Database Users

reasons for buying the i9000 Galaxy S

Hey guys,
I'm not that pretty sure anymore about the phone.
My main PRO is the big screen and Android.
The main CON is: Samsung...
My friends, who already owned a Samsung warned me.
One of them said:"I'll give you 3 month till you send it back, because it's not working anymore."
The missing camera LED, notification LED and the update policy of Samsung are reinforcing my concerns.
I'm currently not sure about buying one, so could you give me your reasons for choosing the Galaxy S over a HTC Desire/Legend or an iPhone?

iPhone - don't like the platform and Apple condescending BS.
Desire - have one currently, excellent phone, reasoning for trying the Galaxy S - better graphics prowess (I like gaming), TV Out & DLNA, more storage space for app installation, WiFi tether, DivX, the screen - both better display characteristics and multitouch, better audio SQ.
EDIT: Oh, and the Desire's bluetooth implementation is anoying with peripherals like keyboards/controllers/heart rate monitors.

You dont need to go for htc or apple. There's the new motorola coming out that also has Arm cpu
http://www.slashgear.com/motorola-xt720-hands-on-video-0788530/
I'm loving the cam on it.. and build quality.. but not super amoled but apparently they have great screens (motorola droids)
i still want the galaxy but build quality is worrying..
edit: just doesn't make sense why accessing the app drawer on the motorola is so sluggish lol... seriously it's just icons... I'm pretty sure it's Android's fault not the phone.
edit 2: btw you just worried me as well Knobibrot LOL with your story. though I've heard many but now I'm really thinking about it since I'll be traveling for a long time, I need a lasting phone that does 720p. and Motorola seems like it has strong build quality and a great camera. And it's still Android so hmm..
edit 3: I don't care about watching movies, I don't watch movies on cell phones. LOL count me in Knobibrot, why should we buy it ? haha Galaxy is a great phone but I am not sure all because of build quality and how long it may last.. since already many errors are being reported..
edit 4: arg it doesn't have wireless n the motorola and it's not amoled.

Still have my doubts too and am questioning the logic behind leaving out all leds. It does appear to be a long running design choice with Samsung phones from what I've read.
I'm ditching my HD2 due to unreliability issues, so the Galaxy does seem a bit of a gamble when the Desire has so many great reviews. It's that damn screen on the G that keeps pulling me back tho!

this "samsung-bashing" is really getting boring...
its always the manufacturers fault if the user is too stupid, right ?
would you buy a car without ever testdriving it ? no you wouldn't even if the guy who wants to sell it to you says "its the greatest thing since sliced bread and it does 200 mph" !
but with phones it's seemingly totally different... the manufacturer tells you something and you do believe the **** out of it.. instead of just taking the goddamn device in your hand and use the features you need and check if it is ok for you.
yeah i know, its so much harder to get a phone into your hand than having a test-drive, right ?
oh, and when you save all your money for a phone its the best thing to confide in the manufacturers claims and blindly buy it without testing
either be a man and buy something without testing, because you have the money and don't care if its **** (its still YOUR DECISION to spend the money on something you never used before) or be "smart" and test the device, if the money does matter so much for you...
i owned the i8510 and the i8910 samsung devices and they were both top of the line... i got no complains
and here the reasons for buying the i9000:
big super amoled screen
best videoplayer on a device so far (mkv, avi/divx support out of the box)
720p @ 30 fps so far (not "up to 30 fps" like the iphone 4 )
android os
nice samsung customization with touchwiz

Simple answer from me.....
If I don't like, then by law under the Distance Selling Regulations I can send it back and obtain a full refund inc postage.

Well the whole reason with pre-ordering without testing for me is that manufacturers these days don't seem too good (or perhaps intentionally) at judging demand, so if I'm not getting one in the first batch then I could end up waiting months. But that's why I've been checking every review and user opinion, so at least I've got an idea.

just watch steven jobs tout his iphone ... don't you think he knows that the iphone is crap in some regards ? yet he sells it to "stupid" folks as best thing since sliced bread ... why would he tell you something he knows the iphone is bad in ? his job is to sell phones and not to tell the truth ... same is with the other manufacturers
even without testing every phone i did not have many complains .. some people really need a reality check if they blame the manufacturers for saying their product was great....

Simple answer from me.....
If I don't like, then by law under the Distance Selling Regulations I can send it back and obtain a full refund inc postage.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Now, you see, in my coutry for example they respect this law only if the contents of the packege is intact.
Practice shows that sallers always say that the packege was unwrapped and the unit shows signs of usage and they decline taking it back. And that means weeks or even months of Consumer Advocate work or a lawsuit.
So your suggestion is out of question for me (and I think other unfortunates) and becasue of that I always wait and read a lot before I buy a thing that I can't test properly.

DonAndress said:
Now, you see, in my coutry for example they respect this law only if the contents of the packege is intact.
Practice shows that sallers always say that the packege was unwrapped and the unit shows signs of usage and they decline taking it back. And that means weeks or even months of Consumer Advocate work or a lawsuit.
So your suggestion is out of question for me (and I think other unfortunates) and becasue of that I always wait and read a lot before I buy a thing that I can't test properly.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well my heart goes out to you in not having a government strong enough to enforce better consumer laws.

v1rtu4l said:
just watch steven jobs tout his iphone ... don't you think he knows that the iphone is crap in some regards ? yet he sells it to "stupid" folks as best thing since sliced bread ... why would he tell you something he knows the iphone is bad in ? his job is to sell phones and not to tell the truth ... same is with the other manufacturers
even without testing every phone i did not have many complains .. some people really need a reality check if they blame the manufacturers for saying their product was great....
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In that case you will simply love reading this....
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Like the bearded one, I shall be returning mine under UK distance selling regulations if I'm not entirely happy with it. But I am cautiously optimistic. Samsung is a big company with a lot of customers, it stands to reason they're gonna have some unhappy ones.
This phone is going to be such a big seller (over 1 million pre-orders in Europe), they will have to get it sorted if there are any little niggles, plus if they plan to be taken seriously on Android they do realize they need to change their support and policy towards upgrades. We've already seen them make a clear statement that 2.2 will be supported.
But my main reason for buying it, there's still nothing else out there that comes close in terms of overall capability.

Beards said:
In that case you will simply love reading this....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've got nothing against Apple, but that did make me chuckle.

Knobibrot said:
I'm currently not sure about buying one, so could you give me your reasons for choosing the Galaxy S over a HTC Desire/Legend or an iPhone?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The choice between iPhone and the GS is more a choice between android and iOS. I thought about buying the iphone, but then I realized I hated their push notification system (had a lot of bad experiences with it with my iTouch), the lack of widgets, the lousy multitasking (I use ebuddy a lot, and the multitasking implementation of the iphone only allows for push messages with IM's). The iPhone itself is a great device, technically, but the software just doesn't cut it for me.
The choice between the Desire and the GS is a bit more difficult. While the Desire is the nice looking, better built cheaper phone with the great Sense UI (although the touchwiz UI also has some nice things, like the app list and the ability to take screenshots), the Samsung is better in about every other aspect. For example:
-Better, bigger screen with better multi-touch (the Desire has trouble tracking as much as 2 fingers at the same time).
-Better processor AND better graphics processor.
-Better bluetooth and wifi and higher mobile upload speed (2mbps<5.76 mbps)
-Better media player and sound quality with support for Avi, FLAC, ...
-Extra memory, both ROM and general
I'm coming from a desire myself, because I really had trouble playing games on emulators with the bad multi-touch. The GPU also wasn't able to keep up in games like Asphalt.
With the GS already on amazon for 499 euros, I would definitly choose it over the desire, which is around 469 here in Belgium.

v1rtu4l said:
this "samsung-bashing" is really getting boring...
i owned the i8510 and the i8910 samsung devices and they were both top of the line... i got no complains
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've only had one Samsung phone so far (i900 Omnia I) but in the 2 years that I owned it I never had a serious problem, even though I bought it 2nd hand on eBay. The only few times it crashed was when I installed a new app it didn't like.
The main reasons why I'm interested in this phone are the 4" Super AMOLED screen, 8GB/16GB on board storage plus SD card, 512mb RAM, 2GB ROM, 1GHz processor with 1500 mAh battery suggests good battery life (although reports so far are mixed), confirmed update to Froyo (as per gsmarena) and apparently good video player and sound quality. Also, I had good experiences with the camera of my Omnia so I'm hoping this bodes well for the Galaxy S camera (yes, I'm aware that it doesn't have a flash). I hated TouchWiz on the Omnia and would prefer plain vanilla Android on the GS, but GS TouchWiz looks much less invasive and more practical than Omnia TouchWiz so I think I can live with it.
I'm keeping an eye on the iPhone 4 as well, but I'm put off by the small screen (smaller than previous iPhones), no flash support for the browser (not so much for youtube but so many websites use it) and I'm a bit suspicious about Apple potentially hobbling Google sync functions. Also not looking forward to iAds.

Yeah, the performance of the phone and the screen are the things that are keeping me from waiting for another phone.
Hearing about bad build quality from those that tried it worries me.
But then again I come from an HTC Magic which has bad build quality but nothing happened to it in a year except dust under screen, but on Sammy that won't be a problem.

Reasons ?! i could write many reasons but this is all i have for now
1- Of course the Super Amoled Screen (best screen to date)
2- The screen is BIG!
3- The Hummingbird processor that means i wont have problems watching a movie on my phone and also it'll rock on game
4- Tv-out sulotions so you have:
a- Wired tv-out using S-video cable .
b- DLNA so you can stream your videos/images/music to your TV ,Media Player, PC , Laptop or PS3 wirelessly
5- Huge internal memory so you can throw anything you want in it .If it's not enough just throw in a 32 GB M-SD card
6- Codecs support so it's ready for your vids
These are the reasons i have for now that makes the galaxy s stands out between Desire , Legend and iPhone !
So if i made a comparison between each device the list will grately expand !

I hated TouchWiz on the Omnia and would prefer plain vanilla Android on the GS, but GS TouchWiz looks much less invasive and more practical than Omnia TouchWiz so I think I can live with it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't know the source any more, but I read somewhere that it's possible to deactivate TouchWiz and use the Vanilla Android instead.
I'll do a search on that!
Thanks for all these great comments.
And informations like the 1 million pre-orders in Europe and Cooki3s' review of the Desire really helps!

Knobibrot said:
I don't know the source any more, but I read somewhere that it's possible to deactivate TouchWiz and use the Vanilla Android instead.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, I think I read that too somewhere. You can deactivate it on the Omnia, so that would make sense. But the GS version looks like I might actually find some of it practical to use, e.g. the Daily Briefing (provided Samsung modify it to allow custom news feeds), unlike the Omnia version which I didn't find very useful.

If the GS build quality is as good as other Samsung's I've had I would be happy. I've always found the build quality excellent, especially compared to SE and Nokia.
However, Samsung haven't been the fasted at updates, so the sooner they confirm Froyo the better.

As Much as I love the G2.. qwerty newcomer phone..

Don't get me wrong, I love my G2. But that being said I also love android which means tons of widgets and apps which tend to slow the slightly slower (ie experienced ) processor/ram on the G2. And I have a pretty quick ICS rom..
But that being said I am constantly on the prowl keeping an eye for the much rumored G3. Im sure others are like me. Unfortunately HTC sounds a bit anti-qwerty (and more and more anti-developers) lately (karma=loss of market share?) so it might be forthcoming.. ever.. So we must to other qwerty's.. I love HTC build quality but if a nice samsung or motorola qwerty comes along I might be out..
Sorry to beat around the bush, but I found a newcomer which seems pretty rocking. Check it out!
(Granted the name is not as slick or sexy as G3.. and its on sprints network ewww haha)
Engadget:
"Motorola Photon Q 4G LTE review: the best full QWERTY phone on Sprint's network"
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Mmmm look at that 5 row qwerty!!
And engadget loved it : "This is one of the finest physical keyboards we've used on an Android device in quite some time."
Granted I dont use sprint/sprints bands but at least phone makers are making qwertys with at least reasonable specs and ICS. Perhaps they are getting smart and trying to capture the rest of RIMM's market share..

unuseable for anyone who isn't on sprint. embedded sim card and i heard, non replaceable battery
such nice spec but such locked down features......
Sent from my HTC Vision using xda app-developers app

I was looking at that my self and first of all motorolla from what i understand is even more anti dev than htc. Also the non removable battery kills it too as said before. I still have my fingers cross for the Galaxy Relay to have an S4

i like the phone.. just the fact that it's locked up tight like an adamantium chastity belt that's been welded shut rather than have a lock around it.

Yea the device is pretty nice but they totally dropped the ball on the embedded sim issue. While Motorola traditionally locks down their bootloader, this device is shipping with the ability to be unlocked.
If it had a removable sim & battery it would be totally killer, but it doesn't so it's a no starter.
Sent from my HTC Vision using xda premium

Sprint and Verizon are not the carrier choice for people (like me) who always need to travel outside of US.

blk_jack said:
Yea the device is pretty nice but they totally dropped the ball on the embedded sim issue. While Motorola traditionally locks down their bootloader, this device is shipping with the ability to be unlocked.
If it had a removable sim & battery it would be totally killer, but it doesn't so it's a no starter.
Sent from my HTC Vision using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
agree, too bad. Id probably drop everything for it if it were gsm with a removable sim card and battery.. too bad too sad

Somebody knows about good QWERTY Android phone (with native ICS)? Replacement for Desire Z / G2? Can´t google anything...

as of now? there's only the relay which has embedded sim and nonremoveable battery.. and another one.. i can't remember off hte top of my head but it's headed to tmobile i believe.. that means you'll be stuck with a quirky band that wont work anywhere else inthe world.

mputtr said:
as of now? there's only the relay which has embedded sim and nonremoveable battery.. and another one.. i can't remember off hte top of my head but it's headed to tmobile i believe.. that means you'll be stuck with a quirky band that wont work anywhere else inthe world.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Relay hasnt been released yet and so far seems that it has removable bat and obvs removable sim because its tmo. Maybe you are mixing up names.

Joe333x said:
Relay hasnt been released yet and so far seems that it has removable bat and obvs removable sim because its tmo. Maybe you are mixing up names.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i might be mixing up. i know the cdma one, has non removable battery & sim.
although the tmo one still probalby just has tmo's bands only so it would only work halfway with other carrier's (say.. at&t or any other carrier around the world )
EDIT: after doing my reading again, what i was referring to was the photon. not the relay. Apologies >.<

This is proof that other manufacturers are hoping to cash in on HTC abandoning the original Android consumer base (those of us who prefer physical keyboards).
Sent from Spaceball One.

blackknightavalon said:
This is proof that other manufacturers are hoping to cash in on HTC abandoning the original Android consumer base (those of us who prefer physical keyboards).
Sent from Spaceball One.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I like how you said "original android consumer base" its so true, its seems mfgs just want to be like apple and that was the reason i went with the G1, i HATE on screen typing, i LOVE keyboards but no mfg wants to release one that is equal to the specs of the latest non qwerty. If this relay comes out and only has an S3 then it just shows no one cares about us qwerty lovers.

I need someone to buy this, tear it apart, and take photos, so i can see if it´s possible to solder an other sim in there.
This really needs to come to europe.

I'm so with you on the "HATE on screen typing and LOVE keyboards". Good thing I baby my G2 cuz it looks like I may have to keep for as long as possible.

Is that the Droid 4?
I recently acquired a Motorola Droid 3, which looks VERY similar to the phone in your pictures, so I am thinking it is the Droid 4, which was recently released on Verizon. Seems to be something about cell phone companies and phone names, they want to give it a different name on every carrier...
Another keyboard phone of interest to some is the Samsung Galaxy Q. It is a low end phone, but has a very nice keyboard, better than any other Samsung phone with a keyboard I have seen. I bought one for my daughter, and it works quite well, especially considering the price.

I'm actually gunna keep the desire z, I think it'll last another year, and with my nexus 7, I won't demand as much from it! Who's with me
Sent from my HTC Vision using xda app-developers app

xT4Z1N4TRx said:
I'm actually gunna keep the desire z, I think it'll last another year, and with my nexus 7, I won't demand as much from it! Who's with me
Sent from my HTC Vision using xda app-developers app
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Click to collapse
Same here :good:

xT4Z1N4TRx said:
I'm actually gunna keep the desire z, I think it'll last another year, and with my nexus 7, I won't demand as much from it! Who's with me
Sent from my HTC Vision using xda app-developers app
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Click to collapse
I will keep both for several years if the jb roms gets better.
And then hardwaremod the crap out of it.
On that note, could you help me find out highest possible mW output on the powerline to the led? Don't care if it fries the original led, i want to put in a high power laser led in the phone
sent from phone

Some new info about Samsung Galaxy S Relay 4G - will be available beginning September 19th for $150 with a two-year agreement.

If N5 gets root?

If the Note 5 gets permanent root, I will be tempted...will you?

Nope.
Samsung is dead to me until I can simply fastboot an unlocked bootloader.
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Heck no. I have a 200gb micro sd and 8000mah battery. I'll take the more practical N4 any day. I kill bloat with package disabler, so fine with it.

Narsil007 said:
Nope.
Samsung is dead to me until I can simply fastboot an unlocked bootloader.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't think you are loss to Samsung lol because let's face it people who want root etc.. are maybe just 0.01% lol
Sent from my SM-N910V using Tapatalk

patt2k said:
I don't think you are loss to Samsung lol because let's face it people who want root etc.. are maybe just 0.01% lol
Sent from my SM-N910V using Tapatalk
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Click to collapse
Until Amazon released their Amazon Underground app, I was having problems with their app store app because it had somehow been corrupted and would not communicate properly with the installed apps and their server. I could not uninstall and reinstall it to fix the problem because Verizon made the Amazon App Store app a system app.
Owning a phone/tablet without root is like owning a PC with no admin rights. I cannot fathom how anyone thinks it's acceptable.

Narsil007 said:
Until Amazon released their Amazon Underground app, I was having problems with their app store app because it had somehow been corrupted and would not communicate properly with the installed apps and their server. I could not uninstall and reinstall it to fix the problem because Verizon made the Amazon App Store app a system app.
Owning a phone/tablet without root is like owning a PC with no admin rights. I cannot fathom how anyone thinks it's acceptable.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Agreed. A non-rooted phone is totally unacceptable to me too.

No, I won't be tempted. I'm done with Samsung. I've gone without root for nearly a year now, I'm rather over it. Hopefully HTC or Sony come out with a phone I like, otherwise I'm moving to Windows or IOS.

You can go to IOS then jailbreak it then have your phone hacked and basically useless.
Or you can buy the Kickstarter phone called robin. It is completely unlocked.

animal7296 said:
You can go to IOS then jailbreak it then have your phone hacked and basically useless.
Or you can buy the Kickstarter phone called robin. It is completely unlocked.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you don't have unlimited data, cloud storage can be a problem. 5.2" display is a bit small for my taste. Once you go to 5.7" it is hard to downsize.

stueycaster said:
Agreed. I non-rooted phone is totally unacceptable to me too.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What about Sony? They are the only ones to match the past couple galaxies on an objective level.

xdasucksballs said:
What about Sony? They are the only ones to match the past couple galaxies on an objective level.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's not about physical features. I like to be able to disable certain apps, block ads and there are apps I like that require superuser privileges. I'm crazy about ViPER4Android. It requires root to function. Adfree Android not only blocks ads but it blocks known malicious websites.
Sent from my SM-N910V using Tapatalk

stueycaster said:
It's not about physical features. I like to be able to disable certain apps, block ads and there are apps I like that require superuser privileges. I'm crazy about ViPER4Android. It requires root to function. Adfree Android not only blocks ads but it blocks known malicious websites.
Sent from my SM-N910V using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I got this. I was just suggesting Sony like Z3 or so as some of the best alternatives. Is there just as many root restrictions on the Z3?

xdasucksballs said:
I got this. I was just suggesting Sony like Z3 or so as some of the best alternatives. Is there just as many root restrictions on the Z3?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I appreciate that. Maybe I'll look into that for my next phone. But there'll be new phones by then. I always use a phone for at least a couple years. In the past 5 years or so I've only had 2 phones before my Note 4. I got it because I liked my Note 2 so much. Also I have extreme need of the stylus. It's going to be pretty hard to give up this phone though. I like it a lot.
Actually I don't know anything about any of the other phones on the market. When I go to get something new I'll study on it. Like I said my Note 2 made me decide on the Note 4 and I didn't even look at anything else.
Sent from my SM-N910V using Tapatalk

stueycaster said:
I appreciate that. Maybe I'll look into that for my next phone. But there'll be new phones by then. I always use a phone for at least a couple years. In the past 5 years or so I've only had 2 phones before my Note 4. I got it because I liked my Note 2 so much. Also I have extreme need of the stylus. It's going to be pretty hard to give up this phone though. I like it a lot.
Actually I don't know anything about any of the other phones on the market. When I go to get something new I'll study on it. Like I said my Note 2 made me decide on the Note 4 and I didn't even look at anything else.
Sent from my SM-N910V using Tapatalk
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I'm there with you. My Note 2 was awesome. In fact if I fixed the screen it would still be awesome. And the Note 2 is going to receive official Lollipop.
And the Note 4 is a top device. Only dethroned by the Note5 minus the obvious setbacks.
Objectively speaking nothing tops the Note. I'm still considering the Note5 on and off just because minus the other very important lackings it is indeep the best overall device around.
Objectively it seems only the new Xperias are close. Subjectively however no one thing is perfect for everyone and all phones have very intriguing aspects.

xdasucksballs said:
I'm there with you. My Note 2 was awesome. In fact if I fixed the screen it would still be awesome. And the Note 2 is going to receive official Lollipop.
And the Note 4 is a top device. Only dethroned by the Note5 minus the obvious setbacks.
Objectively speaking nothing tops the Note. I'm still considering the Note5 on and off just because minus the other very important lackings it is indeep the best overall device around.
Objectively it seems only the new Xperias are close. Subjectively however no one thing is perfect for everyone and all phones have very intriguing aspects.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah I'm sure the Octacore processor, 4 gb ram, enhanced S-pen and the new Note 4 apps make it a joy to use. And the fixed battery isn't that big of a deal. But I use the infra-red constantly. When I'm messing with my phone and the entertainment center needs a change I don't even have to put it down. Also even if it wasn't for the other lost functionality the lack of SD support is a fatal flaw. I won't own a phone that I can't take the card out of and put it in my computer. That's really stupid as far as I'm concerned. If my phone dies I will not lose all of the data I have in it.
Sent from my SM-N910V using Tapatalk

I'm probably going to pick it up regardless of root. But not right away, I like to observe for a couple of months and see if any major issues pop up.
I figure even if it doesn't get root, I'm not losing much since there's never going to be a permanent root solution for this Note 4. I will miss the battery and SD card options, but I can work around them. In exchange, I'll get a faster, smoother device with a MUCH better fingerprint scanner and better pen, and from what I'm hearing, better battery life. Plus it'll probably be upgraded to M waaaaaaaaay belt the Note 4.
So, unless something else grabs my eye, by the end of the year I'll probably pick this up and sell the Note 4 (or give it to a friend/family member).
But, a permanent root solution that doesn't trip Knox and allows Pay to work would be wonderful.

tedkord said:
I'm probably going to pick it up regardless of root. But not right away, I like to observe for a couple of months and see if any major issues pop up.
I figure even if it doesn't get root, I'm not losing much since there's never going to be a permanent root solution for this Note 4. I will miss the battery and SD card options, but I can work around them. In exchange, I'll get a faster, smoother device with a MUCH better fingerprint scanner and better pen, and from what I'm hearing, better battery life. Plus it'll probably be upgraded to M waaaaaaaaay belt the Note 4.
So, unless something else grabs my eye, by the end of the year I'll probably pick this up and sell the Note 4 (or give it to a friend/family member).
But, a permanent root solution that doesn't trip Knox and allows Pay to work would be wonderful.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
By that time there'll probably be a Developer Edition available.
Sent from my SM-N910V using Tapatalk

No way in hell, are you crazzy.....................
Without a replaceable battery I would have to be tethered to a battery charger half the time. I sleep with my Note 4 in my top pocket. I have two spare battery chargers on standby at all times. Back in the day of the Razz Maxx I had to keep two phone and I would move the SIM card to the phone with the fresh battery. The battery charger for the Razz Maxx could not keep up with demand. If you were watching video of security cameras the battery would die even if you were connected to the charger. The Note 5 will probably keep up with demand but I doubt you could effectively charge the battery and watch video at the same time. It would be a sloooooooow charge.
Three other bad things about using the usb connection to charge your phone.
1. Batteries have a longer life span if they or cycled property and slow charged.
2. It's going to cause wear to the usb port that you need primarily to transfer data. I guess You could use wireless charging to avoid that problem.
3. Heat: If you are Fast Cycling the discharge and charging of the Note 5, it is going to produce a lot of HEAT that is bad for batteries. Batteries charge better and live longer when they are charged cool. I keep a air conditioned room on my job site just to charge batteries for my power tools. When I pop a fresh battery into my Note 4 it cools the whole phone down.
All I can say is enjoy your new Note 5 and have fun.

Unless root adds micro sd, I think my days of Samsung devices as ended with the Note 4. Even if all go away from cards, I will not buy another Samsung out of spite.

Moving from the Edge to the LG G5

I'm considering getting the G5 instead of the S7 for two reasons.
First, a little back story. I've had the S7 since the day it came out. I was fortunate enough to be eligible for an upgrade after having lost my LG G3 in a snowfield while doing some back country snowboarding. The G3's performance was great for me, plus I had an 8500mah battery on it, which allowed me to go days without a recharge. The drawback was that it was monolithic in bulk.
I often go out into the back country to snowboard; battery life is key. With the G5, there's the likelihood of a module that expands battery life. Failing that, I can get extra batteries to take with me. So, reason one: exchangeable/expandable batteries.
Secondly, and slightly related to my first point, is root. Without root on the S7 Verizon version, I'm unable to pare down bloatware, use Greenify, and switch ROMs to something more suitable or preferable than the factory options. Rooting a phone has the benefit, in my experience, of extending battery life simply by limiting what's running at any given time.
The one thing that's got me on the fence is the waterproof/dustproof feature of the S7 line. I may actually be able to find my old G3 this summer when I hike the area where I lost it. It's unlikely, but possible. The benefit being that I can recover my memory card... I am not disillusioned enough to think that it'll actually function after being saturated by springtime snow melt, and long term frozen conditions. (Man, that'd be a great testament to the LG hardware if it did, no?)
Anyway, I am willing to listen to any counter arguments to my decision before I go through with this. I'm meeting a guy at the VZW store this afternoon. He's going to inspect my phone, then buy a G5 for me right then and there if it's acceptable. It should be, given that it's been in a case and had a screen protector on it since day one.

Lg g5: is truly not worth it. DOA. Moreover snapdragon version is locked as well. I sent mine back. If anything look at HTC 10.
Sent from my SM-G935V using Tapatalk

Don't do it. Don't be that "from s7 edge to G5 to s7 edge" guy.... Please don't.
Sent from my Pebble Time

The g5 has way lower brightness (100% on the g5 is dimmer then 50-60% on the s7 edge). Worse build quality, worse battery and it looks ugly as hell (probably subjective). Oh and no waterproofing like you mentioned. The htc 10 looks to be much better in pretty much every aspect, I actually regret getting the s7 edge over it. The g5 is probably the worst flagship that came out this year.

lvnatic said:
The g5 has way lower brightness (100% on the g5 is dimmer then 50-60% on the s7 edge). Worse build quality, worse battery and it looks ugly as hell (probably subjective). Oh and no waterproofing like you mentioned. The htc 10 looks to be much better in pretty much every aspect, I actually regret getting the s7 edge over it. The g5 is probably the worst flagship that came out this year.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The aesthetics of the G5 do not bother me. I'm a functionality over form sort of person, as I inferred above by mentioning my massive 8500mah battery and my requirement for long periods away from civilization. I do agree that the Samsung hardware is better manufactured, and the form is far more appealing, but if it doesn't meet my core needs, I'm going to be unhappy.
That being said, I hadn't considered the HTC 10 as an option. I will read up on it and see whether it will suit my needs. Thanks for mentioning it.
One thing about brightness, even on the lowest brightness, the S7 is annoyingly luminescent at night. When I wake up and want to check my phone, it doesn't dim low enough for me.

Brava27 said:
Don't do it. Don't be that "from s7 edge to G5 to s7 edge" guy.... Please don't.
Sent from my Pebble Time
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Useless reply.

markwebb said:
Lg g5: is truly not worth it. DOA. Moreover snapdragon version is locked as well. I sent mine back. If anything look at HTC 10.
Sent from my SM-G935V using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks, I am going to take a look at the HTC 10. I appreciate your input.

sangandongo said:
Thanks, I am going to take a look at the HTC 10. I appreciate your input.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Haha. You're welcome.
Sent from my Pebble Time

1. battery bank, your friends will thank you
2. there's app out there that allow you to disable every service running on the phone without root, its a shame you're on verizon otherwise the international s7 works on att/tmo and that has root.
3. yes waterproofing is nice as borat would say

peachpuff said:
1. battery bank, your friends will thank you
2. there's app out there that allow you to disable every service running on the phone without root, its a shame you're on verizon otherwise the international s7 works on att/tmo and that has root.
3. yes waterproofing is nice as borat would say
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1. What the heck does "battery bank" mean? I know what a physical battery bank is, and how to wire one up, but how's that relevant? All apps related to the name are scammy looking.
2. I installed the app to disable crap on the phone. Marginal improvement. Yes, I know the Exynos version is rootable.
3. I like.

sangandongo said:
1. What the heck does "battery bank" mean? I know what a physical battery bank is, and how to wire one up, but how's that relevant? All apps related to the name are scammy looking.
2. I installed the app to disable crap on the phone. Marginal improvement. Yes, I know the Exynos version is rootable.
3. I like.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Use your phone as a battery bank, jesus. Do some research.
Sent from my Pebble Time

Biggest mistake of 2016 happening right here, people!
With the G5, there's the likelihood of a module that expands battery life. Failing that, I can get extra batteries to take with me. So, reason one: exchangeable/expandable batteries.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's not going to happen. The whole "Friends" add-ons are DOA, so just ignore them. The B&O DAC for the G5? Yeah, North America won't get that, and the non-US modules won't even work with your US G5 even if you order one from Europe or whatever.
It's not waterproof, the battery is smaller, the screen is worse, the build quality is worse.. It's like downgrading from a Porsche to a Toyota. Don't get me wrong, the Toyota will serve you well for a long time, but it's like... WHY would you do that? "I don't like this high-end product, so I'm going to get the worse option." The better thing to do instead would be to get the Exynos version of the Edge, but that would depend on your current carrier (if it supports it).
The HTC 10 on the other hand is a better choice, but still not as overall good as the Edge. The Edge is at top right now when it comes to smartphones. It's the king, and whatever you decide to get instead will be a downgrade. That's just how it is right now. Samsung did a really great job with it, and you're about to do something stupid.

J.Biden said:
Biggest mistake of 2016 happening right here, people!
That's not going to happen. The whole "Friends" add-ons are DOA, so just ignore them. The B&O DAC for the G5? Yeah, North America won't get that, and the non-US modules won't even work with your US G5 even if you order one from Europe or whatever.
It's not waterproof, the battery is smaller, the screen is worse, the build quality is worse.. It's like downgrading from a Porsche to a Toyota. Don't get me wrong, the Toyota will serve you well for a long time, but it's like... WHY would you do that? "I don't like this high-end product, so I'm going to get the worse option." The better thing to do instead would be to get the Exynos version of the Edge, but that would depend on your current carrier (if it supports it).
The HTC 10 on the other hand is a better choice, but still not as overall good as the Edge. The Edge is at top right now when it comes to smartphones. It's the king, and whatever you decide to get instead will be a downgrade. That's just how it is right now. Samsung did a really great job with it, and you're about to do something stupid.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks. I backed out of the trade. Incidentally, I did the Porsche to Toyota "downgrade." .
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sangandongo said:
1. What the heck does "battery bank" mean? I know what a physical battery bank is, and how to wire one up, but how's that relevant? All apps related to the name are scammy looking.
2. I installed the app to disable crap on the phone. Marginal improvement. Yes, I know the Exynos version is rootable.
3. I like.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's what i meant a physical battery bank, 20k mah in size should charge the phone 5 times or so compared to carrying an extra battery. If you can carry extra batteries then you can carry a large battery bank, kinda defeats the purpose of "i must have removable batteries" imo.

Exxxynos version can be bought in Canada unlocked is rootable
Sent from my SM-G935W8 using Tapatalk

You would be so foolish not to get HTC 10 over g5

We all get to choose the phone that best meets our individual needs. If a replaceable battery is critical for the OP, that makes the G5 his only choice among top end phones. Personally, I'm not impressed by the G5, but that's me.
But for the specific concerns listed. The US S7e will probably never be rooted, so if that's truly critical get something else. I'm not sure the 5 is the answer for that, either, though.
As far as battery goes, while I think that phones should, in general, have a replaceable battery, an external battery pack is a viable substitute, especially if you don't need it all the time. There are even wireless ones that power the phone through the Qi coil.

Good luck with the lego phone, bye. This thread never happened and i never replied.

You better go with LG G4 instead of LG G5 if you insist on LG hehe.
But really, nothing can beat Galaxy S7 Edge, including HTC 10:
1. Best Display on planet.
2. Waterproofing
3. Awesome Battery life
4. Super-sexy phone.
5. The best smartphone camera with the fastest focus on smartphones.
6. If you need more just ask...

Was looking to give my edge back for the G5... after playing with the g5 so glad am sticking with my baby. Great battery life waterproof and brilliant design and most of all the phone is sexy like me... and the g5 battery not that great.
Sent from my SM-G935F using XDA-Developers mobile app

Samsung Note 4 Motherboard replacement

Hello everyone, I recently got a great deal off ebay for a Note 4 with like new accessories, but unfortunately the phone was sold not working as it would turn on and a pc won't recognize it. The last known error shown was emmc failure and since i have no wy of testing the motherboard what would be my best option, buying used motherboard or a new one from China? I know that you can only swap out motherboards from the same series, but is there any equivalent motherboard that could work possibly? Any advice would be welcome Thank you all for reading. Cheers

Try Amazon. The part numbers must match.
I don't trust any phone mobo replacements from China unless the phone was made there... even then

blackhawk said:
Try Amazon. The part numbers must match.
I don't trust any phone mobo replacements from China unless the phone was made there... even then
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi Blackhawk, thanks for the reply (as always) There is a sticker I could check on the motherboard that might identify the part number, but what do you think the chances are of finding a new replacement after all these years? I agree that chinese motherboards are of doubtful quality at best, but unfortunately Amazon & Ebay are full of these motherboards and they seem the only ones available. Has anyone here on Xda ever modded another motherboard for this purpose?

The Weeping Angel said:
Hi Blackhawk, thanks for the reply (as always) There is a sticker I could check on the motherboard that might identify the part number, but what do you think the chances are of finding a new replacement after all these years? I agree that chinese motherboards are of doubtful quality at best, but unfortunately Amazon & Ebay are full of these motherboards and they seem the only ones available. Has anyone here on Xda ever modded another motherboard for this purpose?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You're welcome.
Ufixit is now partnered with Samsung to provide OEM parts to the end users. Wahoo!
The PN# is stamped right on the PCB.

blackhawk said:
You're welcome.
Ufixit is now partnered with Samsung to provide OEM parts to the end users. Wahoo!
The PN# is stamped right on the PCB.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the suggestion Blackhawk. Unfortunately all the motherboards are sold out and the N910F model wasn't available. I'll check the motherboard part sticker attached but i'm really doubtful they manufacture the parts anymore. I guess I'll just have to jump in and go with a chinese motherboard. Has anyone here had any experience with one?

I would not use the N910F variant unless a user can verify it would work!
Be patient and what for a reliable vendor to have the OEM replacement.
You could get one on ebay if it has a good imei either as a mobo or complete unit.
In it's day the N4 was outstanding. Consider a N10+, it's the zenith of all Notes. The Beast runs like a bat out of hell and is gorgeous. You lose the 3.5mm jack but get up to 1tb of fast expandable storage. However a new one would be loaded with Android 10, very less likely 9 depending on manufacturer date. Used ones will have 11 or 12; these aren't as desirable in my opinion.

I understand your sentiments exactly. I'm hoping someone can come forward and verify that the motherboards for sale from the chinese vendors are fully functional. The unit I bought from ebay came with four batteries which is what I really needed and since the non working Note 4 was included, repairing it woukd be a real bonus. I did consider the S10+, Note 10+, & Note 9 as possible replacements, but the fact that I can record calls, use the I.R. as a remote ( it's really useful ), native screen mirroring and change batteries really ticks all the boxes for me. I see all these new phones with fragile screens and screen burns and it just puts me off .

You lose the IR blaster, they are cool. Taking out the 3.5 mm was a Note back step.
The N10+'s battery isn't a 30 second job but it's not too bad.
The AMOLED display will put hair on your chest, it's gorgeous and immersive. Works well in no light rooms. I run mine at 30-40% manual brightness normally and avoid going over 50% except briefly if needed. Used as such it will last many years and also greater improves SOT.
True blacks and infinite contrast are beautiful things.
The real kicks are the processor speed and ram.
It's a good balance between processing power and battery life, something that slips away in latter models. The variable refresh rate displays and 5G also eat battery like crazy. Being able to slam a 1tb V30 rated SD card in it though really makes my day. The N9 is noticeably slower in real life use, anything that came after the N10+ is barely noticeably faster.
You'd enjoy the speed, power, a much better UI and the killer display. The spen also be an upgrade is functionality. I use the bt on it as a remote cam shutter release. I went from a S4+ to the N10+, it was a huge learning curve. Kitkat to Pie, oh my... that made my head spin at first.
The N10+ needs to be cased or it will get messed up. Been using the Zizo Bolt case and Gorilla IQ Sheild screen protector for over 2 years now, zero damage. The case makes it much easier to handle and helps prevent accidental side touches. Its sucked up a dozen 1- 4 foot drops onto concrete, face plants and lots of corner hits.
It's a completely different device so not sure how you feel about it. It remains my weapon of choice.
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I want to thank you for your considerations Blackhawk. I can understand why the Note10+ is so appealing, and your considerations are really valid and help put the rest about screen damage and phone protection, which is really a major worry for me. My phone has fallen countless times and never sustained structural damage. I also love your ability to expand your storage but the 5G battery drain is a big letdown. Maybe the fact that I can dismantle the phone and mod the software endears me to the Note 4 I found a white sticker under the mainboard, copied both sets of numbers on Google but no part number came out in the search. Also tried scanning the barcode and nothing came out either. Any suggestions for me Blackhawk?

The Weeping Angel said:
I want to thank you for your considerations Blackhawk. I can understand why the Note10+ is so appealing, and your considerations are really valid and help put the rest about screen damage and phone protection, which is really a major worry for me. My phone has fallen countless times and never sustained structural damage. I also love your ability to expand your storage but the 5G battery drain is a big letdown. Maybe the fact that I can dismantle the phone and mod the software endears me to the Note 4 I found a white sticker under the mainboard, copied both sets of numbers on Google but no part number came out in the search. Also tried scanning the barcode and nothing came out either. Any suggestions for me Blackhawk?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You're welcome. 5G isn't on the Snapdragon variants of the N10+; N975U, N975U1.
Teardown is possible but not near as easy as the N4. Rooting is not possible with the Snapdragon version. The Exynos model can be rooted but has an inferior chipset/heatsink. The SM-N975F/DS is the 5G variant of the Exynos series, the rest are 4G I believe. Rather convoluted
A completely different animal in many ways from the N4.
On newer Samsung's the PN# is imprinted on the boards I believe. Not sure about the N4. That may be a batch number you're looking at. Go by full model number, generally there are two variants "I think" for phones from that era. Poke around doing some Google searches you should find more details. Many are still playing with the N4. Buying a working N4 of the same model would also give you a parts queen and may be your best solution.
Samsung's members forum may have the answers you need including about the Chinese part.

blackhawk said:
You're welcome. 5G isn't on the Snapdragon variants of the N10+; N975U, N975U1.
Teardown is possible but not near as easy as the N4. Rooting is not possible with the Snapdragon version. The Exynos model can be rooted but has an inferior chipset/heatsink. The SM-N975F/DS is the 5G variant of the Exynos series, the rest are 4G I believe. Rather convoluted
A completely different animal in many ways from the N4.
On newer Samsung's the PN# is imprinted on the boards I believe. Not sure about the N4. That may be a batch number you're looking at. Go by full model number, generally there are two variants "I think" for phones from that era. Poke around doing some Google searches you should find more details. Many are still playing with the N4. Buying a working N4 of the same model would also give you a parts queen and may be your best solution.
Samsung's members forum may have the answers you need including about the Chinese part.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hello Blackhawk, tried going through The samsung members forum and through two samsung service centers; One wouldn't consider a repair because of the issues that arose for the Note even after replacing the motherboard,while the other salesperson quoted a 295 euro cost, kindly noting that for the price I could buy a new phone altogether. Neither would indicate the model number for the motherboard, one citing "anti-terrorist" motives. Luckily I found a Note 4 with a broken screen and functional motherboard that should arrive in a few days. Keeping my fingers crossed Will update on how it goes. I'm also reflecting that in the near future I might have to consider an upgrade.

The Weeping Angel said:
Hello Blackhawk, tried going through The samsung members forum and through two samsung service centers; One wouldn't consider a repair because of the issues that arose for the Note even after replacing the motherboard,while the other salesperson quoted a 295 euro cost, kindly noting that for the price I could buy a new phone altogether. Neither would indicate the model number for the motherboard, one citing "anti-terrorist" motives. Luckily I found a Note 4 with a broken screen and functional motherboard that should arrive in a few days. Keeping my fingers crossed Will update on how it goes. I'm also reflecting that in the near future I might have to consider an upgrade.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I still have my S4+, always liked Kitkat but compared to the N10+ it's painfully slow. The display is usable but that's about it. If you want a to replace the N4 with another Note, you want to go with a N10+ or if you want 5G, the N20U. The N9 is noticeably slower than the N10+. The N20U's form factor sucks. Actual real time speed improves are marginal after the N10+. You want 12gb of ram, not 6 or 8. Any flagship after the N20U isn't a Note and doesn't have expandable storage. Oddly some of the midrange Samsung's do have expandable storage.
Maybe Samsung will get their sorry act together in 2 years. Right now they've haven't done squat for almost 3 years and instead have produced less than desirable flagships in my opinion.
With that in mind I dug in for another 2-3+ years with the N10+. I will likely continue to run on Android 9 and 10 as well. A near zero learning curve also means more playtime with the device instead of dealing with workarounds and forced learning to use a new OS version effectively.

blackhawk said:
I still have my S4+, always liked Kitkat but compared to the N10+ it's painfully slow. The display is usable but that's about it. If you want a to replace the N4 with another Note, you want to go with a N10+ or if you want 5G, the N20U. The N9 is noticeably slower than the N10+. The N20U's form factor sucks. Actual real time speed improves are marginal after the N10+. You want 12gb of ram, not 6 or 8. Any flagship after the N20U isn't a Note and doesn't have expandable storage. Oddly some of the midrange Samsung's do have expandable storage.
Maybe Samsung will get their sorry act together in 2 years. Right now they've haven't done squat for almost 3 years and instead have produced less than desirable flagships in my opinion.
With that in mind I dug in for another 2-3+ years with the N10+. I will likely continue to run on Android 9 and 10 as well. A near zero learning curve also means more playtime with the device instead of dealing with workarounds and forced learning to use a new OS version effectively.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I successfully installed the "new motherboard" on the old Note 4 but it was quite the adventure I took the Note 4 apart and lo & behold, under the hood was a chinese motherboard! wan't very happy about this as the Note 4 was advertised as original but i noticed that the touchscreen attached was not a original samsung part and told the seller so. He was very apologetic and told me he must have been screwed over and it wasn't his intention to be misleading and offered me a refund. I decided to go ahead anyway and install the motherboard and initially the s-pen wouldn,t work, which left me really disappointed & resigned to the fact that the chinese motherboard was defective in some way. After repeatedly assembling and dissamembling the phone, i googled the problem on Youtube and found a wonderful solution by
"Bruno Jeanbruno"; basically you stick a piece of cardboard or whatever under the s-pen connector so the contacts connect perfectly and there you go lol. Now the only thing i have to work out is how to resolve flashing a new recovery as it always reverts to the custom android recovery, even after trying Bryan48765 solution. this truly was a frustrating and amusing experience which highlited that this will probably be the last time I attempt maintanence on the Note 4 as it is really hard to try to find workarounds and such to keep maintaning it, even though it will be hard to give up the removable battery. I really believe that all smartphone companies are just towing the line & don't give a damn anymore on making devices that people can really enjoy.

Yay!
That's why I went with new N10+'s; you know what hardware you're getting and a 1 year warranty from date of purchase. A lot of shady things happening with used devices especially lately. I stay with stock Samsung's for the features, predictability and easier troubleshooting.
The batteries aren't that big a deal. I can do one in about 30 minutes. Literally that's the only repair I made on the oldest N10+. They're built solid and if kept in a good case like the Zizo Bolt will last for many years with heavy usage.
7.9 mm thick with all that processor power and 12gb of ram isn't too shabby at all.