Looking at the Specs for the new Nexus S, there is nothing revolutionary. Seems like basically the Vibrant just renamed. Minor differences like FFC, and obvoiusly the Google experience with Gingerbread. Yet, hardware wise, the Nexus S looks like to be the same as the current Galaxy S lineup. Can you point out major differences in hardware?
link below
http://www.google.com/nexus/#!/tech-specs
Hey, Senior member, do you think this should be posted in the development section.
Can I be a mod?
s15274n said:
Hey, Senior member, do you think this should be posted in the development section.
Can I be a mod?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
OHHHH woops, I totally didn't mean to post this here, Sorry.
I already notified the mods to move it, that's what I get for not paying attention while typing.
there are actually a few hardware differences that may cause some minor issues with porting. location of micro usb port and headphone jack. might also have a different gps chip in it and then the inand only issue. it will be monumentally easier to port it to our devices than cm6 made for htc devices because processor and gpu wise they are identical.
Moved...
Also my post count is now at 1337 , awesome
Captainkrtek said:
Moved...
Also my post count is now at 1337 , awesome
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You mean like in l33t? Don't reply, you'll spoil it
kind of same but does have some differences
major selling point for me is 2.3, google, ext4, and more developers but yea that's all software.
But also has FFC, NFC, new antenna and possible new GPS chip, anti fingerprint curved glass, no more chrome bezel
My gripe ...bluetooth 3.0 got down graded to 2.1, external micro SD got removed, video codecs
I understand the codecs but i dont see the need to remove and downgrade hardware
I like its being sold threw local bestbuy because Ill probably end up buying it and if i dont like ill just return it
dbacchus said:
You mean like in l33t? Don't reply, you'll spoil it
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Like 31337, actually: elite; later shortened to '1337, but never typed as l33t.
On topic: I was seriously planning on going to Nexus S, but they removed enough to make it unattractive. I'm (probably foolishly) going to give Sammy a chance to go ahead and get 2.3 on the SGS line. The world knows it's not just possible, but simple to do so.
If not, I have faith that XDA will fill that role whilst I search for a new primary phone mfg.
-bZj
via XDAapp
demo23019 said:
But also has FFC, NFC, new antenna and possible new GPS chip, anti fingerprint curved glass, no more chrome bezel
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
what do you mean it has a new antenna? what type of new antenna.
yeah it's diff.
first thing is NFC
bluetooth etc
not to mention the FFC
the Nexus S is thicker too.
jumaaneface said:
there are actually a few hardware differences that may cause some minor issues with porting. location of micro usb port and headphone jack. might also have a different gps chip in it and then the inand only issue. it will be monumentally easier to port it to our devices than cm6 made for htc devices because processor and gpu wise they are identical.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If that's true, awesome. But won't the different file formats make it more difficult to port? Isn't the fact that we have RFS the reason why it's so difficult getting AOSP on there in the first place? I'm curious because if it's going to be an easy port to get NS ROMS then there's really no reason for an "upgrade".
I dont believe the nexus s records hd 720p video either...
Nothing on the nexus s wool get me to switch... And if I want a ffc I'd just mod one on....
Vibrant ftmfw
Dougefresh91 said:
If that's true, awesome. But won't the different file formats make it more difficult to port? Isn't the fact that we have RFS the reason why it's so difficult getting AOSP on there in the first place? I'm curious because if it's going to be an easy port to get NS ROMS then there's really no reason for an "upgrade".
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did anyone confirm what filesystem Samsung implemented for Nexus S?
There are a few differences hardware wise:
- No SD expansion slot
- FFC by default
- LED flash by default
- Menu, Home, Back and Search keys are in different order (I do not get it, why all the different phones even from the same manufacturer have to have different key layout )
- There could be different screen used in markets other than US and UK.
- NFC
The only real benefit of NS over its Galaxy S cousins is the carrier independent software releases/updates it seems.
smashpunks said:
I dont believe the nexus s records hd 720p video either...
Nothing on the nexus s wool get me to switch... And if I want a ffc I'd just mod one on....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Reports show it does do 720p video. FFC mod is still a fail in my book as it makes the rear camera pretty crappy. And then only a subset of apps support ffc on the vibrant.
I wont switch to ns, BUT I would choose it over vibrant if I had to buy all over again.
fearmonkey said:
Reports show it does do 720p video.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Its capable of 720p but not out of the box... It does not record @ 1280x720
It will be added later im sure by google or a developer here.
They did it with the nexus one
demo23019 said:
kind of same but does have some differences
major selling point for me is 2.3, google, ext4, and more developers but yea that's all software.
But also has FFC, NFC, new antenna and possible new GPS chip, anti fingerprint curved glass, no more chrome bezel
My gripe ...bluetooth 3.0 got down graded to 2.1, external micro SD got removed, video codecs
I understand the codecs but i dont see the need to remove and downgrade hardware
I like its being sold threw local bestbuy because Ill probably end up buying it and if i dont like ill just return it
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's all true, the Nexus S is built for developer in mind. Not for consumer daily usage. My dad said the phone does have new GPS hardware. The screen is basically the same, except slight curve on glass, all current SGS phone can be curved during manufacturing. But Google want that design specifically for Nexus S only.
But this time Nexus S actually do have 16GB memory rather than 13GB for storage. 3GB for programs extra.
This is all I know so far. Will be getting the phone anyway cause its newer hardware.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
lqaddict said:
The only real benefit of NS over its Galaxy S cousins is the carrier independent software releases/updates it seems.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
"only real benefit"?
This is a _HUGE_ benefit. Everybody on XDA, in every forum, is constantly waiting for the devs to strip out all the manufacturer garbage, and release something close to stock as soon as google announces a new version.
I am crossing my fingers that the Nexus S is close enough to the Vibrant that within a week or two of the nexus hitting the streets we'll have a pulled vibrant-compatible ROM. If that doesn't happen then the hardware is different enough that devs will still be on the same cycle for the vibrant that we're currently on-- held back by Samsung's ability to crap touchwiz all over a year-old OS.
And then I'll get a Nexus S so I can finally be on a reasonable upgrade cycle for a phone of this speed.
The poll is bad because it's too black and white. Can't vote without feeling like I'm lying.
They are similar enough hardware wise that the Nexus S cannot be considered an Upgrade to Galaxy S phones (not just the Vibrant, any of them). Add in the actual bad points (No SD Card Slot, Downgraded Bluetooth functionality, etc.) and that phone becomes a bit of a joke. Maybe the released specs are an inside joke between Samsung and Google, and they're actually different than we think they are...?
down8 said:
Like 31337, actually: elite; later shortened to '1337, but never typed as l33t.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Usually only the vowels are replaced with numbers, else the **** becomes unreadable. L33T is readable. 1337 is not. The readability comes from the contrast between the numbers and the letters, as well as the fact that the numbers look similar to the letters. Turning every letter into a number only seems readable to you because you did it, and there are 26 letters - there aren't enough numbers to replace them.
Readable = R34d4bl3
It's called L33TSP34K.
i hope it still has download mode and uses Odin since its pretty much impossible to brick
Its a coin toss really; not a thumbs up or down imho
This is all strictly in my humble opinion based on the fact that I'm a T-Mobile customer, and own a Vibrant. That said, like others here I acknowledge the [subtle(?)] differences between the Galaxy S devices and the Nexus S so I'm onboard with:
NFC
FFC
Camera Flash
Support for T-Mobile's network (for those who care, like me)
Curved Display
The "pure Google experience" and everything that entails
But I don't feel all the new features should be considered 'pros' because they're not features I'm longing for or really desire at the moment:
NFC: Few places in my area support this so I don't see how I'm going to make much use of this initially
Curved Display: I hardly consider this a feature; I don't see/understand how I'm going to benefit. Its not like I'm getting cramps holding my phone.
And as others have voiced, I share the same sentiments that in some ways the Nexus S is a step backwards:
Lacks a microSD slot
Defaults to 480 recording
No HSPA+ (for those it matters to, like me)
Bluetooth downgraded from 3.0 to 2.3 with EDR+
Unfortunately for me, some of these missing feaures are a big deal:
The lack of a microSD slot is nearly a deal breaker.
If the recording is software controlled, why is it nerfed out of the box? Lame. Now we have to rely on some group of devs to figure this out, or wait for Google to release an update to address this issue, if they even consider it an issue.
The lack of HSPA+ is just a disappointment, but at least its a lateral move.
I don't use BT so much these days so I'm not really missing anything, but why not 3.0?
I was hoping for an 'immediate future proof' device. Honestly, I'll have to handle the device to be swayed in either direction. If the lack of Sammy's poorly implemented RFS produces a lag-free experience in general, and there aren't any GPS issues, or really annoying issues in general, that just might be enough for me to jump, but its a tough call right now.
Sources:
http://www.google.com/phone/compare/?phone=nexus-s&phone=t-mobile-mytouch-4g&phone=samsung-vibrant-a-galaxy-s-phone
http://www.google.com/phone/detail/nexus-s
http://www.google.com/nexus/tech-specs.html#!/tech-specs
Multiple: http://www.pcworld.com/search?qt=Nexus+s&s=d
Among Others
Related
I know the two devices' internals are extremely similar, but I'm strongly considering getting the G2 anyway. I'm just having a hard time fully commiting to justifying the purchase even though I really, really want it, haha.
What do you think? Are the pros and cons for this upgrade a worthwhile endeavor?
Here's what I'm thinking so far:
Pros:
The Adreno 205 GPU, supposedly 4 to 5 times more powerful than the N1's: http://gizmodo.com/5633855/g2s-benchmarks-show-that-despite-processor-speed-it-should-be-fast
Flash Hardware Acceleration, which apparently the N1 cannot do (wtf? really?) (see "Adreno 205 features": http://smartphonebenchmarks.com/for...t-compare-to-other-gpus/page__pid__65#entry65 )
Lower clock speed CPU (800 MHz) vs the N1's 1 GHz, yet the same performance (or better). This, along with the last point = possibly better battery life?
Better multitouch panel (no axes flipping). Would be good for those multitouch games, which I've mostly avoided with the N1
No screen miscalibration issues (having to turn screen off to fix)
Optical trackpad rather than trackball = longer life / won't get dirty / break.
[Edit 9/29]:
HSDPA+!!! For faster 3G, or "4G" even!
Much more internal space for apps etc (4GB on the G2 vs 512MB on the N1)
(Hopefully) the soft button weirdness is fixed (ie the pressure points on the N1's soft buttons aren't directly on the button labels)
Wifi Calling Possibly? http://phandroid.com/2010/09/27/t-mobile-g2-to-feature-wi-fi-calling-but-no-tethering/
Cons:
Slower Google Updates since the N1 will still be the developer phone and the T-Mobile G2 won't be
The G2 will be a bulkier and heavier device
Optical trackpad = no trackball notifications [Edit 9/30]: --> www.youtube.com/watch?v=FCUrxJg_TwQ !!!!!!!
Cost / inconvenience of switching devices (my contract ends in March 2011 so I'd buy off-contact and re-sell my N1 to cover the cost)
Small screen; I'd really like a 4" screen, preferably a Super AMOLED. Sticking with 3.7" is a downer. And there's always some better device on the nearby horizon. However, one with Stock Android is going to be rare, is it not?
[Edit 9/30]:
No FM Radio, HDMI-Out, or Front-Facing Camera (not that the N1 has these, but surely other phones coming out a month or two after the G2 might)
And then there's the keyboard, which at this point I consider neither a positive nor a negative. I've grown accustomed to an on-screen keyboard (Swype) on my N1, and I'm not really that heavy of a texter anyway. So it could be amazing to have a physical keyboard again (I had the G1 previously), or I might ignore it and hate the added weight/bulk.
What do you think? Is this a worthwhile upgrade? Any other pros or cons that I'm missing?
i want one, but to justify it like u said is hard. The N1 is still IMO one of the top phones out even after all these other phones. I will keep mine for some time. Since I never upgraded with my N1 I will buy my wife the G2 since shes coming from the Cliq. They just got 2.1. She will enjoy the bigger screen, flash for the cam, and flash/ 2.2 and she has to have a keyboard.
Will there be a N2 or a phone the google will call there N1 in the future? Thats what I wait for. There is no way Im selling my N1 either
N1 to Vibrant or G2 or what?
I had the misfortune of having my N1 "go away" (don't ask) and I ended up going for a Vibrant as the "next best thing" -- but have since been feeling left out of the Android game (I'm an Android developer, as well) and have been looking at the G2 with some interest.
I've pretty much decided to wait. The N1 is still the phone of choise for developers, ROM cookers, and modders. Part of it is because it's great hardware, but I think a lot of it has to do with the fact that it's the closest thing to the Android code base. It will always get the first updates, it will always get a more stable platform, and it's pretty much the phone that Android itself is coded for/on. Every google employee has one (or at least had one at one point), including the google devs. And I think it will be that way until google either launches another phone, or has an intimate connection to a specific phone (maybe even on a specific carrier.) That's the phone I'm waiting for. And hopefully my Vibrant will catch up a bit with the custom ROMs and I can go back to "pure" stock Android. Not into my Android looking so much like iOS.
The N1 and the G2 are great phones, and I think they'll be at the top of the pile for a while longer, but they won't be forever. And I'm just waiting to see where the next next generation phone shows up.
Just sharing my thoughts, not really looking for debate on my points.
My biggie would have to be INTERNAL SPACE. This is a major flaw in the nexus. I can't even install sense like roms along with my necessary apps because of this.
fnirt said:
I had the misfortune of having my N1 "go away" (don't ask) and I ended up going for a Vibrant as the "next best thing" -- but have since been feeling left out of the Android game (I'm an Android developer, as well) and have been looking at the G2 with some interest.
I've pretty much decided to wait. The N1 is still the phone of choise for developers, ROM cookers, and modders. Part of it is because it's great hardware, but I think a lot of it has to do with the fact that it's the closest thing to the Android code base. It will always get the first updates, it will always get a more stable platform, and it's pretty much the phone that Android itself is coded for/on. Every google employee has one (or at least had one at one point), including the google devs. And I think it will be that way until google either launches another phone, or has an intimate connection to a specific phone (maybe even on a specific carrier.) That's the phone I'm waiting for. And hopefully my Vibrant will catch up a bit with the custom ROMs and I can go back to "pure" stock Android. Not into my Android looking so much like iOS.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you're a developer, wouldn't it make more sense to stick with N1 instead of the Galaxy? Even with Gingerbread/3.0 coming out soon (read: Nov/Dec) the N1 is still pure Android supposedly be able to run 3.0 as well.
gkaugustine said:
My biggie would have to be INTERNAL SPACE. This is a major flaw in the nexus. I can't even install sense like roms along with my necessary apps because of this.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How many necessary apps do you require? I was able to install the Sense ROM from these forums without issues.
One in particular is a space hog for corporate email "Good for Enterprise" takes up well over 35mb on a slow day and it contains widgets so i cant move it to SD.
Did you go through all HTC apps and move them to SD card?
Either way to most internal space i have even now on cm6 is 30mb, internal space on the nexus is horrible.
@fnirt: Yeah you're right; I forgot to mention that the N1 will probably have more support from XDA etc than the G2. Although... Cyanogen, THE man himself, is actually purchasing a G2... So who knows, maybe the G2 will gain just as much support from the community as the N1?
@gkaugustine: Ah yes, I didn't even consider internal space. The N1 has 512 MB of space for apps while the G2 has 4 GB? Wow, good jump. Although I can't say I have trouble with this since I use the Apps2SD feature of CyanogenMod6 to move all my large apps.
Oh yeah! HSDPA+!!
Well, I didn't even think about this until you mentioned it...no trackball alerts?
There better be some blinking (and I mean every 2 seconds, not the idiotic one every 15 seconds we had at the launch of the nexus) led notification.
Otherwise it's a dealbreaker for me.
But if they're right about flash being hardware accelerated...I'm intrigued, for the first time. (I don't care about gaming because the only time I find myself having TIME to game, I'm already home and my PS3 with Wipeout HD are right there).
Honeslty Paul I wouldn't upgrade until you know that there are no GPS issues like the galaxy phones and other issues which may not be apparent until later.
IMO, the Nexus One is still the most complete package of a phone.
Yep, no trackball alerts. Though I think the trackball as we know it will soon be phased out of all phones forever (in favor of trackpads), so you can pretty much kiss that feature goodbye. In addition to trackballs getting dirty and eventually trackball failure, it's probably cheaper in the long run for the manufacturer due to less support and fewer phone replacements.
Honeslty Paul I wouldn't upgrade until you know that there are no GPS issues like the galaxy phones and other issues which may not be apparent until later.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, I'm definitely not going to pre-order the G2. I want to at least play with it in store (unlike I did with the N1, though that was a HUGE jump from the G1, so it didn't matter as much).
Also, because my upgrade date is 6 months away, I actually can't pre-order haha.
Paul22000 said:
Yep, no trackball alerts. Though I think the trackball as we know it will soon be phased out of all phones forever (in favor of trackpads), so you can pretty much kiss that feature goodbye. In addition to trackballs getting dirty and eventually trackball failure, it's probably cheaper in the long run for the manufacturer due to less support and fewer phone replacements.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I realize that, and I am already starting to worry about my Nexus's trackball becoming dirty/sticky and I have no idea how I'm gonna replace it. I'm all for trackpads, but having no dedicated LED light like on the iPhone or the Galaxy S phones is totally a dealbreaker for me. I don't want to have to grab my phone to know I have a message. Do you know if the G2 will have one?
But I like the idea, IF true, that it will hardware accelerate Flash, because more and more sites are starting to have higher quality videos which get choppy on the Nexus, and that's unfortunate, since one of my regular bashing points on the iPhone is the lack of flash.
Does anyone have the internal spec sheet on the G2? im interested to know where the radio antenna is installed.
I love my trackball... especially when I had my sidekick 3 and it had trackball notifications. Awesome and convinient.
I would hold off... I have a full upgrade with tmobile and I'm holding off for a bigger screen, front facing camera, and other gingerbread goodies to come next year.
ksc6000 said:
I realize that, and I am already starting to worry about my Nexus's trackball becoming dirty/sticky and I have no idea how I'm gonna replace it. I'm all for trackpads, but having no dedicated LED light like on the iPhone or the Galaxy S phones is totally a dealbreaker for me. I don't want to have to grab my phone to know I have a message. Do you know if the G2 will have one?
But I like the idea, IF true, that it will hardware accelerate Flash, because more and more sites are starting to have higher quality videos which get choppy on the Nexus, and that's unfortunate, since one of my regular bashing points on the iPhone is the lack of flash.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm sure that at the very least it has a charging light, that can be hacked. I've also heard for other phones of people looking into hacking one of the 4 soft buttons, so that the backlight on one of them acts in a similar manner to our trackball notification.
leyvatron said:
I love my trackball... especially when I had my sidekick 3 and it had trackball notifications. Awesome and convinient.
I would hold off... I have a full upgrade with tmobile and I'm holding off for a bigger screen, front facing camera, and other gingerbread goodies to come next year.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ah yes, I forgot about the front-facing camera feature. Buying a new phone without it makes me pause... Though to be honest I would never, ever use it, but it's just a point so that iphoners can't brag about it to me.
Trackball alerts are great, but a poor alternative may be the Blinker app. It uses the charging LED for notifications, so you only have a few options (orange, green, blue), but with rate combinations...
I'm thinking about a new phone for my wife, and there's not many Androids with keyboards.
Sent from my Nexus One using XDA App
Just a heads up. There is a led notification at the top right of the phone that Does appear to blink. Also, a lot of people are saying the ring around the trackpad lights up. So we'll see.
I just sold my N1 for $400 and pre-ordered the G2.
What sealed the deal for me:
4GB internal memory
720p recording - I know the N1 has it hacked, but it was always slow for me.
Dedicated GPU
Flash Acceleration
No multi-touch/screen positioning issues - This was a big one for me
HSPA+
Keyboard - I text a lot :\
What I'll miss:
Fast updates
Crazy dev support
Beautiful styling
Noise-canceling
AMOLED display - G2 uses STFT.
Paul22000 said:
I'm just having a hard time fully commiting to justifying the purchase even though I really, really want it, haha.
What do you think? Are the pros and cons for this upgrade a worthwhile endeavor?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I really hope we don't lose you Paul since your one of my favorite guys here on Xda. I've thought about getting the G2 before as well but it just isn't a big enough upgrade for me to justify it.
I would def wait for something better. You just KNOW something will come in the next 2 months.
Paul22000 said:
Yep, no trackball alerts. Though I think the trackball as we know it will soon be phased out of all phones forever (in favor of trackpads), so you can pretty much kiss that feature goodbye. In addition to trackballs getting dirty and eventually trackball failure, it's probably cheaper in the long run for the manufacturer due to less support and fewer phone replacements.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
They could, and should think about doing a light halo around the trackpad like around the button on the touch pro... (obviously it should be a RGB one, not just plain white leds)
Even better let it have segments (like an xbox...)
HTC... gimme a job!
Oh yeah, I also forgot the soft button weirdness on the N1. I've always found that it works better to tap above the white labels than directly on them. Hopefully the G2 has this fixed.
Trackball alerts are great, but a poor alternative may be the Blinker app. It uses the charging LED for notifications, so you only have a few options (orange, green, blue), but with rate combinations...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Where do you get the Blinker app?
http://www.appbrain.com/search?q=blinker -- No "Blinker" app exists?
I just sold my N1 for $400 and pre-ordered the G2.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just a random question: what are you using in the meantime? I'd be without an Android phone.
What I'll miss:
Beautiful styling
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, take a look at the G2's back and wow-wow-wow. That brushed aluminum is downright beautiful. Picture here: http://www.engadget.com/photos/t-mobile-g2-preview-hands-on/#3410970
ap3604 said:
I really hope we don't lose you Paul since your one of my favorite guys here on Xda. I've thought about getting the G2 before as well but it just isn't a big enough upgrade for me to justify it.
I would def wait for something better. You just KNOW something will come in the next 2 months.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ah, thanks
There definitely will be better devices around the corner, which is what kills me. However, how many of them will have Stock Android *and* get the massive community support that the G2 will get (especially since Cyanogen is literally purchasing one himself)?
Blinker:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=744138
Sent from my Nexus One using XDA App
Hey guys. Im new to the forum, I've been over at M3 with my Motorola Cliq. I have a full upgrade available to me, and right now im considering the Vibrant since my fiance just got the captivate and its pretty sexy.
The only problem is, I dont know anyone with a vibrant, so instead of googling for bonehead reviews, i figured id post here and get opinions from people who are actually involved with their phones (and i will most likely root it). So my main question is, why should I get this phone instead of waiting for the G2 or the MyTouch HD? What are its main downfalls? Also, how is root on this phone? Hows the tethering, overclocking/underclocking? It looks like theres plenty of ROM support. Also, after briefly skimming through these forums, I'm seeing a lot of stuff on a "lag fix". What lag are you referring to?
So I welcome your personal opinions, good or bad, i appreciate it. Thanks.
PS - Cosmetically I must admit I'm not impressed. The IPhone-like body repelled me at first, and it really does feel like it may be TOO light. But if the good outweighs the bad, im sure i can get used to these things.
best screen on the market
hummingbird processor is superior to snapdragons
it's thin and light, barely noticeable in your pocket
super easy to root, super easy to tether without apps (instructions for OSX)
major downfalls include waiting on samsung's lackluster support and some users are experiencing GPS issues
i personally thought my vibrant was still more responsive on 2.1 than an EVO i was playing around with on 2.2. i can't wait until this phone gets froyo, it should fly!
lolcopter said:
best screen on the market
hummingbird processor is superior to snapdragons
it's thin and light, barely noticeable in your pocket
super easy to root, super easy to tether without apps (instructions for OSX)
major downfalls include waiting on samsung's lackluster support and some users are experiencing GPS issues
i personally thought my vibrant was still more responsive on 2.1 than an EVO i was playing around with on 2.2. i can't wait until this phone gets froyo, it should fly!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for your input. Well, I'm pretty used to horrible customer loyalty, having had to deal with Motorola for the past 10 months.
Thin and light: I must say, it feels like a toddler could snap it in half. That is one of my main concerns.
Hardware is cool firmware blows. If gps worked i would buy again
98classic said:
Hardware is cool firmware blows. If gps worked i would buy again
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Firmware may blow, but arent there ROMs out there that improve it?
Vibrant all the way!!!!! one of the best phone's out there!!!!!!!!
"Vibrant" screen, memory, speed, processor, thin phone, NO SLIDing KEYWORK, trackpad and touchscreen don't make senses to me... So vibrant all the way. For rooting i used "one click rooting" and lag fix i used Ryan's Lag fix, and to fix the GPS i used "vibrant-JI2-GPS.zip" (room manager needed)
TopShelf10 said:
Firmware may blow, but aren't there ROMs out there that improve it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes. I'm using Bionix's mods & he's got the GPS & all that other stuff fixed in his ROM. As long as you use a custom ROM it's all good.
I was disappointed with the stock firmware, and had started regretting my purchase. Then I rooted the phone and applied the bionix ROM, and now I'm loving my phone.
The thing is, Samsung takes a long while to support upgrades to Android, so if that's a problem, you may want to go HTC G2. Personally, I don't like the slideout keyboard, because they invariably feel more flimsy and prone to break than the candybar style of phone.
The GPS has been a problem for many people, myself included. Samsung has acknowledged the problem and is reportedly working on a fix. I can tell you that the bionix rom, like several others, incorporates a fix that has made it workable for me.
Another issue for many of us is the lack of a front-facing camera. Another poster has found the hardware for it online for $17 US, and I hear that one of the developers may be working on the software.
Overall the phone, once a custom rom is in place, is snappy and a good performer. After flashing the rom, my only real complaint has been the poor T-Mobile coverage, especially in my home. There is a recent rumor that T-Mobile is going to enable UMA (cell phone calls over wifi) for recent Android phones. That would pretty much finish off any of my complaints...
Hope this helps
I have not owned any other smart phones before I purchased this Vibrant. That being said, I absolutely love this phone. The only issues I have had with it is the GPS problem (takes forever to lock on and loses signal randomly than can't find a lock again for quite some time) and the "Lag". For clarification, the "Lag" is a very minor issue that affects only some phones, and is only noticed by the picky users IMO. Basically, you click on something and the phone "lags" out every now and than for maybe 1 second.
Now it needs to be stated that not all Vibrants are experiencing these issues. My wife has a Vibrant as well and has not noticed any major issues with her GPS, while I have on mine.
However, if you have no qualms with modding your device, the two major issues this phone has can easily be fixed. Rooting couldn't be simpler with the One Click Root (You install it on your computer, attach your phone, and click a button, than follow 3 easy steps on your phone). There are One Click Lag fixes that are just as easy (Which can be downloaded from the market). I have used it and it without issue. The GPS can be fixed by either flashing one of the multiple fixes out there, or simply installing a custom ROM from Bionix, or Eugene. (I am currently using Eugenes Frankin-Twiz and my GPS locks on in about 20 seconds, and hasn't lost signal once.)
That being said, I have heard that a JI5 update for our device is being rolled out pretty much as I speak via KIES. Don't know what that update fixes, but from what little I have read, people that had GPS issues are no longer having them after updating. I just backed up my current ROM and will likely be flashing the update shortly to test it out.
Hope this helps in your decision.
IDtheTarget said:
Another issue for many of us is the lack of a front-facing camera. Another poster has found the hardware for it online for $17 US, and I hear that one of the developers may be working on the software.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
WHAT??? i though it was impossible... do u have a link of this thread, i been looking for this bad not luck. Thanks
Dragoth12 said:
For clarification, the "Lag" is a very minor issue that affects only some phones, and is only noticed by the picky users IMO. Basically, you click on something and the phone "lags" out every now and than for maybe 1 second.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You wouldn't say that if you used an app that hits the database hard.
Newsrob for example, an excellent google reader app. It's SLOW on a stock vibrant. Apply any of the lag fixes, and it FLIES.
For many apps, I would actually agree that it's nit-picky. However, Samsung F-ed up by trying to force their stupid proprietary filesystem on all of us when standard ones perform significantly better. There's no good reason to cripple this excellent hardware with crap software when free, open source software that is already in the Linux kernel Android is based on is so much better.
Thanks guys. Im surprised these threads dont have a "thank" button
i do regret jumping the gun on getting the vibrant, because i'm a huge fan of physical keyboards, and the g2 looks to have a pretty decent one. with that said, that is the only advantage the g2 has.
vibrant's pros-
display. i really don't think we'll see another phone that can match this phone's screen for a good while.
tv out. loading movies up on my phone and plugging them into the tv is fantastic!
gpu. everytime i check out some market games, the general comment concensus shows that the galaxy s phones never really have an issue running any games. the ps1 emulator running flawless is pretty much all the proof you need.
dev support. coming from the g1 with cyanogenmod, i was kinda worried that we wouldn't have any decent devs working on this thing, but my worries were unfounded. the user sombionix has made a ROM on his own (as far as i know) that has made this phone into the powerhouse it should be. the battery life is worlds better, it runs like i expected it to run when i first got it, and the list goes on. there's also a handful of other users whipping up some pretty decent themes and mods for us.
that's all i can think of at the moment. my personal cons with the phone are no led notification, no keyboard, and certain elements of touchwiz. i really wanna like tw, but there are some features that should be able to be changed or completely disabled.
so it's really up to you. just know (as i learned) that once you buy a phone you really want, there's gonna be 5 more just around the corner that you'll really want too. so just do some research, weigh the pros and cons, and go from there. luckily for us consumers, we've reached the point where there's nothing but good **** coming out, so let's reap the benefits.
I've noticed alot of Devs are moving towards the Vibrant, that says it all. Yes there are minor issues but fixes are already present and official fixes are on the way. Plus when we get Froyo, this baby will be on steroids. Get it! I hear that Walmart is selling it for $99. That should seal the deal for you.
ttabbal said:
I would actually agree that it's nit-picky.
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Click to collapse
Im actually one of those picky users that you guys are referring to ....processor speed is number one on my list of things that i want out of a smartphonee, thats why i was concerned about this issue, but i hear nothing but positive results from these "lag fixes" so i dont think its enough to affect my decision. heres my list, in order, of important things in a phone for me:
1. Processor - 1gh hummingbird, which can be overclocked/underclocked....+1
2. Storage/Memory - this phone has pllllenty....+2
3. RAM - from what i gather, this phone is up to par, no more no less than the average Android smartphone....0
4. Modding abilities - The developer support for this phone seems very good, with a decent amount of ROMs to choose from that offer your basic root features, and software improvements +1
5. Display - no need to explain....+2
6. Keyboard - Lacks physical keyboard....-1
7. Design - IPhone look is too unoriginal and basic (not looking foward to people asking "derr, is that an iphone??"), phone seems way too prone to damage with being as light as a feather....-2
8. Firmware - I can't grade it, cause it's not something you can judge on paper, but its last on the list because ROMs usually address any issues....0
Well, based on my horrible, makeshift, totally irrelevant grading system...as a non-user, this phone gets a +3.
The only reason im dissecting and trying to pick all of your brains is because, 2yrs is a long time to commit to a phone, and like christpuncher said it will most likely be behind the pack within 6months, and i really want to make sure this phone will put up the longest fight possible.
Android 3.0 should be released around the New Year, whats the likelihood the Vibrant will see that?
huasamaya said:
WHAT??? i though it was impossible... do u have a link of this thread, i been looking for this bad not luck. Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Here ya go ...
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=770854
More important then specs and what everyone else thinks in a biased Vibrant forum is what do you want and need. I've owned the MyTouch (1rst Gen) HTC G1 and iPhone (jailbroken), HTC Touch Pro II and Vibrant on T-Mobile. And have used the MyTouch Slide for a few days. I don't think you can compare these phones apples to apples.
At least in my expeirence and view, the MyTouch phones are more along the lines of messaging/social phone. It's outta your way when your not using it (small) and feels more like an on the go phone. In contrast my Vibrant feels more like a premier and capable phone. It's more of a multimedia targeted phone and boasts a stronger cpu and better display. The G2 will have a hardware keyboard and if you've used the Touch Pro II's keyboard (best in market IMO) then you'll have an idea how great HTC's hardware keyboards can be. I miss that keyboard but have grown to live without it on my Vibrant. The G2 from what I've read wont carry the huge specs (800mhz cpu?) of the Vibrant but then again it's not targeted at the same market. I see the G1 and G2 as the do everything good phone.
My best advice is to wait till the G2 comes out and head down to a Tmobile store and play with them. I was set on buying the MyTouch Slide when I headed down to the store and check out the Vibrant b/c of the rave reviews. After holding it in my hands and playing with it, I was amazed but still was going to get the MyTouch Slide. Then I compared price, specs, and features and the Vibrant in my case was a steal after I headed to Walmart where I got it for $150. The MyTouch Slide was selling for $179 at Tmobile.
Anyhow, I would personally purchase the Vibrant again over the MyTouch and I would only want the G2 because it adheres to Android rules more so then Samsung does (filesystem and stock apps).
watcher64 said:
Here ya go ...
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=770854
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
PLOP!!! i can't believe it!!! i hope they can make it work!!
TopShelf10 said:
Android 3.0 should be released around the New Year, whats the likelihood the Vibrant will see that?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If I had to take a shot in the dark I'd say the Vibrant will NOT be seeing 3.0, but that is 100% speculation on my part. I'd imagine the G2 will get 3.0 and probably some updates further than that. That said, the dev support for the Vibrant is outstanding. At the moment I'm rockin' Eugene373's Frankin Twiz and Voodoo lagfix. I'd be willing to bet even if we don't get an "official" 3.0 update that we'll still see it on our Vibrants in due time.
So how do you like your Nexus S vs Vibrant...How about a comparison?
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
The nexus s is identical to the vibrant, but it has what everyone wants from their vibrant a good camera even in low light but with flash, and a new os : gingerbread 2.3, in hardware specs its almost identical, software and flash is where it gets better than the vibrant
Dont have one because the only thing it has over the Vibrant that i care about is Gingerbread. The camera flash isnt a big deal to me.
So far so good.
JIT actually works on GB quadrant CPU score is now on par with snapdragon
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=9858387&postcount=1
I never had issues really with my vibrant GPS but notices quicker and more accurate locks haven't tested on road yet
Covering the bottom left corner on NS doesn't cause signal drop
Like the all around look of the NS doesn't have the cheap looking chrome the vibrant has and no more tmobile or samsung on the front just all black
and also has a rounder look making it look slightly smaller and more sleek along with curve glass
Took some getting use to unlocking and gaining root access but managed and also got clockwork recovery image flashed
Gingerbread is just fast and really snappy
that's about it for now
nothing really stands out in WOW factor its pretty much a vibrant with Google support.. And hopefully they port gingerbread to vibrant and hopefully its optimized to take full advantage of JIT because it makes a difference
EDIT
Tested on road and is very accurate and didn't run into any lost or spotty signal while navigating.
Probably due to the fact that they changed the cell and GPS antenna so they no longer interfere with one another like on my vibrant
Well my vibrants gps is perfect locks within 5 secs accurate compass works correctly and with the new google maps its faster, my vibrant being made recently 10-20 came with preinstalled ji6 which does fix the gps problems, as of now im happy with the vibrant just gonna wait till ota froyo comes which should be really soon, im done flashing custom roms they either made my gps worse or messed up my haptic vibrations ended up exchanging so many times at the tmobile store lol i took full advantage of my 14 day period i think i exchanged 2 vibrants got a G2 hated the G2 so horrible and back to another vibrant. Only thing the nexus really has over the vibrant for me is the flash and gingerbread, but i dont want gingerbread badly enough to sell my brand new vibrant due to froyo coming soon and theres no huge difference between 2.2 and 2.3 compared to 2.1 to 2.2
STi489 said:
So how do you like your Nexus S vs Vibrant...How about a comparison?
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just got my Nexus S. The final straw for me was the fact that the official Samsung twitter is now saying that they "cannot pinpoint a date" for 2.2, yet they had previously been saying "by the end of the year." So they should be able to at least say by the 31st unless they were lying earlier. I have lost faith in them and will never buy a Samsung phone again unless it is a situation like the Nexus where they are not involved with OS/software.
Anyways, it is what you would expect. Basically a Galaxy S except without Samsung tainting the software and no restrictions of any kind. Samsung makes great hardware but, damn, they suck when it comes to supporting existing customers and software engineering. The camera is nice, though I hope that they add in support for HD video recording (which I'm sure it is capable of). Everything I have tried seems to be very fast and well optimized. I also like the small interface changes in 2.3. The phone actually feels a little heavier/thicker than the Vibrant to me, though it isn't in a bad way like the MT4G (which is ugly, too, IMO). External styling seems nice though not much different.
I'm happy. I got what I wanted: unmodified/unrestricted Android and not waiting forever (if ever) for updates.
demo23019 said:
So far so good.
JIT actually works on GB quadrant CPU score is now on par with snapdragon
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=9858387&postcount=1
I never had issues really with my vibrant GPS but notices quicker and more accurate locks haven't tested on road yet
Covering the bottom left corner on NS doesn't cause signal drop
Like the all around look of the NS doesn't have the cheap looking chrome the vibrant has and no more tmobile or samsung on the front just all black
and also has a rounder look making it look slightly smaller and more sleek along with curve glass
Took some getting use to unlocking and gaining root access but managed and also got clockwork recovery image flashed
Gingerbread is just fast and really snappy
that's about it for now
nothing really stands out in WOW factor its pretty much a vibrant with Google support.. And hopefully they port gingerbread to vibrant and hopefully its optimized to take full advantage of JIT because it makes a difference
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Interesting the 3D doesn't score as well as the Galaxy S....
It also has relatively slow IO considering its EXT4 partitions.
edit: i guess the NS has an option that slowed the IO down, devs have 'fixed' it and its performing as you would expect..
Also think maybe its just a 2.3 problem with apps maybe causing the 3d scores? well see as time progresses.
ikevinnyii said:
The nexus s is identical to the vibrant, but it has what everyone wants from their vibrant a good camera even in low light but with flash, and a new os : gingerbread 2.3, in hardware specs its almost identical, software and flash is where it gets better than the vibrant
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
the nexus s is NOT identical to the vibrant. i'm just saying.
tissimo said:
Interesting the 3D doesn't score as well as the Galaxy S....
It also has relatively slow IO considering its EXT4 partitions.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Supercurio found that they missed a mounting option he already released a voodoo kernel that fixes it
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
markatl84 said:
The camera is nice, though I hope that they add in support for HD video recording (which I'm sure it is capable of).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I hate to break it to you, but that's a hardware limitation. They may be able to add 720p recording at something less than 30fps, but that's the best you can hope for.
http://twitter.com/supercurio/status/15023985871814656
@dnaltews Is VIdeo Capture 480p choice due to WebM codec limitations on this SoC? software compressor Maybe? @kangsterizer
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
http://twitter.com/dnaltews/status/15037578596065280
@supercurio clock rate limitation of the SoC. Galaxy uses an external image processing part as a work around. Not enough PCB space in N.S.
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Click to collapse
quadratic said:
I hate to break it to you, but that's a hardware limitation. They may be able to add 720p recording at something less than 30fps, but that's the best you can hope for.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't fully understand what is being said in that twitter reply... so there is a hardware difference between the Vibrant and Nexus S that prevents HD recording? Seems strange that Google would downgrade the hardware in the S. Then again, they took out the SD slot.
Thanks
markatl84 said:
I don't fully understand what is being said in that twitter reply... so there is a hardware difference between the Vibrant and Nexus S that prevents HD recording? Seems strange that Google would downgrade the hardware in the S. Then again, they took out the SD slot.
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Basically, the Vibrant had an extra chip that assisted with video recording. There wasn't room for it in the Nexus S, so it won't be able to do 720p.
ikevinnyii said:
The nexus s is identical to the vibrant, but it has what everyone wants from their vibrant a good camera even in low light but with flash, and a new os : gingerbread 2.3, in hardware specs its almost identical, software and flash is where it gets better than the vibrant
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You don't quite grasp the meaning of the word "identical," do ya?
-bZj
Won't do 720p? We'll see.
Either way, the solid feel of the Nexus S makes the Vibrant feel so last year. The Nexus S is the most solid phone I've ever held.
Other than that, it FLIES out of the box. Oh and Gingerbread is hawttttttttttt
Don't say one negative thing about the Nexus S until you go personally hold it. You'll probably end up buying it within 3 seconds of grasping it's awesomeness first hand.
Anderdroid said:
Won't do 720p? We'll see.
Either way, the solid feel of the Nexus S makes the Vibrant feel so last year. The Nexus S is the most solid phone I've ever held.
Other than that, it FLIES out of the box. Oh and Gingerbread is hawttttttttttt
Don't say one negative thing about the Nexus S until you go personally hold it. You'll probably end up buying it within 3 seconds of grasping it's awesomeness first hand.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I held one. See sigtag. Samaung build quality is nothing to rave about. NS feela cheepee than an HTC aria, and the only thing not last year about this phone is the os... At least for a couple of weeks.
Can care less about this phone. I want a 2.2 update for the one I paid for.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
Anderdroid said:
Won't do 720p? We'll see.
Either way, the solid feel of the Nexus S makes the Vibrant feel so last year. The Nexus S is the most solid phone I've ever held.
Other than that, it FLIES out of the box. Oh and Gingerbread is hawttttttttttt
Don't say one negative thing about the Nexus S until you go personally hold it. You'll probably end up buying it within 3 seconds of grasping it's awesomeness first hand.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Appreciate the enthusiasm but that's a bit of an exaggeration, no?
From the Nexus S forums there seems to be a few people that aren't all that happy with their phones. Various FC's, spotty GPS, poor call quality. I'm seeing more complaints that I thought I would have.
vapotrini said:
From the Nexus S forums there seems to be a few people that aren't all that happy with their phones. Various FC's, spotty GPS, poor call quality. I'm seeing more complaints that I thought I would have.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Are you unaware of the season? I know people expect their GPS to work underground but it doesn't ALWAYS work. That and Nexus owners have this sense of entitlement and ***** at the slightest problem as if battery pack just blew up when the battery meter jumps from 100 to 97 fresh off of the charger.
Thank Google for the FC's and poor call quality. Google has some type of noise compression that's software based. Of course, they're controlling the software which means it's supposed to be 100% awesome 100% of the time.
I held one in best buy, and while it is nicer then vibrant, its still nothing special. Gingerbread sucks, I have all gingerbread I need on my vibrant already, I don't really care about game optimization which was the main focus on Ginger. For me its a 50/50 betweeen upgrade and downgrade, the only problem is that its almost 600 bucks....
Hardware let me down, software let me down, maybe developers will surprise me.
vapotrini said:
Appreciate the enthusiasm but that's a bit of an exaggeration, no?
From the Nexus S forums there seems to be a few people that aren't all that happy with their phones. Various FC's, spotty GPS, poor call quality. I'm seeing more complaints that I thought I would have.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yea might have FC but thats because software isn't working with 2.3 and needs to be updated. This is the developers responsibility not Google...Gingerbread is perfect and run absolutely fine.
Also FYI you will always find people complaining about one thing or another doesn't matter how revolutionary and stable a product is...even more so when you dont actually have hands on experience and seems to be looking for as much negative things possible to justify your decision on not getting it
Give it time apparently cryogen team are working on porting to galaxy s
Also dont think im just trying to justify my purchase and will say anything because this isn't the case i still have my vibrant and have 14 days to return to get my money back....so far im keeping it
kolyan said:
Gingerbread sucks, I have all gingerbread I need on my vibrant already
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Click to collapse
LOL gingerbread sucks but yet you want your vibrant to look like it BTW how that JIT optimization doing for you on your Gingerbread themed 2.2 that's running on rfs
demo23019 said:
LOL gingerbread sucks but yet you want your vibrant to look like it BTW how that JIT optimization doing for you on your Gingerbread themed 2.2 that's running on rfs
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I wanted to say that Gingerbread has very little to offer. It looks good, it has updated copy/paste, keyboard, and optimization for games. I have all those things and more (due to TouchWiz extras) except for optimization for games.....
And frankly speaking, Nero v1 (obviously with JIT) runs very fast and has zero FC.....and it only gets better day by day.
JIT has nothing to do with NS running a bit faster, its ext4. and even after that people are still reporting "laggy browser" in NS, which is THE ONLY issue I have with Vibrant right now.
I have prepared this thread to help myself and others compare and contrast the different phones and hopefully come to a decision here. If anyone has anything to add to the comparison that I have missed, please list it and we can get it all chocked up.
For the record. I have only listed something as a "Disadvantage" if I believe that the category is below what we would expect of the average Android.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Advantages:
ATRIX
Battery Life - This is a big thing for me. I can make my vibrant last through a 14 hour day by crippling every single possible feature. But people here are saying that the Atrix runs solid though 30 hour periods. This is a huge plus for me.
Higher Resolution (even if its fake) - Even though this resolution is fake and can actually cause text to blur, I can say first-hand that I saw the screen in action at a local wal-mart and found it to be acceptable by my standards. I think it may help overall with browsing. The GS2 has a larger screen size, and no pentile matrix display, which could possibly be considered better. This is one that may work out to be a tie.
Tegra 2 - I list this as an advantage not because it is faster, the various benchmarks for either processor seem to be inconclusive at this point. I am listing it as an advantage because it has its own series of games optimized specifically for it, and because Google has chosen to build their framework around tegra 2.
Webtop - I am initially hesitant to even mention this. The phone has a webtop environment, it is most likely Debian Linux and it is said to also be very sluggish. If, in the future, devs gain access to this environment and find ways to optimize it and add in worthy apps such as Chrome and open office, then this will be a massive advantage, but right now it is pretty much just a gimmick.
The webtop interface retains its session when you disconnect it. So you can plug the phone back into another dock and go right back to what you were doing. This is one of the good things about webtop.
Laptop Dock - We all know it is hideously overpriced right now and maybe in the future a cheaper solution will be available. But regardless of how you get the dock, it is an advantage to run your apps in full screen, even if you don't use the sluggish webtop interface and firefox.
The dock charges your phone, but plays sound through your atrix speakers, it has no speakers of it's own, you can answer calls by removing the phone, picking it up on bluetooth or by just yelling at it from behind the laptop. The phone retains its session when you remove it and there is no special unmounting procedure, you just grab it and run.
GALAXY S2
Screen - Bright beautiful and extremely rich. Those who have seen the screen firsthand have claimed that there is nothing like it at all and that it is miles above even the old Super Amoled display. The 4.3 inch size is also a bonus for those of us with large hands. This is probably the best overall feature of the Galaxy S2.
Camera - 8 Megapixels, and 2 megapixel front facing camera. People say that megapixels don't really matter in the long run but the Atrix camera is also said to have a purple wash to it and that the video can be splotchy in certain situations.
Design - Even though it looks way too much like the iPhone, this phone actually looks exceptionally nice. I like the three button design much better than the 4, the search button is pretty useless overall. The thinness of this phone is also amazing if you are into that sort of thing. Naturally it may come down to the US carriers to ruin the design, but by it will likely be summer before that happens.
32GB internal storage - Expect to pay for it, but it is there, you get 64 gigs total with this phone.
Gingerbread - The Atrix won't likely get gingerbread until at least this summer, this phone will have it much sooner if you get the international version coming sometime this quarter.
Gyroscope - This phone has it, do any apps support it? Not sure, but it is there.
NFC - In the off chance that any stores upgrade to NFC this year, you will have the ability to use it. NFC may have other uses that we haven't envisioned yet. It is a protocol, so it can be applied to just about anything. You could potentially set it up to unlock your home, cars could start with it, whatever.
So it has a lot of potential use other than having your money stolen from you.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Disadvantages:
ATRIX
Bootloader - To sum it up for those not familiar, the phone can be rooted, a custom ROM can be flashed, but the kernel cannot be altered at all. (someone will likely correct me here) but if part or all of the webtop code is contained in the kernel somehow it will be difficult to alter it to add new software or make it run more efficiently. This would be a terrible shame.
I can tell you that Team Whiskey has made my Vibrant browse faster than I have seen in Atrix videos, with half the memory and a single core processor. It is scary to think of what this phone could actually accomplish if Moto decided to allow it.
Motoblur - I read that this requires you to sign up for an account before you can even use the phone. I find it alarming that Motorola has decided to help themselves to all this information and it makes me wonder just exactly what they really have access to and why.
Crippled FM radio - WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY. All of these phones have both transmitters and receivers for FM. So can someone tell me why in god's name anyone would disable them? FM radio has many more uses than just listening to local stations and why again should I have to burn my limited data on
internet radio when there is a receiver right in my phone?
GALAXY S2
Heat - My current Galaxy S runs very hot already, if the screen is active while the phone is being charged it will heat up to what seems to be a very dangerous temperature. The pre-release Galaxy S2 was said to be scorching hot after running with the screen on and the charger active.
Fail File System, Hideous and crippling lag - Update: the galaxy S2 is said to not use RFS. Chock one up for Samsung.
Updates - Samsung has a horrible reputation for updates when working with US carriers, even for new phones. If it was not for this community I would have likely given up on Android and Samsung altogether. Although I know that part of the update delay has been t-mobile, it is also in Samsung's interests to ship out new phones instead of updating their old ones.
Battery Life I have a feeling that Samsung tried to push the limits to get their phone to be as thin as possible and I am worried that they have done so at the expense of battery life. We won't know for sure until it gets in people's hands but I expect the battery life to be subpar.
NO HID Bluetooth Support (possibly) - I have had a black wiimote sitting here for 6 months waiting to connect to my Vibrant. I love emulated classics but action games are near impossible to play with the on-screen kb. So if you want this feature, I would make sure that the GS2 has it first, because it is not likely that it will.
Availability - What it really comes down to now. Unless you want to shell out over 1000 for the phone, you will probably need to wait 5 months from now for any kind of US availability this summer. And don't doubt that those versions will become crippled and even more bloated in the process. But again there is no locked bootloader here.
Ok I think that covers it. Having written all this down, I think I am really leaning more toward the Atrix. There just doesn't seem to be anything else out there now that will be able to match it at the moment. And as you can see, our experience with Samsung has not been exceptional.
Good comparison there. I am also looking at the exact 2 models and thank you very much, looks like Atrix will too be my choice.
I guess I'll get the atrix laptop dock too and prays for the devs here to make it all better. Otherwise, I think its still a good piece of hardware I don't mind owning.
""Samsung's dual-core, Gingerbread-powered Galaxy S II has appeared on Play.co.uk alongside a tentative SIM-free price and release date. According to Play, which is currently taking pre-orders for the phone, it'll ship Mar. 31 for £599.99 (~$960). Pre-release prices are never guaranteed to be accurate and are always subject to change, but £599 seams like a realistic price point for the Galaxy S II, as it's slightly higher than current single-core offerings from other manufacturers.""
Just published at androidcentral. £599.99 (~$960)?? Get a grip..
Not bad, just a couple of things to note that I thought of while reading. First, the screen resolution can be arguable considering the Pentile screen that the Atrix uses. That gives the SGS2 more sub pixels, but then it's a bigger screen, so less (I believe) pixel density still... it's really kind of a toss up, but I think they will both look great. I think the lower resolution and bigger screen on the SGS2 will look just fine with the full 3 subpixels per pixel.
Also, the SGS2 looks nothing like an iPhone. I wish people would stop saying that about every phone that comes out. Apparently every square black phone with a screen is an iPhone now.
And also it's been reported that the SGS2 does not use RFS.
The Galaxy S2 looks like a great phone, but even as much as I hate Motorola's implementation of the lockdown...I can't *STAND* Samsung for updates. They've promised up and down that they would release updates for every phone since Android came out, and they've delivered on about 3 of those promises...out of probably 20. They are *HORRIBLE* at updating devices and they don't even apologize when they cancel. I would *never* buy a Samsung on the hopes that it would get an updated OS.
As for the screens, I don't really notice much of a difference. I'm a pretty severe audiophile and videophile and although I can tell a difference it's absolutely not enough to make me go with one phone over another. I'm coming from an iPhone 4 which has the best screen to date on a mobile phone...and even between that and my Atrix I barely see a difference. They're both fantastic screens.
hotleadsingerguy said:
The Galaxy S2 looks like a great phone, but even as much as I hate Motorola's implementation of the lockdown...I can't *STAND* Samsung for updates. They've promised up and down that they would release updates for every phone since Android came out, and they've delivered on about 3 of those promises...out of probably 20. They are *HORRIBLE* at updating devices and they don't even apologize when they cancel. I would *never* buy a Samsung on the hopes that it would get an updated OS.
As for the screens, I don't really notice much of a difference. I'm a pretty severe audiophile and videophile and although I can tell a difference it's absolutely not enough to make me go with one phone over another. I'm coming from an iPhone 4 which has the best screen to date on a mobile phone...and even between that and my Atrix I barely see a difference. They're both fantastic screens.
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Click to collapse
The updates aren't really an issue for people who visit sites like this. I would never rely on Samsung to update my phone. My Captivate has been running 2.2 for ages while they just released the update for everyone else. Yes, Samsung sucks at updating, but the hacking community will always get it done regardless.
I must be the only one, but i use the search hotkey absolutely all the time. I love it and I realize that you can hold menu for the same effect on the SGS2, but i'd prefer to have the 4th hotkey than their ugly stupid home button. It is not an iPhone, embrace uniqueness samsung.
eallan said:
I must be the only one, but i use the search hotkey absolutely all the time. I love it and I realize that you can hold menu for the same effect on the SGS2, but i'd prefer to have the 4th hotkey than their ugly stupid home button. It is not an iPhone, embrace uniqueness samsung.
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Click to collapse
I really miss the hardware home key! The orientation of the 4 buttons makes it a bit awkward to thumb navigate since its so close to the bottom. Its actually one of the things about the sgs2 that is making me think twice about my atrix. Despite how much I love it.
Sent from my MB860 using XDA App
Man_of_Leisure said:
I really miss the hardware home key! The orientation of the 4 buttons makes it a bit awkward to thumb navigate since its so close to the bottom. Its actually one of the things about the sgs2 that is making me think twice about my atrix. Despite how much I love it.
Sent from my MB860 using XDA App
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Click to collapse
I wouldn't mind if the buttons were hardware, thats another debate. I just want all four of them!
The back button is beyond crucial. Maybe back and home should be two hardware with the other capacitive? For symmetry, obviously a concern for samsung .
I definitely want the new Galaxy S 2. I've heard that the Atrix was a huge let down. I used to own a Captivate and I loved everything about it except the ****ty build quality and lack of flash for the camera. It was so smooth with voodoo and custom roms. The Galaxy S 2 will have an amazing screen and I think it will do average on battery consumption. Just my 2 cents
Sent from my Desire HD using XDA App
King Shady said:
I definitely want the new Galaxy S 2. I've heard that the Atrix was a huge let down. I used to own a Captivate and I loved everything about it except the ****ty build quality and lack of flash for the camera. It was so smooth with voodoo and custom roms. The Galaxy S 2 will have an amazing screen and I think it will do average on battery consumption. Just my 2 cents
Sent from my Desire HD using XDA App
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****ty build quality? Like hardware wise? I personally think the Captivate is the nicest of all of the Galaxy S phones. The hardware itself has been absolutely wonderful for me. The software quality leaves a lot to be desired from a stock standpoint though.
AJerman said:
****ty build quality? Like hardware wise? I personally think the Captivate is the nicest of all of the Galaxy S phones. The hardware itself has been absolutely wonderful for me. The software quality leaves a lot to be desired from a stock standpoint though.
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Click to collapse
The plastic build was a huge downgrade for me, especially coming from a beautiful iPhone 4. I'm much happier with the Inspire 4G now though. HTC Sense is amazing and super smooth, and HTC build quality is great. The phone feels ultra solid.
SGS2 is apparently RFS-free. Also, some versions will have Tegra2 instead of Exynos - hope this includes us.
People knock Samsung's plastic designs, but they're actually a lot harder to break than the "well-built" iPhone 4.
Very good write up man, these are the posts that I like to see.
By looking at my signature, you can see that I just got the Atrix as well, and I love the phone. Amazingly fast, awesome screen (love the higher density and the effect itbhas on the overall experience), and the battery is pretty good too.
I'm seriously thinking about buying the laptop dock, but I don't know how well that will perform, and I haven't seen any live videos of it.
I really like the design and specs of the GS 2, but there are a lot of possible problems holding me back....
Rooted/ROM Captivate (For Sale)
Rooted Atrix
FLAC Vest said:
Very good write up man, these are the posts that I like to see.
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Click to collapse
Thanks a lot, bro.
I am no engineer and I can't build tools. But I can put a few thoughts together and provide someone with some information.
This is an amazing community and what people do here is outstanding, I just want to do what I can to add to that.
King Shady said:
The plastic build was a huge downgrade for me, especially coming from a beautiful iPhone 4. I'm much happier with the Inspire 4G now though. HTC Sense is amazing and super smooth, and HTC build quality is great. The phone feels ultra solid.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
S2 looks like meizu m9
I have both and a Galaxy S 2 on order
Why? I really liked the Captivate. My plan was to use both but the Atrix is so much more fun to use I'm selling the Captivate. Well, maybe. Maybe not.
Yesterday after I removed the SIM card and replaced it, the Atrix went bonkers with freezes and instability issues. After numerous soft resets, two factory resets and replacing the SIM card, SD card and battery a couple of times it seems to be back to normal. I suspect I had reinserted the SIM card incorrectly but maybe there was another issue.
So why would I pay $1000 for the Galaxy S 2? The Captivate was that much fun. Although I'm sure we will be able to do more custom rom's shortly on the Atrix, the Galaxy S 2 sounds like an even bigger blast than either. And boy oh boy does that LG 3D look interesting. But you have to draw the line somewhere.
Here is what the Atrix has that the Captivate does not:
1-better graphics and screen quality, dynamic and vivid visuals, a joy to read and watch (text as well as video quality is sharp and crisp, very clear)
2-more interactive features with outside devices (i.e. computers)
3-interacts more efficiently with e mail, voice and text programs (really like the way it handles multiple incoming calls especially when you are already on one-notification, instructions and directions for handling)(I can now actually use Excel spreadsheets and Word documents) (works well with contacts)
4-updated browser can handle more types of video content and pop up windows better
5-it feels better when you hold and talk or watch or do most anything with it (I did make one call and even though I could hear the other party clearly they could not hear me-I do not what happened.)
My friends all tell me I should get an iphone. I had one for years and the Androids are far more fun. I'll never return. I don't think. LG 3D anyone?
I think Tegra2 is actually a disadvantage for Atrix 4G.
As a new generation dualcore processor, it's early, but not strong.
It's video playback ability of H.264 is limited, but H.264 is currently the most frequently played format.
It has no neon support, big loss on processing power.
Till now Tegra2 has not proven itself in Graphics power. In benchmarks it's no superior to Hummingbird.
However the performance of Mali400MP on GS2 is also questionable, so just wait and see...
hotleadsingerguy said:
The Galaxy S2 looks like a great phone, but even as much as I hate Motorola's implementation of the lockdown...I can't *STAND* Samsung for updates. They've promised up and down that they would release updates for every phone since Android came out, and they've delivered on about 3 of those promises...out of probably 20. They are *HORRIBLE* at updating devices and they don't even apologize when they cancel. I would *never* buy a Samsung on the hopes that it would get an updated OS.
As for the screens, I don't really notice much of a difference. I'm a pretty severe audiophile and videophile and although I can tell a difference it's absolutely not enough to make me go with one phone over another. I'm coming from an iPhone 4 which has the best screen to date on a mobile phone...and even between that and my Atrix I barely see a difference. They're both fantastic screens.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1 great post!
King Shady said:
The plastic build was a huge downgrade for me, especially coming from a beautiful iPhone 4. I'm much happier with the Inspire 4G now though. HTC Sense is amazing and super smooth, and HTC build quality is great. The phone feels ultra solid.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
See, I don't understand that. There is far less plastic on the Captivate than the majority of the phones out there. The front is all glass, and the back is mostly metal. It's only the top and bottom on the back that are plastic, and they have both felt very solid to me since I got the phone on launch day. I came from an iPhone 4 as well, and granted nothing compares to the iPhone 4 in build quality, the Captivate definitely doesn't seem bad at all to me.
As long as you're happy with what you have now though, that's what matters. I just think the Inspire is a bit of a waste of money considering it's lack of power compared to all the other phones coming out now. It feels like it's last generation still. I did play with it a little at the AT&T store though, and it seemed nice. If it had come out last summer with the Captivate (even if it didn't have 4G), I might have gotten it. Now I'm going to wait until a dual core offering I like though.
So the Evo 2 might be coming or not that's up to sprint and HTC to decide anyways, what are something that you would like in your Evo, the would be sweet to make it a better phone then what it is already?
I would like the retina display, of course for the Evo would be more resolution then the iPhone cause is a bigger screen , and also flash memory like the apple devices not for nothing but the speed things a lot
What are your suggestions ?
Sent from my PC36100 using Tapatalk
Get rid of the gimmicky kickstand, and with that space install a larger battery.
Use a screen that can show millions of colors instead of just 65k.
That's it. Any software issues can be addressed with rooting+ROMS.
dedc said:
Get rid of the gimmicky kickstand, and with that space install a larger battery.
Use a screen that can show millions of colors instead of just 65k.
That's it. Any software issues can be addressed with rooting+ROMS.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The 65k limitation was an Android limitation. 2.3 is supposed to be the first version that allows more than 65k colors. I believe it's been said the evo screen can handle 24bit color.
donatom3 said:
The 65k limitation was an Android limitation. 2.3 is supposed to be the first version that allows more than 65k colors. I believe it's been said the evo screen can handle 24bit color.
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Click to collapse
I heard that too
Sent from my PC36100 using Tapatalk
An extended life battery that comes stock so the phone could easily be used all day and night on one charge. The sprint extended battery for the evo is acceptable. I really dislike the whole sd card mechanism. How about a spring loaded one like the epic? Last but not least, better radios. 3g, 4g, and wifi reception is worse than other top tier phones. Once again, the epic performs better in that category than the evo (in tests with myself and gf using each of the phones). I'm not saying epic is a better phone than the evo either. I'm saying the evo has room for improvement.
I'm not going to start ranting about samsung.....
I would like to see a better display, the latest hardware available like dual care and better GPU, and like the man above me stated an easy to access sdcard slot on the side of the phone instead of under the battery. Pretty annoying to have to power the phone down and remove the battery just to access the sdcard. Most Samsung phones have the sdcard in a side slot. Why can't HTC do this?
I love the kickstand i dont find it gimicky at all ... I dont know how many times ill be watching a UFC fight or sporting event and with out the kickstand it would be blah to have to sit and hold it there. Much easier to prop it on my work desk and just chill.
Fricksta said:
I love the kickstand i dont find it gimicky at all ... I dont know how many times ill be watching a UFC fight or sporting event and with out the kickstand it would be blah to have to sit and hold it there. Much easier to prop it on my work desk and just chill.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1 I love the kickstand. Try playing snes games with a wii classic controller without a kickstand. You don't.
Its also nice for watching videos
Sent from my (insert daily ROM name here) Evo 4g
Improved Wi-Fi reception
Improved battery life
Faster processor and GPU
Android 2.3 without having to root and flash CM7
Also, +1 here for loving the kickstand.
Factory option for AOSP. I don't mind carriers and manufacturers to theme Android, but I think that allowing the phone to have AOSP on it should be REQUIRED and an option right out of the box.
Also, +1 for the kickstand love
i agree with the AOSP option although I just dont see it all that likely.
definitely an LED screen. not that it bothers me, but the droid x with the camera button and using the volume rocker as zoom, I think thats pretty innovative. maybe the camera not so exposed as well.
mic.mayorga said:
i agree with the AOSP option although I just dont see it all that likely.
definitely an LED screen. not that it bothers me, but the droid x with the camera button and using the volume rocker as zoom, I think thats pretty innovative. maybe the camera not so exposed as well.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, HTC made a HUGE design mistake by having the camera stick out like it does. Waaaaaay to easy to scratch.
Also, am I the only one who misses mini-USB over micro-USB? It seems micro-USB is more finicky, and the cables break easier.
SolsticeZero said:
Factory option for AOSP. I don't mind carriers and manufacturers to theme Android, but I think that allowing the phone to have AOSP on it should be REQUIRED and an option right out of the box.
Also, +1 for the kickstand love
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Click to collapse
The only problem with having AOSP as an option, is that it's only attractive to geeky types. The mass market can't handle choice. If they have to research a product for 10 extra minutes to figure out which option they'd like, the consumer will probably just pick the phone that chooses for them.
This is exactly why the iphone is so successful. People only have to decide how much memory they need (which is still a chore for a lot of users), and Apple does the rest.
I realize that choice is one of the main marketing points of Android, but like I said, too much choice drives people away. I think the current model is the best way to go. This way, the mass audience gets the easy setup, no hassle environment they want, and geeks can figure out how to customize it themselves.
SolsticeZero said:
Factory option for AOSP. I don't mind carriers and manufacturers to theme Android, but I think that allowing the phone to have AOSP on it should be REQUIRED and an option right out of the box.
Also, +1 for the kickstand love
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+ one fvcking million
EndlessDissent said:
The only problem with having AOSP as an option, is that it's only attractive to geeky types. The mass market can't handle choice. If they have to research a product for 10 extra minutes to figure out which option they'd like, the consumer will probably just pick the phone that chooses for them.
This is exactly why the iphone is so successful. People only have to decide how much memory they need (which is still a chore for a lot of users), and Apple does the rest.
I realize that choice is one of the main marketing points of Android, but like I said, too much choice drives people away. I think the current model is the best way to go. This way, the mass audience gets the easy setup, no hassle environment they want, and geeks can figure out how to customize it themselves.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No one said it had to be default. HTC could have sense as the default, and if that was all you wanted, so be it. You'd never have to worry about vanilla. Adding an option to switch to vanilla buried somewhere in the menu IS NOT going to keep people away. Hell, who is even saying they would have to advertise it? Just put the option in there. For 90% of the population, nothing would change. For the other 10%, our experience would be much more satisfying.
I would like a dual core processor, more internal memory(i am just to damn cheap to buy a 32gb microsd card).
tejasrichard said:
No one said it had to be default. HTC could have sense as the default, and if that was all you wanted, so be it. You'd never have to worry about vanilla. Adding an option to switch to vanilla buried somewhere in the menu IS NOT going to keep people away. Hell, who is even saying they would have to advertise it? Just put the option in there. For 90% of the population, nothing would change. For the other 10%, our experience would be much more satisfying.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Exactly my point
LOL
tejasrichard said:
+ one fvcking million
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Click to collapse
I second that! And more memory won't hurt (like thunderbolt).
This on too!
OutdoorOBW said:
I would like a dual core processor, more internal memory(i am just to damn cheap to buy a 32gb microsd card).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Dual core, which means it would need a better battery or else it dies out 2x faster with the stock (well sort of)
Dual core, as a HTC device that pretty much means the dual core 1.2 GHz Scorpion. I'd rather have the Tegra 2 since I have a feeling that battery life is better but not much HTC can do. GPU is bundled with this but
More RAM - 1GB. Not needed really but why not future proof it? Plus the newer GPUs reserve much more RAM anyway.
More internal Storage - 4-8GB. No more worrying about app space.
Higher resolution - 4.3" display but only WVGA resolution? Why? qHD at least. Throw in a SLCD, OLED is nice but HTC could probably only get their hands on the old bum-ish ones.
Better front and back camera - I'll take a VGA FFC and 5-8 MP if it means iPhone 4 or better clarity. I'm not going to do a large print from my phone any time soon anyway.
Bigger battery - 1800+ mAh. The Atrix did it, why not a 4.3" phone?
Sprint ID - I'd rather want bone stock Android but that's not happening. Sprint ID is basically stock Android with a slightly modified launcher. Throw Launcher Pro or any other Launcher and you're pretty close to or right at stock.
An smaller, more efficient WiMax radio. It exists so why not?