Google Cardboard (Galaxy Note 3) - Google Cardboard

I know it isn't compatible with my Note 3 due to size constraints, but I ordered one anyway - I think I have an S4 laying around somewhere. I'm wondering who has used it with their Note 3 and what their experience was.

SeenNotScene said:
I know it isn't compatible with my Note 3 due to size constraints, but I ordered one anyway - I think I have an S4 laying around somewhere. I'm wondering who has used it with their Note 3 and what their experience was.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So what was your experience with this?
I'm wondering should i just buy one for my note 3 or make a bigger one,
The problem with bigger one is i don't know if the lens position and/or focal length need to be changed.

ankur88 said:
So what was your experience with this?
I'm wondering should i just buy one for my note 3 or make a bigger one,
The problem with bigger one is i don't know if the lens position and/or focal length need to be changed.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm kind of interested in this for my Note 3 too. Here's one for $8.99 if you want to try it: http://www.focalprice.com/MX0124X/G...ium=EM&utm_campaign=DM_1432ZT_3Dglass_MX0124X

My "unofficial" cardboard unit arrived today. I had to modify the front to accommodate the Note 3's extra width. It works ok, but the volume controls are constantly getting (accidentally) pushed when you hold your thumbs anywhere near where the phone is. Same can be said about the power button on the top.
The camera is completely covered by the cardboard itself, because the oval-shaped hole assumes a shorter phone.
I'm running Alliance Rom and the PhotoSphere app doesn't work (it FC's). Other than that, the only other comment I can make is that the phone gets pretty warm while it's running the VR stuff. Takes quite a bit of power, because the battery drops quickly too.
All in all, it is a fun little toy. I look forward to other applications being created. OBTW, a lot of the compatible apps from the play store, require a Bluetooth controller. to function. Lucily I have a Bluetooth mini keyboard that has a d-pad style controller. This combination works ok.

I think I will wait to try VR when I can Full Dive... the current versions just make me motion sick.
Posted here because I am interested in how it turns out for you guys.

SeenNotScene said:
I know it isn't compatible with my Note 3 due to size constraints, but I ordered one anyway - I think I have an S4 laying around somewhere. I'm wondering who has used it with their Note 3 and what their experience was.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Its weird that it doesn't fit.
Cause currently there's that (worst to best) that Android VR Headset dubbed "Gameface", followed by Samsung's attempts with Gear VR, then there's SONY's Project Morpheus and finally the "king" Oculus Rift.
Its weird because out of all those millions (billions?) of dollars spent in development, the Oculus Rift comes out on top... and that VR uses the NOTE 3's display.
Literally. They've cut out the N3's screen, and slapped it on goggles with a pair of lens.
I want to try out Cardboard but I'm worried the initial bad experience might deter me from VR experience for good (remember VirtualBoy?). I might hold out for O/R's consumer product.
We'll see in the future when it gets mainstream; I'd expect it to ship for ~$399 and use a SAMOLED+ screen of roughly 6inch size and 4K resolution.
(Following the OR development, they're converging towards the 6in size and want to get as high resolution as possible. 4K is possible, and will be cheap in the near future. 4K allows easier development for applications too. OLED is best, but too costly at the moment. SAMOLED+ panels seems to be the better in terms of refresh rates and battery life than IPS, despite costing a little more than IPS. IPS has better brightness too, but that's moot. Oculus Rift has always aimed at quality and affordability so I couldn't expect it cheaper than $249 and wouldn't expect it higher than $500. So $399 seems like a "sweet spot" for mass manufacturing. Unless Facebook ruins it).

nukeboyt said:
My "unofficial" cardboard unit arrived today. I had to modify the front to accommodate the Note 3's extra width. It works ok, but the volume controls are constantly getting (accidentally) pushed when you hold your thumbs anywhere near where the phone is. Same can be said about the power button on the top.
The camera is completely covered by the cardboard itself, because the oval-shaped hole assumes a shorter phone.
I'm running Alliance Rom and the PhotoSphere app doesn't work (it FC's). Other than that, the only other comment I can make is that the phone gets pretty warm while it's running the VR stuff. Takes quite a bit of power, because the battery drops quickly too.
All in all, it is a fun little toy. I look forward to other applications being created. OBTW, a lot of the compatible apps from the play store, require a Bluetooth controller. to function. Lucily I have a Bluetooth mini keyboard that has a d-pad style controller. This combination works ok.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So from what I understand, you can make it all work with relative ease. I may order this. I use an otterbox case, which adds to the bulk. Hopefully I don't have to buy a smaller phone just to enjoy VR.

Unofficial Cardboard large
Ok, just noticed this on the UnofficialCardboard website
https://www.unofficialcardboard.com/product/large-unassembled-diy-die-cut-kit-w-nfc/
Its seems they finally made one for larger phones. Not all the details are on the site yet(like what phones are compatible) but am very tempted to order one right away

ObscureNemesis said:
Ok, just noticed this on the UnofficialCardboard website
https://www.unofficialcardboard.com/product/large-unassembled-diy-die-cut-kit-w-nfc/
Its seems they finally made one for larger phones. Not all the details are on the site yet(like what phones are compatible) but am very tempted to order one right away
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i ordered one of the large ones from unofficialcardboard. com yesterday. ill update once i receive it.
i purchased one of the VR kits from dodocase.com and i did fit my Note 3 in it but it produces blury, out of focus and ghosting images. i modded my case so that my power and volume buttons wouldn't be pressed during use by cutting slots on the flap for them. once i tried the VR headset with my brother's S5 i saw the difference... and it was a big difference! everything was perfectly focused and im hoping this bigger VR headset will provide the same with the Note 3

ordered one
ObscureNemesis said:
Ok, just noticed this on the UnofficialCardboard website
https://www.unofficialcardboard.com/product/large-unassembled-diy-die-cut-kit-w-nfc/
.
Its seems they finally made one for larger phones. Not all the details are on the site yet(like what phones are compatible) but am very tempted to order one right away
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So
I ordered the larger one for my note 3 which I keep in an otterbox I'll update with initial impressions

I ordered a DodoCase version and it arrived today. I wasn't sure how it would work with my Note 3, but it works pretty well. The screen is almost exactly the size of the opening and so gives more viewing screen than smaller phones would.
I made three minor modifications to it. One was a cutout on the top to allow me to access the power button. Another, similar cutout (this time I only cut three sides and secured it loosely with tape) to relieve the pressure on the volume button and allow me to change the volume. The third was a minor enlargement of the camera hole to allow the camera lens full access. All three cuts are about 1/4 inch deep and the width of the needed buttons/camera, very minor, and very effective.
I haven't had a LOT of time to play with it yet, but it works very well. I look forward to comparing it to my wife's S5 when she gets home.
Oh, I had some double sided velcro around and found that strip of that will hold it to my head quite well too. So far I haven't decided how to attach the velcro, but it works just wrapped around the cardboard and my head.
All things considered, I am very pleased with the way it works with my Note 3!

I decided I didn't want to use my Note 3 for this as it wasn't on the 'official' supported list. I picked up a Moto X used in nice shape and a very good price just to try this out. Got the cardboard kit today and tried it out. Very impressive but the phone does get quite warm in just a few minutes. Androsens was saying it was at 101 degrees F and battery was at 104 degrees F which is higher by far than it normally gets. The warmth was quite noticeable when I pulled the phone back out of the VR kit. I think battery use runs fairly high with this too. Overall I don't think I'd want to run it for long periods and definitely not with my Note 3 (although it might have enough more horsepower that it wouldn't warm up ? )
I saw one of the choices in the cardboard app is Youtube. Does anyone know if the youtubes showing in that are done special for the 3D or are they just normal Youtubes? I saw one that had been on CNN news this morning of a turtle chasing an RC car. It had some dimension to it but you couldn't pan around in that like you can with the other built in apps so I tend to think it's just a normal Youtube.

I just tried the carboard VR kit now with the Samsung Galaxy S3 and it sort of works except the magnet doesn't work to select items so you have to open the box and tap them to select. This phone also got very warm with just a few minutes use. My phones normally run in the low 80's F but running this they are hitting 99-104 degrees F. Be careful not to fry your phones ! It must max out the CPU speed and voltage to run the 3D stuff. Impressive to get a taste of VR but I'm not sure a most phones could take the heat for running long term. Also the Galaxy S3 doesn't play the Windy Day as this is specific for Motorola and the Moto X.

Can't we just somehow disable all hardware buttons on the Note 3? Disable volume keys, disable power button?
I bought a DodoCase, the phone fits JUST JUST right, but of course all the buttons are pressed, lol. I have a rooted phone running custom roms along with xposed... I'm sure there is a setting somewhere to disable them?

hello,
Someone could he give me a map unofficial model (largest to Note 3) Please?
I bought the normal model but it's too galley (I recovered the lenses above)

Unofficial Cardboard large *update*
So I got the Unofficial cardboard large for my Note 3.
The phone fits perfectly into the unit.
As someone mentioned before, the HW buttons do get pressed sometimes but its possible to make cutouts to prevent this/get access to the buttons.
Don't know if its due to the lack of lens adjustment in the cardboard design, but individual pixels are a lot more visible then I have expected, given the 1080p Note 3 display.
All in all I think it was money well spent. Got a nice preview of what this VR hype is all about

ObscureNemesis said:
So I got the Unofficial cardboard large for my Note 3.
The phone fits perfectly into the unit.
As someone mentioned before, the HW buttons do get pressed sometimes but its possible to make cutouts to prevent this/get access to the buttons.
Don't know if its due to the lack of lens adjustment in the cardboard design, but individual pixels are a lot more visible then I have expected, given the 1080p Note 3 display.
All in all I think it was money well spent. Got a nice preview of what this VR hype is all about
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Where did you get yours from?
How much did it set you back?
International postage?
....I'm also wanting to get this just to try it, see what VR is like.

Kangal said:
Where did you get yours from?
How much did it set you back?
International postage?
....I'm also wanting to get this just to try it, see what VR is like.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
https://www.unofficialcardboard.com/products/unassembled-kits/unassembled-uc-large-w-nfc/
$20 + $10(flat international rate for the unassembled version)

I bought the large Google cardboard from eBay for $16.99 with the nfc tag (I would get the one without the tag though). My 7 year old son loves it. I think it's pretty cool as well but most of the apps have drift issue (or its the phone). I also use a PS3 controller and it seems that the controller isn't set up for most of the apps... The joystick works but the buttons don't.
I have only had it for 4 days and I will continue playing with it. I can keep posting with my experiences and app opinions if you want. Ank any questions about it and I will answer them to the best of my knowledge.

Obviously for cardboard I can't expect some amazing VR but, most of the youtube videos show users pretty immersed in it. How is the immersion? ie: roller coaster effect?

Related

Replacing my laptop with Galaxy Note

I originally purchased the Galaxy Note around 1.5 months ago on a £27 GBP per month 24-month contract from 3 (including 500 minutes, 5000 texts and unlimited data) with the purpose of it saving me the costs of two devices. So far, it has proved more than capable as serving as both a tablet and phone, but I want to try and extend that. After spending a few ill days using solely the Note, I've found I'm able to complete almost all my regular PC tasks that I would carry out on my laptop on my Note instead.
Thanks to Polaris Office, which comes pre-installed on the phone, I can even do the majority of my school homework on my device with reminders set on S Memo and S Planner. S Note helps me organise recipes for my passion for cooking, whilst Nova launcher allows me to have several slots on my dock bar coupled with a default ICS look for a tablet-like experience. The sites which I visit frequently, such as YouTube and Facebook, all have adequate enough apps and Thumb Keyboard makes typing on the Note (be it landscape or portrait) a breeze. So, fading out my laptop usage seems like the natural thing to do in my mind.
However, before I am able to do that I have a few things I need to sort out first and I have taken the liberty to write them out below with the hope that someone hear can help me with one or more of these issues I face.
Firstly, the Galaxy Note only delivers around 4/5 hours of screen time, which isn't awful but an improvement is always welcome. So, I am looking for a larger battery, but I still need to fit my phone into a case so I don't want one which increases the size of my device. Any recommendations that aren't ridiculously priced as I don't have an awful lot of money with £27 out of £40 allowance going towards this phone?
Next, I am looking for a case for my Note which both protects the back of the device and the camera, which I have heard to be prone to scratches, plus the screen. So, a flip-case seems most appropriate. I love the styling of the Zenus one found here, but it is rather expensive. So, does anyone know of some cheaper alternatives with a similar styling? I want one with a kickstand so I can view movies from my bedside cabinet or set it up to play some games using a gaming pad.
Unfortunately, as with every device, severely heavy usage does mean you have to charge at least once a day. Unfortunately, the charger which came with my phone does not reach from a mains plug to a chair in my living room or bedroom. So, could anyone recommend a longer wire approximately four metres in length for a decent price?
I also have a few questions regarding the software of the Galaxy Note. My phone suffers from the brick-bug thanks to accepting an upgrade before checking online, which was in hindsight a little foolish, and also the deep sleep bug. The brick bug should, hopefully, receive a fix from Samsung. But, if this comes in the form of an update, will it not wipe data and trigger the bug or shall this update be safe? As for the deep sleep bug, what can I do to try to trigger my phone into deep sleep? I already get around 15 hours of light use on my phone, which is still better than any other smartphone I have (admittedly just an old HTC Desire and Samsung Wave), but as I said all improvements are welcome. Any ideas?
OnLive allows you to pull of full HD gaming with the likes of Homefront available on the service to play on your mobile. I want to know how connecting the "Universal Wireless Controller" works? Is it compatible with ICS?
Finally, I am looking for some app recommendations. Open to all suggestions.
EDIT 1: I am also looking for a 32GB Micro-SD/SD card (whichever one the Galaxy Note takes) for the cheapest price available. I have heard of some 64GB cards working too, but unless they are for a reasonable price I am uninterested. Any suggestions for a cheap card for storing some media on? I am also looking for PC software to rip my DVDs to place them onto my SD card. I have loads of television show box-sets that have 20 minute long episodes just perfect for a bus trip, for example.
EDIT 2: So, upon some reading, I've heard lots of people saying how a screen protector is a must. I certainly didn't think so, but I trust the people on here to not steer me wrong. The issue I have with many screen protectors is that they add a weird texture for touching and also are absolutely a nightmare to get on. Anyone know of a screen protector which doesn't impair the comfort of touching and using the S-Pen on the screen?
Brad387 said:
I originally purchased the Galaxy Note around 1.5 months ago on a £27 GBP per month 24-month contract from 3 (including 500 minutes, 5000 texts and unlimited data) with the purpose of it saving me the costs of two devices. So far, it has proved more than capable as serving as both a tablet and phone, but I want to try and extend that. After spending a few ill days using solely the Note, I've found I'm able to complete almost all my regular PC tasks that I would carry out on my laptop on my Note instead.
Thanks to Polaris Office, which comes pre-installed on the phone, I can even do the majority of my school homework on my device with reminders set on S Memo and S Planner. S Note helps me organise recipes for my passion for cooking, whilst Nova launcher allows me to have several slots on my dock bar coupled with a default ICS look for a tablet-like experience. The sites which I visit frequently, such as YouTube and Facebook, all have adequate enough apps and Thumb Keyboard makes typing on the Note (be it landscape or portrait) a breeze. So, fading out my laptop usage seems like the natural thing to do in my mind.
However, before I am able to do that I have a few things I need to sort out first and I have taken the liberty to write them out below with the hope that someone hear can help me with one or more of these issues I face.
Firstly, the Galaxy Note only delivers around 4/5 hours of screen time, which isn't awful but an improvement is always welcome. So, I am looking for a larger battery, but I still need to fit my phone into a case so I don't want one which increases the size of my device. Any recommendations that aren't ridiculously priced as I don't have an awful lot of money with £27 out of £40 allowance going towards this phone?
Next, I am looking for a case for my Note which both protects the back of the device and the camera, which I have heard to be prone to scratches, plus the screen. So, a flip-case seems most appropriate. I love the styling of the Zenus one found here, but it is rather expensive. So, does anyone know of some cheaper alternatives with a similar styling? I want one with a kickstand so I can view movies from my bedside cabinet or set it up to play some games using a gaming pad.
Unfortunately, as with every device, severely heavy usage does mean you have to charge at least once a day. Unfortunately, the charger which came with my phone does not reach from a mains plug to a chair in my living room or bedroom. So, could anyone recommend a longer wire approximately four metres in length for a decent price?
I also have a few questions regarding the software of the Galaxy Note. My phone suffers from the brick-bug thanks to accepting an upgrade before checking online, which was in hindsight a little foolish, and also the deep sleep bug. The brick bug should, hopefully, receive a fix from Samsung. But, if this comes in the form of an update, will it not wipe data and trigger the bug or shall this update be safe? As for the deep sleep bug, what can I do to try to trigger my phone into deep sleep? I already get around 15 hours of light use on my phone, which is still better than any other smartphone I have (admittedly just an old HTC Desire and Samsung Wave), but as I said all improvements are welcome. Any ideas?
OnLive allows you to pull of full HD gaming with the likes of Homefront available on the service to play on your mobile. I want to know how connecting the "Universal Wireless Controller" works? Is it compatible with ICS?
Finally, I am looking for some app recommendations. Open to all suggestions.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Brad, you put a lot into this post. I'm not able to comment on all of it, but good luck in your pursuit of a single device.
I cannot offer an alternative to Zenus, but can attest to the quality of their cases. If you go their route, you won't be disappointed.
As far as cables, I'd suggest checking out Cables-To-Go. They have tons available online.
And lastly, there are a lot of app recommendation threads out there... but for your purpose I might suggest "Papyrus". It is a very slick note taking application with some nice features.
Good luck!
The On live universal controller works. Used it on stock gingebread. Never tried on ice cream sandwich.
I find the blackberry charger works well. Its pretty long.
I suggest you head to the market and get the longest (branded) charger you can find.
Does anyone know whether the Note requires more power to charge the Note like the iPad needs a more powerful charger and cannot use the iPhone 4's charger.
Thanks.
I have a charging doc with slot to charge an extra battery. Bought the dock with two batteries for less than $20 on Ebay. The batteries are not the quality of the original but still are serviceable. I have since ordered two OEM batteries still in the blister packs (also on Ebay cellphone dealer for $7.00 ea.) just because the price was good.
I'm never without my Note anytime I'm awake.
I am also looking for a 32GB Micro-SD/SD card (whichever one the Galaxy Note takes) for the cheapest price available. I have heard of some 64GB cards working too, but unless they are for a reasonable price I am uninterested. Any suggestions for a cheap card for storing some media on? I am also looking for PC software to rip my DVDs to place them onto my SD card. I have loads of television show box-sets that have 20 minute long episodes just perfect for a bus trip, for example.
CorruptedSanity said:
I find the blackberry charger works well. Its pretty long.
I suggest you head to the market and get the longest (branded) charger you can find.
Does anyone know whether the Note requires more power to charge the Note like the iPad needs a more powerful charger and cannot use the iPhone 4's charger.
Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, thanks, but I don't own a Blackberry charger as Blackberry devices have never ever appealed to me.
stiffi2011 said:
The On live universal controller works. Used it on stock gingebread. Never tried on ice cream sandwich.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, I am using the stock ICS. But, still...thanks. I am sure someone here might found that information useful.
CGI_Ram said:
Brad, you put a lot into this post. I'm not able to comment on all of it, but good luck in your pursuit of a single device.
I cannot offer an alternative to Zenus, but can attest to the quality of their cases. If you go their route, you won't be disappointed.
As far as cables, I'd suggest checking out Cables-To-Go. They have tons available online.
And lastly, there are a lot of app recommendation threads out there... but for your purpose I might suggest "Papyrus". It is a very slick note taking application with some nice features.
Good luck!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am sure the Zenus cases are of a sufficient quality, but they are around £40 GBP which is just ridiculous for a case in my opinion. I am looking for a similar styled one, but cheaper.
So, upon some reading, I've heard lots of people saying how a screen protector is a must. I certainly didn't think so, but I trust the people on here to not steer me wrong. The issue I have with many screen protectors is that they add a weird texture for touching and also are absolutely a nightmare to get on. Anyone know of a screen protector which doesn't impair the comfort of touching and using the S-Pen on the screen?
All i can say is dont go for the really cheap screen protectors, as you get what you pay for, But on the other hand, dont get ripped off and pay a fortune either !
Have a read through this thread http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1332004&page=27
People have reviewed their protectors so you might find one thats just right for you.
Good ones wont affect the S-Pen, But if they do, there are a few screen tuner apps on the market to adjust the sensitivity.
a protector is a must for me ! No matter how tough the gorilla glass is, Its not un-scratch able, just scratch resistant.
azzledazzle said:
All i can say is dont go for the really cheap screen protectors, as you get what you pay for, But on the other hand, dont get ripped off and pay a fortune either !
Have a read through this thread http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1332004&page=27
People have reviewed their protectors so you might find one thats just right for you.
Good ones wont affect the S-Pen, But if they do, there are a few screen tuner apps on the market to adjust the sensitivity.
a protector is a must for me ! No matter how tough the gorilla glass is, Its not un-scratch able, just scratch resistant.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for such a quick reply and I am reading through that thread right now. I am looking for a screen protector which does not effect the S-Pen nor ruin the quality of the image of the screen. Anti-glare for greater outdoor visibility would also be nice. I've heard of anti-fingerprint too, which again would be nice. What screen protector are using might I ask?
theres a whole range of cases available for the Note, I personally like the wallet cases, as it saves me some room in my pocket
theres a case thread in the accessory section too, Have a look through there, It all depends what you are looking for !
TPU, Leather, Plastic, Carbon faker * I mean fibre*
Wallet, flip, hard shell......... you can see where im going with this right ?
azzledazzle said:
theres a whole range of cases available for the Note, I personally like the wallet cases, as it saves me some room in my pocket
theres a case thread in the accessory section too, Have a look through there, It all depends what you are looking for !
TPU, Leather, Plastic, Carbon faker * I mean fibre*
Wallet, flip, hard shell......... you can see where im going with this right ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am also looking for an SD card, big as possible for as cheap as possible, and also a solution to the sleep bug I have where my phone won't deep sleep.
Im gonna let you in to a little secret here Not many people know about it but if you go here, Magic Place Full of Info
you can find out a whole array of things.
azzledazzle said:
Im gonna let you in to a little secret here Not many people know about it but if you go here, Magic Place Full of Info
you can find out a whole array of things.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
http://www.play.com/Mobiles/Mobile/...urce=0&searchtype=allproducts&urlrefer=search
What do you think about this SD card? Think it'd do the job okay?
yeah I only use a class 4 SD card also, Ive had it for ages and it does the job so i kept it.
However, the higher the class, the faster the read/write speeds are, If that isnt an issue then go for that one as its reasonably priced.
I'd avoid ebay unless you find a well known ebayer as there are a lot of scams about, People selling 32gb class 10 cards that turn out to be 8gb class 2 or something lol
keep your wits about ya
Good post Brad....I've always searched for the single 'converged' device and the Note has pretty much done the trick.
Apps like Evernote especially and Springpad are great catch all apps allowing cloud storage, organization, and easy access of ALL of your data and documents...checked Em out.
Some big (work) sites tho, so just aren't displayed well on the note compared to my lap top so have to use it sometimes, and that's about the only downside.
rockky said:
Good post Brad....I've always searched for the single 'converged' device and the Note has pretty much done the trick.
Apps like Evernote especially and Springpad are great catch all apps allowing cloud storage, organization, and easy access of ALL of your data and documents...checked Em out.
Some big (work) sites tho, so just aren't displayed well on the note compared to my lap top so have to use it sometimes, and that's about the only downside.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, frankly, I spend most of my internet time on a small selection of sites. Facebook, YouTube and many more all have mobile apps/versions of their site.
I am looking for...
a good screen protector which doesn't ruin the screen or S-Pen
a charging cable around 4 metres in length
a case which offers protection to the camera, back and front/screen

With the announcement at I/O, which Android Wear will you get?

And why?! Please no bashing of certain brands/watches! Discussion thread only!
First to reply !?
Well, personally I use a LG G2 as my daily driver now. I would naturally go for the G Watch.
I agree that the circular watch face on the Moto 360 is way awesome. But it is not available just yet
In comparison of the G Watch and the Galaxy Gear Live. I would go for G Watch, on same company and the fact that it has more battery.
400 vs 300, thats 1/4 differences, which is a lot. My previous experiences with Galaxy 3 didn't occur to me that Samsung's products are not battery hungry. I would rather have 25% more battery than say, having an extra heartbeat sensor (which will potentially use up more battery?)
I also like IPS screen more :good:
I like the look of the 360 best but from videos I've seen, a square screen has a lot more usable real estate than a round one. So I would choose the Gear.
Little confused. I was looking to get the gear 2 but figured I'd wait. With the news today..will one be able to answer calls and text on the android wear watches? Also..it looks like they are basically revolving around Google now?
Sent from my SM-T310 using Tapatalk
I have ordered the Gear Live. Higher resolution and heart rate sensor made me pick it over the LG. The fact that it was cheaper helped too.
I will probably pick up a Moto 360 when it becomes available as well.
Are there any hands on that show how you wake the Gear Live from it's sleep state? Does a simple flick of the wrist work, or do I have to press the button. If I have to press the button, I'm going to get the G Watch in a flash.
I voted galaxy gear one hundred percent because its 30 bucks cheaper. Dont know why the LG G is more? Haha so thats why i came to this thread.
Just ordered both (UK) as I'm undecided and expect them to sell out fast... my brother wants one anyway so will give him the Samsung most likely.
Strange that the LG was the cheaper one in the UK? Maybe it has a secret spec :fingers-crossed:
Prefer the LG anyway as it is smaller and looks to have a longer battery life (essential in a watch device).
Ordered the LG.
Battery life was the decider.
The Moto360 - because of its circular display with near zero bezel
Joe0113 said:
And why?! Please no bashing of certain brands/watches! Discussion thread only!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The Moto360 is a reinterpretation of the classic circular wrist watch which makes it a classic in its own right. The display has a near zero bezel, running edge to edge which is a first. I find these two enough to go for it. There's a high novelty value. The screen looks fantastic.
Apparently the screen is off most of the time, and can be turned on with a) a gesture b) touch c) the button.
Wireless charging is the right move.
Negatives:
The screen doesn't have an anti-reflective coating, though, so it will be hard to read outdoors, impossible in the sun.
The battery won't last more than a few years, and sinces it's likely to be non replaceable. This prevents the Moto360 from becoming a true classic worn in the future. Not that important, perhaps, since there will be better versions out in the future, but it makes it less of a classic, more time bound, ephemeral.
Find it a little strange the LG is cheaper in the UK, but more expensive in the US.
Went for the Gear, no real decider as they're really similar, hoping as samsung have a history with them the hardware will be a bit better
Gadgety said:
The Moto360 is a reinterpretation of the classic circular wrist watch which makes it a classic in its own right. The display has a near zero bezel, running edge to edge which is a first. I find these two enough to go for it. There's a high novelty value. The screen looks fantastic.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Good points. I'm a guy who wears a classic round-faced watch everyday and want to get into Android Wear. Moto360 seems to be the right choice for me.
Does the Moto360 actually have Android Wear on it? Why were they allowed to release a bunch of pics and advertise before the I/O while everyone else had to/wanted to wait? What else do we know about it? Price? Release date?
Ordered the Gear
Better style, heart rate monitor, cheaper
granduke said:
Ordered the Gear
Better style, heart rate monitor, cheaper
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Same. Ordered it last night.
My s/o thought the gear live just looked way better.
I was torn on what to get. Obviously the 360's design is fantastic. For a poor graduate student, though, it is going to (likely) be well above my price range at the moment. I have $150 from the recall of my FitBit Force and decided to go with the Gear Live because of the AMOLED screen and the overall design. JR Raphael of PC World and Artem Russakovskii from AndroidPolice both recommended the Gear Live over the G Watch. Neither of them have led me astray yet, so I will take their word.
Once I am done with grad school and have a good job in hand, I will upgrade to something more fancy-schmancy. I'm stoked to get my Gear Live, though!
Ordered the Samsung here in the UK
I wanted the LG until I saw it ....
I think the Samsung looks better, has higher screen res, and the HRM - the other main factor was that Samsung have been making smart watches for a while now, so should have learnt a few things
All that said - I like the Moto with the metal strap - so will probably change later in the year --- by which time HTC may have come up with something
I orderded the G watch. Personally think its better looking than the Gear. Hoping the 400mah battery pays off as well. Ultimately hoping whatever HTC has up their sleeves will be as amazing as their phones.
I jumped for the Gwatch. I personally like the less flashy design, and chose to support LG over Samsung. Pretty excited to get it! It's a step in the right direction I would say.
Just ordered a Gear Live, G-Watch was tempting but it is more expensive has a worse display and fewer sensors ?
The Motorola Watch is vaporware, this is why Motorola dropped from number one manufacturer to a company bought out by a Chinese corporation. Motorola has not been first to the market with anything in years.
i
Still AndroidWear SmartWachtes is are so young
No Camera
No Speak-Mic to Answer Call
and lots of more features.
when i compare androidWear by Tizen Powered SmartWatches I will choose Galaxy Gear2

Z3 compact + Google cardboard

Anybody successfully got this device working with Google cardboard? Love to try it, but the replica cardboards seem to fit bigger devices. I like to know if it will fit the z3 compact.
cyphomatic said:
Anybody successfully got this device working with Google cardboard? Love to try it, but the replica cardboards seem to fit bigger devices. I like to know if it will fit the z3 compact.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
z3 compact is way to small. best for use with devices 5-5.5 inches
Couldn't resist trying. It works. Sadly the magnetic switch is on the wrong side. Needs some work. Virtual reality on the z3 compact! Awesome combination of the high quality camera, Google camera photo sphere and vr cardboard. You can jump in the picture and look around. Really fun and decent image quality.
Ordered a plastic headset with straps on Amazon because the cardboard won't last long.
It's not bad with this phone, but it's much better with a 5" phone and a 1080p screen. Maybe if you modified cardboard to be smaller, but with the stock plans you get black bars on the side (and the Sony logo) and the pixels are much more noticeable.
I'd give it a shot if it's the only device you have, but if you can use something like a Nexus 5 (I borrowed my friend's) it's much better.
It's not quite an Oculus Rift, but it's still really cool.
It's a pity that the magnetic sensor is near the "bottom" of the phone. I've tried placing the phone rotated 90 degrees to the right (instead of left), but sadly, the Google Cardboard app only supports landscape rotation in one direction, towards the left.
endlesstrail said:
It's a pity that the magnetic sensor is near the "bottom" of the phone. I've tried placing the phone rotated 90 degrees to the right (instead of left), but sadly, the Google Cardboard app only supports landscape rotation in one direction, towards the left.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can use your fingers, Bluetooth controller or move the magnet to the other side. Not ideal, but it works.
But if the z3c is your only phone is there a way to make the magnatic switch work (not just hold it on the other side but a permanent option) and do you really see the sony logo and black bars?
In short is my question can I use my z3c for cardboard and that it works 100% without any compromises?
And if I need to adjust something what do I need to do? Or buy?
I've used it, and it works great.
No, it's not a 5" phone but I've used a Z3 full fat with Cardboard too and the difference isn't much. I've also tried other devices and they have issues with the magnet too. Apparently the magnet provided just isn't strong enough. You can get around this by touching the screen (yes, that's awkward) to select menus with the Google demos, and in some cases, pairing your phone with a PS4 Dualshock 4 controller.
Don't let the fact that the Compact is smaller put you off trying it. It's a great way to try VR, with all the everyday benefits of still having a smaller phone in your pocket.
There are indeed ways to use Bluetooth controllers as an alternative for the magnet.
cyphomatic said:
Ordered a plastic headset with straps on Amazon because the cardboard won't last long.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Which one did you buy? I've seen a lot of different variations of cardboard, some even for smaller phones like 4.5" - 5".
The plastic one, was a misbuy. Turned out to be 6"..
Did try a paper 4,5" cardboard on eBay wich fits fine.
I ordered a generic "cardboard" with no magnetic switch. It worked okay. I had to position the z3c half an inch further away from the lenses for the proper focus, and I had to hold it in place with my hand.
It only cost me $1.99, free shipping, so I just considered it a fun novelty.
Question. What kind of bluetooth controller would work for this?
armchairbear said:
I ordered a generic "cardboard" with no magnetic switch. It worked okay. I had to position the z3c half an inch further away from the lenses for the proper focus, and I had to hold it in place with my hand.
It only cost me $1.99, free shipping, so I just considered it a fun novelty.
Question. What kind of bluetooth controller would work for this?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I can confirm a DualShock 4 works if you own a PS4!
schnidex said:
I can confirm a DualShock 4 works if you own a PS4!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The DualShock 4 can be used to simulate screen touches in Google Cardboard apps? I'll give it a try.
armchairbear said:
The DualShock 4 can be used to simulate screen touches in Google Cardboard apps? I'll give it a try.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It would be great if it could, but that's not quite what I meant. I meant that the DS4 pairs with the Z3C to be used with Google Cardboard. Several demos I've tried allowed me to move around in virtual space using the DS4 as a controller. I can't comment on actual screen touches with the trackpad, although that would be a very nice side effect if also true.
Just bought a cheap $2 Google Cardboard off eBay and am awaiting shipment, but I just wanted to point out that Dual Shock 3 controller can be paired with the Z3C as well and works great!
Just wanted to report that Cardboard works perfectly with the Z3C. I guess this is the first time I've run into an issue with the Z3C's low PPI as it's very noticeable when viewing through Cardboard, but that's a very specific use and I wouldn't use my daily phone as a VR handset anyway. Otherwise, everything else works as it should and was really cool!
I fixed the magnetic button issue by rotating the phone or taking the button out and putting it on the other side of Cardboard.
Works fine after a minor mod.
cyphomatic said:
Anybody successfully got this device working with Google cardboard? Love to try it, but the replica cardboards seem to fit bigger devices. I like to know if it will fit the z3 compact.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have a pretty thick bumper-case for my Z3c (since I have a history of losing phones to stone-floors) and it works just fine. There is some noticeable pixelation but not to bad. As some other people have noted the magnet-button does not seem to work. I read this post a few days ago and I made a somewhat crude work-around using some aluminium foil. If it is of interest to some one else, here is my somewhat lengthy blogg-post about it: http ikmpltyh.blogspot.se/2015/07/google-cardbord-button-for-z3-compact.html
New users can't create hyper-links so you will have to cut-and paste...
i made a profile for my z3c u can download it here:
https://onedrive.live.com/redir?res...authkey=!ADXDN5npvcbfsYA&v=3&ithint=photo,png

s6 and google cardboard (Galaxy S6)

Just a question for people with this with a handset already, have you had a chance to play with google cardboard using the s6? I'm curious how the higher PPI performs!
eloquencemotion said:
Just a question for people with this with a handset already, have you had a chance to play with google cardboard using the s6? I'm curious how the higher PPI performs!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Got my (regular) S6 yesterday and found time to put in my Cardboard this morning. The experience is a little better than expected, but still not earth shattering.
I had a OnePlus One (5.5 inch FHD) before and that worked okay. You could definately see the space between the pixels. I woulnd't say it it was like looking through a screendoor, but you could certainly see the grid.
With the S6 it's certainly improved a lot, but you do still see a grid. It's far less noticable though and it's a lot easier to get that feeling of immersion. You will still see you're looking at a screen though, the higher PPI just makes you forget about it sooner.
What I noticed with the S6 and didn't really notice with the OnePlus One is that there is a tiny, tiny delay between moving your head and the screen actually moving. I don't know why that is. I think it's because the resolution is now less of an issue, you notice other things like this sooner, but I am unable to confirm that in any way. I'm just telling you what I saw.
All in all the experience of Cardboard is certainly better with the higher PPI display, but if you come from a regular FHD display I don't think the difference is really that big.
I don't know if the Edge offers any advantages. I'm inclined to think it'll impact the experience in a negative way.
Edit: if you want me to test something, please let me know.
I'm having issues with the location of the magnet button for the s6, the button being on the left or right side doesn't work for me, it has to be on the top or bottom of the cardboard if that makes sense.
cheethoe said:
I'm having issues with the location of the magnet button for the s6, the button being on the left or right side doesn't work for me, it has to be on the top or bottom of the cardboard if that makes sense.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I originally thought the magnet button would only work with with a Nexus device so I threw it out... so unfortunately I'm unable to comment on this, haha. I'm always tapping the screen through the underside of cardboard.
A friend of mine recently got a more expensive sort of Cardboard with better lenses and a headmount. I'm considering to get it. It was like 50 bucks or something, a lot cheaper than the Gear VR and with the S6 I think it'll be a really fun experiene. I'm still doubting as I hope Project Morpheus will soon get a releasedate. Would love to play Project Cars with that.
cheethoe said:
I'm having issues with the location of the magnet button for the s6, the button being on the left or right side doesn't work for me, it has to be on the top or bottom of the cardboard if that makes sense.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have no issues with my magnetic button. Works like charm on the S6 and is located properly for me.
I have a dodocase and it is a huge improvement over my 2013 motox. The only downside I have found is the home button sits right on the cardboard edge when closed and so sometimes it hits it when the case flexes a bit. I have a Colorcross coming tomorrow which has larger fov lenses and headstraps so I am hoping for a better experience. I did notice the VR cinemas aren't drifting with the s6 like they did with my motox.
derWolf_ said:
I have no issues with my magnetic button. Works like charm on the S6 and is located properly for me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Where is your magnetic button on your cardboard? I've even tried waving a bare magnet over the top and bottom of my phone with no luck. Do you have the s6 or the s6 edge?
cheethoe said:
Where is your magnetic button on your cardboard? I've even tried waving a bare magnet over the top and bottom of my phone with no luck. Do you have the s6 or the s6 edge?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My magnetic button is on the left of the VR, hence on the top of the phone. I have the regular S6.
derWolf_ said:
My magnetic button is on the left of the VR, hence on the top of the phone. I have the regular S6.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have the S6 edge, I wonder if there is a difference in the location of the magnetometer
Thanks so much for the replies guys! I just got caught up with a bunch of threads and lost track of my own! Hehe
In terms of any games on cardboard...is the faster processor making the gaming smoother? Also in videos such as Paul McCartney would you guys say its a noticeable difference from the note 4?. That's really what I'm up in the air about. Either getting an s6 or a note 4. Vr is the main thing I'm interested in with the added bonus of a phone hehe (till oculus or HTC vive release)
I have the s6 as well, but magnet doesnt work at all for me... otherwise really good experience!
[edit - the magnet does work - I didnt realise you had to flick it rather than hold]
spikeyl said:
I have the s6 as well, but magnet doesnt work at all for me... otherwise really good experience!
[edit - the magnet does work - I didnt realise you had to flick it rather than hold]
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
EXACTLY the same thing here. I was so nervous it didn't work. Then I just flicked it as I wanted to... Actually I don't know what I wanted to do with that.
Then it worked... It was just like: "Ohh, come on!"
Ot really is a great thing when using the cardboard app. The only thing I hate is when my phone slips when I don't secure it. Other than that it's really great.
Sent from my SM-G920F

Overall love

Yes, yes, it's possible to love a phone. Heck, you sleep next to it, don't you? Rate this thread to indicate your love for the Moto G6, all things considered. A higher rating indicates that the Moto G6 is an incredible phone that you enjoy tremendously. You love it.
Then, drop a comment if you have anything to add!
Got it activated first on Project Fi 3 days ago, for some reasons - I was "expecting" it to be a little bigger but it's just 2 clicks larger than the Nexus 5X getting traded in with the "generous" upgrade. For an entry/mid-range smartphone in 2018, I voted a 4 out of 5 (not that the absence of NFC or inability to use G.Pay is a make or break deal, I hardly use it & most places still do not accept it as mobile payment here in the US)
Dolby sound is very good, screen is bright & audio played via the speaker is fine - giving it a good workout as we hit the road today for a trip, more on the G6 later ... bootloader still locked at the moment.
Net cost to get this brand new G6 to me is about $120 after the trade-in, not really spend much more than paying someone to replace the old, tired & not as good 2.5 years old battery on the Nexus 5X, so I'm a little biased on this Lenovo/Motorola piece.
Letitride said:
Got it activated first on Project Fi 3 days ago, for some reasons - I was "expecting" it to be a little bigger but it's just 2 clicks larger than the Nexus 5X getting traded in with the "generous" upgrade. For an entry/mid-range smartphone in 2018, I voted a 4 out of 5 (not that the absence of NFC or inability to use G.Pay is a make or break deal, I hardly use it & most places still do not accept it as mobile payment here in the US)
Dolby sound is very good, screen is bright & audio played via the speaker is fine - giving it a good workout as we hit the road today for a trip, more on the G6 later ... bootloader still locked at the moment.
Net cost to get this brand new G6 to me is about $120 after the trade-in, not really spend much more than paying someone to replace the old, tired & not as good 2.5 years old battery on the Nexus 5X, so I'm a little biased on this Lenovo/Motorola piece.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Similar thoughts as you (also running the Project Fi version of the phone).
- Phone is smaller than I expected.
- Loving the thin bezels, looks much more premium than the actual cost to me ($200)
- I don't use NFC. Don't trust it, so the lack of NFC is not a big deal
- Battery life is good, front facing speaker loud, screen is bright and sharp
- Responsiveness is in line with what you would expect from a $300-400 phone IMO
- Nearly stock Android experience = CLUTCH
Agree with others. Coming from a 5X most everything is acceptable given the price. I was blown away by the speaker. BUT my biggest gripe is the cameras low light performance...its not good by any means, very grainy, colors are bad. Regular outdoor pics are good though. Also wouldve preferred for it to NOT have a glass back since im a klutz and guaranteed to break it.
Have had this phone a couple of weeks now. Got to say I like it a lot. Definitely a step up from my Xiaomi Redmi Note 2 that I had for 3 years. This is also the most expensive phone (about $250) I've had as I'm a cheap skate and no way I'm ever paying $400 plus for a phone. Just can't bring myself to do it. The price I paid for this phone is "high dollar" for me, lol. Still getting used to the new 18x9 screen. A part of me likes it and a part of me likes 16x9 better. Since pretty much all phones are going to this size, I guess I better get used to it. The new screen size almost feels like a "cheater" to me. Moved the menu icons inside screen and made the width smaller making keyboard in portrait view (which is the way I text) actually a little smaller than what I had. Taller view but most stuff you view in landscape has bars so I don't see the benefit to it yet. Most comments I read about it, people love it. Me not so much. Phone itself is very good. Performance is very good, screen resolution is very good, camera is very good, battery life is very good (especially compared to my Redmi Note 2 which was a battery sucker). I like Android 8 and Moto apps. Pretty much bloatware free, and is nice and snappy. Had to put a case on it (put a Spigen on it) cause the phone actually felt a little small in my hands. The case gave it a little more bulk and made it feel a lot better in my hand. Love the fingerprint scanner which to me is the coolest thing since sliced bread (yup I'm a dinosaur). To tell the truth I would probably still be using the Note 2 but it started acting up on me. Now since I got this one though, it pretty much blows away my old phone in every way possible which of course is a good thing since I spent the bucks for a new phone. All in all I'm pretty damned happy with this phone. About the only thing I could say I wished it was, was a bigger phone. I went from a 5.5" 16x9 screen to a 5.7" 18x9 screen and this feels smaller than the other one to me in my hands. In the 18x9 size, I wish a had like a 6" or 6.5" screen. That would give more width that I would like to have. The width on the 16x9 was actually about 1/4" wider than the18x9 one, which is actually a substantial difference when using a keyboard.
Deleted: Double post
MikeO89 said:
Have had this phone a couple of weeks now. Got to say I like it a lot. Definitely a step up from my Xiaomi Redmi Note 2 that I had for 3 years. This is also the most expensive phone (about $250) I've had as I'm a cheap skate and no way I'm ever paying $400 plus for a phone. Just can't bring myself to do it. The price I paid for this phone is "high dollar" for me, lol. Still getting used to the new 18x9 screen. A part of me likes it and a part of me likes 16x9 better. Since pretty much all phones are going to this size, I guess I better get used to it. The new screen size almost feels like a "cheater" to me. Moved the menu icons inside screen and made the width smaller making keyboard in portrait view (which is the way I text) actually a little smaller than what I had. Taller view but most stuff you view in landscape has bars so I don't see the benefit to it yet. Most comments I read about it, people love it. Me not so much. Phone itself is very good. Performance is very good, screen resolution is very good, camera is very good, battery life is very good (especially compared to my Redmi Note 2 which was a battery sucker). I like Android 8 and Moto apps. Pretty much bloatware free, and is nice and snappy. Had to put a case on it (put a Spigen on it) cause the phone actually felt a little small in my hands. The case gave it a little more bulk and made it feel a lot better in my hand. Love the fingerprint scanner which to me is the coolest thing since sliced bread (yup I'm a dinosaur). To tell the truth I would probably still be using the Note 2 but it started acting up on me. Now since I got this one though, it pretty much blows away my old phone in every way possible which of course is a good thing since I spent the bucks for a new phone. All in all I'm pretty damned happy with this phone. About the only thing I could say I wished it was, was a bigger phone. I went from a 5.5" 16x9 screen to a 5.7" 18x9 screen and this feels smaller than the other one to me in my hands. In the 18x9 size, I wish a had like a 6" or 6.5" screen. That would give more width that I would like to have. The width on the 16x9 was actually about 1/4" wider than the18x9 one, which is actually a substantial difference when using a keyboard.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Great post, MikeO89...
Love your enthusiasm for the G6. It pretty much echoes mine.
I paid £220 here in the UK for mine, and like yourself, it's really about as much as I want to pay for a phone these days. There's been a considerable amount of coverage over the recent release of the Samsung Galaxy Note 9, and certainly the specs do look pretty damn awesome, but at close to nearly a £1000, an eye-watering sum of money for me... well, I just couldn't envisage spending that amount, even if I had it. Maybe when I have the next winning Euromillions lottery ticket, I'll buy one or whatever flagship is out then, but until that auspicious and lucky day arrives, I'm more than happy with my Moto G6.
And which I bought to replace my ageing and battery-dying HTC One M8, which I paid £530 for back in 2014. I remember my Dad at the time saying in almost stunned and amazed disbelief "You want to spend how much on a phone??!!!" as though he'd not quite heard me correctly. Of course, I did try to explain that it was more of a personal pocket computer that just happens to have the ability to make phone calls. After I bought one and he saw it in action and began to understand the capabilities of it... well, he went out and bought one himself!
That was four years ago, and I'm a little bit more price conscious these days, so when my One M8's battery began to die earlier this year, I knew I needed a new phone.
Initially, I made the mistake of assuming that you needed to spend £600 or £700 on a phone to get a quality device. I'd been hearing about the Moto G series phones and the rave reviews they'd received around a year before, so when I heard about this years G6 release, I checked out all the reviews. My initial response was one of skepticism ~ how can a company like Lenovo release a phone with such great features at just a shade over £200 AND make a profit. Surely there's a catch, I mean there has to be, right? Wrong!
As it turns out, the Moto G6 is every bit as good as the reviews say it is. And you don't need to mortgage your soul to own one. I mean, where do I begin... fast turbo charging, really nice vibrant colourful screen, amazing battery life, Android 8 Oreo with next-to-no bloat, and fingerprint unlock. Yeah, I love fingerprint unlock. It's like your very own personal ON switch that nobody else can use, and no more playing join-the-dots and trying to remember which unlock pattern is correct for this device amongst the other devices (tablets) I own.
As for the size and aspect ratio, I love it. Coming from my old HTC One M8 which had an aspect of 16:9 and a resolution of 1080x1920...
...to the Moto G6 with an aspect of 18:9 (Rhetorical question: why isn't it just simply called 2:1) and resolution of 1080x2160, which my calculations reveal to be a 12.5% increase based on number of pixels alone. It is a sort of a cheat, but I feel in a good way. I now have a phone that doesn't feel significantly bigger than my One M8, because the width has stayed the same, but the height has increased, but not by that much when you 'add-on' the One M8's speakers at the top and bottom, but the actual screen size increase on the G6 is quite noticeable.
I use Nova Launcher, and I like tinkering around with Themes, Icon Packs, Wallpapers and Layouts and with the increase vertically, I now have more layout options for things like icons and widgets, because there's an extra couple of rows on the Nova desktop. And 5.7 inches feels about right to me. I'm not sure I would feel comfortable handling something like a 6 inch or larger device. If I can, I like to operate my phone one-handed and the bigger these things get, the more difficult one-handed operation becomes.
I do take your point about black bars in landscape mode though, particularly if you're watching video content, most of which tends to be shot in 16:9 aspect. This doesn't overly bother me really, because I generally don't watch a lot of stuff on my phone anyway. And when I do, I just sort of ignore the black bars. I watch a lot of old films and TV dramas on my TV back when things were shot in 4:3 aspect, and I just got used to seeing left and right black bars on my TV, so on my phone it's really not an issue for me.
I guess we can quibble about the shortcomings of the G6 ~ for example, the one thing I do miss is the left and right stereo HTC BoomSound front facing speakers that provided great quality audio on my old One M8. On the G6 there's only a single mono speaker - it sounds pretty good, but I miss the stereo - gotta dig out my headphones now if I want stereo. Great that there's an old fashioned 3.5mm audio socket on it for me to use my headphones. Won't get that an some £1000 flagships! I jest of course; I'm not having a pop at flagship devices, I'm just amused by the irony of it.
So, on the whole, minor quibbles aside, the Moto G6 is a pretty amazing phone for such a great price. It performs brilliantly and looks great. The Gorilla Glass back adds a touch of class to the device, although it can feel a little bit slippery at times. When I first got it, I had unpleasant visions of it sliding out of my hand and crashing to the concrete outside and cracking all that beautiful glass (the horror, the horror!), so I have now ensconced it in the protective embrace of a Spigen case, which actually looks quite good, and feels good in the hand too.
Well, that pretty much says it all really. A great phone at a great price. Can't really say much more than that... Well, I could, but then I'd be here all night typing superlatives and this post would just go on and on and on and on, etc., etc. and etc.
Ged.
its not the fastest device but for a budget device I really like it.
Overall probably the best bang for your buck if your looking at carrier specific devices. Came from a Galaxy S7 which I kinda went swimming with. I'm loving the 18:9 screen. I do notice the occasional hiccup when multitasking, but the battery life is on another level compared to my old S7.
Love my North American unlocked G6! Great value for the money. The battery life is fine, but I suggest using a browser for some of your social media, if you want to get plenty of power for a day of use.
I've already gotten direct looks at my phone from other people, and some folks can't believe I paid less than $300 for it. Glad I chose the oyster finish vs deep indigo. I do have a case on it, as the glass back is known to crack easily if the phone falls hard on the ground. My B&H order came with a free frosted silicone case, and tempered glass for the screen. Perfect!
Coming from U11 life, this phone seems better.
VoLTE and Wi-Fi Calling work out of the box with T-Mobile
Rather loud speaker
I think 2:1 screen is OK
It looks like plain Android
Cam looks OK under low light
Decent reception with B12
It's fast like 6xx processor.
Adjustable screen tint
I am satisfied with the phone for the price.
Cool looking..
I've manageg to buy mine G6 for 129EUR, for that price it's best device I could choose.
Great phone for ~$100 now on eBay that's still getting security updates.
Pros:
+ $100 now on eBay for like-new condition
+ Almost pure stock Android, very little bloat and what is there I actually use (chop twice for flashlight, etc). Very stable.
+ Great band support, unlocked XT1925-6 will work on any US carrier, only missing bands 14, 46, and 71.
+ 3gb RAM is plenty sufficient to keep about three resource-heavy apps active at once.
+ Camera is decent enough and about what you'd expect from a phone in this price range.
+ You can adjust DPI under developer options, which makes content on phone appear larger/smaller so you can fit more on-screen. Very handy.
Cons:
- SD450 is an obvious bottleneck in resource-heavy apps, expect sporadic lag if you're playing PUBGM or running a browser with ten tabs open.
- Battery life could be better, usually end the day around 20% with moderate use. Not bad, but not great either.
If this had a SD600 series and a slightly larger battery it'd easily be 5*. For $100 bucks though it's hard to be upset with it.
Well I found the first problem with this phone. I can't get it to recognize an external microphone to record with the camera. I plugged in an external mic I had (3.5mm with 4 pin plug) and at first thought it was working as I made a couple of videos. Then I noticed in the videos that the sound would go up and down through the video. As I later found out, the volume was going up and down each time I would walk away from the phone while recording being the external mic had a 6 ft cord on it. I then actually tested the external mic this time (like I should have from the beginning) and found out the whole time it was still recording with the onboard mic even with external mic plugged in. The G6 was just ignoring it as a microphone and treating it as a headphone. So now I'm stymied. The onboard mic works well enough but I really wanted to have an external mic if I wanted it. I can hardly find any info on this whole external mic vs onboard mic thing with cellphones. Still like this phone and plan on having it for quite some time but a little bummed about this latest development.
OK, doing a follow up post to the one above concerning the issue with G6 not recognizing external mic when making a video. I had about given up on this and I had been searching like crazy about it. With my lack on finding anyone having similar issues like this, I was starting to think I'm the only one who is trying to use an external mic with this phone to make videos. I thought maybe is was just a jack issue so I then tried same external mic with my voice recorder app. With that app the external mic was working. Now I knew it wasn't the jack. I then installed "Open Camera" from the Google Play Store. There was actually a setting in video settings to select an external mic for recording. I then went ahead and made another video using the external mic and what do you know it worked perfect! One other setting that I'm excited about so far in Open Camera is the video stabilization setting. I don't have the steadiest hands and always had to use a tripod or my videos would come out like being on a boat. Made one with that setting on and it kept the video still as I was shooting it. It made me look like my shake was gone (wish it really was). This Open Camera app just kicks the living **** out of the Moto G6 stock camera app! Sure glad I tried it.
Got one on Motorola promo for $100. Very nice inexpensive backup phone!

Categories

Resources