up reasonably. It's sad really, most people glance at Windows phone and ate immediately turned away because of how strange the ui is initially. I think it's a beautiful design personally, and they're innovating in their own way.
One thing however. Do you really find sense more appealing then stock android? I've found the last three versions on android (4.0 - 4.2) to be wonderful. Honestly, everything from the notification bar to gapps with the blue tint looks great. I always thought sense was overrated, but more now than ever it seems to be riding on the tailcoat of its gb days. Maybe then I might've thought it sleek and edgy but lately sense hasn't seem to have changed at all, it looks dated. Everything from the app drawer to the notification panel is rather stale looking, I'd go as far to say that the touchwiz nature ux is much preferable, but that's just me.
Sent from my SPH-D710 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
From a purely aesthetic perspective, I completely agree. Sense looks stale. However, it brings to the table a plethora of built in apps and widgets that I find more useful than anyone else's offerings and for that I will choose Sense over Touchwiz or stock any day. I liked the way Sony was going, too bad they can't quite get their software right.
I think you overreacted when you said iphone has score 2 as far as hardware is concerned. Just because they do not take the route android does (make up for poor software with overkill hardware) doesn't mean their hardware ain't good. They basically do just like Windows Phone: pick up a nice platform, then base everything on that so it can be optimized.
mcosmin222 said:
I think you overreacted when you said iphone has score 2 as far as hardware is concerned. Just because they do not take the route android does (make up for poor software with overkill hardware) doesn't mean their hardware ain't good. They basically do just like Windows Phone: pick up a nice platform, then base everything on that so it can be optimized.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
They still only release one device a year with severely dated hardware and ridiculous fragility. They often have next to no real selling point aside from habit. I'd say it was justified.
dont agree with you about the keyboard. check out swiftkey.... i miss it so hard on wp8 :S
Love the write up, and I agree with most of what was said. I can support the lower hardware score for iOS because it is a gradual improvement of an existing design, as opposed to every year the hardware is cutting edge. That does have something to do with the fact that the OS doesn't require such boundary pushing hardware...
That's why I gave up on iOS. After a while you really get tired of the apps as the only attraction. Heck, jail breaking took off merely for the fact that it was a way to unlock the phone for usage on other carriers. Based on the hardware limitations, once you started to add the custom add-ons to change the looks and performance of the phone, iOS starts to lag. I'm sure things have improved with the iPhone 5, but I've got no interest in trying Apple.
It still boils down to taste. I do enjoy using WP7, and so far WP8 is a nice upgrade. As far as Android goes, I prefer stock over any other skin other there. Yes, stock used to be atrocious and not as friendly visually, but 4.0 has changed much of that. Still, I like Sense as the best skin out there, even though it has gotten bloated. sense 4 is a right step, but I won't use anything HTC Android wise until Sense gets much lighter (that's why my Galaxy Nexus will back up my Lumia 810 for the foreseeable future).
I like the WP idea of letting some customization in the form of apps and amps and hardware tweaks. But the consistent UI is my biggest draw to the platform. Now, if only MSFT can make Windowsphone.com easier to use and add a few more apps and tweaks...
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium
Poecifer said:
They still only release one device a year with severely dated hardware and ridiculous fragility. They often have next to no real selling point aside from habit. I'd say it was justified.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You're not talking about Apple are you? If so, this just ruins everything you typed Severely dated hardware? Seriously ?
Don't get me wrong, everyone is entitled to their opinion; but dated hardware? ?
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vetvito said:
You're not talking about Apple are you? If so, this just ruins everything you typed Severely dated hardware? Seriously ?
Don't get me wrong, everyone is entitled to their opinion; but dated hardware? ?
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1.3 GHz processor, underwhelming screen, no NFC, no wireless charging, nothing that sets them apart hardware-wise. At what point as of late have they innovated?
Poecifer said:
1.3 GHz processor, underwhelming screen, no NFC, no wireless charging, nothing that sets them apart hardware-wise. At what point as of late have they innovated?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You said severely dated hardware, didn't you? Name one phone that beats the iPhone 5 in graphics and performance? Underwhelming screen? Do people even legitimately know what the iPhone is clocked at?
NFC? Seriously, what is windows phone doing with it now besides pairing speakers?
Wireless charging, now thats palm pre innovation. Wow.
I know you can come with something better than that.
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vetvito said:
You said severely dated hardware, didn't you? Name one phone that beats the iPhone 5 in graphics and performance? Underwhelming screen? Do people even legitimately know what the iPhone is clocked at?
NFC? Seriously, what is windows phone doing with it now besides pairing speakers?
Wireless charging, now thats palm pre innovation. Wow.
I know you can come with something better than that.
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Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Graphics is a matter of the software and developer interest, neither of which have been called into question. The screen was cool when it was introduced 2-3 years ago, now it's certainly not top tier. The iPhone 5 is clocked at 1.3 GHz which does prove we don't need ridiculous specs with optimized software. It simply hasn't been top of the line in a long while.
^ but no other chip is beating the iPhone 5 in graphics or performance right now. Not even the S4 Pro(quad core). If that isn't top of the line, then I don't know what is.
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Poecifer said:
Graphics is a matter of the software and developer interest, neither of which have been called into question. The screen was cool when it was introduced 2-3 years ago, now it's certainly not top tier. The iPhone 5 is clocked at 1.3 GHz which does prove we don't need ridiculous specs with optimized software. It simply hasn't been top of the line in a long while.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Genuine question, where do you find a graphics test that ignores the OS software as a whole? I want to know for personal testing.
Poecifer said:
Genuine question, where do you find a graphics test that ignores the OS software as a whole? I want to know for personal testing.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You don't really. Every test in SOME way is going to be more optimized for one gpu then another; you can't say "well this game runs smother on this phone thus making this gpu better". Benchmarking isn't realistic at all. To be honest I'm not sure of a great way to judge graphics card performance other then a long term
Overview of how it handles games. I could be wrong though, if someone wants to correct me feel free
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"hardware choices"
you gave more credit to one _software_platform_ (your definitions of competitors) for choice of colors....
yes, that makes sense.
ohgood said:
"hardware choices"
you gave more credit to one _software_platform_ (your definitions of competitors) for choice of colors....
yes, that makes sense.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Average consumer perspective. How much do cores matter to your mom or dad?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZP0Bos0plE
I noticed this video posted yesterday by GSMArena giving a quick review of the new Note 12.2 Pro. What struck me was that it doesn't appear to have the new UI and button layout that we have seen on other 12.2 Pros. This would strongly suggest to me that the new UI software update has been added as an after thought and should mean that we'll see it on our Note 10.1s.
There are other recent videos where people who have been sent review odules of the Note 12.2 don't have the new UI or the "Recent App" button... http://www.phonearena.com/reviews/Samsung-Galaxy-NotePRO-12.2-Preview_id3537
I'm now really confused as to what Samsung are playing at. Have they released 2 versions of the Note 12.2 Pro? One which looks exactly like the 10.1 with updated software and another version which has a new button layout as well as new software? Or, are these review models "old" prototypes, that have been ditched in favour of the new design/software all together?
We might not see the magazine UI any time soon, actually.
*** To me it's a big plus since it was only "pretty" without much function. At least from what I saw throw CES footages. ( I do not need to see all these samsung widgets update with their push on their Samsung hub goodies.)
The the UI is refreshing, but we might see stuff that leans away from that of what we saw at CES.
http://www.zdnet.com/samsung-may-dump-windows-like-magazine-ui-downplay-custom-apps-7000025779/
Google doesn't seem to like the new Samsung stuff. However, I must say - the Samsung Touchwiz aesthetics are the next in line for the "worst looking interface", right behind iOS 7. It needs to update ASAP.
Alasdair91 said:
I'm now really confused as to what Samsung are playing at.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Join the club. The manual is what you need to go by and it has the new "recent apps" capacitive button in it.
It doesn't mention M-UX by name and instead introduces the concept of "Content home screens [M-UX]" and "Classic home screens [TW]. So it's possible that the sample in the GSMArena video was pre-production and the decision about moving from menu to recent apps for the capacitive button wasn't finalized yet. That sample also could have both Content and Classic home screens available but GSMArena set the home page to a Classic home screen.
Samsung should have introduced the recent tasks button on the N10.1-14, called it the Note|Pro 10.1, shipped it without M-UX, and then introduced a "Premium Suite" to bring it up to the level of the other 2014 premium tablets that were announced later. From the leak we appear to be getting 4-window Multi View and I'm assuming the rest of the updated Multi View features with it. So they'll either have to customize the N10.1-14 compared to the rest of the 2014-line to retain the menu button's function or damn the torpedoes and keep the existing icon and make it perform the "recent apps" function and hope existing users are capable of figuring it out.
Here's the Note|Pro 12's manual if you want to review it...
http://downloadcenter.samsung.com/c...28617/SM-P900_UM_EU_Kitkat_Eng_D06_140124.pdf
---------- Post added at 01:29 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:20 PM ----------
soys4uc3 said:
We might not see the magazine UI any time soon, actually.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Then Lucy's going to have some 'splainin to do. The UK watchdogs and tribunals won't be thrilled that a feature Samsung's marketing on their e-commerce site was never intended to be offered. And in a reasonable time after it was added to the site thus influencing people's purchasing decisions.
Alasdair91 said:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZP0Bos0plE
I noticed this video posted yesterday by GSMArena giving a quick review of the new Note 12.2 Pro. What struck me was that it doesn't appear to have the new UI and button layout that we have seen on other 12.2 Pros. This would strongly suggest to me that the new UI software update has been added as an after thought and should mean that we'll see it on our Note 10.1s.
There are other recent videos where people who have been sent review odules of the Note 12.2 don't have the new UI or the "Recent App" button... http://www.phonearena.com/reviews/Samsung-Galaxy-NotePRO-12.2-Preview_id3537
I'm now really confused as to what Samsung are playing at. Have they released 2 versions of the Note 12.2 Pro? One which looks exactly like the 10.1 with updated software and another version which has a new button layout as well as new software? Or, are these review models "old" prototypes, that have been ditched in favour of the new design/software all together?
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From their review:
"However, since our prototype unit didn't come with the latest version of TouchWiz, so its UI is slightly different from what the final units will have. We'll be updating this chapter when we get a completely finalized unit."
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toyanucci said:
From their review:
"However, since our prototype unit didn't come with the latest version of TouchWiz, so its UI is slightly different from what the final units will have. We'll be updating this chapter when we get a completely finalized unit."
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This is what makes me think it even more likely the 10.1 will see the newer software too. If the 12.2 was originally made unning the exact same software as the 10.1, then there is no reason as to why the 10.1 wouldn't get it.
Alasdair91 said:
This is what makes me think it even more likely the 10.1 will see the newer software too. If the 12.2 was originally made unning the exact same software as the 10.1, then there is no reason as to why the 10.1 wouldn't get it.
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Yup! I just want it to come out now! Lol. And though I would love Magazine UX, the main reason I want it is the optimization of the software. Check the review below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-yl6XLkmlVY&feature=youtube_gdata_player
That's the NotePro wifi only (exynos) final software and hardware. The software is butter smooth, same exact hardware as our note 10.1 2014. Doin basic stuff like in the video above I get lags and glitches which is annoying, so looking fwd to this update forealz!
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I installed tsf on my Galaxy Note 2 recently. It is also butter smooth. Maybe you can try it on your 10.1
toyanucci said:
Yup! I just want it to come out now! Lol. And though I would love Magazine UX, the main reason I want it is the optimization of the software. Check the review below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-yl6XLkmlVY&feature=youtube_gdata_player
That's the NotePro wifi only (exynos) final software and hardware. The software is butter smooth, same exact hardware as our note 10.1 2014. Doin basic stuff like in the video above I get lags and glitches which is annoying, so looking fwd to this update forealz!
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Just realize that this video is showing the Snapdragon 800 variant... Sad that Samsung can optimize their own CPU better than another company's...
alias747 said:
Just realize that this video is showing the Snapdragon 800 variant... Sad that Samsung can optimize their own CPU better than another company's...
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The review is of the exynos version, the reviewer is incorrect. If you notice on boot it says P900, that's the exynos version, also when he shows the right side there is no sim card slot. All wifi only (simless) versions are exynos.
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Big thx for the links. But that magazine ui is pathetic in my opinion. It's just some square widgets for Samsung apps only and flipboard shortcuts. Zero added functionality or efficiency improvement over regular android home screens. There are way better tools to configure and customize your homescreen in the play store.
It's just another thing I'll disable/uninstall with titanium backup. Thx for nothing Samsung they should have put all that design and programming effort into refining and tuning their apps like s note etc. Samsung is making products that fit my needs very nice in terms of hardware and Android fits my needs in terms of software anyway. But on the software side Samsung is just throwing stuff at you. They never stick to anything. They release a new design and instead of improving it, they throw it away and start from scratch usually going into opposite directions. At least that's how it feels...
The Android launcher is amazing. And all the custom launchers in the play store make it even better. Stop trying to fix it Samsung. It ain't broken!
Looking forward to Bugfixes and performance update though.
clouds5 said:
But that magazine ui is pathetic in my opinion. It's just some square widgets for Samsung apps only and flipboard shortcuts. Zero added functionality or efficiency improvement over regular android home screens.
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Android sucks on displays over 7-8". As it is, Google's done nothing to help maximize the additional screen real estate and improve the user experience on large format devices. If fact, throwing a phone UI on a 10" tablet actually makes it worse. M-UX is Samsung's attempt at improving the Android tablet experience. Edge-to-edge widgets at least make better use of the display and size to increase the amount of info that can be shown on a single page and within a single widget. How well it works, how big an improvement it is, and whether it's a good or bad idea comes down to execution (both initially and over time). So to your point it could be a disaster or it could be great. I'll withhold judgment until I get to see how it works with the way I configure my tablets.
I can't think of a worse device for Android purists to buy than any Samsung Note-series. In edition to the normal Samsung gee-gaws it's got all the S Pen and advanced Multi View stuff piled on. KNOX now makes it worse because you place your warranty at risk to root and mod a Samsung device. People who don't like Samsung's s/w shouldn't buy Samsung devices and then complain after the fact. It's not like they didn't know what they were buying. It's like buying a diesel car and saying it's "awful" compared to a car with a conventional gas engine. This may be shocking but I like some of Samsung's s/w editions a lot more than some of their Google-native equivalents. There wouldn't be a Note-series if it were up to Google. So people should buy what makes them happy and if they're purists they definitely bought the wrong device if they're in this forum.
BarryH_GEG said:
Android sucks on displays over 7-8". As it is, Google's done nothing to help maximize the additional screen real estate and improve the user experience on large format devices. If fact, throwing a phone UI on a 10" tablet actually makes it worse. M-UX is Samsung's attempt at improving the Android tablet experience. Edge-to-edge widgets at least make better use of the display and size to increase the amount of info that can be shown on a single page and within a single widget. How well it works, how big an improvement it is, and whether it's a good or bad idea comes down to execution (both initially and over time). So to your point it could be a disaster or it could be great. I'll withhold judgment until I get to see how it works with the way I configure my tablets.
I can't think of a worse device for Android purists to buy than any Samsung Note-series. In edition to the normal Samsung gee-gaws it's got all the S Pen and advanced Multi View stuff piled on. KNOX now makes it worse because you place your warranty at risk to root and mod a Samsung device. People who don't like Samsung's s/w shouldn't buy Samsung devices and then complain after the fact. It's not like they didn't know what they were buying. It's like buying a diesel car and saying it's "awful" compared to a car with a conventional gas engine. This may be shocking but I like some of Samsung's s/w editions a lot more than some of their Google-native equivalents. There wouldn't be a Note-series if it were up to Google. So people should buy what makes them happy and if they're purists they definitely bought the wrong device if they're in this forum.
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I agree with you on some points. Google indeed hasn't done anything to improve tablet experience. But for me there is enough customization available through the play store to change that.
I also agree with Samsung devices being bad choices for purists. I have a different idea about Android in general. When I choose a product I primarily look at the hardware but I want to be in charge of the software. That's why I could never buy an apple product. You're not happy with the soft keyboard? Go f*** yourself. i got this tablet because it has exactly the hardware I want. But in terms of software you have less and less freedom with Samsung... Some of their stuff is amazing some of their apps are just annoying and bad. And that is OK as long as you can get rid of them or replace! M-UX seems a step in a different direction with deep integration. As I said as long as I can delete/change it I don't care what they do.
So I agree, it's nice that Samsung is trying. But like this with only a handful of options for the widgets it's just a waste of time and resources. I used the magazine app a few times already. But it's just a launcher for flipboard. It doesn't add anything it only makes it look nice. And I always choose functionality over looks. That's just how I am
clouds5 said:
Some of their [Samsung's] stuff is amazing some of their apps are just annoying and bad.
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Agreed.
I used the magazine app a few times already.
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Are you talking about today's My Magazine or the new Magazine UX. They have nothing in common other than a block layout and "Magazine" in their name.
M-UX seems a step in a different direction with deep integration. As I said as long as I can delete/change it I don't care what they do.
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So far based on the media the worst case scenario is you have to have at least one M-UX page and the rest can be "classic." The M-UX page doesn't have to be set as "home" either. I'm still reserving judgment until I can play with it personally. I have 21 widgets and 12 of them are Samsung's. If those 12 widgets have been made more interactive, provide more info, and are better aesthetically I'll probably be happy. If not I'll probably end up with one M-UX page (probably my home screen) with the basics like weather, e-mail, messaging, social on it and set the flanking pages up in classic just like they are today. I'm not saying M-UX is the answer to Android on 10+" tablets but I am giving Samsung credit for some innovation in trying to make content more suitable for large format displays. The jury's out until we all get to form our own conclusions based on some hands-on time.
BarryH_GEG said:
Agreed.
Are you talking about today's My Magazine or the new Magazine UX. They have nothing in common other than a block layout and "Magazine" in their name.
So far based on the media the worst case scenario is you have to have at least one M-UX page and the rest can be "classic." The M-UX page doesn't have to be set as "home" either. I'm still reserving judgment until I can play with it personally. I have 21 widgets and 12 of them are Samsung's. If those 12 widgets have been made more interactive, provide more info, and are better aesthetically I'll probably be happy. If not I'll probably end up with one M-UX page (probably my home screen) with the basics like weather, e-mail, messaging, social on it and set the flanking pages up in classic just like they are today. I'm not saying M-UX is the answer to Android on 10+" tablets but I am giving Samsung credit for some innovation in trying to make content more suitable for large format displays. The jury's out until we all get to form our own conclusions based on some hands-on time.
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Cool to see you can have folders in magazine ux too
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BarryH_GEG said:
So far based on the media the worst case scenario is you have to have at least one M-UX page and the rest can be "classic." The M-UX page doesn't have to be set as "home" either. I'm still reserving judgment until I can play with it personally. I have 21 widgets and 12 of them are Samsung's. If those 12 widgets have been made more interactive, provide more info, and are better aesthetically I'll probably be happy. If not I'll probably end up with one M-UX page (probably my home screen) with the basics like weather, e-mail, messaging, social on it and set the flanking pages up in classic just like they are today. I'm not saying M-UX is the answer to Android on 10+" tablets but I am giving Samsung credit for some innovation in trying to make content more suitable for large format displays. The jury's out until we all get to form our own conclusions based on some hands-on time.
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See i use one single Samsung widget but that is the beauty of Android. Every device is unique because every user can customize it exactly for their needs. But I can certainly live with a m-ux page. Even if it's just to show it off to my apple worshipping friends
You're right. Let's wait and see until we have it in our hands. Maybe I end up liking it as well.
clouds5 said:
See i use one single Samsung widget but that is the beauty of Android. Every device is unique because every user can customize it exactly for their needs. B
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Came over to this reading about M-UX - nice quotations about androids beauty.
I use 0 widgets...only single 1 page of NOVA launcher with app shortcuts - stock rom, rooted - and heavy debloated. I really like to sit my apps in ram, not to be killed by heavy TW launcher and heavy fancy widgets and bloat - all of my apps that i really use open instantly where i left them - and i am really just a 10 apps user. (Yes, but most used one is JumpDesktop to remoting to my server - so 95% of work is done on Windows machine .
A review of TabPro 8.4 is out with some screenshots of the M-UX or whatever you wanna call it:
http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_tab_pro_8_4-review-1042p4.php
I think that looks kinda neat, and could be somewhat useful if it's fast.
C2Q said:
A review of TabPro 8.4 is out with some screenshots of the M-UX or whatever you wanna call it. I think that looks kinda neat, and could be somewhat useful if it's fast.
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It all depends on what Samsung's included widget and shortcut wise in M-UX. If it's a lot of stuff that's highly used it should be cool. For folks that use a ton of third party widgets not so much. I wonder is Samsung's publishing a M-UX API so third parties can provide M-UX widgets also? I hope we get the revised notification panel and other menus. The one's we have just look goofy on such a large display.
It'll be interesting to hear the board's opinion of M-UX once more people are using it. Even in this thread it's pretty clear how varied people's use of apps and widgets are. Time will tell...
BarryH_GEG said:
Android sucks on displays over 7-8".
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I disagree with many of the sweeping statements made in this post.
In the last couple of years ive seen play up their tablet support from almost nome to sections dedicated to tablets.
What in the heck is an android purist? Is this some sort of apple hybred? Ive been on android for four years and this is pure nonsense. An os is to serve you not you the os .
As for "worst tablet", of the seven android tablets i own this is the best experience ive had. My desire is to have the best tablet and tablet experience for my needs. I want extra memmory features "pure android" doesnt support. I have always thought a pen may be the best imput for a tablet. "Pure android"? I could go on.
What makes this tablet different than all the other large android tablets? Its the features? If this tablets features fit your needs then it may be the "best" android tablet for you. If not not.
Yes i would like more flexibilty from samsung to trim tablet down. I dont like button layout. No its not perfect, but its pretty darn good.
Woody
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woodsonmh said:
I disagree with many of the sweeping statements made in this post.
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Certainly your prerogative.
In the last couple of years ive seen play up their tablet support from almost nome to sections dedicated to tablets.
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Android's been awful at scaling apps between resolutions and display sizes. It's up to the individual app developers to figure out how to get their apps to display properly rather than have the OS manage it. Here's an example of viewing two apps I use for local supermarkets in landscape, the viewing orientation by design for 10" tablets. Ironically both are produced and managed by WebGrocer on behalf of the respective brands. Do you think this is the user experience people with large format tablets should be having? Would you find something like this in the Apple App Store?
Which of these two navigation/notification bar approaches are best for a 10" tablet where the user's hands are typically closer to the bottom? The first one with tiny text placed at the top because it was originally designed for phones or the second placed at the bottom which was designed for tablets and now retired?
What in the heck is an android purist? Is this some sort of apple hybred? Ive been on android for four years and this is pure nonsense.
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An Android purist, at least to me, is someone who thinks whatever Google feeds them is what God intended and anything Samsung, HTC, Motorola, LG, and Sony do to alter or supplement Android is the worst form of blasphemy. If it weren't for Samsung's additions to Android, especially S Pen and Multi View, I'd seriously consider Apple products. Yes, you give up flexibility and openness but at least the apps are consistent, well designed, vetted before being made available, and simply and predictably work. I'd never own a Nexus device because I think the UI is bland and flat and I think in many cases OEM's do a better job than Google with specific apps (EG: Gallery, Camera UI, Dialer).
An os is to serve you not you the os . As for "worst tablet", of the seven android tablets i own this is the best experience ive had. My desire is to have the best tablet and tablet experience for my needs. I want extra memmory features "pure android" doesnt support. I have always thought a pen may be the best imput for a tablet. "Pure android"? I could go on.What makes this tablet different than all the other large android tablets? Its the features? If this tablets features fit your needs then it may be the "best" android tablet for you. If not not. Yes i would like more flexibilty from samsung to trim tablet down. I dont like button layout. No its not perfect, but its pretty darn good.
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Sorry, don't understand this section.