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Hey guys;
Not sure if this is the forum to submit ideas, but I wasn't sure where to go exactly. I've never wanted an android app developed until now.
So I'm looking into getting this controller for my sprinklers so I can control them from the web or my phone. I figured if I was on vacation for example and forgot to set my sprinklers from the controller in my garage, I could do it over my phone or any web browser if I buy this controller from this site.
http://www.quicksmart.com/qs_etherrain.html
On that page they say "Open API for Software Developers" so I'm wondering if someone is willing to take on developing an app for this? Do you see a good market for something like this? I will gladly donate!
Thanks in advance for any comments, etc
Hehe, that's an unusual request. However, I imagine that there isn't much of a market for this kind of app. Unless there's some kind of standard interface for internet-enabled sprinklers (even the concept makes me laugh ), the app would have to specifically support each brand. That would mean that the number of people interested in each app would be very low, or the dev would have to spend a lot of time working through all the brands to ensure compatibility.
I didn't read through their site in detail, but I take it that there's no configuration webpage that you could access? That would clearly be the easiest and cheapest (free!) solution. If someone had to write the app for you, it would probably end up costing quite a bit if they charged even just minimum wage for their time. That said, if the app is so important to you that you're willing to pay ~$100 for it, I'd look more closely at what writing this would really require. (You can see my previous work in the Android Market - Spectrum Puzzles.)
Well I dont think theres many brands... Rainbird is the most common out there. I was debating on this unit too:
http://www.irrigationcaddy.com/
I like it better, and I wonder if someone could just make an app that is based off this units browser interface. Prob not tho. It's a funny request cuz its not techy at all, but kinda amazing if u think about it to control ur sprinklers from ur phone. To me, yes its worth 100 or more
lol that could be jokes , send someone to get something in your garden get out your phone open the app and get them wet!!! lool
Lawn sprinkler app
I'd just like an app to turn and off a valve connected to my outdoor hose bib / faucet. I just planted some grass and need to water it 2 or 3 times per day. If I had a controllable valve I could set the times and durations from anywhere with my phone. Seems like something many people would pay for???
Necro thread!!
It's in the wrong section anyway - should be in Android General.
Thread moved.
I am a captivate owner and I have nothing to complain about.
The line above is a single sentence summary of this post. If you have no interest in the opinions of others or prefer to complain about a developers hard work then you should probably stop reading now.
After the countless hours I have spent in the Samsung Captivate section I am beginning to feel there is a growing void in the area of captivate compliments. It's as if people are angered by Samsung's apparent failure to achieve perfection. A post of positivity or satisfaction with our magical devices only seems to appear amidst the rampant firings of Iphone vs Captivate battles fanboy raids.
I do not intend to claim that Samsung has achieved perfection. Through the development and production of this device we can see that some apparent flaws have been made, HOWEVER!, these flaws are not attached to every captivate experience. After initially reading through this forum I would assume I have been blessed by the phone gods for providing me with the only fully functional captivate produced. After digging for some time though, it can be seen that there are a few who have had an awesome and intended experience with this phone. I never had a problem with GPS or Battery and I couldn't even complain about lag.
Rom after rom, my opinion has grown more positive. Through research and understanding I have learned how to make my device work more effectively for me. I have learned that most errors and malfunctions are simply user error or misinformation. A good and verified Master Clear can work wonders for a properly flashed phone's performance.
To the developers out there gilding the lily daily. You are awesome! Always should you receive an error log, but never should you hear a complaint.
I will end this with some things that have been making me smile since captivate release:
1. SAMOLED
2. Speed
3. Multitasking like a MoFo (Last.FM + My Tracks + HD video recording, simultaneously)
Updating with more smile factors:
4. Sleek sturdy hardware design
5. Phone sound quality and reception
6. Device/screen size
7. 3D acceleration
+1 to this. I too love my phone, it is a learnign curve and we have so many wonderful developers working hard to make out phones better. I agree that a little bit of learning goes a long way, most of the complaints I read and problems that are experienced are caused by over enthusiastic new owners that do not go through the proper steps for clean flashing and often have bugs do to this. Too many people improperly installing ROMS, not knowing the difference between Recovery and Download mode. Mostly due to not reading enough and following the clearly outlines steps. We all make mistakes and have all been noobs, no device is perfect and I know I had to spend two weeks of constant reading to know how to properly flash my phone, use adb, and various other usefull tools. I am constantly learning about Android and the Captivate, I am happy with my device and my current setup. These aren't I-phones thank god and you have to spend time to set it up the way it works for you, depending on individual needs and preference.
I also thing we have a wonderful comunity and need to work together to make it a pleasent atmosphere for all. I am truly enjoying my phone and appreciate the hard work the developers put into this.
The compaining gets tiresome, but with a little patience and learning these are really great Android phones. If you want something to work with no need to tweek and hack then Android id probably not the device for you, imo.
Happy to say the same! (without typing it lol)
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App
+1 Thank you for the post.
Good Post
I feel the same right now about mine. Everyone that has watched any of the hd movies I have loaded says the same...WOW...OMG...that looks awesome..
Does the endless complaining and *****ing do any good..Yes..it does..and while you are quite right in saying this is a great phone..please don't try to silence those who do complain about theirs..they have every right to do so,provided what they are saying is truthfull.
I know many have a hardon for Samsung because of the GPS issue..and also the 3-button recovery fiasco..and people should be made aware of them prior to buying so they can do as I did and get one that works..but..with out all of those B&M'ng threads I most likely would have not known about it..so IMHO they do serve a purpose.
On the good side..I love how fast this phone is,and how great it works..I'll be (hopefully ) even happy when 2.2 or Gingerbread is released..I do recommend them to my friends wanting to get one..and let them know to come here and sign up so they too can learn all about them and all of the great developers work on all of the phones ..This is a great place..with lots of good people working hard to make things even better for us..
Mac
It is a great phone. My friends marvel at my resolution and then bend their heads and text on theirs.
Since rooting I feel freer. Ahhh.
Mac11700 said:
Does the endless complaining and *****ing do any good..Yes..it does..and while you are quite right in saying this is a great phone..please don't try to silence those who do complain about theirs..they have every right to do so,provided what they are saying is truthfull.
Mac
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I do not intend to silence those with complaints about their device or experiences. I myself have listed my concerns with the device here on XDA. It is a crucial part of how our community gains understanding and shares information. I just think the overwhelming count of negative to positive posts can be frightening to a newcomer or perspective android convert. I don't want to silence the negative but encourage the positive.
The above being said, some refrain should be practiced when posting to a developers thread. I am no developer but I think some people have a tendency to be more critical than helpful when complaining about freely developed and distributed software.
Otherwise, point taken and understood. Thanks for the contribution.
I absolutely love this phone. The GPS is abysmal, the Facebook app is in severe need of an update and the lack of convenient stable visual voicemail, but beyond that the phone is awesome.
I love swype and the amount of apps and I seem to be constantly blown away by the screen. Also, the battery life is great compared to my 3g.
I was skeptical at first but I'm glad I dove in.
Well.. I do not have this phone.. But, I actually 100% understand what you mean..
The best example I can think of is a PC.
When you buy a pc, what is the first thing most (even remotely knowledgable) users do with it?
Install a few programs. I always use ccleaner, to get clear out extra files, you delete the "extra" programs you don't want (if you didn't build the pc yourself). You make quite a few changes as soon as you get it.
If your going to get a phone.. and really want to get the most out of it.. your going to have to mod it.. That means Jailbreaking it on iphone, Rooting it on android and voiding your warranty eveywhere.
If your squeamish about voiding your warranty and just want a phone for email/internet browsing.. The iphone 4 is a great choice and you are welcome to use it, Actually so is blackberry, Symbian, and a slew of other phone's.
The truth is complaints shouldn't be addressed to the phone.. but, more the respective manufacturers and carriers that prevent rooting and void your warranty for doing so.
If you know what your buying, I can't feel bad when you come back and complain... If you don't know what your buying, I can't feel bad for you at all.. Why? if your going to get the most out of *ANYTHING* in life your going to have to know what your getting into and be fully aware of your actions.. Those who aren't, I can't pity.
With that said.. I'm not saying people shouldn't strive to push manufacturers to fix problems, and being able to read warnings is nice before you buy something.. My biggest problem when I read complaints is, people don't feel the need to warn, express this dislike or try to address their problems..
They want to just run in cry, whine, and then blast the phone as if it killed their children, ate their dog and laughed in their face.
if I could persuade my parents to cover the data plan.. (not happening, they wouldn't even let me pay for it).. Then I'd spring for capt full cash right now..
Loving this thread . . . not really as much as I love persistent positivity and gratuitous kindness in general, but almost as much as I love my endearingly imperfect Captivate.
Nice work, '84. I'm gonna go ahead and assume that you're way too nice a guy to have bludgeoned to death and buried 83 to earn that nickname.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=809471
People ask me about my phone(captivate), and if they should get an iphone or captivate. Simple answer, if your a simple person, and don't like customizing or if your not really tech savvy, then get an iphone. But if you're the complete opposite, then go with an android (this is of course not involving jail breaking)
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App
Mac11700 said:
I feel the same right now about mine. Everyone that has watched any of the hd movies I have loaded says the same...WOW...OMG...that looks awesome..
Does the endless complaining and *****ing do any good..Yes..it does..and while you are quite right in saying this is a great phone..please don't try to silence those who do complain about theirs..they have every right to do so,provided what they are saying is truthfull.
I know many have a hardon for Samsung because of the GPS issue..and also the 3-button recovery fiasco..and people should be made aware of them prior to buying so they can do as I did and get one that works..but..with out all of those B&M'ng threads I most likely would have not known about it..so IMHO they do serve a purpose.
On the good side..I love how fast this phone is,and how great it works..I'll be (hopefully ) even happy when 2.2 or Gingerbread is released..I do recommend them to my friends wanting to get one..and let them know to come here and sign up so they too can learn all about them and all of the great developers work on all of the phones ..This is a great place..with lots of good people working hard to make things even better for us..
Mac
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Click to collapse
They have every right to complain, sure. But does that mean we have to be audience to these continually barrages of people who don't realize they have the choice to get rid of the phone if it doesn't suit them? I understand that we can have concerns, but if they're not handled constructively (ie varying, gps, lag, battery) they're cries should fall on deaf ears because I frankly don't need to hear it. Its been rehashed too many times to merit new threads and is far from necessary.
I come to this forum to get help with minor issues or improvement of my phone which is one I already love over my old 9700. That is why I love reading these kinds of threads where someone instead of injecting negativity into the community is seeking to shine a positive light. So here's to threads that offer help or new ways to improve the experience. Thanks OP glad you're enjoying your phone!
Dankenstein said:
Loving this thread . . . not really as much as I love persistent positivity and gratuitous kindness in general, but almost as much as I love my endearingly imperfect Captivate.
Nice work, '84. I'm gonna go ahead and assume that you're way too nice a guy to have bludgeoned to death and buried 83 to earn that nickname.
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Most people are pleasant and inviting in person then go to the internet to become complete troll nobs. I prefer to be an a repulsive ass in person and make people on the internet believe I am a nice and well adjusted individual. This process makes life more spontaneous and brings a since of humor to Online Dating.
In truth though, it is an engine reference for a "1984 Harley Davidson Shovelhead".
I love my phone. I love it more now that i have angry birds. Would like inter-op words with friends, but there are alternatives. I do wish the "issue" that people complain about gets fixed, but it doesn't bother me. I would barely use it anyway. To much like a leash to me. Did I mention I love my phone.
Shovelhead84 said:
Most people are pleasant and inviting in person then go to the internet to become complete troll nobs. I prefer to be an a repulsive ass in person and make people on the internet believe I am a nice and well adjusted individual. This process makes life more spontaneous and brings a since of humor to Online Dating.
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Click to collapse
That was the best laugh I've had all day!
I love my captivate. I admit to being a bit obsessed with it. I had GPS issues, but that was the ONLY thing I didn't like about the phone. I was hesitant to exchange it because I didn't want to end up with a different set of problems, but I did exchange it.
Now I love my Captivate AND I have a working GPS I use every day
Bob
+1
Coming from a jailbroken iPhone 3g, there is no comparison. This is my 1st Android phone and couldn't be happier with it. I've only had it about a month and i've learned a lot, mainly by reading these forums...hence why this is only my 4th post
this phone is so underrated. its as good as or better than any on the market today, yet all you hear is droid droid droid
chrisz5z said:
+1
Coming from a jailbroken iPhone 3g, there is no comparison. This is my 1st Android phone and couldn't be happier with it. I've only had it about a month and i've learned a lot, mainly by reading these forums...hence why this is only my 4th post
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Well, welcome to XDA and to your new mobile experience. Back in my WinMo days I spents weeks reading the Kaiser forums before my first few posts. All the new acronyms and software references can be a bit daunting, even for the savviest of geeks. Luckily I made a smooth transfer by running android ports on my winmo device before fully jumping in.
shadow65781 said:
this phone is so underrated. its as good as or better than any on the market today, yet all you hear is droid droid droid
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The annoying stab by the general uninformed public is an assumption that "Droid" is the correct term to reference all android devices. I blame Verizon and their conniving marketing department. The failed recognition of your device by a passing stranger does give you an opportunity to politely correct them with a showing of the wondrous features your technologically superior device is capable of.
This is just a PSA to all you vicious Android fanboys on this forum that hound anyone who asks the question "what phone should I get", especially when one of those options includes an iOS device or a WP7 device.
So let me get this started. I love Android. But Android is not perfect. Take a deep breath, and say it with me again, out loud.
"Android is not perfect." Was that too hard? If so the following explanation is for you.
Ever since Android first came out, people were hailing it as the iPhone killer. But in reality? It's really not. It may be getting there, and may be getting there quickly, but that's not that point.
It may be a surprise to many of you, but there are actually other human beings outside of XDA that use smartphones. Human beings that are not interested in rooting their phones or spending a lot of time completely customizing them or pushing them to the limit. These human beings want their phones to work when they need them, and that's all. Whether these phones are iOS, Android, or Windows Mobile/7 phones is completely irrelevant to them.
Except, it actually is. But see, not in the way most of you seem to think it is.
People shop for phones nowadays because the have an end they need to reach and they need the means to get to that end. Whether it's something as simple as checking an email message or quenching a thirst to play a game, they take into consideration what is the quickest, most hassle-free way to do this. This requirement is not because they are stupid. Most XDA users seem to think that anyone off XDA just buys iPhones because they are uneducated about "the true power of Android" and all that jazz. Guess what? That's not the case.
Yes. Here at XDA, we can do a lot with our phones. We root them, we build custom ROMs for them, we use features that were locked before, or get versions of our OS that aren't out yet.
But please be damn sure you understand that we are the minority. We will always be the minority. Your experience here doesn't define the mobile landscape, it only improves your personal experience with your phone. Just because you took a few hours to root your phone, find the perfect custom ROM, and settle down with it doesn't make the average Joe who just bought an iPhone (because it does what he wants easily and has all the apps he likes) a stupid user.
Here is the meat of this newsflash; Android wouldn't be here if it wasn't for iOS. (Going further, iOS wouldn't be there without Windows Mobile, and etc etc etc until we reached the very first man who asked 'why can't I see my email from my phone'). Apple took a chance on what people wanted, and realized they had something. They built an OS that was based on the ideals of OS X; simple, straight-forward, good looking, and well received. And so began the App and Data revolution. All of a sudden, the idea of having mobile data became real. These wonderful delicious little things called "apps" made the mobile world much more exciting than it had even been before. And so Apple hit a goldmine, and the mobile landscape had been painted. These apps were well-designed, fun, informative, useful, and people liked them so much, they started to buy paid apps. Apple knows how to market to people, and there success showed.
So then. Android.
Android was birthed out of the idea that Google could cash in on this app world. You may think the intentions were noble, with the idea that it was some pipe dream in the same way linux was; completely open mobile platform. After all, if Apple could have the success with a closed system, Google obviously could rock the world with an open one.
But it's not. Android, or at least what most people come to think of as Android these days, is not "open". It's open to phone manufacturers, and carriers, but that's it. It' snot open to the end user. Why else do we have locked down features, closed-source OEM skins that hinder future firmware upgrades? Why else do we have carrier-controlled Market restrictions? Why do some phones not ship with developer tools, or the ability to install from unknown sources?
Let me be frank. I love Android, but Android is a mess. It's a mess of a bunch of wonderful ideas that would have shined like nothing else in the perfect world, but a mess that didn't anticipate a simple fact; businesses like to make money.
The truth of the matter is that we don't have freedom with Android. Every little part of it has a restriction we need to bypass. Do you buy an expensive high end phone, or a cheaper low-end phone? Will you still be able to play those cool games on that low end phone? Will it get software updates? Is it safe from malware? Buying an Android phone has become the same as trying to buy a Windows PC.
It suffers from the same problem that Microsoft does when compared to Apple's line of computers. Apple builds its hardware AND its software, so they interface with complete precision and function. People with iPhones don't need to worry about security updates, or whether their phone will be obsolete. Apple may release a new phone every year, but the point is that those phones are made to last, both in terms of hardware and software. They even went the next step further and made the iPod touch, which gave phone users who weren't ready for smartphones a taste of what it was like.
My Sprint Hero came out on October 11th, 2009. The iPhone 3GS came out in June of the same year. Both were priced around the same amount, but what stands out to me the most when I think back to when I tested both that year? The fact it took Google this long to make an operating system which took ages to mature enough to be used by HTC to make a phone that STILL could not even give me a smooth web browser, something that the very first iPhone was able to do. Games on the Hero sucked in comparison to the 3D games that were playable on the iPhone.
Now then, Android smartphone hardware has advanced to a significant level, but the point of this whole rant is that Google has always been following in Apple's footsteps in the mobile world, and it's going to be that way for some time.
Be a bit humble about the begginings of Android and what it's become, and for f***'s sake, be a bit mature than just saying "LOLOLOL APPLE SUCKS GG GET ANDROID".
Because it's the rest of the world outside of XDA that defines the success of these mobile platforms, because I hate to say this, but you and I are not part of that outside world of mobile phone users, and we never will be.
The truth is, no one can really say what the "perfect" mobile OS is. All we can do is say what works best for us or what we prefer, but when we state it as fact, as though it's not arguable, that's when we become the fanboys that we so dearly hate. Just keep that in mind.
Opinions welcome, fanboyism from either side not wanted at all. Congrats on finishing this post.
Excellent post. Would read again.
Great things said there. I can see a point in it. But still, I don't either see Ios higher as Android since Ios is a mess too. Let me just take this simple statement. Music on a Ipod/Iphone needs to be converted from the computer to the device, you can't random download a song(on the device) from Internet and play it. Same as the file exploring.. if you want to search for a file, you find a file in some folder like: im/af/on/ar/qr, or just some folders which are messy, and the file types are unknown for the computer. All those small things give me the excuse to stay at Windows Mobile. Simply cause we can download music files and play it, simply cause there is great development on it, simply cause it can be customized how we want it.
Cool story bro
Sent from my HTC Glacier using XDA Premium App
d12unk13astard said:
Cool story bro
Sent from my HTC Glacier using XDA Premium App
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Good job. That must have taken some serious thought to come up with.
This is something I 100% agree with.
When I had a Samsung Moment, I had problems galore with it. Keyboard wouldn't type, horrible support, and the big network lockup. Mind you, a network lockup where you can't call out to anyone is against FCC laws. But just to get some type of damn support for the thing, I almost had to root it. And I'm sorry, but I shouldn't have to depend on an online community for support for a phone when the carrier and manufacturer of the phone should be doing that. What the hell is the point in buying the phone and paying damn near $70 a month if I can't use the damn thing?
Let's also talk about performance of the Moment and how unoptimized it was. The Moment uses the same SoC found in the Iphone 2g, and 3g. The only difference, stock 2g and 3g SoC is 600 mhz, clocked down to about 422 mhz for battery, while the Moment was 800 mhz. Both arm11 cpu cores. The Iphone 2g and 3g despite having almost half the clocked frequency of the Moment, was smoother and had actual hardware support and acceleration. Even this day, Samsung still does not have proper hardware support for the SoC being used in the Moment, Intercept, Transform, Spica, etc etc.
If done right, Android is pretty awesome I'll admit. But if I want a phone to work, I'll get something that actually works.
big advantage of android, but also a weakness:
it works well on many devices, but its not optimised for the spezific hardware of each phone...
gosualex said:
big advantage of android, but also a weakness:
it works well on many devices, but its not optimised for the spezific hardware of each phone...
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Good understanding
I love android because I love to tinker. Nothing could ever change my mind short of the os aging. I will say this flaws or not I refuse to give apple my money. So it's either wp7 or android.
My words to live buy if I can't hack it I don't want it. Just my 2cents
Sent from my A500 using XDA Premium Apps
I would agree iPhones support is a lot longer no network changes added, updates can brick the phones though.
Android need some love. Fragmentation. Networks slow to update. Ui 's being to sluggish to update the phone to higher levels.
All android phones should be aosp no extras from makers or networks.
Love my cm7/miui.us phone but most people would want to flash it or know how to. They would just think might as well get an iPhone.
Just my feelings. I own apple computers. Custom built pcs android phones had iPhones I still use an iPod touch in the kitchen as you can get the best speaker docks for them. Use what works best for the situation.
Sent from my GT-I9000 using XDA Premium App
Android security warning !!
I think android is the best system, but its very insecure if you let it on stock and don't secure it, root it, get rid of some apps and optimize it.
Did you know that a normal app with all permissions can get all your data?
-gps location
-contacts
-logs
-screenshots
-hidden camerashots
-sms/mms
-emails
-photos
-etc
BELIEVE IT OR NOT, THIS IS FACT !!!
There was a test in germany, where a developer made a app with all the rights to do the things above and send them hidden in the backround to a specified server to that he had access. So he could read and see all the things above and it was even updating immidiatly after a new sms or something came in and the testuser who installed it had no clue at all and was shocked when they told it to her.
The App itself was just making photos with a black censor stripe in the eyes and it seemed that it never could do that, but all the real action is going on in the backround.
By the way, he sayd it was very easy and many apps could do that and most of them really do that.
And what I know, many of you don't know or don't care and spread all your information to some companys that like to have them alot. And they allways want more.
Maybe you should spread this information by quoting this post or linking to it, because many people don't like to be ripped of their information.
Or do you like it, when someone is standing close to you and listens all what you say to your friends, when you have a private conversation ? I think not!
check out my signature also.
and be safe!
edit: i think i should post this as a new thread!
Great post, good read!!
Hard to say any mobile OS is perfect. But the world of mobile OS is developing quickly in recent years.
Haven't played extensively with Android and IOS. Currenly, I still think IOS is more polish. Android definitely have a lot of features and I am looking forward to where they take the OS to in the future. It seems like it's an OS that has a lot of support and has had to "grow up" really rapidly.
I actually agrer with everything in this post. Fact is the best technology in the world is technology that is stable, works, and allows the user to complete what ever task is needed.
Last night it was decided my wife and I are switching to verizon why? Cause the wife wants IOS and I am more partial to android and BB and thats the only carrier that has all 3.
Now to add on what was already said I think google needs to pick one manufacture purchase them then do exactly what apple does marry the hardware amd software together to get rid of what can be a problematic OS simply cause with some manufactures android is worse then on others.
Sent from my SPH-P100 using XDA App
(•.•) said:
I think android is the best system, but its very insecure if you let it on stock and don't secure it, root it, get rid of some apps and optimize it.
Did you know that a normal app with all permissions can get all your data?
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You give apps on an iphone or WM phone permissions to do these things too right, so this is a more general problem in the new mobile world...
BTW, I like you're post LiquidSolstice, you could almost call it a fact, it's not that the one is better than the other. It's just that they are different and the majority of people likes easy and simple...
I agree with alot of what LS mentions in the first post. My wife is one of those who could really care less about rooting, overclocking, mem management, or even what version of Android she is using for that matter. She just wants to be able to send that text without the keyboard "hicupping", or to make that phone call without the dialer lagging, etc. I like Android, but I don't like Google's.. well let's say "less than kosher" business practices and corporate involvements. I think a big point to remember is that there will always be people like us that get a huge kick out of toying with electronics. For some, it's a hobby, for others, a career. With that being said, there will also always be those doofies that get on sites like this one and annoy the living crap out of you. Everything needs to be taken in stride, and though there are those who appear to be clueless on a subject, always remember that we all have to learn somehow. Knowledge is not obtained through osmosis.
Android feels like a permanent beta. I prefer iOS for simple tasks plusSbsettings is unmatched. WP7 seems more like a feature phone, it doesn't tell you 'I'm smart.'
I mostly agree
I don't think the problem with android is really the fact that more than one company is involved in developing phones for android. The problem is that those companies, (OEMs & carriers) have been given way to much freedom to decide not only what processor & RAM the phone would have but to put their "stamp" on android. I think the blame for that partially falls on Google for not putting a stop to OEMs & carriers putting their bloatware on phones. Google has been asked multiple times to do something about the "fragmentation" issue & they've refused, so ultimately they are partly responsible for the "mess" android has become.
tsaxda said:
I don't think the problem with android is really the fact that more than one company is involved in developing phones for android. The problem is that those companies, (OEMs & carriers) have been given way to much freedom to decide not only what processor & RAM the phone would have but to put their "stamp" on android. I think the blame for that partially falls on Google for not putting a stop to OEMs & carriers putting their bloatware on phones. Google has been asked multiple times to do something about the "fragmentation" issue & they've refused, so ultimately they are partly responsible for the "mess" android has become.
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Well, carrier "bloat" --I put that in quotes because the current three major skins bring much needed features to Android (whether or not the execution is done well or not is a different argument)-- isn't quite what's killing it, it's the time spent optimizing the hardware for Android.
Android gets slapped on as many devices as possible and then sold as a low end affordable smartphone, and that's the issue, but that's the essence of Android at the same time.
ZeGuitarist said:
Excellent post. Would read again.
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+1 Outstanding post. Completely agree.
I'll throw my two cents on the at&t jelly bean update.
As some of you can see, I've been on these forums for a VERY long time. I've seen the forums go from basically an HTC win-mo board to the amazing place it has become today. Sadly, it seems like people seem to come here to whine more then to either innovate or at least take control of their devices.
Yes it's frustrating that AT&T hasn't released the jelly bean update for our device considering the update has been out for nearly 5 months now. But at the same time, this is XD-freaking-A! Where if you want anything on your device (short of Google wallet apparently), you cane make it happen. Root your phone, unlock your bootloader, and enjoy your phone as you want to.
I remember when people wouldn't bat an eye to dropping $600-$800 on a HTC TyTn II and it would come with 850/1900 HSPA so you didn't have to get stuck with ATT's crap and terrible support.
Lets get back to enjoying our device, and if that means going the Nexus device and/or unlocked device route, so be it. Don't let the carriers control you.
The lesson as always: less whining, more hacking!!
Sent from my HTC One X using xda app-developers app
Funny, I was just thinking along similar lines today. This board has changed a whole lot in the time I've been here. I also joined during the WinMo days, back with the TyTn II (AT&T Tilt). In those days, folks with smartphones were mostly early adopters. Sure, XDA existed long before that time, and there were even earlier adopters, by far. But back in 2007, smartphones and especially moddiing them were the realm of tech geeks only.
The smartphone world has now exploded and become mainstream. The demographic of people that visit this site is now very different. Lots of n00bs asking for one-click root solutions and video tutorials, instead of just reading and doing. A lot more n00bs asking the same questions over and over, without bothering to do any research. And asking for help without providing any background information. I remember the days when nobody would even help you, if you didn't have your carrier, phone version, firmware version, and radio listed in your signature.
So my specific peeve is a bit different (less about the whining, and more about users not wanting to learn and research). But the basic premise is the same: the user base here has changed a whole lot over time.
Hmm I'm not sure I follow Ya about people whining , we get sometimes a bunch of people who don't follow instructions or read any previous posts but it seems its just the normal new user issues until they get broke in. The hoxl community in my opinion is the best group around in xda. With s off and our awesome choices in many android based versions it seems any update from carriers would be a severe downgrade and at this point serves us no purpose. I guess to make long story short I'm not really sure what the point of this thread is ( no offense meant)
Sent from my HTC One X using xda premium
DESERT.TECH said:
Hmm I'm not sure I follow Ya about people whining
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The OP may (or may not) have had this particular thread in mind: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2167162
That's just one guy. But there is always a surprising number of people on here, waiting around for official OTAs, afraid to root/BL unlock their phones, etc.
Lol Ya that was a good example
Sent from my HTC One X using xda premium
Think this board's bad? should have seen the hp touchpad section right before it died. There's a new thread/post asking for someone to port win7 and win8 almost every day, and it's never going to happen lol.
Back in the day people who bought smartphones were geeks and tech heads, plus this site was mainly HTC devices WinMo devices. Now almost everyone has a smartphone so you get a lot of annoying people on here.
Ha! As bad as this place can get with noobishness, the iOS jailbreak community is worse because the barriers to entry are a lot lower. Pretty much everything is one-click once the exploits are found, and there's no division by handset like there is with Android. Bricking is next to impossible because you can easily recover and go back to stock through iTunes.
I haven't been at xda all that long, but I was into jailbreaking from when the 3G was released, which was mid-2008. Back then, it was only hardcore geeks and most people didn't even realize jailbreaking existed or had only the vaguest understanding of what it was. When I came over the divide last year, it had gotten so bad people thought you could jailbreak over wifi because iTunes does most things over wifi now. You would go through ten posts trying to help someone only to discover they didn't even have their iPhone plugged into their freaking computer. Plus you would have people showing up for the express purpose of arguing that you shouldn't jailbreak and that all of us were going to jail.
Everyone and their mom has a smartphone now. That statement applies to me as my mom has a Galaxy Note 2. The only thing I ever seen her do with it is look up celebrities net worth on google now :laugh:. I have never understood why would there be anyone here waiting for AT&T to release their JB Sense ROM when we have had it here for over 2 months. I'm here because I want to get the absolute best out of my phone that the purely stock experience cannot match.
NJGSII said:
Everyone and their mom has a smartphone now. That statement applies to me as my mom has a Galaxy Note 2. The only thing I ever seen her do with it is look up celebrities net worth on google now :laugh:. I have never understood why would there be anyone here waiting for AT&T to release their JB Sense ROM when we have had it here for over 2 months. I'm here because I want to get the absolute best out of my phone that the purely stock experience cannot match.
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Everyone and their mom has a smartphone, but not everyone and their mom comes here and talks about flashing ROMs. I expect stupidity in the forums as a whole from outsiders who just come here from a Google search, but people in the ROM threads are just as lazy and entitled. ROM threads are nearly impossible to keep up with because they're 1000 pages long and 980 of those pages are repeat questions. I'm new here so maybe that's the way it's always been but it's frustrating to say the least. If I don't come here for one day, I have 30 pages to catch up with on the single ROM I actually follow.
When I first bought my phone a good six months ago, coming from 3gs, All I did was troll up until now. The first thing I found was the thread to unlock, supercid and , root my phone, for att 2.20. I found two threads that would do it, the all-one-tool kit, and the x-factor exploit. I decided to go with the x-factor instead of the all in one because i wouldn't learn anything with the tool-kit. After that I ran into the problem of no rom, recovery, and an un-mountable sdcard. I did a quick search about the un-mountable sdcard in our forums here and found the Team Nocturnal SD Fix for evita. Once that was done i had a working sd card, trwp recovery but still no rom. So i did another search and found one of the best informational posts ever, Gunnyman's quick and dirty adb/fastboot primer this got me on track to start pushing rom zips to my sdcard without having a bootable rom and also told me that i had to fastboot flash boot boot.img every time I installed a new rom hboot 1.14+. And I still haven't had to ask any question on how to do something because guaranteed 100% that someone else has asked that very same question you just have to read and read some more, the only way someone hasn't asked your question is if you've been doing your own mod work that nobody else has seen.
I'm nowhere near as active as I used to be. Cooking your own winmo roms was fun in those days. But that was in College and at att when I actually had time to learn that stuff. Generally if you follow instructions to a T, you will be fine.
Sent from my HTC One X using xda app-developers app
I hate people who jailbreak at my school. Why? Because I'm the kid they b**** to about EVERYTHING. How do you jailbreak? Where did you download it? How do I install stuff? How do I get everything free? OH EM GEE MY PHONE KEEPS RESTARTING WHAT DO I DO?! JAILBREAKING SUCKS ITS ALL YOUR FAULT! To this I reply with "Google it you d*** a**" This being my first smartphone, I have used every peice of it. I have a girl who bought a gs3 and has yet to figure out how to put apps in folders. I can say, without a doubt in my mind. That I am the only kid in my grade with common sense for technology. I'm only in 8th grade so I pray it gets better in highschool.
-Sugardaddy Duncan
When did xda become so safe?
When did the scene become a joke?
The kids who used to live for custom and root
Now want their OTA and officials
Cursing and flipping n00bs are not allowed,
In fact let's keep dev only talk levels down
Must separate the church and skate!
When did xda become so safe?
I know it wasn't Turge or h8rift,
Who put up the barricades
Like a stake in the heart,
Somehow we got driven apart
Arrow44 said:
I hate people who jailbreak at my school. Why? Because I'm the kid they b**** to about EVERYTHING. How do you jailbreak? Where did you download it? How do I install stuff? How do I get everything free? OH EM GEE MY PHONE KEEPS RESTARTING WHAT DO I DO?! JAILBREAKING SUCKS ITS ALL YOUR FAULT! To this I reply with "Google it you d*** a**" This being my first smartphone, I have used every peice of it. I have a girl who bought a gs3 and has yet to figure out how to put apps in folders. I can say, without a doubt in my mind. That I am the only kid in my grade with common sense for technology. I'm only in 8th grade so I pray it gets better in highschool.
-Sugardaddy Duncan
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That's really interesting. I always assumed kids growing up these days (God I sound old) would be friggin' wizards of technology having grown up with it since birth. But maybe the opposite is true : where my first computer required a lot of WORK to do anything with (custom boot disks to run DOOM and whatnot), nowadays everything just "works" so kids will be proficient on the basics but absolutely clueless on anything beyond that because they never HAD to do it...?
thebobmannh said:
That's really interesting. I always assumed kids growing up these days (God I sound old) would be friggin' wizards of technology having grown up with it since birth. But maybe the opposite is true : where my first computer required a lot of WORK to do anything with (custom boot disks to run DOOM and whatnot), nowadays everything just "works" so kids will be proficient on the basics but absolutely clueless on anything beyond that because they never HAD to do it...?
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Literally 98% of my school has iPhone's and they're all dumb ass Isheep..it's embarassing to listen to some of their conversations sometimes.. it ashames me that I go to the sane school as them
thebobmannh said:
That's really interesting. I always assumed kids growing up these days (God I sound old) would be friggin' wizards of technology having grown up with it since birth. But maybe the opposite is true : where my first computer required a lot of WORK to do anything with (custom boot disks to run DOOM and whatnot), nowadays everything just "works" so kids will be proficient on the basics but absolutely clueless on anything beyond that because they never HAD to do it...?
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As the father of three school-age boys, I can tell you that in some ways, not a whole lot has changed. The baseline has moved, but the divisions are the same. Everyone has a phone and a computer, but there are still big differences in how much they care about them.
The average kids (the same crowd who wouldn't touch a computer when I was their age) are uninterested in the guts and only know the basics of how to use them. And there is still the geek crowd who wants to know everything and play around with it.
thebobmannh said:
That's really interesting. I always assumed kids growing up these days (God I sound old) would be friggin' wizards of technology having grown up with it since birth. But maybe the opposite is true : where my first computer required a lot of WORK to do anything with (custom boot disks to run DOOM and whatnot), nowadays everything just "works" so kids will be proficient on the basics but absolutely clueless on anything beyond that because they never HAD to do it...?
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This is true. I graduated highschool in 2007 to give you some perspective. The student body of my school was a little under 1000 for each grade. Of this, there were 15 of us "computer guys". Nobody else knew anything, nobody else cared.
I feel like I'm getting old, watching everyone around me. I'm a senior in college now, getting a bachelor's degree in telecommunications & systems administration. You'd be suprised to hear that most of my classmates know relatively little about computers, especially at a lower level. Hell, one of my friends who just scored a great job at target corperate IT didn't know what a CSV file was until I scolded him yesterday. Kids these days are stupid.
Sent from my HTC One X using xda premium
ECEXCURSION said:
This is true. I graduated highschool in 2007 to give you some perspective. The student body of my school was a little under 1000 for each grade. Of this, there were 15 of us "computer guys". Nobody else knew anything, nobody else cared.
I feel like I'm getting old, watching everyone around me. I'm a senior in college now, getting a bachelor's degree in telecommunications & systems administration. You'd be suprised to hear that most of my classmates know relatively little about computers, especially at a lower level. Hell, one of my friends who just scored a great job at target corperate IT didn't know what a CSV file was until I scolded him yesterday. Kids these days are stupid.
Sent from my HTC One X using xda premium
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I guess I get not knowing the innards /lower level stuff, but you'd think general USAGE would at least be second nature by now.
It's like with cars. Almost everyone knows how to drive and uses a car daily, but only a small percentage can fix them or understand how they work.
Most people, young and old, don't know/don't care about how computers and phones work.
The absolute non structure weirdness and quite frankly appallingly terrible decision to remove actual forum sections has had an impact on everybody, not just the end user but every single person who uses XDA.
A weirdo decided to change something that needn't be changed, but went and did it anyway, they altered something that meant that you HAD to add a category otherwise your thread will literally sit in limbo without a category.
Who on earth tboght this was a good idea? It isn't, it's pitiful. The familiar development, Q+A, general, themes are GONE!
In its place is one section of threads, no order whatsoever, perhaps if they've chosen to pick a category but they don't have to, it's not mandatory??????
Whoever sanctioned this needs sectioning.
Web version rant over......
Onto the app!!!
Where can I start, I actually enjoy looking back on previous devices, why?
Because they actually are formatted and filtered correctly, you know like a FORUM!!! Like a normal forum like the billions on the internet...
For some reason that's gone, you've got a weird plethora of non negotiable threads with zero distinction besides what the title is; which again is subjective if it even has been categorised.
Beyond the absolute mentalness.
You cannot choose a category on the app.
I actually paid for the premium version of the XDA app back in the day...why?? If ever there was an advert for ripping off an awful dev, it's this, I pay for all my apps I don't do warez but this is an incentive to do the prior.
You! Soon after the elimination of the XDA premium app which wasn't like 20p it was a few quid, made an ad laden version which was worse, now it's barely usable.
What is going on?????
I'd say I'm sorry for feeling this way but it genuinely feels like a director who's face fits just got a job and he has to change something for the sake of changing it.
It's idiotic!
One senior mod actually told me that they did it to save bandwidth !!!!!
Reputations are built in years of hard work, work you've already done, yet there destroyed in seconds, with an idiotic decision, something you've just done.
No gif could describe the facepalm I wanted to convey, I can only say one word.
No..
Final thought:
XDA is an amazing place, a place I've loved for years, I've seen and met some phenomenal people, so much talent and promise, so much collaboration it makes me proud to not only be an Android enthusiast but human in general.
All you've done is give us hurdles to jump.
Get the old system back. Don't change something because it could be do it for the right reasons, if it's too be taboo then at least have a vote on it. Personally I think you'll find it's a one sided event.
The new system is abysmal and there putting it mildly.
As most parents have said to their crap kids.
"I'm not upset, I'm just disappointed"