Develop Bugs

GPS on Froyo seriously messed up! Can this be fixed?

There are a few threads on the various Froyo releases, their features bugs etc. but nothing that touches on Froyo's GPS issues specifically.
I'd like to know whether anyone has successfully changed the 'look ahead' behavior that all the Froyo firmwares come with so far.
For those who have not experienced, i.e. not YET noticed this 'feature', here is a brief description:
On Froyo the GPS is showing you exactly where you are even while driving at speed. There is no delay whatsoever. All is well while you are going in a straight line.
The problems begin when you either stop abruptly or take a sharp turn. It then takes the GPS up to a few seconds to come to terms with what just happened. I can only assume this is due to some software component 'smoothing' the path by making up positions, i.e. looking ahead.
I uninstalled JPH and JPK. GPS doesn't do me any good when I see myself still driving down the same road after I took a right turn 5 seconds ago. JM8 and a number of other Eclair firmwares do not suffer from this.
Has anyone successfully 'downgraded' the GPS component of Froyo? Is this even possible? Is there a way to disable the 'look ahead'.....somewhere hidden in settings or some hidden menu?

ewok666 said:
Has anyone successfully 'downgraded' the GPS component of Froyo? Is this even possible? Is there a way to disable the 'look ahead'.....somewhere hidden in settings or some hidden menu?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did you turn on the "Use Sensor Aiding" feature? That's new in Froyo. Try turning that off. It's in the Location menu.

hardcore said:
Did you turn on the "Use Sensor Aiding" feature? That's new in Froyo. Try turning that off. It's in the Location menu.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks. I thought I had that disabled. Is this on by default? I'll give that a try next time I load a Froyo firmware....if there was a quick way to nandroid back without an Odin restore, EFS fixup plus all the Voodoo conversions that would be sooner rather than later ;-)

ewok666 said:
Thanks. I thought I had that disabled. Is this on by default? I'll give that a try next time I load a Froyo firmware....if there was a quick way to nandroid back without an Odin restore, EFS fixup plus all the Voodoo conversions that would be sooner rather than later ;-)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The default is off
It greatly helps when it's on I think

Arkanius said:
The default is off
It greatly helps when it's on I think
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Isn't it meant to aid while walking? I can see that this may be causing when driving.

Well, there is absolutely no reason this option to decrease performance.. At least shouldnt be, unless Samsung screwed something up as usual. (which actually may be the case)
I had mine set to "off" by default. There is next to no difference while driving.

xan said:
Well, there is absolutely no reason this option to decrease performance.. At least shouldnt be, unless Samsung screwed something up as usual. (which actually may be the case)
I had mine set to "off" by default. There is next to no difference while driving.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As I said in the OP, I've always had the issue that GPS took seconds to realize that I changed direction or suddenly stopped. I'm just guessing that something that is intended to help stabilize GPS at slow speeds (walking, swimming with the dog, etc.) might cause a similar effect while travelling in a car.

swimming with the dog? I shat bricks ;d
Anyway, yes that right. Since its like phone is calculating from the sensor (compass, g-sensor -> speculating here) reads the approximate direction and pace you are moving at. It *might* be a problem with g-sensor read, becouse I find it quite flaky (using gps testing utilities exposes its terrible lag and low sensitivity)
BTW is it better after disabling it?

xan said:
swimming with the dog? I shat bricks ;d
Anyway, yes that right. Since its like phone is calculating from the sensor (compass, g-sensor -> speculating here) reads the approximate direction and pace you are moving at. It *might* be a problem with g-sensor read, becouse I find it quite flaky (using gps testing utilities exposes its terrible lag and low sensitivity)
BTW is it better after disabling it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, there was a guy in another thread who claimed his Galaxy GPS was spot on. To proof that he uploaded a track of his walk with the dog and it clearly went right through the river a couple of times........I thought THAT was hilarious! ;-)
I might flash Froyo once again and play with that setting......still hoping that the Galaxy CAN do acceptable GPS. :-|

i'm mostly happy with the gps software on JPK (compared to JM8 which was already better than "official")
but the lag you're speaking about is killing me. there's waaay too much delay. sure it makes nice recorded tracks, but using it you'll see its crap
going to try my track with aiding stuff off tomorrow although im not sure its going to help

Well i am using JPK and the MOTONAV is running......ok, but i got "GPS LOST SIGNAL" every 10 minutes and the map jump around, after 10 seconds it will find signal again and back on track. anoying.

I borrowed an iphone 4 to test that thing's GPS and compare it to the Galaxy.
I have attached the Horror kml track file. It's no better, if not worse, than the Froyo stuff. I certainly did NOT expect that!
The kml can be viewed with Google earth and other GPS programs.....
And for the record....I did drive ON the road at all times ;-)

There is a new trend obviously. The more expensive the phone, the more messed up the GPS. LOL
What a total fail for the high-end devices these days.

bilboa1 said:
i'm mostly happy with the gps software on JPK (compared to JM8 which was already better than "official")
but the lag you're speaking about is killing me. there's waaay too much delay. sure it makes nice recorded tracks, but using it you'll see its crap
going to try my track with aiding stuff off tomorrow although im not sure its going to help
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
did not help ;D

bilboa1 said:
did not help ;D
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Bummer......
Maybe they looked at the iPhone and thought it was a great 'feature'.

Oh man, if 2.2 firmware didn't get the GPS issues resolved, then it's pretty much useless for me. I'm happy with the overall phone as it is, minus the GPS issues.

stan28 said:
Oh man, if 2.2 firmware didn't get the GPS issues resolved, then it's pretty much useless for me. I'm happy with the overall phone as it is, minus the GPS issues.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The GPS issues will NEVER be resolved - it's a hardware problem. You probably just won't ever get Samsung to admit it, now they try those lame "sensor aiding" dirty fixes, but that's just another proof that it's a hardware problem - why else would they spend time doing the sensor aiding?
EDIT: I hope Samsung proves me wrong

MoWa22 said:
The GPS issues will NEVER be resolved - it's a hardware problem. You probably just won't ever get Samsung to admit it, now they try those lame "sensor aiding" dirty fixes, but that's just another proof that it's a hardware problem - why else would they spend time doing the sensor aiding?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
PROVE IT!!! You are presenting hypothesis as fact, and that might be acceptable in places such as Digg, but it is inappropriate on developer websites.
Also, how do you know that sensor aiding required much much work? After all, it's predictable polling from already working/predictable sensors, unlike GPS sensors which pick up a fuzzy idea of where you are, is affected by satellite coverage, etc.
Sensor aiding can assist even GOOD GPS receivers indoors, tunnels and in areas where signal can drop (heavy trees, huge skyscrapers). Yes, even on Garmin units, this can be handy. We all know that the faster you travel the greater inaccuracies which are incurred, and this can help reduce inaccuracies in those scenarios. There are plenty of reasons to implement this functionality, and not all point towards bad hardware. Samsung probably has a few groups of programmers being thrown at different problems, because programmers aren't scalable, and there is a limit to the number of developers which can work on a specific issue/bug/improvement.

andrewluecke said:
PROVE IT!!! You are presenting hypothesis as fact, and that might be acceptable in places such as Digg, but it is inappropriate on developer websites.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I can't prove it - but I can use my brains to put together the circumstantial evidence. Sorry if that isn't good enough for you.

MoWa22 said:
I can't prove it - but I can use my brains to put together the circumstantial evidence. Sorry if that isn't good enough for you.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You SAID "The GPS issues will NEVER be resolved - it's a hardware problem", and spreading random rumors like that makes XDA appear unprofessional, and benefits nobody. I've just simply noticed a recent trend towards guesses being slowly changed to fact here in XDA developers, and I'd like to try to reduce the frequency of that happening

4.0.4 Data Drops Problem - Google doesn't care about this problem.

It is 20 days since we report a problem with drops after update to 4.0.4 . I judge that it is already too long and we should already have a fix. Now when all customs roms are using a new base, people who have this problem are forced to use an old 4.0.2 because with 4.0.4 phone useless. I think it would be good to start ask Google for any official statement because it is embarrassing for me that that they have such approach to theirs flagship phone.
This thread https://code.google.com/p/android/issues/detail?id=28133 shows that Google has completely no respect to us because there is now prove information that they even try to fix the problem.
Whats a shame Google.
Maybe should we start inform all gadget sites about this behavior?

Hey kid, stop being such a drama queen.
This is not how software development works. It takes time to iron out bugs. It takes time to first find out what causes the bug and then fix the bug and then it takes three times longer than that to make sure that the bug does not cause other bugs in the system.
Let's not forget how long 4.0.4 took to arrive in the first place. They originally released 4.0.3 and then discovered some bugs. Fixing those bugs apparently caused issues in 4.0.4 that no one saw coming, this means that the bug is not easy to find and is difficult to test for. They are doing it as fast as they can.
And let's not forget that not all devices are even affected. I've been on 4.0.4 ever since it was released and I've not experienced a single data drop. So it does not happen with all devices and may be region or carrier-specific. This makes it even more difficult to test for.

you honestly think they are able to push another update to a fix in 20 days?

kara mustafa said:
I judge that it is already too long and we should already have a fix.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You seriously think 20 days is too long to identify the problem that doesn't affect all devices, develop a fix, test the fix, and push it out?

Just started noticing I have this problem.
I just reboot and it fixes, a hassle, but whatever. reboots pretty fast lol and only happens rarely

luftrofl said:
You seriously think 20 days is too long to identify the problem that doesn't affect all devices, develop a fix, test the fix, and push it out?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You don't, apparently.
1. It does not affect all devices.
2. Lets rush a fix and not test it so other issues can occur?
3. If the issue is a radio problem, Samsung needs to fix it for Google to push it.
Even if developers worked 24/7 including weekends and holidays, that is pretty humorous to think that.
Re #3:
Samsung does nothing fast other than fatten their wallet. Yep, I said it, Google does not code radio firmware.

adrynalyne said:
You do, apparently.
1. It does not affect all devices.
2. Lets rush a fix and not test it so other issues can occur?
3. If the issue is a radio problem, Samsung needs to fix it for Google to push it.
Even if developers worked 24/7 including weekends and holidays, that is pretty humorous to think that.
Re #3:
Samsung does nothing fast other than fatten their wallet. Yep, I said it, Google does not code radio firmware.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The radio seems fine since I tried stock 4.0.2 with the XXLA02 radio (from the 4.0.4 package) and everything worked wonderfully.

adrynalyne said:
You do, apparently.
1. It does not affect all devices.
2. Lets rush a fix and not test it so other issues can occur?
3. If the issue is a radio problem, Samsung needs to fix it for Google to push it.
Even if developers worked 24/7 including weekends and holidays, that is pretty humorous to think that.
Re #3:
Samsung does nothing fast other than fatten their wallet. Yep, I said it, Google does not code radio firmware.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I do?

Same problem here, have to reboot to fix it, any alternative suggestion?
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using XDA

To be honest I think it does affect all devices. I say this because I was away on business when 404 came out. Where I was I was in a lot of cinder block buildings and frequently without full signal. I had hspa and umts during that time but it wasn't a 21 or 42 mbps area like where I live. I often dropped signal on 404 that I didn't when I had 403 there. Now, after coming home back to my area that has a better coverage and such, I've not had one drop in signal. I really think its dependent on the towers and saturation whether you have the problem or not. I would still like to see a fix from Google. In the process of gaining battery life, I think they messed up smart reflex in respect to how it powers the antenna.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium

luftrofl said:
I do?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Lol, he must have misunderstood you.

No, it was a typo and I corrected it.
I meant to say, apparently, you do not. As in, he believes it only takes 20 days to diagnose, text, and implement a fix, which is funny
No fix is diagnosed day 1.
There is time to needed to find the problem.
There is time needed to create a fix.
There is time needed to properly test it, else other bugs show up.
Developers do not work 7 days a week.
Not every Android developer will be assigned to the fix.
There is time needed to ramp up an OTA again in two flavors, ICL53FD_to_IMM76D, and IMM76D_to_whateverthebuildnamewillbe.

Jayrod1980 said:
To be honest I think it does affect all devices. I say this because I was away on business when 404 came out. Where I was I was in a lot of cinder block buildings and frequently without full signal. I had hspa and umts during that time but it wasn't a 21 or 42 mbps area like where I live. I often dropped signal on 404 that I didn't when I had 403 there. Now, after coming home back to my area that has a better coverage and such, I've not had one drop in signal. I really think its dependent on the towers and saturation whether you have the problem or not. I would still like to see a fix from Google. In the process of gaining battery life, I think they messed up smart reflex in respect to how it powers the antenna.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No it does not.
It does not affect CDMA devices, and I have found some GSM users on this forum it does not affect. Folks here just think that XDA is the hub of the world, and therefore if there is a large amount of issues being noted, it must be everyone. Because you know...everyone posts on XDA and other phone geek sites. I am not saying the bug isn't real, just that it isn't happening to EVERYONE.

Theshawty said:
The radio seems fine since I tried stock 4.0.2 with the XXLA02 radio (from the 4.0.4 package) and everything worked wonderfully.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It still could be the radios. There is a reason they change radios with each release.
For example, 4.0.4 by itself for CDMA users does not see a signal improvement. 4.0.4 radios on a 4.0.2 or 4.0.3 rom does not see signal improvements. However, 4.0.4 rom and 4.0.4 leaked radio firmware sees a signal improvement.

luftrofl said:
I do?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It was a typo, but you knew that.

Theshawty said:
Lol, he must have misunderstood you.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
reading is difficult..

Some people have reported getting the IMM76I update starting about an hour ago, so for those with the issue, it may help you.

adrynalyne said:
You don't, apparently.
1. It does not affect all devices.
2. Lets rush a fix and not test it so other issues can occur?
3. If the issue is a radio problem, Samsung needs to fix it for Google to push it.
Even if developers worked 24/7 including weekends and holidays, that is pretty humorous to think that.
Re #3:
Samsung does nothing fast other than fatten their wallet. Yep, I said it, Google does not code radio firmware.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
He was saying it with sarcasm. You should probably learn what that means before replying.

hotleadsingerguy said:
He was saying it with sarcasm. You should probably learn what that means before replying.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
He wasn't being sarcastic. Nice try.

luftrofl said:
reading is difficult..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sure is, considering I said several times it was a typo and you still didn't comprehend.

GPS failure - hardware or software?

hiho!
I own the one x for a few day now, but the phone has some errors i didn't know from htc till now. The GPS ist unaccurate. Navigon says i'm driving with 50 km/h while i'm standing at a red trafficlight, or it turns 180° or 360°, jumps more than 300 meters into other streets...
is this a softwareproblem?
greets,
grosser204

No this is a hardware issue. I had the same problem with my first Onex bought on launch day. I was sat on sofa in the front room and was doing 72mph and bouncing from street to street. Thankfully I had only had the phone 2 days so I exchanged it at store and 2nd one has been fine since.
Sent from my HTC One X using xda app-developers app

I don't personally think this is a hardware issue.
It seems to me that it is a software/radio issue. My GPS was jumping about until i updated my radio and now it's more accurate and doesn't fly around the place.

grosser204 said:
hiho!
I own the one x for a few day now, but the phone has some errors i didn't know from htc till now. The GPS ist unaccurate. Navigon says i'm driving with 50 km/h while i'm standing at a red trafficlight, or it turns 180° or 360°, jumps more than 300 meters into other streets...
is this a softwareproblem?
greets,
grosser204
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's a known issue with many HTC One X handsets. You should get it replaced. One of my friends had the same issue, he tried updating the software etc. as suggested by HTC's support. But it didn't fix the issue, finally after much cribbing they replaced his phone.
Let me know if I helped by clicking thanks

sun_strings said:
It's a known issue with many HTC One X handsets. You should get it replaced. One of my friends had the same issue, he tried updating the software etc. as suggested by HTC's support. But it didn't fix the issue, finally after much cribbing they replaced his phone.
Let me know if I helped by clicking thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
indeed, i can tell you 100% its hardware i took a video when it was doing it which you can find here
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nVsL6flRNtk
is this the same
whilst taking the video it wasnt as bad as it had been, this was only jumping in a 50m radius
when i asked a dev of ARHD he suggested it was probably a bad Logic Gate in the GPS chip
find it hard to believe its software/radio as the replacement i got (2days after launch) on the same software/radio did not have this problem

bagofcrap24 said:
indeed, i can tell you 100% its hardware i took a video when it was doing it which you can find here
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nVsL6flRNtk
is this the same
whilst taking the video it wasnt as bad as it had been, this was only jumping in a 50m radius
when i asked a dev of ARHD he suggested it was probably a bad Logic Gate in the GPS chip
find it hard to believe its software/radio as the replacement i got (2days after launch) on the same software/radio did not have this problem
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I fail to believe this.
If indeed it's a hardware problem how would i experience this before the update and not experience it after the update? It wouldn't make sense?
Can we ask what software version you're currently on? If you're on what i think you're on then it explains EVERYTHING

smidgeox said:
I don't personally think this is a hardware issue.
It seems to me that it is a software/radio issue. My GPS was jumping about until i updated my radio and now it's more accurate and doesn't fly around the place.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
radio? sorry, my english isn't the best. what does it mean? what did you do?

grosser204 said:
radio? sorry, my english isn't the best. what does it mean? what did you do?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No worries
A radio is basically the hardware which is used to utilize/use anything connectivity-like. Such as, wifi, phone signal, mobile internet and... GPS.
HTC along with their OTA updates, send updated radio firmware updates which improve signal issues, gps, wifi dropping, call dropping all signal and gps related issues really.
It's how my GPS jumpy issue was fixed, your problem sounds a lot like mine.
I could be wrong, but i wouldn't cry that it's a severe hardware fault yet :fingers-crossed:

If it is a soft issue. Why would it only effect a handful of users.
Also my 2nd 1X currently has been on all Software versions from launch and never had this GPS bug.
You are dilluding yourself if you think its software.
Maybe they have bodged it in the software updates like they did with the flickering screens.
I'm not going to argue this point anymore but if I was you. I would be looking for a replacement from supplier.
Sent from my HTC One X using xda app-developers app

bagofcrap24 said:
If it is a soft issue. Why would it only effect a handful of users.
Also my 2nd 1X currently has been on all Software versions from launch and never had this GPS bug.
You are dilluding yourself if you think its software.
Maybe they have bodged it in the software updates like they did with the flickering screens.
I'm not going to argue this point anymore but if I was you. I would be looking for a replacement from supplier.
Sent from my HTC One X using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's a great point, the answer is exactly the same as the screen flickering issue & missing storage space. Some people got affected, others didn't, it's as simple as that. All i know is that MY problem was software. How? Because i no longer have the issue after updating, simple really. I don't claim to know everything nor do i know for a fact the OP's issue is software or hardware and neither do you.
There's nothing wrong with a debate? So why you're getting so angry and irate i'll never know

I also had problems with the GPS: could not save walking tracks, because all that jumping made each track at least double the length I walked in reality (well, it always sounds great to tell that I walk at an average speed of 20kph )
This was solved when not using AGPS (and, of cause clearing the cache)
But that made it difficult to get a location quick - most of the times it took longer than a minute, even when outside.
I changed to the Viper ROM and all problems have gone! So, in my case this definately is a software problem.

smidgeox said:
That's a great point, the answer is exactly the same as the screen flickering issue & missing storage space. Some people got affected, others didn't, it's as simple as that. All i know is that MY problem was software. How? Because i no longer have the issue after updating, simple really. I don't claim to know everything nor do i know for a fact the OP's issue is software or hardware and neither do you.
There's nothing wrong with a debate? So why you're getting so angry and irate i'll never know
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When I started my new phone for the first time it wants to perform a complete Systemupdate. I did it, and nothing went wrong. But there was no radio update. Where can I find it? Is it possible that this update is not a available in Germany, because i heard of a htc update for the one x that is rolled out in the us, but not in europe. Can anyone send me this updatefile?
thanks...

grosser204 said:
When I started my new phone for the first time it wants to perform a complete Systemupdate. I did it, and nothing went wrong. But there was no radio update. Where can I find it? Is it possible that this update is not a available in Germany, because i heard of a htc update for the one x that is rolled out in the us, but not in europe. Can anyone send me this updatefile?
thanks...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, but did you check the radio numbers before you updated? If not you wouldn't know. What is your software number you can find this under settings, about and then software information please tell us those numbers
Sent from my now amazing HTC One X thanks to TeamVenoms ViperX rom

Here are the numbers needed...
smidgeox said:
Yeah, but did you check the radio numbers before you updated? If not you wouldn't know. What is your software number you can find this under settings, about and then software information please tell us those numbers
Sent from my now amazing HTC One X thanks to TeamVenoms ViperX rom
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Android-Version 4.0.4
HTC Sense Version 4.1
Software-Nummer 2.17.401.2
HTC SDK API Stufe 4.23
HTC Extension Version HTCExtension_403_1_GA_20
Kernel-Version 2.6.39.4-g090b42e, [email protected] #1, SMP PREEMPT
Baseband-Version 2.1204.135.20
Build-Nummer 2.17.401.2 CL89015 release-keys
Browser-Version WebKit/534.30

I got a new update, but it didn't fixed the problem. The posted version-numbers above are the new ones. Please help me with this radioupdate.
Thanks
Sent from my HTC One X using xda app-developers app

grosser204 said:
I got a new update, but it didn't fixed the problem. The posted version-numbers above are the new ones. Please help me with this radioupdate.
Thanks
Sent from my HTC One X using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So you're on HTC stock Rom?
Sent from my now amazing HTC One X thanks to TeamVenoms ViperX rom

"Stock Rom"?
smidgeox said:
So you're on HTC stock Rom?
Sent from my now amazing HTC One X thanks to TeamVenoms ViperX rom
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you mean original delivered HTC-Rom, then yes I am.

Hmmm. .. is there no one out there who can give me the needed software for my hardware?
Sent from my HTC One X using xda app-developers app

You have the correct radio. I'm not sure what else you want.

Solution for bad compass?

I have been sorely disappointed with the compass on my Nitro. When I got the phone and it was on 2.3.5, the compass was amazing. But, as time has gone on, it has become useless.
I've looked through several forums and contacted LG directly. LG offered to take it in for warranty repair but, because of my job, I can't be without a phone for the 10 days that it would take to have it sent in.
My question is: Has anybody found a successful solution to the bad compass?
I have tried it on ICS 4.0.3 Leak, Stock ICS 4.0.4, CM9, CM10, and ParanoidAndroid.

mattman86 said:
I have been sorely disappointed with the compass on my Nitro. When I got the phone and it was on 2.3.5, the compass was amazing. But, as time has gone on, it has become useless.
I've looked through several forums and contacted LG directly. LG offered to take it in for warranty repair but, because of my job, I can't be without a phone for the 10 days that it would take to have it sent in.
My question is: Has anybody found a successful solution to the bad compass?
I have tried it on ICS 4.0.3 Leak, Stock ICS 4.0.4, CM9, CM10, and ParanoidAndroid.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Go back to stock gingerbread and see if your compass works there. If not, sorry bud, nothin I can do to help you except say send it for warranty repair. I got mine back in a week.
Sent from my LG-P930 using xda premium

I'm in the same boat, check out this thread over at the LG Forums:
http://support.lgforum.com/lg/topics/lg_nitro_hd_compass_doesnt_work
LG knows about the issue and suggests recalibration...But as you'll read that doesn't work for some people, or at least not for long (myself included) and someone even had a warranty replacement done and STILL had the same issues with the replacement!!

mattman86 said:
I have been sorely disappointed with the compass on my Nitro. When I got the phone and it was on 2.3.5, the compass was amazing. But, as time has gone on, it has become useless.
I've looked through several forums and contacted LG directly. LG offered to take it in for warranty repair but, because of my job, I can't be without a phone for the 10 days that it would take to have it sent in.
My question is: Has anybody found a successful solution to the bad compass?
I have tried it on ICS 4.0.3 Leak, Stock ICS 4.0.4, CM9, CM10, and ParanoidAndroid.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You know what? I haven't had any problems with the compass. At all. Ever. Any explaination?
Sent from my LG-P930 using xda premium

rani9990 said:
You know what? I haven't had any problems with the compass. At all. Ever. Any explaination?
Sent from my LG-P930 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
when did you get your hardware?
have you tried to use google sky? or wikitude? or other augmented reality apps?

typhoonk said:
when did you get your hardware?
have you tried to use google sky? or wikitude? or other augmented reality apps?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes I use Google sky maps. Works like a charm. I got this phone in April
Sent from my LG-P930 using xda premium

rani9990 said:
Yes I use Google sky maps. Works like a charm. I got this phone in April
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Interesting.
For me, it's not that the compass doesn't work at all, it's just usually inaccurate and slow to respond. For example, if you just rotate the phone slowly while flat on a table with a compass app open, "north" should be pointing the same direction the whole time. But it doesn't, it varies quite a bit, sometimes ridiculously far off depending on the direction the phone is pointing. I assume it's something to do with poor magnetic shielding or something.

The only thing that consistently works for me is drawing figure-8's, just like I had to do with my old Motorola Milestone.
1. Open compass application
2. Hold the phone above you, parallel to the ground, with the screen
3. Keeping the phone in the same relative position, wave your arm in large figure eights like you were painting the sky. (by "same relative position," I mean the phone stays parallel to the ground, screen skyward, and you swivel your hand while making the figure eights so that the phone doesn't swivel.
4.Make about six figure eights in a row without stopping. Try to keep the same path, phone orientation, etc. The bigger the figure eight, the better.
5. Bring the phone back down so you can see the screen. The compass needle should slowly swing to North, and then hold North - until you move. Repeat if necessary.
6. Repeat as necessary. I have to do it every time I want to use the compass

[Q] common issues

Hi! I'm planning to buy the LTE version of this phone tom. I wanna ask what are the common issues that I need to check and or common issue after months of using like screen unreponsiveness or not accurate touch screen deadpixels so I can think for other options or I can live with the issues if there is a work around.. Thabks in advance!

kimdarrel said:
Hi! I'm planning to buy the LTE version of this phone tom. I wanna ask what are the common issues that I need to check and or common issue after months of using like screen unreponsiveness or not accurate touch screen deadpixels so I can think for other options or I can live with the issues if there is a work around.. Thabks in advance!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
All the 'potential' problem you list may or may not happen to you/anyone with any phones...
The only real problem with the S4 mini is the KNOX protection. Which prevent you modding your phone, as a triggered knox voids warranty.

Got this for about two months now, only issue that I couldn't fix is GPS... Gps is very unstable as for me. Also there is not that many roms with this device. I wouldn't buy this now... In general no samsung devices for me...

kodyro said:
Got this for about two months now, only issue that I couldn't fix is GPS... Gps is very unstable as for me. Also there is not that many roms with this device. I wouldn't buy this now... In general no samsung devices for me...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There's at least 8 ROMs if not more for the S4 mini... How many more you want? I have Sygic on mine, and it works perfectly.
However I may agree with the idea with no Samsung, but all the reason you given is not a valid one.

well i have to say, i don't really have any issues

Battery issue is a big problem. People talking around of it:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2775477&page=2
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2779448
in certain circumstances the battery drains very quickly.
Other than that, there is a custom roms, mine GPS working fine.
And i do not undurstand the fuss about KNOX, because if you want to replace it you can electrically shock the device, and no one can tell what rom did you had on it...

daywalker1914 said:
Battery issue is a big problem. People talking around of it:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2775477&page=2
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2779448
in certain circumstances the battery drains very quickly.
Other than that, there is a custom roms, mine GPS working fine.
And i do not undurstand the fuss about KNOX, because if you want to replace it you can electrically shock the device, and no one can tell what rom did you had on it...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That a software problem... particularly a kernel one. It not the phone itself. And if you want to talk about software problem, I want to know which phone doesn't have one? Even Google Edition phones that uses AOSP has problems.

Yes, all smart phones has software misgivings in one or another way, but all phones are comprised both of software and hardware, and for me, i cannot give hardware disadvantage to this one, i can only share my opinion on the problem with the battery (no one actuality confirmed 100% where the problem is, almost everybody suspects that it is a software - kernel, problem), because for me, the battery drains some times fast, some times slow, and this is really awful. I cannot relay on this phone.

TNCS said:
There's at least 8 ROMs if not more for the S4 mini... How many more you want? I have Sygic on mine, and it works perfectly.
However I may agree with the idea with no Samsung, but all the reason you given is not a valid one.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
basicly i've tried most of them, however it was device fault.