New Android/S3 owner going insane over 3 issue - AT&T, Rogers, Bell, Telus Samsung Galaxy S III

Greetings. After testing the water with a GNex for a week, I was so impressed with Android I locked myself with AT&T for another two years and bought an S3. It's been almost two weeks with the S3. There are issues that I'm willing to overlook for the overall package, but there are three issues that are completely driving me insane that I might return the S3 for. I tried to post this in the mega S3 annoyances thread but I couldn't.
1. The S3 is auto-adding every single misspelled words into the my word list. The only way I find to stop it is to turn off predictive text, which turns everything off including basic spell checking.
2. I copy and paste a lot in the email app. The left text selection handle is upside down, so I can't see where my text selection begins unless I place my left thumb nearly upside down on the screen. It is the same way in the browser, but it's less of an issue in the browser since it brings up the magnifying glass. In the Gmail app the text selection handles are the way they should be.
3. Getting and syncing new email in the email app is horribly slow. Typically it would sit there with the spinning circle for a minute (or longer) before new messages come in. Half the time it would look like it finished syncing but no new email is there, but I would have 3 new messages in my inbox. The other times I would read and reply and delete an email, but on my computer that email is still unread on the browser. This behavior is not consistent as there are times syncing is instant. Gmail does not have this problem. And somewhat related, sometimes the new email notification doesn't automatically clear up after I read a new email, this happens on Gmail as well.
I really love this phone, but these three issues are absolutely driving me insane and I'm ready to pack it up and return it. Please someone tell me these issues are because I don't know what I'm doing :crying:

1. Use any alternative keyboard - Swype, ICS, Swiftkey etc
2. Use alternative Email app, or forward all your email to Gmail account.
3. See 2.
Do quick reading in general - you'll find many interesting things.

iosandroid said:
Greetings. After testing the water with a GNex for a week, I was so impressed with Android I locked myself with AT&T for another two years and bought an S3. It's been almost two weeks with the S3. There are issues that I'm willing to overlook for the overall package, but there are three issues that are completely driving me insane that I might return the S3 for. I tried to post this in the mega S3 annoyances thread but I couldn't.
1. The S3 is auto-adding every single misspelled words into the my word list. The only way I find to stop it is to turn off predictive text, which turns everything off including basic spell checking.
2. I copy and paste a lot in the email app. The left text selection handle is upside down, so I can't see where my text selection begins unless I place my left thumb nearly upside down on the screen. It is the same way in the browser, but it's less of an issue in the browser since it brings up the magnifying glass. In the Gmail app the text selection handles are the way they should be.
3. Getting and syncing new email in the email app is horribly slow. Typically it would sit there with the spinning circle for a minute (or longer) before new messages come in. Half the time it would look like it finished syncing but no new email is there, but I would have 3 new messages in my inbox. The other times I would read and reply and delete an email, but on my computer that email is still unread on the browser. This behavior is not consistent as there are times syncing is instant. Gmail does not have this problem. And somewhat related, sometimes the new email notification doesn't automatically clear up after I read a new email, this happens on Gmail as well.
I really love this phone, but these three issues are absolutely driving me insane and I'm ready to pack it up and return it. Please someone tell me these issues are because I don't know what I'm doing :crying:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When I was using stock keyboard it wouldn't add my words to the dictionary unless I swiped upward on the word that I wanted to add. If I just tapped on the word it would add it to the text but not to the dictionary. Just hitting space would use the predicted word.

Halmo said:
When I was using stock keyboard it wouldn't add my words to the dictionary unless I swiped upward on the word that I wanted to add. If I just tapped on the word it would add it to the text but not to the dictionary. Just hitting space would use the predicted word.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hitting space or selecting the word (misspelled or not) from the predictive text area will both add that word to the my word list. I kept wondering why some gibberish made its way into my composed messages, and one quick look in the my word list my jaw was on the floor.
Maybe I'll look at other keyboard as bravo suggested. But I'm still kind of in shock at this behavior - why would it auto add every misspelled word into the list? Why have a spell check at all

I personally uninstall Samsung keyboards from all their phones and use the aosp/aokp keyboard. Its much better IMO. As for email, I've never used a stock email app ever. I've used K9 pretty much since I got my Captivate. Backed it up with TiBu, moved it over to my S3, and everything just worked.
Sent from my GS3

miztaken1312 said:
I personally uninstall Samsung keyboards from all their phones and use the aosp/aokp keyboard. Its much better IMO. As for email, I've never used a stock email app ever. I've used K9 pretty much since I got my Captivate. Backed it up with TiBu, moved it over to my S3, and everything just worked.
Sent from my GS3
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I just installed ICS Keyboard from the Play store. Wow it works so much better. The first thing that I noticed when I got the S3 was the lag on the keyboard compared to the GNex. With the ICS keyboard on the S3 it feels exactly like it on the GNex. All the more shocking how the Samsung keyboard can be so horrendous. However, this is a security hole as the keyboard naturally captures every single keystroke. I'm not comfortable with the idea of installing a keyboard from an unknown source.
With the stock Samsung keyboard, is it *supposed* to auto-add every misspelled word in the my word list? If it is then what is the point of having spell check

iosandroid said:
I just installed ICS Keyboard from the Play store. Wow it works so much better. The first thing that I noticed when I got the S3 was the lag on the keyboard compared to the GNex. With the ICS keyboard on the S3 it feels exactly like it on the GNex. All the more shocking how the Samsung keyboard can be so horrendous. However, this is a security hole as the keyboard naturally captures every single keystroke. I'm not comfortable with the idea of installing a keyboard from an unknown source.
With the stock Samsung keyboard, is it *supposed* to auto-add every misspelled word in the my word list? If it is then what is the point of having spell check
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You are just seeing the Android warning all the keyboards show. lol

iosandroid said:
I just installed ICS Keyboard from the Play store. Wow it works so much better. The first thing that I noticed when I got the S3 was the lag on the keyboard compared to the GNex. With the ICS keyboard on the S3 it feels exactly like it on the GNex. All the more shocking how the Samsung keyboard can be so horrendous. However, this is a security hole as the keyboard naturally captures every single keystroke. I'm not comfortable with the idea of installing a keyboard from an unknown source.
With the stock Samsung keyboard, is it *supposed* to auto-add every misspelled word in the my word list? If it is then what is the point of having spell check
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I can't stand Samsung keyboards. One of my least favorite "features" of touch wiz. Something like swift key is just so much better I can't believe people use the stock keyboard. Hell, the JB keyboard is excellent, and Samsung goes out of their way to remove it.

iosandroid said:
I just installed ICS Keyboard from the Play store. Wow it works so much better. The first thing that I noticed when I got the S3 was the lag on the keyboard compared to the GNex. With the ICS keyboard on the S3 it feels exactly like it on the GNex. All the more shocking how the Samsung keyboard can be so horrendous. However, this is a security hole as the keyboard naturally captures every single keystroke. I'm not comfortable with the idea of installing a keyboard from an unknown source.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
All keyboards capture your keystrokes. That's what they are for.
Also, just about everybody uses third party keyboards because the manufacturer keyboards suck. SwiftKey, Swype, perfect keyboard, and 8pen are some of the common ones.
On to the other issues, use a third party email app. I use K9. Just don't forget to disable sync and notifications from the stock email app.
Just about everybody uses third party email clients too.
Finally, try using different browsers and sms apps. Try dolphin or chrome for browser and handcent or go sms for texts. Good luck to you.

iosandroid said:
Hitting space or selecting the word (misspelled or not) from the predictive text area will both add that word to the my word list. I kept wondering why some gibberish made its way into my composed messages, and one quick look in the my word list my jaw was on the floor.
Maybe I'll look at other keyboard as bravo suggested. But I'm still kind of in shock at this behavior - why would it auto add every misspelled word into the list? Why have a spell check at all
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hmm, every-time I would try to type "ya" it would come up with something else and if I hit space or on "ya" the next time it would do the same thing until I finally tried swiping up on the word I wanted to store and it worked.

SwiftKey is the best keyboard around you should try that.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using xda premium

Thanks for all the replies and suggestions everyone.
My problem with the very slow Yahoo mail syncing appears to be ONLY on my main Yahoo email account. I tried another Yahoo account as well as a new outlook.com address on it and the syncing is immediate. So problem solved, I'll likely be switching over to the new Outlook.com service.
So issues 1 and 3 are solved/worked-around, that leaves #2 with the upside down text selection handle. I've attached a screen shot to show you what I mean. I tried K9 as suggested and yes the handles are as they should, not upside down like the stock email app. What is up with that Samsung :silly:
I am still dumbfounded as to how/why the default Samsung keyboard adds every misspelled word into the word list. This is with all factory default settings, no settings were messed with.

Honestly I'm a huge fan of the ICS keyboard. Here is the APK pulled directly from the GNex. Simple, functional, clean. Just move this apk to the phone and install. You will need to go into settings and check to allow installation of unknown applications since this is not coming from the market. Enjoy.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/gq1giqc2yg3uqdr/LatinIME.apk

Like stated all your issues are with the software not the phone. Get a different app. This is why people stick with iPhone. It's just easier
Sent from my SGH-I747 using XDA Premium HD app

sabre31 said:
SwiftKey is the best keyboard around you should try that.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
SwiftKey has been my go to for the last 6 or so months.
Sent from my SGH-I747M

Halmo said:
Hmm, every-time I would try to type "ya" it would come up with something else and if I hit space or on "ya" the next time it would do the same thing until I finally tried swiping up on the word I wanted to store and it worked.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I just tried it again, just now, just to confirm I'm not hallucinating. As soon as I press space that word is added into the my word list. I now have a bunch of dkdk dkdkdk dkdkdkdk in there after the previously emptied my word list.
On the Gnex with the stock keyboard, the only way it will add a word is to press that word in the area above the keyboard, then it will prompt touch again to save. If I don't touch it again it and just press space it doesn't add it.

JayRolla said:
Like stated all your issues are with the software not the phone. Get a different app. This is why people stick with iPhone. It's just easier
Sent from my SGH-I747 using XDA Premium HD app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes absolutely. The software matters as much if not more than the hardware itself. I stuck with iPhone for the past 3 years because no Android versions or devices had the smoothness in the UI that I demand. Believe me I have no love for Apple or any particular brand; I spend my money on the devices that work for me, simple as that. Now that Android has matched the smooth UI experience, I dumped the iphone real fast. The GNex running Jelly Bean feels smoother and faster than the S3, goes to show software matters more.

Related

Contact list question regarding SMS

I have gone into the contacts and set my sim contacts as inactive, yet when I open the contact list when creating a new SMS, all my SIM contacts are there... this is really really annoying. I can not for the life of me figure out how to disable this.
I've had a G1 for the past 1.5 years, rooted and running custom roms, so I know this has to be a snake in the grass waiting to bite me. Can anyone lend a hand?
Sorry if this is a bit hard to follow, long day
And yes, I have searched.. again, I know this is probably right in front of my face.
same problem here hopefully gets fixed in and update
same crap here another two annoyances from the stock sms app is no led and if text are sent in the same minute they get outta order
I cant stand how you can sync your facebook with only the contacts that are in your address book. But then when you go to text someone is shows everyone from facebook as a option to message. I just want it to show the people in my addess book. is there any way to do this. Have it sync just your contacts with facebook and not have everyone and their mother show up in the who to message list?
go into contacts and press the option menu,then view. disable the t-mobile one contacts too. because t-mobile keeps all ur contacts too...
i had a similar problem, hope this help tho...
blazegunz said:
go into contacts and press the option menu,then view. disable the t-mobile one contacts too. because t-mobile keeps all ur contacts too...
i had a similar problem, hope this help tho...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
it still ends up coming up when you search for the name in the sms app or other apps thats just to clear it from the phone app
This phone handles syncing strange. I cant wait till its rooted so i can put a Cyanogen rom on it. Even when i delete all the tomobile contacts. It finds a way of bringing them back.
sdelcegno said:
I cant stand how you can sync your facebook with only the contacts that are in your address book. But then when you go to text someone is shows everyone from facebook as a option to message. I just want it to show the people in my addess book. is there any way to do this. Have it sync just your contacts with facebook and not have everyone and their mother show up in the who to message list?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This, 1000000000 times this. If I turn off veiwing facebook for mytouch contacts in the address book it still shows 100000 people form facebook in the sms part when i go to send a new message.
Yes... the syncing on this phone is indeed weird and annoying.. it was cool at first seeing everything pool in and popup without entering any info.. then it went awire , so I hit the killswitch on the whole operation. I know this isn't an answer to the problem, but maybe u can do without syncing until the froyo update comes next week (wishful thinking) ? Or do a hard reset and resync everything over slowly
No way I could find to not see all your contacts as is described in post #1. Dowload a full-featured sms app.
fl_jeep said:
No way I could find to not see all your contacts as is described in post #1. Dowload a full-featured sms app.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Such as .... ? New to Android here.
BigFellor said:
Such as .... ? New to Android here.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Handcent or Chomp. I prefer the former but have not used the latter much. For all new Android users reading this...please use androidtapp.com for reviewing apps. If they have reviewed the app, it is very thorough, including screen shots and an overall rating. This also gives you an idea of what the app can do, especially in comparison to a stock app so you don't have to frumpenuzzle with it yourself.
Just a word on handcent. I can not stand the way it looks. Its a blatent iphone look-a-like
-------------------------------------
Sent via the XDA Tapatalk App
Switch the skin to the Hero skin.. I forgot it even came imitating the iphone since I always had it with the hero skin on my G1. When I installed it on the slide I was like aww wtf haha. I also have it with no bubbles or or handcent type bubbles.
turboyo said:
Switch the skin to the Hero skin.. I forgot it even came imitating the iphone since I always had it with the hero skin on my G1. When I installed it on the slide I was like aww wtf haha. I also have it with no bubbles or or handcent type bubbles.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ill check it out, after I installed it on my G1, I opened it up and RAGED cause it looked like the iphone and immediately uninstalled it.

[APP] Updated 6 June, 2011, improved Email.apk (Gingerbread)

What is it? Originally this was a direct extract of the Email.apk from Nexus One 2.3.4; but the most recent update uses a bug-fixed version extracted from CM7. Primarily because the text prediction bar works in this Email app; while it seems to be missing from all the SGS Gingerbread Email.apks.
Update November 3: I have been using CM7 and don't see myself switching back... CM rocks!!
Update June 6: New version extracted from CM7 nightly that appears to really fix the problem where Exchange email accounts stop syncing, requiring a reboot of the phone. I've been using this build 4 days without sync problem. Relevant threads HERE and HERE
As far as I know this will only work on a Gingerbread ROM. Install via CWM. The installer will attempt to ERASE your emails and email account settings from your phone. This keeps the system from getting all goofed up due to database incompatibilities between Email.apks (Thanks nitr8 and styxx!)
I tested this under Juwe's ROM v4.2 and under Darkys 10.1 against my office Exchange server. It seems to work great.
I am not a developer by any means. What I've posted here is something hacked together out of nothing more than dumb luck. (Really, all I did was extract the APK from the CM7 nightly and modify the menu xml files to link to APK internal PNG images rather than linking to the phone framework PNGs. No actual program code changes were made by me.) If it bricks your phone and your hair falls out... sorry, but don't come crying to me. You have been warned! If this app doesn't work for you, please post anyway so I can laugh at you... Errr... I mean, so I can try to help you.
May 8th update: Some of the menu icons were not showing up properly. Spent some time with APK Manager and figured out how to add in the missing icons.
looks fun
ive tried this and it looks good and works well. The major issue for me as with all the older email apps is there is no "Move to folder" option..... which absolutely drives me nuts. I had it until I tried using the TAB email app, then tried going back but keep getting this same apk and am missing this option. Its a real pain!
Funny, I didn't even notice the "Move to Folder" option was absent!
For me the text prediction was a huge issue, and it was really my only motivator for trying it out. I'm very happy with how quick and responsive this app is. With the stock app I would get lag at different times, especially noticeable when deleting multiple messages. This Nexus version seems to delete them instantly. I also really like having the check-mark boxes present on the message list.
I haven't tried the TAB email app, are you saying the move-to-folder option is missing from the TAB version as well? Have you tried the SGSII Email app from this thread?
good plan
the option was there in the tab email app and also in the newer one of the galaxy but I cant find the apk for that! that'll teach me to back them up! I'll have a look at that thread anyway and see where it leads. Thanks for your work and your assistance.
post a couple of screenshots please: ) otherwise thanks!
Thanks works great
Sent from my GT-I9000 using XDA Premium App
THANK YOU. Samsung email client is sub-optimal. I feel like I can breath again. No more staring at the screen waiting to read an email.
Thanks for sharing !
Anyway, Landscape mode (as with Samsumg one) doesn't work with this Email.apk ... So I'll stay with my K9-mail app.
Wendigogo said:
Thanks for sharing !
Anyway, Landscape mode (as with Samsumg one) doesn't work with this Email.apk ... So I'll stay with my K9-mail app.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I use K9 for my personal email account, and the Nexus app for my work email account... and I don't see a difference in the way they handle landscape mode... so just curious, what am I missing?
sazinas said:
post a couple of screenshots please: ) otherwise thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It doesn't look significantly different. There are check boxes along the left edge of the message list view so you can quickly select multiple messages for deletion, otherwise it looks pretty much the same. The big difference is in how much more responsive it is over the Samsung client, and the fact that the keyboard text prediction bar works when using this email client.
Farkonian said:
I use K9 for my personal email account, and the Nexus app for my work email account... and I don't see a difference in the way they handle landscape mode... so just curious, what am I missing?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There was a misunderstanding : Samsung app has a different landscape mode.
quick noob question. do i have to wipe anything before flashing this? I'm guessing no but want to be sure.
You need to flash the ZIP via from ClockworkManager, and it will attempt to wipe your email accounts to prevent force close issues due to email database differences between the Email.apk versions.
Does the number of unread emails appear in the icon?
JiiJii said:
Does the number of unread emails appear in the icon?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I wish!
Thanks for posting this! I was killing myself trying to figure out why autocorrection and word prediction wasn't working on my gb rom. I installed it on my captivate running a gb rom (Serendipity VII). It works very nicely for me.
New version _actually_ seems to fix Exchange sync problem.
Thanks for the update. I had trouble getting it to connect over a good 3g signal, but it did so when I enabled wireless for the first sync. I hadn't noticed the synching problem but might not have used it long enough to see the problem. All seems to be working. This app is much nicer than the stock samsung email client in virtually every way. It is much more polished and easier to use. It would be nice if it didn't clear settings when updating over itself, but that is not a big deal.
It's a bit confusing in this thread, but I take it that this apk also lacks Move To Folder? That's a seriously useful feature and it might drive me back to stock on my Incredible just to get it back. Then, of course, I lost the ability to create private appointments in the calendar! Whee. Have you found a version yet that has this feature?

Email app + Swype keyboard issue

I use Exchange for work using the stock Email app that comes loaded on the phone. I am also using the factory installed Swype keyboard. Stock rom, I am now root, but experienced this issue before root as well.
When typing in the Email app only(I have not experienced this in the Gmail app or any other app) when you backspace and delete the entire word, it does basically a "delete" key on a keyboad and deletes one row below where you are typing, brining the paragraph below up one line. This is quite annoying when trying to type.
I tried adding my gmail to the Email app and experience the same issue. This doesnt seem to happen with the Samsung keyboard, only Swype. I know others mentioned there is a Swype beta we can install...anyone have a link for that?
Thanks all!
Ok so I'm stumped. I'm on cleanrom 2.1 experiencing the same issue using Swype beta from the Swype website. Could there be an issue with the Email app?
Will try to find another keyboard tomorrow.
Sent from my SPH-L900 using xda app-developers app
I tried. It was so cool
Vietnam travel-Halong bay cruise-Halong Paloma cruise
so you were able to replicate this?
lampard89 said:
I tried. It was so cool
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Flashing the Android 4.2 keyboard fixes this issue
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1964814
Edit: scratch that enter key won't create a new line
bump....no one else uses the Mail app? composing emails on this phone SUCKS!!
tgamer said:
bump....no one else uses the Mail app? composing emails on this phone SUCKS!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ran into this problem using the 4.2 keyboard on my GS3. I don't have a solution, however the Samsung keyboard allows me to enter a new line so I just use that for composing emails. Although I hate the stock keyboard. But it is better than having a sloppy email.
A video would help so we can see what you're talking about. Sounds like your screen is sensing the heat of your finger? Lol idk

[Q] note 4 stock messages app

hi,
i have a note 4, and i have changed the Samsung keyboard to google keyboard, and i love it.
but now when i type a misspelled word i get two suggestions of words to replace it with. one on google keyboard and another one that pops up. the pop up looks to be from the stock Samsung messages app. i tried going to the messages settings to remove it, but i found nothing nor in language and input settings. so my question is how do i remove this one?
Get Swiftkey. I got it about 4 years ago when it was a paid app. It's free now but you can get themes cheap. I'm using this one.
I've never used another keyboard since I found it. I especially like the arrow keys and the predictions actually learn from you as you go.
Sent from my SM-N910V DE
Remember: Read twice - Flash once

Contact specific notification tones

Am I blind, or did they actually leave out contact specific notification tones option they've always had? Took the Oreo update last night and noticed the one person I want a different tone on changed to the default tone and there's no option under edit contact page. Kinda bummed about that and definitely feel like the phone isn't as snappy as it was on 7.1.
Same thing here.. I looked around on a few sites and notice a few threads.. the idiots have seemed to removed the option. There are a few other chat programs that do it... I also am very pissed at this moved.. Reluctantly I moved to the Verizon Messenger + app. It does allow you to assign specific tones. I hated the interface but once you customize it ..it is ok... I was just so use to the stock android messenger.. and now this bulls**T. Maybe they will bring it back in the next update...
u71n4444 said:
Same thing here.. I looked around on a few sites and notice a few threads.. the idiots have seemed to removed the option. There are a few other chat programs that do it... I also am very pissed at this moved.. Reluctantly I moved to the Verizon Messenger + app. It does allow you to assign specific tones. I hated the interface but once you customize it ..it is ok... I was just so use to the stock android messenger.. and now this bulls**T. Maybe they will bring it back in the next update...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I hope so too. Is your phone noticably slower? Many of my apps take 3-4 times longer to open and a few like my adt app and Chase app take 5-10 seconds to load the login screen.

Categories

Resources