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I've been in several discussions with users that have come from (or previously owned) the 5 inch HTC Advantage. I see Dell Streak users have a thread to compare/contrast to the Note, so I thought I would do the same for the Advantage. This may help some to decide to move from the Advantage to the Note - or not.
For those that don't know what the Advantage is, it came out 5 years ago - the first phone with a 5" screen. It also included a detachable keyboard, stereo speakers, video port, stylus/pen, and a 8 GB hard drive when most SD cards at the time were below 2 GB. It had its problems, too. Since it was so far ahead of its time it was fairly bulky and heavy even with the keyboard removed. It didn't have a private speaker for phone calls. It had room for a vibration motor internally but it was never implemented even in later models, presumably because it caused problems with the hard drive. The other references in the thread title are the development name, and model names/numbers used by various carriers. Here is the XDA forum for the Advantage: http://forum.xda-developers.com/forumdisplay.php?f=351
My personal reaction, as I've told several already, is the Note is by far a better phone. Physical stats, operating system, having things like a private speaker and vibration which the Advantage should have had, all add up. Not to mention that the Note costs 1/3 of what the Advantage did so you have far less to loose. The Note/Android has its deficiencies. I've had to install a half-dozen apps to add features which were built into Windows Mobile - things like incremental ring volume, ability to get more than a single system notification for things like texts and calendar appointments (miss the first one and you've missed your appointment!), or keeping the screen from timing out when it is plugged in or for specific apps. But at least you can extend/improve the OS with apps without unlocking/rooting or flashing to a whole new OS. Which many Advantage owners did including me.
All that said, the Advantage held a special place in my heart. In the 4 1/2 years I used mine, I often told my wife it was the best gadget I had ever owned and I meant it. Which is saying a lot with all the gadgets and computers I've owned since 1984. But the Note is so good that if IT had come out 5 years ago, I'm sure I would be saying the same thing about it right now. Buy one.
I have a x7501 for a few years, but haven't been actively using it in the last few years also (went to iPhone, Android etc). I am interested in the Note, but haven't decided to get one yet.
But I think one fundamental difference is that the Athena is a keyboarded device (you can use it without, but you also loose the stand at the same time). Its stereo speakers and other positioning makes it a mainly landscape orientation device.
I really don't care about its thickness, it's not that bad. It is a bit thick w/ its leather case, but it does that to any other devices anyway.
What I don't like about the Athena: battery life, speed (I'm shocked reviews that said it's fast), photo taken with camera (rear) has off (red) colour (no ROM can fix that). Especially the last piece, it's unforgivable for a $1,500. USD product! The 8GB HDD is both slow, and battery eating, and cannot be turned off.
I just can't say I like it as much as some of you do. I don't hate it, but I don't think it was worth the $1,000. I paid for. If I had paid $1,500. then, I'd have sued them (just kidding).
I lugged the keyboard around for 1 1/2 years, but finally left it on my work desk permanently. Only used it there when I was streaming XM.
I never had a problem with battery life, it would last me much longer than the 12 hours I would go between unplugging in the morning and plugging it back in when I got home. Never had a problem with the camera, either. Good colors all around, not that the quality was that great.
I think you'll like the Note, all the advantages (pun intended) of the 7501 and none of its problems. After you add some apps to tweak the downfalls of the OS.
i'm one, see my siggie
i've had still have that gigantic heavy monstrous HTC 5" for the longest time
still trying to get Android installed on it someday
I had the x7501, then the x7510, and the note is 1/2 as thick, has a "phone" speaker, and besides all of the obvious spec advantages, is lighter and easier to hold. The screen is far more responsive than the old tft pressure technology without the inaccuracy of the iphone/android capacitive blunt-object to write/draw with issue.
all thumbs up for the note... though the Advantage was WAY ahead of its time.
I don't understand these threads. I get that the advantage was way ahead of its time, but it's 5 years old. 5! Would anyone seriously pick the advantage over the note?
I sold my x7501 long ago. Good times, lol.
nstong said:
I don't understand these threads. I get that the advantage was way ahead of its time, but it's 5 years old. 5! Would anyone seriously pick the advantage over the note?
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I guess sometimes people can't let their old devices go.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I717 using XDA
This isn't about keeping the Advantage. Its about comparing one to the other for those that are familiar with the Advantage and loved all of its features.
I think it is not about keeping the Advantage / Athena, may be it's partly nostalgia, partly comparing what's missing on current devices (bad things are not missed, I'm talking about things that users might like or prefer):
1. Stereo speakers. How hard can that be? But so far, iPhone doesn't have it, none of my Android phones up to 4.65" have it, my Tablet P by Sony has a tiny mono speaker. Only the Playbook (once had, now sold), and the Samsung Q1 have stereo speakers and good sound.
2. The metal case has pros and cons. It can get dented and discolouring when bumped / scratched, but it made it more sturdy as it is metal. But at least it is unique, and also makes it feel more premium (until it gets dented, like mine, from dropping, that is). Now everything besides iPhones are just plastics.
3. Magnetic keyboard. Now, no more, never seen and all give way to on screen ones, except a few. But those few, including Blackberry, do not want to do a magnetic keyboard, may be it's the cost, or fear of bad contacts. But again, this is very unique and hasn't been replicated. The see thru window to mimic the status bar on it makes it even cooler.
4. External connections for: USB host (only very lately, there are USB OTG for Android devices, before this, support was very poor, mostly only HID stuff), VGA out, cellular antenna, GPS antenna. Granted, the last 3 are not as needed today, and some Android devices have HDMI outputs that replace VGA more or less.
right now, few Android phones can stand on a desk unless with a kick stand case (which is usually the kind I buy, as I want it stand similar to what Advantage can do w/ the keyboard).
I think some clamshell MIDs like UMID / Viliv had come close to the design of Advantage but physically not as cool, no magnetic keyboard etc.
I guess the problem with modern design is that nobody would make a $1,500. device unless it is for industrial or military use, so they have to save cost and won't engage in fancy design and materials. In the case for Advantage, it's HTC flagship product, so they went all out.
Looking at current HTC products now, there aren't anything really special (I'm talking strictly from the physical point of view, since operating systems are all the same across the manufacturers anyway).
People are often amazed when I tell them that the Note is my third 5" phone. I loved the Advantage and the Dell Streak I had before the Note. No way I can go to a smaller screen. Very happy that the rest of the world is catching on to the benefits of a large screen device. And there are things I miss from Windows Mobile. I found it easier to flash ROMs and change the look and feel of the device.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I717 using xda premium
Sometimes when I hold my tablet in a certain spot (usually right side) and let go... the backing makes some sort of clicking sound. The device doesn't feel flimsy to me, as other have complain... but that noise worries me.
Have others experience this clicking sound when holding their tablet?
Mine did this — it felt like the glue holding the backing in place was coming unstuck. I also found that if I pressed on the back, the pressure point showed on the screen and even engaged the touch sensor.
This along with other annoyances (screen shadow along bottom edge, a dead pixel, diagonal lines on screen and breaking of Firefox Sync by Sony Android OS) made me return it. I expect a $600 to be well-built and last at least 2 years and this glue unsticking spoke of shoddy design and a short product life.
My original Xoom cost the same and is still fully functional and unblemished. I was hoping the Xperia would be a worthy replacement, but it was a disappointment.
TellTenPeople said:
Mine did this — it felt like the glue holding the backing in place was coming unstuck.
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That's exactly how I would describe it. I've been trying to find more information about this issue, but not many people have written about it. Do you think this issue is normal for all these tablets, or I got a defective one?
SmartBugger said:
That's exactly how I would describe it. I've been trying to find more information about this issue, but not many people have written about it. Do you think this issue is normal for all these tablets, or I got a defective one?
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Mine makes the same clicking sound. And I also have the "loose headphone flap". I'll ask for an exchange.
I have the same problem with mine. It feels like the glue is not holding well. Hopefully it can be easily fixed by SONY if it start to cause problems.
One more thing. When you press the loose place it makes screen go white, which worries me a little. No problem if you using case but still something like that shouldn't happen in high end device. Maybe it is thinnest tablet but it is not the strongest
Sent from my SGP311 using XDA Premium HD app
SmartBugger said:
That's exactly how I would describe it. I've been trying to find more information about this issue, but not many people have written about it. Do you think this issue is normal for all these tablets, or I got a defective one?
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I think you got a defective one. If you have the patience to do the exchange-fix dance with Sony or whatever retailer you bought it from and like everything else about the tablet then you should.
If the just-announced Tegra 4 Toshiba Write hadn't caught my eye, I would probably had tried to exchange it to see if I could get a properly glued one, but that Toshiba is the same price, had a newer processor and is designed for my intended use-case (notetaking), so Sony's lose is Toshiba's gain at least in my case.
TellTenPeople said:
I think you got a defective one. If you have the patience to do the exchange-fix dance with Sony or whatever retailer you bought it from and like everything else about the tablet then you should.
If the just-announced Tegra 4 Toshiba Write hadn't caught my eye, I would probably had tried to exchange it to see if I could get a properly glued one, but that Toshiba is the same price, had a newer processor and is designed for my intended use-case (notetaking), so Sony's lose is Toshiba's gain at least in my case.
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I got it from newegg, and I suspect they will be good about doing an exchange. That being said, I don't want to do an exchange if this problem is very common. So perhaps I should ask... has anyone NOT experience this issue?
The main reason why I got this instead of the nexus 10, was because of its waterproof nature. I want a tablet I can go to the gym with... and not having to worry about sweat/water was a huge selling point for me.
There's really no way of knowing how widespread the issue is without a proper survey of a representative sample of Xperia Tablet Z owners. People on forums tend to go there with problems they have so forums are full of people with problems Not a great sample.
Ultimately, all that you can realistically do is keep exchanging until you get one you like, or you or Newegg lose patience.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda app-developers app
Mine can flex slightly (which triggers recognition on the screen), but I have no clicking sounds or similar things - mine feels very solid and feels top-notch otherwise, but I wouldn't be surprised if Sony's quality control for Japanese units was tighter.
Same thing here SGP321 FROM DUBAI, seems like the glue between the back cover and whatever inside got unstuck...
My xperia tablet Z makes the clicking sound on both the bottom left and right, around the speaker area.
To me it sounds like the paper (or plastic) that is generally found in a (earplug) speaker.
Seeing that the slim design i think it is more then likely that we are pressing on the speaker of the tablet, and not so much the glue coming apart.
If it were the glue then it would most likely be at random places across the tablet. Seeing that we are all reporting the noise in the same general area, which also happens to be the place where the internal speakers are located, i feel that it is the speaker making the clicking (crackling) noise.
Hi look on youtube and search, Opening up Sony's Android Tablet, the Xperia Tablet Z (Teardown) you can see the back cover is stuck on with double sided tape.
dazbut28 said:
Hi look on youtube and search, Opening up Sony's Android Tablet, the Xperia Tablet Z (Teardown) you can see the back cover is stuck on with double sided tape.
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Here is a link to the video you mentioned.
Opening up Sony's Android Tablet, the Xperia Tablet Z (Teardown)
Cat McGowan said:
Here is a link to the video you mentioned.
Looks easy enough to pop off the back and add some additional tape or silicone adhesive, if you're so inclined.
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I have the same issue. I decided to give it a week or so before returning it to see how much I use it and if there are any other problems. I am nit-picky and the screen colours (greys and whites mainly) are just strange. Greys are red-ish while whites and yellowy, so a screen adjuster app doesn't help at all. Also I get a shadow right around my screen, it's really distracting on things like Falcon Pro in white. The sticky back is still happening and I also found out that I don't really like Android tablets. That, or they're just not ready for me yet. The 16:10 aspect ratio has no advantage to me, just disadvantages, and apps that I want to use just aren't good enough or they're non-existent.
So I'm returning it and waiting for the iPad mini 2. Sorry, but the Nexus 7 felt like a blown up experience of my phone rather than a shrunken down experience of a tablet.
Mister, here are people who use and like Android because of the openness and customizability.
If that isn't important to you, then you are anyway wrong here, and I wish you much fun with your Apple stuff.
iisshaun said:
I have the same issue. I decided to give it a week or so before returning it to see how much I use it and if there are any other problems. I am nit-picky and the screen colours (greys and whites mainly) are just strange. Greys are red-ish while whites and yellowy, so a screen adjuster app doesn't help at all. Also I get a shadow right around my screen, it's really distracting on things like Falcon Pro in white.
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I agree with my colors being a little warm, but it's not extreme or bad (my desktop monitor is also set moderately warm). Probably unit variance. What I do have is the 'shadow' on the bottom border, but I'm not unaccustomed to backlight bleed or such. It doesn't bother me much either since usually the black Android system bar is there to begin with.
Sounds like Sony's quality control isn't very tight on international units...
salanos said:
I agree with my colors being a little warm, but it's not extreme or bad (my desktop monitor is also set moderately warm). Probably unit variance. What I do have is the 'shadow' on the bottom border, but I'm not unaccustomed to backlight bleed or such. It doesn't bother me much either since usually the black Android system bar is there to begin with.
Sounds like Sony's quality control isn't very tight on international units...
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My monitors are every so slightly yellowy, but I was able to use that with a slight colour value change. It seems mine just has odd variables on different tones... quite a bit like my old Galaxy Nexus was like (Yellow whites, green greys and purple dark greys). That's actually why I really dislike AMOLED, so it's a bummer that this IPS panel isn't as accurate as I'd like.
And yeah, really doesn't like they're super tight on the international side. I didn't really want to bother with what could have been back and forth replacements.
hasenbein1966 said:
Mister, here are people who use and like Android because of the openness and customizability.
If that isn't important to you, then you are anyway wrong here, and I wish you much fun with your Apple stuff.
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Well look at that, I do actually use and like Android (it's the only mobile OS I use right now). It's just the tabs that aren't up to snuff for me. Openness and customisability is only a good thing if it actually helps make something more useful for me. I find those aspects very useful on my phone. I need to be quick and efficient and I can do that on an Android, but not really on an iPhone. A tablet serves a different purpose for me. It's a leisure/convenience device, I don't need any customisation for it to allow me to do anything faster. Also, my phone has a ton of apps and absolutely all of the ones I want, this Xperia tab doesn't, and definitely not all the apps I consider essential.
Sorry that I have different needs and wants than you, but I'm pretty sure that I'm not wrong in being here because 1) I own the tablet that's in question here and 2) I use Android as my only mobile OS right now and I'll still be using it on my phone for a long time. I wasn't trying to start some petty flame war here, I was just explaining my issues with this tablet and elaborating on why I'm returning it. So let's stay on topic here, huh?
If you're looking for a leisure device, wouldn't 16:10 be more ideal for movies? But I agree on the lack of proper tablet optimized apps. What exactly do you want to do on your tablet though?
If it's web browsing, I feel Android will always deliver a superior experience (I have long tired of constantly reloading tabs on the iPad 3). If it's gaming... well, no argument, iOS usually gets more games.
salanos said:
If you're looking for a leisure device, wouldn't 16:10 be more ideal for movies? But I agree on the lack of proper tablet optimized apps. What exactly do you want to do on your tablet though?
If it's web browsing, I feel Android will always deliver a superior experience (I have long tired of constantly reloading tabs on the iPad 3). If it's gaming... well, no argument, iOS usually gets more games.
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Well I don't really watch much video away from my PC anyway, and I hardly ever watch any movies either. You've hit the nail on the head though, it's what I plan to do on it that makes the difference. I do a lot of social media stuff, reading, some browsing, games and a bit of video. Reading is far better on a 4:3 screen in portrait. I like 16:9 in portrait on my PC for reading, but trust me it's very different on a tablet. Also, I can't even get a half-decent way of using Facebook on the XTZ either. The official app is awful and Friendster which is supposed to be great is honestly rubbish.
Really it's just something to waste time on, read stuff on and be a convenient portable web browser. A 10" tablet isn't very convenient tbh and the Nexus 7 isn't either when it's so similar to my phone that's already in my pocket. An 8" 4:3 screen is a lot different from a 4.7" or 7" 16:10 screen. It's big enough to be something I want to use over my phone in some situations and small enough that it can travel most places quite easily.
It's just personal preference, it's been said a million times, but I think you already know that. Back on topic though.
Hi,
I have been looking about for a tablet for a while now, and I have some questions! First and easiest, it seems that a custom ROM have to support individual devices. Is that because of it's specific screen and hardware or even more to it?
Second of all, I do like my devices to be multi functional. And that's why I like Android, because I can pretty much shape them to the functions I desire. And on a tablet, I would like a stylus actually, to take note and perhaps even do some drawing. Because again, I like multi functional. So you want a more graphics tablet, I hear the back row say, but a iPad! They continue. But I do not want to sell my soul to Lucifer I reply to them. And I start wonder. Because would it at least in theory be that hard to have a stylus mode? All styluses follow a more or less unique to them pattern on the screen so would it not be possible then to setup the Android device to see that "this" pattern appearing on the screen is less than your stylus biggest print but more than its smallest? And thus even recognize a hand plopping all over the screen? With them styluses that have a disk, this would be even more precise! I think not only for me but students, to buy a tablet for under and a stylus that for for 10 times less and use that to take notes. My brother goes in a sort of high school and there students already gotten their tablets actually for this wherry purpose! I bet theirs are them iPads that the school probably can't afford so they will make do some other way, and that's quite a shame in my honest opinion if this is doable.
The news is that the leading manufacturers including LG are moving to notched screens.
I think the G6 screen is perfect as is. IMHO the notch is stupid and will be a passing gimmick
Let's hear people's opinions
jshames said:
The news is that the leading manufacturers including LG are moving to notched screens.
I think the G6 screen is perfect as is. IMHO the notch is stupid and will be a passing gimmick
Let's hear people's opinions
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Click to collapse
Good thing that I won't buy a new smartphone for another ~2 years so I will miss this "trend".
The seeming motivation for the notch is being able to have an edge to edge screen. Firstly, that in itself is just a gimmick, a style like high heels. Screens are big enough and devices are small enough for people. Who care about an extra 3mm of screen? Second, the notch ruins the screen. For all intents and purposes, the "wings" on the side of the notch are useless except for icons. If you view anything else full screen you either need a black band to keep the rectangular image, or some of the image gets blocked by the notch.
What blockhead thought of this???
And that's not even touching the subject of why a sane person would pay Apple 1200 dollars for a cellphone, which they're replace with the next gimmick in 2 years. But that's not the subject here...
I don't mind the notch myself, probably because I don't use my phone for much full-screen stuff. I do prefer the small one of the Essential though.
I am sure manufacturers are working hard on ways to maximize screen-to-body ratio (which is a real consumer desire even though not everyone cares about it) without needing notches and in a few years they will be as common as physical keyboards (and I also think, despite the current outcry, that wired headphone jacks will soon seem quaint and not too long after that, so will wired charging).
In the meantime, while I'm sure there will be many notch-free designs, there will also be many notched ones and general consumers will buy them as long as they come from Samsung and Apple or look like they do.
Personally I could completely live without a front-facing camera, which would reduce the notch problem a lot, but I think that one is around forever.
Just a gimmick to copy the iphone. I absolutely hated the huge bezels on my Nexus 6P but the bezels on my G6 don't bother me at all.
Gimmicks. Gimmicks all around.
Hopefully this G6 lasts me until the notch trend dies off.
small bezels are the way to go imho. It depends on what we use our devices for, but as long as a lot of media has certain standard formats, it makes sense that our screens have that format too..
To my eyes balance and symmetry are important for good visual design. Notches destroy that completely.. It might look ok with a UI that is specifically designed around those notches. But as soon as you watch something on youtube it becomes awkward, same goes for 18:9 aspect ratio btw.
What really astonishes me though, is the fact that android manufacturers now start to copy that FLAW of the essential phone/iphone X. It's totally obvious that Apple wanted to make a all-screen phone and they FAILED. They had to compromise and settled for an awkward solution with the notch. Nobody buys the iphone X because of the notch... You accept and live with it because the rest is great. Nobody will look at the Huawei P20 or LG G7 and say: "wow that notch. I need that." (same goes for headphone jack btw)
I bought the a G6 a few weeks ago because my 2 year old Huawei P9 broke and i got a good deal. The G6 is already a year old but design wise it's still one of the best phones out there imho. Everything else has become really awkward with notches, rounded edges, missing features, bad materials... It's a mess. I just hope people will vote with their wallet - it's the only way the companies will realize that what they're trying to sell is not what people want.
Maybe there's hope https://www.xda-developers.com/lg-v35-6-inch-oled-display-without-display-notch/
cory733 said:
Just a gimmick to copy the iphone. I absolutely hated the huge bezels on my Nexus 6P but the bezels on my G6 don't bother me at all.
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I actually don't mind bezels, at least not on the top and bottom, and I think the Nexus 6p is still a beautiful phone today. Anyone else agree?
I saw that earlier this morning .. I thought it was funny. I also like that they are starting to promote the Fold. That's usually a good sign.
It's interesting that they haven't been pushing it much at all; I was expecting more for their inaugural outing.
krabman said:
It's interesting that they haven't been pushing it much at all; I was expecting more for their inaugural outing.
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Rather weak. So you can flip it open... is that all you got? Your target market is the woke happy-happy, joy-joy California zombies? wtf?
Like all folds it's biggest claim to fame is also it's greatest liability. From normal physical wear to firmware/software that doesn't properly integrate with the large odd shaped display. Google doesn't even attempt to allay these real concerns.
I would wait 6 months to see how it pans out before buying. Then see what the users not the reviewers are saying.
krabman said:
It's interesting that they haven't been pushing it much at all; I was expecting more for their inaugural outing.
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My guess is that they were waiting till closer to the actual physical release to push it. They probably wanted to see what the pre-order sales from I/O and word-of-mouth would get them before they start pushing it
blackhawk said:
Rather weak. So you can flip it open... is that all you got? Your target market is the woke happy-happy, joy-joy California zombies? wtf?
Like all folds it's biggest claim to fame is also it's greatest liability. From normal physical wear to firmware/software that doesn't properly integrate with the large odd shaped display. Google doesn't even attempt to allay these real concerns.
I would wait 6 months to see how it pans out before buying. Then see what the users not the reviewers are saying.
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Google worked closely with Samsung on android 12L (for larger screens) and then started to incorporate it in to android 13 and now 14. I think although it won't be as polished as oneui5 it will have most of the software as the z fold(apart from Samsung exclusive). With Google now working with developers hopefully more 3rd party apps will work better on a big screen. Still can't believe Instagram won't scale properly on a folding screen
andy242 said:
Google worked closely with Samsung on android 12L (for larger screens) and then started to incorporate it in to android 13 and now 14. I think although it won't be as polished as oneui5 it will have most of the software as the z fold(apart from Samsung exclusive). With Google now working with developers hopefully more 3rd party apps will work better on a big screen. Still can't believe Instagram won't scale properly on a folding screen
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Both Google and Samsung since the release of the folds have failed to deliver firmware/software innovations for that format. This lackluster behavior continues. Samsung is a mess right now, the result of 4 plus years of poor leadership.
I don't think Google's doing any better; they've made a mess of Android in my opinion. Both got more than they bargained for with the fold project. It's been a heavy, constant money and resource drain from its inception. No end in sight just promises as their beta product slowly evolves
The whole "it folds" is the same old story, again.
No expandable storage, sky high price points and you know right where it folds is where the trouble will start, sooner rather then latter. They can warranty it but you still lose time screwing with the claim, not having it, then reloading the bloody thing. Repair downtime is not why you buy an expensive flagship phone.
This N10+ has had in its over 8k hours of operation; with one replacement battery done in 1 day, it's only repair (routine maintenance as Li's don't last forever) in almost 4 years. It's last reload was over 3 years ago, no firmware upgrades or updates in all that time.
Minimal maintenance and no malware. Personally I'm sick of Google's constantly changing platform. I don't want to be constantly chasing down gremlins and optimizing new firmware on a stock device.
I've seen a lot of hyperbole in the last 3 years from both Google and Samsung. Sorry fact is they both haven't improved SOT; just slammed bigger, heavier batteries in. 4 year old hardware/firmware shouldn't get better SOT (with a smaller capacity battery) and be nearly as fast in actual usage as a new flagship. Google's insistence on cloud storage vs expandable has became a wretched handicap that reduces reliability, redundancy and eats power needlessly.
Scoped storage is another mess they added.
So yeah, another fold offering. Same old cake with different icing on it with a few new enticing trinkets sprinkled on top. Where it folds will remain it's Achilles heel and continue to cause user issues.
TLDR: This will be my 4th folder, love em. I'd suggest they aren't for you, which is fine; takes all kinds.
As for longevity, I've broken a whole lot of rectangles. I've also had many with firmware issues.
My fold 1 was sketchy, no question about it. The 2 however is still going strong and is currently in the hands of one of my grandkids at almost 3 years old. I wanted a better form factor and switched to the X Fold which is also still going strong at 1 year and change. All of them were dropped, slept on, etc. No kid gloves.
I like the folding form factor. It makes it much easier to format emails and that sort of thing. Enough so that I no longer carry a laptop or tablet with me. It also works well with desktop sites which is my preferred browsing mode. They're great for consuming media. I imagine gaming is problably better but i don't game on the phone so I can't comment on it.
Bottom line with all that is that It isn't just a gimmick. You don't fold it open a few times, the novelty wears off, and you use the front screen after that. It literally makes my portable phone usage better every day, all day. That's what you're missing. The fold out into tablet mode is the game altering paradigm. It needs to do that and nothing more and you already have a win. Software better utilizing it is just the gravy that makes it all taste better.
In many respects you're not wrong though, this phone is one I'd recommend to few people. Right off the bat you need to be an enthusiast or have plenty of discretionary income to swallow the buy-in. It's also early days and better products are coming. Possibly not even a folder, it could be rollables rule the roost in the future. Whatever it is I'll be there because I'm both: I love my gadgets and I'm old and have all the coffee tables a man needs in one life.
krabman said:
My fold 1 was sketchy, no question about it. The 2 however is still going strong and is currently in the hands of one of my grandkids at almost 3 years old. I wanted a better form factor and switched to the X Fold which is also still going strong at 1 year and change. All of them were dropped, slept on, etc. No kid gloves.
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Was that a test of durability to see exactly how long the Fold 2 will last under the supervision of an 'almost 3 year old'?
At, not an, the subject is the phone, not the granddaughter. Lol. That one came out in the later summer and will be hitting its 3 year mark soon. That granddaughter came out 9 years ago, so past the (more) destructive ages.
krabman said:
TLDR: This will be my 4th folder, love em. I'd suggest they aren't for you, which is fine; takes all kinds.
As for longevity, I've broken a whole lot of rectangles. I've also had many with firmware issues.
My fold 1 was sketchy, no question about it. The 2 however is still going strong and is currently in the hands of one of my grandkids at almost 3 years old. I wanted a better form factor and switched to the X Fold which is also still going strong at 1 year and change. All of them were dropped, slept on, etc. No kid gloves.
I like the folding form factor. It makes it much easier to format emails and that sort of thing. Enough so that I no longer carry a laptop or tablet with me. It also works well with desktop sites which is my preferred browsing mode. They're great for consuming media. I imagine gaming is problably better but i don't game on the phone so I can't comment on it.
Bottom line with all that is that It isn't just a gimmick. You don't fold it open a few times, the novelty wears off, and you use the front screen after that. It literally makes my portable phone usage better every day, all day. That's what you're missing. The fold out into tablet mode is the game altering paradigm. It needs to do that and nothing more and you already have a win. Software better utilizing it is just the gravy that makes it all taste better.
In many respects you're not wrong though, this phone is one I'd recommend to few people. Right off the bat you need to be an enthusiast or have plenty of discretionary income to swallow the buy-in. It's also early days and better products are coming. Possibly not even a folder, it could be rollables rule the roost in the future. Whatever it is I'll be there because I'm both: I love my gadgets and I'm old and have all the coffee tables a man needs in one life.
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Click to collapse
Apart from both Google and Samsung still not injecting true innovation and functionality that would make full use of the real estate in both firmware and software... there's one nagging little detail.
That being no known plastics or adhesive systems are up to being bent and repeatedly full cycled 0-180° flexed at that acute of an angle. Torsional loading only exacerbates the issue as invariably the display elements bear some of this. The display is not fully isolated like on a laptop.
Flexing both the display's active matrix and some of the pixels means a higher display failure rate over it's lifespan. The fact that there's multiple laminations introduces new stress and wear factors and more complex assembly processes.
A lot more things to go wrong especially if QC is not exceptional.
The design is inherently flawed because on this.
Cool. Sounds like it's not a buy for you; nothing wrong with voting with your wallet.
krabman said:
Cool. Sounds like it's not a buy for you; nothing wrong with voting with your wallet.
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Click to collapse
I refuse to part with having a dual drive device with up to 1.5tb of storage* and a integrated spen. Not getting anything that gets worse SOT per mAh. I want less downtime and more play time.
*if used right it adds redundancy and flexibility. Every device I own is dual drive. Invariably any that were not caused issues.
blackhawk said:
Apart from both Google and Samsung still not injecting true innovation and functionality that would make full use of the real estate in both firmware and software... there's one nagging little detail.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Even though Google has been the leader in the field of artificial intelligence. Its AI research has led to the development of many new and groundbreaking technologies, such as self-driving cars, machine translation, and image recognition. Google's AI research is helping to shape the future of technology, but it's too bad that they haven't been able to apply that same type of energy towards the OS.
I suppose that Project Butter, Material Design and Project Treble just doesn't seem to compensate for the lusterless of said device.
rodken said:
Even though Google has been the leader in the field of artificial intelligence. Its AI research has led to the development of many new and groundbreaking technologies, such as self-driving cars, machine translation, and image recognition. Google's AI research is helping to shape the future of technology, but it's too bad that they haven't been able to apply that same type of energy towards the OS.
I suppose that Project Butter, Material Design and Project Treble just doesn't seem to compensate for the lusterless of said device.
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Click to collapse
Well that's a cheap shot.
We're not talking about all their vast corporate endeavors, just what applies to this form factor.
So let me help bring it in focus instead of all over the place like the Titan crew...
Google is well known to abandon technologies, products... and leaving the end users boned. Remember that.
Here's a not so glowing review by a user that wanted to see the fold as a viable everyday phone. That didn't go so well.
Aspect ratio continues to be an issue after multiple generations of firmware. Do you buy square computer monitors? Extra display area doesn't mean usable display area. Can't fix that; it is a problem of the actual display dimensions.
Apps that display on one or both displays continue to not fully utilize the real estate available to them. How many developers are going to want to make special apps for this niche market when even Google and Samsung have trouble doing it?
It's been a bottomless money sinkhole for Samsung that's diverted huge amounts of revenue from their other flagship lines for years.
Current sales still don't justify it. I think it's no coincidence that the N10+ was their zenith point.
After that project Samsung became increasingly fragmented and the fold project exacerbated this exponentially. Consequences.
blackhawk said:
Well that's a cheap shot.
We're not talking about all their vast corporate endeavors, just what applies to this form factor.
So let me help bring it in focus instead of all over the place like the Titan crew...
Google is well known to abandon technologies, products... and leaving the end users boned. Remember that.
Here's a not so glowing review by a user that wanted to see the fold as a viable everyday phone. That didn't go so well.
Aspect ratio continues to be an issue after multiple generations of firmware. Do you buy square computer monitors? Extra display area doesn't mean usable display area. Can't fix that; it is a problem of the actual display dimensions.
Apps that display on one or both displays continue to not fully utilize the real estate available to them. How many developers are going to want to make special apps for this niche market when even Google and Samsung have trouble doing it?
It's been a bottomless money sinkhole for Samsung that's diverted huge amounts of revenue from their other flagship lines for years.
Current sales still don't justify it. I think it's no coincidence that the N10+ was their zenith point.
After that project Samsung became increasingly fragmented and the fold project exacerbated this exponentially. Consequences.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I suppose that at the end of the day, the foldable market will find a small group of admirers and/or enthusiasts who might find such devices feasible in the world of daily driving.
rodken said:
I suppose that at the end of the day, the foldable market will find a small group of admirers and/or enthusiasts who might find such devices feasible in the world of daily driving.
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Click to collapse
I don't have high expectations. Samsung blew the roll out years ago. Most of the same issues persist although they fixed the hinge. I expect a flagship to last, be usable for years and to stay in excellent condition if properly cared for. If so the only repair should be the Li every 1-3 years.
Because of it's square unfolded form factor some format issues can't be resolved.