Related
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.
I am interested to know how many of you have experienced faults I have read about while frequenting these forums.
The reason for me wondering this is because my Xperia PLAY is just out of warranty (2 years) and I'm considering buying a new handset while I can as it seems to be out of production, and before long all that will be available is used devices. The device didn't succeed much in terms of android updates and support from Sony (they had too much invested in the DOA PS Vita) but alas, no other device compares to it in terms of gaming with particular regard to emulator support. This is primarily a gaming-centric device (hdmi-out would have made it golden) and I honestly don't see its crown being taken any time soon. I think this is reason enough for me to hold onto one but unsure of if a new one in warranty is necessary, hence the poll.
Tlrtheory has made several posts regarding his thoughts on the xperia play. He had moved XP to an HTC One-x and to an iphone 5 only to come back to an XP. Sorry I contact link any comments as I am away from my laptop. Will post some later.
Sent from my R800at using xda premium
Its definitely a fun little device to have, but I can't use it as a daily driver.
The XP does one thing well, and only one. Portable gaming.
While its inconvenient to carry around a Dual shock 3 and a separate device, its a much more pleasurable experience than using my XP. Dem joysticks.
If you have the opportunity, use a newer device in conjunction with an XP.
My main problem with my XP is that it showed its age rather quickly, and even using stock gingerbread, it can barely perform the games it used to blaze through. I'm unsure whether its my processor, the SD Card, or the device is just plain old, but the XP does not live up to its former glory.
After about a year, no matter what I tried, I was unable to perform basic tasks without encountering extreme amounts of lag, while gaming was un-enjoyable. Mine is collecting dust, with an occasional power on and play when my tablet is out of juice.
Sent from my Nexus 7
My experience with PLAY has been fantastic. It plays almost all available emulators at full speed. My only gripe was the amount of support from Sony was lackluster to say the least. But as a basic Android phone, it works splendid.
I haven't experienced any problems that I've read yet, I've gotten my phone stolen half way through its contract so the one I have now is about a year and a half years old. But the main problem people seem to report would be the flex cable.
Power button sometimes gets stuck and my volume buttons and back cover are VERY squeaky.
Actually my Power Buttons fine, it's just that the varnish has gone so now theres a massive LED light now..
And I'm not sure if this is normal but my R Trigger feels looser than the L Trigger.
The paint on the 4 front buttons (back,search,home, and settings) started to chip off and another big problem that hasn't happened to me yet but lots of people complain about is the flex cable
Sent from my Xperia Play (r800x)
Yes also for me, the paint is starting to come off.
AzNTypeR said:
And I'm not sure if this is normal but my R Trigger feels looser than the L Trigger.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Same here, its very loose :/ L is fine though..
The only other problem i have is my back button being too squishy, theres no force needed to push it!
I have had no problems with the power button because I never use it :silly: I mapped search to be power instead as its easier to access and I never used search lol
Zilch for me.
...the only problem I really have is that the previous owner messed up the front camera when replacing the flex cable. My original Xperia Play (which is now in the hands of a long-time friend) has absolutely NO hardware issues at all.
The only real problems were that:
• Internal memory sucked (which we can easily remedy with Link2SD - I've done it and now I have 471 installs while having 283MB free)
• Stock launcher was weak (also an easy fix - I've found ssLauncher to be the smoothest, most aesthetically appealing option)
• Stock browser was laggy (get Opera, it's not only the best mobile browser, but it's completely smooth on Xperia Play)
• Didn't natively come with notifcation toggles (which can be fixed with notifications)
...but by far and large... the biggest complaint is just that it's not "officially" supporting ICS. I take a rather extreme stance of "are you guys on crack?!" when someone tries to point this out as a valid point. This is not a damn iPhone... meaning it doesn't work on the same restrictive principles as the iPhone. On iOS, there's no getting around the fact that you need a newer FW to get features. On Android, we aren't so much affected in the same manner. Yeah 4.2.2 brings lock screen widgets... but everything dating back to 2.1 has already had those features through external apps like widgetlocker. We can get data management without 4.x.x, and even have that holo theme take over our Xperia Play. So, for us... anything above 2.3.7 is more of a bragging right... and it's a bragging right that compromises the stability of our games and compromises how much of the RAM we have... that ain't very "baller" to me.
Somebody give this guy a medal, please? Makes me love my XPlay even more (even if "she's" very sickly).
My xPlay is more than year old, and so far she don't have any hardware issues. And even when i get newer phone, i plan to flash some gingerbread rom without phone capabilities and use it as psx/c64 platform untill she dies in my hands...
Sent from my R800i using xda app-developers app
My R800x is almost 2 years old, still have that despite moving to a R800at, which was in new condition. But both phones and my R800x are in great condition with no hardware issues whatsoever.
And despite playing with a GS3 for 2 weeks it was nice but didnt wave my flag, so I went, nah, and went back to my PLAY. No regrets when I moved from R800x to R800at, especially since i snagged a prototype AT&T model with no branding on it and it was already bootloader unlocked. Had to unlock the sim lock but that was no big deal. Is our phone dated hardware wise yes, but would I give it up for a GS4, nope. I know some people will think it odd and call me crazy but there is nothing like using this phone for some online MC3 or Lets Golf 2 or shadowgun or Bards Tale, or especially the Tiger Arcade CPS1/CPS2/NeoGeo emulators......
Best thing on the world for phone and gaming in my opinion. $ony needs to make another XP2, but doubtful since they want to try and resuscitate the Vita... anyways, no issues but per bliss.
ozzmanj1 said:
a prototype AT&T model with no branding on it and it was already bootloader unlocked. Had to unlock the sim lock but that was no big deal.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
does it have an hdmi out as the first demo units did or is it a later prototype without please?
Sent from my C6603 using Tapatalk
ps3taker said:
does it have an hdmi out as the first demo units did or is it a later prototype without please?
Sent from my C6603 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No HDMI out, I had made a thread on it, see post 8 for images:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2088271
Noticed the ebay listing is gone, one of the photos showed the back with the battery out and it clearly states "Prototype not for sale", and on the bottom of the front keys there is a serialized number on it. Also the IMEI starts with 044 which I have read means its a proto model. If you'd like me to make a photo of the back let me know, of course I will blur out the last half of the IMEI #.
Edit - Added photos. See attached.
My contract ends next week and... I decided to stay with my XP. I know is little bit outdated and latest games not running smoothly but it's still fun.
Later someone mention that better is to connect to tv and use pad to play but try to do that waiting in queue or bus, during lunch time or waiting for your missus trying another dress...
If want to play good quality game I turn on my PC or Xbox.
Modified ROMs give us nearly all functions that new phones have. I not much gamer to have extra pocket device with me and smudging on screen to play is not fun either. I still have hope that Sony realize that chase after Apple, Samsung etc. Is not only copy other devices but to make some unique moves. Sometimes I thinks that get rid Ericsson was mistake, I used since 1018 long time ago.
Back to topic. I have my XP for 2 yeaes now, no major issues.
I have problem with touchpads, they not working always. I need to turn off phone, remove battery and they back. Tried different roms, kernel, back to stock and even send twice to Sony. I can live with that.
Heard that ribbon is problem. I have change that but it happen when fallen down to river with my XP inside pocket. When dried out phone back to life but later screen started flickering.
Sorry for boring post but I love my XP.
Sent from my R800i using xda app-developers app
ozzmanj1 said:
Tlrtheory has made several posts regarding his thoughts on the xperia play. He had moved XP to an HTC One-x and to an iphone 5 only to come back to an XP. Sorry I contact link any comments as I am away from my laptop. Will post some later.
Sent from my R800at using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah I remember reading it and thinking I'd quite like a white XP too but all that is available for sale in the UK are used ones (don't buy used electronics) or grossly overpriced ones (£400+ for a 2011 handset? dafk!).
Replacing my XP with something different isn't really on my mind, but more just that of preserving a working one because it is still the damned best handheld you can get even if its capabilities as a phone are questionable. Its inevitable I will have to replace it eventually given that app developers won't support GB forever. When that day comes, Sony won't even be a brand I consider unless they get a grip on the future of PS Mobile and release an Xperia PLAY 2. It will be Nexus all the way for me with their great pricing and software support. But even then I will still want to hold onto my XP as a great gaming machine.
Its a great shame Sony doesn't realise the potential of a gaming/phone hybrid. The XP had a lacklustre launch with lacklustre specs with a lacklustre marketing campaign, and despite this it was still a great handset in many ways and earned itself itself a strong following. Sony (and pretty much any multinational company) only cares about the sales figures and not the big picture. Smartphones are and will continue to eat into dedicated gaming handhelds; PS Vita is the past and devices like the XP are what they need to move PS Mobile as a strategy going forwards.
Leraeniesh said:
Its definitely a fun little device to have, but I can't use it as a daily driver.
The XP does one thing well, and only one. Portable gaming.
While its inconvenient to carry around a Dual shock 3 and a separate device, its a much more pleasurable experience than using my XP. Dem joysticks.
If you have the opportunity, use a newer device in conjunction with an XP.
My main problem with my XP is that it showed its age rather quickly, and even using stock gingerbread, it can barely perform the games it used to blaze through. I'm unsure whether its my processor, the SD Card, or the device is just plain old, but the XP does not live up to its former glory.
After about a year, no matter what I tried, I was unable to perform basic tasks without encountering extreme amounts of lag, while gaming was un-enjoyable. Mine is collecting dust, with an occasional power on and play when my tablet is out of juice.
Sent from my Nexus 7
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sounds very much like a hardware problem with your device, either that or the SD card. Its definitely not something I have experienced. I decrapified my handset from useless apps from day one and experience little to no lag, ever. Nexus+XP might be something I consider going forwards but the XP is definitely irreplaceable in terms of gaming, which is a shame.
Mega5657 said:
My experience with PLAY has been fantastic. It plays almost all available emulators at full speed. My only gripe was the amount of support from Sony was lackluster to say the least. But as a basic Android phone, it works splendid.
I haven't experienced any problems that I've read yet, I've gotten my phone stolen half way through its contract so the one I have now is about a year and a half years old. But the main problem people seem to report would be the flex cable.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes I agree with you and everyone else in regards to the flex cable. It was clearly designed poorly to avoid ware.
I have a bad feeling that mine is slowly on its way too. It didn't used to make any noise when opening/closing the slider but it makes an unmistakably odd crackling noise now. This is the main reason I'm considering replacing it with a new handset while I can... not worth the heartache later
CyberScopes said:
Power button sometimes gets stuck and my volume buttons and back cover are VERY squeaky.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Only had my power button get stuck the once and I rarely use the volume buttons tbh.
The back cover is definitely very squeaky. I'm probably in the minority here but I'm a big fan of plastic housing for phones because of its durability and shock resistance, but the XP's back cover was poorly designed and adds to the growing list of problems for us 1st worlders, lol.
AzNTypeR said:
Actually my Power Buttons fine, it's just that the varnish has gone so now theres a massive LED light now..
And I'm not sure if this is normal but my R Trigger feels looser than the L Trigger.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Same here with the R trigger. Its lost its springiness. This I think has something to do with how we hold our devices when making a call, so it seems Apple users aren't alone in "holding it wrong" lol.
abdel12345 said:
The paint on the 4 front buttons (back,search,home, and settings) started to chip off and another big problem that hasn't happened to me yet but lots of people complain about is the flex cable
Sent from my Xperia Play (r800x)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This started to happen to my device very slightly but since getting the Trident case, no further ware on the buttons has occurred.
TLRtheory said:
Zilch for me.
...the only problem I really have is that the previous owner messed up the front camera when replacing the flex cable. My original Xperia Play (which is now in the hands of a long-time friend) has absolutely NO hardware issues at all.
The only real problems were that:
• Internal memory sucked (which we can easily remedy with Link2SD - I've done it and now I have 471 installs while having 283MB free)
• Stock launcher was weak (also an easy fix - I've found ssLauncher to be the smoothest, most aesthetically appealing option)
• Stock browser was laggy (get Opera, it's not only the best mobile browser, but it's completely smooth on Xperia Play)
• Didn't natively come with notifcation toggles (which can be fixed with notifications)
...but by far and large... the biggest complaint is just that it's not "officially" supporting ICS. I take a rather extreme stance of "are you guys on crack?!" when someone tries to point this out as a valid point. This is not a damn iPhone... meaning it doesn't work on the same restrictive principles as the iPhone. On iOS, there's no getting around the fact that you need a newer FW to get features. On Android, we aren't so much affected in the same manner. Yeah 4.2.2 brings lock screen widgets... but everything dating back to 2.1 has already had those features through external apps like widgetlocker. We can get data management without 4.x.x, and even have that holo theme take over our Xperia Play. So, for us... anything above 2.3.7 is more of a bragging right... and it's a bragging right that compromises the stability of our games and compromises how much of the RAM we have... that ain't very "baller" to me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well pretty much the same. I have only had minor issues so far with mine, with the R1 button losing springiness, ware on the front buttons and the housing scratching the gamepad. My main concern is with the flex cable; it now sounds unhealthy when opening/closing the device, where it didn't before. Do you notice anything with yours?
I agree with you. Link2SD is a REQUIREMENT for XP users and I never worry about internal storage any more.
Meh. I have no problem with the stock launcher. Sure it doesn't have all the bells and whistles of say a Samsung device but what it lacks in features is makes up for in simplicity and stability.
The stock browser was worse than aweful; it was atrocious. After a few weeks of using it I replaced it. Opera is indeed the best browser available for android. I tried Firefox and others, which were largely very unstable and overall just rubbish for multiple different reasons.
I agree on the ICS issue. though I do think it was something that could have been avoided if it had been released with current specs on launch day. But alas, it didn't and there's no point crying about it now. The real shame is not that it didn't get ICS, its that the lacklustre launch specs and sales campaign that probably stopped it from getting the sales it deserved and resultantly killed off much chance we had of seeing a successor to it.
Bakisha said:
My xPlay is more than year old, and so far she don't have any hardware issues. And even when i get newer phone, i plan to flash some gingerbread rom without phone capabilities and use it as psx/c64 platform untill she dies in my hands...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hope its good health continues for you. Its gaming capabilities are definitely not in doubt, even 2 years later :good:
ozzmanj1 said:
My R800x is almost 2 years old, still have that despite moving to a R800at, which was in new condition. But both phones and my R800x are in great condition with no hardware issues whatsoever.
And despite playing with a GS3 for 2 weeks it was nice but didnt wave my flag, so I went, nah, and went back to my PLAY. No regrets when I moved from R800x to R800at, especially since i snagged a prototype AT&T model with no branding on it and it was already bootloader unlocked. Had to unlock the sim lock but that was no big deal. Is our phone dated hardware wise yes, but would I give it up for a GS4, nope. I know some people will think it odd and call me crazy but there is nothing like using this phone for some online MC3 or Lets Golf 2 or shadowgun or Bards Tale, or especially the Tiger Arcade CPS1/CPS2/NeoGeo emulators......
Best thing on the world for phone and gaming in my opinion. $ony needs to make another XP2, but doubtful since they want to try and resuscitate the Vita... anyways, no issues but per bliss.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You're not crazy, I use the XP for all my portable gaming needs. Its a real shame we won't ever likely see a successor or even a challenger to it. But at least if the majority of devices stay working without the aforementioned faults, what remains is a great and unbeaten gaming device.
ps3taker said:
does it have an hdmi out as the first demo units did or is it a later prototype without please?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This was on developer units. Dire shame this feature never made the cut.
bartmw said:
My contract ends next week and... I decided to stay with my XP. I know is little bit outdated and latest games not running smoothly but it's still fun.
Later someone mention that better is to connect to tv and use pad to play but try to do that waiting in queue or bus, during lunch time or waiting for your missus trying another dress...
If want to play good quality game I turn on my PC or Xbox.
Modified ROMs give us nearly all functions that new phones have. I not much gamer to have extra pocket device with me and smudging on screen to play is not fun either. I still have hope that Sony realize that chase after Apple, Samsung etc. Is not only copy other devices but to make some unique moves. Sometimes I thinks that get rid Ericsson was mistake, I used since 1018 long time ago.
Back to topic. I have my XP for 2 yeaes now, no major issues.
I have problem with touchpads, they not working always. I need to turn off phone, remove battery and they back. Tried different roms, kernel, back to stock and even send twice to Sony. I can live with that.
Heard that ribbon is problem. I have change that but it happen when fallen down to river with my XP inside pocket. When dried out phone back to life but later screen started flickering.
Sorry for boring post but I love my XP.
Sent from my R800i using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You're right. Who the hell uses a dualshock controller or one of those ridiculously obese and unportable controller attachments? It looks and is retarded. People are mad if they think otherwise.
I also know someone who got their XP damp (dropped in puddle) and the ribbon went a few months later. Sounds like this is something to try and avoid.
Also, another problem is that the Front Camera's gone completely Green and Fuzzy. May be down to the amount of times that I've dropped it, before it wasn't that bad but now it simply refuses to work.
On my third Play, but not through anything breaking by itself. My first was stolen, my second didn't survive my dropping it in a sink full of water. Water = not good for sure, and I'm paranoid about the flex cable. Interestingly each that I had tried with let me overclock to 1.5GHz at stock voltage, but I use OC sparingly.
It's an absolute essential to get the Trident case IMO, it saved my last play from being dropped on concrete twice I'm sure and to protect the buttons. Honestly, if anyone is thinking about getting it and worrying about the price: please if you can at all afford it, just get it. It'll save you money on a broken phone some day.
And also honestly it's the only phone for me, even if imperfect. I can either choose between GB and some new 4.0+ only apps not being available (for me, BBC radio player), or ICS and some circle button and game incompatibilities (krisdee's Hybrid rom + LuPus ICS/GB 480p seems a viable combination for game performance and general stability at least though, which is great). Not tried JB. But either way, it's more game playing than I'd do on any device without buttons regardless of the specs. Even if it only played emulators, it would still be "cool" to me.
I agree Opera is the smoothest browser, I've always found that, particularly on GB. And yes the speakers are so very useful, I use it as a mini "radio" all the time.
I seriously don't know how you guys have problems.. i bought mine 2nd hand a year ago and only problem I've faced is the housing seems to fade/damage easily. going to replace it soon. otherwise no prob.
I collected a G Pad earlier on. It's the first time I've bought a tablet having never actually seen one in the silicon.
I had a Nexus 7 2013 which I was really happy with, but its mobo failed and went off for a three week repair. It came back in a worse-looking state than it went so I got a refund on it. While it was being fixed I used my old 10" Xoom, and I realised how much nicer a bigger screen is. And then I saw a review of the G Pad...
So I wasn't too unhappy when the Nexus was refunded, and based on the balance of reviews and comments here I took the plunge. So far - and I've only had it an hour - I really like it. The Nexus has a brilliant screen and I thought the lower-PPI count would show on the G, but it seems not to. It seems to go bright enough, but I've not tested it in sunlight outdoors. It's not quite Nexus-retina-searing levels but seems to be not far off.
The extra inch of screen makes a surprising difference in its actual size. It's a nice plus.
No sign yet of a blue line either. The speakers are louder than I'd expected having read things on here.
A couple of things that I need to test out though: battery life and SD card compatibility. As long as I get Nexus-ish battery life I'll be happy, but I need to see if apps like Google Music can store to the SD card (well I know it can, but can it without being rooted?) And BBC iPlayer too, some of those videos come in at one gig+ so I hope they can get off on to the card too. Otherwise 16GB is going to disappear pretty quickly, and that will make the tablet useless for that purpose.
I might try a custom ROM but CM 10.2 on my S3 isn't as finished as they'd have you think: for instance, the phone has for some reason stopped ringing aloud in the past few days. Maybe CM 11 is better, I don't know. But the stock ROM doesn't seem that bad at the moment (but anyone on here likes to tinker, so let's see how long that lasts.)
My bigger concern is community support. I really appreciate what the devs are doing, but for products like the G Pad which don't seem to have sold by the million, long-term support is surely not going to be as promising as it is for the Nexus or Samsung devices.
And actually, I'll end by asking what the hell LG are playing at. So far, this looks like a great tablet but there are NONE to be found in electrical stores here in the UK. That's why I had to buy it sight unseen. If they can't get it into stores, how are they going to shift any in reasonable numbers? Especially when this looks like it should deserve to. Equally, they seem to have failed to hit their stride in terms of getting it into the hands of reviewers.
Anyway, I'm off to have a play. From what I've seen, hopefully I can persuade myself to keep it!
Welcome to the club. I love mine too. There are ways to move files and apps to your SD card, but if your like me, my Google Music takes up a ton of space and just moving it to the SD card clears up a lot of space on the internal storage. Google Music has a setting to pick your storage location so just choose your SD card. From my understanding, this may be limited to KitKat only though. If you'reconsidering flashing a ROM, I highly suggest Mahdi. You'll lose your LG apps because it's based on AOSP, but you'll pick up a ton of customization in a buttery smooth ROM.
Thanks clemson77on.
I do like it but I am probably going to return it. It turns out that BBC iPlayer doesn't support downloads to the G Pad, and I doubt it ever will - they only spend time certifying devices that hit the mainstream. I hate to say it but I don't think the G Pad ever will.
I put Mahdi's ROM on and it is far superior to stock. I certainly mean no disrespect to him or any other devs - who are capable of doing far more than me - but I think the Nexus 7 will have a longer support life from the community. I would be very happy to be proved wrong on this in months to come.
Silly little things play on my mind with this tablet, such as the non-standard soft buttons in the stock ROM. Yes you have a selection, but where's the choice for the Android standard? Device manufacturers drive me crazy sometimes. I would actually like to remain unrooted because there are various apps I use that require that; at least with the N7 I will get no bloat and can keep it unrooted.
I really like the knock-on feature, I don't know why some reviews said it was a gimmick.
But ultimately, 16GB doesn't seem to cut it. I have moved what I can to SD but there's only about 2GB free.
Having said all that... on the other hand, the screen size is a significant plus, and having haptic feedback is really nice in a tablet.
I know that's a random selection of thoughts. I am going to have to make my mind up!
astromark said:
Thanks clemson77on.
I do like it but I am probably going to return it. It turns out that BBC iPlayer doesn't support downloads to the G Pad, and I doubt it ever will - they only spend time certifying devices that hit the mainstream. I hate to say it but I don't think the G Pad ever will.
I put Mahdi's ROM on and it is far superior to stock. I certainly mean no disrespect to him or any other devs - who are capable of doing far more than me - but I think the Nexus 7 will have a longer support life from the community. I would be very happy to be proved wrong on this in months to come.
Silly little things play on my mind with this tablet, such as the non-standard soft buttons in the stock ROM. Yes you have a selection, but where's the choice for the Android standard? Device manufacturers drive me crazy sometimes. I would actually like to remain unrooted because there are various apps I use that require that; at least with the N7 I will get no bloat and can keep it unrooted.
I really like the knock-on feature, I don't know why some reviews said it was a gimmick.
But ultimately, 16GB doesn't seem to cut it. I have moved what I can to SD but there's only about 2GB free.
Having said all that... on the other hand, the screen size is a significant plus, and having haptic feedback is really nice in a tablet.
I know that's a random selection of thoughts. I am going to have to make my mind up!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I believe the development support will be quite good for this device, maybe not on par with the Nexus 7, but very good especially with there being a Google Developer Edition model now.
I know nothing about BBC iPlayer, but it looks like it won't download to the device because of being out of the UK. I did notice that there's an app in the play store called Unblock BBC iPlayer that may help you out - I have no idea.
If you need to be rooted for some of your apps to work, there are apps that can hide your root such as Root Cloak.
Also, you can even move your apps to your SD card if you want to. Link2SD works great for that.
As for soft buttons, I changed mine to look like those on my HTC One and made the longpresses the same so it would be more uniform.
Hope that helps.
clemson77on said:
I believe the development support will be quite good for this device, maybe not on par with the Nexus 7, but very good especially with there being a Google Developer Edition model now.
I know nothing about BBC iPlayer, but it looks like it won't download to the device because of being out of the UK. I did notice that there's an app in the play store called Unblock BBC iPlayer that may help you out - I have no idea.
If you need to be rooted for some of your apps to work, there are apps that can hide your root such as Root Cloak.
Also, you can even move your apps to your SD card if you want to. Link2SD works great for that.
As for soft buttons, I changed mine to look like those on my HTC One and made the longpresses the same so it would be more uniform.
Hope that helps.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks very much for the reply. I have in fact decided to keep it. The larger screen won out in the end, and the other positives outweighed the negatives. It only cost £230, which is £10 cheaper than the N7 was, but yes that had twice the storage (but no SD slot). The build and overall shape of this tablet is really nice, possibly the best out there for Android.
The battery life seems a bit so so, but I'm getting 5.5 to 6 hours of screen time. I can live with that - I'm never far from power!
More to the point, I keep these things for a year or so before getting a new one and I can happily live with this for a year (til maybe G Pad 2...)
To return to my points, with iPlayer it's not a location thing. It's whether the BBC dev team can get round to supporting this. Understandably they will prioritise better-selling devices - they'll spend their time where the demand is. I would therefore say that anyone in the UK who has one, install iPlayer and use it. Get this tablet onto their stats. They won't even consider it if they don't see it being used.
Root Cloak, good idea. I've tried OTA Rootkeeper which has certainly unrooted it, I just can't use it to root it again!
Haven't tried Link2SD but will give that a blast later.
My thing with the soft buttons is a more general Android annoyance. Different ways for different manufacturers. And even then they just can't stop themselves. Some of the LG mods were quite good - but they kept on adding more and more. They're not alone but feature creep tends not to lead to a better overall experience.
astromark said:
To return to my points, with iPlayer it's not a location thing. It's whether the BBC dev team can get round to supporting this. Understandably they will prioritise better-selling devices - they'll spend their time where the demand is. I would therefore say that anyone in the UK who has one, install iPlayer and use it. Get this tablet onto their stats. They won't even consider it if they don't see it being used.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My G Pad is running the stock LG ROM, is rooted and with the aid of https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.amphoras.hidemyroot&hl=en_GB I am able to install and watch material using iPlayer and the BBC Media Player software.
tdodd said:
My G Pad is running the stock LG ROM, is rooted and with the aid of https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.amphoras.hidemyroot&hl=en_GB I am able to install and watch material using iPlayer and the BBC Media Player software.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Does iPlayer check for root? What is disabled on iPlayer if it does detect that you have root?
tdodd said:
My G Pad is running the stock LG ROM, is rooted and with the aid of https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.amphoras.hidemyroot&hl=en_GB I am able to install and watch material using iPlayer and the BBC Media Player software.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I may not have been clear enough. I can also watch iplayer. I cannot download for offline viewing.
astromark said:
I collected a G Pad earlier on. It's the first time I've bought a tablet having never actually seen one in the silicon.
I had a Nexus 7 2013 which I was really happy with, but its mobo failed and went off for a three week repair. It came back in a worse-looking state than it went so I got a refund on it. While it was being fixed I used my old 10" Xoom, and I realised how much nicer a bigger screen is. And then I saw a review of the G Pad...
So I wasn't too unhappy when the Nexus was refunded, and based on the balance of reviews and comments here I took the plunge. So far - and I've only had it an hour - I really like it. The Nexus has a brilliant screen and I thought the lower-PPI count would show on the G, but it seems not to. It seems to go bright enough, but I've not tested it in sunlight outdoors. It's not quite Nexus-retina-searing levels but seems to be not far off.
The extra inch of screen makes a surprising difference in its actual size. It's a nice plus.
No sign yet of a blue line either. The speakers are louder than I'd expected having read things on here.
A couple of things that I need to test out though: battery life and SD card compatibility. As long as I get Nexus-ish battery life I'll be happy, but I need to see if apps like Google Music can store to the SD card (well I know it can, but can it without being rooted?) And BBC iPlayer too, some of those videos come in at one gig+ so I hope they can get off on to the card too. Otherwise 16GB is going to disappear pretty quickly, and that will make the tablet useless for that purpose.
I might try a custom ROM but CM 10.2 on my S3 isn't as finished as they'd have you think: for instance, the phone has for some reason stopped ringing aloud in the past few days. Maybe CM 11 is better, I don't know. But the stock ROM doesn't seem that bad at the moment (but anyone on here likes to tinker, so let's see how long that lasts.)
My bigger concern is community support. I really appreciate what the devs are doing, but for products like the G Pad which don't seem to have sold by the million, long-term support is surely not going to be as promising as it is for the Nexus or Samsung devices.
And actually, I'll end by asking what the hell LG are playing at. So far, this looks like a great tablet but there are NONE to be found in electrical stores here in the UK. That's why I had to buy it sight unseen. If they can't get it into stores, how are they going to shift any in reasonable numbers? Especially when this looks like it should deserve to. Equally, they seem to have failed to hit their stride in terms of getting it into the hands of reviewers.
Anyway, I'm off to have a play. From what I've seen, hopefully I can persuade myself to keep it!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I had a Nexus 7 (2013) for a few months before I decided to buy a G Pad. I very much agree with you the extra inch makes a big difference. At first if you install a custom rom like CM11 and put it side by side with the G Pad at maximum brightness next to the nexus 7 at max brightness there is definetly a difference in the max brightness with the G Pad falling down on that factor.
Also on the note of it not being found in electrical stores in your country, it is hard to find this device anywhere outside of JB Hifi in Australia unless you buy it online - which I did because even though it can be found at JB Hifi here, it is only available in white and I wanted black.
With the lack of developer community, it was hard coming from the Nexus 7 community which is insanely large however this device seems to be pretty good as it is after you flash a AOSP rom. It does lack a large amount of custom kernel's which the Nexus 7 had the upper hand on - especially with devs like Franco who made the battery life increase by a lot.
astromark said:
I may not have been clear enough. I can also watch iplayer. I cannot download for offline viewing.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
OK. Maybe I misunderstood. Now I get it. Yes, the G Pad is not on the download compatibility list. Quite why the Beeb needs such a thing is beyond me.
tdodd said:
OK. Maybe I misunderstood. Now I get it. Yes, the G Pad is not on the download compatibility list. Quite why the Beeb needs such a thing is beyond me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's a shame isn't it. Presumably it has to do with compatibility testing, user experience checking or more likely rights agreements. Rights rule the roost.
It is clearly technically capable of doing it, it's the iplayer bods having to put the work in to confirm that. And as I say. they'll prioritise by usage. Low usage = low priority = low chance of getting downloads approved.
astromark said:
It's a shame isn't it. Presumably it has to do with compatibility testing, user experience checking or more likely rights agreements. Rights rule the roost.
It is clearly technically capable of doing it, it's the iplayer bods having to put the work in to confirm that. And as I say. they'll prioritise by usage. Low usage = low priority = low chance of getting downloads approved.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm pretty sure that DRM is the issue. Probably, the Beeb thinks if you have root, you might find some way to get around their DRM and distribute the downloaded programs. Not a big deal for me, because I generally stream rather than download.
astromark said:
It's a shame isn't it. Presumably it has to do with compatibility testing, user experience checking or more likely rights agreements. Rights rule the roost.
It is clearly technically capable of doing it, it's the iplayer bods having to put the work in to confirm that. And as I say. they'll prioritise by usage. Low usage = low priority = low chance of getting downloads approved.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How about that old prop editing? Finding a phone or tablet device that has approval from BBC and then just jot that in it's model numbers into the build.prop on the V500? Perhaps the BBC player will then check up against that and allow the downloads? Then just unroot again after? :d I always say this, but it's worth a try, isn't it? Unless it's been done before of course.
woody1 said:
I'm pretty sure that DRM is the issue. Probably, the Beeb thinks if you have root, you might find some way to get around their DRM and distribute the downloaded programs. Not a big deal for me, because I generally stream rather than download.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've always found iPlayer works regardless of root state. Just tried it on my rooted S3 and it's fine, and it works on my Xoom which was rooted on day 1! I find it handy to have downloads to watch in the gym. Passes the time...
CuraeL said:
How about that old prop editing?.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Good idea - haven't thought about it before now. Never tried anything quite that involved. Flashing ROMs and then unbricking is as far as I've gone! I might look into this tomorrow. I assume it's not too tricky. Is it something in the prop that specifies the device?
astromark said:
Good idea - haven't thought about it before now. Never tried anything quite that involved. Flashing ROMs and then unbricking is as far as I've gone! I might look into this tomorrow. I assume it's not too tricky. Is it something in the prop that specifies the device?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, I don't remember the exact entries in the build.prop. But aquire root, download rom tool box and edit the build prop. Go to your iPlayer enabled device and look for all entries with something like "model" and any variable set ro device number and such. Then just insert them into the V500. After root, it's strictly typing required. And finding the right entries of course. I'm in Denmark and I don't believe I qualify for BBC Player, but I dunno otherwise I'd try it myself. Go with Nexus 5 or Galaxy S4 build.prop or something. It must be around here, somewhere..
Would be a nice fix if that's how the app checks. Some apps does this, yes, by the way.
CuraeL said:
Well, I don't remember the exact entries in the build.prop. But aquire root, download rom tool box and edit the build prop. Go to your iPlayer enabled device and look for all entries with something like "model" and any variable set ro device number and such. Then just insert them into the V500.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It works - changing
ro.product.model=LG-V500
to:
ro.product.model=Nexus 7
brings it on. Excellent idea, thanks.
Now I need to read up about how to treat a directory on the external SD card like one on the internal-SD as iplayer has no support for external storage.
astromark said:
It works - changing
ro.product.model=LG-V500
to:
ro.product.model=Nexus 7
brings it on. Excellent idea, thanks.
Now I need to read up about how to treat a directory on the external SD card like one on the internal-SD as iplayer has no support for external storage.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's good news.
I believe theres apps for fixing external saving instead. There's some threads on it given the trouble with SD cards compatability and stuff. Go read up on those. App2SD and such I think, link2SD or something. Kinda like linking a harddrive path over to another harddrive, still keeping the app believing that it saves to in this case the internal storage, when it's really not. I'm not too sure, cause I've had no need or issues with this myself. But good luck and awesome that we fixed one of your troubles.
astromark said:
It works - changing
ro.product.model=LG-V500
to:
ro.product.model=Nexus 7
brings it on. Excellent idea, thanks.
Now I need to read up about how to treat a directory on the external SD card like one on the internal-SD as iplayer has no support for external storage.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try the free FolderMount app, available in the Play Store.
I'm looking for a cool, unique phone. I don't use my phone much, mostly for SMS, playing music on the way to/from work, Waze, Uber, and a lot of reading the Web and Reddit. No heavy games.
As some have mentioned, there are sites where it's about $200 CAD, which I'm assuming is them getting rid of stock.
Any thoughts? It's either the Yotaphone 2, something else, or wait until the bendy Galaxy S8
Hi Jonathan
As a very proud and happy Yotaphone 2 owner, I definitely recommend it.
First of all, I'm still in love with its second screen.
My main EPD panel shows clock & battery+ notifications + switch tools (mobile data, wifi...). Think that all these infos and options are always displayed and accessible with a double-tap, and that's perfect. When you discover that it's possible, you realize that should be mandatory for every device, in fact.
I think I use the EPD 80% of the time, it's perfect for all the messaging apps, for example. Twitter also works very well. Generally, I find activities like typing or reading very nice on the EPD, because you can take your time. It may not seem like an obvious edge, but I came to the conclusion that's soothing and good for mental health.
Aging? I think I'm not a smartphone power user, like you, and I don't play much. Yet, it still perfectly handles Internet navigation and apps (GMaps, Pokémon,...).
And, last but not least, the people around me love it. It draws attention, and for some, it's even viewed as some kind of magical device.
Beautiful, nice to handle, build quality, there's so much good to say about this device that I can't do it alone. For me, its bigger flaws were related to my extensive use of the EPD : no EPD backlight, the lack for more and more EPD apps, and their lack of features (compared to the not-EPD apps), but even that is improving with system updates (another big one rolled just yesterday, in Europe). It could also use SD card and second SIM slots, but it would be too close to perfection.
Thanks to the guys in Yota.
MonsieurSun said:
Hi Jonathan
As a very proud and happy Yotaphone 2 owner, I definitely recommend it.
First of all, I'm still in love with its second screen.
My main EPD panel shows clock & battery+ notifications + switch tools (mobile data, wifi...). Think that all these infos and options are always displayed and accessible with a double-tap, and that's perfect. When you discover that it's possible, you realize that should be mandatory for every device, in fact.
I think I use the EPD 80% of the time, it's perfect for all the messaging apps, for example. Twitter also works very well. Generally, I find activities like typing or reading very nice on the EPD, because you can take your time. It may not seem like an obvious edge, but I came to the conclusion that's soothing and good for mental health.
Aging? I think I'm not a smartphone power user, like you, and I don't play much. Yet, it still perfectly handles Internet navigation and apps (GMaps, Pokémon,...).
And, last but not least, the people around me love it. It draws attention, and for some, it's even viewed as some kind of magical device.
Beautiful, nice to handle, build quality, there's so much good to say about this device that I can't do it alone. For me, its bigger flaws were related to my extensive use of the EPD : no EPD backlight, the lack for more and more EPD apps, and their lack of features (compared to the not-EPD apps), but even that is improving with system updates (another big one rolled just yesterday, in Europe). It could also use SD card and second SIM slots, but it would be too close to perfection.
Thanks to the guys in Yota.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi MonsieurSun, thanks for your opinion.
I also interested in that device and this is one of the forums with more Info about it.
I have been reading and I have thought about buying a case tpu but do not know whether to buy also screen saver. I would like to know your opinion also on better version of firmware and the various extensions to the EPD screen I've seen on the forum. Thank you and sorry for my English.
Hello
You are asking about the accessories, right ?
I just bought a plain black bumper a while ago, and nothing else. It cost around 10€ and saves the phone from bad falls (it did for me twice) and protects both screens. My screens still look like pristine ones, one year after purchase.
The most recent firmware EU .124 I already mentioned contains a lot of nice improvements and fixes, though it also brought one new and annoying bug : the EPD screen randomly (haven't found any specific pattern yet) freezes when typing SMS. It can be de-frozen with a simple lock/unlock, but it happens often to me. This is the only drawback so far, the update is very, very useful, but it's pretty obvious and upsetting.
As for applications, I installed several EPD tools from the store or from the forum, mostly the ones adding switches, but I ended up disappointed. My wild guess is that most of them would need me to root the device to bypass some privileges to work well, and I don't plan to root it. Typically, I wanted a mobile data and GPS switch, but these just invoke the parameter page where you have to switch the... well, switch, yourself.
I also installed a Playstore clock app with more infos, but the clock does not refresh itself every second, and minutes can go by without displaying the right time. Pretty useless.
To sum it up, I think that most of these apps work fine if you use them on a rooted phone, unlike me.
The EPD apps delivered by Yota work fine, and there's a thread around here just about ideas for new EPD apps.
MonsieurSun said:
Hello
You are asking about the accessories, right ?
I just bought a plain black bumper a while ago, and nothing else. It cost around 10€ and saves the phone from bad falls (it did for me twice) and protects both screens. My screens still look like pristine ones, one year after purchase.
The most recent firmware EU .124 I already mentioned contains a lot of nice improvements and fixes, though it also brought one new and annoying bug : the EPD screen randomly (haven't found any specific pattern yet) freezes when typing SMS. It can be de-frozen with a simple lock/unlock, but it happens often to me. This is the only drawback so far, the update is very, very useful, but it's pretty obvious and upsetting.
As for applications, I installed several EPD tools from the store or from the forum, mostly the ones adding switches, but I ended up disappointed. My wild guess is that most of them would need me to root the device to bypass some privileges to work well, and I don't plan to root it. Typically, I wanted a mobile data and GPS switch, but these just invoke the parameter page where you have to switch the... well, switch, yourself.
I also installed a Playstore clock app with more infos, but the clock does not refresh itself every second, and minutes can go by without displaying the right time. Pretty useless.
To sum it up, I think that most of these apps work fine if you use them on a rooted phone, unlike me.
The EPD apps delivered by Yota work fine, and there's a thread around here just about ideas for new EPD apps.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The phone is already on the way and a bumper too. Thanks for your help, I'll keep reading the forum.
>It could also use SD card and second SIM slots, but it would be too close to perfection.
Does it have a SD-Slot?
No, it does not have any extra slots. I still don't have any issue with its 32 Go storage, but I guess some will.
To me, the extra screen is a nicer bonus
And I should also mention something about its charger. It's a nice-looking one (lights up when charging), and it looks very fast compared to most ones I saw before and since. Full charge from zero is done in less than 2 hours. I saw some deep review about it somewhere in the forums...
the phone is already at home
Enviado desde mi kenzo mediante Tapatalk
ygrigory said:
the phone is already at home
Enviado desde mi kenzo mediante Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
mine too
I opened the boot loader and have installed the latest version Ru, but I can not root the phone or install the recoverys of YD201 (I have YD206)
Enviado desde mi kenzo mediante Tapatalk
Well, I don't know anything about rooting yet, sorry.
But is your yotafon working fine anyway ?
Yd206 or yd201?
Hi,
I'm thinking of buying a yotaphone 2.
But which one should I buy?
Hardware info about both is a bit fuzzy.
Am I correct that yd206 has Snapdragon 801 and yd201 has Snapdragon 800?
Im on European 4g T-Mobile network, so supported band might be an issue.
Please if someone has any info, respond here
Thanks.
The only chinese shop with the current low price (120-140€) that offers the international version with all 4G LTD bands is coolicool.
Check it there. I orderded there a couple weeks ago. Still waiting to receive it.
king conan said:
The only chinese shop with the current low price (120-140€) that offers the international version with all 4G LTD bands is coolicool.
Check it there. I orderded there a couple weeks ago. Still waiting to receive it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Efox has it too for similar price (http://www.efox-shop.com/yotaphone-...moled-fhd-bildschirm-android-44-4g-l-g-297740). Efox has not-so-great user-experiences lately, so might hesitate to buy there..
I like to hear whether there are more differences between the two models (Snapdragon 800-801?)
For this price I also can buy the Xiaomi redmi Note 3 Pro or LeEco (LeTV) Le 2 X620, which have double the Antutu score AND are supported above Android 5.0.
But they are less cool, without the E-Ink :-/
Quite in two minds here...
j0p3y said:
Efox has it too for similar price (http://www.efox-shop.com/yotaphone-...moled-fhd-bildschirm-android-44-4g-l-g-297740). Efox has not-so-great user-experiences lately, so might hesitate to buy there..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Antelife, tinydeal, coolicool, efox-shop, myefox ...aaand probably some more I don't remember a.t.m - it is all the same seller. AFAIK they even share the same PayPal account (AUKEY INTERNATIONAL LIMITED). So it doesn't really matter which one you'll choose - but I'd advise you to pay with PayPal and use their protection if sth. goes wrong.
I have ordered my YD201 @efox for 129€ + ~15€ taxfree shipping to EU, but with code YP15 you'll get 15€ off so it's like a free shipping.
j0p3y said:
I like to hear whether there are more differences between the two models (Snapdragon 800-801?)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Both models have snap 801 (there's a new review by s7yler on YT - he had YD201 and you can see on his video that cpu-z shows 801).
Only difference is in radios (and preinstalled OS).
j0p3y said:
For this price I also can buy the Xiaomi redmi Note 3 Pro or LeEco (LeTV) Le 2 X620, which have double the Antutu score AND are supported above Android 5.0.
But they are less cool, without the E-Ink :-/
Quite in two minds here...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, that is up to you
I have BV6000, I easly get on it over 60hrs per charge with 10hrs SOT - but mostly I use it for reading stuff (web browsing, ebook, mail) so I want to give that yotaphone a try. If it won't fit my expectations I'll just resell it.
j0p3y said:
Efox has it too for similar price (http://www.efox-shop.com/yotaphone-...moled-fhd-bildschirm-android-44-4g-l-g-297740). Efox has not-so-great user-experiences lately, so might hesitate to buy there..
I like to hear whether there are more differences between the two models (Snapdragon 800-801?)
For this price I also can buy the Xiaomi redmi Note 3 Pro or LeEco (LeTV) Le 2 X620, which have double the Antutu score AND are supported above Android 5.0.
But they are less cool, without the E-Ink :-/
Quite in two minds here...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My previous phone was a XRN3Pro and it's a better phone that YP2 in all specs (great camera, batery, SOC, etc.) I buy a YP2 because I really interested in the epd screen and I read a lot in my phone.
For anyother use you may buy the XRN3Pro .
mc_gee said:
I have ordered my YD201 @efox for 129€ + ~15€ taxfree shipping to EU, but with code YP15 you'll get 15€ off so it's like a free shipping.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the code!!
Both models have snap 801 (there's a new review by s7yler on YT - he had YD201 and you can see on his video that cpu-z shows 801).
Only difference is in radios (and preinstalled OS).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Strange that every seller says it has Snapdragon 800 inside. Well, maybe not so strange since you say Aukey is the main firm above them all. Once bad info is there, than it'll be everywhere down the branch
Well, that is up to you
I have BV6000, I easly get on it over 60hrs per charge with 10hrs SOT - but mostly I use it for reading stuff (web browsing, ebook, mail) so I want to give that yotaphone a try. If it won't fit my expectations I'll just resell it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, I find it quite difficult deciding, since I first was only looking for this Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 Pro device when all of a sudden these Yotaphones appeared everywhere, screaming 'pick me, pick me!'
j0p3y said:
Thanks for the code!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No prob
Strange that every seller says it has Snapdragon 800 inside. [...]
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It states Snapdragon 800 over whole internet - great example of global copy-paste, where some info was repeated so many times that it became official :/
HERE is post from Yotaphone representative, where he states, that those devices has Snapdragon 801 (a part written with bold letters - it's in russian, but any translator will help U).
Well, I find it quite difficult deciding, since I first was only looking for this Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 Pro device when all of a sudden these Yotaphones appeared everywhere, screaming 'pick me, pick me!'
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I had 2/16 version of RMN3P - grreat device ...with medium screen and camera quality. As ygrigory wrote before - it is overall newer and better device (spec-wise ...but still midrange, so I'm not talking about build quality here). If you will have EPD as a fancy gadget, I guess that in a long run you'll regret buying YP2. But if you read a lot ...you need to answer yourself - do you really need a higher Antutu score?
mc_gee said:
No prob
It states Snapdragon 800 over whole internet - great example of global copy-paste, where some info was repeated so many times that it became official :/
HERE is post from Yotaphone representative, where he states, that those devices has Snapdragon 801 (a part written with bold letters - it's in russian, but any translator will help U).
I had 2/16 version of RMN3P - grreat device ...with medium screen and camera quality. As ygrigory wrote before - it is overall newer and better device (spec-wise ...but still midrange, so I'm not talking about build quality here). If you will have EPD as a fancy gadget, I guess that in a long run you'll regret buying YP2. But if you read a lot ...you need to answer yourself - do you really need a higher Antutu score?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi Mc_Gee, any tips on how to get the YT15 code working?
I put the phone in shopping cart, enter YT15 code and on next page I select second shipping option, German express (zollfrei) for €13,00. This is just added to the phone price of 129,99. So coupon not working (yet).
Hope you can help. Greetz edit* doh, it's YP15... which doesn't work either
j0p3y said:
Hi Mc_Gee, any tips on how to get the YT15 code working?
I put the phone in shopping cart, enter YT15 code and on next page I select second shipping option, German express (zollfrei) for €13,00. This is just added to the phone price of 129,99. So coupon not working (yet).
Hope you can help. Greetz edit* doh, it's YP15... which doesn't work either
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try YPH10 YPT10 or YPS10 for 10% off.. maybe one of them still works.
Little background
I am currently using a Huawei P8 Max and have been a fan of phablets (i.e screen size 6 inches or larger), so when I saw the Mi Mix, I definitely was intrigued. This sliver of sheer goodness fits the bill nicely. Though I still love my Huawei P8 Max (portable but massive huge screen), the only reason why I am going for the Mi Mix is the really amazing bezel-less look plus NFC (Android Pay and a few other FinTech apps that need it)
I bought the 6GB RAM, 256GB storage version. I also bought the 4GBRAM 128GB storage white version. Both from stores in Hong Kong. The latter is a gift to my significant other. They former costs HK$4780 and the latter cost $4300. The white version is much more limited in numbers and has the added benefit of hiding all your fingerprints, unlike the glossy black version, so you pay a premium for that despite the lower specs.
Notes before buying
It's good to check out the plethora of reviews (like this really good one) and videos on this phone to make sure it is right for you (do your research, duh!) Specs aside, ask yourself if these are absolute killers for you:
1) This is a Chinese phone meant to be sold in China ONLY. if you have anything against Chinese phones, MIUI (the manufacturer's overlay on the Android platform), software and interfaces, look elsewhere already.
2) Be prepared to pay a premium for this, since it's meant to be shipped to China, and not anywhere else (yet), it'll cost you a hefty penny as well as shipping unless you're getting it from Hong Kong.
3) If you are tinkerer and plan to root or mod your device, you need patience, though Xiaomi phones are known to be fairly straightforward to modify and root (if you are no tinkerer, you still get lots of customization options over the interface), you need to wait for them to grant you permission to unlock your bootloader (and there is no getting around it).
4) You need to put a case over this when you're on the go with it because this phone is slippery has heck, so if you like your devices nude but you're prone to dropping your phone (even from low heights like a meter from the ground), this might not be for you if you care about aesthetics. This phone looks great when it's without cover, but with one, it loses much of its outer appeal.
5) There is no external storage slot, thus the reason for the big allocation of internal storage even on the lower-end spec and you need to backup frequently if you don't want to lose data.
6) The camera is just average, especially the front camera. Don't expect it to compare with the higher-end shooters like those in Pixel, S7, and the like. It does an adequate job and takes really decent crisp pictures given enough light. In low-light settings, expect lots of noise and mediocre snaps. Also, if you're big on selfies, the front camera is located at the bottom of the screen, so you might need to keep tilting your phone upside down to take your usual selfie shot the way you're accustomed to.
7) The phone uses Type-C USB charger, so if you've been on micro-USB all along, be prepared to buy extra adapters/cables, good thing they come cheap, especially off Xiaomi's official site (if they ship to your country).
8) The phone does not have an in-built earpiece for projecting voice phone calls and instead uses some nifty technology called piezoelectric speaker, so if you use your phone regularly without headset and put the phone next to your ear(anywhere, even the back), you can hear the call. It works fine in my opinion, though some noted it's strong on bass and if too loud, it's audible to those in surroundings. So if you are constantly making private calls and hate headsets of any form, this is not the phone for you.
Look and feel
This is a jaw-droppingly beautiful phone, the fact that it's nearly bezel-less is going to turn heads. The black one has the advantage of making the screen look seamless towards the edge. The white one has the white ceramic trim surrounding it and this edge gives the false impression it's thicker than the black one merely for being prominent, though it's way less of a fingerprint magnet than its darker counterpart. If you are getting the black one, you would probably be wiping smudges and prints from your phone constantly.
The body is extremely slippery, if you place it on any slanted surface it will start sliding on its own. The case that comes in the box will tackle that problem, though it makes the phone significantly less pretty. Suggest you get a clear plastic one or a thin matte skin over it. The unit is definitely hefty to hold. For female users or those with smaller hands, you can easily wrap your hands around the unit, despite the large screen size. One-handed operation is also feasible by swiping the navigation bar at the bottom left or right (start from middle home button then the direction of your main hand).
The phone is known to be fragile although it's fairly understandable given the material it's built on. Unless you give it very thick protective gear, you need to keep reminding yourself to be careful with it and not to drop it. This scratch and bend test shows it's VERY resistant to scratches and bending so if you are still able to manage to scratch yours, I seriously don't think this is the right phone for you. For drops, however, that's where it's very vulnerable as you can see here. Repairs could cost an arm a leg just for the screen alone. So I don't think I need to reiterate that users must be careful handling this device!
What else is in the box
Besides the phone unit, the box comes with a matching case (black for the black version and pearly white for the white version) which is very lightweight but a tad thick. They provide ample protection for your phone. Then you get the 2-pronged adapter plus Type-C USB cable as the charging kit, and a very brief starter's guide next to a packet that contains the SIM card ejector pin/tool. That's it. There are no free earphones or anything else. I did purchase both the Mi In-Ear Headphones Pro and Mi In-Ear Headphones Pro HD and they're perfect for this phone, so try to get your hands on either pair.
Hardware, parts and insides of the phone
On top, you have 2 mics (tiny holes) and standard headphone jack. I tried different audio plugs to it and it fits securely and snugly with a satisfying soft click when it's inserted all the way. At the bottom, you get your charge/transfer port in USB-C format as well as two speaker grilles (one for the primary mic and the other is for the loudspeaker). USB-C type is, in my opinion, better than Micro-USB (they're not compatible, btw) so you do need to get extra cables if you plan on charging or transmitting files to PC in different locations. On the left is where your dual-SIM card slot is located, you can open it by pushing the ejector pin to the hole. To the right would be the power button and volume rocker.
The screen is beautiful and viewable outdoors on a sunny day even without the brightness dialled all the way to max. Compared to my Huawei P8 Max, things look crisper and colours are lusher. Though white seems more reddish (or my Huawei P8 Max's white is more blueish).
Screen, bluetooth, Wi-Fi & tethering, GPS, ultrasonic proximity sensors, NFC, and cameras all work without a hitch. I heard that hardware can sometimes fail when you're on a non-official ROM, another reason why I strongly advise against it.
This video dismantles the whole unit and shows you all the innards of the Mi Mix. You can probably tell that getting parts won't be easy, although it looks fairly uncomplicated to disassemble and reassemble.
Stock ROM
After powering on, the first thing you see after you're done going through the starter's guide of your phone is a cheesy-looking home page with HUGE icons and HUGE fonts for each application. This is MIUI, more on that later. Not too impressive or appealing at this stage, so it's good to go to Settings > About Phone to check which MIUI version / ROM you have. When I got mine, it was the Chinese Stable ROM (V8.2.2.0.MAHCNDL). This explains all the Chinese apps pre-installed. The great thing is, you can easily uninstall any of them that are not system apps.
I ran the system update to find there's one (V8.2.3.0.MAHCNDL), so I proceeded with it (I later realise it's somewhat of a mistake, new doesn't always mean better). If you have no Chinese apps and Google-related apps, commonly called gapps here (Google Installer, Play Store, Play Music, etc.), then you are likely on the Global Stable ROM. If you don't see the word "Stable" in your ROM or it's not recognisable as anything from the official site, then you're likely on a vendor or non-official ROM and it also means your bootloader is likely unlocked. This may spell trouble if you plan on using your phone's NFC for payments as most payment apps won't allow your phone to be on anything other than an official ROM and that your bootloader remains locked. Frankly, if you just need Google apps, you can still get them on either the Chinese or Global Stable ROM. I don't advise going for any other ROM if you're already on these. for security reasons. I also assume you're on MIUI going forward. I am on Global Stable ROM myself.
The difference between Chinese and Global ROM is that the former tends to be updated more frequently, have Chinese apps (meaning you need to run Google Installer APK to get all the Google goodies), and they have way more themes (though some at cost of Mi Credits) and the ability to change font (though only Chinese fonts which is not much use to the English-speaking world and everybody else). The Global ROM lags slightly behind in update frequency, but they have gapps and Xiaomi’s own Chinese bloatware removed (you can do this yourself in the Chinese ROM with basic uninstallation). However, they don’t have as many themes (but more than enough, and all of them are FREE), you also cannot download new ringtones or fonts.
If you have a very old version of a stable ROM pre-installed, simply run the system update to get the latest version. If you want to switch between China and Global ROM, try to follow this guide using recovery mode (you need the Chinese version of PC Suite for it to work (the English one doesn't unfortunately ). Do note that “V8.2.3.0.MAHCNDL” Stable China ROM was not recognised by Android Pay as an official ROM, so you need to downgrade it back. I explained in in this post. If anyone tries it and got it working then, please let me know and I’ll update this part.
MIUI 8
Xiaomi's phone is known for MIUI, their version of Android. In past iterations, I've never really heartened to MIUI. I felt it tried too hard to mimic iOS, at the cost of user-friendliness and simplicity that comes with stock Android. To my surprise, this has all changed.
The learning curve for MIUI has become much lower, and the interface is probably one of the most aesthetically pleasing I've seen. I've used Samsung, LG, Sony, Asus, Motorola, and Huawei stock ROMs, and every time, I can't help but quickly install Apex Launcher to customise the interface and eventually finding my way to fully root the phone to tweak the way stuff on my status bar looks. Not anymore. MIUI 8 is just amazing. You click on the "Themes" app and you can see that there are plenty of really great designs out there. And if you only like parts of it and parts of others, you can actually customise your theme the way you want it directly in the "Theme" app (Theme > Settings > Customize Theme). Some theme icons are actually animated, for crying out loud!
There are still some quirks, though. For example, resizing of widgets is somewhat restrictive (not all widgets can be resized, unlike in Apex launcher). Also, it's very hard to preview widgets with the MIUI, but these aren't real biggies. With a big phone, you'd also expect more real estate but things are HUGE until you change your themes but this doesn't fix the UI scale issue entirely for apps (unless Xiaomi decides to upgrade the phone OS to Android 7.0 or Nougat where UI scale can be customised).
After downloading about 90+ themes and tweaking, here is what my lock screen and home screen looks like:
{
"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"
}
You can also find a lot of great stuff with MIUI besides customization. You can create "second space”, allowing your phone to pretty much have 2 accounts. So what happens in space one remains in space one, and what happens in space two remains in space two. You can theme each space differently, you can log into the same apps but with different logins in both spaces. This is very neat as your phone can literally be 2 devices in one body. If you don’t actually need to have an entirelly different space but need to have dual accounts on your phone, e.g. Whatsapp, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc., you can do so using their Dual Apps feature. There's also an inbuilt app lock, and what's special is that it hides the content of your messages in the notifications bar and locked screen notifications, but you still get the notification. All these features you can find and access by heading to the "Security" app on your phone.
Phonecalls and loudspeaker
I'm no audiophile, so let's get that out of the way first, so below is merely my impression of the phone's audio qualities.
Calls on the device are made via what Xiaomi calls "cantilever piezoelectric ceramic acoustic technology" and it works like a charm. In a nutshell, rather than a regular earpiece which would inevitably make your phone bezels much larger to accommodate it, Xiaomi's technology here converts electrical energy into mechanical energy and you capture sound through vibrations. Sounds are not muffled and if you pick up calls in a relatively quiet area, you can get audibility easily at low-to-middle volume with your ear against it. Because the technology doesn't localise sounds into the earpiece, sound transmissions vibrate throughout the phone, meaning you can listen to your call even on the back panel. In noisier environments, however, you would instinctively boost the call to higher or even max volumes, this is where your call can get loud and audible to those around you, you don't even need your ear next to the phone. The ultrasonic sensor is Xiaomi's solution for Mix's lack of the standard proximity sensor and it also works. You don't have to worry about your face mashing buttons while you're on a call. The loudspeaker is also quite good, compared to my Huawei P8 Max, music at max volumes produced less static noise or buzz on the Mix. I use Spotify, mind you, and I'm happy with it. Audiophiles might do everyone a favour by putting in their two cents so as to describe in better ways than I can how audio fares on the Mi Mix.
Camera
Here is where Mi Mix scores the lowest in most reviews. Some even think the camera is crap as it performs strikingly poor in low-light settings and does not have OIS (optical image stabiliser). Well, it's definitely not the best shooter around but it's really not as bad as people say it is, especially when there are apps that can make the camera much better such as Camera Zoom FX or Snap Camera HDR. Frankly, for those who diss on the phone mainly because of the camera, please do get yourself some other device. This is a truly well-rounded phone and I think the camera is not as bad as people say it is.
Gaming
The phone's RAM, snappy processor plus massive storage and screen size make it a good gaming device. I played Mortal Kombat X on it and it's smooth and graphics look amazing. However, the phone's body is slippery so if you are playing a game that requires you to have a good grip on the back, best to play with a case. The phone gets warm gradually where your fingerprint sensor and camera lies and above, but it cools off quickly once off the game.
Mi Account and Mi Cloud and MIUI Forum
You'd want to set up a Mi Account for phone support as well as Mi Cloud. Since my phone's storage is 256GB, I'd pay to get a backup so you don't lose everything in case your phone gets lost, stolen or bricked. I pay the HK$118/yr for extra 100GB of space on Mi Cloud which backups your contacts, messages, photos and videos, notes, recordings, and lets you find your device. You might want to get something else if you need to backup your apps.
You also can find lots of good tutorials, information and reviews in the official English MIUI forums.
You would need a Mi Account tied to your phone to unlock the bootloader in order to root or flash ROMs.
Rooting and flashing new ROMs
If you really and absolutely MUST root your phone, there are two really helpful guides here and here.
I didn't see the need to, but I applied for unlocking the bootloader. Do be warned that it's going to void warranties if you truly proceed to unlock. Online guides tell you to go here, it didn't work for me, so I had to do it via the Chinese site. After filling in the forms, all you can do is wait. I got access to it 2 days later after applying. Xiaomi will send you an SMS saying you've been granted the permission to unlock. Go back to the website here while logged into your Mi Account and click the "Unlock Now" button, and you should be able to download the unlock tool that lets you unlock your Mix's bootloader.
I'm happy with my MIX as-is without rooting it or flashing any custom ROMs on it. Would be glad to answer any questions regarding the MIX.
This thread looks like can get into Guinness, I definitely will read all of it day by day. Thanks [emoji38] [emoji106] I hope you've mentioned that how hard to find a nicely curved screen protector around.
Mi MIX
7.3.16 Epic
Thank you, i found really helpful this tread, I'm also coming from P8 max (great device by the way). I wont use the Mi mix yet. Mi mix was coming with global 8.0.8.0.0 (which I understand is not official (( ), and I really want to use the NFC Payment method, have you some advice ?
Also I hope to make a proper backup of my files, apps, passwords and settings from my P8 max. You know any reliable software for this ? or I have to do it manually?
Regards !
If I send you my phone, will you make my home and lock screen look like yours?
Konsstantine34 said:
I hope you've mentioned that how hard to find a nicely curved screen protector around.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the reply. My spouse got a screen protector but no matter how hard the vendor tried, it's hard to apply it perfectly as the screen's got some rounded edges. I didn't get any screen protector for mine as the screen's shown to be pretty scratch-resistant and there are no screen protectors that can protect your screen from cracking if you drop it or apply blunt trauma to it.
eliasmanu said:
Thank you, i found really helpful this tread, I'm also coming from P8 max (great device by the way). I wont use the Mi mix yet. Mi mix was coming with global 8.0.8.0.0 (which I understand is not official (( ), and I really want to use the NFC Payment method, have you some advice ?
Also I hope to make a proper backup of my files, apps, passwords and settings from my P8 max. You know any reliable software for this ? or I have to do it manually?
Regards !
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Great to know another P8 Max fan. Can't beat that screen and so far Huawei's been a really good phone, the only thing it lacks is NFC which is a real bummer! I'm waiting for Android watches with it, but then the Mi Mix came out first and I was sold.
I am able to use NFC payment (Android Pay) no problem but you might need to unlock the bootloader and use official tools to flash the official ROM, then relock the bootloader. I've tampered with the bootloader today by unlocking it and then relocking it, and as long as you didn't install TWRP or other boot images, you should be able to lock the bootloader just fine. Android Pay still works. Instructions on how to do it are here.
As for backup, I use MyBackup Pro which is worth every penny.
bricky23 said:
If I send you my phone, will you make my home and lock screen look like yours?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's really easy to do on your own IF you are on the latest global stable ROM, just try out all the different themes and you can probably get it to look exactly like mine. You might even make yours cooler than what I've got. If you've got other ROMs then afraid I can't be of much help.
wendyalison said:
Thanks for the reply. My spouse got a screen protector but no matter how hard the vendor tried, it's hard to apply it perfectly as the screen's got some rounded edges. I didn't get any screen protector for mine as the screen's shown to pretty scratch-resistant and there are no screen protectors that can protect your screen from cracking if you drop it apply blunt trauma to it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, in it's first week on my hand; i've never put my device into my pocket with any other objects, nor put it anywhere like display could engage with any object. In theory it shouldn't be scratched but there were very very tiny scratches that you can see them under the sun light after clean it perfectly. I noticed it after my other 2 friends confirmed this situation [emoji106] I don't like using SP but now have to. Not even mentioning the crackz tho..
Mi MIX
7.3.16 Epic
Thanks for the nice review, I think it time for me to get one
What store in Hong Kong did you get yours from and were they in stock or did you have to wait?
I have a friend who lives there that can get me one and send it to me in Australia.
Tks
Frosty
frostywinter said:
Thanks for the nice review, I think it time for me to get one
What store in Hong Kong did you get yours from and were they in stock or did you have to wait?
I have a friend who lives there that can get me one and send it to me in Australia.
Tks
Frosty
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Click to collapse
Hi Frosty,
You need to pre-order it with a store and then head there to get it, as they're not always stocked up on overseas phones (as close as HK is to China). I suggest you ask your friend (hopefully he/she can read Chinese) to help you go to this site find a seller that is selling it at a good price and then Whatsapp them to see if they can pre-order it for you.
I bought the black one in Mong Kok, and the white one in Sham Shui Po. These 2 places tend to have a good selection of foreign phone models. Let me know if you need further help.
Does anyone here know whether there has been an MIUI Global Stable update? I am currently on 8.2.1.0(MAHMIDL). Has 8.2.2.0 come out yet for the global stable?
---------- Post added at 10:07 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:05 PM ----------
wendyalison said:
Thanks for the reply. My spouse got a screen protector but no matter how hard the vendor tried, it's hard to apply it perfectly as the screen's got some rounded edges. I didn't get any screen protector for mine as the screen's shown to be pretty scratch-resistant and there are no screen protectors that can protect your screen from cracking if you drop it or apply blunt trauma to it.
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I bought a screen protector from: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/162394844680
But it doesn't cover the whole screen :/
wendyalison said:
Hi Frosty,
You need to pre-order it with a store and then head there to get it, as they're not always stocked up on overseas phones (as close as HK is to China). I suggest you ask your friend (hopefully he/she can read Chinese) to help you go to this site find a seller that is selling it at a good price and then Whatsapp them to see if they can pre-order it for you.
I bought the black one in Mong Kok, and the white one in Sham Shui Po. These 2 places tend to have a good selection of foreign phone models. Let me know if you need further help.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
OK great thanks for that info - will see how my friend goes.
Also what is that lovely clock weather widget you are using - is that the stock Xiaomi one? Would love to use it.
tks
Frosty
frostywinter said:
OK great thanks for that info - will see how my friend goes.
Also what is that lovely clock weather widget you are using - is that the stock Xiaomi one? Would love to use it.
tks
Frosty
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That's the Transparent Weather and Clock widget, it's free unless you want a lot of additional features, my favorite widget yet!
rikstar555 said:
Does anyone here know whether there has been an MIUI Global Stable update? I am currently on 8.2.1.0(MAHMIDL). Has 8.2.2.0 come out yet for the global stable?
---------- Post added at 10:07 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:05 PM ----------
I bought a screen protector from: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/162394844680
But it doesn't cover the whole screen :/
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Click to collapse
For the ROM question, you can always check Xiaomi's ROM download page specifically for MI Mix to see what the latest global stable ROM is. Usually, the China ROM leads it by 2 iterations, so those on global can only patiently wait. Any announcements of their ROM would be in their MIUI Mi Mix English forum.
As for screen protectors, yeah, hard to find one that fits over the whole screen unfortunately. I'll be trying to get mine via T-Mall or Taobao, the Chinese ebay. Hopefully will have more luck.
if u interested can get this full coverage one... no rainbow effect and it is the best so far after i ordered a few from other sellers.
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/For...otector-Ultra-Thin-Explosion/32778591332.html
how it looks like applied
nakedtoes said:
if u interested can get this full coverage one... no rainbow effect and it is the best so far after i ordered a few from other sellers.
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/For...otector-Ultra-Thin-Explosion/32778591332.html
how it looks like applied
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Lol, it's same one which i bought(even $10). take a look:
Also I just saw this comment under your referred product:
Mi MIX
7.3.30 Épic
Konsstantine34 said:
Lol, it's same one which i bought(even $10). take a look:
View attachment 4097876View attachment 4097877
Also I just saw this comment under your referred product: View attachment 4097879
Mi MIX
7.3.30 Épic
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yeah i know i bought many times from the seller and the quality getting better .. i am extremely happy with the latest purchase..
nakedtoes said:
yeah i know i bought many times from the seller and the quality getting better .. i am extremely happy with the latest purchase..
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Yes, getting better. Sometimes the rainbow thing gets disappeared.
Mi MIX
7.3.30 Épic
Is it weird that my device came on the latest Official Global ROM but with an unlocked bootloader?
jinsoku3g said:
Is it weird that my device came on the latest Official Global ROM but with an unlocked bootloader?
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It's likely the vendor may have tampered with the ROM , the phone shouldn't have an unlocked bootloader factory-shipped. Might want to check with your vendor.