Android: Phone News and Discussion Thread
#4081
Stage 1 Audi S5
As far as battery goes, certain Kernels and custom ROMs can help with that aspect. Unfortunately, if your bootloader is locked, custom Kernels are hard to come by until the devs can unlock them. For my suggestions on how to extend battery life, just do the following:
- Turn off 4G when you're not using it even if you're not in a 4G area. This is the biggest battery killer at the moment as it will continuously search for 4G signal even though you don't have it. Install a Widget app if you have to for easy switching on your homescreen.
- Try to use WiFi if you can as it uses less battery. Also turn off WiFi, and Bluetooth when not in range. GPS you can leave on as it only turns on when apps need them. WiFi and Bluetooth will continuously scan even if you're not around a known network or device unless you get an app to monitor this.
- If you really need to squeeze every ounce of battery then switch to 2G.
- To squeeze even more, turn of background data and autosync in the Accounts settings. (You won't receive your emails, app updates immediately doing this though and you'll have to manually pull to get this info)
- Do NOT use a task killer. Android manages its own memory. If you mess with it, you'll have other issues and actually lower your battery life. Only use it to kill a badly programmed app that won't close.
- Check your Settings --> About --> Battery Stats to get an idea of what is eating your battery the most. You'll see which app/system process is killing your battery. Try to tweak it until only the Display is the top most battery user.
- For AMOLED screens such as the one found in the RAZR, use dark colors, preferably black. Black = little to no power usage in AMOLED screens. So yes, use dark backgrounds, try to use the dark themes, etc. Also reduces burn in.
- For apps that pull data every X minutes. Try to increase the interval to around 30 minutes and up. That way it doesn't ping the servers as often and reduces battery usage.
- Turn off 4G when you're not using it even if you're not in a 4G area. This is the biggest battery killer at the moment as it will continuously search for 4G signal even though you don't have it. Install a Widget app if you have to for easy switching on your homescreen.
- Try to use WiFi if you can as it uses less battery. Also turn off WiFi, and Bluetooth when not in range. GPS you can leave on as it only turns on when apps need them. WiFi and Bluetooth will continuously scan even if you're not around a known network or device unless you get an app to monitor this.
- If you really need to squeeze every ounce of battery then switch to 2G.
- To squeeze even more, turn of background data and autosync in the Accounts settings. (You won't receive your emails, app updates immediately doing this though and you'll have to manually pull to get this info)
- Do NOT use a task killer. Android manages its own memory. If you mess with it, you'll have other issues and actually lower your battery life. Only use it to kill a badly programmed app that won't close.
- Check your Settings --> About --> Battery Stats to get an idea of what is eating your battery the most. You'll see which app/system process is killing your battery. Try to tweak it until only the Display is the top most battery user.
- For AMOLED screens such as the one found in the RAZR, use dark colors, preferably black. Black = little to no power usage in AMOLED screens. So yes, use dark backgrounds, try to use the dark themes, etc. Also reduces burn in.
- For apps that pull data every X minutes. Try to increase the interval to around 30 minutes and up. That way it doesn't ping the servers as often and reduces battery usage.
#4082
Safety Car
IIRC Google recently changed it so root users can still rent movies from Google. I haven't tried it on my Epic but on my rooted Transformer it works great.
Btw, props to all the Transformer devs. I have a B70 model (was unrootable before) but it's super easy now, just run one app for root, and another for CWM recovery. It ran great stock but on the new rom I'm using it's fantastic, I'm seriously blown away.
Btw, props to all the Transformer devs. I have a B70 model (was unrootable before) but it's super easy now, just run one app for root, and another for CWM recovery. It ran great stock but on the new rom I'm using it's fantastic, I'm seriously blown away.
#4083
Safety Car
Thank you so so much, sucks being a noob at something. Rooting is the way to go then, guess I just read some sites that made it seem terribly bad. I remember first unlocking iPhones when they were introduced and you could severely screw it up but it didn't stop me so why should it now ha
With all of that said, Motorola locking bootloaders is a big issue when it comes to custom ROMs. So you might want to consider other manufacturers that don't lock their bootloaders if you really want to see the true potential of rooting and custom ROMs such as the Nexus phones. XDA guys have found ways around the locked bootloaders but it really does dampen the whole experience until they can fully unlock the bootloaders. Motorola did say they were going to allow bootloader unlocking by late this year but I'm guessing they're gonna push that as late as they can. lol.
#4086
Safety Car
^Lol. It'll come. Everyone is saying December 8-9th is looking like the release date. Verizon is probably still recovering from the Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales and don't want to take any thunder away from that. They also probably didn't announce it earlier because they would have to put it on sale as well.
#4087
Safety Car
Google Maps just got updated with Indoor Google Maps for Airports, Malls, etc:
http://youtu.be/P42INh3QATs
Source: http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2011/...s-mapping.html
I wonder how well GPS works inside certain indoor buildings though. I know this feature would've helped a lot when I was traveling to get to my connecting flights so I could find the fastest way to my next gate.
http://youtu.be/P42INh3QATs
Source: http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2011/...s-mapping.html
I wonder how well GPS works inside certain indoor buildings though. I know this feature would've helped a lot when I was traveling to get to my connecting flights so I could find the fastest way to my next gate.
#4088
Moderator Alumnus
^Lol. It'll come. Everyone is saying December 8-9th is looking like the release date. Verizon is probably still recovering from the Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales and don't want to take any thunder away from that. They also probably didn't announce it earlier because they would have to put it on sale as well.
#4089
Safety Car
Are you ready for it.. 1323302401 that is all you need to know !!!!
Just got what we at tbh consider confirmation..so I'm happy for you all.
https://twitter.com/#!/P3Droid/statu...27981852917760
The first quote is in Epoch/Unix code which translates to a 12/8 release date for Verizon. Pre-orders are still being discussed and may or may not happen. With that said, its not official until Verizon announces it but it looks like any time now with all the press shots being leaked from their stores.
#4090
Team Owner
Carrier IQ Looks like this app comes installed on a bunch of phones. It logs all your keystrokes.
<object style="height: 390px; width: 640px"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/T17XQI_AYNo?version=3&feature=player_detailpage">< param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/T17XQI_AYNo?version=3&feature=player_detailpage" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" width="640" height="360"></object>
<object style="height: 390px; width: 640px"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/T17XQI_AYNo?version=3&feature=player_detailpage">< param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/T17XQI_AYNo?version=3&feature=player_detailpage" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" width="640" height="360"></object>
#4091
Safety Car
^Yup. Another reason to root and install custom ROMs. lol.
For the people that must stay on stock ROMs, check out TrevE's (same guy who made the video above) CIQ blocker app:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/show...&postcount=109
Most of the features do require root and a $0.99 donation for a key is needed to get the full features (i.e. completely block out the logging short of installing a custom ROM).
For the people that must stay on stock ROMs, check out TrevE's (same guy who made the video above) CIQ blocker app:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/show...&postcount=109
Most of the features do require root and a $0.99 donation for a key is needed to get the full features (i.e. completely block out the logging short of installing a custom ROM).
Last edited by CGFebTSX04; 11-30-2011 at 07:19 PM.
#4092
Safety Car
An easier to follow guide on how to remove CIQ. Note that not all phones have CIQ installed. Custom ROMS definitely don't have it as they're usually barebones already:
http://www.lifehacker.com.au/2011/12...er-iq-rootkit/
http://www.lifehacker.com.au/2011/12...er-iq-rootkit/
#4093
^ they need to find the people DIRECTLY responsbile for that application being installed on end user headsets and bring them up on wiretapping charges...
#4094
Safety Car
I hope they do. Here's an article trying to lead that way. Hopefully, more news organization will pick it up. They tried to shut TrevE down with a cease and desist the first time around and I'm glad he sought after the EFF's assistance to get out of that one instead of backing down like most people would've done:
http://www.forbes.com/sites/andygree...ions-of-cases/
http://www.forbes.com/sites/andygree...ions-of-cases/
#4095
wow watching that video series by Trevor shows that that software LOGS EVERYTHING that the phone does and I do mean EVERYTHING.....
#4096
Safety Car
MIUI Ice Cream Sandwich Preview:
Source: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?...3693779&type=1
Doesn't look too different. The music player still looks good. I guess for the most part, most changes will be in the frameworks.
Source: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?...3693779&type=1
Doesn't look too different. The music player still looks good. I guess for the most part, most changes will be in the frameworks.
#4097
Moderator
Regional Coordinator (Southeast)
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Wow that is definitely not cool
#4098
Moderator
Regional Coordinator (Southeast)
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Things like this make me want the Samsung Galaxy Nexus Prime even more. I have always wanted a phone specific car dock so I can hard wire in a charger in my car. Especially now that I have hands free built into my car as well.
More accessories shown here.
http://www.androidcentral.com/samsun...-images-videos
Now only thing is they better fit the Verizon version since it is slightly thicker or I will be pissed. That will be like the same way Verizon users got screwed on HTC accessories with the 6800, TouchPro, and TouchPro2 phone because the Verizon version was slightly different.
More accessories shown here.
http://www.androidcentral.com/samsun...-images-videos
Now only thing is they better fit the Verizon version since it is slightly thicker or I will be pissed. That will be like the same way Verizon users got screwed on HTC accessories with the 6800, TouchPro, and TouchPro2 phone because the Verizon version was slightly different.
#4099
Safety Car
Now only thing is they better fit the Verizon version since it is slightly thicker or I will be pissed. That will be like the same way Verizon users got screwed on HTC accessories with the 6800, TouchPro, and TouchPro2 phone because the Verizon version was slightly different.
http://youtu.be/GvTXe9XlRV0
The car dock looks very useful but the other ones not so much. What's surprising to me is that audio is being outputted through the 3 prongs? If so, that's pretty cool. Also, I don't understand why the Horizontal dock has no HDMI output and is rotated the wrong way while the HDMI docking station is Vertical and outputs HDMI which will mainly used in landscape mode. Also because its rotated the wrong way, I don't know how most apps will react to the rotation as most games and media players are coded to rotate only 90 degrees and not 180 degrees.
#4100
Safety Car
Looks like some Google employees are starting to receive Ice Cream Sandwich for the Nexus S:
http://www.androidpolice.com/2011/12...ing-has-begun/
Verizon needs to release the Galaxy Nexus already so we can get a proper drop for the Nexus S from Google. They most likely won't release the Nexus S ICS until after the Galaxy Nexus gets some time with it.
http://www.androidpolice.com/2011/12...ing-has-begun/
Verizon needs to release the Galaxy Nexus already so we can get a proper drop for the Nexus S from Google. They most likely won't release the Nexus S ICS until after the Galaxy Nexus gets some time with it.
#4101
Whats up with RDX owners?
iTrader: (9)
Ive run the alpha builds and theyre pretty smooth. Cant wait for the CM9 nightlies to start.
#4102
AZ Community Team
Join Date: May 2007
Location: N35°03'16.75", W 080°51'0.9"
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I hope they do. Here's an article trying to lead that way. Hopefully, more news organization will pick it up.
....
http://www.forbes.com/sites/andygree...ions-of-cases/
....
http://www.forbes.com/sites/andygree...ions-of-cases/
.... Consumers in Missouri and Illinois on Thursday filed class-action lawsuits against Carrier IQ, as well as against smartphone makers Samsung Telecommunications America Inc. and HTC Corp., which use the software.
The suits allege that the companies violated federal wiretap laws by "unlawfully intercept[ing] private electronic communications emanating from private mobile phones, handsets and smartphones."
Carrier IQ declined to comment on the lawsuits.
The uproar started in mid-November after Eckhart posted information and documents about Carrier IQ's application on smartphones and called the software a "rootkit" — a term generally used for malicious software that embeds itself deep in a computer system to monitor, record or alter what users are doing.
The company immediately sent a cease-and-desist letter to Eckhart, accusing him of violating copyright law by posting the documents without permission and demanding that he remove the materials and retract "unsubstantiated allegations" about the company's practices.
Soon after, the online legal advocacy group Electronic Frontier Foundation said it would represent Eckhart in the matter. The foundation said Carrier IQ's allegations against Eckhart were "entirely baseless" and were "motivated by a desire to suppress Mr. Eckhart's research conclusions, and to prevent others from verifying those conclusions."
Two days later, Carrier IQ withdrew its cease-and-desist letter to Eckhart and apologized. ....
The suits allege that the companies violated federal wiretap laws by "unlawfully intercept[ing] private electronic communications emanating from private mobile phones, handsets and smartphones."
Carrier IQ declined to comment on the lawsuits.
The uproar started in mid-November after Eckhart posted information and documents about Carrier IQ's application on smartphones and called the software a "rootkit" — a term generally used for malicious software that embeds itself deep in a computer system to monitor, record or alter what users are doing.
The company immediately sent a cease-and-desist letter to Eckhart, accusing him of violating copyright law by posting the documents without permission and demanding that he remove the materials and retract "unsubstantiated allegations" about the company's practices.
Soon after, the online legal advocacy group Electronic Frontier Foundation said it would represent Eckhart in the matter. The foundation said Carrier IQ's allegations against Eckhart were "entirely baseless" and were "motivated by a desire to suppress Mr. Eckhart's research conclusions, and to prevent others from verifying those conclusions."
Two days later, Carrier IQ withdrew its cease-and-desist letter to Eckhart and apologized. ....
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-f...,6557172.story
#4103
Suzuka Master
Looks like some Google employees are starting to receive Ice Cream Sandwich for the Nexus S:
http://www.androidpolice.com/2011/12...ing-has-begun/
Verizon needs to release the Galaxy Nexus already so we can get a proper drop for the Nexus S from Google. They most likely won't release the Nexus S ICS until after the Galaxy Nexus gets some time with it.
http://www.androidpolice.com/2011/12...ing-has-begun/
Verizon needs to release the Galaxy Nexus already so we can get a proper drop for the Nexus S from Google. They most likely won't release the Nexus S ICS until after the Galaxy Nexus gets some time with it.
stupid google!! Give it to me!!!
#4104
Suzuka Master
Read
Good article posted by Joshua Topolsky
http://www.washingtonpost.com/busine...2CO_story.html
And I agree with the things he says and that google needs to put a tighter leash on Android to provide a better experience for all their phones. Right now I would say only a handful of phones actually offer a true Android experience.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/busine...2CO_story.html
And I agree with the things he says and that google needs to put a tighter leash on Android to provide a better experience for all their phones. Right now I would say only a handful of phones actually offer a true Android experience.
#4105
I shoot people
There's a new version of Swype and I'm having problems updating, it won't even let me use the old version. So, I have no Swype at all. Says "error parsing package"
#4106
Whats up with RDX owners?
iTrader: (9)
Have you removed the old version then installed the new one?
#4107
Rooting for Acura
iTrader: (1)
Good article posted by Joshua Topolsky
http://www.washingtonpost.com/busine...2CO_story.html
And I agree with the things he says and that google needs to put a tighter leash on Android to provide a better experience for all their phones. Right now I would say only a handful of phones actually offer a true Android experience.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/busine...2CO_story.html
And I agree with the things he says and that google needs to put a tighter leash on Android to provide a better experience for all their phones. Right now I would say only a handful of phones actually offer a true Android experience.
#4108
Whats up with RDX owners?
iTrader: (9)
The Android or Google Experience phones are those running vanilla Android. The Nexus phones, the G1....
Non Android/Google Experience phones run Motoblur, Sense, Touchwiz and so on.
Non Android/Google Experience phones run Motoblur, Sense, Touchwiz and so on.
#4109
Suzuka Master
First and foremost we dong get bloated software that can slow down phones. We dont get a shitload of apps that we can't uninstall. And well especially for ICS google worked hard in keeping a consistency, but that may be destroyed with third party launchers and such.
#4110
Goodbye.
Good article posted by Joshua Topolsky
http://www.washingtonpost.com/busine...2CO_story.html
And I agree with the things he says and that google needs to put a tighter leash on Android to provide a better experience for all their phones. Right now I would say only a handful of phones actually offer a true Android experience.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/busine...2CO_story.html
And I agree with the things he says and that google needs to put a tighter leash on Android to provide a better experience for all their phones. Right now I would say only a handful of phones actually offer a true Android experience.
The latest Motoblur skin on Gingerbread actually works better than stock Gingerbread and resembles some of the awesome aesthetics found on ICS.
#4111
Moderator
Regional Coordinator (Southeast)
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Join Date: Dec 2003
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I still can't decide what new phone I want between the Rezound and Nexus. Anyone else still on this debate? Yes I know it is hard to compare with one not even being out.
I wish I could get HTC widgets on bare ICS and then I would be happy. I love the HTC Weather app from Sense 3.5.
I will also be interested to see how improved ICS menus are cause I have always used HTC devices in which sense goes far into the menus. I really want a car dock though and the larger screen but the camera is concerning. If the 5mp cam is as good as my current 8mp cam in my Thunderbolt then I will be happy. Don't need an upgrade just don't want a down grade.
I wish I could get HTC widgets on bare ICS and then I would be happy. I love the HTC Weather app from Sense 3.5.
I will also be interested to see how improved ICS menus are cause I have always used HTC devices in which sense goes far into the menus. I really want a car dock though and the larger screen but the camera is concerning. If the 5mp cam is as good as my current 8mp cam in my Thunderbolt then I will be happy. Don't need an upgrade just don't want a down grade.
#4112
Safety Car
I still can't decide what new phone I want between the Rezound and Nexus. Anyone else still on this debate? Yes I know it is hard to compare with one not even being out.
I wish I could get HTC widgets on bare ICS and then I would be happy. I love the HTC Weather app from Sense 3.5.
I will also be interested to see how improved ICS menus are cause I have always used HTC devices in which sense goes far into the menus. I really want a car dock though and the larger screen but the camera is concerning. If the 5mp cam is as good as my current 8mp cam in my Thunderbolt then I will be happy. Don't need an upgrade just don't want a down grade.
I wish I could get HTC widgets on bare ICS and then I would be happy. I love the HTC Weather app from Sense 3.5.
I will also be interested to see how improved ICS menus are cause I have always used HTC devices in which sense goes far into the menus. I really want a car dock though and the larger screen but the camera is concerning. If the 5mp cam is as good as my current 8mp cam in my Thunderbolt then I will be happy. Don't need an upgrade just don't want a down grade.
https://market.android.com/details?i...bHdpZGdldHMiXQ..
https://market.android.com/details?i...N5d2lkZ2V0cyJd
https://market.android.com/details?i...GR3aWRnZXRzIl0.
https://market.android.com/details?i...2V0cy5jb3JlIl0.
https://market.android.com/details?i...Y2FsZW5kYXIiXQ..
^Those are just some examples. LauncherPro has some widgets that are visually the same thing as the Sense Widgets as well. There are also lockscreen and theme replacements in the market to make your phone look like Sense as well in the market that come very close short of porting a Sense ROM.
With all of that said, I would still recommend the Nexus. It will get the updates first and you know it'll have a big backing by XDA if Google stops supporting it. The Rezound has a good following since its made by HTC but it won't have support like the Nexus phones from XDA. If you still want Sense in the future, the Nexus phones usually get ports of the Sense Roms even though they weren't made for them. Its a matter of when not if as all Nexus phones and other phones have a variant of Sense ported to them so long as their bootloader is unlocked. Sense has also become a big bloated skin. Its the biggest one out of all the skins consuming a lot of RAM that you would normally get on another phone and HTC hasn't been prioritizing battery life with all of that bloat.
I've also been using ICS for a little more than a week (its an alpha but almost everything works, missing Video recording and a few other things) and Gingerbread just feels old every time I go back to it. A lot of the things skins have filled in for end users has been gapped by ICS. I think that most skins will actually look the same as they do now and just incorporate the ICS framework much like the MIUI leaks have shown.
One last thing, you can "rent" a Rezound now and return it by January 15th if you want to try it out. I think you just pay a $35 restocking fee to switch phones. The Nexus is supposed to drop on the 8th. They're saying pre-orders are coming on the 6th but nothing confirmed yet.
#4113
Goodbye.
I still can't decide what new phone I want between the Rezound and Nexus. Anyone else still on this debate? Yes I know it is hard to compare with one not even being out.
I wish I could get HTC widgets on bare ICS and then I would be happy. I love the HTC Weather app from Sense 3.5.
I will also be interested to see how improved ICS menus are cause I have always used HTC devices in which sense goes far into the menus. I really want a car dock though and the larger screen but the camera is concerning. If the 5mp cam is as good as my current 8mp cam in my Thunderbolt then I will be happy. Don't need an upgrade just don't want a down grade.
I wish I could get HTC widgets on bare ICS and then I would be happy. I love the HTC Weather app from Sense 3.5.
I will also be interested to see how improved ICS menus are cause I have always used HTC devices in which sense goes far into the menus. I really want a car dock though and the larger screen but the camera is concerning. If the 5mp cam is as good as my current 8mp cam in my Thunderbolt then I will be happy. Don't need an upgrade just don't want a down grade.
Get the Nexus. I don't like Samsung but given the choice between Rezound and Nexus, I'd get the Nexus 10 out of 10 times.
The Nexus has a cool car dock and it's camera is definitely better than the Thunderbolt's.
#4115
Burning Brakes
Nexus Packaging for Verizon? Seems like its coming any time now.
http://www.droid-life.com/2011/12/05...ging-pictured/
http://www.droid-life.com/2011/12/05...ging-pictured/
#4116
Moderator
Regional Coordinator (Southeast)
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Join Date: Dec 2003
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If you aren't into modding and don't care so much about getting updates right away, get the Rezound. I hear the Rezound's display is amazing mainly due to its 4.3" screen while still packing a 720p display. However, the weather and calendar widgets are easily replaceable with apps in the market that have skins to look fairly similar and arguably more functional and more customizable than the widgets that come with Sense:
https://market.android.com/details?i...bHdpZGdldHMiXQ..
https://market.android.com/details?i...N5d2lkZ2V0cyJd
https://market.android.com/details?i...GR3aWRnZXRzIl0.
https://market.android.com/details?i...2V0cy5jb3JlIl0.
https://market.android.com/details?i...Y2FsZW5kYXIiXQ..
^Those are just some examples. LauncherPro has some widgets that are visually the same thing as the Sense Widgets as well. There are also lockscreen and theme replacements in the market to make your phone look like Sense as well in the market that come very close short of porting a Sense ROM.
With all of that said, I would still recommend the Nexus. It will get the updates first and you know it'll have a big backing by XDA if Google stops supporting it. The Rezound has a good following since its made by HTC but it won't have support like the Nexus phones from XDA. If you still want Sense in the future, the Nexus phones usually get ports of the Sense Roms even though they weren't made for them. Its a matter of when not if as all Nexus phones and other phones have a variant of Sense ported to them so long as their bootloader is unlocked. Sense has also become a big bloated skin. Its the biggest one out of all the skins consuming a lot of RAM that you would normally get on another phone and HTC hasn't been prioritizing battery life with all of that bloat.
I've also been using ICS for a little more than a week (its an alpha but almost everything works, missing Video recording and a few other things) and Gingerbread just feels old every time I go back to it. A lot of the things skins have filled in for end users has been gapped by ICS. I think that most skins will actually look the same as they do now and just incorporate the ICS framework much like the MIUI leaks have shown.
One last thing, you can "rent" a Rezound now and return it by January 15th if you want to try it out. I think you just pay a $35 restocking fee to switch phones. The Nexus is supposed to drop on the 8th. They're saying pre-orders are coming on the 6th but nothing confirmed yet.
https://market.android.com/details?i...bHdpZGdldHMiXQ..
https://market.android.com/details?i...N5d2lkZ2V0cyJd
https://market.android.com/details?i...GR3aWRnZXRzIl0.
https://market.android.com/details?i...2V0cy5jb3JlIl0.
https://market.android.com/details?i...Y2FsZW5kYXIiXQ..
^Those are just some examples. LauncherPro has some widgets that are visually the same thing as the Sense Widgets as well. There are also lockscreen and theme replacements in the market to make your phone look like Sense as well in the market that come very close short of porting a Sense ROM.
With all of that said, I would still recommend the Nexus. It will get the updates first and you know it'll have a big backing by XDA if Google stops supporting it. The Rezound has a good following since its made by HTC but it won't have support like the Nexus phones from XDA. If you still want Sense in the future, the Nexus phones usually get ports of the Sense Roms even though they weren't made for them. Its a matter of when not if as all Nexus phones and other phones have a variant of Sense ported to them so long as their bootloader is unlocked. Sense has also become a big bloated skin. Its the biggest one out of all the skins consuming a lot of RAM that you would normally get on another phone and HTC hasn't been prioritizing battery life with all of that bloat.
I've also been using ICS for a little more than a week (its an alpha but almost everything works, missing Video recording and a few other things) and Gingerbread just feels old every time I go back to it. A lot of the things skins have filled in for end users has been gapped by ICS. I think that most skins will actually look the same as they do now and just incorporate the ICS framework much like the MIUI leaks have shown.
One last thing, you can "rent" a Rezound now and return it by January 15th if you want to try it out. I think you just pay a $35 restocking fee to switch phones. The Nexus is supposed to drop on the 8th. They're saying pre-orders are coming on the 6th but nothing confirmed yet.
The I like the fact the buttons are not included with the Rezound cause it means you get to use all of the screen resolution. Any chance the buttons with hide away while using things like the web browser and watching movies on the Nexus Prime?
I do get that Sense is becoming bloated and a huge memory hog. I can't believe how long it takes to boot my Thunderbolt compared to my friends X2. His is like 20 seconds top and mine seems like well over a minute to boot.
The car dock is my main selling point actually right now. I just want to get it and hard wire it in the car and put the phone in the left bottom corner of my windshield and call it a day. Do all my calling through the navigation system in the car.
#4117
Moderator
Regional Coordinator (Southeast)
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Well going to go see if they have the Rezound at my local store so I can play with it since I am leaving work. Hopefully I won't be tempted to take it home with they do.
#4118
Safety Car
The buttons have three states: 1) Always visible, 2) Fade into small gray circles, 3) Disappear and allow full screen to be used. The third state is limited to certain apps at the moment, YouTube and Google Videos I believe. Otherwise, the buttons are in the first or second state. I'm sure as apps get optimized for ICS, those buttons will become more and more in the third state. There are apps that allow you to hide the status bar in Honeycomb to make full use of the screen and I wouldn't be surprised if they make one for ICS.
#4119
Safety Car
The Meizu phone is finally being released on January 1st with some really nice specs:
http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/05/d...uary-1st-with/
Specs:
1.4 GHz Dual Core Exynos processor (Slightly faster than the Galaxy S II)
1 GB of RAM
4.0" 960x640 resolution (292 PPI)
8 MP f/2.2 lens rear camera
0.3 MP front camera
Pentaband 3G
$470 Unlocked
For the price and the specs, this is a pretty good price. Since its a Pentaband phone, it'll work on AT&T and T-Mobile.
After some teases and leaks, Meizu's finally unveiled its next flagship phone MX to keep China entertained for 2012. While the quad core flavor won't be here until next year, this dual core model will be available in mainland China starting from ¥2,999 ($470) on January 1st (like with the M9 last year), and Hong Kong is still expecting an early January release. The full spec list now includes a 4-inch 960 x 640 ASV display, 1.4GHz Samsung Exynos 4210 dual core chip, 1GB of LPDDR2 RAM, 16GB of storage (32GB version to launch later), 0.3 megapixel front-facing camera, a secondary mic for noise cancellation and a 1,600mAh battery. Oh, that circular button at the bottom? It's just a physical home button instead of an optical trackpad as previously rumored.
Globetrotters will be pleased to know that the 10.3mm-thick MX will pack pentaband 3G with HSPA+, so all you need is a Micro SIM to get the phone working. As for software, it'll come with Meizu's heavily customized Android 2.3.5 initially but will eventually get the 4.0 update, as already promised by CEO Jack Wong. On the multimedia front you'll again find native support for FLAC audio plus various video formats like MKV, MP4 and AVI; along with a micro-USB port that supports S/PDIF digital output, USB host plus MHL; and an eight megapixel f/2.2 backside-illuminated camera (which does smile detection and panorama shot) with 1080p 30fps recording. Head on over to Meizu's website for the full lowdown -- it'll be a good way to practise your Chinese, too.
Update: Press release added after the break.
Globetrotters will be pleased to know that the 10.3mm-thick MX will pack pentaband 3G with HSPA+, so all you need is a Micro SIM to get the phone working. As for software, it'll come with Meizu's heavily customized Android 2.3.5 initially but will eventually get the 4.0 update, as already promised by CEO Jack Wong. On the multimedia front you'll again find native support for FLAC audio plus various video formats like MKV, MP4 and AVI; along with a micro-USB port that supports S/PDIF digital output, USB host plus MHL; and an eight megapixel f/2.2 backside-illuminated camera (which does smile detection and panorama shot) with 1080p 30fps recording. Head on over to Meizu's website for the full lowdown -- it'll be a good way to practise your Chinese, too.
Update: Press release added after the break.
Specs:
1.4 GHz Dual Core Exynos processor (Slightly faster than the Galaxy S II)
1 GB of RAM
4.0" 960x640 resolution (292 PPI)
8 MP f/2.2 lens rear camera
0.3 MP front camera
Pentaband 3G
$470 Unlocked
For the price and the specs, this is a pretty good price. Since its a Pentaband phone, it'll work on AT&T and T-Mobile.
#4120
Suzuka Master
Google wallet not gonna be on the verizon galaxy nexus. Shouldnt be a surprise since Verizon, Tmobile and ATT are supposed to create their own, Isis or something like that. But I'm sure xda people will get it working.