[Q] New Owner Setup Questions - Galaxy Note Pro 12.2 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

Hi.
I pre-ordered my Note Pro (P905) and it will hopefully arrive next week because the store I bought them from sells them a lot cheaper and it's not a popular model. So anyway, here are my questions.
1. I've read conflicting reports about the on air updates. I've read that it makes the phone act worse (hangs and stuff) that's why it's apparently better to just block it and then use towelroot instead of c.f. root. Is this true? I kind of don't want to trip KNOX but I'd probably be willing to do so after a week since warranty is terrible after that period (Think that it would take months to replace the phone).
2. Since we can modify the DPI of all applications through Xposed modules, is it possible to adjust the grid size of Touchwiz to put more stuff on screen? I prefer using Touchwiz because of multi-window.
3. Tripping Knox is only bad if you need warranty right?
4. The basic things I need to check on the Note Pro are:
A. Try Injustice Gods Among Us to see if blue screen happens on stock rom
B. Stylus test
C. Camera test
D. Phone Test
Is this right? I'm only familiar with the blue screen of death issue on some models.
5. Freezing the magazine module in Titanium Backup effectively gets rid of it right?
6. What's a fun thing to do with my old Galaxy Note 10.1 (2012) 3G once I get this phone?
7. Does chromecast work on this device? I've some reports that say it doesn't.
8. Since there isn't really a custom rom for this device, is it easy to get into? I've coded applications for android and have flashed custom roms for other phones in the past. I'll probably just remove fluff from the system and update the kernel or something.
9. If I use Nova instead of touchwiz, are there applications that can sort of act like multi-windows like MX player being a small window and movable?

fvig2001 said:
2. Since we can modify the DPI of all applications through Xposed modules, is it possible to adjust the grid size of Touchwiz to put more stuff on screen? I prefer using Touchwiz because of multi-window.
9. If I use Nova instead of touchwiz, are there applications that can sort of act like multi-windows like MX player being a small window and movable?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Multi window and pen window features got nothing to do with TouchWiz launcher. You can replace TouchWiz launcher with Nova, Apex or what ever launcher you want without losing those features.

1. Most of those issues are related to freezing or not freezing KNOX. (I can't remember which one of the two caused the issue, someone else may be able to fill that in). My DBT p905 is up to date and has no freezing issues. But it's not rooted.
2. MultiWindow (and penwindow) is an overlay app, not part of Touchwiz. The only think that doesn't work properly without Touchwiz is the S calendar widget and MyMagazine. The Spen and everything else isn't related to Touchwiz. You're always better off using Apex or Nova, as they're about 500MB RAM lighter than Touchwiz, and support themes and customisation.
3. Right. And if you want to use the secure KNOX container.
4. The BSOD issue affects the Exynos and AT&T variants, not the p905. You've got the rest covered, pretty much.
5. So does using a launcher other than Touchwiz. My Magazine is part of Touchwiz.
6. I use my old TF700T and Tab 2 as backup devices. The TF700T serves as a 'I can't risk damaging or loosing my NotePro so I'll take this', and my Tab 2 does its job as a navigational device.
7&8. No idea
9. See 1. Multi&penwindow are apps. I use Apex and install it before anything else (I haven't seen Touchwiz since I bought it) and Penwindow and Multiwindow work perfectly fine.

For #8 - I'm not sure about ROMs for the 905 but all I can add since Spere and Shadowlea pretty much have it all covered is that for me it took so long for ROM development that I did a ton of tweaking using Xposed modules and freezing of applications/services using Titanium that once a ROM that I wanted to try did roll around for the SM-P900 I didn't feel it necessary to switch to it. Early on the device was priced high and that delayed development quite a bit. I suspect that form factor is also a contributing factor to lack of development.
You can do quite a bit short of theming with Xposed on these things. Not everything in Wanam's module works (custom color themes for quick settings/notification panel especially) but if you're into rooting there's definitely a lot of potential for customization without ROMs.

7. Chromecast works fine!
Sent from my SM-P900 using Tapatalk

Chromecast works very well.

Related

[Q] Is there anyway to modify the samsung widgets to work for alternative launchers?

Would there be any way to modify the samsung widgets so that they would show up as android widgets and not be invisible to things like launcher pro?
Although I am not a developer, I'm fairly confident this is not possible.
Unless the developer of LauncherPro wanted to target each phone in particular... I still don't think it would work.
The framework of the 'overlays' on top of the bare android os don't allow for such things.
Even if they did manage to do this, I would imagine the phone would have to run LauncherPro with Touchwiz running in the background at the same time.. That is just asking for instability.
Plus, without a doubt Samsung would ream LauncherPro for using Touchwiz in that way.
Let's face it though, if they haven't done it for HTC's Sense yet. It isn't happening haha.

[Q] Getting widgets to agree with launchers (Nova Prime & S-planner)

I was wondering if there was a way to get all widgets to be availible on an non-stock launcher. I am using the Nova Prime launcher, and widgets for Samsung's S-Planner are not showing up in the list of available widgets. Anybody know a way to get full access to all my widgets, on this launcher (I don't have any plans to switch to another launcher)?
(The device is unrooted, if that's relevant.)
If you figure anything out please feel free to share, I've been trying to get my ****ing swidgets to work with now for a long time
Sent from my GT-N8010 using xda app-developers app
I believe they only work on the touchwiz launcher, even if you have touchwiz installed.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda app-developers app
I guess our best bet, is for all of us to keep messaging Samsung, until they recognize that enough people want this capability, that they should work at getting it to happen. Another, that comes to mind, is to seek out a ROM, that could allow that compatibility.
For immediate purposes, I imagine that some app developer(s) have discovered this royal pain of incompatibility, and was smart enough to realize that:
A) Very few people actually keep the launcher on their devices as stock
B) Samsung is undisputed as the current most popular Android-device manufacturer, with the highest number of users & sales,
So they released what would pretty much be a clone of these Samsung apps, but with more universal compatibility to other apps. I will browse the market when I have the time. I will, and ask that other users do as well, post the best/most similar/user-friendly/useful/blah of these finding.
otherwise, we may have to set the stupid touchwiz as our default (if we prefer and wish to regularly utilize Samsung's S-planner & other launcher-picky S-widgets) and have the touchwiz default homepages remain relatively uncluttered, except for these widgets, obviously. Then put in an app icon to switch to the launcher you actually prefer most.
OR
I just did a search in the google app market for "launcher switcher". There seems to be a semi-decent number of apps to help make it easy to toggle between the use of 2+ different launchers. Again, no time for me to test them out at the moment. Will also try to report back with anything promising... this is getting to be an annoying obstacle. lol.
If, like me, you mostly just want to be able to be able to keep on top of your S-planner to-do's, & don't have a great need for that apps menu that pops out of the side when you take out your S-pen, then change the s-pen settings, so that S-planner appears whenever the pen is detached.
I just remembered I could change it. for me this is GREAT because I never used that pen-apps popup. Also, I have really bad A.D.D., alongside O.C.D. . The result is that I constantly do ocd things, like put a lot of time into making detailed lists of things to do for the day, and set a stopwatch counter to track how long a task takes me to finish, but then I Always get distracted to the point, that All the time i put into countless overboard ocd attempts to keep on top of things, become completely worthless, because I have great difficulty keeping up any platform consistently. I feel like Sisyphus, rolling the giant bolder up the hill, and having it always roll back down. Anyways, on my Note tablet, I use the S-Pen more often than I use my finger, so for me, This works well.
Tablet_JF said:
Also, I have really bad A.D.D., alongside O.C.D. . ...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I guess we all are to some extent or we wouldn't be on this forum reading things like this...

Note pro 12.2 is it worth Rooting?

I have been using the device for a while right now and I saw a lot of topic about people talking about rooting the device. the question is, is it worth rooting? I don't actually see the need for that. So, if anyone can point out some major reason for rooting for me please?
Sent from my SM-P900 using Tapatalk
I rooted mine only because I couldn't write to extSD as I bought it for reading eBooks which would be stored in extSD. I also freeze indexservice which drained the battery. Adaway is also another good reason to root.
woowdy said:
I have been using the device for a while right now and I saw a lot of topic about people talking about rooting the device. the question is, is it worth rooting? I don't actually see the need for that. So, if anyone can point out some major reason for rooting for me please?
Sent from my SM-P900 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's totally subjective; if you don't see a need then don't worry about it. Sites like this though exist in part because there are many who do have a need/desire to take things further than stock is able to go.
Reason's for me to root include:
Freezing of stock applications I don't want loading at any time (stock browser, stock email, e-meeting, web-ex, group play, knox, magazine widgets, stock music app, netflix, ny times, remote pc, screen saver, side-sync are all frozen using titanium backup on my device).
Installing Xposed Framework to customize the tablet - disabled youtube ads, customized multi-window menus, per application display density/resolution control for greater leverage of screen real estate, status bar tweaks and notification tweaks to name a few)
Full greenify support through Xposed framework - ability to hybernate applications to keep memory use low and maximize battery life.
Button savior application - ability to quickly access home/back/menu buttons from the side of the tablet in landscape instead of having to use the built in capacitive ones.
Titanium backup - ability to keep a backup of my last couple of versions of each application so that should an app update produce results that i don't like I can easily revert to an older version.
As has been stated, allowing for write access to external microSD.
Just a few tweaks I've added to my tablet. I continue to experiment with xposed modules as time goes on. All subjective "needs".
Every reason listed below is why I need root on my VZW Tablet.
Reason's for me to root include:
Freezing of stock applications I don't want loading at any time (stock browser, stock email, e-meeting, web-ex, group play, knox, magazine widgets, stock music app, netflix, ny times, remote pc, screen saver, side-sync are all frozen using titanium backup on my device).
Installing Xposed Framework to customize the tablet - disabled youtube ads, customized multi-window menus, per application display density/resolution control for greater leverage of screen real estate, status bar tweaks and notification tweaks to name a few)
Full greenify support through Xposed framework - ability to hybernate applications to keep memory use low and maximize battery life.
Button savior application - ability to quickly access home/back/menu buttons from the side of the tablet in landscape instead of having to use the built in capacitive ones.
Titanium backup - ability to keep a backup of my last couple of versions of each application so that should an app update produce results that i don't like I can easily revert to an older version.
As has been stated, allowing for write access to external microSD.
Just a few tweaks I've added to my tablet. I continue to experiment with xposed modules as time goes on. All subjective "needs".[/QUOTE]
I rooted it to use adaway, xposed with wanam xposed module and to uninstall bloatware.
Don't forget about changing to what we're font you want.
Really, if you live to tinker, you have to root. If you are just a user (nothing wrong with that) then rooting may not mean anything to you.
tdetroit said:
Every reason listed below is why I need root on my VZW Tablet.
Reason's for me to root include:
Freezing of stock applications I don't want loading at any time (stock browser, stock email, e-meeting, web-ex, group play, knox, magazine widgets, stock music app, netflix, ny times, remote pc, screen saver, side-sync are all frozen using titanium backup on my device).
Installing Xposed Framework to customize the tablet - disabled youtube ads, customized multi-window menus, per application display density/resolution control for greater leverage of screen real estate, status bar tweaks and notification tweaks to name a few)
Full greenify support through Xposed framework - ability to hybernate applications to keep memory use low and maximize battery life.
Button savior application - ability to quickly access home/back/menu buttons from the side of the tablet in landscape instead of having to use the built in capacitive ones.
Titanium backup - ability to keep a backup of my last couple of versions of each application so that should an app update produce results that i don't like I can easily revert to an older version.
As has been stated, allowing for write access to external microSD.
Just a few tweaks I've added to my tablet. I continue to experiment with xposed modules as time goes on. All subjective "needs".
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
[/QUOTE]
Are there any functions that would be lost by rooting, for example the ability to use screen mirroring?
muzzy996 said:
It's totally subjective; if you don't see a need then don't worry about it. Sites like this though exist in part because there are many who do have a need/desire to take things further than stock is able to go.
Reason's for me to root include:
Freezing of stock applications I don't want loading at any time (stock browser, stock email, e-meeting, web-ex, group play, knox, magazine widgets, stock music app, netflix, ny times, remote pc, screen saver, side-sync are all frozen using titanium backup on my device).
Installing Xposed Framework to customize the tablet - disabled youtube ads, customized multi-window menus, per application display density/resolution control for greater leverage of screen real estate, status bar tweaks and notification tweaks to name a few)
Full greenify support through Xposed framework - ability to hybernate applications to keep memory use low and maximize battery life.
Button savior application - ability to quickly access home/back/menu buttons from the side of the tablet in landscape instead of having to use the built in capacitive ones.
Titanium backup - ability to keep a backup of my last couple of versions of each application so that should an app update produce results that i don't like I can easily revert to an older version.
As has been stated, allowing for write access to external microSD.
Just a few tweaks I've added to my tablet. I continue to experiment with xposed modules as time goes on. All subjective "needs".
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the list, didn`t knew TB could freeze programs so just snatched up the pro :victory:
Okay.. Can I borrow this thread a bit?
Can you change overall colour theme of NP? I have thought of buying one (LTE Model) and I just hate how it looks when settings, "drop down" notification bar etc.. are on white background. Is it possible change those to black like all AMOLED phones / tablets have?
Thanks.
Spere said:
Okay.. Can I borrow this thread a bit?
Can you change overall colour theme of NP? I have thought of buying one (LTE Model) and I just hate how it looks when settings, "drop down" notification bar etc.. are on white background. Is it possible change those to black like all AMOLED phones / tablets have?
Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nope. With xposed framework you can install wanam module to ATTEMPT to do it. I say attempt because try as I might I could not change the color of the volume slider background. I posted a screenshot of my issue in the wanam thread but am not sure if it will be addressed in an update soon as I am not sure the developer has the means to look into it. We shall see, it's not like that module is updated frequently since it takes a lot of effort to find the settings in various versions of roms. If I had one complaint about the note pro it would be that the quick settings tiles and notification pull down is far too wasteful of screen real estate to the point that it's shameful. Tiles are huge on it and with the sliders extended one has to scroll frequently in landscape mode.
Spere said:
Okay.. Can I borrow this thread a bit?
Can you change overall colour theme of NP? I have thought of buying one (LTE Model) and I just hate how it looks when settings, "drop down" notification bar etc.. are on white background. Is it possible change those to black like all AMOLED phones / tablets have?
Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not really, but with rooting, you will be able to install themes. There is currently one very interesting theme available for the Note 10.1, I am hoping a port may eventually become available for our device. http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2687087
While the theme is "busy" compared to the Pro's generic white everywhere idea, it does harken back to the early days of Android hacking and the interesting icons which appeared. I'd probably give it a go on my Pro if it became available.
I too would like to theme my tablet. I like the look of some experia stuff quite a lot.
Sent from my SCH-I605 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
---------- Post added at 01:25 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:22 PM ----------
muzzy996 said:
Nope. With xposed framework you can install wanam module to ATTEMPT to do it. I say attempt because try as I might I could not change the color of the volume slider background. I posted a screenshot of my issue in the wanam thread but am not sure if it will be addressed in an update soon as I am not sure the developer has the means to look into it. We shall see, it's not like that module is updated frequently since it takes a lot of effort to find the settings in various versions of roms. If I had one complaint about the note pro it would be that the quick settings tiles and notification pull down is far too wasteful of screen real estate to the point that it's shameful. Tiles are huge on it and with the sliders extended one has to scroll frequently in landscape mode.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Has anyone tried to force it into tablet mode? I used to get a dropdown bar like the one on the note pro if I lowered my dpi on my note 2. Just in the middle. If you lowered it far enough and used a patch ui.apk you could get a tablet style menu bar on the note 2 (man I miss that)
Sent from my SCH-I605 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

Annoyances, TouchWiz really sucks

1. Folder in home screen. Do they really had to add that + sign inside the folder? Galaxy S6 did not have this. Whoever designed the folder and added a big fat + sign should get their head checked out. If I have 2 icons in one folder, there's a third button with a big fat + sign wasting space and distracting the user. Sure, different luncher will fix it but at what cost ($ or battery life from other bugs). The underlying thing for the UI doesn't change though. I also tried Samsung's other UI which you can download (GoodLock app) in their own app store, but that doesn't go well with the overall UI. ---> this is fixed in Nougat.
2. Bouncing effect in S-Health and other places. When I open S-Health to record my weight and scroll through the numbers, it's very hard to get it to stop on the place I want it to be because there's some stupid elastic bouncing back kicking and fourth effect on the dial. It moves for a while even after I let it go. I really hate this behavior and wonder whoever designed it had in mind. The person responsible should do something else for a living, and not be involved in designing user interface.
3. [edit: this one is treatable by changing Setting - Applications - Default applications - Default app selection] Default apps selection. Once you select an app, that becomes the default forever. Yeah, you can reset it by clearing the default, but I wish Samsung hadn't touched this behavior so I can choose to do it once "only for this time" or keep it as default.
4. User should be able to disable Samsung Calendar without 3rd party app, root, or adb. I find Samsung Calendar worse than stock Google's Calendar app so I use Google's Calendar app. Now why do I have to keep both if I'm not using it? So much for making TouchWiz lean. These apps should be uninstallable, or at least disable-able.
5. Every time I switch Auto Sync from quick settings pull-down, I get a warning message and must confirm that I will not get notifications about some apps and battery saving blablabla. It's almost ridiculous they did not add an option such as "Do not show again". This goes same for some other switches too. I think they fixed some such as the mobile data icon, or it may be a Verizon specific thing (as I'm using 935U). In the past you get a warning something in the line of "you won't have access to YouTube videos" and such stupid popup message.
6. High Volume warning. Every time, or once you reboot, or maybe every 24 hours this warning resets and comes back. I don't listen to music that loud but sometimes depending on what you connect you need to adjust the volume over 100% level. This stupid warning shows up and it won't let you go on unless you press OK. That's really stupid. I hate you whoever designed these this way.
I currently have a Verizon S7 Edge, with the latest 935U ROM stock, non-rooted. Because I hated how TouchWiz displays icon collection of folders, I was using NovaLauncher Prime for a while but went back because Nova Launcher caused more battery drain than TouchWiz. I turned off S-Health because it also causes some battery drain, and don't like to use it because the stupid scrolling kick bouncing effect. I tried iPhone SE for couple months, and it's so much more refined but I came back to S7 Edge because the better camera (even though it's artificially over sharpened) and for the file management ability.
I thought these annoyances would be fixed over time, but no, it's been almost 10 months since I got this phone and nothing has changed.
hp79 said:
1. Folder in home screen. Do they really had to add that + sign inside the folder? Galaxy S6 did not have this. Whoever designed the folder and added a big fat + sign should get their head checked out. If I have 2 icons in one folder, there's a third button with a big fat + sign wasting space and distracting the user.
2. Bouncing effect in S-Health and other places. When I open S-Health to record my weight and scroll through the numbers, it's very hard to get it to stop on the place I want it to be because there's some stupid elastic bouncing back and fourth effect on the dial. It moves for a while even after I let it go. I really hate this behavior and wonder whoever designed it had in mind. The person responsible should do something else for a living, and not be involved in designing user interface.
3. Default apps selection. Once you select an app, that becomes the default forever. Yeah, you can reset it by clearing the default, but I wish Samsung hadn't touched this behavior so I can choose to do it once "only for this time" or keep it as default.
4. User should be able to disable Samsung Calendar without 3rd party app, root, or adb. I find Samsung Calendar no better than stock Google's Calendar app, so why do I have to keep it if I'm not using it? So much for making TouchWiz lean.
I currently have a Verizon S7 Edge, with the latest 935U ROM stock, non-rooted. Because I hated how TouchWiz displays icon collection of folders, I am currently using NovaLauncher. I turned off S-Health because it causes some battery drain, and don't like to use it because the scrolling bouncing effect. I tried iPhoone SE for couple months, and it's so much more refined but I came back to S7 Edge because the better camera and file management.
I thought these annoyances would be fixed over time, but no, it's been almost 10 months since I got this phone and nothing has changed.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Then why did you get this device? Why not a myriad other devices that didn't have TouchWiz?
Sell it and buy a Nexus
"And on that Bombshell"
Sent from my Echoe Powered Nougat G935f
s7freak said:
Then why did you get this device? Why not a myriad other devices that didn't have TouchWiz?
Sell it and buy a Nexus
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Because it has the best camera and some other hardware advantages. I like the water resistant feature, expandable storage, SamsungPay. Also, there was a $400 rebate when I bought this using a device payment plan. I paid it off the next day and closed the account with Verizon. So that's how I ended up with my S7 Edge.
Oh, and I heard Samsung was making TouchWiz leaner with less bloat, I think this was part of their promises from S6 days.
If you don't like TouchWiz why don't you switch back to Nova or Apex launcher?
Just use nova/apex/google launcher
As for your number 3 problem
You can change that behaviour in setting>applications>default applications
Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk
Nova is the best launcher.
Woah, you sound agitated!
As for problem one, switch launcher. Problem two, three and four, that's just how Samsung has designed Touchwiz, there are plenty of other great phones with great software and components as camera (Pixel/iPhone) and water resistance (iPhone 7(pro)). As for the expandable storage, buy yourself an OTG cable and any USB stick! Hope to have helped you
Wait for Nougat. Not sure if you have tried/seen the beta, but it's :good:
I never ever used TouchWiz as a launcher. Nova from the start, and i never missed anything.
You should realize that every phone you will ever have is going to have something you won't like. And those things you counted can easily be fixed.
Running a Nougat Beta rom and i'm loving it. (TouchWiz was good too). I like it better then Stock Android.
Touchwiz is more than just a Launcher it's an integral part of the system.
If one doesn't like Touchwiz buy an LG or Pixel or a OnePlus3
"And on that Bombshell"
Sent from my Echoe Powered Nougat G935f
TW is better than it ever has been. With the theming engine I enjoy it much more than stock Android at this point!
mjs2011 said:
TW is better than it ever has been. With the theming engine I enjoy it much more than stock Android at this point!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Agreed of course I'm an unabashed Sammy Fanboy LOL So yeah I'm a little biased
"And on that Bombshell"
Sent from my Echoe Powered Nougat G935f
s7freak said:
Touchwiz is more than just a Launcher it's an integral part of the system.
If one doesn't like Touchwiz buy an LG or Pixel or a OnePlus3
"And on that Bombshell"
Sent from my Echoe Powered Nougat G935f
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agrre with you, one thing i miss, since galaxy s5, samsung stop to make infinity scrolling in home screen and app driver,
Sent from my SM-G935F using XDA-Developers mobile app
I had a OnePlusOne and a OnePlusX I really loved them but I just love my Sammy devices more. One Plus devices are fantastically built but just not Sdevices
Of course this is all my own opinion
"And on that Bombshell"
Sent from my Echoe Powered Nougat G935f
Point 1: wait for Nougat
Other point are no issue for me
just got the s7 Edge today, will be delivered in a few days. I have a few questions about TouchWiz. Is the 'theme engine' thing really that good? Does it change Touchwiz that much depending on the theme used? I love Nova Launcher, so i'm wondering if i use it, will i be able to Theme my phone at the same time...
LightspeeDLee said:
just got the s7 Edge today, will be delivered in a few days. I have a few questions about TouchWiz. Is the 'theme engine' thing really that good? Does it change Touchwiz that much depending on the theme used? I love Nova Launcher, so i'm wondering if i use it, will i be able to Theme my phone at the same time...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The theme engine doesn't just change your icons, but changes the UI (menu, dialer, messages, quick settings, etc)
I really like it. Be warned, there are a ton of themes and probably only a small fraction of them are good, but the good ones are pretty fantastic.
Here are a few to try when you get the phone.
Bleex
Material Dark
Black and Blue Amoled
Bleen
Morfix
Aurora

Opinions on EMUI

I'm considering the M5 8.4 to replace my aging Nexus 7 (2013) and would like some feedback on the EMUI software experience.
Do you like the skin? Is it similar to stock Android?
Since there probably won't be many ROM options, how is Huawei's track record with updates?
Thanks,
Rick
Sent from my Pixel 2 using Tapatalk
There should be lots of ROM options shortly if not right away, since the device is Treble compatible as are other EMUI 8.0 devices.
For whatever it's worth:
I am running EMUI - but debloated with Nova installed (I couldn't imagine Android without Nova). I'm also not 100% sure what features are EMUI vs stock Oreo.
There's a "Launch" feature built in to EMUI that allows you to specify which apps are allowed to launch in the background, allowed to be launched by a secondary app, and allowed to run in the background. I like this feature, but if you don't bother setting preferences for each app, EMUI kills background apps somewhat aggressively.
EMUI lets you choose between a collapsible navbar (if rooted you can use Exposed Edge Pro instead), and/or a one-button navigation system using the fingerprint sensor - tap for 'back,' hold for 'home,' swipe for 'recents.' I am using the one-button system in conjunction with Edge Pro and to me it's pretty seamless (but I still have to work on not hitting the sensor by accident).
The dialer and SMS skins are fine. Stock DPI options are a bit high, but you can change via developer options (after every reboot). Stock camera app no longer works if you change the DPI, but you can always use opencamera (or change the DPI back).
The other day I had an issue with background music playback about 45 minutes into streaming music via an old version of eDJing premium. Issues stopped after I disabled Doze (via root app that I had set to run at boot). That's probably an Android issue?
Battery life for me is in line with what I have experienced with every similar phablet I have previously owned.
Anyways, all EMUI 8.0 devices share key things in common, so the dev community is larger than it seems.
Thanks, I appreciate the feedback. I also use Nova and will probably remove some of the reduny apps. I can see myself rooting and using Magisk.
Sent from my Pixel 2 using Tapatalk
In my opinion the emui is not bad.
The personalization of Android that Huawei made is pretty clean.
However they obviusly add some bugs:
- adaptive icons do not works correctly: you can have only the circular one (even with Nova)
- the resolution of the display or the information that the apps get are really strange: some app starts always in landscape, no matter the actual orientation, other render the pages in strange ways when the tablet in turned fron landscape to portait, etc... Really really annoying
- battery optimization is too agressive and it is not (for me) completely clear how to tune it
- every time the launcher is updated, it switch back to its stock launcher, and i have to set the nova again as default (this can be done just in the default app in the settings). Probably this will happen also for other apps.
The hardware is solid and the battery life is good.
The position of the touch sensor and of the hardware buttons are not imho right and a big design failure.
If you keep the tablet in portrait with the touch button in the buttom: the hardware buttons are almost inaccessible unless you have a prehensile bellybutton ?
In landscape if you try to change the volume with the hardware button your finger will touch the touch button and the current app is "closed" (the tablet swith back to the home screen). This is a software feature (bug?) that i will like to change
Inviato dal mio CMR-AL09 utilizzando Tapatalk
Also the Mediapad is now listed as enterprise device. I'd be surprised if they'd stop with updates soon.
As for EMUI:
It's a mixed bag for me. There are 3 annoying bugs which most likely have their origin in EMUI:
- 2 fingers at the same time without instantly moving makes the tablet not recognize the input anymore. (there is a thread on xda about it)
The other 2 are about the keyboard accessory which is probably irrelevant for you (for everybody else):
- flipping the cover from front to back triggers a "refresh", black screen on netflix or a return from edit mode to view mode in xodo pdf
- EMUI always asks if I want to start desktop mode when a keyboard is connected, doesn't matter if you tick the "don't remind me again" checkbox
giovaorama said:
- adaptive icons do not works correctly: you can have only the circular one (even with Nova)
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Squircle works for me. I think all work. I'm not sure they work how they should. Not that I care.
- the resolution of the display or the information that the apps get are really strange: some app starts always in landscape, no matter the actual orientation, other render the pages in strange ways when the tablet in turned fron landscape to portait, etc... Really really annoying
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This usually has to do with the apps, not EMUI. Install Rotation Control to force auto rotation across all apps.
battery optimization is too agressive and it is not (for me) completely clear how to tune it
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This is probably the biggest issue with EMUI. But almost everything is tunable and with root/feedback from other EMUI users, I don't expect this to be a long term issue for anyone. (I started having issues playing music in the background without a charger plugged in - they fixed themselves last night and I'm not sure why. My preferred music player app was last updated in probably 2011, might or might not be a factor.)
every time the launcher is updated, it switch back to its stock launcher, and i have to set the nova again as default (this can be done just in the default app in the settings).
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I can confirm that you do not have this issue as long as automatic updates are turned off. I have also seen a general improvement after uninstalling updates to Google Webview.
The one EMUI feature I like that I forgot to mention in my previous post, is Eye Comfort. It's a partial blue light filter that works better than any apps I've found on the Play Store.
Nope the adpative icons do not works, and this is something that you may corcern since this is one of the feature of Oreo and the app on oreo only gave icons to works as adpative. The circle one are just ugly.
Regarding the orietation, the same app works all correctly on my previous tablet and on all my other devices.
Root should not be required to solve implementation problem.
The sotck rom must be as much as posdible bug free.
For all this bug we should blame Huawei: have a look to the support fotum for nova launcher or chronus, just to understand the real situation.
As usual what it is important for someone count nothing for the others
Inviato dal mio CMR-AL09 utilizzando Tapatalk
Hi anyone on EMUI in the UK with the 10.8 Wifi version (CMR-W09). Would you please tell me what is the version you are on (Latest). As I am considering going back from Lineage for a short while as there are too many bugs just now. Stupidly I didn't note down what version of EMUI 8 I should be on and there are tonnes of them. Cheers.
generic2 said:
Hi anyone on EMUI in the UK with the 10.8 Wifi version (CMR-W09). Would you please tell me what is the version you are on (Latest). As I am considering going back from Lineage for a short while as there are too many bugs just now. Stupidly I didn't note down what version of EMUI 8 I should be on and there are tonnes of them. Cheers.
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SHT-W09C432B151 (8.0.0.151) is what you need
Hey there,
It's not a mixed zone for me:
1) If I wanted an Ipad I would have bought that.
2) I do not like limits in terms of app-drawer etc. (fixed this, now using Nova Pro)
3) battery optimization too heavy: hell, using the keyboard with firefox (nebo, playstore, and may more) is almost impossible as the screen brightness lowers even if automatic brightness adjustment is turned off ...
What I love is:
1) Battery live
2) How it all fits together (So the "Iphoneish feeling" that I cried about above is not my taste, but it's a consistent Design at least ...)
I bought the Mediapad mainly because of the Pen, the Hardware, and the Keyboard(if I am not hating it for ausing brightness trouble...) and these are the things that I really like!
I don't mind emui has some good features and of you use Nova you can make it look stock. I like the themes and the book cover feature. I like the battery optimisation it lasts so well.
I'm trying to get ahold of the stock firmware so I can root mine.
Sent from my Pixel 2 using Tapatalk
Lee82UK said:
SHT-W09C432B151 (8.0.0.151) is what you need
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Thanks very much. Appreciated!
odd1ne said:
I don't mind emui has some good features and of you use Nova you can make it look stock. I like the themes and the book cover feature. I like the battery optimisation it lasts so well.
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Click to collapse
the tab has great features but some disadvantages (brightness bug with keyboard for me ... weird behavior at least)
Best of all certainly is the battery life! And I am using Nova ... That's why the look is not too much of an issue
I do notice the aggressive doze feature.
Sent from my SHT-W09 using Tapatalk
I decided to replace my aging, but beloved, Nexus 7 2013 WiFi (running LineagoOS 15.0) with something a bit meatier. After much consideration, I ordered and received a 32GB M5 8.4 (SHT-W09) from Amazon UK.
First up, the hardware is awesome. I really notice the difference with the move to 4GB RAM and the updated CPU / GPU. The performance is worlds apart from the Nexus 7 - very zippy, very responsive, games run great etc. The display also is a significant improvement - I really like the 16:9 ratio too and don't agree with review feedback that it impacts eBook and web browsing. It works great for those and just looks incredible for movies and TV. No surprises so far, then, given the 5 year old spec of the N7. On the subject of this display, note that both Amazon Prime Video and Netflix now support HD playback on the SHT-W09. Absolutely brilliant. Audio is fine, I'd always listen through Bose BT OE headphones anyway. The lack of 3.5" headphone jack doesn't bother me in the least.
So, on to the OP question about EMUI. To be honest, I really don't like it. The sheer number of junk apps installed is disappointing, especially as some (YouTube, for example) cannot be uninstalled. Note that of the 32GB available, only 16GB was available out of the box. Adoptable storage has been explicitly disabled in EMUI, so there's no option to use external SD as internal storage. A bit disappointing, but a 128GB MicroSD gives plenty of storage for media, if not apps. Within the UI itself, I miss the app drawer button (I'm sure there's an option somewhere) and it all just doesn't feel "familiar" enough for my liking. The Themes idea is great, but the version delivered with the tab only seems to support local themes - there's no "Theme Store" as such, unlike the phone version of the app. As such, customisation feels limited. I've simply installed Nova and couldn't be happier with the end result.
A really worthy replacement for the king of Android tablets, the Nexus 7 2013, so I'd encourage the OP to give it a go!
@mroshaw similar for me. I replaced my Nexus 7 (2012) by the SHT-W09 and I am quite happy. I uninstalled all the apps I do not use (ebay, facebook, some games, ...) and I replaced the laucher with the Pixel-Launcher. The only parts which still remember me that I am running on EMUI are the top bar and the configuration settings, but I can live with that.
I do not regret having it bought. There are not many Android tablets out offering such a build quality and performance for such a price tag.
I am growing to like the emui. It's got some grand security features. Like others, I uninstalled a TON of apps, disabled others, then I put an AOSP P Dark theme (from here on xda). The theme takes care of the notifications bar icons - I didn't really like the emui ones - plus "stock-ifies" most of the UI.
@mroshaw To activate the app drawer button, go to Settings, Display, Home Secreen Stlye, choose Drawer.
To enable SD card storage, Settings, Storage, Default Location. I have 45GBs out of the internal 64GB once I adb uninstalled bloat.
The deal breaker for me with EMUI is the missing option to plug in the tablet via USB and mount its storage to be visible and usable with any files operation (I use Linux only). There is no HiSuite for Linux and doing everything via adb is just a pain in the neck.
Having said that, the alternative is Lineage OS as the currently only alternative ROM, but this breaks two other things which are a deal breaker as well: No Bluetooth connectivity (its just dosn't pair anything properly), so no BT audio, which sucks when there is no headphone jack. Plus, with a custom ROM you lose L1 security in widevine, so no HD streaming with Netflix or Amazon video.
Fortunately, my usage for the tablet is different from my beloved N7; I mainly use it as a score reader for my piano. I wouldn't recommend it as a replacement for the N7; for that I bought the Lenovo Tab 4 Plus and it's a perfect replacement - except there are no custom ROM, But you can root it and the Lenovo UI is pretty much stock.
@DF5JT mtp works for me to access the device's internal and sdcard storage. Probably you need to configure your udev rules to identify your device correctly.

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