The Android Thread - He;pl - The Something Awful Forums

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Chikimiki: May 14, 2009

My moto x has been lagging a lot lately (see my previous posts) and I'm happy to report that I managed to solve this issue! Turns out booting into recovery mode and wiping the cache partition did the trick, good as new!

# ¿ Dec 25, 2014 17:23

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# ¿ Apr 27, 2024 18:26

Chikimiki: May 14, 2009

Tunga posted:

I'm comparing the 2nd gen Moto E 4G with the 2nd gen Moto G 4G. The E appears to have the same CPU, a better GPU, and the same battery size but the screen is smaller so it should presumably last longer.

I know that the camera on the E is kind of garbage (but the G isn't much better anyway). Would the E still take better photos than a GNex?

Am I missing anything else as to why the G is a better device, assuming larger screen size is not a requirement?

According to Anandtech, the E 4G even has a more recent CPU than the G 4G (A53 cores vs. A7 cores)! The drawbacks are a low-res display (960x540) and no 802.11ac wifi, plus a crappy camera in low light. If you're talking about the original GNex, I guess you may still end up taking better pics with it, but don't quote me on that.

# ¿ Apr 27, 2015 14:02

Chikimiki: May 14, 2009

incoherent posted:

Hopefully the 2015 moto x will be the same size and have it **fingers crossed**

Hopefully the Moto X 2015 will revert back to 4.7" and have it (and come with 64 gb in Europe) :colbert:

# ¿ Apr 29, 2015 07:57

Chikimiki: May 14, 2009

Eejit posted:

SD cards are cheap but not that cheap. Almost always better to pay the difference to get actual storage on the drat phone.

If you have the option to get more than 16 gb that is :v:

# ¿ May 29, 2015 09:07

Chikimiki: May 14, 2009

LastInLine posted:

Then you're buying the wrong phone.

Moto X 2013 only came in 16 gb in Yurop :france:

# ¿ May 29, 2015 13:40

Chikimiki: May 14, 2009

IuniusBrutus posted:

My 2013 Moto X (5.1) spontaneously rebooted last night. When it turned back on, it had to compile all of the apps again. This is the second time its done this in a month, and a couple other times it has re-optimized everything after normal power cycles. Has this been a problem for anyone else's phone? I was really trying to wait for the new Nexus devices, but between this and the battery being shot I don't know if I am going to make it, and I can get a new Nexus 6 for $450. I just don't want to buy another Android phone at this point if this is par for the course - I need my phone to be reliable for work.

No problems on mine, but have you tried wiping the cache partition on your phone? This usually fixes most bugs after a system update.

# ¿ Jul 23, 2015 06:49

Chikimiki: May 14, 2009

Desk Lamp posted:

A factory reset should clear it right up as long as it's a software issue and not a problem with failing hardware. If you don't want to go through the trouble of restoring all your apps and such, you can always try thinking back to what changes you made just before the slowdown began and undo them, like maybe one of your apps was recently updated and is now hogging your resources.

Really though, a factory reset should clear everything right up, but I know Android's back up and restore solution is a real pain in the rear end at the moment.

Wiping the cache partition does the trick on my Moto X. My (completely uneducated) guess is that the app updates clog up my measly 16gb with hidden files during installation, so deleting this every 2 months keeps my phone nice and fast.

A Saucy Bratwurst posted:

For the last month or so I've been using a very crappy lg phone because my z3c got broken. I was waiting for the z5c but Sony has priced those absolutely ridiculously so I'm not going to get one, even with the 20% discount. What other options are there at the moment that are good? Looking at around $400-500 preferably. Worth waiting another few weeks for the new nexus? I really want to get rid of this pos lg, its unusably bad.

Latest Moto G?

# ¿ Sep 20, 2015 13:13

Chikimiki: May 14, 2009

Just dropped my good old 1st gen Moto X on the pavement, and now the screen is fubar: black spots everywhere, can't read a drat thing anymore on the screen

So I was looking for a replacement, and since I'm cheap, in Europe, and a "pure" android fanboy, Motorola remains my goto brand (Sony and Nexus prices are ridiculous, might aswell buy an iPhone for those prices).

Now I have a hard time deciding between several models:

3rd gen Moto G:
+ cheap and durable (ipx7)
- slow processor and a - reportedely - weak camera

2nd gen Moto X
+ good processor, amoled screen and okay camera
- previous gen, fragile, and low battery life

Moto X Play:
+ good chipset, okay camera
- expensive, design is meh, and the ip rating is "only" ip57

Plus, I learned that Lenovo is launching a Moto G Turbo that is even more durable (ip67), has a Snapdragon 615, and fast charging, but is only sold in India and Mexico with no word on international availability.

Soooooo am I reading too much into the ip rating and the chipset? Would a Moto G be an upgrade to my old Moto X, or should I splurge on the Play, or import a weird phone from India? Or maybe look at another brand?

Thanks in advance android thread!

# ¿ Jan 9, 2016 11:42

Chikimiki: May 14, 2009

FAUXTON posted:

The difference between those IP ratings (57 v 67) is the devices' resistance to dust infiltration. With screens typically being sealed, that means the dust is not going to affect usability of the phone - the "5" in 57 means it lets dust in but not enough to impair any usage, and the "6" in "67" means it's dust-proof. The "7" means it can be dumped into 3 ft of water for 30 mins and not sufffer function loss. "Durability" (impact resilience) isn't measured in IP rating anymore, and hasn't been for like a decade.

Okay so no big difference between both certifications, and it's only dust- and waterproof. Still, nice to have anyways.

Mega Comrade posted:

I've got the Moto X Play and my girlfriend has the moto g so I'll give a little writeup..

The Moto G is a fantastic device for the money, for the price it really is unbeatable but do take into account the main model people buy is 8GB, that size will cause you nothing but headaches and once you go up to the 16GB size the price is very close the medium spec phones. Where it falls down is games. They will lag and run at low frame rate but that's only an issue if you play games. It's camera is decent and the screen while only 720p is vibrant and good enough.

The moto x play is a medium spec phone. It's not lighting quick but it is fast enough to play hearthstone with pretty much no lag for a rough gauge of its power. Its got a better screen than the moto g and its it's 5.5 inches but where it really excels is the battery. The battery life is AMAZING. It sells itself as 'lasting 2 days' and it's not lying. However it's not a perfect phone. My main 2 complaints are, its got turbo charging but the phone comes with a standard charger, so you have to buy another charger to use that feature and you want that feature. Charging that 3700 battery normally takes a long time, 4+ hours, charging with turbo charger is just over an hour. And my second complaint is the power and volume buttons, they are really lose and feel cheap, bringing the overall build quality down, however if you are sticking this phone in a case (like I have) this won't be an issue but it's something to consider if you rock naked (or want the official flip case that doesn't cover the buttons) because they really are bad.

Thanks for the writeup! I don't play that much anymore, but it's still nice to have the possibility for a quick Hitman GO or to fire up XCOM. The Play seems like the better choice for me, especially with 2 day battery life, but it's a shame about the build quality - one of the things I liked about my old Moto X. What I liked about the Moto G Turbo is that it has the same chipset as the Play, but with added waterproofing, and a lower pricepoint. Oh well, maybe I'll just wait a bit until there is a deal on the Play, and get it with a good case

# ¿ Jan 9, 2016 18:05

Chikimiki: May 14, 2009

Kreez posted:

My Moto X 2013 finally exploded. At first I was excited that it was an excuse to get a new phone, but everything out there seems to have just as many drawbacks as improvements compared to my Moto X. I decided to buy a new screen and try to replace it, but half the screws inside the phone came stripped from the factory, so there's no way I'm going to be able to repair the phone with any reasonable amount of time and effort spent. I'll just buy a new phone and eat the lovely restocking fee on the new screen and battery I bought.

Things I loved about the Moto X that I'm concerned about losing:
-Screen size and form factor
-AMOLED screen + Ambient Display notifications

Things I'm looking forward to improving:
-The camera
-Battery life
-The Micro USB port being a flimsy piece of poo poo that requires mucking around with every week in order to not have the charging cable fall out at the slightest touch.
-Dual SIM would actually be useful, as I'm often in the US or Europe, and I could have a local SIM for data, and keep my Canadian SIM in to accept calls and texts from work. Right now I have to swap SIMs every couple days while out of country and check for texts and voicemails.

Things that didn't really bother me, but I guess could be improved with a new phone:
-Performance. I know the Moto X is old, but I didn't really notice performance issues with the way I use my phone. Maybe there was crazy stuttering, I just don't know any better?
-Android 6. Maybe it's just because I haven't paid attention, but I don't know of a Marshmallow feature that I really wish I had, so I'm completely ambivalent about not being able to upgrade.

Assuming I buy a new phone, some options I'm considering are: (prices are in CAD, and some include a discount because I have a credit with my carrier, but they only carry some of these phones)
-Nexus 5X 16GB: $439 - Pros: USB-C seems neat, camera, Nexus device, best performance. Cons: no AMOLED or Moto ambient display, and bigger than ideal.
-Moto X Play 16GB: $327 - Pros: Battery, Ambient Display. Cons: It's huge. not AMOLED, Performance?
-Moto G 8GB: $157 - Pros: Cheap, decent form factor. Cons: Everything else?
-One Plus X $340: Pros: Decent Form factor, AMOLED notifications, performance vs Moto X Play, dual SIM. Cons: No updates? Camera (still better than Moto X!), sketchy company? (note: no LTE issue for my carrier, and I'm fine being on 3G when in the US)

Thoughts? I have a Nexus 5X arriving tomorrow that I'll try out and probably return when it's too big. It looks to me like the One Plus X is my ideal choice? Is the company really that bad? Should I expect! the phone to arrive non functional?

I was in the same boat as you about a month ago - Moto X broken, and you'll have to make some trade-offs indeed.
The only good small phones nowadays are in my opinion the iPhone and the Sony xperia z3 compact or z5 compact, but they both come with a hefty price tag.

Nexus 5X seemed pretty good but some people apparently do have hardware issues with them, plus the European prices are just ridiculous. But they have a great camera and a fingerprint reader.

I got the Moto g3 16 gb (don't get the 8 gb variant, it has less RAM, which will really hurt performance, and 8 GB is way top top small) as a replacement, mainly because of the price tag. It's actually quite decent, performance and camera are on par with the Moto X 2013, and the battery life is way better: I get 2 days on a single charge, when I got about 12h from the old X. However, don't let the screen size fool you - it is the same size as the Moto X play, which is huge coming from a small phone. You get used to it, but I still prefer the smaller size. And I find the screen to be not as good as the old amoled one personally, although you keep the notifications.
Also, I just got the marshmallow update: doesn't change much (apart from app permissions) but it is nice to have an up-to-date OS.

Basically the extra price of the Moto X Play gets you a better SOC, a nicer screen and a better camera (and quick charge), otherwise they are pretty much identical.

One plus is a joke. Don't buy anything from them.

# ¿ Mar 7, 2016 11:56

Chikimiki: May 14, 2009

SIR FAT JONY IVES posted:

Moto G works on verizon right?

Moto G is a lot bigger than the Z3C unfortunately.

# ¿ Apr 1, 2016 16:51

Chikimiki: May 14, 2009

LethalGeek posted:

I don't know who thought no notification light was a good idea but they should get hit in the head with a shovel.

I guess they killed it for Moto Display. Too bad it's still kinda wonky sometimes.

# ¿ May 4, 2016 08:34

Chikimiki: May 14, 2009

Must Love Dogs posted:

My brother cracked the screen on his '13 Moto X. Go-to recommendation for a cheap, functional replacement is 3rd gen Moto G?

Basically yes. You get better battery life, a micro SD slot and marshmallow, however the phone is a lot bigger, gaming performance is worse and you lose the nice amoled screen.
If those are deal breakers for him, he could always get a Moto X 2014 on the cheap.

While I agree that the sub 200$ has become quite competitive, I still think that the Motorola improvements are worth it - namely stock Android, active display, and gestures. Too bad that lenovo seems bent on making them into yet-another-Chinese-cheap-huge-phone-manufacturer. I'd love something like the Nexus 5X in the Moto X form factor... One can still dream :gbsmith:

# ¿ May 22, 2016 16:52

Chikimiki: May 14, 2009

LastInLine posted:

You've either got a bad card or a bad card reader in the phone.

Had the same issue on my moto g3, using a Samsung evo class 10 card. I guess it's a lemon, because while the size is correct (32 GB), Android claims the card isn't fast enough, and that I should use at least a class 10 card.
So much for buying the cheapest stuff on Amazon!

# ¿ May 24, 2016 11:38

Chikimiki: May 14, 2009

RichterIX posted:

Nothing at all besides the fact that the only Nexus listed on the AT&T website is a web-only refurbished Nexus 6. Maybe the store stock is different and I'm just pissing in the wind trying to shop on their website.

I'll keep an eye out for these when I'm at the store this afternoon.

The last time I was shopping for a phone this thread was super anti-Samsung, and some of that sentiment seems to have dried up and I am seeing the S7 recommended now. I'm not averse to this being my real upgrade, I was really only defaulting to the G4 because it looked like my options for top-of-the-line were the S7 and G5 and not much else.

Yeah apparently Samsung dialed touchwiz down from "usability nightmare" to "some bloatware you could live with." Plus, it's a real nice phone hardware wise.

BonoMan posted:

What's the consensus on the OnePlus phones? The 3 releases in two weeks and I might wait for that.

Basically I'm looking for a $300-400 phone with the best camera I can get in that range. I'm tired of missing good pics of my two year old because of my lovely camera phone.

Thread consensus is that the Nexus 5X takes really decent pics, and it's around 300$ for the 32gb version.

# ¿ Jun 2, 2016 06:37

Chikimiki: May 14, 2009

Bob A Feet posted:

The moto x 13 was so good. RIP MOTO

I still want the Moto X 13 with Nexus 5X internals and camera, but apparently hell will freeze over before I'll get anything remotely close.
That said, I'm wondering if it is lenovo that is lovely, or is it the Chinese phablet market? :v:

# ¿ Jun 10, 2016 06:47

Chikimiki: May 14, 2009

Away all Goats posted:

Looking to upgrade my Nexus 5.

Can someone recommend me a phone that:
-Has better battery life
-Has a smaller screen for my tiny baby hands

Good luck, all good recent Android phones are hugephones. Maybe Sony Xperia Z3 compact or Z5 compact?

Comedy option: iPhone SE :v:

# ¿ Jul 8, 2016 07:01

Chikimiki: May 14, 2009

Kerbtree posted:

You're wise to avoid anything with permissions that don't match its function e.g. a torch app that wants your contacts and Internet access. Do bear in mind that some of the groups cover more than the name implies at first glance.

Apps with settings will need read/write permission to make/use their config file.

Fwiw, Google decided that Internet access, of all things, is not included in permissions - any app can access the internet from your phone by default;

# ¿ Jul 10, 2016 12:06

Chikimiki: May 14, 2009

KS posted:

Just give me a new moto x every year with faster processors and I'd be sooo happy.

Yeah, the original Moto X was close to perfection for me (with slightly better camera and battery life). I wish Motogoogle made the Moto line into something akin to the iPhone line: Moto g for budget, 2 screen sizes for Moto X, with yearly updated specs and maybe some new stuff thrown in (fingerprint reader, waterproofing...). Ah well, let's see how ~~HMD Global~~ Nokia turns out!

# ¿ Mar 2, 2017 08:26

Chikimiki: May 14, 2009

RZA Encryption posted:

If it doesn't have at least 16gb of ram then NO SALE.

More RAM than storage or bust! As long as they keep the ~SD card slot~

# ¿ Jun 7, 2017 07:01

Chikimiki: May 14, 2009

Unlimited calls, SMS and 40 GB data per month for 25€ with socialist French mobile plan :v:

# ¿ Jul 2, 2017 17:52

Chikimiki: May 14, 2009

Incessant Excess posted:

A big german retailer is running a promo where the price of the new Pixels is reduced by 200 Euros each, sucks for those who pre-ordered (me).

Which one is it? I'll may make a trip over the border if that's the case :v:

# ¿ Dec 1, 2017 07:51

Chikimiki: May 14, 2009

Welp, just ordered a Sony Xperia xz1, first time I've spent so much on a phone (even if it was 30% off) :ohdear:

Will see how it compares to my cheapo Moto G3 from 2 years ago :v:

# ¿ Dec 2, 2017 15:11

Chikimiki: May 14, 2009

Still crazy that installing an aftermarket launcher is the best thing to do on 99% of new Android phones, including the pixels :v:

# ¿ Dec 8, 2017 07:34

Chikimiki: May 14, 2009

I'm having a weird bug, in that the icon for location services in the notification bar won't go away... So I assume some app is polling it, but I haven't installed or authorised any new one. Thankfully I don't experience any battery drain, but the additional icon is triggering my OCD :v:

# ¿ Feb 5, 2018 23:51

Chikimiki: May 14, 2009

Wasabi the J posted:

Google really fumbled in their own 1.

If only they'd focus more on qol life stuff than another messaging app or another AI assistant, but it looks like there's less money in this :v:

# ¿ Feb 24, 2018 07:43

Chikimiki: May 14, 2009

Fabio Lanzoni posted:

Is the Xperia XZ1 a good buy at $450?
Looks great on paper: Snapdragon 835, 64 GB, 4GB RAM, MicroSD slot, project treble support, headphone jack and launched with Android 8.0 so it should get a couple more updates.
edit: and waterproof!

I have one, it's pretty good for the price. Obviously updates are slower than the Pixel (still no 8.1 but security patches are frequent) and you have some bloatware (which I disabled and/or hide with Nova launcher) but it is fast and has good battery life. Camera is below Pixel or Galaxy quality, but still fine except for low light. Unfortunately Sony disabled the possibility to install the Google camera HDR app.
If I were to nitpick, my biggest gripes are the lack of active display (only a notification led) and the fingerprint reader position: I often just want to check my lockscreen using the power button, but the fingerprint unlock is so fast I get on the homescreen immediately :v:

# ¿ Apr 3, 2018 03:55

Chikimiki: May 14, 2009

Roid666 posted:

So, my 2 year old nexus 5x has finally bit the bullet and has the dreaded boot loop issue.

I'm in the UK with a budget of around �250 for a SIM unlocked phone.

I've read through the last few pages of thread, and people have mentioned that Moto are dropping the ball a bit with updates, so maybe the Moto g5s plus isn't a good choice now?

Reviews of the Nokia 6 don't seem that great, so I've been looking at the Honor 7x.

Anybody had any experience with the 7x?

Maybe look into the Xiaomi Mi A4. Chinese phone, but with Android One so mostly stock and with timely updates.

# ¿ Apr 9, 2018 16:01

Chikimiki: May 14, 2009

bull3964 posted:

The other thing is a patent application doesn't mean they are actually building it like that either, just hedging their bets.

Personally, I just feel like we're chasing diminishing returns and an all glass all screen device is getting really loving boring no matter who it is from and who gives a poo poo what your device looks like when it's built so fragile that your need to cover it from day one.

I miss my Moto X Pure with its rubberised back and a frame that could withstand just about any abuse.

I love how Google just HAD to erase the antenna lines for the Pixel this year so they switch to a coating that's easily scratched rather than anodizing the metal in a durable coating and leaving the antenna lines alone. Great, you made it so I had to use a case to prevent scratches on the coating that was used to hide antenna lines I won't see anyways because you made me use a case.

I still have this sliver of hope that, once manufacturers realize smartphones are a commodity, they'll stop trying to reinvent the wheel and just produce a boring but solid phone with one or two specializations (camera, music, games, rugged, etc.). A man can dream!

# ¿ Apr 17, 2018 18:37

Chikimiki: May 14, 2009

The Merkinman posted:

All glass back = Qi charging returns

Since Android always tries to emulate Apple in a half-assed way (but not after mocking them for the very same thing, see headphone jack), I'd say there is a 50% chance there will be qi charging :v:

# ¿ Jun 8, 2018 08:16

Chikimiki: May 14, 2009

WattsvilleBlues posted:

My friend broke the poo poo out of my old Xperia Z3 Compact after violently taking a piss. He's looking for a decent handset £200 or under. We're in the UK and he's not looking a contract.

Camera quality isn't important but reasonable performance, screen quality and water resistance would be nice.

What are his options in the UK? I think he's on Tesco mobile, which I believe is an MVNO on O2's network. Not sure if UK goons need to worry about bands like in the Americas.

Nokia 6 2018 or Moto G5+ or Xiaomi mi A1. Not sure about water resistance at that price point though.

# ¿ Jun 19, 2018 06:37

Chikimiki: May 14, 2009

Taffer posted:

It's the same as it is with youtube. Inadvertently click on a video about enthusiast vintage bike riders and you'll see a constant stream of suggested videos on that same topic for weeks, perhaps months, despite not caring about it and never watching anything related to it again.

Like, you have well over a decade of data on me, thousands, probably tens of thousands of video views, Google searches, link clicking. But you choose the random accidental link click as the basis for your leading suggestions. Okay.

Watch one gaming YouTuber for a walkthrough, get bombarded with fortnite videos (the ones with the screaming faces in the thumbnails) forever. Scroogled again!

# ¿ Jun 25, 2018 20:21

Chikimiki: May 14, 2009

Sextro posted:

I just want a 4:3 display, a kickstand, stereo speakers and a notification LED.

Also, physical keyboard, microSD and removable battery. Wait a minute... https://www.androidpolice.com/2018/06/27/blackberry-key2-review-one-unique-phones-around-comes-short-awesome/ :v:

# ¿ Jun 29, 2018 13:28

Chikimiki: May 14, 2009

I dunno, I always keep my phone on vibrate and sometimes in DND, however I find myself often adjusting music or video volume, so the new way looks better to me :shrug:

# ¿ Nov 9, 2018 17:36

Chikimiki: May 14, 2009

Best form factor was the OG Moto X :colbert:

Nowadays, I guess your best bet for a powerful compact phone are the Sony Xperia Compact phones, but who knows for how much longer they will produce those.

# ¿ Apr 10, 2019 09:33

Chikimiki: May 14, 2009

Outside of some budget phones you won't find any removable batteries anymore, that ship has long sailed. Standard bezels and headphone jack can still be found easily though.

Standard thread recommendations are the Pixel 3 or 3a, Oneplus 7, or the new Nokias (6, 7, 8). This will get you good hardware, and more or less stock Android with a good update policy.

As far as I've gathered the Poco is not a bad device, but as with all cheap chinese brands you will have trouble getting OS updates for more than a few months.

Lastly, don't bother with rooting, it's not worth it anymore outside of some fringe cases.

# ¿ Aug 5, 2019 14:15

Chikimiki: May 14, 2009

MikeJF posted:

Are any of the Android TV externals decent and low-cost for a good easy 1080p experience? My parents have a Sony that's a whole five years old so none of the apps work anymore and despite a year of trying they can't wrap their heads around Chromecast.

I live in Australia so there usual basic streaming devices of Fire Stick and Roku have none of the local channel apps, so those options are out. _{(well, Roku apps exist, but locked down to rebranded Roku boxes supplied by our local rear end in a top hat super-telco)}

Standard recommendation is the Nvidia Shield TV, it's not the cheapest but almost all of the other boxes are either too weak and/or do not get patched by the manufacturer.

# ¿ Aug 26, 2019 16:17

Chikimiki: May 14, 2009

Maybe it will have a headphone jack and removable battery :v:

# ¿ Sep 2, 2019 06:24

Chikimiki: May 14, 2009

For all those missing hardware keyboards: https://www.fxtec.com/pro1/

Actually doesn't look half bad :v:

# ¿ Sep 6, 2019 09:58

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# ¿ Apr 27, 2024 18:26

Chikimiki: May 14, 2009

My Xperia XZ1has this issue where the USB-C port is getting loose: most aftermarket cables won't stay connected, and even the regular cable it came with also has trouble staying put. Contrast this with my Gopro, where you really have to yank the cable out.
Tried to clean the port and remove some lint but there was no difference.
Is my phone busted? :ohdear:

# ¿ Dec 10, 2019 09:56

The Something Awful Forums > Discussion > Inspect Your Gadgets > The Android Thread - He;pl

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