[Q] What interface enhancements would you like to see? - Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

All,
Just doing a bit of research.
Even though we all love Android, its still got its gripes. One of those for me is that the interface isn't as fluid or as function as it could be.
As many of you have seen ICS now, what type of enhancements to the interface would you like to see?
To give you an idea of what i'm after: I personally still dont like the notifications. I feel that they are a bit limited as to whats on offer, so I would like to see more function added to them

Built in themes would he nice. I understand the while issue with the gpu and how the transitions work on Android is a issue. Maybe that will change.
Sent from my Nexus S 4G using Tapatalk

I was thinking more so just modifications to the default android theme or holo.
But yes, I would agree on built in themes or something similar

The good thing is there are alot of home replacements already. But a Google streamed lined theme would be cool. I don't see it being to complicated for them. I guess there more worried about the overall system
Sent from my Nexus S 4G using Tapatalk

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What is really known about ice cream sandwich?(besides it should be yummy)

I've seen threads about the prime where the question is "what do we know for SURE" and an obvious answer is nothing really. What about ics? Google searching really doesn't help since it is over posted with no concrete answers I can find.
So what are the main differences besides it being made tobwork on tablets or phones? I have a few answers that sound believable, but I would like to see some sources, not just rumors.
Oh, and trolls aren't needed, this should be a semi-serious topic, not just another wasted spot on the internet..
Sent from my NookColor using Tapatalk
One thing we've learned is it eliminates capacitive buttons. That's why the Prime's screen is so large. I think it does bridge the gap between tabs and phones. Downside is it may make it bad for updating current phones.
Sent from the American Dream.
Sent from my HTC Glacier using XDA Premium App
Blue Themed
Camera has built in panorama mode
Will launch with Google Shopper and NFC Enabled devices will be able to utilize those features
Gmail is all rethemed
Will be available for the Nexus S Nexus Prime gets it first (expected) then other devices will follow after
Not too many changes, just UI things, don't think requirements are set too high for year old devices to run it
The little icon in the bottom right, looks like a tray with multiple apps in it
Google search bar embedded on very top like Honeycomb Apps/Widgets launcher a lot like Honeycomb
This release is still very early, notice the theming of the power tray
Source: Rootzwiki
BelowTheHeavens said:
Blue Themed
Camera has built in panorama mode
Will launch with Google Shopper and NFC Enabled devices will be able to utilize those features
Gmail is all rethemed
Will be available for the Nexus S Nexus Prime gets it first (expected) then other devices will follow after
Not too many changes, just UI things, don't think requirements are set too high for year old devices to run it
The little icon in the bottom right, looks like a tray with multiple apps in it
Google search bar embedded on very top like Honeycomb Apps/Widgets launcher a lot like Honeycomb
This release is still very early, notice the theming of the power tray
Source: Rootzwiki
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Looks a lot like Touchwiz. Can you confirm if it's involved?
Sent from the American Dream.
Aren't there hardware keys?
Ice cream won't need hardware keys?!
Confusing
I think if the design is as good as my hd2 I will buy it and the display will be real hd! 720p.
1.5ghz dualcore processor.
Yes thats what I know for sure.
Sent from my HTC HD2 using xda premium
jonas2295 said:
Aren't there hardware keys?
Ice cream won't need hardware keys?!
Confusing
I think if the design is as good as my hd2 I will buy it and the display will be real hd! 720p.
1.5ghz dualcore processor.
Yes thats what I know for sure.
Sent from my HTC HD2 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The phone in the pics are nexus s with test version.
And what you know for sure is nexus prime not ICS lol.
What I know: It will be and is intented to work on different device, from hero to gs2, and different screen sizes with an adaptive UI (not sure about this).
One more: it will be awsome!
Sent from my GT-I9000 using XDA App
tt0204 said:
The phone in the pics are nexus s with test version.
And what you know for sure is nexus prime not ICS lol.
What I know: It will be and is intented to work on different device, from hero to gs2, and different screen sizes with an adaptive UI (not sure about this).
One more: it will be awsome!
Sent from my GT-I9000 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
http://pocketnow.com/android/samsungs-legal-team-confirms-nexus-prime
Some sources
But it´s nearly sure that it will have ICS ;D
I've heard the platform called "a marriage between TI and Android," and "a marriage of Gingerbread and Honeycomb." Also, "Honeycomb for phones."
Ice Cream Sandwich is a somewhat faraway version of Android that will look much more like the sexy Honeycomb we phone users have seen from afar (imagine that Android Marketplace look brought to other stock apps), and it might just have the Honeycomb bottom bar too. (Although personally, I'd rather it NOT be there if/when the phone was switched to landscape mode)...

Those with samsung phones

How is touchwiz and is it similar to sense?
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sprintuser1977 said:
How is touchwiz and is it similar to sense?
Sent from my PG86100 using xda premium
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wrong forum, this the evo3d forum.
xBryan said:
wrong forum, this the evo3d forum.
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Click to collapse
Thanks for your helpful answer. Now stfu and get out of my thread if you can not post anything helpful. Damn
Youtube the motorola photon, it has the new touch wiz.
I have it on my galaxy tab, its not bad.
steve97ta said:
Youtube the motorola photon, it has the new touch wiz.
I have it on my galaxy tab, its not bad.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Motorolla doesn't use TouchWiz. Its always been "Blur" unless something crazy just happened.
I have used TouchWiz a lot of SGS2 my buddy has. I have the 3Vo.
TouchWiz is balls compared to Sense. Yeah it might be a little more light weight but SO much isn't there.
It doesn't combine your contacts from google, facebook, tango, MS Exchange and your phone very well at ALL! If it does it sure is difficult to figure out. I work on my buddies and it just duplicated everything.
TouchWiz exchange integration is non-existent. For buisness users this is a HUGE must. My people app from sense and email have BB level integration. I start typing an email addy and it auto-searches for HISTORY (awesome like outlook), my exchange server and on my phone. Global Address Book integration...not present in TouchWiz. Wow...so now i have to add 200 contacts for work onto my phone if I want to use them? Not going to happen.
The leap feature is really poorly implemented, hard to get to "leap"...not a big deal though we dont use it that much in Sense really.
It wasn't as smooth when navigating. More robotic.... transitions sucked. You can add Launcher Pro or ADW though
Widgets sucked too...compared to sense.
People, Email, Calendar- suck compared to Sense
NOW I'm a business user so email, agendas, calendar notifications are a BIG deal to me as a consultant.
That being said, their facebook integration (see peoples pictures when they call you and people widget pics) sucked as well. Sense does a real good job of putting everything together automatically and linking everything. Consolidation is HUGE when you have all of these accounts. With Sense you don't even realize how good of a job this does.
That being said, again, SGS2 is a phenominal phone. It really is. The screen is fantastic (little cartoony though) and its a bit faster that EVO 3d at some stuff. I just depend on my phone for too much "Black berry" stuff to ever get away from Sense. Yeah there are third party apps for everything but odds are you have to pay for them (touchdown) and they don't integrate everything together NEARLY as well as Sense does.
svinyard said:
Motorolla doesn't use TouchWiz. Its always been "Blur" unless something crazy just happened.
I have used TouchWiz a lot of SGS2 my buddy has. I have the 3Vo.
TouchWiz is balls compared to Sense. Yeah it might be a little more light weight but SO much isn't there.
It doesn't combine your contacts from google, facebook, tango, MS Exchange and your phone very well at ALL! If it does it sure is difficult to figure out. I work on my buddies and it just duplicated everything.
TouchWiz exchange integration is non-existent. For buisness users this is a HUGE must. My people app from sense and email have BB level integration. I start typing an email addy and it auto-searches for HISTORY (awesome like outlook), my exchange server and on my phone. Global Address Book integration...not present in TouchWiz. Wow...so now i have to add 200 contacts for work onto my phone if I want to use them? Not going to happen.
The leap feature is really poorly implemented, hard to get to "leap"...not a big deal though we dont use it that much in Sense really.
It wasn't as smooth when navigating. More robotic.... transitions sucked. You can add Launcher Pro or ADW though
Widgets sucked too...compared to sense.
People, Email, Calendar- suck compared to Sense
NOW I'm a business user so email, agendas, calendar notifications are a BIG deal to me as a consultant.
That being said, their facebook integration (see peoples pictures when they call you and people widget pics) sucked as well. Sense does a real good job of putting everything together automatically and linking everything. Consolidation is HUGE when you have all of these accounts. With Sense you don't even realize how good of a job this does.
That being said, again, SGS2 is a phenominal phone. It really is. The screen is fantastic (little cartoony though) and its a bit faster that EVO 3d at some stuff. I just depend on my phone for too much "Black berry" stuff to ever get away from Sense. Yeah there are third party apps for everything but odds are you have to pay for them (touchdown) and they don't integrate everything together NEARLY as well as Sense does.
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Thank you for the detailed answer. I appreciate it! Thinking bout getting me a Note and wanted to know
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Touchwiz is Samsungs own half-assed attempt to leave their own branding on Android as HTC does with Sense. The major differences are that Sense is both somewhat attractive and adds functionality, Touchwiz..... well, is ugly and doesn't work well at all.
Ha... Now sone input from someone who actually has a touchwiz phone XD. I also have an hd2 with sense 3 on it. First off, Touchwiz is hands down the slickest implementation of a skin on Android. By no means is it the most feature filled(I would argue the worst..), but with that said, it's so lightweight. It let's you customize you're homescreen in a more user friendly manner than everything out there and has a neat motion zoom control. The slide down task bar is more eye friendly and simple than sense, but lacks features. Same with the lockscreen. If you're looking for slicker and lightweight environment (a relief from imo bogged down sense in too many ways), get a Samsung phone. I saw you mention the Note... and if so, I've read nothing but amazing reviews of the thing. It's in a class of it's own. Don't expect any quick updates though.
Also, a user by the name of fr4ggor released Touchwiz 4.5(customizable version of tw4.) You could try it to get a 'sense'(ha) of what Touchwiz is about. (though reports of it being faulty for screens other than 800x480.)
Samsung makes generally superior internals(processor, screen, even camera..) and crazy light weight construction and software. You sacrifice build quality though.
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Yea on paper and from reviews/videos the note is the perfect phone for me big screen and all. I want it bad
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My friend went from his galaxy to a sensation and much prefers sense over touchwiz. Only complaint he has for his HTC over his Samsung is the speaker.
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Touchwiz is more like a custom ROM. Lightweight,fast, smooth, no bloatware and full of tweaks for performance and benchmarking.
Sense on the otherhand is more like a retail ROM. Stuffed with features to satisfy everyone. But it has a lot of blowtwarE. UI is smooth but not as smooth as touchwiz.
Think of it this way. Touchwiz is like windows xp. Fast light but lacks special features.
Sense 3.0 is like windows vista. Drastic UI change but disappointingly slow.
Sense 3.5 is like windows 7. Good UI and fast.
Sent from my HTC EVO 3D X515m using XDA App

Why MIUI is so popular?

Why MIUI is so popular? I don't have such idea about MIUI. I just knew about CM!
Because it combines CM7's smoothness and customization plus an added beauty package.
Also, the theme support for this rom is rediculous. Basically every theme from every dev was either ported or cloned.
Sent from my Atrix 4g using Tapatalk
Everything just flows better in miui..the theme system is awesome. No flashing etc
Sure it looks like ios.but couple themes can change that real quick..
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I have never used it, but I looked it up and it looks beautiful. A huge advantage for me is it looks like most of the included apps are things I wouldn't bother replacing. So it *looks like* It will be easier for me to be satisfied with right after the install.
Although sometimes poorly translated or implemented from its original Chinese version, it is far and away the most customizable modification of the Android OS available. As already has been mentioned the quantity of themes is simply astounding.
Here is a pretty decent video detailing MIUI's goodness on a Nexus one. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJ6YLlfecYU
Looks nice. Especially the notification bar and the lock screen.
Sent from my OC'd Motorola™ Atrix®
Just watched the video demonstrating MIUI. It looks so awesome!!! So it'll be so good to have it on my atrix!
SirFork said:
Although sometimes poorly translated or implemented from its original Chinese version, it is far and away the most customizable modification of the Android OS available. As already has been mentioned the quantity of themes is simply astounding.
Here is a pretty decent video detailing MIUI's goodness on a Nexus one. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJ6YLlfecYU
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Click to collapse
Damn, that is a really nice rom/mod. I see now why it's so popular and that was just one theme the video showed. I really like it. Basically makes it feel like a brand new device over again. How is battery life on this rom? Is everything optimized already or most things working? Meaning a full complete build.
It's based off of CM7, so if it doesn't work in CM7, more than likely it doesn't work in MIUI. I had it on my Samsung Captivate and loved it, very, very smooth and soo much customization.
That may be enough to make me keep my Atrix, just so I can root it and use it. Man, that looks awesome!
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Here's another video, in this case comparing it to an iPhone.
So for those that say that MIUI is an iOS clone, here's proof that MIUI is much more advanced than iOS in every respect!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GohnKVmFm2I&feature=youtube_gdata_player
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Sense - Like it Or Not?

I have noticed some people comment that they don't like Sense, but they don't say why. It seems fine to me. Can anyone tell me the downside?
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It's a resource hog, plain and simple. The look and feel isn't bad, better than some of the other overlays for sure, but I much prefer stock Google for look and feel too.
With 3.6 and earlier, I didn't really care too much about Sense, but over time I started to really appreciate how they included everything I need instead of only a few things that don't work so well. I really don't like AOSP widgets, for example.
Then when Sense 4 came around, I knew I loved Sense after all. It's so polished and usable.
Maybe if I used widgets, I'd like Sense better. The only widget I run regularly is weather.
One of the things I find so invaluable about Sense is the calendar widgets. They are by far the best I've ever used on Android, and I've yet to find a Google Play app that provides widgets on the same level.
The music app on Sense is also really decent already and integrates perfectly with the lock screen.
Oh, and Peep is pretty decent as well. The Twitter app it comes with is rather nice.
I don't like sense. There's too many visual elements that do t look right, even in sense 4. If I took the time to theme it just the way i like it, I might be able to enjoy it. But AOSP is so much smoother and faster.
The only thing I love about sense is that clock widget. I can never get the clones to work properly with my set up D:
AshtonTS said:
I don't like sense. There's too many visual elements that do t look right, even in sense 4. If I took the time to theme it just the way i like it, I might be able to enjoy it. But AOSP is so much smoother and faster.
The only thing I love about sense is that clock widget. I can never get the clones to work properly with my set up D:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The only problem is that weird in call voice bug Nd the camera sucks on aosp
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It's cool but I just get bored with it. It feels simple.
Gs3
luke61456789 said:
The only problem is that weird in call voice bug Nd the camera sucks on aosp
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Click to collapse
I've never used AOSP on the Rezound (I don't even have my Rez anymore) so I don't know what that's like
I love sense personally. And since 4, sense 4.1, and sense 4.5 all have lots to like about them.
I like AOSP too, but I get bored with it after a little while and miss sense.
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No. Boo on Sense.
I like sense, but its all I've used since my eris, inc1 and inc2. My wife has moto and I hate the look of it. I have flashed aosp roms before. Aosp is faster and smoother, but I don't like having to spend all the time to set up the look of my phone and the widgets aren't that greatand stock camera leaves a lot to be desired. Sense widgets are really useful and polished and the camera is one of the best. And it looks good already so I don't have to download a lot of themes and widgets from the market if I don't want to. I read an article that said sense takes away from the enginuity or innovation of android. But most android updates have included things that sense already incorporated previously. I had multi-touch pinch zoom and flash on donut, android added it in eclair. Sense had pinch to show all your homescreens in froyo but stock android didn't add it until gingerbread. But as mentioned before, it is a resource hog and you will get the most from your hardware with aosp. So its a give and take and really up to the user, but I prefer it.
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The sense 4 launcher is great. And that is it.
Loved the speed and simplicity of AOSP but the camera absolutely blows when compared to Sense.
webleeper said:
Loved the speed and simplicity of AOSP but the camera absolutely blows when compared to Sense.
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This.
webleeper said:
Loved the speed and simplicity of AOSP but the camera absolutely blows when compared to Sense.
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Click to collapse
Totally agree. I never realized how ****ty the stock camera was until I started comparing my images from before AOSP and after switching to AOSP. Now that I am stuck with this ****ty AOSP camera, I am starting to realize why so damn many people use that stupid Instagram app!
I like some of the integrations that Sense has. It's gotten better, but it's still a bit sluggish to me. I've flopped back and forth between AOSP and Sense ROMs.
I liked Skyraider back on my thunderbolt, but that was 2.1. I liked the look of 4.0 but didn't really enjoy the feeling til 4.1. I switch between aosp and sense basically every other day. Lol.
Sent from my Rezound using xda app-developers app
Of ALL the mobile operating systems out there, plain old vanilla Android is far and away the ugliest, most unrefined SOB in the group. It NEEDS something to dress it up. I actually wish Sense would go further. Like how about a real dictionary? BlackBerry and Apple put Android to shame in that department. And why do Android stock widgets have to be so unsightly and feature poor? Android's stock camera app has pretty much sucked on just about every device I've ever flashed it on, too. I'm perfectly happy to sacrifice speed for functionality if all the speed is doing is making another ugly, unrefined app, widget, or screen appear before me quicker. I've never handed a phone to someone after flashing AOSP on it and have them say "Hot damn, that ugly crap is FAST!", but I have handed phones to people with tight custom ROMs and fast kernels and had them say "Wow... This is the smoothest (fill in the blank) I've ever seen!"
aosp is ugly and boring. seems very utilitarian. I love how my rezound looks, but performance wise, I like the speed of aosp. I'm a certified sense lover, especially after having the nexus and the s3, and I can't wait for the dlx running the newest version.
Sent from my Samsung Galaxy S3 using Tapatalk 2

PA Windowed Multitasking

This might just be the feature that pulls me away from AOKP for good. Windowed Multitasking is the one feature that I feel is crippling Android(and iOS for that matter) from rising as a serious competitor to traditional OSes(Windows, OS X, Ubuntu etc.). Anyone else excited for this?
Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/04/28/...utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget
Official source from PA team: https://plus.google.com/107979589566958860409/posts/P6a1hP3vKxP
+1... looking forward to this for my galaxy and my 10... not really sure how necessary it is for me, or android in general. but maybe I'll realize I can't live without it.
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Already running PA for tablet mode but this just gives me even more reason to stick with them. I was running it on my S3 too but didn't really like it over TW.
Yup, very much looking forward to this. If they pull it off, I'll be a PA man from here on out! From watching the video, their implementation looks much nicer than most too.
It will depend somewhat on what Google are up to though, I'd be amazed if Android 5 doesn't have some form of multi-window mode and should be out in 3-4 weeks...
stiggy2012 said:
It will depend somewhat on what Google are up to though, I'd be amazed if Android 5 doesn't have some form of multi-window mode and should be out in 3-4 weeks...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
And then 1-2 months of bugfixing in ROMs so it actually works ok
I asked about multitasking on PA thread for N10, and the answer wasn't far from what I think it might be the truth, seeing how is it going with the phones and tablets running PA ROM.
"Still far from done, and it's really questionable how exactly it will function on a tablet, seeing how the PA team is focused on phone development mostly. "
Interesting - I hope we get something like this. Another kick-ass developer timduru ported Cornerstone to EOS for the Asus Transformer TF101. It worked quite well. It certainly didn't make the TF101 any faster, but it was definitely something that I think improved the user experience on the tablet. I was able to watch video in one window and surf the net in another. :laugh:
For me, this was the most anticipated feature since I got my first Android tablet (which would be this one... :silly: ). Right now, I'm using the floating browser as a workaround, since the functionality of some apps can also be found on the web. - Except, of course, in offline situations.
I'm eagerly awaiting this, and I know that team PA can pull it off!
Pa just released a new video on Google +... it makes way more sense to me now... this will be rad with pie... Not sure how useful on the nexus 10 but awesome on my galaxy nexus... Can't wait
I guess I could post the link...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9vlrgCteDac&feature=youtube_gdata_player
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium
For phones I can see this feature being extremely innovative and useful but for the Nexus 10 it would make more sense to implement something similar to cornerstone or what Samsung has done. Mostly due to the fact that tablets have such large real estate that can be utilized with multiple windows up.
The idea is great for phones but I, personally, would prefer something similar to what I mentioned. However, something is better than nothing.
Sent from my Nexus 10 using xda app-developers app
I would prefer actual windowed multitasking on the nexus 10, it makes sense on tablets as you have all that space and resolution that gets wasted on stretching out a single app
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