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hi there,
the defy is my very first android-mobile device. I had windows mobile 4,5,6 in the past and i'm using palm pre (webos) since over a year now. I am dissapointed about the apps for webos, because they dont exist every app appears first on iphone.. somethimes for android... and never for webos. So, on amazon-cybermonday, i bought a cheap motorola defy.
But i am dissapointed.. not in the device but in the OS. This is Version 2.1 and feels like a buggy windows mobile 5 Nothing works really intuitively (?).
i installed all the cool apps in from the app-catalog, which first doesn't worked with my gmail-adress. i had to use googlemail.com adress (?). that took me about 2 hours then i installed the facebook app, which didn't told me that i have unred messages. I dont Like this app because i know the webos one.
so i tried google goggels.. cool app, indeed. But after 2 fotos, the device hangs and had to be restarted. there is no button to restart -.- ^^
ok, after the restarts, i tested other apps.. i downloaded very much apps.. there are very trashy apps in the store. Some japanese, chinese and other unreadble apps with no description.. hmm... until a message appears, that i dont have enogh memory and should close some apps. ...
and .. really.. how do you life with a OS without an ability to exit apps?? i had to download a taskmanager to kill open programs (to get 90% of the used memory back.. not 100%).. so after some opening and closing, i had no more memory and had to restart (pardon: shutdown and start) again.
my sum up: i have a mobile phone with has potential. it has a great camera (which an app had destroyed so i cannot use it anymore because blue color switched to red color, it was a filter in an crashed (or killed) app) and a good display, waterproof and long durability.. but the OS is not usable in my option. the apps are not designed well, they are mostly "ugly". i dont know what app is running without looking into another app, which is ugly too
so my question about one week of testing and finally returning to Webos. Why is android so.. unusable? i would call myself as a geek, but hey... that is too much Or.. maybe.. i am doing it wrong! what is possible with an android-phone? how many hours of customizing do you have to spend to have an android which is exactly like you want it? and where can i copy that
I think the problem with the Defy is that it's shipped with Motoblur which is by and large the cause of the "ugliness" and sluggishness of the phone.
Get Launcher Pro, I've only heard good things about it
Sounds like you have been installing a few too many apps my friend!
One of Android's stong points is it's ability for apps to customise the interface and modify the functions of the device. However, this can also be a weakness with poorly written applications bogging things down, or as you experienced with the camera app, stopping some features from working.
I would reset your device back to it's default state, and start again, choosing carefully what you install (tip: Check the reviews and comments in the market before you hit install).
LetoKynes said:
I think the problem with the Defy is that it's shipped with Motoblur which is by and large the cause of the "ugliness" and sluggishness of the phone.
Get Launcher Pro, I've only heard good things about it
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think i like the motorola blur although i dont really know where this starts and ends The widgets are ok and the ability to have a connection from my pc zu the android-blur from the internet is good to know if i cannot find my device or want to upload something without moving..
But, like milesg suggested, i will reset the phone.. i have to anyway because of the camera-bug. maybe i can install this launcher.. i dont want to break the phone because it is proberbly a gift for christmas.
@milesg.. i have written the reviews on androit-pitt and have installed only the very good apps.. thats what dissapointed, too. ^^
I wouldn't worry about "breaking" the phone, as far as I know (at least from what I've read), LauncherPro is just a simple download and install app (doesn't involve any unrooting/unlocking/etc.) so I'd definitely give it a shot.
I'm surprised by the undertones of this thread. It's a phone! It's not a general computer, it's not a GameBoy, it's a portable communication device. I have not owned a smartphone before. Well, at least not for long. I tried the HD2 Pro and thought it was a device with the clunkiest interface I ever used. I tried a Blackberry (Bold 9700) and hated the walled-off ecosystem (a reason I will never use Apple devices), and now I got the Defy and after a week of playing and tinkering with the setup I'm happy as a clam. I installed LaucherPro (and paid for the plus version although the only widget I ended up using is the calendar) and PowerBar. Then I added Pure Messanger for my unified Gmail inbox. I have no Motoblur accounts, no Social services of any kind, only two home screens (one for e-mail, and one for weather/calendar/Reuters news, and a few shortcuts), and that's it! I've got a phone with good quality calls, great speakerphone, maps, navigation, e-mail, and IM on the go. I'm happy. Less (of good quality) is more.
prophil said:
Or.. maybe.. i am doing it wrong! what is possible with an android-phone? how many hours of customizing do you have to spend to have an android which is exactly like you want it? and where can i copy that
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree with you to some extent. I just finished 2 days of getting my new phone to run, and I only persisted because I am a software developer and never give up on a computer, as small as it may be. In terms of immediate usability, my previous SonyEricsson P1 is still ahead.
just some examples: after importing my contacts through motoblur, I realized that birthdates were not mirrored in the calendar. I created a few test contacts, whose birthdates DID appear. I now decided to delete all contacts from MB and re-import through my google account. After that, the birthday events of the newly created entries were still in the calendar, even though the contacts proper were deleted. I had to root my device, install a database client app, and go directly to the Contacts/Events database to delete the entries.
This morning, the calendar widget insisted on showing yesterdays date. No way of convincing it that this was the 8th of December. Meanwhile (12:00 am) it has caught up, however.
Bottomline: if you feel this platform is still in its infancy, and it is questionable how it will ever become the platform of choice for your wife or for efficiency-oriented business purposes (in other words: non-geek usage), you have my sympathy.
chris
I installed LaucherPro (and paid for the plus version although the only widget I ended up using is the calendar) and PowerBar. Then I added Pure Messanger for my unified Gmail inbox. I have no Motoblur accounts, no Social services of any kind
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
sounds like you did the right things - i will investigate this for myself. But you really just confirm what has already been said. Unless one has a clear understanding of what does not work, and what alternatives are available, the DEFY (and probably any other Motorola phone, and most other brands as well) will cause a lot of frustration.
I say exchange/return it asap and get a diff andriod device before getting stuck in a 2 yr contract....but don't let that one phone give a bad rep to all android phones...get an android that doesn't come w motoblur
*Sent from my Tmobile MT4G*
I installed launcher pro as well. Phone runs supper smooth now. Also, this thing is way better than gameboy. I play nes and snes games all day
@prophil
Windows mobile (note not WP7) is the best OS ever, so i can understand you're disappointed.
But, be realistic, development is getting poor and WM will die soon.
All the OS available today are worst than WM but you have to chose one of them if you want to do more than calls with your phone. In my opinion Android is the best choice among those OS, that's the reason it is so popular.
MarSOnEarth said:
I installed LaucherPro (and paid for the plus version although the only widget I ended up using is the calendar) and PowerBar. Then I added Pure Messanger for my unified Gmail inbox.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
can you please tell me where to find PowerBar? Cant find it in the AppStore
I felt the same way about my hero until i found xda!!
Sent from my HERO200 using XDA App
Lol you're coming from a winmo and saying that android isn't intuitive and that its ugly? Lmao ok. I've never used a winmo that i didn't wanna throw off the bridge.
Sent from my DEFY using XDA app
I love Android noobs
Sent from my defy using XDA App
disturkis4u said:
Lol you're coming from a winmo and saying that android isn't intuitive and that its ugly? Lmao ok. I've never used a winmo that i didn't wanna throw off the bridge.
Sent from my DEFY using XDA app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree. BB is too limited and win mo was probably the worst
System ever
disturkis4u said:
Lol you're coming from a winmo and saying that android isn't intuitive and that its ugly?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, i see that my poor englisch leads to a miss understanding. I'm not coming from Windows Mobile. I had owned a xda and and xda2i .. thats about 8 years ago i think?.. and i could get used to it. it was cool.. you could do a lot of things.. (while other phones still had monochrome displays).. but the feeling, that the OS and the Device were married like El and his wife in "married with children" is : that just doesn't work.. so i had putted it in my desk and forgot about it. for about 7 years or so. I thought things have changed.. but they haven't really.
I come from WebOS.. that was.. is.. my actual smartphone-OS. That is exactly like a OS should look und feel in my opinion.. <- that was my mind before i every tried iOS or Symbian or Android... i never will go to Apple, so my curiosity leads me to android. That should be the best, they all told me. (ok, like iOS is the best is what all the apple-people tells me). And.. its not
Have to ever had the chance to test webOS?
anyway, my work is done, im at home now and im just going to reset the device and try my luck again
Fact is Android might not be for you. But that doesn't mean it's a bad OS, just means it's not what you want in an OS.
Definitely need to take your time with downloading apps your first try out with the phone. Don't go app crazy. Download a few of them, test them out, uninstall those you don't like and go on, but don't do this with twenty apps at a time.
My first Android phone was a Cliq...believe me you are much better off with the Defy.
Its me again
I've been installing and testing.. configuring and uninstalling.. i think.. i made one mistake on my first run. i didn't installed the launcher Pro!
after i installed the launcher pro, the OS is becoming usable.. i can make folders instead of scrolling through a buggy endless list of apps. and if i want to scroll, it is smoothy
then, i have found very attraktiv apps, like a file-manager with bluetooth and smb support. and i can send everything from and to my dlna-devices. .. ok.. thats just funktionality, not more.. but.. i think, i just have to play some more days with the OS to get used to it..
or.. shouldn't I because i will give it away (gift^^)
I used my Samsung Soul for more than two years before I moved to Motorola Defy to increase my productivity. In 2000 I bought the HP Jornada 720 (WinCE) that I really liked but stop using it as it wasn't truly a portable device and I couldn't possibly have it with me everywhere. I kept it until 2008 as a secondary backup solution for important information such as contacts before threw it away.
Now that I own an Android OS based mobile phone for more than a week I can say that I'm kind of disappointed with the OS. Maybe I had too much expectations but I'm not disappointed enough to give up the OS just yet.
Android 2.1 out of box is hardly worth investing in my opinion when you have no use for social networking i.e. Facebook and twitter features. However, the prospect of checking emails on the road with availability of a wireless connection is very appealing to me but Android 2.1 is very poor in supporting multiple email accounts. I understand that Android 2.2 has a better email support but I have to wait up to six months for better support. It is beyond me how Google didn't see the demand of such feature in the first place. I think the lack of proper email support in Android 2.1 demonstrates that Google didn't target users like me originally.
The lack of Office Suite is another disappointing thing for me. Out-of-box I cannot even write/read a simple note in a text file. The sticky notes widget shipped with Motorola Defy does not serve my needs at all. I would have loved to be able to trasnfer a word document to my phone for later reading.
I'm sure there is an app on the market for whatever I want my smartphone to do but the cost and time I have to invest deters me even from trying.
I haven't found browsing internet on a 3.7" device a pleasant experience but having that feature in Android by default is assuring for urgent matters when a laptop or desktop PC is not available.
I'm also pleased that I can watch videos and listen to music when I left my Sony Walkman S series at home. Watching video on 3.7" device is certainly an advantage but the battery usage is always a concern on phone devices but not with PMP devices.
I was also surprised to find the lack of customisation compared to my Samsung Soul. Everything about Samsung Soul can be customised and one can build his own theme without any technical knowledge. In Android 2.1 only ring tones and wallpapers are customisable. I can't even change the background colour of system menus for instance. I'm sure there is an app for that.
Google's own services/apps are great if you have a use for them. For instance google's map comes handy for me very occasionally. I have lived without it so far while I was on the road. On the other hand, I will have a use for a proper GPS software such as CoPilot that I intend to purchase soon and I'm pleased it is available for Android platform.
Conclusion
I doubt it Motorola will upgrade Defy beyond Android 2.2 and I'm willing for the time being stick with Motorola Defy until end of 2012.
By no means I dislike Android but in terms of productivity I expected much more. All the features I use on my Motorola Defy can also be found on other mobile platforms so nothing to praise about when it come to Android. The initial ownership cost of my Motorola Defy which I like the hardware very much is much lower than equivalent/similar handsets on other mobile platforms.
In my opinion Android platform is not suited for very active business users nor power users like me out-of-box. Once out-of-box features are improved for business oriented users or power users then I do not see why I should consider what other mobile platforms are offering.
Hi!
I'll try to explain me as best as possible here about the 2 main issues I have with my One X.
I'm living in Shanghai, and I've bought it here, however, because of the stupid issues between Google and China, my One X doesn't have the Google play store.
I tried to dowmload it, and it doesn't launch, after a second or 2, I'm back to the main screen of my phone.
I contacted HTC, and they basically told me to use the Hiapk market, but it's extremely limited, and some apps won't work. For ex: downloading Foursquare through this parallel market is ok, but when it comes to the install, it would just tell me that the app can't be installed...
I asked HTC if it's possible to overcome these restrictions, as I'm french, and would certainly go back to France someday... Had no answer... As for foursquare, HTC told me to contact foursquare directly.
So, I would like to know if it is possible to change the OS of the phone to put one from anywhere else in the world where the play store is not factory censored, and if that would for example solve the foursquare issue (or any possible issue that I might have with other apps).
Sorry if I'm not using the good terms, but I just switched from IOS to android 3 weeks ago...
The warranty would certainly be void, but I'm up taking the risk as I can't use the phone for more than 2/3 games... I feel like I've just made an expensive mistake...
Thanks in advance for your help!
You can root it and install a custom rom on it that will give you access to the play store.
Sent from my HTC One X using xda premium
How could I do that ? what does root exactly means ?
I'm new to android, and I'm not sure about what I should do. Did few research but I'm not sure about what I should pick and install on it.
I'm not looking for anything fancy, just the same OS but with the possibility to have the play store, I don't really want to overclock or change it at all levels.
Thanks for the answer!
Rooting is like "administrator" access on a PC, if that makes sense. You can install a custom ROM that looks like what you have now but with extra features. I think if you go in the development section there are a few threads you can look at that will help you root and install a custom ROM so you can access the play store. Goodluck
Will definitely give it a shot
Thanks for your help!
If you are rooted you can simply install the 'market enabler' app
Sent from my Nexus S using xda premium
use a VPN
qtableau,
(and others behind the #@$!%* Great FireWall)
i live in SH as well,
Do yourself a really big favor! Get a VPN!
Rooted phones do nothing for websites that are blocked (which come and go).
A rooted phone is not a solution to blocked websites
&
Market Enabler, although a great app, can not be used to unblock websites, it merely tells the Android Market/Google play store you are using a different service provider so you can download apps not available in your country (to bypass the “This item is not compatible with your device” MSG) IE my China Unicom Device is displayed as "AT&T HTC Desire" in the play store
AND because almost every non-Chinese website in the world has a facebook, twitter, and a Google+ feed/rss button/, every time a non Chinese page loads the #@$!%* Great FireWall needs time to check it out before it loads, so without a vpn surfing on a mobile can be horrible.
I use a VPN service provided by 12vpn, you can use it with multiple computers and mobile devices simultaneously. It will change your life. I have it on 4 desktops, a laptop, an iphone and android phone.
And you can use it to access online content that is not available outside certain countries ie: i can access the online TV website hulu.com which is only available to US residents.
one caveat: you CAN'T use it on a computer that has a running a torrent program though...which sucks! You have to close the program before you can run the vpn but just on (i pretty sure this a 12vpn policy, other providers should let u use a torrent program simultaneously)`
Costs about 400RMB a year but freedom is PRICELESS!!!!!!!!!
Disclosure: I am 4 year customer of 12vpn.com and have no other interests/connections to the company
IMHO Chinese censorship is mostly a BUSINESS decision. Same as any governmental organization that requires a certain amount of local programming on TV or radio (FCC, CRTC,oxfam etc)
Hi! I was wondering if you found a solution? I have the exact same problem. I recently bought a Galaxy S3 and found out i cant access google play or any of the google apps. i downloaded the APK files and tried to install it, but they don't open at all. I'd love to hear how you solved (and hope you di!)
qtableau said:
Hi!
I'll try to explain me as best as possible here about the 2 main issues I have with my One X.
I'm living in Shanghai, and I've bought it here, however, because of the stupid issues between Google and China, my One X doesn't have the Google play store.
I tried to dowmload it, and it doesn't launch, after a second or 2, I'm back to the main screen of my phone.
I contacted HTC, and they basically told me to use the Hiapk market, but it's extremely limited, and some apps won't work. For ex: downloading Foursquare through this parallel market is ok, but when it comes to the install, it would just tell me that the app can't be installed...
I asked HTC if it's possible to overcome these restrictions, as I'm french, and would certainly go back to France someday... Had no answer... As for foursquare, HTC told me to contact foursquare directly.
So, I would like to know if it is possible to change the OS of the phone to put one from anywhere else in the world where the play store is not factory censored, and if that would for example solve the foursquare issue (or any possible issue that I might have with other apps).
Sorry if I'm not using the good terms, but I just switched from IOS to android 3 weeks ago...
The warranty would certainly be void, but I'm up taking the risk as I can't use the phone for more than 2/3 games... I feel like I've just made an expensive mistake...
Thanks in advance for your help!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I found a solution by paying a bit more...
I gave up on trying to read all the tutorials on how to root phones and went to an electronic market in SH (where I live, if you do, go to xujiahui to do so)
For a hundred RMB, I got it changed to a hongkong OS, where everything is allowed and works great. Some updates not even available on the official one in China went with it. Hope it helps and that you'll be able to find a market near your place.
Basically, my advice for some other people reading this thread: Don't buy it in a real shop, go to a market, they're half the price, and already flashed to a "working" version... wish I'd known that
Play Store also don´t work with VPN cause the issue isn´t connection kind but factory blocked. So I wil go also the way to get my OS changed. Guess there´s a big risk of abortive flash so is there any possibility of orig. OS back up to be flashed back if any inconvience happen?
Pls help me
Hi, I do have the exact same problem with my Note2. I bought it in store in Beijing.
And now I'm stuck coz there's nothing more I could do without the Play Store.
How did you find the market? And What did you tell them?
Most of the chinese here cannot understand English so how can we tell them?
Please help me out with this.
Thank you.
download orbot.apk(requires root to fully function) or hotspotshield.apk look for them on google (how ironic), use them only when using market(they slow down the internet to some extent, but act as a proxy on your phone)
qtableau said:
I found a solution by paying a bit more...
I gave up on trying to read all the tutorials on how to root phones and went to an electronic market in SH (where I live, if you do, go to xujiahui to do so)
For a hundred RMB, I got it changed to a hongkong OS, where everything is allowed and works great. Some updates not even available on the official one in China went with it. Hope it helps and that you'll be able to find a market near your place.
Basically, my advice for some other people reading this thread: Don't buy it in a real shop, go to a market, they're half the price, and already flashed to a "working" version... wish I'd known that
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi, do you know if you made something else to your phone? i know that this S3 version from UNICOM uses a different modem that wont allow us to install anyother Samsung build and i was wondering about if in the WHOLE world there was another country that used the same modem so i can install that build in my China/unicom phone. If this is a transparent solution I AM SOOOO DOING IT!
Android phone without Google Play
qtableau said:
I found a solution by paying a bit more...
I gave up on trying to read all the tutorials on how to root phones and went to an electronic market in SH (where I live, if you do, go to xujiahui to do so)
For a hundred RMB, I got it changed to a hongkong OS, where everything is allowed and works great. Some updates not even available on the official one in China went with it. Hope it helps and that you'll be able to find a market near your place.
Basically, my advice for some other people reading this thread: Don't buy it in a real shop, go to a market, they're half the price, and already flashed to a "working" version... wish I'd known that
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
HI bleau,
Did the guy explain to you in detail what he has done to your device? I have the same problem with the phone (THl W8) I bought in China.
Vcek said:
download orbot.apk(requires root to fully function) or hotspotshield.apk look for them on google (how ironic), use them only when using market(they slow down the internet to some extent, but act as a proxy on your phone)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Probably the best way, spoofs ip address.
Sent from...... The Milky Way
Hello guys!
If you have this kind of issues then the only thing you need to do is:
- Download FASTBOOT files, Google it, it should be 3 files. The size small. Make your own folder called "Android" on C: Drive. Put the files there.
- Unlock the Boot loader, go to your respective forums and find a way to unlock your device's Boot loader.
- Get ClockWorkMod recovery for your device, Google it, go to their website, search for newest version for your device, download.
- Put the .img file onto the "Android" folder.
- Enter Boot loader mode (For HTC it's POWER + Volume Down). Navigate using physical buttons, and Select FASTBOOT option.
- Flash it with CMD on Windows by using this command:
--- cd c:\Android
--- fastboot flash recovery name_of_recovery_you_downloaded.img
--- fastboot erase cache
- Done all that, search for a custom ROM that's already pre-ROOTed and has built-in Kernel to avoid troubles like boot loops.
- Put that ROM onto your SD card, DO NOT EXTRACT THE ZIP.
- Enter Recovery by going into Boot loader mode
- Full Wipe/Factory Reset your phone through Recovery, then erase Cache through Recovery too.
- "Install zip from SD" card through Recovery, select the ROM.zip, select YES. Now wait.
- Voila, Democracy speaks for itself ;D
Thank me if i helped! :laugh:
*All credits goes to Mr Hofs, as he is the one that guides me from nothingness *
Hi. I have the same problem and I live in Shanghai as well. Can you let me know where did you get your phone jailbroken?
qtableau said:
I found a solution by paying a bit more...
I gave up on trying to read all the tutorials on how to root phones and went to an electronic market in SH (where I live, if you do, go to xujiahui to do so)
For a hundred RMB, I got it changed to a hongkong OS, where everything is allowed and works great. Some updates not even available on the official one in China went with it. Hope it helps and that you'll be able to find a market near your place.
Basically, my advice for some other people reading this thread: Don't buy it in a real shop, go to a market, they're half the price, and already flashed to a "working" version... wish I'd known that
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi all, I have finally had enough of Apple (and planned obsolescence!). I have never used Android before, got myself a Galaxy Tab S and once I learn how to use it well, I will be dumping my faulty iPhone in favour of a Galaxy phone as well.
I bought a used Tab S with 4G in lovely condition. Just turned it on and it says Insert Sim. I skipped that and it said "Many features will not work without an active Sim".
Therefore the first question I have is how much to read into that message?! Do I believe it? I don\'t plan on using a data Sim, only want to use WiFi. Will the Tab S work just fine without a cellular SIM or is it going to give me constant errors and problems? If the latter I may have to sell it in favour of a non SIM version. Any advice appreciated. I quite like the idea of being ABLE to use a data SIM if I want to some time, hence why I bought it.
Second question is I DESPISE Google and all the tracking stuff. I use a VPN much of the time. A friend of mine has a Galaxy Tab and said I should "root" the device. Can anyone tell me the main benefits of doing so? I am trying to work out how necessary is it (as I am short of time so won't do it unless it will give me benefits). I intend to use VPN and try my best to prevent google tracking what I watch on youtube, what searches I do, and just about anything else I can. I also notice that for Earth and Maps to work, I obviously need to let it know my location (which I don't generally like doing but understand the trade off and will do it in this case). Is there a way (perhaps via rooting) to enable GPS location sharing without feeding GOOGLE my whereabouts (i.e. using other map software instead of Google's)?
I am blown away by the quality of this device. thanks for anyone who has time to offer their thoughts on the above. Thanks
Welcome to the real world, Neo!
SIM Card allows having such things like mobile data (this works just the same as the iPad LTE) and voice calls from a tablet (this feature is unique to Android - you can make voice calls just like it is a big phone, using either built-in mic and speakers or via Bluetooth headset). If the SIM is not inserted, there will be no problems - you can safely dismiss the warning.
Regarding the Google-free experience and rooting. Rooting is direct equivalent to iOS jailbreak. Both result in getting root shell (# or uid 0).
To root the Tab, you must flash the CF-Autoroot via Odin: https://www.theandroidsoul.com/root...10-5-lte-sm-t805-one-click-cf-auto-root-tool/ This is for 10.5 LTE aka SM-T805, for 8.4 LTE aka SM-T705 the instruction is similar: https://www.theandroidsoul.com/root...-8-4-lte-sm-t705-one-click-cf-auto-root-tool/
Also it is good to flash the TWRP recovery after you get root to get a rich recovery environment helping you to backup and restore your device, flash custom ROMs etc.nMore info here: https://twrp.me/FAQ/
Dont hesitate to ask questions once they arise.
---------- Post added at 02:28 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:12 PM ----------
Ph, and forgot to mention Google free experience. Once you get root, you can debloat your stock ROM but I'd advise flashing a LineageOS ROM for newer Android version and latest security patches. Also, Google services are not present by default in LineageOs but can be flashed separately. However, I am already more than a year without Google services and apps.
For example, I use K-9 Mail + OpenKeychain from F-Droid open-source app market to use GMail with OpenPGP support.
F-Droid is the primary marketplace app having opensource applications. For closed-source apps available on Google Play, the open-source Google Play client app named Yalp Store offers the same functionality as play market but not requiring Google services.
Youtube client I use is Newpipe, opensource app available in F-Droid. There are other clients too, like SkyTube.
Google Maps can be replaced by OsmAnd+ - an opensource client for OpenStreetMap infrastructure, again available from F-Droid app store.
Office application suite I recommend is Hancom Office - it is free for Samsung devices, and it processes documents faster than Office365.
Also, I made it work on LineageOS and other custom ROMs.
I use Brave Browser as a primary Web browser, as it is opensource app based on Google Chromium code but heavily de-Googled and having some cool features like embedded ad-blocker.
Hope this helps you a bit.
gellmar said:
Welcome to the real world, Neo!
SIM Card allows having such things like mobile data (this works just the same as the iPad LTE) and voice calls from a tablet (this feature is unique to Android - you can make voice calls just like it is a big phone, using either built-in mic and speakers or via Bluetooth headset). If the SIM is not inserted, there will be no problems - you can safely dismiss the warning.
Regarding the Google-free experience and rooting. Rooting is direct equivalent to iOS jailbreak. Both result in getting root shell (# or uid 0).
To root the Tab, you must flash the CF-Autoroot via Odin: https://www.theandroidsoul.com/root...10-5-lte-sm-t805-one-click-cf-auto-root-tool/ This is for 10.5 LTE aka SM-T805, for 8.4 LTE aka SM-T705 the instruction is similar: https://www.theandroidsoul.com/root...-8-4-lte-sm-t705-one-click-cf-auto-root-tool/
Also it is good to flash the TWRP recovery after you get root to get a rich recovery environment helping you to backup and restore your device, flash custom ROMs etc.nMore info here: https://twrp.me/FAQ/
Dont hesitate to ask questions once they arise.
---------- Post added at 02:28 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:12 PM ----------
Ph, and forgot to mention Google free experience. Once you get root, you can debloat your stock ROM but I'd advise flashing a LineageOS ROM for newer Android version and latest security patches. Also, Google services are not present by default in LineageOs but can be flashed separately. However, I am already more than a year without Google services and apps.
For example, I use K-9 Mail + OpenKeychain from F-Droid open-source app market to use GMail with OpenPGP support.
F-Droid is the primary marketplace app having opensource applications. For closed-source apps available on Google Play, the open-source Google Play client app named Yalp Store offers the same functionality as play market but not requiring Google services.
Youtube client I use is Newpipe, opensource app available in F-Droid. There are other clients too, like SkyTube.
Google Maps can be replaced by OsmAnd+ - an opensource client for OpenStreetMap infrastructure, again available from F-Droid app store.
Office application suite I recommend is Hancom Office - it is free for Samsung devices, and it processes documents faster than Office365.
Also, I made it work on LineageOS and other custom ROMs.
I use Brave Browser as a primary Web browser, as it is opensource app based on Google Chromium code but heavily de-Googled and having some cool features like embedded ad-blocker.
Hope this helps you a bit.
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Crikey!! Can't thank you enough for the time and effort there, what a great welcome to the other side
I confess most of what you said went straight over my head, ROMS and such like, but I will learn as there are clearly some great tips in this post.
So - fine without SIM, cool thanks.
Flashing - gonna take some time to learn but I think the link you posted is what I need, I have the SM-T800
So Lineage is an OS, is that right? And it comes free of Google bloatware/spyware?
I can't believe there are ways to view youtube and maps etc without giving Google your retinal scan. JUST what I hope to do!
Brave Browser - not heard of that, was gonna look for Firefox or Waterfox and set it up myself with RTC discabled, Ublockorigin etc etc (if poss) but maybe don't need to now as Brave sounds built to do what I want already.
Thanks again, great post
marrteee said:
Crikey!! Can't thank you enough for the time and effort there, what a great welcome to the other side
I confess most of what you said went straight over my head, ROMS and such like, but I will learn as there are clearly some great tips in this post.
So - fine without SIM, cool thanks.
Flashing - gonna take some time to learn but I think the link you posted is what I need, I have the SM-T800
So Lineage is an OS, is that right? And it comes free of Google bloatware/spyware?
I can't believe there are ways to view youtube and maps etc without giving Google your retinal scan. JUST what I hope to do!
Brave Browser - not heard of that, was gonna look for Firefox or Waterfox and set it up myself with RTC discabled, Ublockorigin etc etc (if poss) but maybe don't need to now as Brave sounds built to do what I want already.
Thanks again, great post
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Strange the T800 has no dedicated SIM slot, it is WiFi only. T805 does have a SIM card though. You can check it opening Settings - Phone info. Also you can use the dialer to enter a magic code *#1234# to get info about your firmware (pay attention to PDA and CSC values). Would be good if you provide these here before you start any flashing.
LineageOS is a community built distribution of Android OS (like Ubuntu or Debian are GNU/Linux distributions) with some additional tweaks like Privacy Guard (a framework giving you control about permissions application ask, like a consent or denial to read contacts, GPS location, phone number etc). Full disclosure: I am an official maintainer of LineageOS for SM-T805 and I belong to the team creating LineageOS for other devices on the same chipset, like SM-T800, SM-T705, SM-T700, SM-P600 etc. There are also ResurrectionRemix ROM based on LineageOS and also there are de-bloated stock ROMs based on latest available Android 6.0.1 official factory OS. The official LineageOS is based on Android 7.1.2, and there is a (not very stable) 8.1.0.
I was a long-term fan of Firefox on Android (and I still am on PC!), but Chromium engine is twice as fast on our tablet (90.08 for Brave vs 45.04 for Firefox in browser benchmark)
SORRY! The seller called it a T800 but I checked and yes it's a T805.
I am SO busy at the moment with work and family stuff, not sure when I can get round to this and it looks like I have a lot of learning to come which I am dreading a bit with my schedule as it is! Don't suppose there is any chance someone (if not yourself) on this forum offers any kind of service? By that I mean, I post the Tab with cash to cover the job, and someone roots it and does the things you have mentioned then post it back? Probably a bit too much wishful thinking, but if you don't ask.......
marrteee said:
SORRY! The seller called it a T800 but I checked and yes it's a T805.
I am SO busy at the moment with work and family stuff, not sure when I can get round to this and it looks like I have a lot of learning to come which I am dreading a bit with my schedule as it is! Don't suppose there is any chance someone (if not yourself) on this forum offers any kind of service? By that I mean, I post the Tab with cash to cover the job, and someone roots it and does the things you have mentioned then post it back? Probably a bit too much wishful thinking, but if you don't ask.......
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This can be done remotely via TeamViewer - you can be around and follow my commands like press home button etc. The rest is done via ADB on PC side. But write me in PM next week - I have some things to do that I promised before.
That's too kind of you. Not sure if you mean Teamviewer with the actual device or another computer. I am in no hurry at all. My device is factory stock right now, been reset and I am not doing anything with it for now.
Thanks again
I don't suppose (given your knowledge of privacy issues etc) you know of a secure alternative to Skype? I am talking mainly about a desktop app. I have researched many times over the past year and it seems to me that every time something decent gets going, they get shut down or just close down without much explanation. Sure seems suspicious in some cases. Best I could find was ViPole, which is good although has some weaknesses. I can't believe nobody has made something that can do the basic stuff Skype can do! (text, video/voice, screenshare and file share). It's so simple by today's standards! Of course plenty of options until you get to P2P or encryption, then there seems to be nothing which actually works very well at all! Just in case you know of anything?
marrteee said:
I don't suppose (given your knowledge of privacy issues etc) you know of a secure alternative to Skype? I am talking mainly about a desktop app. I have researched many times over the past year and it seems to me that every time something decent gets going, they get shut down or just close down without much explanation. Sure seems suspicious in some cases. Best I could find was ViPole, which is good although has some weaknesses. I can't believe nobody has made something that can do the basic stuff Skype can do! (text, video/voice, screenshare and file share). It's so simple by today's standards! Of course plenty of options until you get to P2P or encryption, then there seems to be nothing which actually works very well at all! Just in case you know of anything?
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Look for Signal and qTox.
Thanks. Tried and still use Signal, although it's got some flaws and not at all sure I trust the privacy side. I really need screenshare too which it doesn't have.
qtox and utox i have tried, tried all the tox chat programs. Completely buggy and unusable. Nice and secure though , which makes it a shame they can't make the software work properly! notifications dont work, cam, calls completely broken. unusable.
I looked at variuos others but it's all going over to apps for smartphones and tabs now, I want a desktop app. Maybe Skype through VPN would help a bit, but not ideal!
Thanks again
marrteee said:
Thanks. Tried and still use Signal, although it's got some flaws and not at all sure I trust the privacy side. I really need screenshare too which it doesn't have.
qtox and utox i have tried, tried all the tox chat programs. Completely buggy and unusable. Nice and secure though , which makes it a shame they can't make the software work properly! notifications dont work, cam, calls completely broken. unusable.
I looked at variuos others but it's all going over to apps for smartphones and tabs now, I want a desktop app. Maybe Skype through VPN would help a bit, but not ideal!
Thanks again
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To accelerate the process of bringing up the quality of opensource projects, one must at least report the bugs timely. Have you filed a feature request? We all donate either our money, or our time to the community. Some of us donate both
Ha, yes I do make reports whenever I spot anything. I am talking to one of the developers about it but I don't see it getting fixed as the impetus seems to have gone and no way they will add screenshare I dont think. I will try though yes, least I can do in the hope that someone produces something useful but not "in bed" with the government!
If this is flagged as a double post, apologies, I was in the wrong place last time and can't find my way back there.
I have Lineage running extremely well on an older note 3.
I need Weixin ( the Chinese version- not WeChat international) to make life easier re health check QR codes and Covid. Saves carrying a A4 folder with docs around!
I do not have playstore or Samsung shop so used a 32 bit APK from Tencent - Wechat's developer. Everything goes well until actual login to wexin when their system complains of an emulator. Is Lineage considered and emulator?
I have no idea of the tech behind Whatsapp and Weixin, similarities etc but can Lineage support Whatsapp? Or rather, does it?
I understand no one but myself can actually solve this, just looking for some feedback to give me something to go forward with.
Cheers
Bic
Well this is my review of the device. Haven't read a lot of bad stuff about it and was wondering about that. But if you think about buying this device, take the time to read through my review. It is by no means complete, some points that piss me off might be subjective.
I bought this device recently because I thought it was a cheap smartphone with decent hardware and support for custom ROMS (especially LineageOS).
At first boot I was shocked about what bloat and garbage the manufacturer and Google decided to preinstall, but I was expecting as much.
I don't have a Google account and neither do I want one. So naturally I skipped that part. I also skipped the part where I connected the device to the internet at first.
As soon as I connected it, I was greeted with at least eight new Google apps I never asked for. Also some cool games I really didn't give two ****s about. Thanks, more work required to get rid of all that bloat!
Lets try to get some order into the things I really didn't enjoy about the device, its manufacturer and the steps required to rid myself of the bloat.
> "Security": Obviously my device is regularly scanned by some snake oil (provided by Avast...) for malware, viruses and whatnot. I don't remember agreeing to that but at least it can be disabled. You just have to through the pile of garbage that is called "Settings" and its subitems.
> "Data Privacy": Seems like one automagically opts into a ton of data collection, analytics and telemetry. I bet it's buried somehwere in their privacy agreement but I also bet that not even a fraction of the end-users bother to read it. You can revoke your agreement to data collection for virtually every app which renders most of them unusable. Also for every app you revoke your agreement you have to wait ten seconds, because obviously you can't be sure this is truly what you want!
> "Automatic updates": I was given the option to disable those at first boot. That's for MIUI only. Google (or is it MIUI too?) will still download updates for apps you meant to get rid of the first time it actually gets a connection. As well as those great promotion apps, google apps, amazon apps, facebook apps..hell even eBay....
> "Unlocking": This is the absolute worst part of it all. Usually you get a phone, create an account at the manufacturers site, allow OEM unlock in Developer Options and can do it via Fastboot. Not with Xiaomi you can't! You have to create a Mi account. Took couple of hours to get a verification mail, no biggie. You have to connect that account to your smartphone. Now you need their supercool Mi unlock tool. I got a background in software development and if that was my work, I'd shoot myself...for this specific device you are linked to some ancient version of the unlock tool. Online you can find newer versions but you're never really sure you wanna use this, since the source is at least questionable. Someone hosted it on Android filehost or Google Drive...I totally wanna run that with privileges on my windows, which I just needed to install on some machine, because you can't possibly run the required commands over fastboot on any system...Oh and did I mention that one is required to connect a phone number to the account, in case you lose access to the account?...I never wanted the account in the first place and only put up with it because I wanted to unlock the phone.
The Mi unlock tool is just painful to use...some steps aren't working at all. Sometimes you have to sign in via entering your credentials, sometimes you have to use a QR code which you scan with your phone...both seem to fail an awful lot. I had to search for help for literally every point in the procedure to unlock and I am certain the fact that it worked at all is pure luck.
If you manage to go to the step of actually unlocking the phone and all the excitement gets built up, you end up at 99% and FAIL! For "security reasons" you have to wait a week (i have read there are even worse timeouts). But you should NOT be doing anything else with your Mi account as that might reset the countdown!!!...I have also read there is another 30 days timeout if you use the account to unlock another device. For, uhm, SECURITY reasons!
You finally get to unlock the phone after a week if everything goes well and are able to rid yourself of that bloat- and spyware. Well sucks that the drivers for the camera are proprietary and there isn't any attempt to release it, so have fun with your four cameras and almost a 100MP taking 8MP photos that look like ****.
> "Camera on Custom ROMs": Seriously...don't try to tell people you are taking awesome pictures with GCam and xyz's build of it, blablabla. The pics still look worse than the ones with the MIUI camera. They are decent at best.
> "Cleaner": It seems like the awesome "Cleaner"-App dislikes anything that was installed from an unknown source. It recommended me to remove F-Droid altogether, since it takes up a couple hundred megabytes of storage (you know, cache and apks residing there)
> "ROM Support": Seems like apart from LineageOS there isn't really anything else you could use. Pixel Experience seems to be discontinued, other custom ROMs as well...either get the bloated MIUI garbage or LineageOS. I take that on me. I should have checked out this forum before buying the device. I only saw LineageOS builds and thought it would be well supported...joke's on me :/
Shouldn't end it with that much negativity, right? Well. If you can accept a decent camera making mostly ****ty pictures, it works just great on LineageOS
If you disagree with any of the points, by all means contradict me on them. It is also possible that I'm missing something. If there is a MIUI ROM that removes most of the bloat and gives me at least some privacy that's worthy to be called privacy, feel free to point me to it.
Anyways, I just needed to vent about it. Perhaps something good will come out of this. This was my first and last Xiaomi smartphone.
well, i totally agree with you, xiaomi is not for those privacy inclined users, a total mess. but for those users who are not bothered by a lack of privacy, xiaomi delivers some awesome phones for their price.
I agree that with camera, Gram can not replace MIUI stock camera , but there is some improvement in development and I think that we will get MIUI camera magisk module,already have but not working on all ROM.