Database Users

--Introduce Your Milestone 2--

Dear Milestone 2 community,
I noticed that we're a rather lazy community. Barely sharing experiences, eagerly waiting for the first ROM to come out. Maybe it is due to our community is not yet the biggest but I still think we are privileged with our fine device.
Coming from the Xperia X1, we had a thread where we'd post our homescreen custimization. The result was new ideas and lots of eye candy. I hope you play along in this thread and give a fine description (WITH SCREENSHOTS) what your home screen looks like.
FYI: Snapping screenshots is not the easiest thing on a android. However - when you rooted your phone (what I assume have most of us done) you search the market for the app called "Shoot Me" and you just gotta shake your phone to have it copied in a folder on your SD Card etc.
Here I go:
{
"lightbox_close": "Close",
"lightbox_next": "Next",
"lightbox_previous": "Previous",
"lightbox_error": "The requested content cannot be loaded. Please try again later.",
"lightbox_start_slideshow": "Start slideshow",
"lightbox_stop_slideshow": "Stop slideshow",
"lightbox_full_screen": "Full screen",
"lightbox_thumbnails": "Thumbnails",
"lightbox_download": "Download",
"lightbox_share": "Share",
"lightbox_zoom": "Zoom",
"lightbox_new_window": "New window",
"lightbox_toggle_sidebar": "Toggle sidebar"
}
Description: Screenshot is a modified Xperia X1 Wallpaper. Someone ove at the X1 forums made it. Starting the Preview 1 on the left, I have a widget to cover my data amount and a notebook for some notes. Going right I have a big widget that keeps me up to date with missed calls, sms and emails. It's called Executive Assistant. Going right there I have a picture frame (somethign called big picture or so...), weather on dirty paper and a toggle widget.
Preview 2: Some of my fav apps sorted on the left. Going right you see my favourite contacts in animated circles. The right picture shows me simple lockscreen with some snow flakes falling forcasting my local weather (animated as well...). Shoot Me is not so good in capturing animated things...anyway, it serves our purpose...
Hope you like the idea of the thread!

What app did you use to change the lockscreen?
I'm still using the stock one...
Sent from my Brazilian Milestone 2 using XDA App
Edit (on PC): Now adding my screenshots......can't post links so: hxxp
I use ADW Launcher with a mix of two themes: Black Glass (some icons) and BuuF (wallpaper). Which is one option to Blur Homescreen.
Screen 1: Internet tethering apps EasyTether (for Ubuntu) and PdaNet (for Windows), 3G Watchdog widget, Gesture Search and Alarm Clock Plus (I use DockAwake to make it default).
Screen 2: I keep all my toggles in one page.
Basic Toggles on the top.
Extended Controls Toggles: Air Plane Mode, USB and Led Flashlight
DCSwitch: the best app to enable/disable 3G data connection.
Volume Ace Pro: Control all kinds of sound your phone makes. And profiles on Pro version.
Root Explorer: Explore all your filesystem
Market Enabler: For not american phones, access to US Android Market
Screen 3 (default) : Some stock apps.
Fring: Multiple accounts messenger like Ebbudy.
AppBrain: Reinstalled all my apps after messing up with Milestone Overclock app
Overclock: 1.25GHz @ 62 vsel, by the way wich config do you use?
Screen Filter: Configs the screen light in a better way.
Atlantida: Regional radio station app
Screen 4 : My music players, XDA, Dropbox, Calculator, Messages, Titanium Backup and Metal Detector (Uses the magnetic sensor, that is used to open the dock station app too)
Screen 5 : Rarely used apps
Led Disco and Led Tester are nice to play with the RGB notification led
Rom Manager: I was able to install Apex Rom 1.3.1 for Droid 2 without problems, but with no cellphone connection since models have a different antenna. I have a nandroid of it.
ConnectBot: use to connect via SSH to my iPod 3G.
Well that's it. Uff...
Edit: added images, are they too big? I don't know how make them smaller...

Yours looks great. I am still waiting for a root method to be available for my phone and i can join the modding fun.

@dangpzanco
The lockscreen is called "WidgetLocker" but it cost the one or other dollar.
@mandrsn
Thank You. Doesn't z4root do the job?

oTToToTenTanz said:
@mandrsn
Thank You. Doesn't z4root do the job?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It did until my most recent software update. Now it doesn't. I have a post in the Root thread on the Development section.

What version are you in?
Is temporary root working?

dangpzanco said:
What version are you in?
Is temporary root working?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=10933426&postcount=15
No, Temp doesn't work either. I don't want to jack this thread though, I posted in the "Root" thread.

I'm new with Milestone 2 and fighting with the blur.
When i finish choosing my launcher, remove the blur i'll post my shots too!

Thank You dangpzanco. I hope you don't mind - I put up your screens so its easily accessible for everyone.
I have not over or underclocked my cpu yet. I'd probably rather downclock it to save battery. But I prefer to leave it alone, haha. Some questions: what is fring for, what app brain (like backing up with Titanium Backup?). MarketEnable seems like a nice things - are there plenty more apps then? And what is Dropbox for? Moreover you seem to use a lot of player

Thank You dangpzanco. I hope you don't mind - I put up your screens so its easily accessible for everyone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't mind Thanks!
Some questions: what is fring for, what app brain (like backing up with Titanium Backup?). MarketEnable seems like a nice things - are there plenty more apps then? And what is Dropbox for? Moreover you seem to use a lot of player
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Fring: login to MSN, GTalk, Yahoo, ICQ, AIM. All unified. It was quite famous on Nokia S60 Symbian phones, I had a Nokia E51
AppBrain: Manage all your apps (update, install, unninstall, regional/custom search, BACKUP online but only the list not the apk)
Titanium Backup: local backup, freeze system apps to semi-deblur (pro version)....
MarketEnabler: more apps than brazilian app store.
Dropbox: 2Gb free online storage, I use to transfer apps from pc to phone.
Music Players: I was trying to find a FLAC Player for my Beatles collection, only the AMPlayer does it, but it's not a good one.
PS: overclock is safe, just don't forget to uncheck the "autoload on boot" when testing clocks. If you don't, phone will bootloop. In theory you just have to take the sd card out (find out this after reflashing old nandroid).
Sent from my A953 using XDA App

Hello,
I'm a new user of android and looking forwards to introducing my milestone 2, only just rooted it today, so will start customising soon, will probably try titanium backup to freeze what I can of blur and widgetlocker looks interesting, is the live wallpaper lock screen (can't think of any other way to describe it) integral to widgetlocker?
Thanks for your help.
P.S. tried to post the steps I took to root my phone using z4root but my post count is too low!
Sent from my MotoA953 using XDA App

@oTToToTenTanz
What App do you have in the middle picture of preview 2. The round contacts really looks nice!

I using:
ADW Launcher EX
ADW Theme Digital Soul
simi Clock
Switch Pro widgets
and
Flickie Wallpappers

@BladeMaestor
The "live lock screen" is my normal "WidgetLocker" lockscreen. Moreover I have this program called "Weather & Toggle" and there is an additional app to get animated forecasts. When it snows, snow flakes come down the lockscreen, when the sun is shining, a sunbeam will welcome you back to your device.
@Blo234
It's called "Animated Widget Contact Launch". I recommend you to try it out. It's really cool.
But folks, how about posting some screenshots of your devices? Would really look forward to see your homescreens and so on!
edit:
@Blady-jack
this looks decent, I like it! Is that a live wallpaper in the background? You really kept it simple and lots of eye-candy! Thanks for sharing!

oTToToTenTanz said:
Is that a live wallpaper in the background?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, this simple jpg from Flickie Wallpapers.

Was using Milestone, just switch to Milestone 2
Using ShadowMOD 2.3 rom on MS, now switching back to 2.2 XD
But I have some problem with my MS2
I cannot root it
tried z4root and universal androot, both failed, already followed the steps and checked usb debugging, z4root simply freeze my phone at the first time, and keep crashing after reboot
Is there any possible way to capture screen without root and connecting to computer?

digital camera =)
First time I tried z4root froze on my phone as well. But after reboot it worked. How many times did you try it. But don't brick your phone!

oTToToTenTanz said:
digital camera =)
First time I tried z4root froze on my phone as well. But after reboot it worked. How many times did you try it. But don't brick your phone!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Tried more than 5 times and it still doesn't work
Tried all the different ways in the [How to] root ms2 post, like switching to airplane mode and reboot and root again, still doesn't work
go to "acquiring root shell" and it just exit to homescreen. re-launching it just get a force close...
mine is asia retail version
MILS_U6_2.4.18
missing the days overclocking and flashing rom on my milestone
**update : successfully rooted with superoneclick!~

Why don't you post screenies from your MS2, WongJames?

oTToToTenTanz said:
Why don't you post screenies from your MS2, WongJames?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
opps..I have forgotten to do that, sorry
I will make it tonight

PA? Whats the hype?

Ok so I prefer AOKP, sometimes CM if an official final release ever comes out. I've been sniffing about at the Paranoid Android ROM some. I'd like some feedback on what the special deal is that brings everyone over to it.
I'm aware of the ability to change the DPI and color of each individual apps which sounds nice if you are into that - but what other things draw people to it besides that? If it's just that it has AOKP and CM features along with the dpi/app color stuff then I'd just prefer to stick with AOKP. Is there anything else?
How's the battery life with the included kernel? Are other kernels better to go with?

The kernels pretty much a stock Google kernel ... I prefer to use other kernels like trinity and faux but the ROM is nice .
Although I'm a big fan of Steve's aokp
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 2

if you like aokp and are thinking of switching roms try codefirex if you havent. it has some form of all aokp features but its super optimized with the latest linaro and google optimizations and you can tell the difference over aokp/cm. im not a fan of PA because i think its just too customizable and is overwhelming because i would be so worried about getting everything "just right." i like most of the stock feel and a good amount of customization but to pick a color and density and ui mode for every app is just too much for me. the rom ends up feeling clunky and just wrong, but many people like it, but it sounds like its not your thing either

Where is the thread for codefirex? .. Does it have the bionic optimisations ?
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 2

mbucks911 said:
if you like aokp and are thinking of switching roms try codefirex if you havent. it has some form of all aokp features but its super optimized with the latest linaro and google optimizations and you can tell the difference over aokp/cm. im not a fan of PA because i think its just too customizable and is overwhelming because i would be so worried about getting everything "just right." i like most of the stock feel and a good amount of customization but to pick a color and density and ui mode for every app is just too much for me. the rom ends up feeling clunky and just wrong, but many people like it, but it sounds like its not your thing either
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah thanks, I was thinking that same thing for the most part. I don't want to nit pick around and screw with DPI settings, my eyes are bad enough I don't need things smaller and the stock colors work fine for me.
italia0101 said:
Where is the thread for codefirex? .. Does it have the bionic optimisations ?
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What are these bionic optimizations that I keep seeing come up all about?

VoiD_Dweller said:
Yeah thanks, I was thinking that same thing for the most part. I don't want to nit pick around and screw with DPI settings, my eyes are bad enough I don't need things smaller and the stock colors work fine for me.
What are these bionic optimizations that I keep seeing come up all about?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There specific optimisations for krait which drastically improve memory management etc on the s4 pro
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 2

VoiD_Dweller said:
Yeah thanks, I was thinking that same thing for the most part. I don't want to nit pick around and screw with DPI settings, my eyes are bad enough I don't need things smaller and the stock colors work fine for me.
What are these bionic optimizations that I keep seeing come up all about?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Here's another good explanation: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=37767038&postcount=1825

I am a tinker. So thats what PA gives me.
I change shyte all day, everyday. Then I add Franco Kernel. I get to tinker with that also.
if all you want is vanilla, stay with what ya got. If you want Everything your way. Then BK this mofo and install PA.
Its only daunting at first. Once you understand where the settings are you are all good.
Truthfully, if you are installing a Custom rom, I can't personally understand why you would install any else.

VoiD_Dweller said:
screw with DPI settings, my eyes are bad enough I don't need things smaller
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
we get this a lot. but its wrong. many people have mixed it up with "tablet mode" before and build.prop system dpi nonsense. none of this stuff applies. theres nothing getting smaller unless you want it small, seperate from the UI you choose ofc. in fact pa is sometimes used by the elderly with bad eye sight, since you can make apps big as well. not that this is pa's premise, but just for reference.
usually people who havent tried hybrid engine have no clue what it is - for me personally its androids most important modification, because i know what it can do. i doubt theres anything in the rom scene that comes close to it in complexity and practicability. and the latter point is important. its not a toy. it makes a phone better in so many productive ways, far beyond anything you can achieve through typical customization.
its one of many unique features btw,
here's another,
{
"lightbox_close": "Close",
"lightbox_next": "Next",
"lightbox_previous": "Previous",
"lightbox_error": "The requested content cannot be loaded. Please try again later.",
"lightbox_start_slideshow": "Start slideshow",
"lightbox_stop_slideshow": "Stop slideshow",
"lightbox_full_screen": "Full screen",
"lightbox_thumbnails": "Thumbnails",
"lightbox_download": "Download",
"lightbox_share": "Share",
"lightbox_zoom": "Zoom",
"lightbox_new_window": "New window",
"lightbox_toggle_sidebar": "Toggle sidebar"
}
if youre a gamer you'll love pie. all features we make are meant for actual use of the phone, not just fooling around with 2-3 quick access settings a couple of seconds every day, although we have it as well.

One of the best things pa did was ditch cm as their base.
Its refreshing to see the nexus ROM scene as a whole seems to pulling away from all the cm10 and aokp based / kanged Roms.
Nothing wrong with those roms if that's your thing. Others like close to aosp with some tweaks. Not let's toss in every single thing we can think off.

Yea I LOVE pie ... I'll give you that
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 2

Paranoid android is awesome!
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda app-developers app

I have tried PA a few times but each time I've been surprised by the LACK of of customization features. I can easily find the hybrid engine settings and edit the hell out of them but I don't find it useful at all. I'm not sure if I've just missed or if they really just don't exist.
Here's a list of some great small AOKP features that I couldn't find in PA. I would be happy if someone more familiar with PA could confirm if they exist or not.
- Clock position (center/right/dont show)
- Clock color
- Navbar & Statusbar opacity
- Kill-all button on recents menu
- Option to hide the hints of left and right widgets when opening lockscreen
- Volume music controls (long press to next/prev)
- Allow all widgets in lockscreen
- Navbar longpress actions
- LED notification customization (has to be in ROM, not a buggy 3rd party app)
- Less frequent notification sounds
I can live without one or two of these functions but since I couldn't find any of them in PA I just had to uninstall it after a few minutes.

Jiia said:
I have tried PA a few times but each time I've been surprised by the LACK of of customization features. I can easily find the hybrid engine settings and edit the hell out of them but I don't find it useful at all. I'm not sure if I've just missed or if they really just don't exist.
Here's a list of some great small AOKP features that I couldn't find in PA. I would be happy if someone more familiar with PA could confirm if they exist or not.
- Clock position (center/right/dont show)
- Clock color
- Navbar & Statusbar opacity
- Kill-all button on recents menu
- Option to hide the hints of left and right widgets when opening lockscreen
- Volume music controls (long press to next/prev)
- Allow all widgets in lockscreen
- Navbar longpress actions
- LED notification customization (has to be in ROM, not a buggy 3rd party app)
- Less frequent notification sounds
I can live without one or two of these functions but since I couldn't find any of them in PA I just had to uninstall it after a few minutes.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try revolt jb.
It is AOKP + CM + PA
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda app-developers app

Jiia said:
I have tried PA a few times but each time I've been surprised by the LACK of of customization features. I can easily find the hybrid engine settings and edit the hell out of them but I don't find it useful at all. I'm not sure if I've just missed or if they really just don't exist.
Here's a list of some great small AOKP features that I couldn't find in PA. I would be happy if someone more familiar with PA could confirm if they exist or not.
- Clock position (center/right/dont show)
- Clock color
- Navbar & Statusbar opacity
- Kill-all button on recents menu
- Option to hide the hints of left and right widgets when opening lockscreen
- Volume music controls (long press to next/prev)
- Allow all widgets in lockscreen
- Navbar longpress actions
- LED notification customization (has to be in ROM, not a buggy 3rd party app)
- Less frequent notification sounds
I can live without one or two of these functions but since I couldn't find any of them in PA I just had to uninstall it after a few minutes.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yes
yes (best implementation in the rom scene -> per app color)
yes (best implementation in the rom scene -> per app color)
yes (from us originally, best implementation in the rom scene -> elegant android 4.2 solution, all UI's, even PIE)
yes
yes
no, we dont want it
yes
yes
anyway. most of this stuff, thats toys. how often did i screw around with silly quick options today? 2 seconds maybe. i switched on bluetooth. meanwhile i've actually used my phone, written mails in the best email client possible. i've talked to people via the best gtalk client possible. i've set settings in the best settings app possible. an entire market with thousands of apps is simply not accessible to you: https://play.google.com/store/apps/collection/tablet_featured you're locked out.
the fact is, youre using apps that were made to run on pocket watches. the sdk is years old and does not reflect contemporary technology anymore. your nexus4 was simply left behind. it falls back to 360p, which was used on the tiny htc wildfire xx years ago. keep in mind, 360p is WAY too small for your n4, but since the sdk is so old the next margin is 600p, you reach it almost but not quite, so back to 360. and with that you sift through unbelievable clumsy, unintuitive non-optimized apps. not to mention things like PIE, per app color, per app expanded dektop, the only rom on android that has a flawless tabletUI and a flawless phabletUI - and who knows what. i dont count anymore.

Thanks molesarecoming, I really need to give it another try. Clearly I just couldn't find the proper place for the settings.

molesarecoming said:
in fact pa is sometimes used by the elderly with bad eye sight, since you can make apps big as well. not that this is pa's premise, but just for reference.
usually people who havent tried hybrid engine have no clue what it is - for me personally its androids most important modification, because i know what it can do. i doubt theres anything in the rom scene that comes close to it in complexity and practicability. and the latter point is important. its not a toy. it makes a phone better in so many productive ways, far beyond anything you can achieve through typical customization.
if youre a gamer you'll love pie. all features we make are meant for actual use of the phone, not just fooling around with 2-3 quick access settings a couple of seconds every day, although we have it as well.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Awesome reply and thanks for putting the time into an explanation like that. I had flashed PA onto my phone earlier and clearly didn't give it the time deserved to determine if it was worth keeping. I'll give it a few days and see how it goes.
molesarecoming said:
anyway. most of this stuff, thats toys. how often did i screw around with silly quick options today? 2 seconds maybe. i switched on bluetooth. meanwhile i've actually used my phone, written mails in the best email client possible. i've talked to people via the best gtalk client possible. i've set settings in the best settings app possible. an entire market with thousands of apps is simply not accessible to you: https://play.google.com/store/apps/collection/tablet_featured you're locked out.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I didn't realize I could use tablet apps. Out of curiosity what is the best email and gtalk client you are referring to, in your opinion?
Thanks for everyone's input on my original question..

the same gmail and the same gtalk thats installed on your phone. the problem is, yours looks like this: http://www.abload.de/img/2013-01-04-15.02g2z5f.jpg
mine looks like this: http://www.abload.de/img/n4-product-heroe5z5zbaj5a.jpg
that means i can actually see who writes me and switch back and forth. im not locked into one puny view.
your gmail: http://www.chip.de/ii/1/1/2/4/9/1/4/7/1bbccb0a376e8d44.jpg
my gmail: http://www.abload.de/img/shots_12pk0x.png (last row)
as you see, your apps are crippled beyond repair. thats how they look on my pocket watch.
that gtalk screenshot shows tablet mode all around but again, its separate, it doesnt matter, can be anything you want. same as for stuff being small, one tap and its bigger (last screenshot shows you the controls, slider controls size, dropdownbox lets you pick the UI). my gmail for instance displays in the exact same fontsize as in phoneUI. since nex4 is technically close to a tablet it can pull it off beautifully.
same holds true for tablet apps. most of these wouldnt even run on your phone, but do on mine. apps, thats what you are actually using and interacting with, 99% of the time you use your phone. here's where i see potential for customization. the last 1% where i wanna quicktoggle bluetooth is important, too - but thats fairly standard. every rom has it.

I can't justify using PA myself to be fair.
While my girlfriend though PIE was cool, I find it slow and a poor alternative to the notification bar outside of looking cool, so found myself not using it except to show off. When I actually wanted to do stuff with my phone, the on screen buttons were much faster coupled with the notification bar.
All the DPI stuff I tried, then set back to default. The colours everyone is raving about, I absolutely hate, and I simply cannot live without holding the home button to turn off the screen lol. I don't know why but using the power button or a quick toggle on the notification bar is just so 1980.
Aside from those things, and in all fairness, there is nothing really wrong with PA I just always go back to AOKP as it really does seem more customisable than PA when you take away useless DPI editing which adds nothing to the experience of using a phone.

molesarecoming said:
the same gmail and the same gtalk thats installed on your phone. the problem is, yours looks like this: http://www.abload.de/img/2013-01-04-15.02g2z5f.jpg
mine looks like this: http://www.abload.de/img/n4-product-heroe5z5zbaj5a.jpg
that means i can actually see who writes me and switch back and forth. im not locked into one puny view.
your gmail: http://www.chip.de/ii/1/1/2/4/9/1/4/7/1bbccb0a376e8d44.jpg
my gmail: http://www.abload.de/img/shots_12pk0x.png (last row)
as you see, your apps are crippled beyond repair. thats how they look on my pocket watch.
that gtalk screenshot shows tablet mode all around but again, its separate, it doesnt matter, can be anything you want. same as for stuff being small, one tap and its bigger (last screenshot shows you the controls, slider controls size, dropdownbox lets you pick the UI). my gmail for instance displays in the exact same fontsize as in phoneUI. since nex4 is technically close to a tablet it can pull it off beautifully.
same holds true for tablet apps. most of these wouldnt even run on your phone, but do on mine. apps, thats what you are actually using and interacting with, 99% of the time you use your phone. here's where i see potential for customization. the last 1% where i wanna quicktoggle bluetooth is important, too - but thats fairly standard. every rom has it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I see.. Thanks, I'll give it a whirl for sure now..

Enhancements Suggestions

What do you wish for your HTC One? tell the world and the developers, what should be improved.
for example:
1. I wish the lock-screen was more beneficial, to see more notifications (like from Gmail App and Viber) + quick launch of google now from the lock
2. Quick Settings toggle (kinda solved thru mods)
3. Automatic screen wake up on certain notifications
any other ideas? please share

osahum said:
What do you wish for your HTC One? tell the world and the developers, what should be improved.
for example:
1. I wish the lock-screen was more beneficial, to see more notifications (like from Gmail App and Viber) + quick launch of google now from the lock
2. Quick Settings toggle (kinda solved thru mods)
3. Automatic screen wake up on certain notifications
any other ideas? please share
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think it would be nice for them to add a couple of fresh animations in there, such as when you press the App Drawer icon that animation is absolutely awful, and a bit laggy too! I think it's the one Google used in stock Gingerbread. It would be nice to see them add themes back, for example Sense 2-4 all had themes that you could set and it just added to that personalization of the device.
I think the 'Power Saver' in the scroll down Menu should be moved into the 'Power Saving' menu and you should be able to select a certain battery percent that it comes on at. It would be nice to have a quick settings in a way that HTC used to have them, though I am certain we shall see that in the near future as Android 4.2 has these.
One thing I loved about the iPhone, was the ability to save what you have copied to the clipboard after restarting the device. I'd love to see this implemented onto the One.
Also, the way you add Shortcuts to the homescreen is just terrible. You should NOT have to go to the widget add Menu.
Mike

jaaystott said:
I think it would be nice for them to add a couple of fresh animations in there, such as when you press the App Drawer icon that animation is absolutely awful, and a bit laggy too! I think it's the one Google used in stock Gingerbread. It would be nice to see them add themes back, for example Sense 2-4 all had themes that you could set and it just added to that personalization of the device.
I think the 'Power Saver' in the scroll down Menu should be moved into the 'Power Saving' menu and you should be able to select a certain battery percent that it comes on at. It would be nice to have a quick settings in a way that HTC used to have them, though I am certain we shall see that in the near future as Android 4.2 has these.
One thing I loved about the iPhone, was the ability to save what you have copied to the clipboard after restarting the device. I'd love to see this implemented onto the One.
Also, the way you add Shortcuts to the homescreen is just terrible. You should NOT have to go to the widget add Menu.
Mike
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you so much for your input very interesting points. I guess many people like to choose themes and be able to personalize their HTC One, the way they like. It's a matter of taste and personal choice really.
Other thing i noticed about android or HTC One compared to iphone is auto vido conversion when i send a video clip thru WhatsApp. i wanted to send a short video to my friend and whatsApp couldn't do that because the file was over 12 MB. iOS coverts the video automatically! That's another tiny annoying thing i found about the HTC.
I think there is much room for improvement to make this device the best handset ever!
If anyone else has ideas, please post

Your right, this handset is easily the most beautiful android one ever created, along with the HTC Magic and in my opinion, also the Hero.
Your welcome
Sent from my HTC One using xda app-developers app

I completely agree about waking the screen for certain notifications especially text messages and calendar alerts. The chompsms app will light up the screen for text messages but I haven't found a solution for calendar alerts.
This is something I really miss coming from ios. I have to say ios is actually better in the way it handles notifications in allowing you to select what appears in the lock screen and having a centralised notification centre where you can change settings for all your notifications.
Sent from my HTC One using xda app-developers app

tdingene said:
I completely agree about waking the screen for certain notifications especially text messages and calendar alerts. The chompsms app will light up the screen for text messages but I haven't found a solution for calendar alerts.
This is something I really miss coming from ios. I have to say ios is actually better in the way it handles notifications in allowing you to select what appears in the lock screen and having a centralised notification centre where you can change settings for all your notifications.
Sent from my HTC One using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes! iOS handles lock-screen notifications way better! there is an App called LockerPro Lockscreen. It's clean and it solves this problem but it interferes with the display time settings these things should be solved out of the box but luckily we have really great enthusiastic developers here on XDA who love to create custom ROMS and mods to make our life easier and even prettier
I hope some of these developers will read this thread and maybe will release new mods and fixes

My wishes:
- when i look on power it should show display (battery) usage like on vanilla android
- better idle comsumption
- folder should take more then 16 apps

RoachPapa said:
My wishes:
- when i look on power it should show display (battery) usage like on vanilla android
- better idle comsumption
- folder should take more then 16 apps
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks four the input. Interesting stuff. If you are into custom ROMS and mods. I strongly suggest you try out TrickDroid from troxx. one of the tweaks there, which you can apply. is to increase the max icons in the folder up to 25.
the customs ROM has so many other cool tweaks and minor UI enhancement.
here is a link to the thread:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2192324

1. I missed so much USB mass storage mod on my SGS3 last year fortunately there was some 3rd party apk, but it wont work on HTC Ones internal storage so please make some UMS mod most people will be glad I think
2. definitely 60fps videos improvement. After i saw most of the 60fps videos on youtube I was so dissapointed. Im talking about both slow motion and fast 60fps videos in year 2013!!! even SGS3 was able to handle 60fps slow motion better after SW mods than One with such a powerfull HW and 240p? HTC are you serious? this will be cool to have them at least @720p THX santa
3. ofcourse some mods on camera photos too
4. if its even possible to camera interface...whats one of the most used function? Exposure! I saw how long took the photographer to adjust exposure for one photo! Look at the last years samsung GS3 camera interface. 4 in words FOUR customisable shortcuts...thats cool and I wish something like that on HTC not Zoe which wont be used most times...where is brain and logic only ads and marketing I see in HTC One SW BTW Im waiting for One so do not blame me for trolling as its the most popular word last month after One was unveiled LoL

1. Long press back for menu
2. Customisable/user added content for blinkfeed i.e importing of google reader feeds
3. Scrollable wallpaper
4. Hide power bar from pull down menu (this does not work on my sim free phone)
5. Pull down toggles for wifi etc as per android 4.2.2
6. Change font size on blink feed articles
7. Sort blinkfeed by content type

daleski75 said:
1. Long press back for menu
2. Customisable/user added content for blinkfeed i.e importing of google reader feeds
3. Scrollable wallpaper
4. Hide power bar from pull down menu (this does not work on my sim free phone)
5. Pull down toggles for wifi etc as per android 4.2.2
6. Change font size on blink feed articles
7. Sort blinkfeed by content type
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ya.. Blinkfeed should be improved! sadly there is no mods for it yet.. but for the most other stuff you mentioned you can try the mods on the Android Development page.. try TrickDroid! they have this cool toggle mod which looks very native and nice. i hope HTC will improve some of these stuff soon with next firmware update.

I don't have the device yet, but from what I've seen with the custom ROMs on here, I would like to see:
1. Various camera tweaks, such as enforcing a set bit rate for videos and audio, having photos set at 100% quality (ie, minimal jpeg compression), and using volume buttons as a shutter.
2. Add more flexibility to Zoes, such as increasng the length of the videos recorded, having the ability to change video resolution, and enforcing a set picture quality.
3. Make Prism (Sense 5's launcher) more like Sense 4's Rosie. Things such as a scrollable wallpaper, the 3D rendered home screen transitions, the normal way of adding app shortcuts, landscape mode support, and a horizonally scrolling app drawer were nice in my opinion. Also, a 5x6 app drawer and stock jelly bean transitons when returning from an app would be great too.
4. Having the ability to choose and apply themes just like in previous Sense versions.
5. BlinkFeed customizations: having custom feeds, having the ability to remove BlinkFeed from Prism, making BlinkFeed a widget, content sorting by type.
6. Android 4.2 quick settings or Sense 4 quick settings.
7. Adding an additonal lockscreen that has the ability to add widgets.
8. Choosing whatever combination of button presses does what (ex: double-tap home for either menu, recent apps, search, custom app, etc., long-press home for menu, recent apps, search, custom app, etc., you get where I'm going.)
9. Customizable 3-finger gestures.
The following is also something a bit more nit picky, since I've been spoiled with the Venom ROM on my Sensation:
>Setting custom backgrounds for the pulldown notification screen and app drawer.
>Status bar themes.
>App icon packs for the stock launcher.
>A sub-setting/app that bundles all possible customizations under one interface.

WeegeeNumbuh1 said:
I don't have the device yet, but from what I've seen with the custom ROMs on here, I would like to see:
1. Various camera tweaks, such as enforcing a set bit rate for videos and audio, having photos set at 100% quality (ie, minimal jpeg compression), and using volume buttons as a shutter.
2. Add more flexibility to Zoes, such as increasng the length of the videos recorded, having the ability to change video resolution, and enforcing a set picture quality.
3. Make Prism (Sense 5's launcher) more like Sense 4's Rosie. Things such as a scrollable wallpaper, the 3D rendered home screen transitions, the normal way of adding app shortcuts, landscape mode support, and a horizonally scrolling app drawer were nice in my opinion. Also, a 5x6 app drawer and stock jelly bean transitons when returning from an app would be great too.
4. Having the ability to choose and apply themes just like in previous Sense versions.
5. BlinkFeed customizations: having custom feeds, having the ability to remove BlinkFeed from Prism, making BlinkFeed a widget, content sorting by type.
6. Android 4.2 quick settings or Sense 4 quick settings.
7. Adding an additonal lockscreen that has the ability to add widgets.
8. Choosing whatever combination of button presses does what (ex: double-tap home for either menu, recent apps, search, custom app, etc., long-press home for menu, recent apps, search, custom app, etc., you get where I'm going.)
9. Customizable 3-finger gestures.
The following is also something a bit more nit picky, since I've been spoiled with the Venom ROM on my Sensation:
>Setting custom backgrounds for the pulldown notification screen and app drawer.
>Status bar themes.
>App icon packs for the stock launcher.
>A sub-setting/app that bundles all possible customizations under one interface.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
wow..that is one one hell of a list for someone who doesn't even own the device lol but yeah. Zoe needs some flexibility indeed. It sucks that i can't convert the video to a smaller size! and somehow the whole Zoe Highlight video thing is hidden. It took me some time to figure out, that is under events! some of your wishes has been already resolved. there are many EQS mods now and they are getting better!
anyway, most of what you have mentioned, should have been resolved by HTC and gave us a better out-of-box experience!

osahum said:
Ya.. Blinkfeed should be improved! sadly there is no mods for it yet.. but for the most other stuff you mentioned you can try the mods on the Android Development page.. try TrickDroid! they have this cool toggle mod which looks very native and nice. i hope HTC will improve some of these stuff soon with next firmware update.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No interest yet in rooting as I want to keep my warranty but in the future you never know.

daleski75 said:
No interest yet in rooting as I want to keep my warranty but in the future you never know.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ya well. i was hesitant at the beginning too but then i decided to take the risk. the whole warranty issue is still under debate. There are some legitimate claims, that rooting doesn't necessarily void the warranty. It\s different anyway from country to another.
for me, i want be able to do whatever i want with my device. When i buy PC. then i can install any OS i please and have access to everything. If someone over-clocks his CPU and fries it. then i undersand the warranty is voided, but just because i root my device and install some mod to enhance my settings menu. then logically and even maybe legally, HTC has no right to punish me like this.. in all cases, i really don't care

I want to try custom ROMs later and ATM my phone is on the way to repair. My blinkfeed freezes after each boot. I couldn't repair that.
If you want more visual effects, you will loose the smoothness.
gesendet vom Galaxy S

I just decided to get a One because I heard you cannot install apps to Micro SD, so I'd rather have 32GB internal than 16GB of the GS4, also though looking at the OLED screen, the thing has black clipping issues in pre release form anyways. I watch a lot of video when walking the dog like F1 live stream and I really don't want headphones, so the speakers help.
One thing I hate is Blinkfeed, I really wanna be able to turn it off, I wouldn't mind it if I could customize it so the phone functions like Windows Phone, I really love live tiles. The problem is you cannot do much with it and you cannot turn it off, it almost ruins the phone for me, I don't see why it needs to be there.
I don't use social features like Facebook, I hate that crap and I don't want any news, I just use Websites for that....... just such a pointless feature. I also think the gallery is ****, don't see why I need to have my friends photos pop up, I just want mine thanx.
Cannot wait till Cyanogenmod or something comes out for it, I don't get some design choices HTC have made.

Terrorantula said:
One thing I hate is Blinkfeed, I really wanna be able to turn it off
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You may not be able to turn it off but I'm fairly sure you can set a different screen as your home screen, effectively hiding it

A 5 inch display
{
"lightbox_close": "Close",
"lightbox_next": "Next",
"lightbox_previous": "Previous",
"lightbox_error": "The requested content cannot be loaded. Please try again later.",
"lightbox_start_slideshow": "Start slideshow",
"lightbox_stop_slideshow": "Stop slideshow",
"lightbox_full_screen": "Full screen",
"lightbox_thumbnails": "Thumbnails",
"lightbox_download": "Download",
"lightbox_share": "Share",
"lightbox_zoom": "Zoom",
"lightbox_new_window": "New window",
"lightbox_toggle_sidebar": "Toggle sidebar"
}
Maybe a 5" edge to edge display with on-screen Android soft-keys? Threw this together to show what it might look like. But seriously, it doesn't really add much; this phone is already pretty perfect the way it is! I'm sure I can get used to the two button capacitive navigation controls. I can't wait to get mine!

Fcc Car Launcher [official thread]

Hi, all!
Welcome to the official thread for FCC Car Launcher - a customizable auto launcher for android head units (Rockchip MTCB/MTCD+ and FlyAudio) as well as android smartphones/tablets.
Its major features:
- Full function launcher with supports of all standard third party android widgets
- Deep integration with head units (MCU etc). My mission here is to implement as many functions in the launcher itself as possible. In case of Rockchip devices to get rid of most xposed modules (my deep respect to their authors, great job, but they sometimes slow down the device significantly) and replace them with the normal built-in functions.
- Customization. The FCC Cat Launcher has some built-in customizable widgets which can help to make your home screen more personal (you can adjust widgets size, colors, features etc).
- Built-in music widget with support of FM Radio (with ability to give names to radio stations), Spotify, Google Music, PowerAmp, PC Radio, Neutron and Stellio players.
- One-click navigation widgets with quick route building (supports Waze, Google Maps, Yandex Navigator and other navigation apps).
- Phone calls via connected phone using 'Ok Google call [name]' request or by clicking on built-in Contact widget.
- Other features.
FAQ
1. I love MiniMap but can you put other navigation app there?
Unfortunately this is not possible. MiniMap is part of FCC and is based on Google Maps API for Android. It is not another app (not even a Google Maps app), that can be just replaced within the FCC interface. Android does not allow to integrate third party apps (navigation apps) inside another third party apps (FCC Launcher).
If your head Unit supports Split Screen (ie can display Two apps at the same time), this can be partially done with split screen.
2. Is it possible to cache maps for MiniMap for offline use?
- Yes. In the latest FCC Launcher beta version you can select Offline Mapbox map and download it to your device.
- For Google Maps - No. Caching is directly prohibited by Google license for using Google Maps API (MiniMap). Moreover, Google even does not provide developers with such a caching API. Therefore you will need a constant internet connection to use MiniMap. The somewhat good news is that the map itself does some short-term caching on your device, so it saves some data (but not too much).
3. Notifications are only popping up for a split second / flashing. How to fix this?
That means that animations are disabled on your device.
- Go to the device's Developer settings: FCC settings - System - Advanced - Developer settings (if it asks for code - it's "7890" for AllWinner T8).
- Scroll down and change 3 parameters "Window animation scale", "Transition animation scale" and "Animation duration scale" from "Animation off" to "Animation scale 1x".
4. Routing on Google Maps in MiniMap doesn't work. It asks for API key. What should I do?
- Turn-by-turn navigation in built-in Google Map fragment is directly prohibited by Google. Therefore it is not possible to use it. .However if you have your own Google Developer account (Google Maps API key) you can use it to draw a simple route line on the MiniMap. Please note that it will NOT have any turn-by-turn data like distance to next turn or estimated time of arrival.
I do not recommend to purchase Google Developer account just for this feature:
- Google Developer account will cost money for you (a one-off payment) which is reasonable only if you really want to develop android apps.
- Routing requests cost money. But currently Google provides a 200$ per month free usage for Maps, Routes, and Places every month which should be enough for individual usage.
Links: Get API key, Pricing. Don't forget to enable Maps API and Directions API in your Google Cloud Console.
Tutorial:
Translation to your language
Guys, many of you suggested your help with translation of the app to your native languages.
I have setup a translation project on OneSky site.
Here is the link: HELP TRANSLATE FCC CAR LAUNCHER
Links:
Release channel: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=ru.speedfire.flycontrolcenter
Beta channel: https://play.google.com/apps/testing/ru.speedfire.flycontrolcenter
(I would suggest to stick with the release channel since beta channel can be really buggy sometimes and is intended for beta testers only)
As a developer I will be happy to discuss with you any ideas or issues.
Here is a couple of tutorials:
1) Quick look on home screen setup process:
How to write LogCat log:
You need to have ROOT:
1. Install LogCat Extreme LogCat Extreme
2. Select VERBOSE level of details (very important) Video 1
3. Write and send log: Video 2
Initial setup (do this if you see black screen):
Important checkbox during first setup:
{
"lightbox_close": "Close",
"lightbox_next": "Next",
"lightbox_previous": "Previous",
"lightbox_error": "The requested content cannot be loaded. Please try again later.",
"lightbox_start_slideshow": "Start slideshow",
"lightbox_stop_slideshow": "Stop slideshow",
"lightbox_full_screen": "Full screen",
"lightbox_thumbnails": "Thumbnails",
"lightbox_download": "Download",
"lightbox_share": "Share",
"lightbox_zoom": "Zoom",
"lightbox_new_window": "New window",
"lightbox_toggle_sidebar": "Toggle sidebar"
}
Please make sure to check that checkbox "Always allow FCC Launcher to add widgets..".
Full setup process:

Thank you! Great launcher in deed! I really love many options, customisations and support for widgets!
Using it for some time and works great on MTCB with Malaysik ROM.
Highly recommended.

Does this run under Android Auto?

jcthorne said:
Does this run under Android Auto?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't think so. Not tested at least.

SpeedFire- said:
I don't think so. Not tested at least.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well it was posted in the Android Auto forum so thought I would ask. Seems its not relevant to this section then.

this would be the right forum:
https://forum.xda-developers.com/android-auto/android-head-units

CadillacMike said:
this would be the right forum
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Agreed. I've already asked moderators to move this thread there (along with the other launcher's threads which are located here). Hope they can do this.

Altitude widget
SpeedFire- said:
Agreed. I've already asked moderators to move this thread there (along with the other launcher's threads which are located here). Hope they can do this.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Great to have this official thread at right place
I would like to suggest new widget, if you are wiling:
Altitude. In addition to existing build-up widgets (odometer, speed), it would be nice to have altitude. For some of us enjoining off-road adventures in high mountains, it would be nice to have a snap view of GPS altitude.

pa.ko said:
Altitude. In addition to existing build-up widgets (odometer, speed), it would be nice to have altitude. For some of us enjoining off-road adventures in high mountains, it would be nice to have a snap view of GPS altitude.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you for suggestions!
I've just sent a new version to BETA channel with two new features:
1. Auto-brightness with relatively good control on the levels:
2. Altitude widget

SpeedFire- said:
Thank you for suggestions!
I've just sent a new version to BETA channel with two new features:
1. Auto-brightness with relatively good control on the levels:
2. Altitude widget
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wow! Great! Never seen such prompt reaction to feature requests Thanks!
BTW, your auto brightness control is great. For users wondering why so many sliders I'll tell that I struggled with 'dumb' auto brightness (with no additional control beside day/night levels) as they are either too bright or too dimm in dusk or dawn. So it is great to have it customisable to your needs.

SpeedFire- said:
Thank you for suggestions!
I've just sent a new version to BETA channel with two new features:
1. Auto-brightness with relatively good control on the levels:
2. Altitude widget
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1.
Latest beta crashes of I go to FCC settings (enters the main settings screen but crashes if I select FCC settings). So I could not access new auto brightness config to check how it works.
2.
Altitude works nicely. I'll suggest to round it to integer (remove decimals). Decimals take valuable space in widget and are basically useless as GPS altitude precision is in meters (even tens of meters to be exact in commercial GPS units)

CadillacMike said:
Latest beta crashes of I go to FCC settings (enters the main settings screen but crashes if I select FCC settings). So I could not access new auto brightness config to check how it works.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok. Thanks for info. I'll check. What type of device do you have?
For now you can access the same setting from Brightness widget.

pa.ko said:
1.
Latest beta crashes of I go to FCC settings (enters the main settings screen but crashes if I select FCC settings). So I could not access new auto brightness config to check how it works.
2.
Altitude works nicely. I'll suggest to round it to integer (remove decimals). Decimals take valuable space in widget and are basically useless as GPS altitude precision is in meters (even tens of meters to be exact in commercial GPS units)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hopefully both of the issues are fixed in new beta.
New feature:
- Ability to launch any selected app by clicking on the following widgets: Time, Distance, Av.speed, Altitude (see their preferences)

Would you please allow to add third party music player widget in your app.

rizu3544 said:
Would you please allow to add third party music player widget in your app.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
They are allowed. This launcher supports all third party android widgets.
Moreover it has a built in music widget which supports: fm radio (with ability to give names to radio stations), Spotify, Google Music, PowerAmp, PC Radio, Neutron and Stellio players.

I suggest to make a YouTube video on a how to/overview of the launcher. The price is a bit high . I will rate this launcher now at a max of 3.99 dollars. For the premium version. Now it looks like you what to make fast money . I see this before with a lot of new apps. At the and it all goes wrong. Sorry to say this. Thanks for the nice developments at this stage

Maybe a stupid question, but how do I delete a widget?

HarryBk said:
Maybe a stupid question, but how do I delete a widget?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hold a finger on it for a second and move the widget to the cross:

Been using this launcher for the past couple of days. Works really well (px5 head unit). Gonna try to make a video of it soon. Keep updating and adding features, before this I was using Car Launcher Pro, but that seems abandoned. Basically what I'm always looking for is an attractive and functional launcher where buttons and text are large. Could we get a screensaver with time, current song, speed, and weather info on a black background (like in Car Launcher pro, only there it only showed time)

vassandrei said:
Could we get a screensaver with time, current song, speed, and weather info on a black background (like in Car Launcher pro, only there it only showed time)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think I can, but first I need to understand better why don't you just setup a separate screen with large widgets (this is all possible with FCC Launcher). Many users told me that the launcher helped them to get rid of screensavers since all the info can be made large enough and is available.
So, what do you really want from screensaver what is not available now via home screen? Thanks.

OPPO Find X5, Step 3: Let's move to the review Part 2

Hello Everyone,
The second part of the review is this thread.
The first one is here.
The second is this thread
The third one is here.
ColorOS and Connectivity
So ColorOS… ColorOS… ColorOS
A new UI for me. Pixel and Stock OS have been my best friend for years now, including Oxygen OS up to 11. After seeing its direction, I used MIUI for a long time and got fed up with it.
So, first boot: Android 12 of the box with ColorOS 12.1 + a D1 OTA/February Patch.
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"lightbox_close": "Close",
"lightbox_next": "Next",
"lightbox_previous": "Previous",
"lightbox_error": "The requested content cannot be loaded. Please try again later.",
"lightbox_start_slideshow": "Start slideshow",
"lightbox_stop_slideshow": "Stop slideshow",
"lightbox_full_screen": "Full screen",
"lightbox_thumbnails": "Thumbnails",
"lightbox_download": "Download",
"lightbox_share": "Share",
"lightbox_zoom": "Zoom",
"lightbox_new_window": "New window",
"lightbox_toggle_sidebar": "Toggle sidebar"
}
It's themed like many OEMs. However, you can see the Android 12 base behind the curtains and sometimes even Android itself with no customization.
However, OPPO made many customizations in their system when you dig into it. Launcher, notifications, Icons, settings, smart sidebar, their own privacy sub-menu, including the Android functionalities. They have tons of their applications such as OPPO Share, Omoji, gallery, video, even the clock, files app, O Relax (?) and so many apps like App cloner, App Enhancement, App services or others OPPO in-home system apk. Not mentioned on top of the Android Framework, you will also find an OPPO/OPlus framework to make all these works together (surely necessary for the Phone Manager that looks like the security center in MIUI).
We are on Google App for Android for the Phone Dialer and SMS/Messages APP. No OPPO system apps for that. And I like that. So, no debate here.
At first glance, all these apps are just giving the users some native functionalities Android already integrates into Android 12. And give the impression that they are reminiscence of a China firmware variant without Google services in this local market. But lots of them are marked as EU APK variants. And many system apps can't be uninstalled (disable only). And all of them are not available on the Google Play store as they should be if we follow Android Guidelines.
I said earlier, no biases. I have to get it a try…. And it was hard at first.
It gives the impression that OPPO has integrated Android 12 functionalities made by Google, added theirs on top to expand them, and managed to balance it somehow.
But... But… It's weird. It's a heavily customized UI based on Android, with the flavor of a Fork and a clean OS (which is not).
Let's start with the launcher. It's fast, allows many options, got the discover/at glance functionality, and you can add widgets (works well with OPPO widgets, less with 3rd party apps/Google widgets), change the layout of the home screens, change the shape or even colors of the icons, notification shade icons. So, you will say Material You. Nope. It seems an OPPO solution, including a wallpaper's colors picker.
And it's the same for many things. Notification shades are a struggle for me. Too many operations to have a global view and enter the app. I have many email accounts and receive many emails. You can all the notifications grouped for each inbox; that's great. You can unfold them and see each notification for each mail. Great. But when it's folded, clicking on the shade, you should get you in the inbox with all read and unread mail. Here, you need to unfold, select an email, go into the email in the app, go back, and then be in your inbox.
And the system is still responsive, the battery is good, and no drain due to these additions, and you customized the X5 to get a closer look at a Pixel/Stock OS. Some options or functionality will pop, giving you more of this feel… or the opposite.
I choose the US region on the phone, meaning lots of functionalities are deactivated to comply with local regulations… No Omoji, Themes, or way to customize the OS. Usually, when these options are free (like themes), the product is you (and your data). The X5 doesn't have Air Gestures functionality like its big brother, the X5 Pro. It can be a nice touch; for me, it's just a gimmick, like a quick ball, smart bar. I tried them. I understand the addiction, but it's not for me. At least the goal of Android, personalize it for your own usage. And it was the same for O Relax. It allows you to relax with a mix of music and video for a time duration you have decided. Zen attitude. Yeps, great for those who need, nope for me.
For Privacy, OPPO stated, "User privacy is about transparency. OPPO has been improving data compliance through storage and process. With servers deployed in multiple locations worldwide, OPPO guarantees that user data stays in the nearby servers, saved in a non-plain text transmitted using a proprietary protocol."
ColorOS 12 comes with Private System, Private Safe, App Lock, and more security features with Android 12 Privacy Dashboards. However, on the phone, their privacy notice is outdated from November 2020. It seems the servers are in Germany for EU users, so OPPO complies with GPDR.
Okay, user data are safe and encrypted. ColorOS even integrates the new A12 guidelines as permissions of apps to use the camera, microphone, localization (approximate or precise), the data used, and the green dot to indicate whether an app uses a microphone or camera.
Anti-peeping feature is also included, and the system will recognize if it's the viewer looking at the screen, so the notification or content can be hidden if tuned this way.
So, with the integration of Android 12 Features, OPPO custom-made additions, a new 3D engine for rendering, the wallpaper-based theming stuff, the smart sidebar, the nearby share integration, the quick return bubble, and all the animations On, what about the battery?
Surprisingly… Good. 3 Gmail accounts + 2 Exchange ones + photography + not a great network as fewer frequencies available here in the US with an EU variant + YouTube + some casual games here and there… You are good to go for the day. As usual, I turned my smartphone by restricting apps I don't use, and I need to refresh when I go inside them (and believe me, it makes a massive difference as ColorOs allows Foreground Activity, Background Activity, and Auto Launch options to enable or disable.
And if there is an issue, you can activate the Super power-saving mode making your smartphone a feature phone. You can add 3 apps on top of the clock, dialer and messaging apps. It will help you be reachable until you find a way to recharge your phone.
Like many OEMs, OPPO integrates the virtual RAM gimmick, adding virtual memory using your storage as paginated space for the less used apps still in memory and the multitasking mode. So, you will have from 2Gb to 5Gb more than the 8Gb RAM available in this variant. With UFS 3.1, the less used in-memory apps, no slowdown with that… but again, a gimmick to avoid pushing a 12Gb variant as the 101 available variants for a flagship.
Floating windows, flexible windows… all these kinds of things are available under Android 12 with PIP mode, and obviously, they are also present in the X5.
Except for the split-screen functionality, the others I don't use … on a smartphone. The screen is too small; Bingo is on a tablet, but here, again, not my usage. It's functional; animations are great, nothing to add. Some OEMs have an issue implementing on top of their framework, but this is not the case here. If you're a fan of it, you will have it with the X5 series.
ColorOS also integrates all you need for casting your screen. From Miracast to Chromecast, wirelessly to a wired way from TV to your computer screen.
You have your TV or Android or Google or whatever Box up to date, and you should have the opportunity to share your screen and the Audio.
To share your screen on your computer, you will need to download an app, PC Connect client for Mac or Windows, allowing the connection with your phone… And that's it. You will have a floating window on your desktop mirroring your OPPO screen. Fast and easy. Sharing clipboard functionality is also available.
The wired connection is working via USB-C to HDMI cable; gaming and YouTube are okay, but I had an issue with streaming apps like Prime Video or Netflix where I don't have any with other brands. Maybe it's up to these apps to allow or integrate this new model. The issue is a no go from the apps to decrypt protected content.
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Speaking of updates, this Find series should usually receive 3 years of Major OS upgrades and 4 years of security updates (per month or as required…)
Something I didn't see a lot in OPPO communication is the O-Haptics functionality. I like it, and it gives a little punch to the notification or when you are using the smartphone. And you can finetune the intensity and synchronize it with the tones. The demonstration video is convincing, and I am waiting for a third-party app using the API/Library.
Another exciting thing is that the product has 2 IMEI, 2 SIM cards trays, and the eSIM option. I will bet the eSIM will deactivate the SIM 2 port if active. But saying eSIM is finally live is a great thing.
The Wi-Fi 6 is 2.4Gbps compatible in the Connectivity part, so easy to reach these numbers. With my GB internet plan, I reach 1.4Gbps on download, with the Wi-Fi meaning with got here the 2x80Mhz bandwidth instead of only 1x80 or 2x40Mhz for some competitors and blocked you only at 1.2Gbps.
For LTE, LTE-A, LTE NR, SA, NSA, 5G, or whatever, sorry, EU variant, and I am in the US, so that it won't be representative.
Let's go for Part 3 and the Final Thoughts
Again, thank you OPPO and @OPPO Ambassador Team for this opportunity.​