OK, I’ve now spent hours with the phone setting it up and configuring it. I had to do it twice because it got stuck at the LG spinning progress bar and a weird “checking system” warning was displayed on boot. I had to hard reset it and rebuild it (always easier the second time). Interestingly, it’s behaving better after the hard reset so newbies might want to do a hard reset when they first get the phone.
I’m coming from a G2 so first a comparison:
It’s light. The G2 feels like it weighs twice as much.
It crisp looking. The G2 looks old next to it.
I hate the reversal of the home and settings soft keys. I’ll get used to it through retraining but it’s a pain.
The screen is more responsive and a lot more vivid.
The volume rockers on the right vs. left side isn’t a good thing because when holding the phone to use the power button your hand is naturally right where they are.
HTC has far more customization settings. There’s only one notification sound for everything and you can’t set a vibrate (either alone or with sound).
Bluetooth audio is 1000% better. It sounds like a CD in my car. You can also answer a call and Bluetooth audio starts up again – a huge bug in the G2.
Not having LED’s sucks and the bizarre charging screen LG implemented as a replacement when you press the on/off switch is just stupid.
The things I like about the phone:
It’s fast. I’m using ADW Launcher and the 4D app drawer just flies. So does the moving wallpaper when scrolling.
WiFi is fast. It downloaded my Rhapsody playlists as fast as my i7 desktop.
Call quality is good – better than my G2 according to people I’ve asked.
The speakerphone works great, even with background noise. They hear me clearly and I hear them loudly.
It charges incredibly fast on AC power.
The battery life’s been good because I’ve been hammering away at it for hours. Although, once you go below 50% it seem to start dropping a lot faster.
It feels solid and good in the hand and the materials are high quality.
Bluetooth works better on this phone than any I’ve ever owned.
PlayOn which is a real CPU and bandwidth hog plays well over 4G which it didn’t on the G2 so the Tegra2 really does make a huge difference.
Things I don’t like:
4G is slow. My G2’s best speedtest.net score is 10289 down and 1582 up. The average is in the mid-8’s down and about 1.2mb up. The best score on the G2X is 7013 down and 1263 up. Average is in mid-6’s down and 1mb up. Not great performance for a state-of-the-art phone. One of the pro reviewers said it's slower than the SideKick, she's right.
The on/off switch is nuts. You have to press it forever and you still don’t know if it registered with the phone. I get that it’s so you don’t accidentally turn the phone on, but really? Also, since you have to press it so long and the volume keys are in a bad place you could accidentally restore your phone.
When the phone’s charging and you press the on/off switch some bizarre battery graphic appears. You have to press the switch again to get the phone to start up. If you press too long, it shuts down. Does anyone at LG actually use a smartphone?
Let’s talk software. TeleNav, really? Why load something that no one with Google maps is going to use that just hogs memory. And what’s with not pre-loading voice synthesis so you get a warning the first time you use voice dial to download it? They took out Quickoffice and replaced it with Polaris Office. You’d think you were getting a program to create and edit files, right? No, it’s a poor man’s version of Astro. All the T-Mobile stuff beside My Account and My Device is crap and a waste of memory.
There’s limited personalization. You get one notification sound for everything with no discreet vibrate option. HTC offers 10x the personalization.
I use Mobile Signal PRO to monitor my cell and Wi-Fi reception. It’s always been spot-on on my G2. It’s never shown the G2X to be on the 4G network while the T-Mobile indicator has never shown it to drop below 4G (which is impossible). Something funky is going on with the radio software.
Could this thing take any longer to start-up or shut-down? I mean seriously. First the LG logo, then the spinning progress bar, then the launching android, then loading internal SD, loading external SD, loading media files. All-in it’s easily twice as long to boot up as my G2. Same thing with shutting down. And after it got stuck on the spinning progress bar and I had to reset it, I cringe waiting for the stupid Android blast-off screen to appear.
So It’s only day two but I like more than I dislike. I’m definitely keeping it barring any unforeseen future weirdness once I start using it day-to-day. Hopefully as LG gets smarter with high-end devices some of the quirks will be addressed with software updates. Right now, based on the way I use it, I’d say it’s a good phone but not the phone-to-end-all-phones. There might be a Sensation in my future.
So, with all the sensors and bio metric measures going on in our smartphones, many of them being more gimmicky than useful, paired with our constant need for big screens, how about improving the one handed usage of our future devices?
I mean, for starters, app menus aren't properly designed for one handed usage. Many require you to swipe from the left edge oh the screen to right to bring out a menu located on the left of your screen, starting from top to bottom.
Now you try reaching the top left corner menu of your handy smartphone without having to hold your phone in an uncomfortable, dangerous way (danger of dropping it) to reach the option you want to manipulate, be it the inbox, or recent messages, or compose an email, all of those options are usually located top left corner.
I know there are some solutions, some very archaic, like iPhone Plus' solution, that turns the big screen into a small one, or the more usual one handed keyboard found on your every Android phone.
But in my experience these solutions are not optimal, because, for example, in my Xperia, I have to go through like 3 clicks to turn the keyboard into a smaller one handed variation. Non optimal for quick access.
Why don't we have menu lists start from bottom to top so they are more within reach of our available hand/thumb? Why don't they design adaptable apps?
And that's where sensors come in, how come we don't have sensors in our smartphones that detect the with which hand we are holding our phone?
Be it left or right handed, in order to accommodate menus and tools within reach of your thumb, and have the interface of our smart apps adapt quickly and automatically to the hand we are holding our phone with, relying on sensor information. Be it the keyboard, email app, camera, or whatever your mind is capable of imagine.
Because let's be real, sometimes we quickly pull out our phone with either hand that's available on the go, and seamless access I think is needed in our everyday fast lives.
What do you think of this idea? Is it remotely doable? I'm no developer, but everyday usage create needs that are easily covered with current tech I think. I want to hear your thoughts.
I have worked with android sensors but I cannot imagine what kind of sensor the phone would have to have to detect if you are holding the phone with left or right hand. However somehow I imagine that this kind of sensor would not be difficult to make.
Someday I want to be a designer solving this kinds of problems and improving user experiences even by small amounts.
I think a touch sensor on the bezels would be enough.
DrKrFfXx said:
I think a touch sensor on the bezels would be enough.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I also envisioned something like this first. Now however I and thinking that maybe proximity sensor could be used to recognize the thumb.
Shouldn't be too hard to detect which hand you're using based on touches on the touchscreen when you scroll.
Sent from my LG-D855 using Tapatalk
Hi,
I come from sony xperia z3 compact, which had a really cool feature, stamina mode, and what i especially liked about it, is that when it was activated and you locked your phone (screen lock) - it restricted ALL background data, no exceptions. Only when you lighted the screen, it would activate the data. Does anyone know, how can i achieve the same feature with the Samsung S7. Basically all i want is that if i lock my screen, all the background data is truly disabled?
Samsung's equivalent of stamina mode would be the "Power Saving" option, of which there is two tiers("Mid"and "Max"). Background data is restricted by default in both modes, although I think the "Mid" tier still allows it periodically.
Yeah i saw them, thanks for the input, although the MAX setting makes the phone lose its features. I will try the MID setting (i disabled the limiting of cpu and some other stuff, because i want it to function normally when i use it). Maybe theres an app, that will make it work just like i want it. Because the s7 battery should last longer - with sony, wifi off and background data restricted, i sometimes got like 4 days without charging. I am not a 24/7 nose in the screen type of a guy anyways, i mostly call and when neccessary look stuff up on google and read my mails. Would be nice to extend this S7 battery to around 3 days or so with such usage.
Mickovich said:
Yeah i saw them, thanks for the input, although the MAX setting makes the phone lose its features. I will try the MID setting (i disabled the limiting of cpu and some other stuff, because i want it to function normally when i use it). Maybe theres an app, that will make it work just like i want it. Because the s7 battery should last longer - with sony, wifi off and background data restricted, i sometimes got like 4 days without charging. I am not a 24/7 nose in the screen type of a guy anyways, i mostly call and when neccessary look stuff up on google and read my mails. Would be nice to extend this S7 battery to around 3 days or so with such usage.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can add *some* apps for use in MAX mode, most notably WhatsApp. Maybe use Tasker to toggle data when the screen turns off?(Would need root though). But yeah, there's only so much you can do for a big AMOLED paired to a power hungry SoC I've never known more than a day and a half's usage though. Perhaps other people have better suggestions.
so far its been 6,5h since last charge, and its on 91% - with the mid power saver mode, cpu limiter disabled, screen res on FHD, screen brightness about 40-45%, wifi off, and gps on high accurancy - it looks somewhat promising. I'll see how long it will last on that charge and proceed from there.
My G4 just died, should I get the VZW version of the Pixel 2?
I just want to swap in the nano sim and keep going.
I want to use a custom rom so I need to unlock the bootloader, is this possible?
Swapppa has some reasonable offerings........
LG was a bad experience, want simplicity at its android best.
spyknee said:
I want to use a custom rom so I need to unlock the bootloader, is this possible?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not if you buy the Verizon version
Sent from my Pixel 2 using Tapatalk
ok and then
can I use my current nano sim for puppywireless, a verizon mvno, with the unlocked google edition pixel 2? Verizon wants cdma phones......................
You can buy the unlocked version from Google and use it on Verizon.
>Do I want a Pixel?
Depends on if you do or not.
Jokes aside, you can unlock a Verizon P2 if it hasn't taken the Jan update yet. Visit in store and ask to see a P2 in box, no SIM or wifi please. The box will indicate the factory software. Once you find a winner (hurry, they're fading from inventory) just carefully apply the unlock steps and enjoy.
Go Ahead
Yes, you should, Pixel mobiles are the best mobiles according to my friend's opinion, I'm also going to buy it next week but first I have to write my assignment.
So, I now own a new Pixel 2 Google Edition.
1st Pros:
Luv that its already stripped down and lean in the stock OS. @8.1.0 ver.
1st Cons:
Device does not report battery lvl correctly in notifications tab, always states 100%, icon always shows full.
WiFi icon appears to show only on, no signal strength at all.
Totally dislike notifications tab period! Too much redundancy! To much access points to the same stuff.
Decided that it should be a central home screen. A group of 5, home at center. Now that leaves 4 sides or edges.
1 edge for calling and texting, swipe left edge
1 edge for social media outlet of choice, swipe edge right
1 edge for camera and video, swipe edge down
1 edge for video and music playback, swipe edge up
Or could be other choices instead. Point being all the different access methods, repeat the same things so lets get simple.......................
Its about personalized customization of actual use. right now we just customize the presentation of gui's, color, form. There is nothing intuitive about OS use tho!. Things like smart bullitain are really useless and forced on us, seriously, wonder around with a live feed always going.......no.
spyknee said:
So, I now own a new Pixel 2 Google Edition.
1st Pros:
Luv that its already stripped down and lean in the stock OS. @8.1.0 ver.
1st Cons:
Device does not report battery lvl correctly in notifications tab, always states 100%, icon always shows full.
WiFi icon appears to show only on, no signal strength at all.
Totally dislike notifications tab period! Too much redundancy! To much access points to the same stuff.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Interesting: on 8.0 the Pixel 2 battery meter stuck at 100% charge for a long time (not permanently), but that was fixed by updates. Should not be a problem with 8.1.
And the WiFi icon works just as expected, i.e. shows signal strength (though no "activity arrows" if you were used to those). So this sounds like something is wrong.
I'm not sure what you are saying about the notifications. Can you give some examples?
Things like smart bullitain are really useless and forced on us, seriously, wonder around with a live feed always going.......no.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't have anything forced on me - I just turned off (or didn't turn on) anything that didn't interest me (with Google's launcher being one of the first things to go). There are always alternatives.
So I have discovered that enabling the ui demo mode was the problem with the status bar and battery level reporting, enabling this bad.
I have learned of and enabled the system ui tuner. This ended all the phone functions, status reporting, very sweet. Now the status bar just reflects certain running services.
I also installed the Android P theme launcher, I like it. Has a sidebar option, the ability to hide the status bar, the ability to alter dock settings. So I essentially dumped some cpu reporting cycles, so to speak, let see how bat life responds.
Without root, I have gotten closer to what I want. Need to get TWRP installed and a nandroid made.
Next thing,
Ambient- Always On Display, many internet posts for disabling. Do Not Disable!
Affects the screen saver display and wake up, touch screen. The touch screen seems to need this enabled for better response. I decided to enable the edges as well. Turned it to full squeeze. Do not wish the assistant but it seems that disabling it, and the rest really upsets touch screen.
spyknee said:
Next thing,
Ambient- Always On Display, many internet posts for disabling. Do Not Disable!
Affects the screen saver display and wake up, touch screen. The touch screen seems to need this enabled for better response. I decided to enable the edges as well. Turned it to full squeeze. Do not wish the assistant but it seems that disabling it, and the rest really upsets touch screen.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ehm, AOD is just a additional option that is included so you can check the clock and whatnot without the need of turning on your screen.
The touch response in the screen is controlled at the kernel driver level and is only affected (in a negative way) by yourself and your fingers and how dirty the screen is.
spyknee said:
Next thing,
Ambient- Always On Display, many internet posts for disabling. Do Not Disable!
Affects the screen saver display and wake up, touch screen. The touch screen seems to need this enabled for better response. I decided to enable the edges as well. Turned it to full squeeze. Do not wish the assistant but it seems that disabling it, and the rest really upsets touch screen.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I might be the only one but I disabled aod with no ill effect that I am aware of. I don't care for it.
Also, enabling the up-down arrows on wifi-data is a simple mod.
aod affects pick up wake, double tap wake. touch responsesivness is very finicky as is, worse with aod off.
spyknee said:
aod affects pick up wake, double tap wake. touch responsesivness is very finicky as is, worse with aod off.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You are just experiencing some placebo side effects, mate. AOD have NOTHING to do with the screen sensitivity.
The screen- and touch response is controlled at the kernel driver level. Not at software/application(s) level.
AOD
My issue was this, if I left the phone idle and untouched for awhile and then came to it and double tapped the screen, it would not wake up. I would have to use the side button to open. Sometimes the action of lifting would allow the double tap to work, but inconsistant. Doing the squeeze for the assistant was inconsistant as well.
The touch screen acts inconsistantly. If you do a horizontal movement, it interferes with a vertical swipe, I mean things seem to get canceled out. I have to initiate action multiple times to win.
heres the deal, i do not give a flying bleep whether its a hardware or software issue, I would like smart answers that give a solution, not assign a blame or fault. Or tell me I am somehow misinterpreting what I percieved.
So here is my take. The dam phone is overloaded with redundant crap, that steps on each other, interfering with it self. IMO everything in this phone should be disabled at purchase. The consumer should then enable those things it wants! Possibly eliminating over extended, overlapping services and hardware.
Now I say this because it appears that in fact to much was being asked of the phone and it was flipping out basically.
I dumped some google software, pretty much what it would let me.
I disabled the screen saver function, my belief is this was why i would not wake up. Screen saver or no, it times out going to the aod clock display, which I like. Now the phone responds to a lift and double tap everytime......................................................................................
I was using a single home screen, with the android p launcher sidebar. My issue was using swipes to navigate web sites, read stuff, sift thru pages. The swipes were not responding properly, PITA. It seems that by using a single home screen, it stilts the screen edge, makes a dead zone, interferes. Not to mention the right side slider swipe icon is useless as presented. It seems that enabling a 2nd home screen helps with that dead zone. Its not 100% when swiping thru pages but response has gotten more tolerable.
IMO
Thanks to fakebook, everyone should understand what these devices are truly about, DATA MINING.
Google
Verizon
LG,HTC,Samsung,Hauweii
Each and every phone has at minimum, 3 different forms of active data harvesting going on. manufacturers, carriers, media apps. The greatest performance killer of all, not to mention...........................................I have come to despise predictive search algos, targeted marketing adds, basically digital junk mail inundation.
So,
Been using the pix 2 awhile now. Really hated Oreo so I went into beta play to get pistachio. Used ver 3, now 4.
I really liked the initial ver 3 update cuz it removed so much bloat from carrier crap. Less google crap too it seems.
Now I like the responsiveness much better with ver 4. I still have everything I can disabled, disabled or removed. No AOD, active edges, tap to life, no music, movies, tv. No auto pay, auto track, auto search, google talk, nada.
Its a com device, an internet search device, thats it! Bat life is good, real good.
These devices are overburdened with non-sensical, redundancies, that create huge performance impacts. Seriously, how many ways are there to access a smartphone, on all at once.
Now I lift the phone, touch the physical button and walla, works every dam time.
Yep, flexible to meet millions of users needs...
Just dropping this here: https://forum.xda-developers.com/pixel-2/help/worth-buying-pixel-2-june-2018-t3803197
It might also give anyone also in a similar situation additional information to help deciding.
Knowing how powerful ADB is, I was wondering if it would be possible to get a more granular control of battery saving features with ADB?? By example, I think it would be cool to limit processor speed while keeping tilt to wake gesture. Right now, battery saving mode work as an all or nothing mode. I used ADB to remove Samsung bloat and now I can comfortably make it through two days (not wearing it at night) but, it would be great to go even longer.
For now, I used developer mode to disable all animations, not sure how much of an impact it have but, it's better than nothing.
I just found this post here: https://forum.xda-developers.com/t/changing-cpu-governor-with-adb.4193163/ . It was intended for use on a Note 20 phone but it still look promising. I'll try it once I get back from travelling.
Clearly, power saving mode change cpu governor, among other things, on the watch. Now, I just need to get the same governor change without all the other things.
Any luck?
One has to assume that the engineers at Samsung are doing their research and setting things up to be as reasonably efficient as possible. Overdoing it (lowering CPU too much or for too long or at the wrong time, for example) could cause unexpected issues or instability.