Should I keep my m8? - Verizon HTC One (M8)

Hey,
Before I begin my question, I have a quick one. The notification history "trick" isn't possible on my m8, so by any chance when you guys got your phones do you recall the early notifications? I accidentally dismissed all notifications and it was something about "you have 89 days to activate..." and something random. Just asking if I'm missing anything important for my Verizon m8.
The real question is if I should keep my m8. I also have a keen interest in the s5, but chose the m8 because it's cheaper and seems to be actually recommended more. Sense is a nice upgrade over the s3, and I'm under the impression m8 is easier to unlock the bootloader and root than the vzw s5? I am planning to root and mess around with my phone.. hey, that's why I love android! I'm very big into music and the m8 is supposed to deliver better audio quality but the headphones I'm using....the audio sounds very bassy and I have turned boom sound off. I listen to metal, rock and alternative and I can hear an inferior difference from my s3 so I was wondering if there was a fix to this? I've made some phone calls, and I'm not too sure if the quality of those were great - very distorted, perhaps connection? The screen is nice, and I'm told it's more natural and accurate in terms of color quality than the s5's OLED which produces oversaturated colors, is this true? I don't care much for the camera because serious photography is done with my DSLR.
TL;DR - I like audio quality (music, phone), functionality and modding. Is the m8 better over than s5?
Thanks!

Just root the phone, install CleanROM after that Harman kardon and you will be fine I used to have S3 also but the M8 is the best phone I had. No S5 or 5S and now 6. Smooth experience with a lot customizations. I really like the Sense 6 so I stay close to stock ROMs. The only thing that can be improved for the moment is the camera but when you don't care and have DSLR you are perfectly fine.

Keep ur M8. The s5 is laggy and just looks dull. I had the S4 and I was gonna get the s5 but I'm glad I didn't.
Sent from my Insanely powered M8 using Tapatalk

Yeah whatever they said plus questions belong in a section called 'questions' , right..

Thanks for the replies guys.
I might keep the m8. It's just annoying when all the flagship android phones are literally neck and neck...it's very hard to make a decision, nowhere as easy as choosing android over iOS!

For everything you've said you want, keep the m8. We've got s-off and unlocked boot loader, from a modding perspective there ain't nothing better. What firmware are you on? And if I recall correctly the notification that you swiped away was saying you have 89 says to activate Verizon visual voicemail

Related

Thinking of Trading for HTC One

Like the title says, I've wanted a One for a while now, and I'm somewhat bored with the Nexus 5 for some reason. Does anyone own both of these, I'm curious what people think if they have both in their hands.
Take this with a grain of salt....
My buddy hated his HTC one he switched to the s4. His camera sensor went out. Everything was like this pink color when he would take pictures in low light. Apparently it was a rather common problem.
How can you be bored with a nexus 5? What makes you think the HTC won't be boring after a while?
I've used Sense and TouchWiz and I will never go back to either. Switching to the N5 was the best thing I've done OS wise.
I understand that this is just my personal preference. I also havent used sense in a couple of years, so I'm sure it has matured.
HTC One is the most worst phone i've had. good thing i swapped with iPhone 5 on CL and then sold the iPhone 5 again its because this is the quickest way to sold on CL then ordered N5. i am a happy man right now lol
If you're bored with a Nexus you're doing it wrong.
You can emulate virtually every aspect of Sense with Play Store widgets.
You can flash TouchWiz UI with working clock and everything.
You can modify every aspect of everything on this phone with custom ROMs, such as size / quantity / color / shape of Nav Keys. You can modify the UI, battery, use functions like S2W and DT2W, notification drawer, custom launchers, etc.
So you want to downgrade your SoC and screen size and available development options and that will ease your boredom?
I've used both and the One is a great phone, but not sure how it is less "boring" than the Nexus 5.
Didn't expect the berating of the One, but I guess the main reason is for build quality. I RARELY use the camera on any phone I've owned, and I just like to switch it up a bit. The screen size is negligible, the on screen buttons of Nexus phones take up screen relestate anyway. The One is still considered the best built Android phone at this time, and the front speakers are really intriguing to me.
I'd still be using 4.4 Kitkat on the One, it's a build quality thing, mostly.
stevew84 said:
Like the title says, I've wanted a One for a while now, and I'm somewhat bored with the Nexus 5 for some reason. Does anyone own both of these, I'm curious what people think if they have both in their hands.
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Click to collapse
I had the galaxy nexus, switched to the HTC One cause it seemed like a solid device. With in one week I traded it in for a Nexus 5. I will never own a non nexus device again. Nexus 5 is a much better device then the HTC One over all. If your not wanting to tinker with your device and just have a solid all around device, get the Moto X.
It's really all a matter of preference really. If you want it, go for it regardless of what anyone says. I mean it's your $$ right?
I agree that the build quality from my limit use of it and the reviews I've read is great.
stevew84 said:
Didn't expect the berating of the One, but I guess the main reason is for build quality. I RARELY use the camera on any phone I've owned, and I just like to switch it up a bit. The screen size is negligible, the on screen buttons of Nexus phones take up screen relestate anyway. The One is still considered the best built Android phone at this time, and the front speakers are really intriguing to me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
True, it depends on what you want.
There can be no doubt the speakers on the One are better and the actual build quality I would agree with you.
The nav keys I have set at 24dpi so they take up a tiny amount of my screen.
I guess for me the more powerful CPU and awesome LED and kernel / ROM options for AOSP trump anything the One has to offer, but it is a very nice phone.
Better build quality, better speakers, and arguably better camera. Plus you can get a 64GB version if you really need more space.
Now if Cotulla actually gets Windows Phone 8 and/or WM6.5 booting on the One like he's been working on then I probably will trade my Nexus 5 for a One.
Honestly you cannot go wrong with either phone, if you want a One, just go for it.
orangekid said:
True, it depends on what you want.
There can be no doubt the speakers on the One are better and the actual build quality I would agree with you.
The nav keys I have set at 24dpi so they take up a tiny amount of my screen.
I guess for me the more powerful CPU and awesome LED and kernel / ROM options for AOSP trump anything the One has to offer, but it is a very nice phone.
Better build quality, better speakers, and arguably better camera. Plus you can get a 64GB version if you really need more space.
Now if Cotulla actually gets Windows Phone 8 and/or WM6.5 booting on the One like he's been working on then I probably will trade my Nexus 5 for a One.
Honestly you cannot go wrong with either phone, if you want a One, just go for it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Another important thing to remember is that the N5 is dirt cheap, in comparison to other phones. I get bored playing with the same device, and if I ever wanted an N5, i'll pick up a 16gb, right now I have the white 32gb.
I've owned both so I can give you a little perspective. The hardware of the HTC One is definitely outstanding. It looks good and feels good. The speakers are great, but like you with smartphone cameras...smartphone speakers are irrelevant to me. I don't listen to music on phone speaks as no matter how loud, they don't have a bottom end. Speed wise, the N5 is definitely snappier but the One holds its own.
That said, I don't think the hardware of the N5 is significantly worse. The N5 is a solidly built device and the screen is great. The screen on the One is probably slightly better in terms of vibrancy and black levels, but the N5 screen is nothing to scoff at.
In terms of camera (even if it isn't important to you), the One camera isn't great. Almost everyone complains of some level of purple tint unless they RMA their device many times.
Where the real difference lies between these phones is in the software. Personally, I'm not a fan of Sense. It looks okay, but it slows down updates to the device and HTC will stop updating the One sooner rather than later. It may not sound like a big deal but when you're stuck on 4.3 and the N5 is already on 5.1 or something, it'll make a difference. There is the option to root and take advantage of all XDA One forums have to offer but development over will pale in comparison to the development for the N5. The N5 will always have the latest, greatest, and most choices...by a long shot...and for a long time.
TL;DNR They're both great phones and it really comes down to what's most important to you. If update support, development community, and speed are important to you the N5 is the way to go. If sexier hardware, better speakers, and Sense are your thing go for the One. Like any device though, hardware gets "boring" after awhile and you're left with software experience to keep you preoccupied and that's where the N5 excels.
Another suggestion is keep the nexus 5 invest in a one from eBay. Then you can really compare the two. I forget where I saw somewhere on here but, use the one for two weeks then use the nexus 5 for two weeks and then go back and if the nexus 5 drives you nuts or vise versa you know what you have to do.
Sent from my Nexus 5
orangekid said:
If you're bored with a Nexus you're doing it wrong.
You can emulate virtually every aspect of Sense with Play Store widgets.
You can flash TouchWiz UI with working clock and everything.
You can modify every aspect of everything on this phone with custom ROMs, such as size / quantity / color / shape of Nav Keys. You can modify the UI, battery, use functions like S2W and DT2W, notification drawer, custom launchers, etc.
So you want to downgrade your SoC and screen size and available development options and that will ease your boredom?
I've used both and the One is a great phone, but not sure how it is less "boring" than the Nexus 5.
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Click to collapse
THIS!!!
Seriously peeps if you come to nexus branding thinking you want a "ready phone", just.. DON'T.
HTC One is sexy
Sent from my Nexus 5
Seadra said:
THIS!!!
Seriously peeps if you come to nexus branding thinking you want a "ready phone", just.. DON'T.
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Click to collapse
I think the N5 is a superb "ready phone", anyone can buy one and be perfectly happy with it stock. I really don't get why they wouldn't be. Feel free to explain it to me.
I also don't get all the hate for the HTC One, a family member has one and it's awesome, though I do dislike some things in Sense.
If you want to trade up to something special, currently I think the Moto X is the only phone worth having besides the N5. I had the HTC One, and then the S4, and now I have both the N5 and the Moto X. The X is my favorite of the bunch.
nemtan said:
I think the N5 is a superb "ready phone", anyone can buy one and be perfectly happy with it stock. I really don't get why they wouldn't be. Feel free to explain it to me.
I also don't get all the hate for the HTC One, a family member has one and it's awesome, though I do dislike some things in Sense.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
People who think touchwiz looks sexy and nexus is plain. Also people who think air gestures of s4 is super cool and having a camera called "ultrapixel"gimmick **** is cool.
Nexus phones don't have that, and frankly those things are not needed anyways. Nexus phones rock (oh and Moto X too). Period.
I plan on running a GPE ROM, since the One I'm getting is S-Off, I don't like sense or TW, it's a build quality thing.
I'd stay away from the One now. It is a really nice bit of kit, and sense is now a half decent skin if you like that kind of thing. But the M8 is coming out in February which will take the HTC dev focus off the M7. You'll probably get 4.4.2 on the One sometime after May next year, and that's going to be a big issue.
If someone here wants to trade me their HTC One for my 32gb white Nexus 5 pm me
Sent from my Nexus 5

Well Guys, It's Been Almost a Day Since You've Had the Phone. Thoughts?

So far, I am loving the phone, and I have no faults with it as of yet. Yes, when you zoom in on pictures, they can be a bit blurry blown up on the computer, but I could care less since I'm not a professional photographer. Feels great in my hand, and people keep saying my phone looks sickkkk.
Oh, and this thing is LOOUUDDD. Louder than any other phone I've come across. The only lag I saw was while installing all my apps.
What about you guy's? Post pros and cons.
Sent from my HTC One M8!
BFirebird101 said:
So far, I am loving the phone, and I have no faults with it as of yet. Yes, when you zoom in on pictures, they can be a bit blurry blown up on the computer, but I could care less since I'm not a professional photographer. Feels great in my hand, and people keep saying my phone looks sickkkk.
Oh, and this thing is LOOUUDDD. Louder than any other phone I've come across. The only lag I saw was while installing all my apps.
What about you guy's? Post pros and cons.
Sent from my HTC One M8!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've never owned an HTC phone before, and the UI for me is a little tough to get used to - especially when my other devices are more 'stock' Android, - a Nexus 7 and Moto X. I've had plenty of skinned devices before, Samsung and Moto pre-Google, so I know there's a learning curve. The hardware though, it's about as close as I'll ever get to an iPhone, and it's fantastic. The build quality, the buttons, the material, top notch. Coming from "flagship" Sammy phones (Galaxy S3, S4 and Note 2 and 3's) - can't hold a candle to this. Biggest con (aside from the Sense UI) is the camera. I know I might need to tweak some settings, but it should be (in theory) a much better image quality just on auto settings.
I'd say, all things considered, the hardware is the biggest perk, but I have a feeling I'll still be using my Moto X more than 50% of the time.
Now, if we can get CM in the future, that's another story altogether, but I think it's too early to tell if someone will be able to root and unlock. Haven't kept up on the root/ROM scene since I loaded Beans on my Note 3 running 4.3 back in January.
The best phone I ever had, hands down. Second in line was the original M7 HTC One. Before that, my thrid favorite was my SGN. I havve had multiple phones in between and none come close to the M8...
I will say I HATE Blinkfeed but just download your favorite launcher (I use Apex)
Mike02z said:
The best phone I ever had, hands down. Second in line was the original M7 HTC One. Before that, my thrid favorite was my SGN. I havve had multiple phones in between and none come close to the M8...
I will say I HATE Blinkfeed but just download your favorite launcher (I use Apex)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can use the "manage home screen pages" setting to remove blinkfeed. No need to go for an outside launcher because of Blinkfeed.
Link200 said:
You can use the "manage home screen pages" setting to remove blinkfeed. No need to go for an outside launcher because of Blinkfeed.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks but I have used Apex on all my devices so I stick with what works
Mike02z said:
Thanks but I have used Apex on all my devices so I stick with what works
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I figured that was the case.
I thought it would be best to mention that since you made it sound like it was the only way to get away from Blinkfeed.
I had a DNA, then the HTC one, then I had a Galaxy S4. This M8 is the best. That bezel at the bottom is confusing...i keep wanting to the old home button. HTC phones are the experience I prefer. I don't really care about root. I used to..but i realized I have no time to install cute themes...and i only used 2 root apps. I would like root only for free tethering. Im still on an unlimited plan.
I would say this phone is amazing and I have yet to properly play with it.
The HTC transfer tool worked pretty good...even transfered my settings and put my home screen the way I like it.
The focus thing is kinda gimmickey but the camera is awesome. Can't wait to make some porn with this bad boy. Lmao
Sent from my HTC One (M8)
Loving mine, coming from the DNA. Don't much care for the on screen buttons but other than that. I like it. To me the camera is not as bad as a lot of sites are saying. Here's a quick pic I just took. The fire looks so clean.
Sent from my HTC6525LVW using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
best phone in stock form to date! haven't had one hiccup, lag, glitch nothing! just flawless buttery performance! cant wait until we get root and get rid of bloat and some custom roms. phone will be a beast!!!
I am a G2 user on ATT but went to the Verizon store because I was dying to see this beautiful masterpiece, overall it is a very exquisite design and feels very nice.
I have never owned a HTC product and would like to in the future, but Damn this sense UI is very appealing to the eyes and simple.
Very fast phone with zero lag.
I spent a lot of time with the camera and I must say it isn't TERRIBLE but it isn't better than anything we have out now.
Where the One will accelerate is in low light and that is already proven....
Overall I'd say HTC WILL SELL TONS.
Sent from the LG G2
agreed. the key is zero lag. phone is stupid fast and everything is instant. this phone is going to be a huge success!!
So far so good. Sense is as bad as ever but it's easy enough to get rid of the bulk of it by installing another launcher. I also loaded the stock email app, clock and a few other things as I prefer the stock versions and disabled most of the bloatware.
The notification bar is more cluttered than it really needs to be. About half the bar tends to be taken up by system state icons leaving very little room for actual notifications. Also the second camera is pretty gimmicky. I'm not sure it's a device I'd buy solely based on the camera.
Overall though, I've never had a piece of hardware that felt so good in the hands. I've run a G1, a Nexus One, a MyTouch 4g, a Thunderbolt, a S3, a Droid Razr along with a few other phones as daily drivers and none of them even come close to this one in terms of hardware. It's just a shame that sense is on it.
This is my first HTC phone and so far its all good. I love the feel of it, its so solid with the uni body design. Im definitely looking forward to custom roms ect. in the future. Tootles Galaxy S4...you've been a b!tch
Pier8 said:
So far so good. Sense is as bad as ever but it's easy enough to get rid of the bulk of it by installing another launcher. I also loaded the stock email app, clock and a few other things as I prefer the stock versions and disabled most of the bloatware.
The notification bar is more cluttered than it really needs to be. About half the bar tends to be taken up by system state icons leaving very little room for actual notifications. Also the second camera is pretty gimmicky. I'm not sure it's a device I'd buy solely based on the camera.
Overall though, I've never had a piece of hardware that felt so good in the hands. I've run a G1, a Nexus One, a MyTouch 4g, a Thunderbolt, a S3, a Droid Razr along with a few other phones as daily drivers and none of them even come close to this one in terms of hardware. It's just a shame that sense is on it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
sense bad? I don't know how you can say that. blows every other ui out of the water with what they have done with it. sense 6.0 is instant, lag/hiccup free, butter smooth what more do you want? go back to a nexus if you think sense is bad!!!
If there was a pure android phone with this sort of build quality available on Verizon I'd probably seriously consider it. I'll try to refrain from having opinions though since some people are touchy about those.
Pier8 said:
If there was a pure android phone with this sort of build quality available on Verizon I'd probably seriously consider it. I'll try to refrain from having opinions though since some people are touchy about those.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If it gets soff you can put on then. I don't understand why people that hate sense buy HTC phones
Sent from my HTC6525LVW using Tapatalk
There's a lot to be said for the hardware and touchwiz isn't really any better. I'm not sure why it ruffles your feathers so much that someone might find the hardware compelling enough to overcome a UI that they aren't crazy about.
Coming from the DNA:
Same 5" screen, same feel in my hands...
But now I don't have to cup my hand behind the speaker to hear what's playing. Boom sound is simply awesome for such a little guy.
While I would like to have seen the camera resolution be in the 5-8mp range, I can't deny that this phone can take a pic in very low light. So that is a true plus for me.
But best of all is the SDXC slot is back. Thank you HTC.
Icyman said:
Coming from the DNA:
Same 5" screen, same feel in my hands...
But now I don't have to cup my hand behind the speaker to hear what's playing. Boom sound is simply awesome for such a little guy.
While I would like to have seen the camera resolution be in the 5-8mp range, I can't deny that this phone can take a pic in very low light. So that is a true plus for me.
But best of all is the SDXC slot is back. Thank you HTC.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Coming from dna and agree completely.
Pier8 said:
There's a lot to be said for the hardware and touchwiz isn't really any better. I'm not sure why it ruffles your feathers so much that someone might find the hardware compelling enough to overcome a UI that they aren't crazy about.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Boom.
Sense doesnt seem to be anything special to me. Touchwiz is a resource hogging load of crap imo. I got the phone for the design, hardware and potential to have it unlocked in the future.

incredibly disappointed in the M8...

So, after spending a few years using HTC products (coming from Apple)...I have to say that I am increasingly disappointed with my "NEW" M8... And I'm sure all the die yards out there (which I was up until the M8, will attack me for saying this...) But, this phone is singularly the most disappointing thing that has ever happened to me.
I went from the iPhone 4 to the desire to the DNA to the M7 to the M8... And for the first 3 jumps, was incredibly pleased... Until now.
I have essentially spent $600 on a bigger M7. With the loss of the capacative buttons, and addition of the soft nav keys, I am left with the same size screen... Stock kernel adds almost no performance increase over a nodded M7 kernel... And the "actions to wake/sleep" aren't really that exciting coming from my M7..
The ONLY two things that I see as an upgrade are the battery (to be fair, is WAY better) and the option to use an AD card. There still is NO inductive charging in HTC's flagship... Yes, the screen size is increased, but lost to the soft nav keys, the camera that was garbage in the M7 is garbage in the M8... And the addition of a depth sensor satisfies exactly 4 people on the planet...
Pile that on top of the fact that I am now writti g from my 3rd M8 (I've had the phone(s) for a whopping 17 days...And am on my 3rd... My first had some messed up LCD bleed out of the box... My second wouldn't detect headphone removal... So... 17 days and $1800 worth of phone later, I'm still left with a feeling of jealousy as I look at my girlfriend's unrooted S5, seeing her using her full screen, inductive charging, a phone that weighs WAY less, and still has just as goon battery life and an infinitely better camera... Save for her lack of front facing camera... I am routinely jealous... And it's sad... Sad to have whY should be an amazing device, constantly showing that so little attention was given by the engineers at HTC as to what their customers wanted.. Sad..Sad...Sad...
So... Patiently waiting for the VZW S5 to get root, and I think I will leave this HTC trend behind...
I can relate to the headphone issues, that was very irritating.Now I am scared to plug any head phones in ... That was my second device.. My first device had air bubbles under the screen... HTC quality inspection sucks IMO.
Sent from my HTC6525LVW using Tapatalk
---------- Post added at 12:40 AM ---------- Previous post was at 12:38 AM ----------
This is all under 15 days btw.
Sent from my HTC6525LVW using Tapatalk
Are you really suprised that the m8 is basically a m7 I mean anyone that looked at the specs should have reallized the m8 was a m7 with a bigger battery and a second crappy camera lol??? I mean come on lol having said that the s5 is a cheaply made piece of crap HTC may have issues out of the box but build quality is on a different level compared to Samsung anything.
Sent from my HTC6500LVW using Tapatalk
I've had zeros issues with mine and everything has been working great. The S5 looks good too, but touch wiz and a locked up bootloader with probably no way to unlock completely kill any samsung for me. I understand the camera isn't the best. but it works well enough for a phone and is fast and better in low light than any of my previous phones. If I wanted to take good pictures I'd use my DSLR anyways. Sound's like you've had some bad luck and like the S5 more anyways. Get whatever makes you happy no reason to spend so much on it if it doesn't.
Had mine since day one and haven't had one single issue. Used to be a Sammy fanboy before I traded my S4 for an M7 last year and I haven't looked back since. The S5 doesn't even interest me. Lol
Sent from my HTC6525LVW using Tapatalk
I have had HTC phones for a long time running and have also (and still do) have phones from Samsung (Note 3) and Sony (Xperia Z). It sounds to me like you have had some bad luck when it comes to the M8 and I certainly can understand why you are upset. One of my favorite things to do is to Mod my phone in various ways and I have always had that ability when it comes to HTC unlike Samsung. As the other poster said, The M8 is an updated version of the M7 not a ground breaking jump to something new. Apple is the reigning king of this by far. This is not a completely new model just an update of an already popular phone. One thing I do totally agree with you is about the camera. Many people believe the higher the megapixel the better picture will be. This is far from the truth. All a higher megapixel rating does is add pixels to an image which is useful for printing large format photos and cropping. That all being said, I feel like HTC could have done more to enhance the camera taking abilities of the phone. If I want to take a picture that counts I reach for my real (DSLR) camera. I love my M8 and loved my M7. I am certain that if the S5 is what you want there will be many willing buyers of your M8 to allow you to switch over to the S5. Everyone has different experiences and opinions so I am by no means going to say you are wrong. What I will say is as far as my M8 is concerned I am completely satisfied. Good luck jumping on the Samsung train.
stedrocklp said:
I have had HTC phones for a long time running and have also (and still do) have phones from Samsung (Note 3) and Sony (Xperia Z). It sounds to me like you have had some bad luck when it comes to the M8 and I certainly can understand why you are upset. One of my favorite things to do is to Mod my phone in various ways and I have always had that ability when it comes to HTC unlike Samsung. As the other poster said, The M8 is an updated version of the M7 not a ground breaking jump to something new. Apple is the reigning king of this by far. This is not a completely new model just an update of an already popular phone. One thing I do totally agree with you is about the camera. Many people believe the higher the megapixel the better picture will be. This is far from the truth. All a higher megapixel rating does is add pixels to an image which is useful for printing large format photos and cropping. That all being said, I feel like HTC could have done more to enhance the camera taking abilities of the phone. If I want to take a picture that counts I reach for my real (DSLR) camera. I love my M8 and loved my M7. I am certain that if the S5 is what you want there will be many willing buyers of your M8 to allow you to switch over to the S5. Everyone has different experiences and opinions so I am by no means going to say you are wrong. What I will say is as far as my M8 is concerned I am completely satisfied. Good luck jumping on the Samsung train.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I too have a DSLR camera (Canon T4i... and i DIDNT buy the T5i because canon admitted that the T5i JUST added really good movie quality... quality that you can obtain by adding magic lantern... AND THEY ADMIT IT!!! (google it if you dont believe me)... and i didnt buy a D60 BECAUSE im not an amazing photographer, looking to get on the cover of NatGeo... and i knew i would get what i expected because canon was honest.. and i spent what i spent... because canon was honest... The garbage that HTC spews about their camera is nothing more than that.. its garbage... You CAN NOT refocus a shot with your M8.. you can add blur to it.. and it takes about 30 seconds to do so.. but i can do the same in photoshop in about half the time... and have been able to do so WITH ANY PHOTO EVER TAKEN... without 2 cameras...
As for megapixels.. you are right, to a degree.. megapixels are over rated.. you know what is under rated? adding a BETTER camera to a phone that is replacing its predecessor... they could have called it a 6MP CMOS.. and i would have felt better... but, to add exactly the same camera, with exactly the same screen size (after the soft nav) as my old phone? WTF!!! and, you know... if they hadnt used the same size HTC border at the bottom, but rather had given me edge to edge screen... fine.. but frankly, HOW DO YOU NOT FEEL RIPPED OFF? (seriously... put your M7 next to your M8... and start doing REAL comparisons... stop being biased because it's an HTC product...)
and im not saying the S5 is my direction... frankly, im leaning more severe.. thinking an i product... at least when they steal all of my money, i know im getting a remake of the last model because they added an S to it and charged $300 more for it...
FYI... I have since switched back to my M7... i really did love it as a phone... wasnt a fan of losing inductive charging... but, whatever.. the rest made up for it from the DNA... The M8 though... GARBAGE
(On a side note.. yes, the headphones.. F*ing AMAZEBALLS!!!... they actually do sound better on my M8 and M7 than my beats in ear buds do)...
I don't have much to dispute about what your saying about the camera. But if I was buying a phone for only a camera it wouldn't be an HTC or a Samsung. Overall I knew what I was getting into and I am pleased.
Sent from my SM-N900V using Tapatalk
Yeah, I feel your pain. I've accepted the downsides to the M8, and if the purchase of it has taught me anything, it's made me aware of what I'm really looking for in a phone. I'm really really hoping Verizon picks up the Sony Z2, and that development is not locked down. Until the next big thing comes along, I'm ok with the M8.
Strange, isn't there supposed to be an onslaught of hate posts defending the M8 because you expressed a completely justified dissatisfaction? Aren't moderators supposed to be blathering on about how a "general" thread is apparently not place to discuss such things?
jpmcnown said:
Yeah, I feel your pain. I've accepted the downsides to the M8, and if the purchase of it has taught me anything, it's made me aware of what I'm really looking for in a phone. I'm really really hoping Verizon picks up the Sony Z2, and that development is not locked down. Until the next big thing comes along, I'm ok with the M8.
Strange, isn't there supposed to be an onslaught of hate posts defending the M8 because you expressed a completely justified dissatisfaction? Aren't moderators supposed to be blathering on about how a "general" thread is apparently not place to discuss such things?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am hereby renaming the M8 ... the Heavier M7... the HM7 for short...
It is a little sad that the defense for the M8 thus-far is "I'm generally satisfied" with mine...
RBThompsonV said:
I am hereby renaming the M8 ... the Heavier M7... the HM7 for short...
It is a little sad that the defense for the M8 thus-far is "I'm generally satisfied" with mine...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What did you want us to say? I'm completely satisfied with mine.
Sent from my HTC6525LVW using XDA Free mobile app
I love mine. I've had almost every single phone Verizon has offered in the past five or six years since I worked for them. M8 is definitely the best phone I've ever owned.
The color of the camera and dynamic range are spectacular. People wonder why the s5 has brighter pictures and its because of software post processing which degrades the quality of the image. The HTC One series is truly a photographer's phone. It takes beautiful raw images and then let's you, the user, post process the way you like.
As for the build vs the m7, the m8 is far better feeling and sturdier.
I understand what you are saying with your original post. But, there aren't going to be mind blowing new things every year. If that's what you want, then but a phone every second or third year. Don't post disappointments on here, bashing a perfectly good phone for the following year. HTC did great, you just don't know how or what to expect from mobile technology.
To add, sorry you had some lemons, but you're one of few. It happens. Move on. And the weight..it's 15 grams. Do you know how little a gram is?! Stop majoring on the minor my friend.
Sent from my HTC6525LVW using Tapatalk
The M8 is an upgraded M7... Period! Just like the S5 is an upgraded S4 and so on. If you are looking for something to blow your mind, it is not yet available. This market is getting to a point where you will probably only see minor spec bumps with ANY manufacturer. I love the M8 cause of the build and overall snappiness of the device. It is much quicker than the M7 in all tasks due to the upgraded hardware. Just sold my T-Mobile S5 and I am very grateful I did cause TouchWiz is hideous! I realized why I ditched Samsung long ago. There really is no other competition as far as Verizon phones go IMO. This has and will have a huge development following and that is few and far between nowadays, especially with Verizon. You can always wait for the iPhone 6?? Lol
shojus said:
The M8 is an upgraded M7... Period! Just like the S5 is an upgraded S4 and so on. If you are looking for something to blow your mind, it is not yet available. This market is getting to a point where you will probably only see minor spec bumps with ANY manufacturer. I love the M8 cause of the build and overall snappiness of the device. It is much quicker than the M7 in all tasks due to the upgraded hardware. Just sold my T-Mobile S5 and I am very grateful I did cause TouchWiz is hideous! I realized why I ditched Samsung long ago. There really is no other competition as far as Verizon phones go IMO. This has and will have a huge development following and that is few and far between nowadays, especially with Verizon. You can always wait for the iPhone 6?? Lol
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Click to collapse
And quick charge 2.0!!! It's insanely fast charging!! There are so many nice upgrades to this gorgeous phone. And, unlike the s5, they are well put together lol.
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schwartz.matthew.e said:
And quick charge 2.0!!! It's insanely fast charging!! There are so many nice upgrades to this gorgeous phone. And, unlike the s5, they are well put together lol.
Sent from my HTC6525LVW using Tapatalk
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Click to collapse
Yup!
I'm digging my m8, Completely happy with it. Besides having to play with the camera settings for my best photo.
Sent from my HTCM8
Hope you enjoy the s5. It will get root sometime in the next few months in sure but with that gawd awful safe strap and no CM. The s4 was made by playschool but holy sh*t the s5 takes it to a whole new level. It feels so cheap that it could pass for a fake toy if you put a sticker on the screen. Not too mention is probably slow and clunky with its awful touchwiz ui. Don't get me wrong, TW has potential, but they need to hire some real programmers to write their software because there is no excuse for the s4 or 5 to be as slow as they are when the m7 and m8 blaze through everything with the exact same hardware. Is the m8 a worthy upgrade from an m7? I think so. It's not a night and day difference but anyone that can read should have known that.
Sent from my HTC6525LVW using Tapatalk
RBThompsonV said:
I am hereby renaming the M8 ... the Heavier M7... the HM7 for short...
It is a little sad that the defense for the M8 thus-far is "I'm generally satisfied" with mine...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The "defense"... Uhhhhhhhhhh... Sounds like you're trying to bait for something..
Also, the weight thing is negligible at best... If you truly can tell a night and day difference? You've gotta work out some more.
The M8, in my opinion, is far better than the Samsung's I've sporadically owned.. And as for just an "upgraded" m7? Let's talk about Samsung.... And Apple... And LG.......... Uhhhhh
Sent from my HTC6525LVW using XDA Premium HD app
Nah, the M8 is the best smartphone experience available right now. Samsung's Touchwiz is marred by issues in its design and performance. Stock software is VERY important nowadays since getting root, let alone a stable AOSP ROM for said device, is much more difficult nowadays. Samsung has shown that they refuse to evolve in this way and will eventually fall behind. Even Apple managed to update their user interface.
I agree that HTC needs to step up their quality control. I understand they're trying to get back into the black but I too went through 2 devices prior to having this third acceptable one.
The Z2 comes close, but I find Sony's overlay to be behind as well. HTC really knocked it out of the park with Sense 6.
Sent from my HTC6525LVW using Tapatalk
This is all personal preference. If you're so disappointed with your m8 you probably should've researched more before buying it. Possibly looking at reviews that literally all pointed out the capacitive button change and same camera quality as the m7.
Every device is going to have quirks about it that isn't perfect, so what? This phone is fantastic in every way, and nitpicking little details like the weight of the device or camera quality are things you should've researched before making a $600 purchase.
By the way, a little note on the camera, every single person who have seen some of the photos I've taken have been amazed at the quality. 70% are iPhone users. I just took a group photo yesterday with my phone, and my friend used her iPhone 5s. Everyone in the group liked my photo more, with both photos in the exact same conditions.
Give the camera a chance before you knock it, I've had nothing but great results.
Sent from my HTC6525LVW using Tapatalk

jumping from the (L)edge....

Somebody just offered to trade me their Pixel XL with Daydream headset for my S7 Edge, which is a very tempting offer.
I like the gimmicky AOD and water resistance (never use it, because I'm scurred and have heard it's not perfect), but I don't need either. I hate the capacitive buttons and loathe the home button. But the camera.... I love the fully featured app, although again, I rarely use most of the features. I could do without TouchWiz too, always having been a fan of vanilla Android and of Roms with the customization.
I haven't used a Pixel yet, but what are others opinions? It's this trade an up- or downgrade...
What would you do and why?
I say you do it. You can always sell the Pixel XL and return most of the value, because the S8 is coming out in 2 months so prices will begin to drop on the S7 edge. Plus the Pixel XL is a great device all around.
Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk
Most people here will tell you to keep the S7 but then again you are in the S7 forum. Likewise, ask this on the Pixel forum and they will tell you that Touchwiz is a fat bloated mess etc etc. It all goes down to what "YOU" want.
Now for me personally, the capacitive buttons do not bother me at all, nor does the home button. I like good audio. The S7 has better sound from the headphone out than the Pixel. I love a bright clear screen. Again, the S7 wins here. I think the Pixel looks boring compared to the S7. Cameras are about even though, but yes software wise the S7 is more packed in the camera department.
The pixel of course has clean software, timely updates and is smooth as ****. No comparison here, the Pixel is very well optimised, battery life could be better though. Are you not able to use the Pixel before you go for the trade?
Make your own checklist and see what you actually value in a smartphone. I would call it a side step/possible downgrade just based on features alone. Then again, some people need stock Android at all costs.................
Thank's for the replies. I will go to the local tech shop and have a play with the Pixel so that I can get a feel for the software and the device. That said...
I am thinking much along the lines of daniel, where I can just sell it if I don't like it, but now they are asking for $100 AUD (~76 USD) on top. Would still likely be in my favor if i had to sell; and if the s7 is doing to drop in price soon, then it is only going to lean more in that direction over the coming months.
I didnt realize the s7 had better audio. That is a HUGE factor for me, but can the quality not be equalized with Viper, etc.? Also had the thought that, if I am going to lose the camera software anyways, I may as well just flash one of the AOSP roms floating around, which I imagine will continue to get better.
Still point 1 above means that I might stand to make money, or at the very least, not lose any, if I opted to return to the s7.

			
				
edan1979 said:
Wow...this guy has the most annoying voice ever. Every sentence ends like a question. Brutal.
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Click to collapse
jewnersey said:
Thank's for the replies. I will go to the local tech shop and have a play with the Pixel so that I can get a feel for the software and the device. That said...
I am thinking much along the lines of daniel, where I can just sell it if I don't like it, but now they are asking for $100 AUD (~76 USD) on top. Would still likely be in my favor if i had to sell; and if the s7 is doing to drop in price soon, then it is only going to lean more in that direction over the coming months.
I didnt realize the s7 had better audio. That is a HUGE factor for me, but can the quality not be equalized with Viper, etc.? Also had the thought that, if I am going to lose the camera software anyways, I may as well just flash one of the AOSP roms floating around, which I imagine will continue to get better.
Still point 1 above means that I might stand to make money, or at the very least, not lose any, if I opted to return to the s7.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah the Pixel DAC and amp combo aren't anything to write home about. A lot of people were disappointed since HTC have amazing audio and Google decided not to bother with any of their audio hardware or software features. Bare in mind I am comparing the Pixel to the Exynos S7 which has a better DAC/Amp combo vs the Snapdragon model.
I would make sure the Pixel is in top condition first, why wouldn't the person you are getting it from just do what you may do and reap a profit on top by selling the Pixel?
i gone and did it... will report back with my thoughts
edit: respond to previous post----
Yeah i was on Exynos as well. Will see how the audio quality compares after I root and install viper,etc.
This person was NOT very tech savvy, so I think I did well.
Well according to the specs s7 edge wins
But in terms of roms I'm just guessing Google pixel will have more support.
unless the restrictions for custom roms are just as harsh as it is on s7 edge making it impossible for an official CM based rom which is a let down as I was a huge CM fan
But that all said I would still keep my s7 edge mainly cuz the performance isn't lacking and better specs with no problems whatsoever why would anyone want to downgrade....
Even if google pixel may have better developer support, better hardware & specs is what I would pick
Since CM is now dead if its anything other then CM my love for custom ROMs has gone to the grave.
going to an S7 edge and asking if you should keep the s7 edge or get the pixel XL -_- do people not have common sense anymore?
S7 edge
more dev for MM
xposed with MM
Touchwiz
cooler widget from Samsung (IMO)
stereo speaker mod
Always on display
Pixel XL
latest Android
not alot of Dev
no water resistance
ugly half design back side
Vanilla Android
ambient display (uglier imo, but useful like AOD)
there u go..

Is a V20 on Verizon a good choice for my first Android phone?

Hi, All! I am going to be leaving the world of Windows Phone and switching to Android. The V20 looks like a good choice. The only thing that worries me is the bootloop problem I keep seeing when I search for user reviews.
Has this been resolved? I don't want to get a used one and have it pop up suddenly. If the issue has been corrected, then a new one from the factory might be a better option?
The other thing that I cannot figure out are the bad reviews complaining about lag, poor audio volume, and loss of wireless signal. Is that all related to the bootloop/solder issue? Are these common problems?
Anyone wish they had gotten an S7 or another phone?
I'd appreciate any advice or thoughts.
Update: And let me add that I first came to xda years ago when I was messing with Palm ROMs. I am not afraid of getting my hands dirty with rooting, etc. I'm getting old and not as up on things like I used to be, but I'd rather post here than some Android site with less technical knowledge.
frettd said:
Hi, All! I am going to be leaving the world of Windows Phone and switching to Android. The V20 looks like a good choice. The only thing that worries me is the bootloop problem I keep seeing when I search for user reviews.
Has this been resolved? I don't want to get a used one and have it pop up suddenly. If the issue has been corrected, then a new one from the factory might be a better option?
The other thing that I cannot figure out are the bad reviews complaining about lag, poor audio volume, and loss of wireless signal. Is that all related to the bootloop/solder issue? Are these common problems?
Anyone wish they had gotten an S7 or another phone?
I'd appreciate any advice or thoughts.
Update: And let me add that I first came to xda years ago when I was messing with Palm ROMs. I am not afraid of getting my hands dirty with rooting, etc. I'm getting old and not as up on things like I used to be, but I'd rather post here than some Android site with less technical knowledge.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've had my Verizon V20 for awhile now. Honestly stock isn't so bad. After awhile it got laggy for me, but I had it loaded full of apps and media. Never had any issues with it until I rooted, unlocked bootloader, and starting flashing ROMs. Since then I've been running LOS. I love the phones stock camera, the filters and software are amazing. The wide angle camera is my favorite feature. Video quality is amazing. The sound output on headphones even better (with good headphones). Louder than any phone I've ever tested...but the actual phone speaker is rather dull. Would I recommend it for a first Android phone? Probably not. Usually Sammy phones are great first Android phones. Personally I'm coming from a Galaxy Note5. I do miss my Galaxy a bit. Just better overall build quality. My V20 hasn't had a single software update and is still months behind on security patches. Cell signal is iffy all the time, although it may just be the area I live in but I've heard this is a V20 issue. Never had VoLTE working, which sucks too. Lose data each time I call. Do I wish I had chose another phone? Not really. Although my next phone will most likely be a Note 8 since I'm a basic Sammy fanboy. But that's my 2ยข for what it's worth. I never really knew about the solder/bootloop issue until you brought it up actually. That may have been an early production defect...
I haven't really seen definite proof of a bootloop issue on the V20s-- just lots of people who know of LG's reputation (G4/V10 *do* have horrible bootlooping issues-- much of it due to a processor that runs far too hot, which the V20 does not share) and make assumptions. People who get into bootlooping situations on the V20 are usually trying to root the phone without reading the instructions. (and with that said, the V20's root is complicated but not impossible and as long as you're patient and *read*, you can get out of most any jam.)
I love my Verizon V20 but I don't know about it being someone's first Android phone. It's not a perfect phone, but it's AMAZING at what it does well. The sound quality for both playback and recording is unmatched IMHO. The onboard speaker is pretty bad but with headphones and good source material it shines. I haven't had any lag or jerk issues but I DID root it as soon as the exploits were available and have done a lot of tweaking on it to keep it running well (on stock rom). That said people talked about lag out of the box which I never experienced (I had it for about a month or two before the root was found) which makes me wonder if there wasn't a bad initial batch of hardware. I'd say if you decide to get one and it lags, return it and get a new one right away. It's not "normal", or at least doesn't have to be.
I feel like the V20's hardware was incredible, but let down a bit by LG's software (it's not as bad as some complain, but it is a bit "spartan" and would've been nice if it was better documented given how complicated the phone is) and really let down by lack of documentation and by reviewers who didn't "get" it and tried to review it like an iPhone. I feel like it got a bad reputation from LG's previous hardware and from people not understanding this isn't an iPhone. This phone is incredibly complicated to use at times if you really want to push it, and it takes patience to learn. It's sort of like giving a fighter jet to someone who's never even driven before-- this isn't a standard "phone" and takes time to learn its ins and outs. That said,if you take the time you'll realize it can do a lot of things most phones can't do and in a lot of ways is as good or better than much more expensive media devices in general. It was my primary camera on a trip to Europe this summer, mostly because it was just easy to have it with me all the time. The photos aren't perfect but I felt like much less of a tourist/target using it a lot of the time. Manual mode is your friend, which is the case for much of this phone.
I love mine, but it's not for everyone by any stretch. I have no idea what I'd want to replace it with since the things I use are pretty much dead features now going forward on phones-- I USE the spare battery (again, on the trip to Europe, I had to swap batteries a few times mid day after a lot of photos-- quick charge would've been of no help in the middle of a sightseeing day!), I use the SD card, I use the remote, I use the HD audio recording... I think I'll have this phone until it dies, and then I might have to find another one.
I've had my v20 for about 7 months now or so.
After rooting and getting on the lastest Weta + Werewolf kernel, adding in updates here and there, installing xposed, and substratum themes... I think this is the perfect phone for me.
When I purchased the phone from the verizon store it was blazing fast. It's been fast for me since I bought the thing. I haven't had any issues with it whatsoever besides my own blunders. Signal never cut out for me. Bluetooth works fantastically. This phone + Arise makes every single song I play sound like an ear orgasm. I haven't even looked at other phones or felt that urge to flash roms I've had on other phones like the LG G3, Galaxy S3, and such. I get constantly 7 hours of Screen on Time. Even more if I use it conservatively.
This is the first phone I fell in love with. Everything is how I want it exactly the way I want it and I wouldn't have it any other way. If this phone lasts another 2+ years I'll be perfectly fine.
Id say its an ok device i moved in
Thanks for the advice thus far. THIS is why I didn't want to ask on an Android fan site. I wanted input from power users and people that would be more objective.
I actually just made the same move as you. Been using a windows phone for years but finally switched to the V20. It's a nice phone but there are a lot of things about windows phone I miss. I've been frustrated with it since I got it but I think they are android beefs and not beefs with this phone. I have seen the lag though, not sure what is causing it but it's definitely there. Not enough for me to recommend against getting this phone.
Quality of stock Google/LG apps seem to be of lesser quality than Microsoft apps, but I have been pleasantly surprised that some 3rd party apps have way more functionality than their windows phone counterparts did.
Also, I am using the Microsoft launcher and switched to all Microsoft services and it has made the transition a little easier.
Well till about a couple of years back i used to be a Samsung fanboy, but the day I got my G3, I realised how good LG can be.
You might hear a lot of stuff about LG phones here and there but I find them to be pretty good, the best part is the screen, due to ips display the whites are pretty punchy and that's what I prefer.
I have had all the LG devices (mostely ) g2, G3, g4, g5 and now the v20.
V20 is pretty solid, nice build quality, great cusyomization options via LG smart world, you can get Ringtones, wallpapers, themes. If you are willing to spend you can buy many more awesome looking themes from The playstore.
Camera is good, battery backup is decent, I haven't rooted it and apart from those adverts here and there I don't see the need, though till date i have only used rooted devices with huge cusyomization therein.
Call quality is great, signal strength though network dependent but is great.
Another notable thing is the awesome dac that v20 has, wonderful audio output from of the 3.5 mm jack and Bluetooth.
Go for it, though you might find more whistles than you may be used to like the second screen, but they are great to play around with.
My 2, best is go to the store, check the device personally if it's still available in em, play around for atleast half an hour and check whatever you can.
Sent from my VS995 using Tapatalk
lord dredd said:
Well till about a couple of years back i used to be a Samsung fanboy, but the day I got my G3, I realised how good LG can be.
You might hear a lot of stuff about LG phones here and there but I find them to be pretty good, the best part is the screen, due to ips display the whites are pretty punchy and that's what I prefer.
I have had all the LG devices (mostely ) g2, G3, g4, g5 and now the v20.
V20 is pretty solid, nice build quality, great cusyomization options via LG smart world, you can get Ringtones, wallpapers, themes. If you are willing to spend you can buy many more awesome looking themes from The playstore.
Camera is good, battery backup is decent, I haven't rooted it and apart from those adverts here and there I don't see the need, though till date i have only used rooted devices with huge cusyomization therein.
Call quality is great, signal strength though network dependent but is great.
Another notable thing is the awesome dac that v20 has, wonderful audio output from of the 3.5 mm jack and Bluetooth.
Go for it, though you might find more whistles than you may be used to like the second screen, but they are great to play around with.
My 2, best is go to the store, check the device personally if it's still available in em, play around for atleast half an hour and check whatever you can.
Sent from my VS995 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I bought mine used last February, and it has been an excellent device. I plan on grabbing a new one before they become unavailable. The V20 is a large phone, though, so if you prefer small phones, it's not a good choice. Extra battery and charging cradle means I rarely need to plug it in.
Sent from my VK815 using Tapatalk

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