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Greetings,
You guys have been wonderful in getting to know my good ol' phone, my Wizard 8125 (which is now suffering from serious "seizures"-as in power off and on constantly). Now I have this Duo and frankly, even though it has many features that I wanted in a smartphone, the BASICS-can't hear people they sound muffled!!!
Now I ask that since some of your software should work on the Duo that you bring together all the people that are suffering from this and many other Duo issues. I will post here what I posted on Howard forums, my review on the Duo-got it last week and I am on the infamous 30-day trial from AT&T.
Don't underestimate this chick; I took apart and put together my Wizard four times; first two to give it a good cleanup b/c my daughter decided to dip it in OJ. The other two minor fixer-uppers and my phone worked fine for +2 yrs., till last month. I wanna learn more and more on software programming but have no formal education on either. I like to figure out stuff on my own.
So before I decide to keep it and tear it apart or return this phone for something better, I will be reading along the boards what in the world I can do to get this thing to work to my advantage.
Cheerio, Chica
My post from Howard's Forum Pt. 1
My review - I got it last week
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Hi, first post here...
Got the Duo after still mourning the 8125 that is booting off and on constantly. And it was about time I renewed anyways. Here are my thoughts, still not 100% sure that I am gonna keep this one (because of what I am gonna write below I am gonna try switch it for another Duo.
PROS:
1- Got the Duo for the dual-slider. Hard to dial when in a car and I don't use my Bluetooth often. Busy mom, it is hard.
2-LOVE how clear and crisp the screen is. Bright, vivid and good enough space.
3-I know there are some users and abusers out there but I do my best to keep it in "Lock" and inside my case. The less I deal with dirt, lint, scratches the better. I will buy a screen protector though.
4-Took me a couple of days of breaking the touch-screen habit; it's like going from automatic transmission to manual. It was not easy but not as complicated as I thought it was gonna be.
5-I like the speakerphone, simply turn the phone over and adjust the volume and I can hear fine.
6-Looking forward to really modify the phone to my liking, get into as many mobile forums as i can and customize it to my lifestyle. With that said...
CONS
1-WHAT IS WITH THE MUFFLED SOUND? I read this thread SHOCKED that no one mentioned it here...perhaps in another thread. Multiple forums users complain about the same problem. Stayed last night till almost 1am doing research and getting ready to alter the unit and lookup some software to fix this issue like a patch or something; well at pantechusa.com they have a radio patch (it will wipe out whatever the phone had and bring it up to default). I hoped really that the patch would work but it didn't. I knew that by having the same version of the software on my Duo it was a 75/25 chance that it was not gonna work and unfortunately I was right.
2-JUNKWARE - The Duo has lots of them and they are really useless and take up a lot of your memory if: a-you don't have a PDA plan, and b-you don't care for them. First things first, 95% of those need the plan in order for them to function and get the most out of the Duo. Since I don't have the PDA plan ($30/mo) then these have GOT to GO.
3-Cannot adjust/distribute memory on the unit - I can stop working programs fine, but there is an area where you can see both "drives" where it stores memory. I can't go in and just click and manage it further. It is frustrating because it would make the Duo faster.
4-I suffer from the Curse Of The Worst Ringtones. Whenever I get a cell the ringtones SUCK. Which makes you wonder who this Duo was designed for, or going for which type of person.
5-MicroSD card-I got a 4 Gig SDHC and forget it, it does not work. You can see the icon top bar that it has the micro card inserted, can't see it the rest of the Duo. Big disadvantage because: Micros are evolving to SDHC and have way more room; a Duo just can't be lagging behind with technology and get stuck with a regular Micro 2 Gig card (?!?!?!). Because there is wonderful people out there that can do lots of programming and hacking, I found the solution at xda-developers from reading in this forum. Thankfully the xda people have helped me with software for my Wizard and it seems I will use their software this time around too.
6-NO WI-FI, NOT FAIR! I have wireless at home and I used to go online, Media Player, and look online for my fav radio station (from another country), listen live and with headsets, go about my business. Can't do that with this unit.
7-Battery Life-This has been brought up multiple times and yes, the first couple of days it felt I was dealing with my HP camera which sucks batteries dead in one day. Now I can deal with charging it either daily or every other day. With the 8125 because of the type of battery you HAD to charge it daily or the cellphone would pay the consequences. On this one the Pantech people say let it drain then charge it; I am not comfortable with that scenario and I hope I don't ruin the battery because I charge it halfway or down to one bar.
To me the worst are in "bold", and I expect the Pantech people to come around and fix the muffled sound-which is worse if you talk with someone from cell-to-cell. Will take the unit today to AT&T and see if by getting another Duo the problem is fixed.
Interestingly though, I am willing to give the Duo a pass if I can program it, hack it, alter it every which way I want so I can have some fun with it!
Part 2-my post on HowardForums
Forgot to add to the cons...
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On CONS, I forgot to add that in order to delete multiple files, I cannot select them with SHIFT-(Select) UP or DOWN. Do I have to delete each item one by one and not by multiple selection?
Does anybody know a way around that? thanks!
Went to AT&T today to figure out swapping the Duo...
...and I can do it only once. If I decide to try and have another Duo and the sound on that phone is just as bad as this one, I am stuck with it. If I switch for another unit, of course there is the restocking fee; now if I decide to go for a Tilt or a BlackJack II for example, I assume I'd have to pay extra for price difference.
FYI...Chica
This site is based on htc devices..... you probably have to look for other websites..... there is new new one not much up yet but here is the link.....
http://winmodevelopers.freeforums.org/
im gonna research this and create a forum for it at winmodevelopers.
youll have to be patient tho ive only got 8 users
i mean dont expect a reply straight away, but hopefully all pantech duo owners will see i can accomodate them.
thanks for the reference joel
Pantech Duo
Thanks!
I still have it, I am gonna tweak it and see if upgrading it and add/remove software it will perform better. Still have to keep the Bluetooth close, just in case a long phone call comes in.
Phone is like an ol' pair of jeans you don't wanna part with...
I’ve defected from Windows Mobile and the Rhodium over to Android and the HTC Desire Z (code name Vision). About a million years ago (late December, actually) Jackos asked that I write a review/comparison of the device, for which I am happy to oblige. Unfortunately, a newborn baby, holiday travel, and work travel have conspired to delay me from writing such a review. But I’m finally taking the time to fulfill the promise. Jackos thought such a review would be useful for those that are looking to upgrade from the Rhodium, so hopefully that is still relevant. Based on a recent thread, I would think so! http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=949121
The move to a different OS was certainly something that I’ve been debating for some time. But as we all know (and possibly unwilling to admit), Windows Mobile is outdated and nearing the end of its useful life. Windows Phone 7 so far is a big disappointment to me. The OS seems very limited in many of the same ways the iPhone is, with reviews at various websites and comments by users verifying this notion. One article I read about WP7 was that the OS is not a good choice for power users. Android was looking more and more attractive to me. To me, it carries on the spirit of Windows Mobile in terms of customization. Things are not accessed quite the same way as Windows Mobile (there is no registry), but there is still tons of customizations, mods, and hacks available.
Being the owner of the Tilt (Kaiser) and Tilt2 (Touch Pro 2, Rhodium), I’ve become a big HTC fan, and wanted something similar, with a hardware keyboard. The Desire Z has a very similar form factor to the Rhodium, with a hardware keyboard, nearly the same screen size, and similar dimensions. I found out that Bell Canada released the HTC Desire Z in November, with 3G bands compatible with ATT's network. I decided to take the plunge. Not an easy pill to swallow, as an unlocked, unsubsidized device like this goes for a premium price of around $600 (and obviously not for everyone). But what the heck, its a been a good year, and I decided to get myself a Christmas gift. Of course, if you are in Canada, Europe, or on T-Mobile, you have access to specific versions for those locations and carriers at a much better price.
Let me tell you guys, this device is amazing. The build quality is excellent, the phone feels very high end, with most of the body being a gorgeous brushed aluminum, accented with some slightly grippy/rubbery “soft touch” plastic (also nice looking, and does not cheapen the appearance). The feel of the phone is much nicer, and seems more sturdy then the Rhodium.
The camera is 5MP with a LED flash, and yields somewhat better photos than the Rhodium. The screen is gorgeous. While the iPhone “Retina” and Samsung AMOLED displays get all the hype, the super LCD screen on the Desire Z is still very nice. Direct comparisons I have read rate it only slightly below the quality of the iPhone or Galaxy S displays. Touch response is excellent, and registers multi-touch very well.
Much has been said about this phone’s unique “Z Hinge”. See the Engadget review, if you aren't familiar with the Z-hinge: http://mobile.engadget.com/2010/11/25/htc-desire-z-review/
Some have complained about the phone not staying firmly enough in the keyboard open or closed position, or have expressed concerns of the durability of the hinge. Personally, I like the hinge and how it is designed to open easily with the flick of your thumb. But if you’re in doubt, you might want to play around with it in person before committing to buying the phone.
The keyboard itself is very good. But strangely, not quite as nice as the one on the Touch Pro 2. The the keys are slightly smaller (and one less row of keys), and do not have quite as much “travel” when pressing the keys. It feels like a slight step backward from the Rhodium, but still one of the best keyboards around. Having come from the ATT version of the Rhodium (which replaced the row of numbers with random symbols and punctuations), the missing 4th row of keys is not a big deal. But owners of other Rhodium variants will no doubt miss the number-dedicated row of keys.
Another piece of hardware that is strangely not as good as the Rhodium is the speaker. The speaker on the Desire Z is not quite a loud as on the Rhodium, but the difference is fairly minor, and most people will probably overlook this. The 3.5mm headphone jack is a welcome addition, and good riddance to adapters and special headphones that were needed on the Rhodium (at least the GSM version).
At the time of the phone’s release, this was one of the fastest Android phones available (although there is a new generation of dual core Snapdragons coming soon). Don’t be fooled by the fact that the CPU is clocked at 800 MHz. This is a newer generation of Snapdragon than the 1 GHz ones found on phones such as Nexus One and the EVO, with a different fab process and faster GPU also. The Desire Z benchmarks faster than those phones, as well as the Galaxy S, Droid X, and others. The CPU can also be easily overclocked to 1 GHz without over-volting and affecting battery lift; and much higher than that with over-volting.
Battery life seems somewhat shorter on the Desire Z compared to the Rhodium. I was often able to get 2-3 days on a change on my old Tilt2. On the Desire Z, I usually have to charge every night. I can maybe get through a day and a half; but at least a day with all but the heaviest usage. And to be honest, I’m using the phone much more than I did my old Rhodium, so that is a factor as well.
I've played around with Project Android on my trusty old Tilt2, so Android is not completely new to me. It took me a bit getting accustomed to where some things are located, but that is true with switching to any new phone OS. The OS is overall pretty user friendly. It just takes a little while to dedicate to memory where some settings and other things are located. And there is certainly a learning curve once you are ready for customizing/modifying. There is lots of new terminology, process, and tools to learn if you want to “root” (gain super user rights to access system files) and flash a custom ROM, or do other system modifications.
Knocks on Android for not being as "smooth" as the iPhone seem largely unfounded to me. The Desire Z is super smooth, and of course has tons of customization and functionality that the iPhone will never have. And if you coming from Windows Mobile, you are going to be blown away by the smoothness and stability of the OS. The only real performance weakness I’ve seen so far is switching from portrait to landscape on the homescreen, particularly when you have lots of widgets loaded.
Using the phone is a pleasure. Browser rendering is fast, with the stock browser working very well, and Flash enabled. I’ve been previously in denial that capacity touchscreens are a good thing, but multi-touch pinch-to-zoom really does make browsing a joy. Text selection (such as for cut/paste) is aided by a zoom feature that activates with a long touch on text, and also by the optical trackpad (which allows moving the cursor by single characters).
I already keep my contacts, email, and calendar on Google. So the Google integration is awesome for me. I just entered my Google login and password, and it synched all that stuff in a couple minutes. If you are not a Google user, things might be slightly annoying, as the OS will try to steer you toward creating a Google login. Google Navigation is built-in, and will give you point-to -point directions, with audio cues, and first person perspective. It works better than the tools on Windows Mobile such as Google Maps and Bing. It works so well, in fact, that I've often been using Google Nav instead of my Garmin Nuvi GPS unit in the car.
I knew moving to Android would open up a lot of software options, and in this I was not disappointed. There are tons of useful applications and games on the Android Market, and the list is constantly growing. Software developers have embraced Android, which is a refreshing change coming from Windows Mobile. Yes, there is a ton of fluff and junk in the Android Market. But most of the major applications you can think of have a quality Android version.
I’m not a developer. So I can’t comments on the development potential of this device and Android versus Windows Mobile. But so far there is pretty good developer support on the Desire Z. And many have claimed that developers will support this phone for a long time, as they seem to favor devices with a hardware keyboard. There are several stable custom Froyo (Android 2.2) ROMs available, including Sense and non-Sense options, as well as CyanogenMod (a popular and highly customized Android ROM). Gingerbread (Android 2.3, the latest version, just released) ROMs are in the works, with alpha/beta versions already available for testing. Personally, the stock ROM has been so stable and usable for me, I haven’t really been that tempted to flash a custom ROM yet, versus a Windows Phone, where a custom ROM is virtually a necessity.
I’ve babbled on for much too long. In short, if you are looking to upgrade from the Rhodium to something with a similar form factor, the Desire Z is highly recommended. Here’s a quick summary of the Desire Z versus my old Rhodium:
Pros
OS is light years ahead of Windows Mobile (smooth, stable, fast)
Awesome build quality, with a sturdy feel
Better display
3.5 mm headphone jack
Great selection of quality applications
Slightly better camera (5MP) with LED flash
Cons
Keyboard not quite as good
Speaker not quite as good (minor)
Shorter battery life
Z Hinge durability may be an issue
P.S.: If you like the review, please click the "Thanks" button below!
I really appreciated reading this review. I'm a Tilt 2 user, that hasn't found anything new out there to make me want to give up my Rhodium and I have the same feelings regarding Windows 7, so I'm very hesitant to give it a try. Android is completely new to me, but from what I've read, it seems like the natural progression for those of us on Windows Mobile.
I'm on AT&T, so I will keep a watch on this phone if AT&T decides to release their version down the road (but I won't hold my breath ). I've never used unlocked devices either so, unless they come down in price, I won't be experimenting with this model for a while.
Thanks again for posting this. I look forward to reading more about your experiences with this device.
Have fun!
Debbie
Thanks for the review. I enjoyed reading it. Well done, sir!
For a conclusion: Was it worth the money if upgrading from Rhodium?
DebbieNY13 said:
I'm on AT&T, so I will keep a watch on this phone if AT&T decides to release their version down the road (but I won't hold my breath ). I've never used unlocked devices either so, unless they come down in price, I won't be experimenting with this model for a while.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Having finally lost iPhone exclusivity, AT&T seems to be starting to release some decent Android devices, such as the HTC Inspire (Desire HD variant). I'm skeptical they would release the Desire Z, but maybe they will release a future HTC device with a QWERTY keyboard. One can only hope.
If the keyboard is not an absolute requirement, the Inspire looks like a very nice phone. Larger display than the Desire Z, 1GHz processor (faster then the Z), and a slightly better camera. I've actually been finding myself using Swype more and more, and the keyboard less and less. So that has me rethinking the whole QWERTY keyboard thing, a little bit. Although I still use it from time to time for longer texts and emails.
BTW, if you like the review, please click the "Thank you" button!
Jackos said:
Thanks for the review. I enjoyed reading it. Well done, sir!
For a conclusion: Was it worth the money if upgrading from Rhodium?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You're very welcome.
For me, spending the money was worth it. It was a lot of money to spend on a phone, but I absolutely love it. I tried to stick with WM as long as I could. But everything just works so much better on the Desire Z. I knew it would be a big improvement, but all my expectations were exceeded.
If you are in a market where your carrier offers this phone for a subsidized price, its a no-brainer.
Very nicely written
I have a TP2 now, also considering the Desire Z since it has a (rare these days) hardware keyboard.
Seeing how the DZ performs (especially when overclocked, wow!) does make me feel quite confident it's somewhat future-proof performance wise.
I do love the tilting screen of the TP2 very much, especially when I'm at the computer and using the TP2 for MSN or FB chat or something like that. Like having a miniature laptop
Have you ever missed the tilting screen of the TP2?
When my contract expires next month I can get a free DZ if I extend my contract.
I'll go to the T-Mobile store tomorrow and see if I can play around with one
ericino said:
Very nicely written
I do love the tilting screen of the TP2 very much, especially when I'm at the computer and using the TP2 for MSN or FB chat or something like that. Like having a miniature laptop
Have you ever missed the tilting screen of the TP2?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Personally, I was finding myself using the tilt feature on the TP2 less and less. Lots of times, I found it easier to just slide the phone open, write a quick text, then close it quickly, without having to mess with tilting the screen up and down. But of course, this is a personal preference.
The only times I've been missing the tilt screen is while watching video. With the TP2, I could tilt the screen up, then place the phone down on a table to watch. HTC should have added a kickstand, like on the Desire HD. It would have been a very easy to add, and super useful.
Perfect review!
I'm also considdering the DZ, and the review almost answered all my question.
But I still have one question: What do you do if you want to navigate without being online?
So if you're abroad and don't want the rediculous roaming costs, how do you navigate?
I now use TomTom really a lot, and I don't know what to use when I switch to the DZ.
TomTom has all the maps on the memory card, is there a good replacement for Android? With regular updates?
ronh said:
Perfect review!
I'm also considdering the DZ, and the review almost answered all my question.
But I still have one question: What do you do if you want to navigate without being online?
So if you're abroad and don't want the rediculous roaming costs, how do you navigate?
I now use TomTom really a lot, and I don't know what to use when I switch to the DZ.
TomTom has all the maps on the memory card, is there a good replacement for Android? With regular updates?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There is a paid Android app called Copilot, which is supposed to be pretty good, and does what you want. But I haven't personally used it. There are others, as well.
Also, the Euro version of the Desire Z has a feature of the "new" Sense called HTC Locations, which has a 30-day free trial, than once you pay the monthly fee or buy a lifetime license, you can navigate using maps downloaded to the SD card. Unfortunately, Locations and the Car Panel were removed in the Bell Canada version of the DZ. Likewise, the T-Mobile G2 does not have it, as it is Sense-free. But the feature can be obtained by flashing the stock Euro ROM to either the Bell DZ or the G2. I haven't done this, and I have no idea how well Locations works in the US. But comments by DZ users in the UK and Europe indicate they seem to like it.
i too miss my tilt 2, especially the tilts sliding kb. thats why i come back to these boards every now and again.
i got an evo back in august. i never thought id get another smart phone without a keyboard since i have had the 8125 8525 8925 and tilt2. its been a much easier transition than i thought moving to a phone with a giant screen let alone switching to a different os
almost anything i could do with wm i cant do with android only better. android is way more reliable and the tilt2 was a touch underpowered.
as soon as someone comes out with a 4.3inch lcd with a sliding kb that will be my next phone
off topic, don't believe the hype about the evo battery being weak, i get 24-40 hrs per charge, average is probably around 30 hrs and that's with 2 weather apps, face book, 4 emails accounts and Google searches off and on all day with gps location and blue tooth on. i also have a stock rom, although its rooted.
btw tc excellent read.
oh and as far as gps, i too was curious about the navigation, google nav is the best gps nav app i have ever used, but it does rely on a cell phone data connection, i think it gets enough of the info cached ahead incase you loose signal but if it needs to reroute and you dont have signal you are dead in the water. so i went on to try a few stand alone gps apps and i ended up going with aura, it looks pretty and it works but i dont like it, but its a good backup to have incase i dont pay my bill, lol, or loose signal.
Redpoint i hate to rain on your parade, but i went and seen that you have quite a few threads some of which are here in the Pro Tilt 2 forums regarding this new phone you are in love with, why not go to the forum for that phone ?
here make it easier for you...
http://forum.xda-developers.com/forumdisplay.php?f=594
Sorry the tilt is a great phone although it is getting dated, but that is no reason for what you are doing ....
F2504x4 said:
Redpoint i hate to rain on your parade, but i went and seen that you have quite a few threads some of which are here in the Pro Tilt 2 forums regarding this new phone you are in love with, why not go to the forum for that phone ?
here make it easier for you...
http://forum.xda-developers.com/forumdisplay.php?f=594
Sorry the tilt is a great phone although it is getting dated, but that is no reason for what you are doing ....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was specifically asked for a comparison between the Touch Pro 2 and the Desire Z; for TP2 owners who may be interested in upgrading. If it was a straight up review of the DZ only, and no mention of the TP2, I would agree with you. But as you can see from reading my review, I make ample comparisons and references to the TP2, so I believe its appropriate here. The DZ is also a very logical upgrade from the TP2 versus just about every other phone on the market, due to its very similar form factor and same manufacturer.
You said I "have quite a few threads" about the DZ. But this is the only thread I started. I posted a reference to this review on 2 other threads started by others. Those threads were started by users looking for an upgrade similar to the TP2, so that actually reinforces my decision that this forum is the correct location for the review/comparison.
I did debate it for a while (of where to post), and your comment is not unreasonable. But I didn't see the Desire Z the best place to post it. The huge majority of the users on the Desire Z/Vision forum already own the phone, and they don't need to see a review for it. If the moderators don't agree with my judgment call, they can move the thread.
And you linked to the forum for the Desire, not the Desire Z. They are completely different phones.
Considering what HTC 7 Pro has become, looks like the Desire Z is the only one phone coming from HTC to replace the TP2. What a pity!
I'll wait until something new comes out to replace my PPC. TP2 still does a great job for me.
Thanks again for the review.
potna said:
i got an evo back in august. i never thought id get another smart phone without a keyboard since i have had the 8125 8525 8925 and tilt2. its been a much easier transition than i thought moving to a phone with a giant screen let alone switching to a different os
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It true, with Swype, I actually find myself using the screen keyboard much more than I would have thought. In fact, for my next phone I may seriously consider one without a hardware keyboard . . . maybe. But I personally can't stand typing on-screen without Swype.
potna said:
oh and as far as gps, i too was curious about the navigation, google nav is the best gps nav app i have ever used, but it does rely on a cell phone data connection, i think it gets enough of the info cached ahead incase you loose signal but if it needs to reroute and you dont have signal you are dead in the water. so i went on to try a few stand alone gps apps and i ended up going with aura, it looks pretty and it works but i dont like it, but its a good backup to have incase i dont pay my bill, lol, or loose signal.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've had that same thought about having a nav program that doesn't need a data connection, so I have a backup in case I am in an area with dodgy coverage, or for foreign use. I might check out something like Copilot, which is only $5 for the US maps (and interestingly $80 for Europe!).
I would like to thank you also for the comparison and ask you about what I haven't read elsewhere.
Is there ability for teleconferencing inDesire Z?
Besides the mentioned problem with the DZ's speaker there were a few times that the feature was (even more than welcome) life-saving while using my rhodium. That, and the Excel files editing.
Also, (a "pro-" feature, not mentioned elsewhere) what about video out?
Am I asking for too much?
Redpoint:
I too have made the upgrade, from TP2 to G2 (Desire Z). Your findings mirror mine almost exactly.
Just in case any one is curious, I'll add my 2 pence.
I still kind of miss the resistive touch screen (think gloves or stylus for precision), but the cap screen is über responsive, and as you said, multi touch is pretty sweet.
I do not miss the complete lack of development of applications for WM. At least at any corporate or popular apps level.
I do miss the great MS Office and Outlook integration. Android does play nice with Exchange, though.
FWIW: Tmo G2's do have a Office compatible suite that should work for docs and xls, but I didn't get a chance to use it. I flashed to a new ROM too fast
I still have the TP2, and will likely futz with it some more, but the G2/DZ is a worthy successor.
Sent from my HTC Vision using XDA App
calrification on pro2 vs DZ
Sir/s,
i would like to know if DZ has the following functionalities:
1. exchange sync of email, calendar and contacts.
2. when you download exchange email, is it in html format?
3. can DZ record 2 way voice call? (not via speakerphone)
Above are the features that im frequently using on pro2.
Hi,
I currently have the D3, my third Droid phone and was looking at the Verizon Nexus. From many threads here and on the Verizon forums, some seems to have significant problems with this phone. I know the forums usually tend to have a lot more user complaints.
My use is about 2500 min/mo on the phone and I use it throughout the day for email, browsing, maps, etc. The blogs and other reviews tend to be favorable. So, would you buy this phone again, wait for 4.0.5, or just look at something else?
I'm also considering the Razr Maxx but Motorola is so slow in getting updates to its phones, if at all, I"m hesitant to get a 4th Motorola Droid. And, there's always the iphone4S...
I always wonder if companies are paying people to post messages like these on competitors forums and then I remember reading that they in fact do just that.
Should I do you wrong with that assumption mgerbasio, I politely suggest less asking and more reading on this forum.
I would buy this phone again. With Verizon you do have choice. The updates unfortunately for the GNex on Verizon will not be coming with lightning speed either. The Razr Max is a good alternative but I would not get anything now without ICS. Who knows when the update will come.
Valynor said:
I always wonder if companies are paying people to post messages like these on competitors forums and then I remember reading that they in fact do just that.
Should I do you wrong with that assumption mgerbasio, I politely suggest less asking and more reading on this forum.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
He has been a member of XDA for 8 years. 4 more than you. I really doubt he is what you say he is.
mgerbasio said:
Hi,
I currently have the D3, my third Droid phone and was looking at the Verizon Nexus. From many threads here and on the Verizon forums, some seems to have significant problems with this phone. I know the forums usually tend to have a lot more user complaints.
My use is about 2500 min/mo on the phone and I use it throughout the day for email, browsing, maps, etc. The blogs and other reviews tend to be favorable. So, would you buy this phone again, wait for 4.0.5, or just look at something else?
I'm also considering the Razr Maxx but Motorola is so slow in getting updates to its phones, if at all, I"m hesitant to get a 4th Motorola Droid. And, there's always the iphone4S...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I just got my Verizon gnex last week and am enjoying it so far. It does tend to get a weaker network signal than my Droid Charge did but still works everywhere the charge did. Minus that I have no other issues yet and based off my small usage so far would recommend it. I also compared it to the Razr but I just like Samsung phones better in general.
Wow, thanks for the fast replies.
I wish someone would pay me for posting in forums, but no, just trying to get some information. If you're new to this phone and read the first several pages here and at Verizon (especially), you get a sense that maybe this phone isn't quite ready for prime time. Yet, the reviews and blogs have been favorable.
I'm not that concerned that the updates are delayed a month, but with non-Nexus phones, you're lucky to see any major OS update. Motorola has terrific hardware but they have no policy about updates and customer communication is POOR with no follow through. My D3 probably won't get ICS and it is less than a year old. Had the Razr received ICS as rumored this week, I would have gone with that phone.
My D3 performs OK but I had to get rid of the live wallpaper and most of the widgets so it is reasonably responsive. I'm sure if I root and delete the bloat it would be better. The D4 battery is too small for me so just looking around right now.
Well I'll have 14 days to try it so maybe I'll give it a shot.
I also have this phone for a about a week now it has some issues that annoy me like the keyboard word input lag and signal strength but am sure its all software issues which will be fix soon. At this point I dont even care what phone comes out am satisfied.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using XDA
The only issue i have is its pentile, which a sfw update cant fix...so i have no signal issues
If you like android, I wouldn't leave for an iPhone. I think you'll regret it. Outside of that, I can't offer any other suggestions because I haven't decided myself what to pull the trigger on. I'm stuck between the rezound and the gnex. Or the incredible 4G if it does actually drop this month. And assuming it actually has a bigger battery. But I do know that a couple of demos in the store that I played with had major "burn in", if that's what it's called, and I don't know how, or if that is frequent. That does kinda bother me though.
1454 said:
If you like android, I wouldn't leave for an iPhone. I think you'll regret it. Outside of that, I can't offer any other suggestions because I haven't decided myself what to pull the trigger on. I'm stuck between the rezound and the gnex. Or the incredible 4G if it does actually drop this month. And assuming it actually has a bigger battery. But I do know that a couple of demos in the store that I played with had major "burn in", if that's what it's called, and I don't know how, or if that is frequent. That does kinda bother me though.
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Click to collapse
Amoled screens do get image retention a lot but it fades after just a few seconds of changed screen. Like burn in in that you can see the previous screen but goes away quickly, are you sure this isn't what you saw? I have personally never seen one with actual burn in.
I didn't play with them long enough for them to change, but it was clearly visible over the screen I was on. So it does go away? Not like the old plasma tvs that were permanently "burnt"?
Pentile screen doesn't bother me, I really like the screen on my Motorola D3 which is pentile, it is very readable indoors and outdoors even in bright sunlight.
I'd rather not get the iphone but I wouldn't rule it out. I had the original ipad, then bought the Xoom, now have the ipad3. I'd much rather have android but the screen on the ipad3 makes all the other limitations something I can live with. The iphone screen will probably be too small though. The D3 gets very laggy with widgets and live wallpaper so now my screen has mostly icons and I'm thinking if this is the case, I may as well have nice looking icons like a iphone.
If I was going to wait, it would be for the Droid Fighter.
Thanks again, I'm planning on heading to my local Verizon store on Monday to pick up the Nexus.
I do not mean any negativity in my title for this thread. It is merely a ramble about my experience with the HTC 10.
Which for the past two years, is what I've had.
It was a good phone. Nice screen, nice design, great sound, speedy and so on.
The reason I got the HTC 10 was because I was so impressed with the HTC One M8 I'd had before it, although it had a few of the same issues to a lesser extent. The reason I went with the M8 was because after my Desire HD, I switched to Samsung. And I'd had seemingly endless issues with those. I had an S2 which was great, but crashed almost constantly. Then an S3, which was great but broke really easily, then about two or three S3 Minis in which all of them suffered the same fate: the micro USB port stopped working properly. I switched back to HTC, whom I'd never had a problem with.
From day one, I always had issues with the 10s camera (indeed there are posts around here I believe). It would never behave. The laser auto focus was iffy at best, and if a surface was even slightly reflective, you got this purple blotch in the picture.
Close up shots were nigh on impossible unless you were using Pro mode to control the focus. Beyond that, it took many great pictures and videos, and the slow motion was good too.
The other thing was wifi/mobile signal. Since having upgraded to my S9+, I've noticed that it just stays connected. It doesn't throw hissy fits at even slightly weak connections and even has better reception in places where the HTC had none. This was something that plagued the phone the entire time I had it. If a WiFi connection was even slightly weak, the HTC just would not connect at all. It wouldn't even try. It can see the network, knows its there, but when you try and connect it just refuses to play ball.
That aside, I loved it. It was a great phone, it was built like a tank and it helped capture some wonderful moments of my life. My wedding, the birth of my child, holidays etc. It re-ignited my desire to custom ROM and so on. I do not regret getting it and having it for two years, despite some frustrations.
But it has come to an end. My current mobile contract provider does not seem to provide any HTC phone anymore due in large part, I think, to thier seeming lack of popularity. As I understand it, it wasn't even too long after I got my HTC 10 that many networks dropped it from their roster.
But whilst I had the HTC 10, I was still opposed to Samsung. Which in the same phones lifetime has gone from the S7/S7 Edge to the S9/S9+. HTC have/had the Ultra, U11, U12 (I've probably gotten one of those wrong) but I just found myself ... not really caring.
I'd started to get curious about the newer Samsung phones since the s8/s8+, and looked up some information about them but I was going to miss them anyway. My upgrade was still a year away when they came out. And when that time rolled around, I went with the S9+.
So thank you HTC. Thank you LeeDroid for the ROMs. And thank you to everyone in the HTC 10 XDA forums who was helpful and posted so much useful information.
HTC phones have been a huge part of my Android experience (Wildfire, the original one with the huge chin and track pad was my first ever Android phone way back when).
I doubt I will do anything to modify the S9+. The only thing I've found that SHOULD be changeable is the Bixby button. By default it isn't. It's just on or off. But there is an app that allows it (with some kerfuffle) to be customised.
You should've used Maximus rom
I probably did at some point. Maximus, LeeDroid, Venom plus a few others here and there.
As per the device forum rules, This type of thread/discussion is not allowed, Therefore this thread will now be closed.
I've been a huge fan of the Pixel since the original XL. Dealing with this phone from day one has been a struggle. The voice dictation is terrible. The worst I've ever had on a pixel. Also the phone is my daily driver and sometimes I can't even work with this phone. Really holding out for an update to fix the phone so that I can love it, but I think I'm more patient than most. I feel like replying with a real world experience to every made by Google tweet, but I'm not out to jeopardize their business and I understand new tech takes a little while to achieve its full potential. But there needs to be some heads rolling at Google. There's been issues with every Google Pixel launch and this I think is the worst from my experience. I'm glad some others aren't experiencing what I'm going through. Lucky dogs
MKBHD Slams Google Pixel 6 Pro's "Bad Experience"
YouTuber MKBHD tweets that he's done with the Pixel 6 Pro and will no longer recommend it to his viewers. That's not great for Google.
www.droid-life.com
Mine hasn't been buggy but it's good his statement made headlines. Maybe Google will get off their azz and fix these problems.
MArtyChubbs said:
I've been a huge fan of the Pixel since the original XL. Dealing with this phone from day one has been a struggle. The voice dictation is terrible. The worst I've ever had on a pixel. Also the phone is my daily driver and sometimes I can't even work with this phone. Really holding out for an update to fix the phone so that I can love it, but I think I'm more patient than most. I feel like replying with a real world experience to every made by Google tweet, but I'm not out to jeopardize their business and I understand new tech takes a little while to achieve its full potential. But there needs to be some heads rolling at Google. There's been issues with every Google Pixel launch and this I think is the worst from my experience. I'm glad some others aren't experiencing what I'm going through. Lucky dogs
MKBHD Slams Google Pixel 6 Pro's "Bad Experience"
YouTuber MKBHD tweets that he's done with the Pixel 6 Pro and will no longer recommend it to his viewers. That's not great for Google.
www.droid-life.com
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Click to collapse
I'm one of those lucky dogs, I guess
Side note: I don't pay much mind to reviewers such as MKBHD...I like to judge things for myself
I'll say the same thing I said in another thread...
The Pixel 6 is a new platform on new hardware. There are going to be teething issues. Expecting perfection isn't realistic. Google has been using Snapdragon SoC's since the Nexus 4, and this is their first foray using their own hardware. When Apple introduced the A7 in the iPhone 5S, they had the same problem - a lot of stability and feature issues.
Remember that OEMs have to make compromises in order to get everything they want into a reasonable package. Bigger battery means less space for the electronics, and heat becomes a bigger problem. Bigger display and more powerful processor means more battery drain. With handheld devices, weight and size are significant issues as well.
If you want stability, there are other OEMs to choose from that are sticking to established hardware - such as Samsung, using both Qualcomm and their own Exynos systems. The Pixel series has been pretty solid up to this point, so while the 6 and 6 Pro have certainly had a lot of issues, the next generation will be improved, as will the next after that, and so on.
When you buy a Pixel, it's for vanilla Android with the Google experience. Don't expect much more than that.
why do people care what he thinks
i not had that many issues and I am on the December firmware.
battery life is main issue for me but as its a new SOC and needs time to tune it along with new A12 I expected this
Nekromantik said:
why do people care what he thinks
i not had that many issues and I am on the December firmware.
battery life is main issue for me but as its a new SOC and needs time to tune it along with new A12 I expected this
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Click to collapse
Probably the same reason stupid challenges trend on social media?
jayr04 said:
Mine hasn't been buggy but it's good his statement made headlines. Maybe Google will get off their azz and fix these problems.
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Click to collapse
man, i really wish my experience was like yours. i bought into Google's P6 hype for sure... i purchased the phone for dual-sim connectivity so i could use one device for my personal and biz numbers. i started with an AT&T version, returned it due to connectivity issues, and purchased an unlocked version that "seemed" to work a little better. however, inconsistent connectivity (no cellular signal, dropped calls, dropped wifi) forced me to put the phone away for now, and switch to a dual-sim S21 Ultra. i'm willing to give Google a chance to address the connectivity issues, but my confidence in their ability to do so is pretty low right now.
bouchigo said:
I'm one of those lucky dogs, I guess
Side note: I don't pay much mind to reviewers such as MKBHD...I like to judge things for myself
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Click to collapse
Who? Twitter? I never go there, same as FB, Instagram etc.
Purveyors of disinformation and censorship, at the best.
Really this is Google's doing and not singularly the P6 Pro itself; Android 12 is a huge part of the problem. Android 11 was no gem either.
Following Apple's lead like a lost puppy was one of their biggest mistakes. Google Android degrades their market edge by doing so and ultimately fails their customers.
A large part of Google's problem is that they are also control freaks. They want to push their cloud services at all costs even if it conflicts with the customer's best interests. They learned that from MS.
Who needs another bloody iPhone knock off?
Nekromantik said:
why do people care what he thinks
i not had that many issues and I am on the December firmware.
battery life is main issue for me but as its a new SOC and needs time to tune it along with new A12 I expected this
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't even know who that is, nor do I really care. However, and this is a big but, if he has a following of thousands of users who buy phones for multiple family members and go on social media platforms then it becomes a problem. Not here because it seems no one is on social media round these parts, but this is the extreme minority. So call it where it belongs, the phone is buggy.. big time. I'm not talking about battery life either, I'm talking about not being able to make a phone call or receive a text. That is major. If I want stability I go with one of the big guns, Apple or Google. Pure iPhone experience and pure Android experience. There is nothing pure about this Pixel 6 series. OEMs compromising and releasing a device that is obviously flawed is not a great model for success. I don't want a Samsung or an iPhone. I want a Pixel. There is absolutely no reason I should put up with a test device when they touted this as the phone of the year. Next generation doesn't interest me right about now. I want a phone with security updates that are current and a device that always can receive a phone call and text. It is not the Pixel 6 no matter how many excuses you can come up with.
If this was a test device at least tell me that. If they are working out problems fitting stuff in then let me know. I easily could have kept my pristine P5 but I was led to believe this was a finished product and, I repeat, the phone of the year. the iPhone killer the every other phone killer. Well the P6 just got killed by their own hands and if you can't admit it then nothing I can say will change your mind.
I got a P6 Pro at launch and I haven't had any major issues or bugs. I'm on Dec update and I think I experienced the network drop thing only twice. I restarted my phone and everything was back to normal.
No other issues though..
d.cortez said:
man, i really wish my experience was like yours. i bought into Google's P6 hype for sure... i purchased the phone for dual-sim connectivity so i could use one device for my personal and biz numbers. i started with an AT&T version, returned it due to connectivity issues, and purchased an unlocked version that "seemed" to work a little better. however, inconsistent connectivity (no cellular signal, dropped calls, dropped wifi) forced me to put the phone away for now, and switch to a dual-sim S21 Ultra. i'm willing to give Google a chance to address the connectivity issues, but my confidence in their ability to do so is pretty low right now.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i was on s21 ultra and switch to pixel6 pro if iam kinda sad? yes definetly and iam not big fan of samsung but compare to p6 pro samsung was way better
I bought the unlocked version, and I've had no problems to speak of. My former daily driver was an iPhone 12 Pro Max. Been switching my VZ SIM back and forth to see which one I'll stick with.
blackhawk said:
Who? Twitter? I never go there, same as FB, Instagram etc.
Purveyors of disinformation and censorship, at the best.
Really this is Google's doing and not singularly the P6 Pro itself; Android 12 is a huge part of the problem. Android 11 was no gem either.
Following Apple's lead like a lost puppy was one of their biggest mistakes. Google Android degrades their market edge by doing so and ultimately fails their customers.
A large part of Google's problem is that they are also control freaks. They want to push their cloud services at all costs even if it conflicts with the customer's best interests. They learned that from MS.
Who needs another bloody iPhone knock off?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My concern is that Google may not find a solution for the P6P reception problems and will have a Nexus 6P issue on its hands. Lawsuits caused many Nexus 6P to be replaced with Pixels so in theory it could happen again but 10 months is a long way from now.
Somebody other has problem with photo quality and strange artifacts? Here look in bright part ....pls dont be a stupid and dont say its becouse saturation or something photo is normal standard photo with no setup right from camera
I'm on Dec build in UK (not sure if that makes a difference but O2 network), I have had small teething issues but nothing like some of the major bugs that have been mentioned. Are we using different variants or something?
Guyinlaca said:
My concern is that Google may not find a solution for the P6P reception problems and will have a Nexus 6P issue on its hands. Lawsuits caused many Nexus 6P to be replaced with Pixels so in theory it could happen again but 10 months is a long way from now.
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Click to collapse
Please no!
bobby janow said:
I don't even know who that is, nor do I really care. However, and this is a big but, if he has a following of thousands of users who buy phones for multiple family members and go on social media platforms then it becomes a problem. Not here because it seems no one is on social media round these parts, but this is the extreme minority. So call it where it belongs, the phone is buggy.. big time. I'm not talking about battery life either, I'm talking about not being able to make a phone call or receive a text. That is major. If I want stability I go with one of the big guns, Apple or Google. Pure iPhone experience and pure Android experience. There is nothing pure about this Pixel 6 series. OEMs compromising and releasing a device that is obviously flawed is not a great model for success. I don't want a Samsung or an iPhone. I want a Pixel. There is absolutely no reason I should put up with a test device when they touted this as the phone of the year. Next generation doesn't interest me right about now. I want a phone with security updates that are current and a device that always can receive a phone call and text. It is not the Pixel 6 no matter how many excuses you can come up with.
If this was a test device at least tell me that. If they are working out problems fitting stuff in then let me know. I easily could have kept my pristine P5 but I was led to believe this was a finished product and, I repeat, the phone of the year. the iPhone killer the every other phone killer. Well the P6 just got killed by their own hands and if you can't admit it then nothing I can say will change your mind.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
He's got 15.2 million subscribers on YouTube. But I agree with you. You would think Google put a little more resources behind it, especially with their big marketing push.
I have a typo and almost every single sentence when doing voice dictation. Maybe I have a stroke happening and my speech is the issue but I'm heavily dependent on it and have been relying on it for years without a problem.
It's just one of the many bugs I'm dealing with, but by no means the end of the world... I ran the A12 betas on my 4XL and it was a rather good experience. Basically all the new features I use specific to the 6pro are broken. I'm hoping that January will be our lucky month
The only issue I have is a bluetooth audio streaming. I need to reconnect it one or two times to make it work.
yeah my second Pixel 6 pro went back to google yesterday, I have had issues with both 6 pro`s I have had, so I`m back to my 9 pro for now. guess wait and see what happens with the S22 ultra or the 10 pro.