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Please do no not ask how to check firmware?, what is the problem?, ect. For such questions visit thread mentioned below.
This thread is for people who know what is wrong.
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I decided to write this thread to sum up in short form all the most important informations regarding camera modules in Samsung Galaxy S II. Long version of thread where you can find various information is here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1098834&highlight=upgrade.
This thread is the try to make more pressure on Samsung about fixing their problem regarding camera modules.
1. Problem overview
1.1 General overview:
Samsung Galaxy S II has been released in many forms with different camera modules. So far the most problematic module is Samsung's sensor, identified as example:
SLSI_S5K3H2YX_M5MOLSwith firmware marked as SCEF02. (It needs to be told - Fujitsu is overall name of module, particular camera we identify via codes, SC, OM ect - then we can exactly say example Fujitsu\Samsung LSI (Samsung's sensor combined with Fujitsu [additional parts like firmware it is believed]), or Sony sensor). It is complicated way, this is why sometimes you can find some inaccuracies in detailed technical - but general overview is true).
Problematic issues haven't been revealed just now - the Community and users know these issues for long time. So does Samsung.
1.2 Technical overview
Problems with camera modules can be abbreviated to few things:
AutoFocus issues - as we know AutoFocus can greatly improve movies. It is nice feature which unfortunately doesn't work in SGS II as it should. Problems are related to the situations, where:
Often in daily situations AutoFocus works without any need of it. Video is already sharp, but AutoFocus tries to make it better. It just worsen the movie making unnecessary blurs;
In darker areas, nights or moving from dark to bright ground AutoFocus loses stability or even worse completely blurs the movie. Making movie then is completely useless.
AutoFocus is slow. Compared to other phones it is just slower, sometimes really slow - often you can forget making movie of fast moving objects like birds, planes and so on.
FPS issues - these problems are related to the general FPS of movies. SLSI_S5K3H2YX_M5MOLS records slower than it should be. It happens either day or night, depending on the conditions. These conditions are, example:
Moving camera from darker to brighter area and vice versa.
Recording at night.
Red pink spot - this problem makes the pictures and movies having pink, light circle. It happens when you take a photo on the solid grayish, white and other colors area.
Few words are need to be written - it is very interesting that phones equipped by Sony OMEF01 (IMX105) have less problems. Their FPS and general smoothness are better than in S5K3H2YX SCEF02 firmware. But this is not the end - some users in act of desperation and completely lack of Samsung's support loaded Camera firmware (SIEG03) from the other phone - Samsung i997 - which partially fixed problems regarding low frame rates!
These two examples may lead to the conclusion the problem is the only firmware which since phone release, hasn't been fixed for Samsung's module users.
2. Examples of problems
Many users recorded camera behaviour and uploaded it on YouTube. I post few movies to show what Samsung screwed up and didn't want to fix it.
Comparison of SLSI_S5K3H2YX_M5MOLS SCEF02 and Sony (IMX105) OMEF01.
SCEF02
OMEF01
AutoFocus at night with low FPS - is it the way as it should be? For Samsung yes.
Comparison of default system camera (camcorder) and the commercial app.
Here one word to be posted - please notice that the comparison of system application and lgCamera was made at SCEF02 firmware.
Even with such limits like camera firmware which is the bridge for hardware and user's camera software, the lgCamera amateur programmer (with all respect to its Author) could fix few problems and improve the camera!
Samsung is not able to fix it since months!
Also please notice lgCamera has much more functions than stock application - example snow, fall scenes for video mode. If lgCamera author could add working camera modes, what is stopping Samsung doing the same? Laziness.
3. Samsung's behaviour
Unfortunately Samsung Galaxy S II users can't say Samsung is the company which tries to care about customers. Many users have reported such issues long time ago, including myself where I've had replies which mostly were restricted to few laconically sounded sentences. In my case I've contacted Samsung Hotline, Samsung Main Service Center, Local Service Center department and Samsung LSI.
In all cases except Samsung LSI, where I was able to send only 1 mail (my next messages weren't delivered) I informed about issues regarding problems of SGS II. In all cases replies can be shortened, I present their answers:
"I think that you are mistaking us (Samsung Electro-Mechanics) for Fujitsu.,because you are complaining to Fujitsu (it had to be S5K3H2YX). I'd like to recommend that you enter the Fujitsu's website." - Well it is like pong game where everybody bounces the problem elsewhere. Who mounted Fujitsu (It had to be S5K3H2YX) module in the Galaxy? Who wrote the firmware? Samsung! I bought the phone from the Samsung, not Fujitsu, goddammit!
"In case of problems return phone to the service, and if we detect issues, we will replace or repair damaged part." - They are like robots. Everytime say such thing. This will NOT fix the problem because Samsung will just replace S5K3H2YX to another S5K3H2YX. Problem is not in the few users' phones. Problem exist either in ready to mount modules equipped with bad firmware which are delivered to the service centers or just alone firmware!
"We cannot mount the desired module in the phone. We replace things randomly. We're delivered by Samsung boxes with parts and they're not signed they're either Fujitsu (it had to be S5K3H2YX) or Sony." - This was an answer for my question about demand of Sony module replacement instead of faulty S5K3H2YX. Pity.
"All camera modules come to us and pass the Samsung requirements." - This can be reasonable. Technically S5K3H2YX module can be OK. But Samsung put to S5K3H2YX bad firmware which makes problems mentioned earlier!
Overall often I must have waited two weeks for any response. I am still waiting (1.5 month) for response from official Samsung department for my technical question.
Answers from the Main Service Center came to me after 7 days and only because I reminded them about my question and said their competences end at connecting charger to the phone.
It is to be mentioned Samsung released Camera Firmware Upgrade few times. But it didn't fix anything - completely nothing, null, zero. The last update marked at December 02 of 2011 also didn't bring anything.
Samsung just ignores the customers!
4. Possible solution and conclusions
I think more likely problems exist only in bad firmware. The answer ("All camera modules come to us and pass the Samsung requirements.") from the service center gives me to think so, which is reasonable, especially when we know after changing firmware to other problems are partially gone.
Samsung must understand:
What it has been screwed up, needs to be fixed.
Customers shouldn't be abandoned with problems for many long months. Samsung even didn't say a word about.
The longer they do this, the more likely people will turn back to other brands.
If they promoted SGS II as one of the best camera phones, they just lied. At least in current situation.
Such thread wouldn't have been created if Samsung had answered for many amount of complains about Camera work in SGS II.
ATTENTION - For anyone who wants to buy non-shutterning camera module for your own, you can do it. Look at this thread for info: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=28697558
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I hope now it will be easier to spread information about Samsung and its bad customers treat.
Notes:
1. This thread tries to sum up all the most important things related to problem and this thread http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1098834&highlight=upgrade .
2. If you have comments, propositions what I missed, or should add please post it yourself or write what I should add in my post (to save cleanness).
3. I hope we'll get what we have right to.
4. Instead of Fujistu we think about S5K3H2YX which is correct name of Samsung's faulty sensors it seems to.
same issue here and samsung sucks !
I have the same issues. This camera sucks a lot, just like Samsung.
RE
Now that they are creating firmw. Android 4.0. they got time to fix all this if not then they are just fking stupid
Epic comment. Agree with every point. Very disappointed that Samsung let this amazing phone come with such poor video autofocus. Didn't their testers notice this? Someone somewhere in SGS2 development brushed this issue under the carpet. Very shady.
Apple wouldn't have let this happen...
---------- Post added at 11:21 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:19 PM ----------
blizzari said:
Now that they are creating firmw. Android 4.0. they got time to fix all this if not then they are just fking stupid
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
But...but...if they fixed it then nobody would buy the SGS3....
Honestly? They've had nearly a year to fix an issue they knew about. My hopes aren't high on an ICS fix
how ever much i love the sgs 2 i have to agree with this
666fff said:
But...but...if they fixed it then nobody would buy the SGS3....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
lets say thet have sold 20million devices and like 10 000 have problems with, I dont think they are gonna fix it. I guess it's is easier for them to RMA them than work on the problem which is unfortunate for the affected users
Are you sure an RMA would fix this?
Thx guys, I wouldn't write this without motivation of others in the thread. Together we can try to do something. At least we have better chances than complaining lonely. I'd be nice to interest some GSM portals. If few of them picked up topic, perhaps it would make more pressure. It is customer right to have that he paid for.
NoOneCanHelpMe said:
lets say thet have sold 20million devices and like 10 000 have problems with, I dont think they are gonna fix it. I guess it's is easier for them to RMA them than work on the problem which is unfortunate for the affected users
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Unfortunately not all users of Fujitsu will complain - because many of them will think it is as it should be. User'd think it is just the phone and it is common. Some of them will not bother also because will buy next phone. I think Samsung counts on it as well.
I am sure every firmware for Fujitsu is one big failure - so I guess there are much more wrong phones than example 10 000. I guess they sold few millions in Europe, at least few hundreds of thousands has such bad firmware.
Well done. Thorough research. But...
You obviously know your stuff, but I would say that the vast majority of users - myself included - do not possess your depth of knowledge, and - myself included again - are happy enough with the camera.
In spite of repeated attempts (well, about four) I cannot reproduce the infamous pink spot. Stuff I film isn't reliant on autofocus so much (does homemade pron count?). As a happy-snapper-point-and-shoot device, this camera is good enough for me.
I won't claim that I speak for the masses, but I'll surmise that the camera quality is not at the top of most users' priority list with regards to this phone. You've certainly convinced me it could be better but unfortunately it's Samsung you need to convince, and that doesn't seem to be going so well...
I have equally strong feelings re the SQ for music - I'm not a genius/supercurio (metaphors AFAIC), but I do know my stuff there, and it still frustrates the squits out of me that Samsung decided that a worse chip than the SGS was the way forward (reason #1 for not buying the Note).
I wish you all the best - maintain the rage!
I had scef02 ehich makes mine fujitsu. Just did an update snd now i have SCEE09
PHONE FW TBEC28. does this help?
Edit: just got it that i actually downgraded my camera. Reverting SCEF02
Sent from outter space using a Gremlin for delivery!
So is SBEF02 affected by the same issue?
well on ics 4.0.3 camera managed to get white balance, better,
it's not perfect, but at least i dont get too orange pictures inside my house
samsung sucks
just do it like me and never ever buy a samsung phone...
mblaus said:
just do it like me and never ever buy a samsung phone...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
then what is your business here? trolling? go at iphone section or where ever you need to be. we like our Samsung phones.
People should be alerted about camera issues before buying the phone, hope this thread brings solutions.
Yup, this should be sticky!
Alert the people, make them ask Samsung - possibly drop sales a little - make Samsung react -
- admit the problem
- send service procedures and parts to service centers
- in case of customer complaint invite to service center for solution: firmware flash/module change
So easy.
Samsung made billions of dollars on these devices and yet it cant spare few bucks for such programme. Pitty.
500$+ device with broken camera, no ICS (because samsung takes its time breaking it with TW)
I would go Apple way if I knew that.
(joke..)
truly disappointed...if I knew the video recording had this problem I wouldn't have bought the phone
the problem is that they marketed it as the "perfect" phone that has everything unmatched; perfect camera, perfect web browsing, perfect gaming,...etc
also we must note that most (if not all) reviews sites which r the main reference for many people (myself included) before buying a phone NEVER said a word about any camera problem
it's true that not all the phones have the defected module/firmware, but not at least one review site got it?
or is it that samsung sends review units equipped with the perfect stuff and sell the ****ty ones to the masses??????????!!!!!!!!!!!!
to be honest I feel like I fell in a dirty trap made by samsung which is probably laughing its ass off pointing at me right now, which is something I don't like
if samsung doesn't fix the problem with ICS (or any other kind of fix) I'll probably sell the phone and never come back to this company again. not because I can't live without video recording (actually I rarely use it) but because I ABSOLUTELY HATE these marketing methods
The SGS2 is advertised on samsung's website as "Recording & Playback [email protected]" while the SCEF02 firmwares (And other firmwares for the Fujitsu camera module) struggle to record at 30fps, can't something be done about false advertisement?
B3311 said:
Well done. Thorough research. But...
You obviously know your stuff, but I would say that the vast majority of users - myself included - do not possess your depth of knowledge, and - myself included again - are happy enough with the camera.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes I am really aware of it. For many people it is just the way it is, and they're OK with it, Samsung counts on this too as well
In spite of repeated attempts (well, about four) I cannot reproduce the infamous pink spot. Stuff I film isn't reliant on autofocus so much (does homemade pron count?). As a happy-snapper-point-and-shoot device, this camera is good enough for me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hmmm it should happen when you turn camera on the wall, or white paper example. Light conditions are also important.
I won't claim that I speak for the masses, but I'll surmise that the camera quality is not at the top of most users' priority list with regards to this phone. You've certainly convinced me it could be better but unfortunately it's Samsung you need to convince, and that doesn't seem to be going so well...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Camera generally is not completely bad. It is not good either. It can be improved adding new functions like it is in lgCamera. But definitely it should have been fixed long time ago to be as advertises say.
suzaku said:
truly disappointed...if I knew the video recording had this problem I wouldn't have bought the phone
the problem is that they marketed it as the "perfect" phone that has everything unmatched; perfect camera, perfect web browsing, perfect gaming,...etc
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well camera adverts were in my case quite strong impulse to buy this phone. Most reviews were also "oh ah, orgasm" and it was hard to find any very deep review.
Everything else is OK, but this part is not as to be expected according to the ads and just human understanding.
also we must note that most (if not all) reviews sites which r the main reference for many people (myself included) before buying a phone NEVER said a word about any camera problem
it's true that not all the phones have the defected module/firmware, but not at least one review site got it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There is really hard to find long, deep review. I am not surprised. To write it you'd have spent quite long time with the phone, than few days. Reviewers often don't have enough time to do it. Sometimes they are just non-technicians, when they see picture and they liked it, it meant camera was OK
or is it that samsung sends review units equipped with the perfect stuff and sell the ****ty ones to the masses??????????!!!!!!!!!!!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I do not want to generalize and I do not know about SGS II reviews behind-the-scenes actions, but it is quite often practice. It is the same as reviewing other stuff, kitchen hardware, ect. This is why much more often you will get true opinions from real users who say their own impressions. If you were a producer you'd like to send the best what you have to get great rate, when reality can differ. Unfortunately sometimes it is bad for customers.
D3_ said:
The SGS2 is advertised on samsung's website as "Recording & Playback [email protected]" while the SCEF02 firmwares (And other firmwares for the Fujitsu camera module) struggle to record at 30fps, can't something be done about false advertisement?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, the only way is to send requests to GSM portals to incentive them looking at such problem. Also Facebook comments and so on. Then we could have had better chances, than now where we know Samsung via hotline doesn't care about anything.
I am going to write within few days to local GSM webs, maybe I'll be lucky.... or not
Related
My persistent knocking on the doors of mobile phone providers within a 30 mile radius from my home finally paid off today when I finally managed to get my hands on a HD2 (hoorah).
I have always said that there is no way on earth I would spend over £500 ona sim free device without first seeing one in the metal and testing it out. No one in their right mind buys a house or car without first seeing it and, if appropriate, testing it out before buying.
First Impressions:
Even though I had seen a dummy earlier, the size of the screen does come as a bit of a surprise. However this is a very thin device which makes the whole thing just about manageable. It is not quite as in-your-face, size-wise, as, say, the Toshiba TG01. Be aware though that there is absolutely a shedload of real screen estate to play with on the HD2.
Build quality looked very good. The back plate looks like a well machined item. I tweaked the keys around a little but did not experience the "wobble" that others have talked about.
The screen is a fingerprint magnet of the first order; however it is nothing a quick blow of hot, moist breath and a clean handkerchief can't cure very quickly. Maybe an appropriate screen protector might be helpful; however I cannot confirm.
Something else that was immediately apparent was just how fast the device is. Apps opened near instantaneously and the device was simply a joy to use.
The camera was rather interesting: as a brand new device, straight out of the box and booted up for the first time, the camera screen started up with a pink hue across the whole of the screen. I immediately thought of the pink issue that a lot of people have spoken about. However after about a minute the camera settled down and the pinkish hue cleared up.
The guy from o2 said that he had seen this start-up effect on all of the cameras he had seen/used/demonstrated/sold to date so I am assuming that this is "feature" of the device.
All the shots I took (indoors in artificial light) came out just fine and the quality, to my eyes, was good as far as camera's on mobile phones go.
I did not find the lack of a hardware camera button a problem. The fact is I actually preferred the on-screen shutter button; seemed pretty cool and effective.
The Keyboard:
I opened up MS Word and moved onto the dreaded keyboard.
Within a couple of seconds I could clearly see why some of you have given up on this device and sent it back. The keyboard out of the box is awful and stringing 2 words together was a real pain. However switch off the T9 function and the keyboard is transformed into something very very useful.
Yes, you have to be quite accurate with your fingers. I found I got the best results using my fingertips pointing near vertically downwards rather than horizontal and flat. The former method presents a narrow minimal area of the finger to the keyboard, resulting in reasonable/acceptable accuracy, while the latter method simply created problems, pulling in adjacent letters to the ones I wanted to use on nearly every occasion.
The key here is that, given I had no more than a half hour with the device, I found that I made no more mistakes with this keyboard, at no greater frequency, than I do now with my resistive keyboard on my TYTN, which I have had for over 3 years.
I did not get a chance to test the voice, email or sms functions as I did not have the time. Therefore I am unable to verify whether the problems others have mentioned were present in the device I tested or not.
Availability:
It is difficult to work out what the strategy is with the supply of this device. The 3 o2 shops I went into had only received 2 devices each! 2 out of the 3 shops had sold them on within a day and the 3rd, where I did my test, had 1 left.
None of the shops could confirm for certain when their next supplies would be in or how many handsets they would get. Each one suggested contacting them on a regular basis to see what the position is.
For me, given that this is a device in demand at probably the most advantageous marketing point in the year, i.e. the run up to Christmas, I cannot understand why there is so much uncertainty around the supply chain.
What Next?:
Now that I have finally laid my hands on the device, the key question I had to address was this; given all the horror stories on here about various problems, etc, was it sensible for me to become another early adopter given that this device will be used for business purposes where reliability is essential.
The decision I have made is, given the work currently being undertaken by C'monex and others coupled with custom roms already in the pipeline, plus the hints and tips thread in this forum, on balance I think it is just about worth the risk me jumping in and purchasing a device.
I was at this point 3 years ago when I first purchased my TyTN. To this day I consider it an absolute miracle that the device did not end its days under a hammer within the first week of ownership, so appallingly awful was that device straight out of the box.
Over time, and with a lot of people doing sterling work on here, things turned around to the point where I have a device that is rock solid stable, reliable and good to use.
I would strongly suggest that if anyone is considering buying this device, they find a live model to play with first before making their minds up. I can see why the keyboard could be a real deal breaker although I intend to purchase a capacitive stylus to get around some of the problems I foresee with non-finger friendly winmobile applications.
Conclusion:
This device looks very promising and yes, it does have issues, based on the reports we have seen here on XDA. You need to play with one first before making a decision to buy.
The keyboard is very different to a resistive one and requires patience, perseverance and good technique to get the best out of it.
I did not have enough time to have an exhaustive, comprehensive play with the device; however I have seen enough to determine that, on balance, and based on emerging developments here on XDA, I could live with it. Besides my current device is now long in the tooth and needs replacing.
The only fear I have is that once I have paid out my hard earned cash for this device, HTC bring out an Android HD2-like device using the snapdragon processor, which is really what I would prefer.
My order for a HD2 plus a HTC Hero goes in next week, depending on stock availability in the UK.
I hope this quick walk through is helpful to those who are trying to make a decision on this device, one way or another.
WB
Thanks WB for this excellent overview - certainly more down to earth and focused than most reviewers who don't know what to expect in HTC phones.
I too had a similar experience to your TYTN when I purchased my Polaris. Mine nearly took a high dive from the 30th floor of an office block when I got it. However in February this year, I installed epimazzo's KhanX ROM and didn't touch it again given how stable and usable everything was.
I've been watching the Leo forum closely for the past two weeks and I can see some of the top cookers hovering and waiting to pounce (oh, Hard SPL, wherefore art thou?). This device has so much potential and is so exciting that I purchased mine sight unseen.
The bugs and wrinkles are...ahem...par for the course if you buy a HTC phone these days. To my mind, there is nothing that appears insurmountable to the ROM chefs (respect). As I said, the phone has monstrous potential - seems like a solid GPS implementation plus the accelerometer, compass and proximity sensor. Bingo!
I had the option of going for any of the Samsung Omnia II, the Acer F1 and the Toshi phones. But none of those has the depth of support found here on xda (only iPhone comes close in community support). HTC owes many people on this forum in a big way - without it, probably you and I would have sh_tcanned HTC years ago...
And for someone who is always fiddling with my phone every day, the possibility of squeezing performance out of this thing is half the fun. May not suit those who need a perfect phone OOTB (like the iPhone for example).
He says confidently before he hits the SMS lag problem...
Update
Well, since I wrote the short review above and read XDA LEO forums end-to-end so my initial thoughts on jumping in and buying the device faded a little. Part of the problem was the sheer volume of negative noise coming from a number of people on these forums plus the fact that I have been here before with the Tytn, taking a year before I had a device I could both trust and like.
Those painful memories made me think long and hard about jumping in and doing the deed. What I needed to do was to get a sense of perspective and balance which was proving difficult to find on XDA. Also being able to lay hands on a device at will to play with was proving very difficult as the limited stocks becoming available were flying off the shelves as fast as they were coming in. This was at odds with all the negativity I was picking up here.
Now don't get me wrong, I am not knocking people. Those that were brave enough to post their honest views about the device, albeit negative ones, did me a huge favour, despite the fact that most of them faced massive hostility from the masses. What this meant for me was that instead of going into any decision rosy eyed I knew that if I bought into the HD2 world there would be problems to overcome, over and above the usual tweaks that one does because its windows, don't you know?!
Some sense of balance was found via the following polls, which I found to be invaluable:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=598900&highlight=polls (severity of grid display)
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=595655&highlight=poll (weird touch-screen behaviour)
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=591011&highlight=poll (earpiece and voice quality)
http://forum.xda-developers.com/poll.php?do=showresults&pollid=2075 (HD2 speaker quality)
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=592375&highlight=poll (in search of balance).
So, approaching the festive season with the family nagging me to tell them what I wanted for Xmas, I rang a supplier, talked through all the known issues with them, which they were aware of. However the rate of returns on HD2's to them was so small as to be infinitesimal which meant one of 2 things:
- People were buying the device and either liking it or could live with it or
- The supplier wasn't telling me the truth (highly unlikely as I have been using them for a while now).
They were happy enough to agree to take the device back and return my funds if I did not like it either under the 7 day distance selling rules in the UK or by me ringing them up and indicating my preference.
Went back to the family, gave them the news and......a brand new HD2 landed in my sack on Xmas day via Santa Claus. What an amazing guy he is! Someone should offer to have his children for him.
Broke the box open last night, ie Xmas night and despite my anticipation, took time out to charge it up properly. Time spent now conditioning the battery correctly equals solid battery performance later down the line.
Tackled the beast in anger today. It is true to say that in the metal, this is a beautiful piece of engineering. Build quality on my version at least is excellent with none of the wobbly keys and ill fitting screen problems reported by others being noticable.
Went through setting up the device as I want it (yes, its been a long day and I have stopped now), made a complete backup immediately as my master backup, then installed tips no 8, 44, 46, 58 from the hints and tips thread and made another backup, separate from the original. This way if anything goes wrong I can simply roll back to the last successful change.
Points Worth Commenting On:
Keyboard:
The keyboard needs a degree of accuracy to use it successfully. I did not find the sensitivity out of the box an issue at all. Where I had to be absolutely accurate was in keying in my sim unlock code into the phone. Got that wrong too many times but practice will make perfect.
An even greater level of accuracy is required when trying to put ticks into selection boxes, e.g when installing Memmaid. This can prove frustrating as can the process of copying and pasting. I am sure that the capacitive stylus coming out of HTC will help with this "problem".
For me the keyboard works best without T9 switched on. However for sheer speed the Swype keyboard which I have installed is the way to go. Another version of this board (SlideIt) is readily available and I will be moving to that asap as Swype is NOT free-ware nor, as I have just found out, not officially released yet for the windows platform.
Weather Animations:
The weather animations are very good, just the sort of thing a chap needs to gain bragging rights down at the local pub. I have already seen most of the animations today due to the readily changing weather conditions we have had where we live.
Back Cover:
There is a serious but amusing thread on here where someone could not get their back cover off. Having already been through that thread I was not looking forward to my experience. However I can report that as long as you follow the instructions in the guide the cover is pretty easy to take off and put back on.
Overall First Impressions:
There is a hell of a lot to like about the HD2. There are things that I felt needed to change to suit me better. I have altered SMS to show in traditional mode rather than conversation mode as this works best for me.
Twitter and Facebook are of no use to me so these have not been configured.
I have yet to work out how to get the built-in picture viewer to pick up and show my pictures on the external SD card and there are a whole host of other things I have yet to get done. However day 1 has gone very very well indeed.
I will add to this post as I get to know the device a little better. In the meantime I am off to read the full manual to pick up on what else I need to know.
WB
PS: For those interested I am running Rom 1.48 straight out of the box. Not bothered with the SMS fix as I have not had any issues with SMS sending and receiving so far.
I am being meticulous about killing off apps not required but running in the background via the task manager. Also been straight onto the notification queue lock-up problem by installing Memmaid to sort that out.
Need to find a way of making sure that the X button really does kill off these open apps to save valuable memory space.
PPS: Really annoying niggle is after 10 goes I have not been able to put on the HTC screen protector properly. No matter how hard I try, even using a large cardboard piece to smooth it out, I can't get all the air bubbles out. I really want to use the protector but as it stands, I might have to take the risk and ditch it unless someone can pass on a full-proof method for putting the damned thing on properly.
I have never ever had this problem before in all the years I have had of devices that needed their screens protecting.
More updates soon.
WB
Regarding keyboard I recommend to use Swype or Finger Keyboard.
its a support forum 99% of posts here will be problems
wacky.banana said:
The only fear I have is that once I have paid out my hard earned cash for this device, HTC bring out an Android HD2-like device using the snapdragon processor, which is really what I would prefer.
My order for a HD2 plus a HTC Hero goes in next week, depending on stock availability in the UK.
I hope this quick walk through is helpful to those who are trying to make a decision on this device, one way or another.
WB
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Honestly I'd recommend waiting for the Xperia X10 if you want an android device. The HD2 in its current state is not something I'd want to use for everyday business use; it has still got some minor problems that needs addressing.
Toss3 said:
Honestly I'd recommend waiting for the Xperia X10 if you want an android device. The HD2 in its current state is not something I'd want to use for everyday business use; it has still got some minor problems that needs addressing.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
have they sorted the speed of the x10 out yet, last videos i saw it was terrible
sharpey said:
have they sorted the speed of the x10 out yet, last videos i saw it was terrible
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's still in its beta stages so the software is bound to get faster once they've sorted out the minor bugs. I really doubt Sony would release it in its current state, but considering HTC released a device without proper texting support and awful call quality I can't say I'd be surprised.
Next year HTC brings out the HTC Bravo, it's an Android Phone (V. 2.0) with the snapdragon 1GHz and total similar to the HD2 instead of the 3,7" AMOLED (more than 16 mio colors) display .
I think it's the same as the hd2 just the android version of it
regards
HTC BRAVO: http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/08/htc-bravo-pictured-more-lucidly/
sharpey said:
its a support forum 99% of posts here will be problems
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
@ sharpey,
Hey fella, merry Xmas to you. If you have been on here as long as I have you would know that XDA is not a support forum but a Developers forum, hence the name XDA-Developers. The conversation and posts used to be about cooked roms, hacking, development of tools and utilities, etc and pushing the technical envelope, NOT coping with people who won't or can't RTFM (read the manual).
It's only in recent times that new users have attempted to change the format and shape of the forum and it has now become, in part, a support forum because people like me like to help other people. Only problem is the noise generated by this process tends to obscure the real nuggets of good information one is looking for before investing in a device like this, e.g, SPL availability and associated development, availability of cooked roms, flexibility of the device from a hacking perspective, and so on. This is what I meant when I said I was looking for a balanced view on here but found it difficult to find what I was looking for although the polls I have linked to also provided useful info.
@ all others,
This thread is just a running update of the journey I went through until I got a HD2. I know there are a lot of people out there who are holding back on buying one as they are confused by how much information/misinformation there is out there on the HD2. All I am doing is sharing my experience in the hope that it helps someone.
Right now the device is 2 days old and I am Just loving it. :. Yes, there are some minor annoyances like the lack of a sent indicator when sms messages are sent; however I trust the device and if I want to be sure I simply look in my sent box to confirm the message is gone.
If you are considering buying a HD2, read this thread plus all the links, read the independent 3rd party reviews then go play with one in the metal, and, if you are happy, go buy one and ENJOY!!
WB
I have been reading threads dedicated for Galaxy S for the past 2 weeks seeing only disappointed people complaining for various things/bugs/problems, that almost none applied for my personal case.
Thinking that this is very unfair for the specific phone (my opinion after using it 2 weeks now), I would like to just check how many users are happy with the device...
Personally, I have NO problem with GPS fix (navigated a lot through cities and national roads in Greece, Athens and Piraeus), and my phone is not laggy at all. I currently use the phone a lot for various reasons (gaming, e-mails, browsing, navigating, etc), and I really can't find any bug that would make me think of changing the device.
Is it just me? I am using the stock rom version XXJF3...
I've not experienced any lag or GPS issues. That could just be me and you though!
I upgraded to FroYo a day after I got it and I couldn't be happier. Im glad I didn't get a Desire now. This screen is just so... amazing!
I'm also still on the official firmware and I also consider myself a satisfied customer.( At least for now - you only know how good a product really was until after you're done using it in 2 years or so, right?)
Anyway, I DO have the lag issue. It's just that I have it under control by (sadly) using a task killer , and compared to other mobiles on the market, the galaxy s still does the best job for me.
written on a mobile device
i came from the nightmare that is the Desire and its atrocious battery life and the stupid htc bug of "no trickle-charge".
The SGS has been one of the best phones i've had. The lag issue is there for me and i dont have an external sd to try out the mimocan fix... but even then the superb reception, awesome screen and great battery life make it a deadly combo.
GPS also works fine for me on JM2 rooted.
I must say that I'm very happy with my SGS, and I'm sure that some posters just post negative comments to wind people up.
I was amazed to read today that one poster was claiming that Samsung would never release 2.2, while in the dev forum for the SGS people are posting their impressiopns of the pre-release 2.2 from Samsung.
There is one poster who can be found on any thread relating to GPS, complaining about his experiences, but I have found that once I worked out how to use it, my map positioning works well without any modifications from how it came out of the box.
I can only say that anything that I have tried on my SGS has worked once I have sorted the right way to do it, and while I can accept that there are problems, I have faith that Samsung and the experts on this forum will soilve them.
Im also very happy with my SGS! Best phone I have ever used. I do have the same bugs as others i.e "lags" (although I have never experienced 10 second long stalls more like 2-3 second hickups) and since using luncher pro the stalls are much better.
I think the SGS is a coupple of firmware updates from beeing perfect.
Sent from my GT-I9000 using XDA App
I have had my phone for 2 weeks, went from JF3 to JG5 & now JM2 rooted with SD fix, as it is at the moment it is extremely fast for a Smartphone & I am very happy with what it is capable of, I may even hold off on froyo if the speeds arnt as good as what I get now.
Also I like playing, and having a phone that is very hackable and pretty much unbrickable is a godsend when trying stuff out. Had a couple of scarey moments but its all fun
I am using the phone for the past 10 days and didn't much to complain about it.
Intially there was a problem installing the kies and detecting the phone but it was resolved in a matter for 10mins by googling. After 10days of experience I have no complains and very happy with this piece from Samsung. Although havn't worked much with the GPS (Bandwith issues - India) but no lags (>2sec - if any). Works really well with games and sound quality is awesome.
True Fan for SGS...
Cheers Samsun!!
Gotta admit, I wasn't thrilled with it to say the least when I first got it, but I'm now happy with it as it is (JM2, rooted, EXT4 hack, autokiller). Runs fast and is nice to use, and I think definitely as good as an iphone 4 which was the other phone I was considering at the time. Shame, the apps aren't better but thats not the phones fault.
Remember everyone, there's a HUGE amount of happy campers with any device. iPhone 4, Samsung Galaxy S, etc. It's usually the minority comprised of nitpickers, enthusiasts, and people with genuine problems that fill up forums like this.
Oh, I'm part of the enthusiast group I think.
gabbybob said:
There are always idiots moaning - especially on Xda - it's like a magnet for the morose maudling naysayer - poor boys - cry into your pints. I think it's an excellent device - that screen and it's sheer grunt have it stand well apart from the competition - let's see some developers get behind this and make the games, media and applications (for that is their true label, not that propogated by the narcissistic fool known as Jobs)
It's the potential for excellent gaming which I think we'll see in the future on Android that I think will propel this - it already has excellent Sound, Video playback, GPS (I've never had any problems - the fix is quick and accurate), camera is great - get a grip - it's the convergance device I wanted.
Pop a 32GB MicroSD in and on top of the 8GB / 16GB already on the device you have 40 - 48 GB storage - in other words, loads of Multimedia be it Books, Albums, Films, Magazines, Applications - whatever
So, well done to Samsung - let's see Froyo in a timely manner as promised (not another **** up like those idiots at HTC; yes I had a Hero)
Enjoy my son - Ignore the idiots - I do and usually go much further by having many laughs at their expense - schadenfreude ? Definately !!!
S xx
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think it is going a bit far to call people trying to work through some issues with the phone "idiots". When I go to a forum I want to see both the good points and the bad points and I like the fact that xda does have people that find the bad things in phones and try and work on solutions for them. I would hardly call those people idiots as you are.
I think a bit of balance is a good thing and we don't really need the name calling do we? If you are old enough to make it to the forums then surely you are old enough not to have to resort to insults on other members especially in a thread about happy people, you dont sound too happy
As for the phone, I came from the nexus and I do like it a lot, I do have some issues but the positives definitely outweigh the negatives so I am holding on to it for now because its the best android device so far in my opinion.
Screen is definitely awesome, loving the accuracy compared to the nexus and the ability to see it easier in sunny conditions and of course the size of the screen, 4 inches i think is about as big as I would want it, just the right size.
Loving the dlna abilities to stream movies off a media player in the house etc and have the horsepower to actually watch them .
Likewise I think the comments are a little unfair. You invaraibly find more people with issues on forums than those without, it is after all the sensible place to look for support.
I do have issues with mine, but at the same time I'm pretty happy it. I suspect I'll be one of the first in line for the Galaxy Tab too when it comes out as I like the idea of the same device with a larger screen for home browsing.
My GPS is working fine. Had lag with stock FW (JG3), but with JM2 and now JP3 it has been working great.
Only issue I have using JP3 is that I drop 3G connection sometimes when setting it to WCDMA mode only, so I had to go back to using auto mode instead which is no biggie.
I live in area with very bad reception, and I'm lucky to get one bar showing on all phones I tried and many times get dropped calls, but so far with the SGS that happened only once. My USB 3G modem almost never found a proper 3G connection even if I tried placing it optimally, but the SGS often gives me 3G and 3G+ without looking for a good spot.
My battery life is about double compared to what I would have expected.
Reading this forum I get the impression I'm somewhat lucky, but IMO it's a very awesome phone!
gabbybob said:
There are always idiots moaning - especially on Xda - it's like a magnet for the morose maudling naysayer - poor boys - cry into your pints. I think it's an excellent device - that screen and it's sheer grunt have it stand well apart from the competition - let's see some developers get behind this and make the games, media and applications (for that is their true label, not that propogated by the narcissistic fool known as Jobs)
It's the potential for excellent gaming which I think we'll see in the future on Android that I think will propel this - it already has excellent Sound, Video playback, GPS (I've never had any problems - the fix is quick and accurate), camera is great - get a grip - it's the convergance device I wanted.
Pop a 32GB MicroSD in and on top of the 8GB / 16GB already on the device you have 40 - 48 GB storage - in other words, loads of Multimedia be it Books, Albums, Films, Magazines, Applications - whatever
So, well done to Samsung - let's see Froyo in a timely manner as promised (not another **** up like those idiots at HTC; yes I had a Hero)
Enjoy my son - Ignore the idiots - I do and usually go much further by having many laughs at their expense - schadenfreude ? Definately !!!
S xx
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wait a second, you criticise HTC, but wasn't it Samsung who eventually had to backtrack when they couldn't go beyond Android 1.6 for the Behold?
You fail to miss as well, the 8 Gig or 16 Gig phone you buy has two gig less for multimedia and storage because it is partitioned to install Applications, so you're really buying 6 Gig or 14 Gig. That wasn't in the fine print.
Although the phone has 512 Meg RAM, you cannot use it, and even the leaked Froyo builds you cannot access the full 512 Meg RAM (ie it doesn't show as a total anywhere).
The lags are very real, but some people live with them. The suggestion is that the phone has two different types of memory, one sequential and one random access, and the lag is caused by some random data being on the sequential area. Other fixes involve not used vfat but partitioning an area of your sdcard to ext3.
Doubt the GPS issues all you like, call me an idiot, whatever, just take a look at this and tell me my GPS is working without a problem:
http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=U...2.494749,-1.744981&spn=0.007447,0.022724&z=16
I don't use GPS, so that's had no impact on me whatsoever.
I was surprised to see the number of people complaining about lag and 10 second stalls, as I never experienced anything that severe on the stock Optus firmware. At most, it was 2-3 seconds when opening or closing an app, pretty much exactly what happens normally on my previous phone (HTC Hero).
Basically, I believe for anyone not into the rooting / rom scene who's unaware of XDA they probably have no clue that there's even a problem with the firmware on their phones. I sure didn't until I was informed I should be unhappy.
After mimocan's fix my phone flies, and I really couldn't be happier. I'm loving playing NOVA far faster than on my iPod Touch 2nd gen and the screen is drop-dead gorgeous for videos. The contrast and black levels are so good I'm actually only using black as my wallpaper which makes my minimalist widgets appear to be floating on black glass, causing my friends to do a double-take (hiding the top bar in Launcher Pro or ADW makes this effect even more pronounced). It really makes it look like the entire front surface on the phone is the screen since the edges aren't visible.
The only thing I would have liked is some nicer case material(s), as it doesn't 'feel' anywhere near as much of the premium device it is compared to the Desire's soft-touch plastics and aluminium.
For the record, I thought I'd hate Touchwiz but I don't mind it at all since the changes are minimal from stock Android. I do use Launcher Pro and ADW thought simply to enable 5 rows on the homescreens however.
I have a great phone now but only after flash+root+lagfix+launcher pro+autokiller. That's a bit much to ask an average customer. Samsung did a horrible job releasing this phone the way they did, the hardware is really nice but the software is ****e.
Most people who are healthy don't go to the hospital.
This forum is where the sick come to play.
I think the poster is an idiot, myself.The premise for the thread is sound, but the attitude and opinion is laughable.
I am very happy with the phone - I do not have problems with lag though it has gotten a bit slower now I have added more apps, I dont find myself bothered by it, but like the other person who posted the GPS track, my GPS is not usable for the purpose of recording tracks at all.
Initially I called Samsung and was told "there is no problem, its normal behaviour" - at this point, I had very little choice but to publicise the issue to add my voice to the MANY that have GPS problems.
This thread seeks to marginalise people with genuine problems, and is selfish and unnecessary with respect to being part of the solution.
What do you (people with phones that are fine) lose by the threads complaining of problems?
What is to be gained by NOT publicising the problems? (Hint: Nothing, for those affected...)
I am of the opinion those that have no problems DO NOT use the devices to record tracks. Many seem to be able to navigate with the GPS as it doesnt get too whacked out for long, but for recording a track its useless (see previous link). Having said that, I have struggled to get a sat fix when driving too, so been unable to navigate (and got lost as a result).
If the thread stuck to positives, instead of itself being negative, you would have me here singing praises for the good things too. But instead, I am just annoyed at your insensitivity for those that paid good money for a product that doesn't meet expectations.
Love the phone, and I had both the HD2 and Desire, as I am an HTC fan, and I chose the SGS over the two. No problems with the GPS, but there is one thing that bugs me and I tried to find a solution for it, videos with AAC audio get out of sync, only with JG5 the problem seems to be minimal.
x50v! said:
I think the poster is an idiot, myself.The premise for the thread is sound, but the attitude and opinion is laughable.
I am very happy with the phone - I do not have problems with lag though it has gotten a bit slower now I have added more apps, I dont find myself bothered by it, but like the other person who posted the GPS track, my GPS is not usable for the purpose of recording tracks at all.
Initially I called Samsung and was told "there is no problem, its normal behaviour" - at this point, I had very little choice but to publicise the issue to add my voice to the MANY that have GPS problems.
This thread seeks to marginalise people with genuine problems, and is selfish and unnecessary with respect to being part of the solution.
What do you (people with phones that are fine) lose by the threads complaining of problems?
What is to be gained by NOT publicising the problems? (Hint: Nothing, for those affected...)
I am of the opinion those that have no problems DO NOT use the devices to record tracks. Many seem to be able to navigate with the GPS as it doesnt get too whacked out for long, but for recording a track its useless (see previous link). Having said that, I have struggled to get a sat fix when driving too, so been unable to navigate (and got lost as a result).
If the thread stuck to positives, instead of itself being negative, you would have me here singing praises for the good things too. But instead, I am just annoyed at your insensitivity for those that paid good money for a product that doesn't meet expectations.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't think it's anything wrong with threads that complain about the problems. It's obvious that there are a lot of users experiencing issues, and if I was one of them I would be angry and discuss the issues as well.
What really bothers me is that when I respond with comments about not having an issue, there are some users that will assume that it's because I'm clueless or dumb. You do it as well when you say "those that have no problems DO NOT use the devices to record tracks". And in the same post you talk about OP marginalizing users with problems?
I have been navigating in the terrain using GPSCompassMap and MyTracks. I haven't had a need to save tracks, but the other day I made a recording with GPSCompassMap when I was driving just because I got fed up with that kind of accusations.
When posting that I'm told that it must been a lucky day or that I happened to have ideal conditions...basically being accused of being a liar since I clearly stated that it's normal performance for me.
I don't get locks on satellites with SNR <20 or more than 8 sats, but it still works.
I really don't get what causes some users to lash out at anyone that does not have problems and call them idiots or liars.
I know it's hard to make any sense of things, since there doesn't seem to be any common denominator explaining why some users have a completely useless GPS and some have one that is working fine.
But it's the same with the lag and battery life as well...some people experience issues and some not, and while it's a bit more common the issue is nailed down to a particular FW or software with those, it's still not 100% clear why there are such differences how users experience the device.
Samsung, help cheer up the trapped Chilean miners
As many of you will know, at the very moment 33 miners are trapped inside a collapsed mine. Until rescuers are able to get to them, there is very little the miners can do except to try to stay alive. It is estimated that it may take until Christmas, 4 months(!) from now, until they can be rescued.
Ongoing news coverage via Google News (link)
Carilion Clinic doctor says Chilean miners face mental health concerns (link)
Trapped Chile miners: Nasa asked to 'help with psychological trauma' (link)
As explained by a NASA astronaut, trying to stay alive while being trapped in a very small confined space means much more than just getting enough to eat and drink. It is very important psychologically for the miners to have something to do to pass the time, to keep them from going insane during their long wait for rescue.
Currently, the only way rescuers are able to transport items to and from the place where the miners are trapped is by some narrow, extremely long bore shafts. There is no way to send down very large or heavy objects...but small, light smartphones should not be a problem!
Being a gadget freak like many of you probably are, too, I would like to petition Samsung to provide the miners with some of our beloved Galaxy S phones
Of course, making ordinary phone calls would be impossible down at that depth underground, but it would certainly be possible for the miners to make video recordings. Maybe even a wireless hotspot device lowered down into the shaft would enable the miners to video call their loved ones topside.
Also, the miners can use the excellent multimedia features to watch movies, listen to music, read ebooks and maybe play some games while they are down there.
I believe it would be a very generous gesture if Samsung could provide these desperate lonely people with something to cheer them up.
This is why I would like to ask you to sign this petition so we can present it to Samsung asking them to help the miners in Chile.
Please reply to this petition by stating your name and any contact info you wish to share. Your help will be greatly appreciated.
Signed,
Alain Kalker, Enschede, The Netherlands.
MOD: Chainfire, mikechannon, would you please consider crossposting this thread to the relevant forums, maybe link to it from the portal? Thanks in advance!
One question..how do they charge the phones?
What about batteries... should they send down a new box every day?
Sent from my GT-I9000 using XDA App
External high capacity USB chargers with replaceable packs (5000mAh+) should do the trick. I've no doubt Samsung can come up with the right specs for those. Beats having to peel off the back cover with gritty hands anytime!
If even NASA's on the job, running out of juice will be the least of the problems
NASA has a wii....
I vote for playboy magazines.
they can probably lower a very long extension cord and usb charger for every one
i saw some video of the miners on the news
they have some sort of webcam down there
Many mining companies send stuff like ipods down anyway (at least they did in Australia). Mining companies are nearly pure profit, so they should be doing this anyway..
In that case, they might as well send down a iPhone4. Not like they are going to get reception problems down there
I wonder if Iridium Sat phones work down there..
battery
I do hope samsung battery does not explode under extream temperature down there.
There is not point have android phone without market. So they need internet too.
I think iphone work better down there.
1. Samsung screen is too bright down there
2. Iphone has more games in app store
3. They need flash to take photo and video. (i9000 does not have flash)
tyj82 said:
I do hope samsung battery does not explode under extream temperature down there.
There is not point have android phone without market. So they need internet too.
I think iphone work better down there.
1. Samsung screen is too bright down there
2. Iphone has more games in app store
3. They need flash to take photo and video. (i9000 does not have flash)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I shouldn't have... but I lol'd...
Hemm, you have good intentions buddy, but I wonder if theres not better alternatives than galaxy s (even though we love our sgs).
Anyways, I hope they're out asap, before they even have the chance to accept these things.
oswade said:
I shouldn't have... but I lol'd...
Hemm, you have good intentions buddy, but I wonder if theres not better alternatives than galaxy s (even though we love our sgs).
Anyways, I hope they're out asap, before they even have the chance to accept these things.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, name a better alternative
iPhone 4's are not such a great idea I think, their (external) antennas will short out in the probably damp conditions there. Lol about that one I dare you it's a serious concern.
Also I think the SGS is easily the phone with most features per ounce, so they're not just sending down a heavy stack of shiny pieces of glass (iPhones, whether Gorilla glazed or not). Dangerous that, if the payload gets unhooked!. Just imagine a stack of iPhones barrelling down a tube at terminal velocity, I wouldn't want to be anywhere near!
(Oh my, I've really become tipsy with sleep deprivation working on the fm radio fix, joking about such a serious topic.)
I really hope these people down there get all the help they need, FAST.
tyj82 said:
1. Samsung screen is too bright down there
3. They need flash to take photo and video. (i9000 does not have flash)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1. works perfect for them to light up their way in the caves
3. they can use Night Mode
Edit 30 dec 2010:
see my last post in page 4
GPS suc*s when tested in high roads density urban areas
Hi,
I see many debate here about Galaxy S issues, mainly lag and GPS.
I was scared when got one, but finally, becoming a fan boy too:
In answer to this topic:
DSF said:
1) Test Google search (press and hold option button in home). Press a leter, for eg N. Now you have to wait seconds. Just web, apps are in searchable items. Without web suggestions
2) Swype
3) Manage apps
4) List processes
5) Apps shortcut
6) TouchWiz app drawer
7) Browser (still on JP6 ATM)
And so many issues.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So I tested in my SGS, recently bought (3 weeks):
GPS driving on road behaves like my Sirf III module (but under Navigon, google maps not tested)
Google search is fine (lag less than 1sec)
Swype: really smooth
Manage apps: small lag, max 1 sec or less
Apps shortcut: first time just 1-2 sec, than instant
App drawer is fine, lag is really minimal to abscent, far less than 1 sec when it is there
Browser: no issues
It came with JM7 bundled, never updated firmware as I don't see the need. Bought it in october, just after an out of stock long period
I'm really thinking there are some hardware issues solved recently. My SGS seems to behave like the one from "fanboy"
I'm not going to become a fanboy, just maybe helping with my case. If it is really hardware dependent issues, a mass RMA would help samsung to admit the problems (that they look like have solved in newer devices?). After all, Apple, with their small antenna bug was finally more fair than Samsung.
I really open this topic to give a positive feedback. I also wonder why I have a "perfect" SGS, while many have a bad one? If it is not hardware, what can it be?
Maybe people that get new units, bundled stock with a new firmware (mine was JM7), should give a feedback here.
If it is hardware, why not RMA and put pressure on Samsung
jonny_ftm said:
Hi,
I see many debate here about Galaxy S issues, mainly lag and GPS.
I was scared when got one, but finally, becoming a fan boy too:
In answer to this topic:
So I tested in my SGS, recently bought (3 weeks):
GPS driving on road behaves like my Sirf III module (but under Navigon, google maps not tested)
Google search is fine (lag less than 1sec)
Swype: really smooth
Manage apps: small lag, max 1 sec or less
Apps shortcut: first time just 1-2 sec, than instant
App drawer is fine, lag is really minimal to abscent, far less than 1 sec when it is there
Browser: no issues
It came with JM7 bundled, never updated firmware as I don't see the need. Bought it in october, just after an out of stock long period
I'm really thinking there are some hardware issues solved recently. My SGS seems to behave like the one from "fanboy"
I'm not going to become a fanboy, just maybe helping with my case. If it is really hardware dependent issues, a mass RMA would help samsung to admit the problems (that they look like have solved in newer devices?). After all, Apple, with their small antenna bug was finally more fair than Samsung.
I really open this topic to give a positive feedback. I also wonder why I have a "perfect" SGS, while many have a bad one? If it is not hardware, what can it be?
Maybe people that get new units, bundled stock with a new firmware (mine was JM7), should give a feedback here.
If it is hardware, why not RMA and put pressure on Samsung
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Many people still have release-day SGS's and they work just as good as yours; some people have the problem and some just do not. Was there a hardware update? We don't know and if there was, why would Samsung not announce something and try to put themselves in a terrible position?
We just don't know. I have a release-day SGS myself and the only problem I've had was the button's delaying (which is quite annoying) and "the Black Screen of Death" a few times (which was fixed by not putting on a hard-case from Bell).
hol17 said:
Many people still have release-day SGS's and they work just as good as yours; some people have the problem and some just do not. Was there a hardware update? We don't know and if there was, why would Samsung not announce something and try to put themselves in a terrible position?
We just don't know. I have a release-day SGS myself and the only problem I've had was the button's delaying (which is quite annoying) and "the Black Screen of Death" a few times (which was fixed by not putting on a hard-case from Bell).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi. Just a couple of questions for you if you dont mind.
1.) When you say "Black Screen of Death, do you mean the weird Coma/Crash syndrome? Mine from Bell as well just started doing this about 60 days into owning it and it has happened a total of 3 times in the last 5 days or so.
2.) What do you mean it was SOLVED by not putting on a Hard Case from Bell? I have one from Bell (looks like leather on the back) and you now have me wondering. I have had the case almost since day one though and my phone just started the Coma/Crash as mentioned above about 60 days after owning it. Please advise...
3.) A bit off topic but I see you are rooted on JH2. Can you please tell me how you rooted the device? I have tried the update.zip files I have found before but none of them ever work for me. Do you need to be sim unlocked for the root to work? Please advise...
Thank You...
@yiannisthegreek
1.) When you say "Black Screen of Death, do you mean the weird Coma/Crash syndrome? Mine from Bell as well just started doing this about 60 days into owning it and it has happened a total of 3 times in the last 5 days or so.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes; try to wake the phone and I just can not, no matter what I do and thats when...
SEGWAY
2.) What do you mean it was SOLVED by not putting on a Hard Case from Bell? I have one from Bell (looks like leather on the back) and you now have me wondering. I have had the case almost since day one though and my phone just started the Coma/Crash as mentioned above about 60 days after owning it. Please advise...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'll break it down for you; my problem with the BSOD started to happen after I attached my cases I bought from Bell (the semi-clear hard grey case and the fake crocodile skin case). The cases felt VERY snug to my phone, almost 'death-gripped' (which meant the cases were difficult to take off, almost 'ripping-the-backplate-off' difficult) and I could feel heat through the case. After taking them off, I have never had the BSOD since, although my phone feels a bit naked. I had also UNROOTED my phone but the BSOD happened a few days later (with the case on).
3.) A bit off topic but I see you are rooted on JH2. Can you please tell me how you rooted the device? I have tried the update.zip files I have found before but none of them ever work for me. Do you need to be sim unlocked for the root to work? Please advise...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is the post where I got my update.zip:
Code:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=7536130&postcount=11
The steps were guide-lined here:
Originally Posted by AllGamer
Step 1. root your phone
Bell's I9000M is slightly different than the regular I9000
most of the root methods mentioned on other topics will not work.
Even the 3 button recovery mode has been disabled
After some experimentation this is the working method
download the update.zip from this topic (Thanks to jentech)
http://ip208-100-42-21.static.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=7536130&postcount=11
then you need to run adb devices to make sure your phone is listed
(ADB is part of Android SDK, download it from the source http://developer.android.com/sdk/index.html )
if you get something like
Code:
adb.exe devices
List of devices attached
900098c722a9 device
(if you run adb.exe devices and comes back with an empty list, then make sure you have set the phone into debugging mode Application > Settings > Development > USB Debugging)
then you are can execute
adb.exe reboot recovery
this will take you to the recovery screen
now if your device works with the Power + Volume Up + Home button, then you can skip that, however in my case the 3 button mode didn't work
select the update.zip with the volumen up down button, then hit home screen, it should say installing in yellow, then you are done, it reboots back to normal, and now you can install Busy Box
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hope that helps
I got mine also after the "outstock" period.
Got 2, first one had weird issue, rebooted for no reason and, in the end, USb would work and, everytime I pluged it in (PC or recharge) it would reboot in a loop :S
All of this in the first week
Got it exchange and since then, no reboot, no connection issue, no "lag" and GPS is more than decent (I use it to track jogging and it's right on the spot)
Manif. date of this one is 10.09.21 (specific date on the battery, on the device itself it's 10.09, no day)
I do wonder the same thing as you do, might be a good idea to note the manif. date and if user has issue or not...It might give help to some of us with unreliable SGS get it exchanged!
If the manufacturing date gives different hardware, I would definitely send it back again to get a latest one. My replacement didn't solve the GPS issue...will talk to orange uk again tomorrow...
I agree with thread creator. My SGS works fine right at the beginning (except the lag). I see a date on the battery which is 2010.08.03.
I also think it may be hardware-related issues.
Car navigation software such as Navigon accepts an enormous range of errors though. But the errors are exposed when using GPS for fitness purposes (because if the tracks swing wildly side to side then you do the 10km jog in 7km).
I think it might be hardware these days, but waiting for froyo official to see. After that I'll return my phone as many times as necessary
apart from the gps inaccuracy, there's nothing to complain about! the sgs is simply brilliant however, i'd be happy if they put in more ram on the device :|
the gps update frequency is bad, and sometimes is terribly inaccurate
Has anyone tested, one of these phones, with a bluetooth sirf 3 gps?
I would assume, to a certain extent, that it would help prove, if it is a hardware fault or not.
Are there other factors involved, however?
@jonny_ftm just try a Froyo build. I was pretty happy with Eclair in terms of performance (of course some issues where there too, but not that many).. but froyo has some nice additions (eg: input cursor, copy text from browser, flash support, etc) but it sucks in terms of performance. Even the latest builds (JPO, JPA) seems to suck as some realistic people report.
I have ~ 150 apps in app drawer
I will check the date of manufacture of my phone later and report back.
It could be a good idea to start with this to see if there's really a trend to better hardware with later manufacturing dates.
Sadely, it is not that simple. If in mobile phone industry it works just like in PC electronics, even manufacture date of phone won't help. I explain: intel chipsets on motherboards were often "buggy" in some extent on first production. Later, they enhance the product and produce new build versions of chipset correcting hardware issues. Now, it's upon to motherboard manufacture to use the last chipset build or not. Most time, motherboard manufacture will use old chipset stocks before moving to new one.
So, if we want to know this for sure, only SN and build dates on chipsets inside the phone will be the ultimate proof. Sadely, unlike in PC world, less people open their phones to check components unless they break the screen...
Anyhow, phone manufacturing date can help as early dates would have necessarly early components. Later built phones could or not have the last chipset though.
DSF said:
@jonny_ftm just try a Froyo build. I was pretty happy with Eclair in terms of performance (of course some issues where there too, but not that many).. but froyo has some nice additions (eg: input cursor, copy text from browser, flash support, etc) but it sucks in terms of performance. Even the latest builds (JPO, JPA) seems to suck as some realistic people report.
I have ~ 150 apps in app drawer
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
- I won't try Froyo. Until it is final, we can't say Samsung s**ks, it is just beta testing. My phone works great with original JM7 it came with, I don't need Beta Froyo features if they make the phone unusable. Now, I understand people that need these features getting frustrated. Hopefully, it is not my case, so can't help here
- I only have around 30 applications, I think I won't have more than 50-60 include stock apps. Even a PC with quadcore CPU, 16 Gigs of extreme fast RAM, RAID setup and tons of applications/processes installed will slow down. I don't expect a tiny smartphone to do a better job there. The only OS that was rock stable despite tons of applications is Palm OS, now dead :-(
Mine had 16 6 10 on the battery and I experience the gps issue.
Sent from my GT-I9000 using XDA App
Latest phone aren't struggling with lag out of the box anymore.
householddog said:
Has anyone tested, one of these phones, with a bluetooth sirf 3 gps?
I would assume, to a certain extent, that it would help prove, if it is a hardware fault or not.
Are there other factors involved, however?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I tried using my external holux bt gps (which really kicks ass)....but to my surprise i figured android doesn't support external bt gps devices natively! so, google maps or navigation does not bother picking up gps info from the external device. android still has no support....bottom line so we're pretty much stuck with what our sgs can do! sucks i know!
Actually, from what I was led to beleive from the test in the accesories, BT GPS seems to work with everything:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=818688&highlight=GPS
See post #10
nope....even in post#10 he mentions that "in theory"! it just wouldnt work and i did a serious amount of research only to realize android doesnt support external bt based gps devices. however, i havent tried in froyo....will do it tomorrow and post if i have any luck!
All working fine here - manufacturing date 25/08/2010
Very interesting, the date manufacture theory I stated seems not that wrong from the few feedback in this thread. If we have more feedback, it will become evident, for those doubting it, that Samsung is just making fun of his customers. They don't intend to admit any defect and won't recall phones unless forced by a massive customers action.
I'm happy I got mine only in October. When I receive my microSD card, I'll open it and add my contribution with manufacturing date for my working out of the box phone.
All this means it is very bad news for people with very laggy, battery consuming and bad GPS phones
dreamtheater39 said:
nope....even in post#10 he mentions that "in theory"! it just wouldnt work and i did a serious amount of research only to realize android doesnt support external bt based gps devices. however, i havent tried in froyo....will do it tomorrow and post if i have any luck!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just install Bluetooth GPS Provider. It's simple.
To all in this forum. So many have had complaints about so many things to put that statement in perspective Here is a brief list:
Graying pixels (triangles)
Black not true
Color wash out
Color Rendering issues
Emmc Bug
S-Pen Issues
Tablet Mode jacked
Battery Drain Issues
These are the common ones, but you get the idea. What we as moderators really Hate is ALL THE COMPLAINING you throw at the following people......ChainFire, SuperCurio, Flappjaxx, Dagr8, M3dd0g, Sixstringsg, Dr Ketan, NeoBuddy, CM Team, AokpTeam, Gerret, xplodwild, Eybee1970....any all the others I cannot think of right now...(let me know who I missed and Ill add)
The majority of these issues are SAMSUNG hardware issues, a few are not. Stop Telling the Devs about these issues TELL SAMSUNG.......complain to them...and here's how...
The Idea:
I am going to try this and hopefully get everyone's support and contributions. What I am proposing is to post the Samsung issues here in a post and a brief description of what it is and what it is not doing.
Then, I will merge the real Samsung related issues into the 1st and 2nd post so they are itemized clearly. After a few days....
THIS IS THE IMPORTANT PART.... I then want all of you in this forum to Tweet the link to this thread to @Samsungmobile..... stating fix these issues Now, or we look to buy something else than Samsung.....
This works, my friend S15274N started #neveragain Samsung when they did not provide timely updates (2.1 to 2.2)... we got their ear. Samsung does not bad press on this Unit especially because they are going to release TMO version on 7-11-12....... So let's kick'em now and get some of their engineers to help us instead of beating on our dev's.
To Recap:
1. Post what you believe to be Samsung hardware/software issues
2. We will merge these into a cohesive/concise list
3. We barrage them with complaint tweets with the link to this thread.
Here is the link to this Thread:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=27812352#post27812352
Let's do this it's worth a try and we can direct our frustration towards the correct culprits Samsung.
Thanks, Oka1
The List
Known Bugs/Problems
1. Emmc Bug
2. Color Rendering issues
..........A-Banding in Video recording/playback
..........B-Black clipping in videos
..........C-
3. Post Source code for ICS when you release ICS.
4. Provide a "Known and Resolved" bug list that you are presently aware of
5. Battery overheating
6. Hang and FC on Low DPI settings
7. MMS would not send/receive if Data Packet is not enabled. Previously in GB (Galaxy Note only) it was able to do so. I really hope that Samsung fix this issue for all its Android phones.
8. Samsung changed between GB and ICS raised kernel resume time from 650ms to 1000ms - just for the kernel to resume
Desired List:
1. Touch screen adjustment
2. Improve camera software too much banding in lowlight
for now, emmc bug must be the TOP PRIORITY..
all the other issues won't make your phone unusable and cost you motherboard replacement..
+1
Awesome a n7000 user union.
UNITE!
Missing traceability with partial wakelocks and what's really draining your battery. Statistics in native app are tainted/incomplete plus offer no real value in analyzing. Its like a Dilbert comic dashboard, useless.
Varying screen quality, maybe due to drivers : the banding issues with movies
Slow update speed. Samsung kept delaying ICS
ICS not as intended implemented, slow, battery inefficient and has lags.
No low dpi support on native launchers
Low Volume issues on speaker and ringer
Missing exchange contact search functionality
Missing control for apps permissions, like pdroid and lbe
Missing firewall
Missing touchscreen sensitivity setting
Crap update policy. Just make one good rom and not 50+ crap ones per region, per carrier. This will increase update speed, quality too
Missing wipe dalvik cache option
Sent from my GT-N7000 using Tapatalk 2
The whole idea of choosing Android (in particular Galaxy Series) over iPhone was the ability and ease of flashing firmwares and exploring new horizons. However the EMMC bug is limiting this very activity. Moreover we paid for the premium devices such as Note and millions of these have be sold all over. The EMMC fix should certainly be on TOP most priority. Hope Samsung will be considerate enough to consider this request. Else we all will be forced to re-evaluate our faith in SAMSUNG.
PS:
It hurts to know that google was aware of EMMC issues since 2008 and still SAMSUNG planned to go ahead with faulty chip. Surely Samsung does owe an explanation in-case they fail to find a fix in time!!!
I am in...the Hard brick bug is my priority for now....
LET'S MAKE SOME NOISE...
send this thread to samsung
we have to do something now, enough is enough.
1. Color Rendering, black greying out, black clippings..its been months and nothing done about it.
2. Battery Drain for what?!
It was marketed for its screen and HD experience..and the users are not experiencing that because of the above crap!
3. AND Yeah!! Do us a favor and release updates that are the same and that do not literally vary from one another! QUALITY CHECK!!!
YOU HEAR US SAMSUNG!!!
black clipping issue should be related to the firmware, samsung should release a hotfix for it asap.
http://innovator.samsungmobile.com/bbs/discussion/view.do?boardId=1132&boardName=AndroidBoard&messageId=155754&messageNumber=&messageCategoryId=4&startId=zzzzz~&startPage=1&curPage=1&rowsPerPage=10&searchType=TITLE&searchText=&searchDays=0&searchTitleFlag=false&searchContentsFlag=false&searchRegisterNicknameFlag=false&lastPageFlag=&categoryId=800&parentCategoryId=4&platformId=1&selectOrder=REGISTER_DATE&selectOrderDirection=DESC&searchParameters=%2Fbbs%2Fdiscussion%2Fthread.list.do%3FlistLines%3D10|searchType%3Dtitle|curPage%3D2|selectOrder%3DREGISTER_DATE|selectOrderDirection%3DDESC|messageCategoryId%3D4|&nacode=&listLines=10&searchTextForm=&searchTypeForm=TITLE
Please add to your list the Deep Sleep Problem.
My Note breaks deep sleep pretty much at will. That MUST get fixed.
Thank you for your initiative. It empowers all of us.
The biggest issue I have right now with the phone is the EMMC bug. This needs fixing ASAP.
The was my first Samsung and at the rate Samsung are going, then it's going to be my last !
Black clipping in videos is the biggest issue for me, having to use a app to adjust the contrast thus losing true blacks is not good.
I also believe there is an issue with how flash player works in stock ICS ROMs, Very jerky performance in browser, I don't think it is 100% Adobes fault as I have friends with other devices (Eg HTC Sensation) running ICS 4.0.3 stock ROMs and their playback is silky smooth.
Sent by Galaxy Note
Hallelujah. The best thread I've seen yet and here is my list:
Post ICS upgrade
1. Phone would randomly re-boot.
2. phone would lock up and not respond. Battery removal necessary to re-boot.#
3. eMMc Identified as being faulty.
4. Video recording would stutter at the beginning of each clip.
5. Video playback would frequently fail.
6. Pink Dot on Camera. YES IT IS A BLOODY FAULT. AND YES I DO KNOW HOW TO OPERATE A CAMERA.
7. Google Maps with Navigation would hang and screen would freeze and flicker.
8. Other Apps from Google Play store, certified as compatible with the GSN would hang, freeze, or otherwise cause re-boot.
9. Phone would sometimes get hot, very hot.
10. degraded sound quality, both recorded and playback.
I called Samsung and was not in the slightest bit re-assured by what the agent told me. They sent a plastic pouch with a tiny square of bubble wrap to send it to a service centre. That is not my idea of suitable packaging to protect MY device, and no, I'm not going to patch up their own shoddy performance with my own materials. I have sent my Galaxy Note back to the retailer for a full refund as it is now no longer fit for the purpose.
I would recommend anyone that has a defective device, is to follow the instruction manual to the letter. Make sure your apps are compliant fro the Goggle Play store. If after that, it is still defective, send it back to the point of sale for a full refund, do not accept a replacement, do not accept anything other than your money back. I know this is a PITA BUT, unless Samsung get hurt in the pocket and some truthfulness in the headlines in the press and on the Internet, nothing will get done. Yes I know living without a phone can be a pain, but we ca all live without the 'Note for a while. Do what I have done, get a crappy clam phone from Tesco for a tenner, it gets me by.
You might ask why I'm so militant, well its for two reasons. 1. It's in my genes. 2. I paid top dollar for a flagship product that is not fit for the purpose.
As the OP said, don't hit the Devs. They didn't write the crappy code that doesn't work, they don't work for Samsung either. They didn't instigate the crappy quality control that seems apparent in Samsungs factories, and that of their suppliers. What they do is write apps for you and me, they write code to 'try' and give you an alternative android experience, they try to fix what Samsung should be fixing. They do this all for free. I like free, and I like the Devs. Samsung should stop paying its own coders, and give all that money to xda developers. Maybe then we would have a quality product.
Things you can do to help. Appart from sending your device back to your retailer for your money back (some cant do this I know, but those that can, do it). Tweet epic fail on twitter, do the same on face book and every other social networking site you have. make sure its addressed and or seen by Samsung. It will hurt, particularly when google starts to pick it up in the search engine.
---------- Post added at 10:49 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:11 AM ----------
oka1, you have a private message.
also, add to my list above: touch screen sensitivity erratic.
thanks
bigstarrynight said:
1. Phone would randomly re-boot.
2. phone would lock up and not respond. Battery removal necessary to re-boot.#
3. eMMc Identified as being faulty.
4. Video recording would stutter at the beginning of each clip.
5. Video playback would frequently fail.
6. Pink Dot on Camera. YES IT IS A BLOODY FAULT. AND YES I DO KNOW HOW TO OPERATE A CAMERA.
7. Google Maps with Navigation would hang and screen would freeze and flicker.
8. Other Apps from Google Play store, certified as compatible with the GSN would hang, freeze, or otherwise cause re-boot.
9. Phone would sometimes get hot, very hot.
10. degraded sound quality, both recorded and playback.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Strange, but I don't have any of this points on my ICS rom...
anonymous572 said:
Strange, but I don't have any of this points on my ICS rom...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not really. Its all down to quality control, programming and who made the device components. You will see lots of satisfied guys with fully functioning devices, BUT, there are an awful lot like me in the same boat. BTW I don't root or use anything not served up by Samsung, that way I protect my warranty and leaves no room for manoeuvre for the retailer or Samsung.
Top of my list is:
1 Black clipping in videos
Its just NOT acceptable that a phone in this price range and with this specs. cannot play (random) video without this terrible artifacts.
It doesnt deliver what is promised. (in the commercials )
Even my 3 jear old HTC plays video a lot better.
If its not fixed in the near future i think i will go for a refund because i really feel cheated by samsung because of this problem and their way of (not) supporting it.
2 EMMC bug.
3 the overall way that samsung deals with this bugs and the people/customers who report them.
Please step up samsung!
i can wait for a stable ics.
BUT BLACK CLIPPING come on samsung... please fix it...its damn ugly...people look at this phone as if its some heavenly artifact..thank God i dont let em watch dark videos, they will just scoff at me saying ' 30,000 bucks for this?'..i'm sorta asking myself that question now...it's advertised as if it has the best screen on the market and yet it shows greys so badly and pictures taken in the dark are so ugly with purple blotches..premium smartphone? dont think so!!
Priority by number:
1- eMMC bug, known for a long time and can be solutioned if samsung wants to....
2- Black clipping, can get rid of it by not seeing vids or black images.......
3- Battery drain, it's impossible to have to walk with a charger in our pockets with average use. If you use data transfer all day you can't use it for a day (10H)
4- Updates from samsung are a joke, touchwizz may be a great launcher but not with ICS. Tanks for those who developed others..
5- Total lack of interest by samsung: 7 million sold with about 70% of those with a high possibilty to be returned and get a new MB?? That's a risk !!!!! No solution, no excuse, no explanation, nothing from samsung.......
Oh well i really like my note, bought it for a reason and it does what i want but there are too many bugs/problems with it to be a fully functional device. What does samsung about it??? Release SGSIII.......... yeah right nice solution.
Had a samsung before and gave me a lot of problems, i know i shouldn't have gone back but..........let's try to solve this.
becosemsaida
add Entropy to the list of people who gets a lot of complains from users..
anyway, i suggest that the emmc or wiping bug should be put as the top priority so that when samsung or anyone from their team visits the thread, the first thing they will notice is the said bug... a bold/red text maybe? and put some sticky magic to this thread?
i don't know if its just me but i only care about the bug that kills our devices.. i can live with the other issues...
im going to tweet this thread everyday.... hoping for fast actions from samsung... its the first time i got so disappointed with sammy..
here is a shortened url for tweeting http://goo.gl/I3q7q