Hello everybody, before i get to my point let me introduce myself.. i am a college student studying in Australia and i am of indian origin although have never stayed there due to parents being moved around in mnc from wen i am small. I just bought my s2 today and i am having some big software issues. The set i bought is from china as i am here on holiday.
Phone Details:
PDA:I9100XWKE7
PHONE: I9100XXKE4
CSC:I9100XEUKD1
I did a factory reset right after buying as i was hoping to rid of these chinese apps but that was no good.. Then i tried to download some android apps from android market but phone saying not recognized. i deleted and syncd my google account 3 times but to no use. PS. i cannot find a default android market app icon on my phone as well..
Can anyone please shed some light about my specific phone and what i must do to get it working to its full potential.. simple google, weather apps is not all i am hoping for.. I love being part of online communities for all my electronics such as my ps3, blackberry and alienware but i am very very new to android and smartphones but i am willing to learn as much as i can. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you very much folks!*
Firstly, you should have bought it from the country where you intend to use it as all countries have different firmware in SGS II. If you have already reset it, you need to register with a gmail account for having google services on your phone. And you also have to register with an email for having a Samsung account. For your missing apps you can always google to find out. You say you tried to download from the Market, that means you have Market installed. But you can't see the Market icon? Check your list of applications.
If you can't get rid of the Chinese apps with a simple uninstall, then maybe you can try Rooting your phone and then use apps like Titanium for getting rid of the apps you don't need.
Very weird, you have the market but you don't have it. I'd say wipe, install Villainrom. Haha, it's just who I am.
thanks guys
sorry for the confusion guys i was not quite clear about my problems i realize now after going through the forums and familiarizing with android as much as i could in last 2 days.. loving the amount of customization possible after moving up from a blackberry which i used to think was awesome..S2 is simply incomparable but!
It seems my phone was already rooted and some sort of custom rom was already already installed wen i bought in china. Its hard to know really since language is the biggest barrier here..
my kernel version is:[email protected]#2
My baseband is:XXKE4
PDA:XWKE7
CSC:XEUKD1
My problem is actually that i can access android market which isnt the same as the rest of you because here in china my phone came loaded with a local version for all CHINESE apps called GoMarket. This here are done quite differently as facebook, youtube and all are banned and the chinese have better immitated versions for their domestic population.. This is a big problem because i wont be staying here long and i am worried that once i am out of china neither will i be able to access this nor the usual android market since i am unable to pair my google account with market place..i have tried syncing several times and even doing factory reset but without any progress
ps. i would just like my S2 to be like all the others outside the Great FireWall because only reason i bought this phone is to be able to utilize any android app whilst travelling to diff countries without the current problems i am having now.
I hope i am more clear now and am welcome to any more suggestions from you friends. thank you guys
so essentially, the ROM installed on your phone bans android market, and blocks access to all things google, right?
if so, i'd recommend just flashing any custom rom like villain/litening/cognition. that way access to the android market is re-enabled. unfortunately, i'm not too sure if the great firewall extends to mobile applications, so when you're in china (even though you have a custom rom installed and have android market on your phone) you may not be able to use your google account effectively. but that should be limited to china, if at all.
i can't see how this would not work, unless your phone was made to have removed any download mode or something to that sort.
I've got this issue where incoming calls and texts are not matching to the contacts database when the international format is used (so incoming 01202 123456 matches if the number is stored in the phone book as 01202 123456 but not if it's +441202 123456)
Seems it's quite common with ROMs / Phones from China.
My phone is a Cube 5H A5300 (a remarkably good bit of kit for the money if I could fix this dam issue) , Android 4.2.1, and MIUI 3.11.15. I don't think this is a MIUI issue hence posting here.
I've been through the suggestions that seemed to offer the best chance of a fix :-
Changing the MIN_MATCH in framework.jar and MMS.apk, and checking that strict comparison if odd from here http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2268120
Adding ro.phone.min_match=7 to build.prop from here http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1160343
Various other suggestions relating to stuff in settings.
So I'm at a lost to know where to go next.
Anyone got any suggestions about where number matching is handled in Android? Where can I look for places to check ?
John
Exactly the same problem, also UK
Incoming calls show up in the format 07785 nnnnnn but my phone book has the numbers stored in +44 7785 nnnnnn format, with the result incoming calls only show the number and not the detail in my contacts/people.
I also tried ro.phone.min_match= using 9 and 7 as variables but it made no difference
I have the THL W8s running Android 4.2.1
Brilliant phone but his bug is killing it for me.
Really look forward to a solution
I found the solution for bog standard Android devices, I have a THL W8s running 4.2.1 but it should work on Androids 4.1.x / 4.2.x / 4.3.x according to the threads below.
No credit to me, all down to the guys on XDA, but as a bit of novice it took me ages to trawl all the posts on this subject before finally finding the solution that worked - and easily. It will also avoid you installing lots of apps of playstore that for me anyway either didn't work or gave a poor hack of a work around. In addition, this solution provides a whole host of other fixes and enhancement, brilliant piece of work from the two developers.
Start by removing all your contacts, either export/delete from People to re-import or as in my case delete the corporate email/contacts account
Tip: Reboot after almost every step
1) Your device must be rooted
2) You must be able to install apps direct from your phone: System Settings / Security / Unknown Sources (Unknown Sources may be in a different place)
Then the heart of it:
Install the Xposed Framework
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1574401
Full instructions in the thread
Then install GravityBox it's not the a ROM, just the Xposed Framework Module
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2316070
Again, full instructions in the thread (Make sure you have a tick next to Gravity Box in the Xposed Framework and reboot)
Then: GravityBox -> General Fixes -> Fix Caller ID
Reboot, re-add or re-import your email/contacts, either add the account or import from contacts and there you go, fixed.
Here's one that didn't work for me but may be worth a try if your version of Android isn't supported with the above solution:
Search on: ro.phone.min_match= where you put a 9, 8, 7 etc after the =
I used ES File Explorer to mount /system R/W and edit the build.prop file, but as I said, after ages of hacking around to get the fix in it didn't work for me.
BTW: I bought the THL W8s after busting my HTC One and not wanting to shell out too much to replace it. All-in-all I'm very impressed with my cheap Chinese Android phone (£155 on eBay), and now that this bug is fixed I'm really chuffed with it. The dual sim/dual standby function saves me carrying two phones, another bonus.
552446934
Thx for posting this, but didn't work for me. Hope it works for others as this is a great bunch of apps.
I'm wondering if my issue is related to the phone (Cube 5H which is a MTK6589 product) or the MIUI ROMs. I'm getting to the point where I think I might need to give up and get a different phone, but I feel the same way about this phone as you do aout the THL - if I could fix this issue it would be a great value for money phone
whalesg said:
I found the solution for bog standard Android devices, I have a THL W8s running 4.2.1 but it should work on Androids 4.1.x / 4.2.x / 4.3.x according to the threads below.
No credit to me, all down to the guys on XDA, but as a bit of novice it took me ages to trawl all the posts on this subject before finally finding the solution that worked - and easily. It will also avoid you installing lots of apps of playstore that for me anyway either didn't work or gave a poor hack of a work around. In addition, this solution provides a whole host of other fixes and enhancement, brilliant piece of work from the two developers.
Start by removing all your contacts, either export/delete from People to re-import or as in my case delete the corporate email/contacts account
Tip: Reboot after almost every step
1) Your device must be rooted
2) You must be able to install apps direct from your phone: System Settings / Security / Unknown Sources (Unknown Sources may be in a different place)
Then the heart of it:
Install the Xposed Framework
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1574401
Full instructions in the thread
Then install GravityBox it's not the a ROM, just the Xposed Framework Module
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2316070
Again, full instructions in the thread (Make sure you have a tick next to Gravity Box in the Xposed Framework and reboot)
Then: GravityBox -> General Fixes -> Fix Caller ID
Reboot, re-add or re-import your email/contacts, either add the account or import from contacts and there you go, fixed.
Here's one that didn't work for me but may be worth a try if your version of Android isn't supported with the above solution:
Search on: ro.phone.min_match= where you put a 9, 8, 7 etc after the =
I used ES File Explorer to mount /system R/W and edit the build.prop file, but as I said, after ages of hacking around to get the fix in it didn't work for me.
BTW: I bought the THL W8s after busting my HTC One and not wanting to shell out too much to replace it. All-in-all I'm very impressed with my cheap Chinese Android phone (£155 on eBay), and now that this bug is fixed I'm really chuffed with it. The dual sim/dual standby function saves me carrying two phones, another bonus.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm surprised because the Garvity Box solution was designed around the MT6589 products (I think I read somewhere), my phone is MT6589T.
I did read somewhere that the solution wouldn't work on highly customized ROMs and I think that included MUI. Did the phone come with MUI factory installed, if there is a standard AOSP build for your phone it is probably worth a try using that.
Pity, I nearly threw a party when it worked for me, I'd been hacking around for days.
The phone doesn't come with a full MIUI ROM, just the "themes" part of it. But I really wanted to give MIUI a shot hence me putting the whole ROM on. Good point though - I've been toying with putting the original build back on to see if it fixes the issue. Then I'll know if it's a phone thing or a MIUI thing.
Glas you got yours going though. I crossing my fingers for that party moment!
whalesg said:
I'm surprised because the Garvity Box solution was designed around the MT6589 products (I think I read somewhere), my phone is MT6589T.
I did read somewhere that the solution wouldn't work on highly customized ROMs and I think that included MUI. Did the phone come with MUI factory installed, if there is a standard AOSP build for your phone it is probably worth a try using that.
Pity, I nearly threw a party when it worked for me, I'd been hacking around for days.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Strangely - just noticed that numbers in "recent" are now being listed with the correct name matched to the phone book. If I turn off Gravity Box this stops happening, so Gravity Box is having some affect. Just a shame it's not on incoming calls.
johnhelliwell said:
Thx for posting this, but didn't work for me. Hope it works for others as this is a great bunch of apps.
I'm wondering if my issue is related to the phone (Cube 5H which is a MTK6589 product) or the MIUI ROMs. I'm getting to the point where I think I might need to give up and get a different phone, but I feel the same way about this phone as you do aout the THL - if I could fix this issue it would be a great value for money phone
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Alright, So we've seen Firefox running on Android Wear, however we can't enter any menus due to no softkeys on the device. I have been trying to install apps such as "Virtual Button Bar" and SoftKeys for Root Users onto the watch and they install and run. But only the home button works. Neither the back or menu button seems to work in any application.
Has anyone else attempted to get some softkeys for controls in unsupported apps that may be able to enlighten me more on why these keypresses seem to be ignored by the OS..
ShadowEO said:
Alright, So we've seen Firefox running on Android Wear, however we can't enter any menus due to no softkeys on the device. I have been trying to install apps such as "Virtual Button Bar" and SoftKeys for Root Users onto the watch and they install and run. But only the home button works. Neither the back or menu button seems to work in any application.
Has anyone else attempted to get some softkeys for controls in unsupported apps that may be able to enlighten me more on why these keypresses seem to be ignored by the OS..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
With LMT all the keys that can get on-screen are working just fine in apps that support them but the problem is the app can't be launched (FC-most probably because it has an action bar) so you can't edit the buttons or the size of them, they just work but are over sized.
Ranomez said:
With LMT all the keys that can get on-screen are working just fine in apps that support them but the problem is the app can't be launched (FC-most probably because it has an action bar) so you can't edit the buttons or the size of them, they just work but are over sized.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I wonder if you can install LMT on your phone, customize it first, then go to /data/data/... or an appropriate location to grab the config and push it into the watch.
I'm also considering buying a GW, so if this somehow works, please let me know.
Sent from Google Nexus 4 @ CM12.1
[WARNING: XDA Premium 4.0.13+ lacks Signature function - do not update]
AndyYan said:
I wonder if you can install LMT on your phone, customize it first, then go to /data/data/... or an appropriate location to grab the config and push it into the watch.
I'm also considering buying a GW, so if this somehow works, please let me know.
Sent from Google Nexus 4 @ CM12.1
[WARNING: XDA Premium 4.0.13+ lacks Signature function - do not update]
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes ofc it will work but the problem with that is that it will take a lot of time to customize the settings right for the watch and each time you copy the files to data/data remember that you will need to set the right permissions, owner and SELinux context for each and every file and considering that currently SELinux contexts can differ from one device to an other and from one ROM to an other that will be really time consuming and hard as you will have to find an app on your watch that has the same types of files to see the SELinux contexts for each of them.
To say it short yes you can do that but it will probably take you at least 1 day and I don't have the time or patience to do that and I doubt many people on this forum will but ofc if you do buy a G Watch have a go at it and tell us just how much time you've wasted.
Ranomez said:
Yes ofc it will work but the problem with that is that it will take a lot of time to customize the settings right for the watch and each time you copy the files to data/data remember that you will need to set the right permissions, owner and SELinux context for each and every file and considering that currently SELinux contexts can differ from one device to an other and from one ROM to an other that will be really time consuming and hard as you will have to find an app on your watch that has the same types of files to see the SELinux contexts for each of them.
To say it short yes you can do that but it will probably take you at least 1 day and I don't have the time or patience to do that and I doubt many people on this forum will but ofc if you do buy a G Watch have a go at it and tell us just how much time you've wasted.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hmm, I doubt it would take that much effort, because I've tried manually moving config for some other apps without even touching the permissions, and they seem to fix that automatically. System apps don't like that way, though.
But seeing how Android Wear hates ActionBar, thus making many of my apps unavailable, I don't know if I'd still buy one. Yes I do want something Android on my wrist, but if it's just time-telling and Google Now (which is not even available here in China), then I'm not paying that chunk for it.
What apps do you have, then?
Sent from Google Nexus 4 @ CM12.1
[WARNING: XDA Premium 4.0.13+ lacks Signature function - do not update]
AndyYan said:
Hmm, I doubt it would take that much effort, because I've tried manually moving config for some other apps without even touching the permissions, and they seem to fix that automatically. System apps don't like that way, though.
But seeing how Android Wear hates ActionBar, thus making many of my apps unavailable, I don't know if I'd still buy one. Yes I do want something Android on my wrist, but if it's just time-telling and Google Now (which is not even available here in China), then I'm not paying that chunk for it.
What apps do you have, then?
Sent from Google Nexus 4 @ CM12.1
[WARNING: XDA Premium 4.0.13+ lacks Signature function - do not update]
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well you are talking about moving configs to the same phone I guess? Also if not were you on android 5.x+ cause if yes SELinux has became really strict, to the point that if you mess up some contexts on any file in the data partition you could even get a bootloop (happened to me) or have all your apps disappear and be unable to install any app until you fix up the SELinux context (again happened to me), which you will have to do using adb in that state if you don't happen to have and file manager with root capabilities installed in /system/app or /system/priv-app.
Also to answer your question: yes most normal android apps don't work but there are some that do, even some games and some are even really playable, moreover there are enough useful android wear apps out there, I don't know what you plan to use your watch for but for me it does way more than enough, after all it's a watch, it's not like I'll ever want to spend a lot of time looking at it doing anything but I can do some fast reading on it when I need (not like I'll ever read a whole book on it, that's why I have an android e-book reader or even my phone in the worst case scenario), browsing the internet fast (ofc it needs to be connected to a phone with a data connection), receive and send messages, reject calls, even some light or not so light gaming, even things as Temple Run 2, can play music when I don't have my phone using a bluetooth headset/speaker), the only thing I miss is a full office suite, really, I am writing a novel at the moment and never know when I get some inspiration and have to write down what I have in my mind pretty fast so I don't forget, would love to just be able to write on the watch and not have to take out my phone for that.
Also I would suggest that if you have the money you should go with a watch that has wi-fi like the G Watch R or Urbane cause then you will be able to use the internet without a phone, also the screen of the G Watch is really bad in the sun, I had a Sony Smartwatch 2 before and that was way more limited software wise (and for that reason had a battery life of over 1 week) but the screen was miles ahead, I could see everything in powerful sun light without even setting the brightness to the maximum, on the G Watch I can barely see anything with the brightness at maximum in not so powerful sun light.
Does LMT contain the menu button by default? I could care less if it's a little oversized (as long as it's not to big for 150-175 DPI), but I'm about to reset my watch using the restore tools because I screwed up root while trying to get SoftKeyz (EDIT: I believe was the name of the softkey app I was trying to make work, can't remember and just finished resetting) to work correctly.
Ranomez said:
Well you are talking about moving configs to the same phone I guess? Also if not were you on android 5.x+ cause if yes SELinux has became really strict, to the point that if you mess up some contexts on any file in the data partition you could even get a bootloop (happened to me) or have all your apps disappear and be unable to install any app until you fix up the SELinux context (again happened to me), which you will have to do using adb in that state if you don't happen to have and file manager with root capabilities installed in /system/app or /system/priv-app.
Also to answer your question: yes most normal android apps don't work but there are some that do, even some games and some are even really playable, moreover there are enough useful android wear apps out there, I don't know what you plan to use your watch for but for me it does way more than enough, after all it's a watch, it's not like I'll ever want to spend a lot of time looking at it doing anything but I can do some fast reading on it when I need (not like I'll ever read a whole book on it, that's why I have an android e-book reader or even my phone in the worst case scenario), browsing the internet fast (ofc it needs to be connected to a phone with a data connection), receive and send messages, reject calls, even some light or not so light gaming, even things as Temple Run 2, can play music when I don't have my phone using a bluetooth headset/speaker), the only thing I miss is a full office suite, really, I am writing a novel at the moment and never know when I get some inspiration and have to write down what I have in my mind pretty fast so I don't forget, would love to just be able to write on the watch and not have to take out my phone for that.
Also I would suggest that if you have the money you should go with a watch that has wi-fi like the G Watch R or Urbane cause then you will be able to use the internet without a phone, also the screen of the G Watch is really bad in the sun, I had a Sony Smartwatch 2 before and that was way more limited software wise (and for that reason had a battery life of over 1 week) but the screen was miles ahead, I could see everything in powerful sun light without even setting the brightness to the maximum, on the G Watch I can barely see anything with the brightness at maximum in not so powerful sun light.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for compiling such a long response for me :thumbup:
As my signature says most of my devices are on 5.1. Moving some game saves across devices works nicely, though moving contacts database involves modifying owner and permission, but not SEL context - to be honest, I don't even know that ever matters.
Sure I don't have many things in mind when it comes to "what to do with GW"... Back when I was using the Gear, I had quite some apps on it, but most of the time I use it as a timekeeper. But not being compatible with ActionBar is so shocking - I can't imagine how many apps I've used on the Gear so nicely won't work with GW, the most important of which are Greenify, LMT and Root Explorer. Looks like I still have to do much research before I decide on a purchase.
Sent from Google Nexus 4 @ CM12.1
[WARNING: XDA Premium 4.0.13+ lacks Signature function - do not update]
AndyYan said:
Thanks for compiling such a long response for me :thumbup:
As my signature says most of my devices are on 5.1. Moving some game saves across devices works nicely, though moving contacts database involves modifying owner and permission, but not SEL context - to be honest, I don't even know that ever matters.
Sure I don't have many things in mind when it comes to "what to do with GW"... Back when I was using the Gear, I had quite some apps on it, but most of the time I use it as a timekeeper. But not being compatible with ActionBar is so shocking - I can't imagine how many apps I've used on the Gear so nicely won't work with GW, the most important of which are Greenify, LMT and Root Explorer. Looks like I still have to do much research before I decide on a purchase.
Sent from Google Nexus 4 @ CM12.1
[WARNING: XDA Premium 4.0.13+ lacks Signature function - do not update]
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I just looked at your signature and now I know why you had no problem with moving data from one device to an other: all your devices are running CM so they will all use the same security contexts but CM's security contexts are different from normal stock AOSP's contexts and both are different from the contexts used in Samsung TW ROM's, I can bet that if you try to move the data to a stock nexus or some other device running a manufacturer ROM or an other custom ROM than CM (most do use the same contexts but some don't) you will get into problems. SELinux contexts seem to be now just as important as permissions, sometimes you can get around with the wrong owner but if you have wrong Permissions or SELinux contexts you might mess up more than what you were changing.
Also about the app compatibility thing....I don't really miss many apps that I run on my normal devices, the only one I can actually think of is Titanium Backup (and an office app as I said), I found a good replacement for root explorer in MiXplorer, greenify is totally un-needed and wouldn't be too useful even if it worked (I'm actually not sure if it does or not, to me that layout looked like the action bar is either a non-default implementation so it might work without it) because the xposed installer doesn't work (FC-same reason, action bar) but I think xposed could work if someone adapted the installer (doesn't seem to me that the OS-level differences are so big, it's more of the framework), didn't yet try but just for a lol will flash the xposed lollipop zip and see if I can still boot.
An other option for you might be to buy a Gear S, as far as I can see there is some development going on towards running (initially) android wear on it and further afterwards full android.
Ranomez said:
I just looked at your signature and now I know why you had no problem with moving data from one device to an other: all your devices are running CM so they will all use the same security contexts but CM's security contexts are different from normal stock AOSP's contexts and both are different from the contexts used in Samsung TW ROM's, I can bet that if you try to move the data to a stock nexus or some other device running a manufacturer ROM or an other custom ROM than CM (most do use the same contexts but some don't) you will get into problems. SELinux contexts seem to be now just as important as permissions, sometimes you can get around with the wrong owner but if you have wrong Permissions or SELinux contexts you might mess up more than what you were changing.
Also about the app compatibility thing....I don't really miss many apps that I run on my normal devices, the only one I can actually think of is Titanium Backup (and an office app as I said), I found a good replacement for root explorer in MiXplorer, greenify is totally un-needed and wouldn't be too useful even if it worked (I'm actually not sure if it does or not, to me that layout looked like the action bar is either a non-default implementation so it might work without it) because the xposed installer doesn't work (FC-same reason, action bar) but I think xposed could work if someone adapted the installer (doesn't seem to me that the OS-level differences are so big, it's more of the framework), didn't yet try but just for a lol will flash the xposed lollipop zip and see if I can still boot.
An other option for you might be to buy a Gear S, as far as I can see there is some development going on towards running (initially) android wear on it and further afterwards full android.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hmm, you got a good point there. I also move data between one of the CM phones and the TF300TL tablet, but SEL is nonexistent in Android 4.2, so I guess you're right.
Gear S is way out of my reach - if I had that cash I'd buy a ZenWatch, a 360 or even an Omate TrueSmart without hesitation. But thanks for letting me know all this anyway - I choose not to look at GW and Android Wear at this moment.
Sent from Google Nexus 4 @ CM12.1
[WARNING: XDA Premium 4.0.13+ lacks Signature function - do not update]
AndyYan said:
Hmm, you got a good point there. I also move data between one of the CM phones and the TF300TL tablet, but SEL is nonexistent in Android 4.2, so I guess you're right.
Gear S is way out of my reach - if I had that cash I'd buy a ZenWatch, a 360 or even an Omate TrueSmart without hesitation. But thanks for letting me know all this anyway - I choose not to look at GW and Android Wear at this moment.
Sent from Google Nexus 4 @ CM12.1
[WARNING: XDA Premium 4.0.13+ lacks Signature function - do not update]
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You could instead look at a Gear Live then, it at least has a heart rate sensor and a way better screen for outdoors and at least in my country it is in the same price range as the G Watch (actually cheaper) but yes, I can't totally recommend android wear as it is right now, it's good enough (at least for me) but I can also see why a normal pure android watch could be way better yet I have faith that this will change.
Also I really can't recommend the Omate or any other MediaTek smart watch as 1st most of them have no resistance to water whatsoever, 2nd they have no support from and 3rd the firmware on them has so many security holes and other flaws it looks like a schweizer.
EDIT: I forgot to say that if you want full android you could search for a SmartQ Z-watch, as far as I know that is a pretty good one and also pretty cheap (on pandawill when it was on "last time sale" it was sold for 30$ and I am talking about the normal not the lite one, the lite one isn't worth it) but I don't think it will be updated anymore, yet android 4.4 is pretty good compared to other android smart watches.
Ranomez said:
You could instead look at a Gear Live then, it at least has a heart rate sensor and a way better screen for outdoors and at least in my country it is in the same price range as the G Watch (actually cheaper) but yes, I can't totally recommend android wear as it is right now, it's good enough (at least for me) but I can also see why a normal pure android watch could be way better yet I have faith that this will change.
Also I really can't recommend the Omate or any other MediaTek smart watch as 1st most of them have no resistance to water whatsoever, 2nd they have no support from and 3rd the firmware on them has so many security holes and other flaws it looks like a schweizer.
EDIT: I forgot to say that if you want full android you could search for a SmartQ Z-watch, as far as I know that is a pretty good one and also pretty cheap (on pandawill when it was on "last time sale" it was sold for 30$ and I am talking about the normal not the lite one, the lite one isn't worth it) but I don't think it will be updated anymore, yet android 4.4 is pretty good compared to other android smart watches.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Z Watch? No thanks, I've tried that *before* the Gear, and I sold it within a week and lost $15 in the process - crappy 1GHz MIPS which is not only slow but also lacks compatibility for almost everything I throw at it - not even a custom launcher or a weather app would work. Omate's MTK is indeed unfavorable, and that's why I haven't already got one. And there aren't many people who sell Gear Live here. Which leaves me zero feasible choice.
I guess I could call it an end to my hunt of smartwatches, until something like Neptune Pine (but thinner and lighter) shows up. Thanks for helping me analyze the situation all this time!
AndyYan said:
Z Watch? No thanks, I've tried that *before* the Gear, and I sold it within a week and lost $15 in the process - crappy 1GHz MIPS which is not only slow but also lacks compatibility for almost everything I throw at it - not even a custom launcher or a weather app would work. Omate's MTK is indeed unfavorable, and that's why I haven't already got one. And there aren't many people who sell Gear Live here. Which leaves me zero feasible choice.
I guess I could call it an end to my hunt of smartwatches, until something like Neptune Pine (but thinner and lighter) shows up. Thanks for helping me analyze the situation all this time!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well the compatibility thing has changed as ingenic released a compatibility layer (something like libhoudini for intel CPU's) so as far as I can see from a friend's Z Watch it can run almost anything one would throw at it (ok, anything a bit rational, only apps that can actually be useful on a watch) but yes that CPU is not the fastest and the firmware is not really optimized enough so you would need a custom ROM and perhaps some RAM management script like L Speed to get it lag-free yet I can say my friend's z watch behaves pretty well on Dj Droid, it wasn't really lag-free the 2 weeks time we exchanged watches so I could test it but that's just cause I was using xposed and quite a few modules and also had about 100 apps installed, the lag wasn't really the problem for me, the annoying thing for me was the app load times, it would take me up to 1 minute to launch a 3d game.
This being said I would still recommend you to wait for something better, smartwatches right now are good but I see a lot more potential and I am sure in a few years we will see amazing ones, perhaps as good as our older phones in regards to app compatibility and flexibility, who knows, perhaps they'll even be as powerful as our current phones (as far as it goes phones in 1 year will probably be much powerful than our current phones so anything's possible).
EDIT: I also forgot to say that many apps have been adapted for MIPS since then so even without the compatibility layer there are enough apps working on the Z Watch.