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The ANDROID thread
- Thread starter partyBoy
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Captivate user here, running Serendipity 5.11 with Speedmod Kernel K13C. I really like the phone. The SAMOLED screens that the current Galaxy S phones use are amazing, and with the ROM/kernel combo I'm using, this thing is fast as hell. I got this phone just to test the waters of Android after years of iPhone use, but I'm certainly sticking with it now.
I was planning on getting the Atrix, but after seeing the new Galaxy S2, I'm getting one of those instead. It has all of the boxes ticked on things I wanted. Dual-core, 1GB RAM, front camera, bigger screen, non-pentile screen, etc. It has what I want, and I'm eager to get one.
I was planning on getting the Atrix, but after seeing the new Galaxy S2, I'm getting one of those instead. It has all of the boxes ticked on things I wanted. Dual-core, 1GB RAM, front camera, bigger screen, non-pentile screen, etc. It has what I want, and I'm eager to get one.
Just picked up my Motorola Atrix yesterday (btw, I'm an iPhone 4, iPad, Samsung WP7, Nexus One, Samsung Captivate, Droid 2 Global, Palm Pre Plus owner as well, so I have things I like about each operating system). This is the fastest, smoothest Android phone I've used so far. Very smooth, and actually a bit faster than my iPhone 4. The feature I like the most ironically is the integrated fingerprint scanner (built in to the sleep/awake button) for unlocking the device. This is a small, but genius touch. It's VERY reliable in reading the fingerprint on the first swipe, and boom..the phone is unlocked. Press down on the button to wake the device, and swipe that same finger across the button at the same time. Great way to keep the phone secure (locked from prying eyes), yet allows for a very fast unlock. And the screen, even though the resolution is slightly under that of my iPhone 4, is a close rival to it in sharpness and clarity. I've always liked Motorola's hardware, and this is one of the better (if not the best) Android phones I've ever used.
I haven't seen one in person, but I was confused when I heard Moto went with a Pentile LCD. Seems odd, since I'd only ever heard of that being used in OLED screens. Does it at least have good color clarity and no weird color banding?
That is one thing that bugs me with my Captivate. On some of my wallpapers, where there should be a smooth color gradient, the image is very blocky and rough. Contrast, brightness and saturation are great on the current SAMOLED screens, but the color banding can be bad at times. I'm hoping that was also fixed in the new S2s.
(PS - Are you a golfer by chance?)
The issue you're talking about with color banding really isn't an issue with the Atrix (I know what you're talking about, owning a Captivate myself). I'd rank this screen as a close second behind the Retina display of my iPhone 4. The viewing angle is huge as well (doesn't color invert or distort even when viewing at an extreme angle).
And...wow. You actually figured out what the numbers mean in my username? Outside of golf forums, no one ever notices that. Yes, I'm a golfer. Actually I'm a director of golf/general manager of a golf course. The 975D reference is for my all time favorite driver (Titleist, of course).
I love reading reviews like that because the Atrix is a phone I am pretty intersted in.
Something I still have not figured out is can you unlock the phone with out the finger print scanner.
Like have both types of unlocks on it. Like that dot pattern one and fingerprint. Either one will unlock the phone.
Yes. When you set the fingerprint lock, it actually makes you choose one of the other types of unlocks (PIN, or password) as a secondary unlock mechanism (in case the fingerprint scanner hardware ever failed completely...without a backup, you couldn't unlock your phone). So when I wake my phone, I'm presented with the traditional "PIN" unlock screen (I chose PIN..a 4 digit code), the only difference is the text in the center of the screen that says "Swipe finger sensor" to unlock. At that point, I can either scan my fingerprint (preferred, my finger is already sitting on the wake button afterall...), or use the traditional PIN entering to unlock.
The Android OS is great. I like all the features. They work fine... But EVERY Android phone I've used has some lag to it. From the low end to the Evo and Droid. The moment you touch an iPhone it responds. The Androids I've used all have a short delay. ...Just my two cents.
Well thats good then. That really is the only thing that bugs me on the Captivate. I can get over the Pentile aspect of it, as that is hard to really notice unless you press your nose right up to the screen. But the color banding really bugs me. Many times I will find a sweet wallpaper, only to have it look like crap on the phone. Fingers crossed that is fixed on SAMOLED+ screens.
I did indeed. My father is in your same position, and has been for 30+ years, so I grew up in and around a pro shop and the golf course. After college, I spent a good handful of years in the business, working on my apprenticeship, passing the PAT, etc. Got out of the business a few years ago, for various reasons, but the sport is still one of my great passions. And yes, the "D" is one of the all-time great clubs. I've played a Titleist driver exclusively since it came out (D, L-FE, E, S, D3). Love that classic deep-face, pear shape.
That is just poor implementation by the manufacturers. My Captivate had a slight lag when stock, but with the ROM and kernel I'm using, there is 0 lag to it at all. As an added bonus, not only is it faster, but it gets about 2x better batter life now as well.
I think that is more due to the fact that the manufacturers themselves don't take the time to tweak the OS to their specific hardware. With all my Android devices, I've used custom ROMs on that have had kernels built for those specific devices by the super intelligent developer community, and that makes worlds of difference. It takes those somewhat laggy stock devices and makes them lightning quick. For instance, my AT&T Nexus One was an "ok" device stock. But with the custom Cyanogenmod kernel/ROM, it does everything faster than even my iPhone 4, and is honestly a better phone (call and data speed wise) than it as well. It stinks that the manufacturers won't take the time to do some of this stuff themselves. Take a developer like "supercurio"...he alone has done wonders for the Samsung Galaxy series.
that makes me want the Atrix even more since it has such a simple unlock feature and if a friend/family member wants to us it I can tell them the unlock code.
would be interesting to know if a Verizon iPhone could be unlocked for Sprint.
There were a couple of people who unlocked the Veriphone to the Sprint Network using a bypass file and WinSCP. I saw it on YouTube.
Can you set it up to just use the standard "Swipe to Unlock" method? I'm guessing you can, but I've just never seen anyone mention that in any reviews or anything. I like the idea of the fingerprint scanner, but I'm fine with just swiping the screen.
Yes, if you don't set a screen lock at all (security lock, that is), it's just the standard swipe as usual. You also have the option to use the standard security locks (PIN, password, or "connect the dots") without ever using or registering fingerprints at all. The fingerprint scanner is totally optional.
It's a great phone all around, if you're not totally locked into using iOS. It's crazy fast already, and if the developers can root it and develop custom kernels/ROMs for it, it has the potential to be mind numbingly fast (Android hasn't even been optimized for dual core CPU's yet). The developers can do amazing things with these Android devices. Cyanogen's ROM's for my Nexus One increased the CPU speed, lowered it's voltage, and literally almost doubled the battery life of the phone. The potential for this device (again, if they can root and develop custom ROMs) is off the chart.
I do know the Atrix has already been rooted. But I believe they have not unlock the bootloader yet so no custom kernals but custom Roms I do see coming out.
I know I will have my Atrix rooted with in days of me getting it but I have to wait until May to get mine. CES is coming up in March so I will get to see what else is coming out and when.
Oh this thread won't go over very well with our brainwashed audience.
Personally I love my Android phone for many reasons but mostly for its customization. My Angry Birds weather widgets alone make it worth it.
People aren't brainwashed, they are just sick of the constant iPhone/iPad/iOS sucks and Android rules thread.
Take it to an Android site, leave Macrumors for Apple news. You can easily scroll through the forums here and already see its all Android crap.
Yes, the phone has been rooted, but I was really meaning the ability to load custom kernels/ROMs (the bootloader being unlocked). Not a whole lot of benefit of rooting at this point, other than a few apps/launchers (this could be a big deal if you like 3rd party launchers) that require root.
And...CES in March? Wasn't that in January when the Xoom/Atrix/etc was unveiled? Jan 6-9th?
Maybe he means CTIA, as that is coming up in about a month (March 22-24), because yea, CES was last month.
Sorry that is correct CES was Jan.
It was CTIA Wireless that I was thinking of that is in March where some other new toys will be announced. It is mostly a US based event so it will be stuff coming here to the US.
Thats weird cause the Android phone i have which is the LG Optimus M, is very responsive to touch. i even sometimes have to control my finger pressure
If Android is crap & you dont like it, why are you in a Android thread
Droid 2 Global here in white
I went from a blackberry storm to an HTC Hero (complete garbage) to a blackberry curve and now the d2g.
Blackberry is useful for the email and the bbm (best application to ever be created, ever.). Other than the bbm BBs are featureless and boring :/
So far i love the d2g. Does everything I want it to and does it smoothly. The 1.2Ghz processor is awesome. Its a perfect size too! Screen is 3.7", not too large and not too small. I dont need a mini tablet in my pocket
That said, if the new upcoming bb's offer a significant improvement, I might budge
I went from a blackberry storm to an HTC Hero (complete garbage) to a blackberry curve and now the d2g.
Blackberry is useful for the email and the bbm (best application to ever be created, ever.). Other than the bbm BBs are featureless and boring :/
So far i love the d2g. Does everything I want it to and does it smoothly. The 1.2Ghz processor is awesome. Its a perfect size too! Screen is 3.7", not too large and not too small. I dont need a mini tablet in my pocket
That said, if the new upcoming bb's offer a significant improvement, I might budge
just ordered a xoom for a trial and I'm pretty excited. few questions. Can you jailbreak it? is there a way to do cool stuff to get around vzw's system like turn on the wifi without the data plan etc? thanks