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I've just upgraded to a Desire coming from a Touch HD (Dutty Holy Grail) and have to say that first impressions are not great. Seriously thinking about returning it but interested to hear other people's experience.
So far moaning about the following problems - well more inconveniences:
- keyboard too jumpy
- can't call contact directly from email
- no hardware button to end call - pain when leave a voice message as need to turn phone on, unlock it and then end call.
- double syncs everything (on exchange server) so that appointment entries appear twice in calendar
- the home screen apps are kind of useless as you basically need to launch the full app to be able to do anything (ie email or sms)
- sms messaging doesn't tell you how many letters you have left
- no messaging in facebook
- headphone volume quiet (and that's with in ear headphones where on my HD I had the volume set to 1!)
- battery life atrocious in comparison. charged my phone last night and had a full charge before going to bed and when I woke up it was at 30%. no wifi or bluetooth on.
Will persevere another few days to make sure that I'm not just a grumpy old fart who hates change....
Take it back then. And my sms shows how many letter i have left.
I'll answer some of your points because a few are valid.
Could you elaborate on calling from emails? You mean the phone picking up that you have a number stored for a contact and allowing you to dial them? I've tried this and it works. You need to be using the HTC mail client, not the Gmail one.
"no hardware button to end call - pain when leave a voice message as need to turn phone on, unlock it and then end call."
I couldn't reproduce this use case at all. Your screen locks while you're in a call? A SHORT call too? Or are you just positing a use case you THINK could happen? The screen goes blank when you raise it to your ear and turns back on when you take it away...what you describe can't happen.
If you've got double syncing then there's a configuration error. Elaborate. How did you set it up? Are you syncing with your work email or a webmail account?
The home screen "apps" are not apps, they're widgets, and function like every other widget I've ever seen, they just give info and limited functions. You wanted to send email FROM a widget?!
"sms messaging doesn't tell you how many letters you have left"
Mostly because text limits have all but disappeared. Does your provider still cap you? You should get a new provider.
Your device is still new...you need a few charging cycles to get the battery at full potential.
The other issues are pretty spot on...the keyboard I'm used to now though. Trust the predictive text.
Maxwell Smart said:
- can't call contact directly from email
- no hardware button to end call - pain when leave a voice message as need to turn phone on, unlock it and then end call.
- sms messaging doesn't tell you how many letters you have left
- no messaging in facebook
- headphone volume quiet (and that's with in ear headphones where on my HD I had the volume set to 1!)
- battery life atrocious in comparison. charged my phone last night and had a full charge before going to bed and when I woke up it was at 30%. no wifi or bluetooth on.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1. I have never seen that feature before. Would definitely be handy.
2. That annoys me too, but I guess it's just a matter of getting used to it.
3. Use a replacement SMS app. Handcent is my favorite.
4. Blame Facebook for that. They won't allow it, even in their official app which is stupid.
5. Strange, I have the impression that the headphone volume is quite loud.
6. You might have an application running in the background which is draining the battery and keeping the phone awake. See related threads in this forum for more info.
keyboard - Like all keyboards, it takes time to get used to. Trust the autocomplete feature and you'll be surprised. Best soft keyboard I've ever used.
Yes, you can call directly from email. Just tap the sender and their contact card will open which includes the option to call them.
No hardware call buttons - It's an inconvenience but you knew they weren't there before you bought it.
Exchange sync issue - Maybe something with your settings? I have it synced with Google's Exchange server with no problems.
Widgets - Yes, I share your opinion on many of the widgets. You might as well just launch the main application. They are pretty to look at though...
SMS - Perhaps download a 3rd party SMS application?
Facebook - no comment. I don't use it.
Headphone volume - I read here that some carriers limit the max volume on their devices. Perhaps they did that to yours? My device's max volume is pretty deafening.
Battery life - If you read reviews, you'll know that battery life is not impressive. But do give it several charge cycles and sync your data as conservatively as possible. You might find the battery life to be acceptable.
ephumuris said:
Take it back then. And my sms shows how many letter i have left.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
OUCH! Headshot! Be gentle it;s a new device ...
... Ok moving on ...
Actually don't worry been beaten ...
Like I said, the keyboard issue is just that you will need time to get used to it.
If you have a contact saved with a number and email and they send you mail, you will see their picture in the corner...tap it. You will get a speech bubble type box pop up that has the option to phone them, send them a message (text or email) or go to their contact card. Make sure you've merged your contacts. It won't work if you have a separate contact card for their phone details and then another for their email.
Again...is SMS length an issue still for people? I've not thought about those arbitrary 140 character limits since my first Motorola Wings flip phone.
Compared to my HD2 the Desire's keyboard is a DREAM to use - HD2 was skitty as hell and all over the shop. Desire's never misses a key and can type a LOT quicker on it personally...
Never bothered to know number of characters left in an SMS, doesn't bother me
Battery life, with all sync options on default, is about 48hrs give or take an hour...
Double sync IS annoying but I don't sync with Google anymore so got rid of that...
Facebook app, don't care about messaging as my phone is to keep up-to-date, PC is to contact...
Not bothered about hardware key for end call, call ends when you press the BIG red button at the end of a call (don't need to unlock or anything first)
Headphones - don't use them as phone isn't a music player to me, it's a phone
1. Get used to it, you will be fine. I moved from HTC Kaiser with hardware keyboard and I found the HTC Desire virtual keyboard is very good and responsive.
2. No idea, but as several posts above, you actually can do it.
3. You should know this already before purchase.
4. No idea
5. Widget is nice, this is unique to Android. You dont have to use it if you dont like. Then put app shortcut in the home screen, typical winmo thingy.
6. Use other messaging client like Hancent
7. Blame Facebook Or use Nimbuzz / Fring!
8. Check your settings, my battery life is amazing, on moderate usage it could last more than 48 hours (this include several hours (2-3) a day browsing on WiFi and gaming).
Maxwell Smart said:
I've just upgraded to a Desire coming from a Touch HD (Dutty Holy Grail) and have to say that first impressions are not great. Seriously thinking about returning it but interested to hear other people's experience.
So far moaning about the following problems - well more inconveniences:
- keyboard too jumpy
- can't call contact directly from email
- no hardware button to end call - pain when leave a voice message as need to turn phone on, unlock it and then end call.
- double syncs everything (on exchange server) so that appointment entries appear twice in calendar
- the home screen apps are kind of useless as you basically need to launch the full app to be able to do anything (ie email or sms)
- sms messaging doesn't tell you how many letters you have left
- no messaging in facebook
- headphone volume quiet (and that's with in ear headphones where on my HD I had the volume set to 1!)
- battery life atrocious in comparison. charged my phone last night and had a full charge before going to bed and when I woke up it was at 30%. no wifi or bluetooth on.
Will persevere another few days to make sure that I'm not just a grumpy old fart who hates change....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
RE: battery life
I charged mine to 100% last night, took it off charge at 1am, woke up at 8:20 am, checked my phone....98% !!
i use Juice Defender (one of my settings is to disable Apn/Wifi from midnight till 8am, works well
Thanks for the comments. Proves I'm a grumpy old fart! lol
Some good replies which I will investigate further.
Aitese - your comment about the screen going black and then turning back on when you remove it from your ear... is there a light sensor setting? as mine stays black until i tap power button unless i am talking to an actual person (rather than machine) and they hang up first.
Syncing is being done with a Microsoft Exchange Server 2003. But I think I may have just solved issue as it appears to sync both with my laptop and the server without realising they are showing the same appointments. Just too used to MS ActiveSync which works it out.
The keyboard is still bugging me - have tried to train it using the calibrate option but still seems off. That is the top row of keys that I push match up but when i go to the second last row it always hits the last row which being space and punctuation tends to terminate the word.
Anyhow will persevere. Appreciate everyone indulging a grumpy old codger...
great tip thanks - will look for that app.
Maxwell Smart said:
Aitese - your comment about the screen going black and then turning back on when you remove it from your ear... is there a light sensor setting? as mine stays black until i tap power button unless i am talking to an actual person (rather than machine) and they hang up first.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you hold the phone under a bright light you'll see the sensors in the top left corner of the black bezel. To test it, make a call and then move your thumb over the top left corner and then away again...the screen should turn off when your thumb gets near and turn back on shortly after you move away. Call your voicemail box or customer service
For sms use handcent its brill and it gives you letter count.For facebook i use babbler as it gives you notification for inbox.
Maxwell Smart said:
The keyboard is still bugging me - have tried to train it using the calibrate option but still seems off. That is the top row of keys that I push match up but when i go to the second last row it always hits the last row which being space and punctuation tends to terminate the word.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
BetterKeyboard plus the accompanying DarkGray theme is by far the best Android keyboard out there. HTC_IME (i.e. the HTC keyboard you're hating on) seems to be well thought of in the community but I personally hate it and think BetterKeyboard wipes the floor with it.
A few thoughts
- I just want to add a few thing giving that I also came from an HD. Compared to the HD which only had a light sensor, the Desire also comes with a proximity sensor that monitors if you have your ear close to the phone regardless of light (on the HD the screen only turned off if it was day and it could actually sense a difference in light).
If you make a call and put your phone to your ear it turns the screen off WITHOUT locking it, and when you want to terminate a call by taking it from your ear it will turn on again but not locked.
The phone locks itself only it you don't activate the proximity sensor (like when you are using a bluetooth headset and you don't take to phone to your ear). When that happenes the screen turns off after 15 seconds and yes, if you turn it on then it will be locked.
- Why do you want a hardware button for call and end? The capacitive screen with the combination of the proximity sensor makes them useless?
-Another thing i can chip in is related to the sms thing. The default SMS app shows you the number of characters left and the number of messages already typed when you are nearing the end of a message.
It shows that above the send button. If you have less the 10 characters available in that message it'll show 10/1 above the send button, and it will decrease and then turn into 145/2 saying that you have 145 characters left untill reaching 2 messages. After that it'll stay on and counting without dissapearing, until you send the message.
I find this to be a goog feature because it only warns me if i exceed one SMS.
I have used it for 2 days, and I am out of space installing apps on the HTC desire. WTF.. it can't use the 16 gig memory card to install apps and games?
There is no way I'm going to Win MO again.. but seriously.. WTF.
Maxwell Smart said:
- can't call contact directly from email
no issue here
- no hardware button to end call - pain when leave a voice message as need to turn phone on, unlock it and then end call.
as soon as you remove handset from ear it unlocks itself and turns on monitor. whats the prob here?
- double syncs everything (on exchange server) so that appointment entries appear twice in calendar
nope, no prob here
- the home screen apps are kind of useless as you basically need to launch the full app to be able to do anything (ie email or sms)
disable them if you dont like them. i find them handy
- battery life atrocious in comparison. charged my phone last night and had a full charge before going to bed and when I woke up it was at 30%. no wifi or bluetooth on.
read forum - thats you device not the desire in general
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
see comments above.
none of these probs appear to be desire probs but rather strange layer 8 probs
Yeah the keyboard issue is due to the resistive v capacitive screens. The resistive screens need a good push, the capacitive ones need a slight touch. You get used to it.
for facebook, a new version is downloadable which give access to your INBOX.. which is what i assume was meant?
I've looked all over Microsoft's WM7 sites and I haven't seen any place to give feedback on the phone. So far I really like it and coming from a quite happy 3 year iPhone user, I think that says a lot. I tried wireless sync last night, that's really cool.
I know an update is coming, I know it's going to be a work in progress, but where can we give some legit feedback? I know I have a good few suggestions and feature requests but haven't seen anywhere to do so.
Any ideas? Plus what features/changes would you like to see?
Obvious ones are custom ringtones, copy paste, etc. but I'd like:
1. set time before the passcode lockout goes into effect instead of every stinkin time
2. when a call comes in, not having to slide up AND press accept call
3. a reoccurring message notification if you missed a text
4. option to keep battery and signal level displayed at all times
5. a way to get back to messages while in a message (back goes to wherever you were before, not necessarily directly to messages)
6. A flashlight app that uses the LED would be nice
HTC has a flashlight that uses the LED, except on the one device they have with a xenon.
I'd suggest a car mode or docked mode for Zune, leave the screen powered on, unless I turn it off when connected to power and listening to music. If unplugged or paused, turn screen off according to settings in power management, (also if the proxmity sensor is tripped for more than 15 sec, assume I put the device in my pocket or flipped it over [while plugged in]).
Post bugs here:
http://social.answers.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/windowsphone7/threads
Also let me know if you get this bug:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0eCY0QckCj4
Let's create a list of all the bugs and quirks that are in the Mango beta build. I'll try to edit my post and consolidate what everyone finds.
Phone + Messaging
Call history does not show the duration.
Music
Pressing the search button to bring up Bing while music is playing switches the music to Mono. (Related to Bing Music?)
When playing music and switching to the next song the animation looks broken.
If charing the battery and playing music at the same time, the music will pause when the battery switches to fully charged.
Artist image for music downloaded using smartDJ with Zune Pass is not showing up.
Zune live tile doesn't update playing artist until the app is entered
Web + Email
Snippets for HTML mail is broken. Instead of text in the mail, it shows HTML code
Going back in the browser returns you to the top of the previous page, even if you were scrolled down the page.
Email notification sound is broken sometimes
When opening an attached JPG, the phone flashes an error quick then shows the image
Email server searching doesn't work properly with Gmail accounts
Bing
Bing Vision stops scanning after reading several items. Starts again after reopening the app.
Misc
16-bit banding issue on certain phones (reports of Optimus, Surround, Mozart, HD7)
If you are on alarm screen and then switch the screen off, the lock screen flickers next time you turn the screen on. I have seen this happen with many apps which have black dominated screen
In Greek, showing all characters as capitalized doesn't make sense
Animated live tiles sometimes show white edges while scrolling
When playing music and switchting to the next song the animation looks broken.
1) Snippets for HTML mail is broken. Instead of text in the mail, it shows HTML code
2) if you are on alarm screem and switch the screen off. Next time when you switch on the screen, the lock screen flickers. I have seen this happen with many apps which have balck dominated screen
3) Artist image for music downloaded using smartDJ with Zune Pass is not showing up.
If you're on a webpage with multiple links, and you select one that require you to scroll down, after viewing that link, and going back to the main page, you will be at the top and have to scroll back down again.
Call History Sucks
The call history in the mango has great defect,
it doesn't show the duration or the time!
i have my contacts with Greek characters! when i open a profile at the top the name of the contact apears with capital letters which are messed up in Greek language
16 bit banding has shown up on my LG Optimus 7, never had this before installing Mango.
gsidhom said:
The call history in the mango has great defect,
it doesn't show the duration or the time!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not a bug: On my current NoDo'd DVP call duration has never shown. Time the call was made or came in shows, but not actual length/duration of the call.
New email notification sound issue still exists. 50% of the emails received sounds broken.
This bug was already known in previous versions of WP7, I'm disappointing they didn't fix it yet.
p.s
I own HD7 device.
Nothing to add to the list, but a suggestion to change the tile to "Mango Beta2 Bugs" or something to that nature. This way, when the official mango comes, there won't be any confusion.
Isnt this a beta build meant for developers to build applications with? Whats the point compiling a list of bugs that likely wont exist when it goes final?
I don't think this is a bad idea. Heck, someone important might look at it.
1) Color banding on the Surround. I thought 32 bit color was supposed to be enabled in Mango, but I guess not.
2) Angry Birds is so choppy, I don't even like playing it. Of course, the colors are washed out too.
Of course I know this "feature" isn't yet included, but please MS, let me block certain "friends" from my feed. Some of them have nothing better to do but play frikkin games all day.
Still 16 bit banding exist on my htc mozart even after updating to mango
jwzg said:
Of course I know this "feature" isn't yet included, but please MS, let me block certain "friends" from my feed. Some of them have nothing better to do but play frikkin games all day.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just hide their posts on facebook.com and refresh your people feed. They'll disappear.
Seems like game spam would be annoying regardless of where it was.. may as well kill the source
Color banding in my HD7.
I've noticed color banding only in the benchmark app which is weird, maybe 3rd party apps need to implement 32 bit colors on their own?
Also Bing Vision stops working after a few attempts if you try to scan a few different things, it just refuses to take scan altogether, and the only way to fix it, is to exit the app and come back.
When opening an jpg image attachment in an email, a notification displays "cannot open an attachment of this type" but it quickly opens anyway.
Edges of Tiles rendering - see sometimes when scrolling slowly the edges of the tiles will be white, then render correctly.
They still haven't fixed the bug that if you're charging the phone, and its connected to your home network, but your sync PC is off, it'll still try to sync with that PC even with no connection found...
Also, they haven't fixed the comma on a misspelled word duplicating that word... It happens to me sometimes, both NoDo and Mango
I've noticed that on my HD7 the apps list is divided into alphabetical subsections but on my Omnia7 it is still as it was in NoDo !!
The mango build is the ofcourse the same on both
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA App
Three features I wasn't expecting are especially nice improvements over my previous phone:
(1) A setting that blocks all calls or messages from people not on my contact list.
(2) A setting that keeps the phone on as long as it sees me looking at it.
(3) The ability to take a photo via a voice command.
Gary02468
Its an awsome phone and its great you want to share your discovery with us. However it would be even better if you can add some value to your thread you have created by elaborating on how thiese features are great , how to turn them on and off , and or make a list to help newcomers find little usefull features like thies on there new awsome phone. Think of these members who would search for a post like this one and how it could help them.
Thanks in anycase.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I317 using Tapatalk 2
1) I could be totally wrong, as it's been about a month since I last held the original Note, but I could have sworn I distinctly remember this feature in the original Note. I remember remarking to myself how convenient it was, but I never used it because I had a third party app that did the same thing.
2) Smart Stay was a feature I was really looking forward to from the S III. I can't tell you how many times I've been reading a long article online or something else, and the screen dimmed or turned off because it had no clue I was still actively using the phone. Smart Stay has effectively eliminated this, and it has worked really well for me.
3) This feature I have only heard about ONCE, and that was while watching a YouTube video someone had done on the Note II. I was very impressed and it's another feature I have longed for. I've tried it out and it works flawlessly.
I'd also go on to add there are many more features I find convenient. Quick Glance is a convenient little gem that I've heard no one mention in the dozens of reviews I've seen about the Note II. I found it by just going through every part of my phones' settings. When your screen is off, quick glance will cut on your screen for a couple of seconds, and display a large clock with the date, email count, text count, and missed calls count. This is activated by hovering your hand, briefly, over the phones light sensor. It comes in extremely hand during the night when I want to quickly roll over, check the time, and roll back over to sleep. No more trying to find the phone ... finding the button to turn the screen on ... then turning the screen off again. Everything is hands-free. A beautiful little aurora borealis-type animation happens in the background while quick glance is active. The majority of the screen stays black so it's not bothersome.
Another favorite feature of mine is Direct Call. It essentially calls whatever contact whose information is currently being displayed on your screen from your contacts list. So instead of having to pull up, John Doe in your contact ... then select what number of his you want to dial (assuming he has multiple numbers) ... then pushing the "call" button to execute the call... all you have to do is have John Doe's contact info pulled up and put the phone to your face as if you were about to talk on a call, and Direct Call will automatically dial the first number assigned to that contact or whatever the default number is. I've found this feature GREATLY appreciated.
I'm so happy with my new toy. So many cool features that are actually beneficial.
Cab121 said:
it would be even better if you can add some value to your thread you have created by elaborating on how thiese features are great , how to turn them on and off , and or make a list to help newcomers find little usefull features like thies on there new awsome phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok, sure. All three features can be found just by browsing through the phone's settings (or the User Manual). Blocking Mode is listed under the device's top-level Settings; the screen-stay face-detection is under the device's Settings|Display; and the camera's viewfinder screen explains the voice-command feature when that feature is enabled (which I think it was by default; it can be toggled in the camera's top-level Settings).
Dr. Evo said:
I could have sworn I distinctly remember [Blocking Mode] in the original Note.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Could well be. My previous phone was an Infuse, not a Note 1. So the feature was new to me, if not to the world.
3) i did not know this... found it and tested it out. pretty cool
Scythe024 said:
3) i did not know this... found it and tested it out. pretty cool
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Same here. I did not know this feature on the camera. Nice!
(1) A setting that blocks all calls or messages from people not on my contact list.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Blocking Mode is listed under the device's top-level Settings
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hmm I wasn't aware Blocking mode could be used like this.
I'm guessing I would set it to "Disable Incoming Calls" "Always" "Allowed contacts > All contacts".
Does that sound right?
daveschz said:
Hmm I wasn't aware Blocking mode could be used like this.
I'm guessing I would set it to "Disable Incoming Calls" "Always" "Allowed contacts > All contacts".
Does that sound right?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Exactly.
Unrecognized callers can still leave you voice mails. If you use Google Voice for voice mail, then you can spam-filter those; and even for messages that don't get filtered, you only have to glance at the transcriptions for a second, instead of taking time to listen to the messages, if you want to see if any are legit.
Dr. Evo said:
When your screen is off, quick glance will cut on your screen for a couple of seconds, and display a large clock with the date, email count, text count, and missed calls count. This is activated by hovering your hand, briefly, over the phone[']s light sensor.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I like that feature too, except that there's a five-second delay before the screen responds to the gesture, which makes it quicker just to press the power button.
Do you get that delay as well?
Gary02468 said:
I like that feature too, except that there's a five-second delay before the screen responds to the gesture, which makes it quicker just to press the power button.
Do you get that delay as well?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, this is a great idea for a feature. But, I have some reservations. First - battery life, you can tell the prox sensor is on, and lights up red when the screen is off. Second - speed, I find it faster when the device is flat to just press the home key, all the same info is on the lock screen, and it wakes and goes back to sleep faster if anything.
Sent from my Note II
Direct Dial
Actually, you can specify which number is the default dialed by this feature:
Touch and hold the phone number you want set to default. After a second or so delay, a menu appears, and "set default" is the last item in that menu.
Dr. Evo said:
1) Another favorite feature of mine is Direct Call. It essentially calls whatever contact whose information is currently being displayed on your screen from your contacts list. So instead of having to pull up, John Doe in your contact ... then select what number of his you want to dial (assuming he has multiple numbers) ... then pushing the "call" button to execute the call... all you have to do is have John Doe's contact info pulled up and put the phone to your face as if you were about to talk on a call, and Direct Call will automatically dial the first number assigned to that contact or whatever the default number is. I've found this feature GREATLY appreciated.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I just got my A3 2017 with latest Android 7.0 software. This is my fourth Samsung device, and I'm still shocked that is no more BLOCKIN FEATURE on one touch button from status bar drop-down menu! Tell me I'm wrong... this is unacceptable for that kind of device. How to setup my phone to block ALL incoming calls except My Favorites, beside entering all my 300+ contact in blocking list?!?
Another annoying thing is no led notifications... c'mon Samsung.... :crying: