As an Android nut and graphic/industrial/UI designer I've been thinking a lot about this recently, and just had to get it off my chest. Here goes:
UI styling should be about the content, not the interface. Glossy elements just distract from their actual content. There should be a move away from what Apple does with iOS (emulating analogue elements digitally) towards what Microsoft did with WP7. WP7 showed that you can have an interface without any sort of shininess/gradient or analogue elements and still have it be completely usable and beautiful at the same time.
But what I'm really interested in is the future of Android. Gingerbread was a great step ahead in terms of UI styling. But I wonder what we will see when Sense UI, Motoblur, TouchWiz etc. are updated to 2.3? Sense is notorious for faux glossiness and TouchWiz is notorious for being plain ugly. Will WP7 and Gingerbread help these companies realize that the trend is moving away from iOS-eque styling and towards WP7-esque styling? Or will they continue to blindly copy iOS and ignore Google's attempts to beautify Android? My guess is that they will eventually catch on, but it might take a while. Perhaps if WP7 takes off and commands a decent market share these companies will take notice. We've already seen previews of Sony Ericsson's 2.3 TimeScape skin and LG's 2.3 whatever-it's-called skin and they both appear to have abandoned Gingerbread's gradient-less notifications bar and title bar and replaced them with gradients. Too bad.
Also, what will Honeycomb bring? We've now seen previews of the tablet version, and I can see many 2.3 styling cues in 3.0. One thing I noticed though is that it uses blue as the 'accent color'. Gingerbread strongly reinforced orange as Android's accent color so I wonder why they would change this. What I'm hoping is that the accent color can be changed- it's certainly plausible, as the accent color seems to play a huge part in the Honeycomb previews I've seen. Or perhaps phones will remain orange and tablets will be blue? It seems like a strange differentiation.
Hints at UI change in the phone-version of Honeycomb include new text-entry fields (looks like the Android keyboard spacebar symbol but stretched), a new look and swiping interaction for tabs within apps (seen in the leaked Music 3.0 app, the 2.1 News and Weather app and the new YouTube app), and like I mentioned, color accents everywhere. Videos of Honeycomb show pop-ups, scroll bars, loading rings/bars and menus featuring the glowing blue accent.
What I'm wondering about is this 'UI overhaul' that everyone is talking about. Is it going to be mostly visual like the stuff I mentioned above or is it going to completely change the UI paradigms of Android? I think a huge change in UI akin to the WM6.5 > WP7 transition would alienate a lot of users and break a lot of apps. Therefore I'm thinking 3.0 is going to be a few tweaks to the interaction part of the UI, but a huge change to the visuals. I predict they will update almost all of the core apps to match the graphics we are seeing in 2.3 and 3.0, to finally put to rest those complaints that Android looks 'hacked together'. The changes in 2.3 were probably a catalyst, to get developers thinking in this new design language. Google needs a name for it, just like WP7 'Metro'. After all it's up to the developers to make apps that match this style.
I'm a Nexus fan and would never buy a phone without stock Android so maybe this is just me dreaming of an end to carrier/manufacturer skins, but what do you think?
As long as it have the look and feel of ADW.Launcher. It can have what ever UI.
chrizzled said:
As an Android nut and graphic/industrial/UI designer I've been thinking a lot about this recently, and just had to get it off my chest. Here goes:
UI styling should be about the content, not the interface. Glossy elements just distract from their actual content. There should be a move away from what Apple does with iOS (emulating analogue elements digitally) towards what Microsoft did with WP7. WP7 showed that you can have an interface without any sort of shininess/gradient or analogue elements and still have it be completely usable and beautiful at the same time.
But what I'm really interested in is the future of Android. Gingerbread was a great step ahead in terms of UI styling. But I wonder what we will see when Sense UI, Motoblur, TouchWiz etc. are updated to 2.3? Sense is notorious for faux glossiness and TouchWiz is notorious for being plain ugly. Will WP7 and Gingerbread help these companies realize that the trend is moving away from iOS-eque styling and towards WP7-esque styling? Or will they continue to blindly copy iOS and ignore Google's attempts to beautify Android? My guess is that they will eventually catch on, but it might take a while. Perhaps if WP7 takes off and commands a decent market share these companies will take notice. We've already seen previews of Sony Ericsson's 2.3 TimeScape skin and LG's 2.3 whatever-it's-called skin and they both appear to have abandoned Gingerbread's gradient-less notifications bar and title bar and replaced them with gradients. Too bad.
Also, what will Honeycomb bring? We've now seen previews of the tablet version, and I can see many 2.3 styling cues in 3.0. One thing I noticed though is that it uses blue as the 'accent color'. Gingerbread strongly reinforced orange as Android's accent color so I wonder why they would change this. What I'm hoping is that the accent color can be changed- it's certainly plausible, as the accent color seems to play a huge part in the Honeycomb previews I've seen. Or perhaps phones will remain orange and tablets will be blue? It seems like a strange differentiation.
Hints at UI change in the phone-version of Honeycomb include new text-entry fields (looks like the Android keyboard spacebar symbol but stretched), a new look and swiping interaction for tabs within apps (seen in the leaked Music 3.0 app, the 2.1 News and Weather app and the new YouTube app), and like I mentioned, color accents everywhere. Videos of Honeycomb show pop-ups, scroll bars, loading rings/bars and menus featuring the glowing blue accent.
What I'm wondering about is this 'UI overhaul' that everyone is talking about. Is it going to be mostly visual like the stuff I mentioned above or is it going to completely change the UI paradigms of Android? I think a huge change in UI akin to the WM6.5 > WP7 transition would alienate a lot of users and break a lot of apps. Therefore I'm thinking 3.0 is going to be a few tweaks to the interaction part of the UI, but a huge change to the visuals. I predict they will update almost all of the core apps to match the graphics we are seeing in 2.3 and 3.0, to finally put to rest those complaints that Android looks 'hacked together'. The changes in 2.3 were probably a catalyst, to get developers thinking in this new design language. Google needs a name for it, just like WP7 'Metro'. After all it's up to the developers to make apps that match this style.
I'm a Nexus fan and would never buy a phone without stock Android so maybe this is just me dreaming of an end to carrier/manufacturer skins, but what do you think?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just my two cents here but.... I don't get everyone saying android has no polish. I love my Nexus One, I love stock (vanilla) android. I think Touchwiz is an abomination and said as much when that thread came out to put touchwiz on the N1. Sense is pretty but too bloated in my opinion. Don't get me started on Motoblur... I agree earlier versions of android needed work. >2.2 {in my opinion} Personally I think android is fine. (iOS IS pretty, but so what it's also got an evil ecosystem...) The tweaks done to
2.3 are nice but unnecessary (IMHO). I love the way Android looks.... Oh, and I heartily agree with your statement that "UI styling should be about content...."
Sent from my Llama powered N1 courtesy of the xda app! Llama Power!!
If android could come up with a functional UI I might jump back aboard. Til they do WP7 is the only way to go.
Love the look of stock Android on my Nexus One. Love the new Gingerbread visual tweaks and look forward to the OTA.
HATE 3rd party U.I.
z33dev33l said:
If android could come up with a functional UI I might jump back aboard. Til they do WP7 is the only way to go.
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Click to collapse
Android HAS a perfectly functional UI. Thank you.
Sent from my Llama powered N1 courtesy of the xda app! Llama Power!!
Babydoll25 said:
Android HAS a perfectly functional UI. Thank you.
Sent from my Llama powered N1 courtesy of the xda app! Llama Power!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I used to think so too... now it just seems laggy regardless of launcher...
z33dev33l said:
I used to think so too... now it just seems laggy regardless of launcher...
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Click to collapse
What lag? {unless ur using a SGS} I have never experienced this lag u speak of sir. My N1 flies I tell you, flies!!! (I have seen in Samsung's phones however...)
(That is why I don't buy them...)
Sent from my Llama powered N1 courtesy of the xda app! Llama Power!!
Babydoll25 said:
What lag? {unless ur using a SGS} I have never experienced this lag u speak of sir. My N1 flies I tell you, flies!!! (I have seen in Samsung's phones however...)
(That is why I don't buy them...)
Sent from my Llama powered N1 courtesy of the xda app! Llama Power!!
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Click to collapse
Didnt notice it on my Nexus one til I got WP7, now I just gave the nexus to my brother... just seems slow and jumbled by comparison
im glad the orange accents are gone in honeycomb, the blue looks way better, also im glad the green icons didnt made the cut, i really hope this look becomes the standard for both the tablet and the smartphone versions of the os
Android is ok but can be boring....
Personally I love the idea to have more than 1 OS on your device, so you can easily change whenever you want
With Matias Duarte on board we should see some drastic changes in the UI in the upcoming versions.
Look at the Honeycomb on tablets, we're now not required to have physical buttons, virtual controls are there, the switch tasking panel now actually shows us the current snapshot of the appss in the background - awesome idea from WebOS if you ask me.
z33dev33l said:
Didnt notice it on my Nexus one til I got WP7, now I just gave the nexus to my brother... just seems slow and jumbled by comparison
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm a phone addict and I try out almost every phone and OS that comes out. I still don't see what you are talking about, WP7 didn't feel any faster or more polished. It's got a new look and has some ooomph too it, but nothing that noticeable.
Sent from my Llama powered N1 courtesy of the xda app! Llama Power!!
Babydoll25 said:
I'm a phone addict and I try out almost every phone and OS that comes out. I still don't see what you are talking about, WP7 didn't feel any faster or more polished. It's got a new look and has some ooomph too it, but nothing that noticeable.
Sent from my Llama powered N1 courtesy of the xda app! Llama Power!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As am I and I will still admit that the nexus one was the smoothest experience I recieved from an android phone. In all honesty I never thought I'd jump ship and I thought live tiles looked completely retarded. I didnt really think a GPU accelerated UI would mean anything but it did... its just smoother... virtually lag free and though I'm not trying to insult I dont see how you cant see the difference....
z33dev33l said:
As am I and I will still admit that the nexus one was the smoothest experience I recieved from an android phone. In all honesty I never thought I'd jump ship and I thought live tiles looked completely retarded. I didnt really think a GPU accelerated UI would mean anything but it did... its just smoother... virtually lag free and though I'm not trying to insult I dont see how you cant see the difference....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I mean don't get me wrong, live tiles rock (and roll) but maybe it's just my N1 {and Sparky's but I set his up so...}, but I didn't see an overwhelming difference even with the hardware acceleration. I guess it all boils down to (after a certain point) how you have your individual phone configured... I have not yet seen anything worthy of N1 abandonment...t least not yet.
Sent from my Llama powered N1 courtesy of the xda app! Llama Power!!
I thought my N1 was smooth until I tried a Nexus S... now I can't go back.
The Gingerbread stock launcher is silky smooth. WP7 smooth. The scrolling and 3D app drawer is much smoother than LauncherPro or ADW Launcher. Live Wallpapers do not affect performance at all. The new UI elements make android look much more refined. The screen-off animation and the scrolling overshoot glow are amazing. And that's just the UI...
Long live stock Android and Nexus devices!
UI of Android
- The current browser UI is driving me crazy! Especially the back operation could jump to another app is un-acceptable.
- We need to have a mechanism for something like a pop up app. For example, when reading, a quick pop-up to look up a word or access wikipedia. It just need to : select, open with selection. Since Android let all apps open, the user just go back to the last app to continue
- I agree that data is important. The contact is the central of a phone. It can be mail, phone, sms, im, photo, calendar, ... The owner is of-cause need to be part of the contact. And there should be able to browse, jump, classify contacts quickly. I would like to suggest allow tags. An extendable contact db will be very nice.
- Moreover, for tabalet, there should be multi-users, switching profiles, encrypt data, etc. the lock screen should allow change of user
- Please consider the actual usage of a phone or tabalet together with other devices. Android should be part of a bigger system instead of a single computer. Cross interaction with desktop, other tabalets, is a must: ssh should be a standard on every device. There should be neighbour or friends nodes (not people, but devices) that can registers long term or short. There should be a easy way to find the new ip or connection method(bt) for the device. a bluetooth message send to allow register the device and provide a instant connection is good. Porting synergy allow share keyboard, (mouse) and clipboard is good, but need to address the situation where mouse is missing. Send screen shot is useful too. exchange pic, contacts, calendar events, ....
- Make index a ready service, update of index can be done when charging. It can be a mode call sleep, which will do house keeping like : update indexing, clean up space, calculate statistics, exchange data with cloud. The phone would work but will be slow. User can understand that the phone go sleep a while to keep healthy. The index is very valuable : provide fast browsing for things, faster search, and support a multi-dimension browsing experiende.
- clipboard : with multi-history
- Please check lePhone : use of gesture instead of soft key.
- Fast switch between opened apps
- notice : allow user to block call, sms, ... to interrupt. There can be a priority and the user can set the current lock level, priority lower the lock level would not sound, visual or virbaton
- I am not very sure about this : there should be scene : like meeting, driving, atHome, atOffice, etc. which can be auto-detect by various sensers. But too smart a phone can also be troublesome.
allow two phones to compare the app list, find common contacts, temporary play a game with connection (like NDS download play), peer chat (group of devices), share camera, audio, borrow book
current desktop background is not good. Make it easier for user to dress up their phone.
Yes, yes, it's possible to love a phone. Heck, you sleep next to it, don't you? Rate this thread to indicate your love for the Xiaomi Mi 9, all things considered. A higher rating indicates that the Xiaomi Mi 9 is an incredible phone that you enjoy tremendously. You love it.
Then, drop a comment if you have anything to add!
I absolutely love the lock screen that shows the earth and moon in sync with realtime. And you can check notifications this way, swipe them away if you want, and when you put the phone down it will go to sleep immediately! And it will wake when you pick it up. Nice little touches.
It's great. Fast, bluetooth is working, sound quality is great, feels so premium, battery seems like it's doing well, the screen is magnificient, the camera fast and accurate. For a phone without OIS, I was pleased my little parakeet running up my arm could be captured sharply, she never stops moving.
So far, day one? I'm in love.
Real review
- super hard to unlock bootloader
- very easy to root then, with OTA and everything staying (main difference vs Samsung - no OTA, no bluetooth, no encryption etc)
- no Lockdown feature, even with external activities
- there's no SD card and TWRP doesn't support USB, so you're broke when travelling, USB flash with flashfiles won't help
- absolutely bloated, incl. chiness apps even in EU version (need to disable all *xiaomi* and *mi* apps, firewall the rest)
- they override every app, every dialog, and modify even innocent com.android packages, so it's super hard to debloat
- insane settings, too much and not easy to read. Easily the hardest to set phone ever
- many of those million settings simply don't work, especially permissions, lot of glitches like double power key to flash is blocked by screen off action
- example of stupidy is battery section, have to click so much to see the chart and there's no % anywhere! Basic value. Like you virtually have no chance to know %, unless you set such status icon. why not reveal % when expanding notification menu like other models?
- some settings are strong, like complex Data limits, AI remapping, call recording available without hack etc
- "AI" button easily programmable via Xposed
- nice to have apps like Music and Video which vanilla OxygenOS skips, but they're weak and no DLNA which is advertised
- volume buttons on the right? excellent, never ever could touch those on the left easily. However no easy shortcut for Dont Disturb (only the stupid long press to mute just ONE volume) and no activity for it available (to let Xposed handle it).. OnePlus wins with the dedicated button easily
- data collection and privacy agreements virtually everywhere, in any simple app (that's why AOSP would be lovely choice instead of XIAOMI ROM)
- battery life is insane when active (like pure 10 "configuration day" hours or 7.5hr with 31hr overall), got mediocre in standby after configuration (no good kernel exists, stock kernel is crap, not aware of deep doze, so pushing Naptime and Servicely at least, so far pushed it to est 78hr wifi_standby vs 178hr standby on 6T! update: pushed it to 267hr in a quick test, but real test req full charge and >3hr standby to be meaningful, anyway potential is there), still early to say what will be final 3g and wifi standby (in progress)
- notification ecosystem is very good (except by default they disabled notifications for most apps!), you can customize popups, AOD magic light (however AOD won't show any app icon for me), and the LED make sure you know about notification or charging (and charging produces very nice animation - very important for Qi to know you place phone right!)
- AOD exists unlike in OnePlus, and in battery app its got its own category
- overall fast, currently the fastest phone on market
- yet another Pie implementation of navbar with some crazy gestures from the left/right which collide with its own GBoard gestures (still the Oreo task manager was better)
- QC charging is fast and supports QC2-3-4 (that is very very good unlike properietary OnePlus charging, who's got OnePlus chargers around? Noone. Who's got QC chargers? Many), fast Qi not working on legacy chargers (not a showstopper as i like slow charge to treat battery right, and will have one 27W Qi for urgency)
- super fast face unlock during day, poor during night just like 6T as there's no infra, however 6T can raise identification chance to 100% with ugly but working display flash
- unreliable fingerprint unlock (same as on 6T, doesn't work in 50% cases and won't autolearn nothing)
- looks much better and less bulkier than 6T even in supplied cover. also 12g lighter but still heavy unlike sweetspot-weight champions S10 (157g) and S10e (150g)
- notch is bad, it cannot disappear smart like on 6T (with status bar still on, yes the newest versions adds change of shape - useless), to add to insult, the cutting of corners is wrong (prepare to see ugly fullscreen with different type of corner rounding)
- camera is poor in dark, no night mode (6T night mode is awesome)
- no IP certification, but ok to clean under water, not ok to immerse as the rubber in SIM card is poor quality, however display to phone is stuffed with branded water sealing solution
- camera is raised a lot, will scratch (the sapphire nonsense doesn't work)
- night mode renders some gfx unreadable, but this is problem with every android phone
- screen is nice, and super bright if needed
Overall hardware is no brainer for the price, software is total crap.
doggydog2 said:
- super hard to unlock bootloader
- there's no SD card and TWRP doesn't support USB, so you're broke when travelling, USB flash with flashfiles won't help
- absolutely bloated, incl. chiness apps even in EU version (need to disable all *xiaomi* and *mi* apps, firewall the rest)
- they override every app, every dialog, and modify even innocent com.android packages, so it's super hard to debloat
- insane settings, too much and not easy to read. Easily the hardest to set phone ever
- example of stupidy is battery section, have to click so much to see the chart and there's no % anywhere! Basic value. Like you virtually have no chance to know %, unless you set such status icon. why not reveal % when expanding notification menu like other models?
- unreliable fingerprint unlock (same as on 6T, doesn't work in 50% cases and won't autolearn nothing)
- camera is poor in dark, no night mode (6T night mode is awesome)
- camera is raised a lot, will scratch (the sapphire nonsense doesn't work)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well a nice feedback list, I just try to keep some points to clarify/to propose another perspective from another users to help others
- there's no SD card and TWRP doesn't support USB, so you're broke when travelling, USB flash with flashfiles won't help --> This is not really a problem to many users, just find a computer and not many people really have a need to do anything flashing without a computer.
- absolutely bloated, incl. chiness apps even in EU version (need to disable all *xiaomi* and *mi* apps, firewall the rest) --> Just put all those apps to a folder to forget it, and don't use them. easy, it doesn't take that much space. In EU rom, there's very few apps like that, and I can avoid them completely without removing or de-bloating them.
- insane settings, too much and not easy to read. Easily the hardest to set phone ever --> I found no problem this, you just change the one you need, in English there's nothing seems difficult to understand, at least to me.
- there's no % anywhere! Basic value. Like you virtually have no chance to know %, unless you set such status icon. why not reveal % when expanding notification menu like other models? --> just turn % battery on that just one tick.
- unreliable fingerprint unlock (same as on 6T, doesn't work in 50% cases and won't autolearn nothing) --> It works 80% number of times for me, of course, can't compete with real physical fingerprint, but definitely not 50% for me.
- camera is poor in dark, no night mode (6T night mode is awesome) --> Defaut camera has night mode, + Google camera is a much better choice
- camera is raised a lot, will scratch (the sapphire nonsense doesn't work) --> Yep, buy a camera glass protector + a case with the higher back which protect the camera
Some info hopes can help others as well.
It's weird that there are actually alternative ROMs, kernels, but not published here. Just installed the kernel with lovely wakelocks disabled. Hope it helps the terrible battery life.
The Xiaomi software is the worst seen while on XDA, cannot imagine it's even worse in non-EU version. Already thinking how life was easy with "configure and forget" 6T except omission of QC, QI and LED diod, which are the huge hardware advantages i'm dying for.
To make this phone usable, one needs to get rid of the software. The horror called MIUI. However switching to vanilla ROM brings common problems like on Samsung (Bluetooth not working, limited fingerpint, limited camera, no OTA). So the best would be heavily debloated ROM published here, injecting some vanilla stuff back. I'd remove Pemission manager, Security manager, clouds. Good luck!
Extra bizzare behaviour:
- if you don't set float notifications for the app, they will never show up (disabled for all by default so have to click hundred times just to change this settings, and another thousand clicks to recover other choices), however if you turn it on, they float notifications will be forced! (like VPN starting, navigation starting - events that never show up as popups)
- if you click clean memory from Security manager, battery manager or even "X" button in task manager, it will kill ALL apps (incl. apps which have highest priority due to notification, incl. VPN!) - how insane can this be?
- DLNA proudly in spec, but their apps can't cast or read UPNP folders, while all others can. But at least they can connect to Alibaba servers...
- nonstop popups about app going full screen (while there's no visual difference! already navbar gone because of Pie gesture setting)
- nonstop popups about downloading files on 3G (they had to touch this sacred group of processes too - Media+Download manager)
- you can change notification bar Setting icon to Search icon, feature mimicking the best Samsung's tool "Finder" except this one is weaker but with ad/spyware . Not only it won't trigger search but also you can't get to settings anymore (what if you don't have Settings icon in app launcher? reflash ROM?)
- boot keyboard.. are you kidding me.. unresponsive, hardly can type password there.. Shift equals Caps lock. Tt behaves like TWRP keyboard, don't type more than 1 character per second
I absolutely love Xiaomi devices but don't use them until I install xiaomi.eu rom. Of course you need to unlock it first and install TWRP but it's a must to get rid of some of the annoying things you wrote on your list. The roms are great and I use it on all of my Xiaomi devices. Check it out: https://xiaomi.eu/community/link-forums/roms-download.73/
razor_amd said:
I absolutely love Xiaomi devices but don't use them until I install xiaomi.eu rom. Of course you need to unlock it first and install TWRP but it's a must to get rid of some of the annoying things you wrote on your list. The roms are great and I use it on all of my Xiaomi devices. Check it out: https://xiaomi.eu/community/link-forums/roms-download.73/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The xiaomi.eu is so much better than the stock ROM ?
ManuBBXX said:
The xiaomi.eu is so much better than the stock ROM ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It is the same thing. but the developer version it has no ads, no bloat, clean and fast.
Here is the version that I use, scroll down the page and choose which options you want. This is a custom rom based on the latest Xiaomi.eu developer rom. The only difference is that you can add root and adblock.
https://mi-globe.com/rom-builder-features/?id=18&codename=cepheus&phone=Mi+9
@doggydog2 several things on your list are not correct. You are stating the USB OTG doesn't work? ( It does work) Spend some more time understanding how Miui works and then you will be able to cross off most of your list. Also you would be better off using the developer rom, or the Mi-Globe rom listed above.
tsongming said:
It is the same thing. but the developer version it has no ads, no bloat, clean and fast.
Here is the version that I use, scroll down the page and choose which options you want. This is a custom rom based on the latest Xiaomi.eu developer rom. The only difference is that you can add root and adblock.
https://mi-globe.com/rom-builder-features/?id=18&codename=cepheus&phone=Mi+9
@doggydog2 several things on your list are not correct. You are stating the USB OTG doesn't work? ( It does work) Spend some more time understanding how Miui works and then you will be able to cross off most of your list. Also you would be better off using the developer rom, or the Mi-Globe rom listed above.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
no OTG in TWRP that's valid except one recovery ppl avoid as it's Chinese. It's a huge deal especially when you have a device without SD card. Just today had to escape home early to recover the phone..what a new way to operate.
After hundreds of flashes, test of all available ROMs (except this one), recoveries, kernels and full functional check on this particular phone i've a good overview. Overall Xiaomi is a very outdated, over modified bloated ugly software. They should start from the scratch to be honest. Yes 10 years ago ppl would celebrate their extra functions, but today it's intrusive, useless or duplicit. That's why unique Samsung features are now dead (multiwindow etc) as Android implemented it. Xiaomi insists on their irrational UI, worst Settings UI hierarchy in the industry and replacement of everything. There's literally nothing innovative in the UI except single functional extra - data usage control - and you get more functions in AOSP. Few non-innovative things to like? Sure, notif lights, charging animations, call recorder not hidden.. But that's nothing new. The stuff like disabling all notifications and auto starts until users enables it, is insane. Memory management is a joke. Overriding all system dialogs is pathetic. Inserting wait times in confirmation popups is aggressive. Intrusive download manager is good just to block desired downloads from Google etc. Fantastic Pie features (QuickStep, switch apps by navbar) are disabled. Minimal difference in Global vs EU version spotted, i'd prefer global one and delete few extra spy/bloat/malwares myself just because of the ugly icons.
But anyway, I like that webpage. Thanks. It's cool to cook a ROM. Wished the updates were via OTA and directly from OS. They rip some more crap off, which is so much needed in Xiaomi phones. The question is: does mi-globe keep modified 3rd party app icons like Xiaomi.EU? Does Magisk18.1 work? I'd like to try luck with version 18 to improve battery life.
doggydog2 said:
no OTG in TWRP that's valid except one recovery ppl avoid as it's Chinese. It's a huge deal especially when you have a device without SD card. Just today had to escape home early to recover the phone..what a new way to operate.
After hundreds of flashes, test of all available ROMs (except this one), recoveries, kernels and full functional check on this particular phone i've a good overview. Overall Xiaomi is a very outdated, over modified bloated ugly software. They should start from the scratch to be honest. Yes 10 years ago ppl would celebrate their extra functions, but today it's intrusive, useless or duplicit. That's why unique Samsung features are now dead (multiwindow etc) as Android implemented it. Xiaomi insists on their irrational UI, worst Settings UI hierarchy in the industry and replacement of everything. There's literally nothing innovative in the UI except single functional extra - data usage control - and you get more functions in AOSP. Few non-innovative things to like? Sure, notif lights, charging animations, call recorder not hidden.. But that's nothing new. The stuff like disabling all notifications and auto starts until users enables it, is insane. Memory management is a joke. Overriding all system dialogs is pathetic. Inserting wait times in confirmation popups is aggressive. Intrusive download manager is good just to block desired downloads from Google etc. Fantastic Pie features (QuickStep, switch apps by navbar) are disabled. Minimal difference in Global vs EU version spotted, i'd prefer global one and delete few extra spy/bloat/malwares myself just because of the ugly icons.
But anyway, I like that webpage. Thanks. It's cool to cook a ROM. Wished the updates were via OTA and directly from OS. They rip some more crap off, which is so much needed in Xiaomi phones. The question is: does mi-globe keep modified 3rd party app icons like Xiaomi.EU? Does Magisk18.1 work? I'd like to try luck with version 18 to improve battery life.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't have time at the moment to address every point you make in detail. But I wanted to respond with a couple of brief suggestions that hopefully help. When I first tried Miui, I also hated it. But, I ended up trying it again and again via custom roms and eventually grew to love it. Many of the quirks have a workarounds, and some things that seem to be missing can be found deep in device settings, developer options, or app settings. You can often find some good info using the Mi Community app.
First full disclosure, I have a Mi8, my brother is the one with the Mi9. He travels alot for work and isn't very technically adept, so he is mostly fine with his phone as it is. As you know the Mi 9 is still so new and many of the stock AOSP features will be available to you when custom roms arrive...it will not be long.
The OTG issue that you are experiencing is tied to the version of TWRP that you are using. OTG will end up working and apparently it does work with some versions. I would guess that you are already experimenting on your own to find the right one.
Since no official version yet exists here is one that I found that supposedly works well : https://mega.nz/#!CH5jgYTB!yNqOiVoo3cf0_15jIwZ-btO52cvpOG7iZrRCe19V2Nc and Here is another one: https://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=79431805&postcount=215
Unfortunately, you will have to wait for a highly stable TWRP to become available that is able to survive through updates and remain in tact. We had these types of issues with the Mi8 as well, and I have had similar issues with my previous phone. But eventually things should work as expected.
I don't know how well you know Miui, some of the things you are missing can probably be activated deep within settings. For example, if you turn off Miui Optimization within developer options you can the install and use your missing Pie features. Such as https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.apps.wellbeing&hl=en_US
I use gestures instead of the NavBar, now that I have become used to it I can't stand using buttons. Also, I do get notified of OTA updates while using the Mi-Globe rom. I can select the rom to download automatically > about phone> system update settings. Once I receive that notification, I will usually manually go to the Mi-Globe page and download their updated version, and dirty flash it over the previous version. Occasionally I will need to reflash Root. But most of the time it persists. I keep a magisk flashed backup boot image in downloads just in case.
I use Magisk 19 Canary and have never had issues with root.
Good Luck
tsongming said:
Since no official version yet exists here is one that I found that supposedly works well : https://mega.nz/#!CH5jgYTB!yNqOiVoo3cf0_15jIwZ-btO52cvpOG7iZrRCe19V2Nc and Here is another one: https://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=79431805&postcount=215
Unfortunately, you will have to wait for a highly stable TWRP to become available that is able to survive through updates and remain in tact. We had these types of issues with the Mi8 as well, and I have had similar issues with my previous phone. But eventually things should work as expected.
I don't know how well you know Miui, some of the things you are missing can probably be activated deep within settings. For example, if you turn off Miui Optimization within developer options you can the install and use your missing Pie features. Such as https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.apps.wellbeing&hl=en_US
I use gestures instead of the NavBar, now that I have become used to it I can't stand using buttons. Also, I do get notified of OTA updates while using the Mi-Globe rom. I can select the rom to download automatically > about phone> system update settings. Once I receive that notification, I will usually manually go to the Mi-Globe page and download their updated version, and dirty flash it over the previous version. Occasionally I will need to reflash Root. But most of the time it persists. I keep a magisk flashed backup boot image in downloads just in case.
I use Magisk 19 Canary and have never had issues with root.
Good Luck
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Click to collapse
Thanks for a good reply.
Yes TWRP situation is tight right now, with "xiaomi9" vs "cepheus" errors, variety of gapps errors etc.. Testing all of them. Good to know this beta exists, i missed this recent info even when active on forums currently. I tried now and it looks great. Luckily on this phone encrypted sdcard doesn't cause any problem with flashing, so i'm ok to wait for TWRP updates.
I agree the full screen gestures are fantastic, i used them on Note9, 6T and Mi9. All of these phones customize original Pie navigation. Once i saw the original behaviour in AOSP ROM, the Pie task manager "Recents" with "QuickStep", and the navbar, i enabled buttons as this is so productive.. Scroll through full screen app previews back and forth, or swipe up app drawer from any app, hmmm. So cool.
Alright, OTA looks great. Although I believe OS doesn't know about your customization, so you better go to the webpage to decide which package to download.
I'm going to try this ROM. I'm not a gfx guy, i hardly ever used a wallpaper, but i really don't like the EU changes to app icons system-wide. I just can't look at 10 year old shortcut like TitaniumBackup looking different. Please let me know if you are aware of a fix. Thanks.
doggydog2 said:
Thanks for a good reply.
Yes TWRP situation is tight right now, with "xiaomi9" vs "cepheus" errors, variety of gapps errors etc.. Testing all of them. Good to know this beta exists, i missed this recent info even when active on forums currently. I tried now and it looks great. Luckily on this phone encrypted sdcard doesn't cause any problem with flashing, so i'm ok to wait for TWRP updates.
I agree the full screen gestures are fantastic, i used them on Note9, 6T and Mi9. All of these phones customize original Pie navigation. Once i saw the original behaviour in AOSP ROM, the Pie task manager "Recents" with "QuickStep", and the navbar, i enabled buttons as this is so productive.. Scroll through full screen app previews back and forth, or swipe up app drawer from any app, hmmm. So cool.
Alright, OTA looks great. Although I believe OS doesn't know about your customization, so you better go to the webpage to decide which package to download.
I'm going to try this ROM. I'm not a gfx guy, i hardly ever used a wallpaper, but i really don't like the EU changes to app icons system-wide. I just can't look at 10 year old shortcut like TitaniumBackup looking different. Please let me know if you are aware of a fix. Thanks.
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Click to collapse
I forgot to mention DM verity, you can get it and read about it here: https://forum.xda-developers.com/android/software/universal-dm-verity-forceencrypt-t3817389.
Regarding the OTA, in my case it usually pretty seamless since Mi-Globe is based on the EU weekly build. ( I prefer these builds because they have more features and zero ads) However, the Global Stable to Weekly or vice versa usually requires a little more work. But you are correct, I want to know for a fact what I am flashing so I will usually just manually download the update if using the Mi-Globe build.
Backup
I haven't had alot of luck with using Titanium backup recently on any of my phones that have recent Pie roms. I remember reading something about it being due to some changes Google made with security in late February? However, the built in Local Backup has worked for me every single time except once. It will backup all apps, and many of the settings not covered by Google restore. Its my main source of restoring settings and for me works better than Titanium backup. There is also the option of using Mi-Cloud ( which I also use redundantly) Then of course we can sometimes restore a TWRP backup data.
There are several other options, including free options that are similar to Titanium backup. Programs such as Migrate I have not used it yet. but I have read that it works. Like the Miui Local backup, Migrate supposedly restores everything. Including apps, that are not from the playstore, apps data and even flashed system apps such as Pixel/Sony/Samsung Live Wallpapers and then the remaining Google restore just takes a couple of minutes
Running global MIUI now. the Battery life is great.
The cooked version with Magisk 18 indeed doesn't work. Just upgrade to v19.
QuickStep magisk plugin doesn't work, i keep trying even if it looks like first OS must be able to provide Pie functionality, then you can tweak. Therefore: AOSP only Stuck with this
XiaomiEU app icons can be removed here: non-destructively rename /system/media/theme/miui_mod_icons (thanksgod)
tsongming said:
Also, I do get notified of OTA updates while using the Mi-Globe rom. I can select the rom to download automatically > about phone> system update settings.
Good Luck
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didn't find this setting, instead i was offered with xiaomi_eu version from today so i downloaded and pressed install which is quite comfortable. The only glitch is need to wait til TWRP installation is done and press Vol+ button (new Magisk 19.1 feature since today) to root with dedicated TWRP button 'Install root' (comfy). Then do some maintenance as many permissions are reset. Luckily disabled apps stay disabled. I'd like to script this and stick to xiaomi_eu as practically there's just miuidaemon extra feature in miglobal.
two problems:
- "can't connect to camera" for portrait mode in stock cam
- TWRP sees unencrypted files, other TWRPs won't boot
tsongming said:
It is the same thing. but the developer version it has no ads, no bloat, clean and fast.
Here is the version that I use, scroll down the page and choose which options you want. This is a custom rom based on the latest Xiaomi.eu developer rom. The only difference is that you can add root and adblock.
https://mi-globe.com/rom-builder-features/?id=18&codename=cepheus&phone=Mi+9
@doggydog2 several things on your list are not correct. You are stating the USB OTG doesn't work? ( It does work) Spend some more time understanding how Miui works and then you will be able to cross off most of your list. Also you would be better off using the developer rom, or the Mi-Globe rom listed above.
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This mi-globe rom seems insane !!
Great for the money but with software bugs that affect the usability. Video stuttering at 30fps and notifications issues.
As always, MIUI is the problem from a Xiaomi device.
4 me, xiaomi.eu is not an option, since they use chinese builds as a basis. If anyone known a project similar to him, but based in global ROMs, I appreciate it. Tks!
I think the MI9 is the best phone out there because of
1. Software (it rocks, especially RevolutionOS debloated)
2. Camera (the best one on the market as of now)
3. Performance/Display
4. The notch (I feel uncomfortable having retractable camera + I think a waterdrop notch looks sick)
It charges really fast and battery time is pretty good! Amazing phone for 400€!
Bought mine for 300£ the 128gb version. At that price could have bought a oneplus 6 but this phone is amazing. Compared to the oneplus 7pro the size is great and performance is really good. Will definitely buy again. The only pain is having to wait for the bootloader unlock!
Bought mine 6/128 Gt version at 498 € price. After a week I decided to switch to xiaomi.eu rom and with some additional tweaks (debloating with Xiaomi ADB/FastBoot Tool) I start to feel that the software starts to match with the hardware. I love the design, it feels comfortable in your hands (I use the soft case what was delivered with the phone) and with the tweaks it feels quite snappy and powerful tool for everyday tasks. MIUI mostly sucks but luckily you can use Nova launcher. I've been satisfied with the camera at this point (especially with the ultra wide lens) but I think it can still be improved and I should give a try for the GoogleCam as well.
android 10 seems to be in testing by samsung for our Tab S6 LTE (T865)
http://fota-cloud-dn.ospserver.net/firmware/DBT/SM-T865/version.test.xml
I read, it should be out in next spring ... .
m.
I hope earlier... Maybe some beta one ui 2. Tab s6 is only newest snapdragon Samsung which is not updated yet
... I hope so too but as you know hope dies last
m.
Chances are so slim, of course
Good to know thank you. I'm still pretty happy with android 9. I received android 10 on my note 10 plus and honestly it's not a big jump for me.
ivanox1972 said:
Chances are so slim, of course
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Well, the S10 series got it 2-3 months earlier than the roadmap, the S9/Note9 is getting it now, instead of the projected April 2020 release, so one would guess Samsung will also release it for the S6 earlier as well. Given how it's the current flagship tablet and all.
I think, earliest possible is March
aznmode said:
Good to know thank you. I'm still pretty happy with android 9. I received android 10 on my note 10 plus and honestly it's not a big jump for me.
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I also already have 10 on my pixel 3xl and to be honest I just turn on night mode on my S6 and it feels the same.
The only feature I really looked forward to was dark mode.
I'm hoping for a better DeX mode. Current works, but some apps are iffy, and some functionality is missing:
- always on top windows
- a more organised apps screen
- Improved taskbar with less clutter (gesture navigation should help with that)
- resizable handwriting keyboard
I hope for vibration settings, like on the phones. They are pretty limited on our tab s6. And rotation of the volume buttons with the screen orientation like in my old tab s. There are a lot of details that are not very nice on our flagship
m.
Don't forget about the boot animation that is shown in portrait mode.
A lot of little annoyances unfortunately.
Yep, exactly! Not really made with love the software
m.
fonix232 said:
I'm hoping for a better DeX mode. Current works, but some apps are iffy, and some functionality is missing:
- always on top windows
- a more organised apps screen
- Improved taskbar with less clutter (gesture navigation should help with that)
- resizable handwriting keyboard
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'll add to that:
- using the keyboard to launch apps is a mess. Needs revamping.
- Mousing is bad. Outside of DeX [middle-click] = [home] and [right-click] = [back]. This is so stupid that even if by some stroke of awful luck someone actually got used to it Samsung turns it off in DeX because of course [right-click] should trigger context menus!! But, DeX handles [middle-click] in a way that prevents apps from understanding it. So it doesn't send [home] anymore but it just doesn't work either. If you wonder what apps use middle-click try a mouse with Chrome on any Pixel device. It works like it does on PC. Let's mention scrolling. The mouse wheel can only scroll in-focus apps in DeX. Like old school Windows. The OEM trackpad can scroll background apps because someone at Samsung apparently tested that. Free windows in AOSP Android since v8 scroll background windows fine, just DeX has this problem.
- Keyboard nav isn't great and I don't mean the OEM hardware. I have so far noticed the [ESC] key appears to send [back] instead of [ESC] and that's a no-go for some work loads and just breaks the paradigm for no good reason.
-My 10+ in screen really needs the notification shade centered and consuming 6 in of width?
I am used to a Pixel C and before that a Nexus 10. Neither had DeX mode and neither had an S-Pen but both tablets knew how a friggin mouse works. Both tablets knew what the [ESC] key is for. Both could be made to feel like large screen landscape tablets. Both had serious flaws but I didn't think input devices would be a problem for the Tab S6. Realize the OEM trackpad doesn't allow right clicking outside of DeX because it would send the [back] command every time someone tapped with 2 fingers! This thing feels more cobbled together every time I use it (and I am a long time Android tablet user haha).
I'm annoyed and it's because I want this to be better and it feels close like it was rushed or something and could have been better.