Database Users

[Q] What improvements would make Android better?

So I am considering starting an AOSP project. The idea would be to stay away from replacing AOSP components and simply improving them. For instance, CM replaced the stock launcher with ADW. This project would not do things like that although we would make improvements on such apps. So with this in mind, what improvements is the community looking forward to most? For instance, there are UI improvements like the reboot selector CM built but there is also core improvements such as making the system more stable, etc. So basically, as an individual, what improvements to Android would you like to see the most if I was to start this project?

One of the things I miss that comes to mind is the ability to see what apps are open and ability to switch between them. A reference would be the Palm Pre. It shows everything open and can scroll through them....more like Windows 7 cascade option. All open, running apps viewable in windows that can be selected and closed by dragging. Considering we can multitask, this would be nice to have if it can be done.
One more thing that would be sweet is a modification to the Power Notification Widget which allowed another row of widgets so more than 6 can be utilized.

CCallahan said:
One of the things I miss that comes to mind is the ability to see what apps are open and ability to switch between them. A reference would be the Palm Pre. It shows everything open and can scroll through them....more like Windows 7 cascade option. All open, running apps viewable in windows that can be selected and closed by dragging. Considering we can multitask, this would be nice to have if it can be done.
One more thing that would be sweet is a modification to the Power Notification Widget which allowed another row of widgets so more than 6 can be utilized.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hmm... Itching Thumb does a great job of Palm Pre style switching. Definitely better if built into the OS. I'll look into it.

Automatic SMS splitting in the stock Messaging app when the message is longer than 160chars.

CCallahan said:
One of the things I miss that comes to mind is the ability to see what apps are open and ability to switch between them. A reference would be the Palm Pre. It shows everything open and can scroll through them....more like Windows 7 cascade option. All open, running apps viewable in windows that can be selected and closed by dragging. Considering we can multitask, this would be nice to have if it can be done.
One more thing that would be sweet is a modification to the Power Notification Widget which allowed another row of widgets so more than 6 can be utilized.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I actually like how Android takes care of it. The status bar/drawer shows active services (things that are actively running and doing something that may require attention) so it's easy to switch between those. Anything else that is running and isn't that important can be accessed by holding on the home key to bring up the recently used apps switcher. The apps switcher could definitely be more elegant but it's functional at least.

bjb_nyj101 said:
Automatic SMS splitting in the stock Messaging app when the message is longer than 160chars.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
THIS will be one of the first things I work on. This has been on my to do list on Android even if I didn't want to do an entire AOSP project since it's just so damn annoying lol

Full hardware acceleration.

Android quick access menu and running apps

This question is regarding the quick access menu for recently used apps (next to home icon) and running apps. Ive noticed that i use the tablet you can browse quickly and switch to recent apps you have open. Im just wondering how this works with regards to process management and memory. How do you actually close an app like Market Place or gmail? Does android do this automatically? IVe noticed the tablet can slow sometimes..

"Backing" out of an app closes it for the most part.
The TouchWiz update actually includes a task manager, so you can kill apps. But that generally only occurs if you use the Home key to switch apps or something.

i have heard people say they would like to see a feature added that closes apps if you swipe them off to the side from the multitasking bar (the list off icons that expands from the homescreen). I would love to see that.
But as far as the android team is concerned they say "we programmed android to manage memory and tasks so well that you should never interfere or over ride how its being managed". I personally don't buy it. I mean maybe its true but I should still have the ability to close things I don't want open (in an easy way).

IndivisibleP said:
i have heard people say they would like to see a feature added that closes apps if you swipe them off to the side from the multitasking bar (the list off icons that expands from the homescreen). I would love to see that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That is how all tablets should be, the Blackberry Playbook has this feature and I believe it is one of the best Tablet OS's out right now. Swipe up and down to minimize and maximize screens and when you have your open apps screen up you can swipe a small window of that app off of the screen into oblivion which closes it. QNX OS on the Playbook is very very good, problem is the screen size and its from RIM, they really need to step up there game. If they would release the Android App Player for the Playbook it would be so much better.

[Q] Is this the end of GB updates for the ARC?

Now that ICS has started rolling out for our beloved Arcs.... Is Sony planning to at least update the firmware of our Arcs to something resembling the Xperia S firmware? A modified 2.3.7
I know that there are custom roms that ported Xperia S firmware to the Arc, but there are some little things that do not work. Besides I cannot stand ICS... I have it on a Nexus S and I hate it!!! Am I crazy? It is so shiny... Hopefully the Sony implementation is better.
If we choose to remain on GB... is 4.0.2.A.0.62 the end of the line?

Yes, I highly doubt they'll release any update for 2.3. What issues do you have with it?

My issues are basically interface-related, that is why I hope the Sony implementation is better than stock ICS.
1) Icons. Seriously. A 14-year old would like them, I am sure.
2) What the hell is a Google search bar doing at the top of the screen? I do not want it. If I wanted it I would install the 'Google search' widget. Make it go away.
3) Widgets menu placed next to applications menu. I understand this makes finding the wanted widget easier, but this is not a tablet. I do not think that mobile phone owners change widgets so often that they should have the same status as apps.
4) Shortcut to Google Play on the top of the apps/widgets menu. Again, no possibility of deleting it (like the search bar)
5) Inability to add apps/shortcuts/widgets to the home screens by pressing on an empty spot and holding. Now it has to be done by going to the desired app/widget and pressing and holding.
6) Settings. It is nice that now they are accessible via the notifications bar. However, it took me a while to guess that to configure WiFi access now I had to actually click on 'Wifi' and then a menu opened. I guess I am used to the old 'Wifi settings' menu.
7) GB on my Arc (1205 quadrant) feels more responsive than ICS on my Nexus S (1194 quadrant). A small difference but the Arc just feels faster.
8) Task switcher now shows a screenshot of all open/recently opened apps. Again, like a tablet. And again, this is not a tablet. Nice feature in theory however scrolling the list of apps is not as fluid as it should be.
Oh well I see that I should stay with GB

Actually, I meant what issues you had with gingerbread that would require an update for. My fault for not being clear.
The ICS interface isn't for everyone, but I'm sure as time goes by there will be more custom ROMs based on it that will suit those that aren't too fond of the default theme.

joens said:
My issues are basically interface-related, that is why I hope the Sony implementation is better than stock ICS.
1) Icons. Seriously. A 14-year old would like them, I am sure.
2) What the hell is a Google search bar doing at the top of the screen? I do not want it. If I wanted it I would install the 'Google search' widget. Make it go away.
3) Widgets menu placed next to applications menu. I understand this makes finding the wanted widget easier, but this is not a tablet. I do not think that mobile phone owners change widgets so often that they should have the same status as apps.
4) Shortcut to Google Play on the top of the apps/widgets menu. Again, no possibility of deleting it (like the search bar)
5) Inability to add apps/shortcuts/widgets to the home screens by pressing on an empty spot and holding. Now it has to be done by going to the desired app/widget and pressing and holding.
6) Settings. It is nice that now they are accessible via the notifications bar. However, it took me a while to guess that to configure WiFi access now I had to actually click on 'Wifi' and then a menu opened. I guess I am used to the old 'Wifi settings' menu.
7) GB on my Arc (1205 quadrant) feels more responsive than ICS on my Nexus S (1194 quadrant). A small difference but the Arc just feels faster.
8) Task switcher now shows a screenshot of all open/recently opened apps. Again, like a tablet. And again, this is not a tablet. Nice feature in theory however scrolling the list of apps is not as fluid as it should be.
Oh well I see that I should stay with GB
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Most of these issues could be avoided by using a different launcher

Me too, I dont like ICS interface(is boring), only the task manager...
Ill stay with GB, maybe arconium or another custom rom

now we see Sony releases ICS for 2011 line-up, but with scale-down version of stock apps (comparing with those GB ones for 2012 line-up, such as SMS, music player, alarm clock, etc.)
so it's very likely that they are going to stop working on GB updates

joens said:
My issues are basically interface-related, that is why I hope the Sony implementation is better than stock ICS.
1) Icons. Seriously. A 14-year old would like them, I am sure.
2) What the hell is a Google search bar doing at the top of the screen? I do not want it. If I wanted it I would install the 'Google search' widget. Make it go away.
3) Widgets menu placed next to applications menu. I understand this makes finding the wanted widget easier, but this is not a tablet. I do not think that mobile phone owners change widgets so often that they should have the same status as apps.
4) Shortcut to Google Play on the top of the apps/widgets menu. Again, no possibility of deleting it (like the search bar)
5) Inability to add apps/shortcuts/widgets to the home screens by pressing on an empty spot and holding. Now it has to be done by going to the desired app/widget and pressing and holding.
6) Settings. It is nice that now they are accessible via the notifications bar. However, it took me a while to guess that to configure WiFi access now I had to actually click on 'Wifi' and then a menu opened. I guess I am used to the old 'Wifi settings' menu.
7) GB on my Arc (1205 quadrant) feels more responsive than ICS on my Nexus S (1194 quadrant). A small difference but the Arc just feels faster.
8) Task switcher now shows a screenshot of all open/recently opened apps. Again, like a tablet. And again, this is not a tablet. Nice feature in theory however scrolling the list of apps is not as fluid as it should be.
Oh well I see that I should stay with GB
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Some things can be changed with another launcher. Others, for me are improvements. ICS is FAR better than GB on UI.

i think ICS is the last for ARC then .ICs is better for multi tasking and i like the UI

Sony just announced a massive loss for the quarter.
From a business perspective I think it won't be feasible for them to focus on GB anymore since they are already going to roll out ICS for the 2011 range.
They are planning on cutting about 10,000 jobs worldwide, so I think that they will probably be only focusing on ICS considering the rollout and the fact that they have a big range of new phones this year that will all be running ICS in the future.
Also, once the 2011 range is updated (only due to an agreement/promise that they would) there plan would probably want to phase out the Sony Ericsson brand anyway.
Also, Sony has never really been well known for it's customer service/support, particularly for older models. I have a 2010 Sony Vaio Z laptop and the drivers have never been updated. It's now superseeded by the new model and now more updates will come for my model

The Sony losses are blown out of proportion by the Sony hating tech media. Sony aren't American basically.
If you don't like icons and stuff, just install go launcher.
Sent from my LT18i using Tapatalk 2

joens said:
My issues are basically interface-related, that is why I hope the Sony implementation is better than stock ICS.
1) Icons. Seriously. A 14-year old would like them, I am sure.
2) What the hell is a Google search bar doing at the top of the screen? I do not want it. If I wanted it I would install the 'Google search' widget. Make it go away.
3) Widgets menu placed next to applications menu. I understand this makes finding the wanted widget easier, but this is not a tablet. I do not think that mobile phone owners change widgets so often that they should have the same status as apps.
4) Shortcut to Google Play on the top of the apps/widgets menu. Again, no possibility of deleting it (like the search bar)
5) Inability to add apps/shortcuts/widgets to the home screens by pressing on an empty spot and holding. Now it has to be done by going to the desired app/widget and pressing and holding.
6) Settings. It is nice that now they are accessible via the notifications bar. However, it took me a while to guess that to configure WiFi access now I had to actually click on 'Wifi' and then a menu opened. I guess I am used to the old 'Wifi settings' menu.
7) GB on my Arc (1205 quadrant) feels more responsive than ICS on my Nexus S (1194 quadrant). A small difference but the Arc just feels faster.
8) Task switcher now shows a screenshot of all open/recently opened apps. Again, like a tablet. And again, this is not a tablet. Nice feature in theory however scrolling the list of apps is not as fluid as it should be.
Oh well I see that I should stay with GB
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just ROOT it, and all bad karma goes away.....

joens said:
My issues are basically interface-related, that is why I hope the Sony implementation is better than stock ICS.
1) Icons. Seriously. A 14-year old would like them, I am sure.
2) What the hell is a Google search bar doing at the top of the screen? I do not want it. If I wanted it I would install the 'Google search' widget. Make it go away.
3) Widgets menu placed next to applications menu. I understand this makes finding the wanted widget easier, but this is not a tablet. I do not think that mobile phone owners change widgets so often that they should have the same status as apps.
4) Shortcut to Google Play on the top of the apps/widgets menu. Again, no possibility of deleting it (like the search bar)
5) Inability to add apps/shortcuts/widgets to the home screens by pressing on an empty spot and holding. Now it has to be done by going to the desired app/widget and pressing and holding.
6) Settings. It is nice that now they are accessible via the notifications bar. However, it took me a while to guess that to configure WiFi access now I had to actually click on 'Wifi' and then a menu opened. I guess I am used to the old 'Wifi settings' menu.
7) GB on my Arc (1205 quadrant) feels more responsive than ICS on my Nexus S (1194 quadrant). A small difference but the Arc just feels faster.
8) Task switcher now shows a screenshot of all open/recently opened apps. Again, like a tablet. And again, this is not a tablet. Nice feature in theory however scrolling the list of apps is not as fluid as it should be.
Oh well I see that I should stay with GB
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1-6 is actually very solvable even without rooting. Lol. Just download a different launcher.

CrazyPeter said:
The Sony losses are blown out of proportion by the Sony hating tech media. Sony aren't American basically.
If you don't like icons and stuff, just install go launcher.
Sent from my LT18i using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As much as I love the brand I gotta admit that they don't have the best support though. lots of outdated drivers for other products that never get updated...... despite this, I keep coming back as they have awesome products.

still love GB more than ICS hope they update firmware for us soon

It's basically not necessary to update ICS, and ppl may still want to try it anyway (plus all the custom ROM flying around, it's hard to resist, really).

Same here, GB works great for me.
Sent from my Kindle Fire using XDA

WP 8 Notification Centre Ideas

I know this is a hot topic and there may be other threads on this, but hear me out for a second...
This is a cleaner version of a thought I had posted in a WP7 I started a while back (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1925656), influenced by news that MSFT is planning to add a notification centre to the joy of many - i rather they added more functionality to the lockscreen but to each his own. After more thoughts, I figured it was more appropriate to give this its own thread an post it here.
Here's what I'd do as an option for a notification centre while maintaining the OS look and not going the Android/iOS route:
1. Use the solid bar when a more than one type of notification comes in to maintain the minimalistic UI look. Use the following statement to be shown in the bar: "you have x notifications".
- Color code this bar to a shade of color that couls be specific to the app. If Twitter is purple, you would see a purple bar if there is one tweet waiting, but once there is more than one unread tweet or other another unread notification comes in, the color of the bar can either:
a) Shifts to the standard accent color for the whole UI chosen by the user.
b) Retain the color associated with the original app
2. Allow swipes to remove that notification bar. This means:
a) The only ways to access the notifications are:
- swipe left once from the home screen
- swipe twice if starting from the applications list
- double tap the special notification icon on the lockscreen (more on double tapping below)
b) the bar would be permanently removed from the top of the lockscreen. This avoids making the lockscreen look too “cluttered” or “busy”.
3. Use a special icon for the notification bar. This will be visible both in the notification bar itself AND on the lock screen. This means MSFT keeps the up to 5 icons limit and the double tapping on the 6th icon (the notification) allows transitions that open the notifications hub.
4. Double tap on ANY notification icon to open the the associated app itself from the lockscreen. If you've got dual cores, let them work via pretty transitions! Also, double tap reduces accidental press from single tap.
5. Have the following options in settings called Notifications:
- Allow the user to decide how long they want that solid notification bar to be visible on the home screen and app list screen in the same way you have the screen blackouts after inactivity. Conversely, MSFT could determine that for the user.
- Vibrate only, LED flash only or LED and Vibrate after "x amount of time for x number of times" to remind user of notifications. This allows OEMs to build LEDs if they want to take advantage and add to differentiation. Or, MSFT could just standardize the vibrations and LED flashes without taking away the OEM option to build the LED into the handset.
Either way, this ties into the option of having the solid notification bar too above. For example, if the user feels the phone vibrate with the screen off, then they will see either the solid bar or notification icon on lockscreen. If they were on a call or in an app the vibration would help them exist and thus seeing the solid status bar.
- Level of detail: MSFT can either a number count for the notification of a preview of the notification. This should not be user determined in the settings. If preview is activated, and multiple notifications come from different people for the same app (i.e. texts or tweets from separate people) show name and number count.
- Give the user the option in settings to either use the different colors or choose the notifications to have the same accent color as the rest of the UI. Place this either under Notifications or Accent colors.
6. From the start screen, swiping left brings up a notification hub automatically as a standard action.
a) Give this simple hub look by giving each app with notification its own shade of a color separate from the chosen UI color. - This color would apply for single shade in the notification list here, as well as in the bar mentioned in point #1 above.
Or:
Instead of each app having its own shade, use group accent colors based on app types listed in the Windows Store. For example, one shade of yellow for social media apps, one shade for Navigation apps, etc.
b) split the notification hub in half: have a top part of the hub with the following icons: WiFi, Bluetooth, Tethering, Battery percent, Kids mode, and settings (this should not be user selected). Display each options as either:
- Tappable words and the same switches we see to activate/deactivate in the setting already, or
- Use some tappable icons + the switches.
c) Allow each tab (whether tappable word or icon) to open directly to its own specific option within the settings hub - that way you're not digging through extra menus.
d) make tapping the bar and or the notification icon open the transition window to come from the left.
7. When kid mode is active, if there are double taps on icons on lock screen let password prompt come up to access the notification first.
8. If you want the Notification hub to be a full fledge hub itself to make the ideas above seem less cluttered, it can be a three paned hub with the following:
- main start pane has recent notifications
- swipe left for the toggles to get to the following icons: WiFi, Bluetooth, Tethering, Battery percent, Kids mode, and settings.
- swipe right for similar apps relating to settings such as system information (this can be optional)
9. More lockscreen functionality: Double tap the name of the song playing to open the music app directly.
I wish I could do same screen shots for all the stuff I laid out, but I’m not that great with graphics like that…:crying:but I could post shots of existing apps that show the visuals to some of my ideas above.
WP8 could be the minimum requirement for some or all of these ideas. Some of these might be more customization options like Android and some MSFT could just user decide. Either way, it’s still in the same framework to allow that middle road of options WP offers to users in comparison to Android and iOS.
Thoughts?

Just license the Notification center from Nokia, specifically how it was used and implemented on the N9.

bmstrong said:
Just license the Notification center from Nokia, specifically how it was used and implemented on the N9.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm not sure how well that would go over...maybe MSFT doesn't want to use too lunch Nokia stuff at the expense of upsetting the other OEM partners...
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium

trappxl said:
I'm not sure how well that would go over...maybe MSFT doesn't want to use too lunch Nokia stuff at the expense of upsetting the other OEM partners...
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I thought they pit elop there to run Nokia into the ground, then buy the company for pennies and use ALL their patents... why not start early with some navigation?

I'm not too bothered about notifications. It's a feature that started to annoy me with iOS, all the constant updates and screen coming on all of the time. I found my life to be a lot more productive since getting a Windows Phone. The only notifications you really need are messages and calls and they're both shown on the screen, it's not life or death if you miss what someone is saying on twitter.

ohgood said:
I thought they pit elop there to run Nokia into the ground, then buy the company for pennies and use ALL their patents... why not start early with some navigation?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Perhaps...but because Nokia needs money other than the handouts from MSFT, they pushed the Lumia brand really hard when they jumped into WP. If you notice now, when people think of WP they first think of Nokia. MSFT doesn't want that, which is why they teamed up with the old partner HTC who was more than willing to back to its past tactic: make a phone with another company's brand name in the title - hence the WP8X by HTC. MSFT also used HTC like that because they have better pull with US carriers than Nokia right now, especially with VZW.
So people in the know (OG WP adopters) will lean more to Nokia...Nokia now powers the whole WP maps. It makes no sense for MSFT to license a notification centre from Nokia, and they would only run Nokia into the ground to buy it if Nokia's WP are the ONLY ones that sell. Nokia shouldn't allow that, even with Elop there, because they are one of the OG companies (Moto the other) and having a more controlling owner like MSFT might hurt both companies' brands...
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium

gilesjuk said:
I'm not too bothered about notifications. It's a feature that started to annoy me with iOS, all the constant updates and screen coming on all of the time. I found my life to be a lot more productive since getting a Windows Phone. The only notifications you really need are messages and calls and they're both shown on the screen, it's not life or death if you miss what someone is saying on twitter.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
See, that's one of the beauties of the design of WP I like, and many others do. But there are folks who love the annoying notifications and their phone blowing up with all sorts of activity. This is why MSFT is compelled to add a notification centre to appeal to more folks and get the cross over adopters and new smartphone buyers who have friends with Android and iOS that are used to notifications. I could live with a notification centre in WP, but I think design wise they are in a fresh and unique place...perhaps a decentralized setup by adding more functionality to the live tiles, toast bar and lock screen is better than that all in one status bar notification...
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium

trappxl said:
See, that's one of the beauties of the design of WP I like, and many others do. But there are folks who love the annoying notifications and their phone blowing up with all sorts of activity. This is why MSFT is compelled to add a notification centre to appeal to more folks and get the cross over adopters and new smartphone buyers who have friends with Android and iOS that are used to notifications. I could live with a notification centre in WP, but I think design wise they are in a fresh and unique place...perhaps a decentralized setup by adding more functionality to the live tiles, toast bar and lock screen is better than that all in one status bar notification...
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
that's a lot of words instead of :
" turn off notifications in app settings that don't matter"
you don't need a "hub" to do this if its implemented well inside each app.

ohgood said:
that's a lot of words instead of :
" turn off notifications in app settings that don't matter"
you don't need a "hub" to do this if its implemented well inside each app.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Lol. You're right...I've got a rambler's habit whenever I get the juices flowing talking technology...
I agree with that approach of simply improving the notifications in each app. I like not having a hub because I don't need to be notified of every little occurrence. But, since MSFT wants to make cash they will cave in an put a notification hub in. I'm not sure if they will give us the option to turn it off fully if they do.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium

A swipe to the left of the main home screen for home screen and quick settings.. thats what i thoght of..

[Important] ZTE Feedback Survey about MiFavour UI

Please help ZTE collate some feedback about MiFavor
1. Please share the TOP 3 pros of MiFavor that you like the most.
2. Please share the TOP 3 cons of MiFavor that you dislike the most, or things that needs to be improved on MiFavor.
3. Compared with Stock Android, is there any feature that has not implemented yet but you think that it is a must -have on MiFavor? Please describe your use cases.
4. Do you like the MiFavor theme feature? Would you like to have more themes on MiFavor?
5. Would you like to use the third-party apps instead of the MiFavor default apps? Which default apps are the most likely to be replaced? And replaced by which third-party apps?
And, if you have any other ideas, please comment below.

You want people to answer here?

lafester said:
You want people to answer here?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes.

1. I don't like anything about mifavor so I use nova.
2. Over aggressive app killing and anything changed from aosp.
3. Anything currently disabled or gimped by mifavor. This is discussed in great detail already @ ZTE forum.
4. No. Lipstick does not make the pig attractive.
5. I don't mind the apps, except that ad ridden keyboard. I use gboard or aosp.

Pros:
- None actually. It's laggy, I don't like the design, and the new settings app sucks.
Cons:
- 'Power manager' is too aggressive and doesn't wake apps when waking the screen most of the time.
- RAM management is horrible, phone is lagging after 1 or 2 days. A reboot fixes this (but this is not right)
- The camera has no raw support, which makes photographing meh.
- All the bloatware apps, I disabled all as far as I can.
Features I like to have:
- Ambient display. Please add this, we have a beautiful amoled screen, but don't make good use of it.
- Stock Android like theme.
- Less bloat (video player app, WeShare, Clock app (please implement cLock from Google), Accuweather)
I use QuickPic, Solid Explorer etc for my documents/photo's.
I don't like the MIFavor Theme engine because I think the design is ugly.

rikin93 said:
Please help ZTE collate some feedback about MiFavor
1. Please share the TOP 3 pros of MiFavor that you like the most.
2. Please share the TOP 3 cons of MiFavor that you dislike the most, or things that needs to be improved on MiFavor.
3. Compared with Stock Android, is there any feature that has not implemented yet but you think that it is a must -have on MiFavor? Please describe your use cases.
4. Do you like the MiFavor theme feature? Would you like to have more themes on MiFavor?
5. Would you like to use the third-party apps instead of the MiFavor default apps? Which default apps are the most likely to be replaced? And replaced by which third-party apps?
And, if you have any other ideas, please comment below.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1.)
a) The ability to hide navbar on will and customise it.
b) The themes support (although we can't download new themes like with the Chinese A7)
c) The lightness of the MiFavor compared to other OEM software.
2)
a) The stock camera app is mediocre at best. Misses exposure many times and recording videos in low light is a joke.
b) There is no switch to completely disable power manager in settings.
c) The dialer could use a tune up, it's just not on par with the stock android one.
3)
I don't think any important feature is left out in my opinion. Good job.
4) Yes, I like it and yes I would definitely like to see more themes.
Most of all a completely black theme would be the best for power savings on the amoled screen of the A7, it's nonsense having white themed android paired with an amoled panel.
5) The music app for equalization reasons, I use JetAudio. And the camera app of course, I use OpenCamera. For Gallery I never used stock, I use Quickpic. And for launcher, I use Nova because I like to customise my device
Hope I helped you.

1. Pros: Audio is good. I would have Raw photos if I was american. I would have Daydream if I was american (so not really pros for Europeans)
2. Cons: Power management. Features that have been removed from stock Android. Lack Daydream and Raw on European version.
3. Compared to stock: Why in the hell did you REMOVE features? Why?
4. Themes: No, I don't care about themes
5. Third party apps: I don't care. I can install them, except for the caller, the google one is much better
LineageOS is a better firmware overall, but it lacks Daydream and good speaker audio, which are 2 of the main selling points of this phone. I would rather have ZTE help fix those 2 things on Daydream than improve dozens of little things that are bad in MiFavor.

The top 3 con's are it's MyFavour.
The top 3 improvements are Stock Android please.
Mike

I use Nova Launcher (on all my devices so that I have a consistent look/feel across all of them) - so I avoid the worse excesses of the MiFavour.
Settings are fine - I don't use it enough to have to worry about differences between manufacturers versions. The power management could potentially be useful - but the default all on is to aggressive out of the box.
I quite like the changing images on the Lockscreen
I tend to find Stock apps where they exist - but use Swiftkey keyboard.
Alongside the ZTE Camera app I also have Camera ZOOM FX - which no longer seems to work (on Nougat).
I use Simple Image Wallpaper as it allows different images depending on the rotation of the device
ES File Explorer

rikin93 said:
Please help ZTE collate some feedback about MiFavor
1. Please share the TOP 3 pros of MiFavor that you like the most.
2. Please share the TOP 3 cons of MiFavor that you dislike the most, or things that needs to be improved on MiFavor.
3. Compared with Stock Android, is there any feature that has not implemented yet but you think that it is a must -have on MiFavor? Please describe your use cases.
4. Do you like the MiFavor theme feature? Would you like to have more themes on MiFavor?
5. Would you like to use the third-party apps instead of the MiFavor default apps? Which default apps are the most likely to be replaced? And replaced by which third-party apps?
And, if you have any other ideas, please comment below.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1 - No bloatware at all in A2017G at least
Even task killer its too agresive, using it, and disabling it for some apps, its very useful
Gestures, it could be coustom ones, but what have, works almost well.
2 - No app box, camon men, at least a setting to add it.... I use nova.
No double tap to power off screen.... that is a really bad thing
Proximity sensor is useles when a phone call is in progress, the screen turns on and off... and when screen is off, can turn on the screen covering proximity... thats a really bad bug.
No raw in camera, and camera app dont rotate settings.
3 - nothing, its good for me, I dont use more things that mifavor have
4 - I dont like themes at all, for me is useless, I want to custom my theme as I wish, I want an app box, my background and my lockscreen background, my widgets...
5 - launcher, web browser and clock widget at least (it must have weather....) pdf viewer I use my own.
My general opinion is that miflavour will be ios miui or emui, and thats very chinese... icon dont need to have a backgroud, and app box gives you order in your screen, I like to have an almost clean screen, a few icons, forecast and time, the rest is to go to menu, no slide everywere to find a stupid app...

OP, what is your relationship to ZTE?

Ability to disable stock calendar, video, music and messaging. No bloat ware like drop box (AKA 7.1.1 release)

A good music player ?

Just give us Nexus-like rom, with completely stock UI. No MiFavor plz.

I've tried to like it several times, but it really has no pros. The latest I have tried is MiFavor UI 4.2 on a A2017U.
I really find myself in conflict with some of the system apps and having to jump through hoops as root to remove them.
The lack of flexibility is a killer in my book both in apps and GUI.
Seriously I can understand a company and ZTE is not alone in this, wishing to set themselves apart from Google's offerings but really I think it is better to make it basic Google Android with ZTE branding on the boot screen etc. and then allow the user to pick the ZTE apps that they want or not.
It is a great piece of hardware, I only wish it have the software/firmware flexibility of my Nexus phone it replaced in my pocket.
That all said I think ZTE should be commended for reaching out to both users and developers with this phone, it is definitely a step in the right direction.

1) Nothing
2) Everything
3) Just get rid of MiFavor, it is a disgrace to the Axon 7's hardware
4) Same as 3
5) Same as 3

I'm using the latest launcher on beta and it's much better than the old marshmallow one but after beta i will revert back to the Google Now Launcher due to:
- no Google Now integration
- no long-press menus
No need for halfhearted apps when stock ones suffice. Would prefer to see ZTE spend their time making great apps to sit on a stock ROM. Much easier to roll out updates too.

rikin93 said:
Please help ZTE collate some feedback about MiFavor
1. Please share the TOP 3 pros of MiFavor that you like the most.
2. Please share the TOP 3 cons of MiFavor that you dislike the most, or things that needs to be improved on MiFavor.
3. Compared with Stock Android, is there any feature that has not implemented yet but you think that it is a must -have on MiFavor? Please describe your use cases.
4. Do you like the MiFavor theme feature? Would you like to have more themes on MiFavor?
5. Would you like to use the third-party apps instead of the MiFavor default apps? Which default apps are the most likely to be replaced? And replaced by which third-party apps?
And, if you have any other ideas, please comment below.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1) I like the lockscreen, but do not like being forced to use one. I like the double tap to wake and the various gestures but would like to see even more gesture support on screen or fingerprint scanner.
2) Failure to incorporate Nougat features (quick tiles, notification priority, Android Easter egg, etc); power manager is too aggressive and does not have an off switch; LED notifications time out too quickly
3) See above for Nougat features missing
4) I do not use themes. A simple live wallpaper is what I use.
5) I dislike the messaging app and use Textra, I dislike the email app and use Blue Mail, I dislike the toolkit and prefer to have the apps launchable separately, I dislike the phone/dialer app and caller ID feature and use the one that came included with Drupe and Drupe Dialer (app).

rikin93 said:
Please help ZTE collate some feedback about MiFavor
1. Please share the TOP 3 pros of MiFavor that you like the most.
2. Please share the TOP 3 cons of MiFavor that you dislike the most, or things that needs to be improved on MiFavor.
3. Compared with Stock Android, is there any feature that has not implemented yet but you think that it is a must -have on MiFavor? Please describe your use cases.
4. Do you like the MiFavor theme feature? Would you like to have more themes on MiFavor?
5. Would you like to use the third-party apps instead of the MiFavor default apps? Which default apps are the most likely to be replaced? And replaced by which third-party apps?
And, if you have any other ideas, please comment below.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1) I like the fast updates (7.1.1). I REALLY like Dolby because it works. The camera is okay.
2) I dislike any UI changes that were made from AOSP (especially the lockscreen and Quick Settings). I dislike changes made to power management. I can't stand that my phone came with bloatware, especially the damn keyboard.
3) Not really.
4) I think if ZTE wanted to stand out, they should ship the phone with stock AOSP theme but with OMS support instead of their own crappy theme system.
6) Keyboard gets replaced. Launcher gets replaced (Google or Nova). Music app gets replaced (SoundCloud, Google Play Music). Calendar gets replaced by Google calendar. Dropbox and weshare bloatware get uninstalled.

rikin93 said:
Please help ZTE collate some feedback about MiFavor
1. Please share the TOP 3 pros of MiFavor that you like the most.
2. Please share the TOP 3 cons of MiFavor that you dislike the most, or things that needs to be improved on MiFavor.
3. Compared with Stock Android, is there any feature that has not implemented yet but you think that it is a must -have on MiFavor? Please describe your use cases.
4. Do you like the MiFavor theme feature? Would you like to have more themes on MiFavor?
5. Would you like to use the third-party apps instead of the MiFavor default apps? Which default apps are the most likely to be replaced? And replaced by which third-party apps?
And, if you have any other ideas, please comment below.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hello,
these are my little improvement calls:
.) Biggest disadvantage: No Multiuser! e.g. Whatsapp and some other Apps - No i do not want to root my device for that!
.) Improvement: If i was called on Sim1 and i missed the call then i would like to call back with Sim1 without long press the missed call - and of course the same with Sim2 without thinking which is my primary Sim setting.
.) Set the outgoing Sim per Contact
.) The built in Email App is more or less useless if you are plan to use more then one email accounts (no possibility to choose from which you want to send)
.) In the Email App there are still some missing translations (chinese letters) to german in the account settings.
Greetz
sonypsx