Help Keep my Galaxy S or return it? (Help!)

[FK1983]

Hi all, I just joined.

On Monday I got my new Samsung Galaxy S (on Vodaphone UK), I'm still in my 7 day "trial" so can return it for a different model if I want too.
I am a bit unhappy with the phone so far but maybe some of you have tips on a few of my problems.

Before I start I must stress that I am new to the Android OS, I am impressed with it and the amount of options on offer and things you can do.

Problems:
1, Sometimes when I turn the phone on after restarting it can take aggggges to be in a usable state, yesterday it also crashed on me and I had to remove the battery, after about 15 minutes It was ok to use again.

2, The phone really does seem to lag, even using a task killer isn't helping that much, I thought this was meant to be the fastest phone out there at the moment? any fix for this? just annoys me when I want to do something and it takes ages to even think about doing what you ask!

3, I keep getting black screens when exiting apps/games which take a while to clear, its like its getting stuck or lagging, any fix for this?

4, Why do I only have 70-150mb of ram free when this phone is meant to have 512mb of ram? why have samsung said this phone has 512mb when only 256mb is usable on this OS version? how can I be sure that when 2.2 is released I will have the full 512mb I paid for? I feel this is the reason the whole phone feels laggy due to the 256mb of ram at the moment.

5, Why is it so hard to find things on the Android marketplace? I end up giving up after a few minutes, I've been used to the appstore which is a lot easier to find things (new, most downloaded, most rated, staff picks etc), is there anywhere I can get the same sort of lists of apps?

6, Android marketplace again, the overall content on offer really disappoints me if i'm honest, gaming wise there is almost nothing to test my new phones hardware out, a couple of gameloft games but thats it!? where are all the big name developers like the appstore? same problem with apps.

7, GPS! my GPS will not work inside or outside (in a car or out of a car), it just says searching for GPS location (it is turned on in the options), tried it with google maps, google nav, co pilot etc.

8, Battery, basically it goes flat fast, i'm charging it twice a day at the moment with the screen set to 50%, any ideas?

9, Layer, I have only got this to work once, it keeps saying "updating featured" but never gets past that screen?


I know it sounds like a lot of problems but I want to be SURE as I am entering a long contract!

The screen I love, absolutely stunning! the sound is superb, the OS seems really good (but slow), build quality is good although the camera should have been set back a little to stop it getting damaged, the camera/video is amazing quality too (in daylight!). Wifi is superb, internet is fantastic and easy to use.




To be honest, I really am not sure if I should keep this phone or go back to the iphone and get a new iphone 4, i used to use a iphone 3gs before I got the Samsung.

Help!

 

[karnka]

Not sure I'm going to be much help but:

1, 2 & 3: This doesn't sound right. My Galaxy S has been pretty fast, no noticable slowdown in normal use and restarting it's up in seconds and my widgets have data maybe 20 seconds later.

4: Really don't worry about the Ram displayed by the task killer. It's not what's causing your issues.

5-6: Agreed the Market isn't great but it's a hell of a lot better than the Android 1.5 version! I usually tend to browse the web/forums to find recommendations for apps then search for them. I'm sure that's not the answer you wanted to hear I'm not too fussed about games for my phone so that doesn't really bother me, but I take your point. You don't have the likes of EA developing games for Android.

7: My GPS seems fine. The compass on the other hand I'm not so sure. There is apparently a firmware update in the works to improve the GPS.

8: That doesn't seem right either. My battery is 1-1.5 days at the moment and that's with everything turned on and me playing with the phone a fair bit. Much better than my Galaxy Portal was.

9: Layer is a bit crap. Never really bothered with it.

 

[bobtodd]

Hi all, I just joined.
Problems:
1, Sometimes when I turn the phone on after restarting it can take aggggges to be in a usable state, yesterday it also crashed on me and I had to remove the battery, after about 15 minutes It was ok to use again.

It might be worth checking which widgets you have running. A few of the "out of the box" ones I had seemed to do the same, the worst culprit being the search bar that appeared on the main screen. Get rid of that for starters. If you ever want to do a search from the main screen, simply hold down the menu button for a few seconds and it'll pop up.

2, The phone really does seem to lag, even using a task killer isn't helping that much, I thought this was meant to be the fastest phone out there at the moment? any fix for this? just annoys me when I want to do something and it takes ages to even think about doing what you ask!

This, in my experience, is app-specific. Some apps lag, others don't. I'm at the stage now where lag is rare in my daily mucking about with the SGS. And I do a lot of mucking about. Can't leave the bloody thing alone, in fact. Try different apps for the same job and stick with the ones that work best for you.

5, Why is it so hard to find things on the Android marketplace? I end up giving up after a few minutes, I've been used to the appstore which is a lot easier to find things (new, most downloaded, most rated, staff picks etc), is there anywhere I can get the same sort of lists of apps?

I'm new to Android too. It does take a while to get the hang the marketplace. Give Appbrain a try at AppBrain - the best Android apps and games on the Android market - it's a far more intuitive way of searching for and adding apps. I've not used the Marketplace since I installed it. Best of all you can browse via your PC's web browser and have it automatically send apps to your SGS

8, Battery, basically it goes flat fast, i'm charging it twice a day at the moment with the screen set to 50%, any ideas?

Have you conditioned it? Let it run completely down and then recharge every time. A few goes at this and battery life should improve considerably. I had the same problem the first couple of days, but I'm now getting well over 24 hours on a single charge, and that's with me listening to tunes, chatting, texting, browsing and gaming throughout the day. Pay attention to things like having WiFi and GPS on when you're not using them, too.

9, Layer, I have only got this to work once, it keeps saying "updating featured" but never gets past that screen?

Yep - had the exact same problem. Install the updated version from the Marketplace- it's a lot faster. Thing is, as good as the tech behind Layr is, the software itself is pretty clunky. Yelp does the same thing only better.

 

[karnka]

I'm new to Android too. It does take a while to get the hang the marketplace. Give Appbrain a try at AppBrain - the best Android apps and games on the Android market - it's a far more intuitive way of searching for and adding apps. I've not used the Marketplace since I installed it. Best of all you can browse via your PC's web browser and have it automatically send apps to your SGS

Looks interesting, thanks.

 

[sjdean]

From an initial read, it does sound like your phone has problems.

I was going to ask are you just being hyper picky, or are we seeing real problems.

1) No way should the phone be taking 15 minutes to load. Unless of course you have a 32 Gig memory card and a million of 1Kb pictures that it has to scan.
2) A bit of lag is normal. I believe that firmware is being worked on to resolve some of these glitches including the GPS. Given your 15 minute issue above, I gather that you're not just waiting two or three seconds every few hours, but constantly, and longer than a few seconds?
3) I've seen a few issues reported of black screens. I've had a couple, but nothing to write home about.
4) I think the Ram issue is known about. The suggestion is that the phone can see the full 512Meg and Samsung have confirmed this. However other sources suggest that the Kernel version on the Samsung is unable to see. Who's right? I don't know. But put this one a low priority. It is not the cause of your issues.
5) That is not phone related. That's a user issue.
6) Duplication of 5)
7) GPS - Yup. Many problems. Samsung are supposedly releasing a new firmware to Europe this week - XXJF6. But because you got your phone through Vodafone, you may have to wait for Voda to approve the update. However I suspect that as well as firmware to get the best out of the GPS, I think some phones may have a hardware fault. I sent my last Galaxy S back to the shop and received a new one. Even with the same firmware, the new one is so much more reliable its untrue.
8) I think Battery Life will be addressed in a future update. I've heard good reports about the leaked XXJF5.
9) Don't know. Think Layar is just a hog, coupled with the screen switching off every 30 seconds isn't helping.

OK, so, real question, do you have a faulty phone.

First of all, Factory Reset your phone. Wipe all the data and start again. Don't install anything at all, but start with programs like MyTracks, GPS Test, GPS Status and Waze from the MarketPlace. (use the Search icon top right to do this).

See how things go. If your GPS signal using GPS Test wildly fluctuates and you're lucky to lock (ie no grey bars) onto 4 satellites, you may have a problem. If you keep seeing satellites come, satellites go, lock come, lock go, accuracy spin around like crazy even though you have a good clear sky, then you could well have a problem. Use MyTracks and walk around the block and see what you get. If you get loads of jumps and zig zag lines very very frequently, then I think this also confirms a problem.

Seriously, I know that there will be some new firmware to address GPS issues, but I think some phones are actually faulty.

Coupled with your lag and waiting 15 minutes, I would be tempted to send the phone back and get another one, citing the issues.

You will still have problems with the GPS with a new phone, but the problems will be a lot less, and believe it or not, if you use Waze at the same time, it's perfect!

Cya
Simon

 

[FK1983]

Thanks for all the replies!

Another thing about the ram issue, i've used a few system tools and all say "installed ram - 326mb" Android System for example shows this, so if this is correct it can't be a case that the OS is only seeing 256mb as it is showing 326mb but where is the other 186mb?

 

[TCC]

AppBrain is good.

There is also this site:
AndroidZoom - Download thousands of Android applications from the Android Market

That might help you find apps.

 

[FK1983]

I think I have made my decision.
I still have the weekend to be totally sure but I *think* I am returning the Samsung Galaxy S and getting an iphone 4 instead.


My reasons:

My main reason which is very important to me is the apps and games, this is the reason why I got so much use out of my iphone 3gs in the past, i'm already a bit bored of the limited apps and games on my galaxy.

The Android Marketplace really lets the whole "android scene" down in my view, there is just so much rubbish and hardly anything of quality on the marketplace, I turned on my iphone 3gs for the first time in a week yesterday to charge it and had a quick look on the appstore, it is FULL to the brim of apps and games from all the major developers and companies, always something to download on the appstore, I honestly can't say the same with the Android marketplace.

What is the point in having a super powerful phone like the galaxy when there is nothing on the marketplace to show what the phone can do!?
I know the appstore is a lot older than the Android one but it clearly shows with someone that uses both!

Also, comparing some of the same apps on the Android to the iphone (excluding screen) and the android versions are always rubbish in comparison, facebook for example, the iphone version is superb, the android version is terrible, same as twitter, ebay etc.



Second reason is the actual Android OS, it just feels to me like a beta OS, bugs, slowdowns, freezes, poor performance, poor battery life, (both the Galaxy S and X10 I have used have had the same issues) I think it needs a LOT more time being developed as it clearly isn't ready to be on the market.

There's some nice features with the Android OS but I honestly find the iphone OS to be a million times better for use on a daily basis, I will miss the live wallpapers but that really is all I will miss!


Sorry to put a downer on things but I am really disappointed, not with the phone as it is a superb phone with stunning specs but the software that powers it lets the whole thing down.




Oh and also, I spoke to Vodaphone today about my issues and the manager said they have had so many android phones (specially the galaxy s) returned for various reason, they have also been told by samsung that some of the galaxy s phones do have defects such as gps, as a result they may be taking the galaxy off sale on vodaphone until the issue is fixed.

He also said "if you want a proper phone that works, get an iphone", hmm

 

[Mark_H]

Today is the day I have to make the decision to keep my SGS or return it.

I previously had an iphone 3G, and was looking to buy the iphone 4. I really prefer the flexibility of Android over Apple. Yes, Apple is more polished, but remember it is still relatively early days for Android.

The SGS is a great phones with a few niggles - nothing that bothers me that much. A few of my colleagues have the iphone 3gs and are desperate to move to Android now they have seen the SGS - asked several times if I will swap.

So, as you guessed it, I am keeping the SGS - it is a great phone, and will only get better with new firmware updates and froyo!

 

[Mark_H]

And you think SGS has problems - wait until you get an iphone 4!! I have a few friends with them and they are either selling them or retuning them - phone constantly drops calls, and is flaky at best. The whole antenna issue is a fundamental design flaw, not a software issue like Apple are saying. My SGS hasn't dropped a single call and the reception appears to be a lot better - getting a signal where colleagues with iphones can't!

My biggest bug bear for the iphone was the phone itself! Terrible at retaining a signal, and when it lost it - often the only way to get it back was to turn the phone on and off.

Personally if you are set on returning the SGS, stick with your 3GS - I certainly wouldn't recommend going to the iphone 4

The only apps I miss are XpenseTracker - brilliant for business expenses and Angry Birds!

 

[FK1983]

And you think SGS has problems - wait until you get an iphone 4!! I have a few friends with them and they are either selling them or retuning them - phone constantly drops calls, and is flaky at best. The whole antenna issue is a fundamental design flaw, not a software issue like Apple are saying. My SGS hasn't dropped a single call and the reception appears to be a lot better - getting a signal where colleagues with iphones can't!

My biggest bug bear for the iphone was the phone itself! Terrible at retaining a signal, and when it lost it - often the only way to get it back was to turn the phone on and off.

Personally if you are set on returning the SGS, stick with your 3GS - I certainly wouldn't recommend going to the iphone 4

The only apps I miss are XpenseTracker - brilliant for business expenses and Angry Birds!

Talking about signal, the X10 I had always had a full signal, the Galaxy always has 1 or 2 bars, the signal on the galaxy s is poor compared to the xperia x10, same location, same network, same sim card etc.

A few of my friends have iphone 4's and have all said they are fantastic and no problems at all, my galaxy s drops signal more than their iphone 4's do lol

 

[Mark_H]

ce la vie - lol

Good luck with the iphone 4

 

[nricciardi]

I got two Galaxy S at Tmobile yesterday, to replace two G1s.

The GPS/Compass in this thing is VERY bad.

- My two G1s were able to lock to 10 satellites (12 available)
- Both Galaxy S could lock only on 2 satellites (10 available)

- The two G1s show the position very precisely, with 4 meters precision.
- The Galaxy S were never in sync, with precision of 10 meters or more. And they don't agree with each other!

returning tomorrow

 

[galaxysser]

I actually do wish I could return my SGS for an iPhone4, but the iPhone ain't out here yet in Singapore...my complaints are the same as the TS, crappy battery, laggy, I also have wifi issues...quite disappointed, had so much high hopes for this phone.

I will probably never get a Samsung again after this one.

 

[Pink Cupcakes]

I had enormous issues with my SGS when I received it nearly two weeks ago. It nearly drove me mad because the screen kept going to black within two seconds of loading a page even though the timeout was set to one minute, it was very laggy, my texts would have the first sentence and the rest would be little boxes which I was told is data loss. It kept freezing and I constantly had to take out the battery. Then it started rebooting from scratch everytime I pressed the home page. After two days of working fine, I couldn't connect to wifi at home no matter how many times I reset the connection, although it was fine away from home. GPS has always worked fine. I wasted a lot of time trying to transfer data from my pc to the phone with Samsung Kies, like everyone else, until I found out it's not compatible yet but have worked around this now thanks to the great advice on here for using mass storage and Windows media player and I've bought an external sd card. Battery wasn't great to start with but luckily I'd read in the past, with other equipment, that you have to let batteries run right down a few times before recharging at the beginning and it improves quite quickly with each charge.

I spent hours reading the blogs and help pages trying to figure things out as I'm a bit of a tech novice and this is my first smartphone and eventually took it to my local Virgin Media Store (I bought it from them online) and the guy told me he thought I had a faulty phone. Rang Virgin and ran through some diagnostics and they concluded that it was faulty and said their Financial Team would ring me and they would send me a jiffy bag to return it to be replaced. That was last Friday, five days after receiving the phone.

I still haven't had the phone call or the jiffy bag but haven't chased it up because, whilst waiting, the phone appears to have gradually sorted itself out and now seems to be working perfectly. Apparently, they're very sensitive and maybe they get shaken about in the mail and need a bit of time to get over it. Through lack of time, I've still got quite a few things to do and test before my 28 days is up but I'm happy again so far and it's definitely a keeper. There are so many great things about this phone, it's so fast and I'm in love with Swype and updates can only make it better ..... can't wait for Froyo. Even my nephew with his unshakeable and totally blinkered faith and love for his Iphone 3gs, is in awe and now thinks mine is the better phone.

I did a huge amount of research before buying this phone, it definitely seems to be the best on the market, for the moment at least. I'm not too fussed about the Android Market so it's not an issue for me but I guess it will improve with time, just as the Apple one has. The Iphone might have a better app market but I have a huge aversion to being locked into Apple and think Android will make greater strides over time.

 

[Mark_H]

I actually do wish I could return my SGS for an iPhone4, but the iPhone ain't out here yet in Singapore...my complaints are the same as the TS, crappy battery, laggy, I also have wifi issues...quite disappointed, had so much high hopes for this phone.

I will probably never get a Samsung again after this one.

What wifi issues are you having - I am not having any, as far as I can tell.

 

[FK1983]

Thanks for the replies!
It's good to know its not just me having issues with this phone as many people on this forum and others seem to be having the same problems.

I just wish the software worked with the superb hardware better to be honest, this could have been the best phone out there easily but as it stands now both the nexus one and htc desire perform better in everyday tasks, the hardware in the galaxy puts those two to shame but it is plagued with issues which is a shame.

The poor apps/games selection put the icing on the cake for me, maybe because i'm used to the huge choice of software from the appstore but i just can't see how people can be happy with the android store.

 

[Mark_H]

You need to put this in context - the phone has only just been released. All software has bugs of one kind or another, it is all about how the company deals with them - my understanding is there is a new firmware update imminently. Also, Android is in its infancy and with v2.2 it may will surpass Apple.

The apps market isn't that great, compared to Apple Store. Again, it will only get better over time as companies are committing to Android. Some of the apps are a little flaky at best as Google don't certify them like Apple. But that does have its upside as you have a lot more flexibility over the look and feel of the phone - which I much prefer.

It's a great piece of hardware that will only get better through software updates!

 

[bobtodd]

I don't think I've ever had a phone or tech gadget which hasn't caused this sort of frustration in the early days. I was utterly befuddled by my first iPhone, let alone when I first picked up an iPod. My Blackberry had the same effect (actually, it still does).

When I first fired up the Galaxy, a lot of the problems reported here happened to me, too. Thing is, these are the same sort of problems I've had with every other device, pretty much. I think the App Market issue is purely one of personal preference and I completely understand.

For my money, though, I'm absolutely delighted with my Galaxy S. I've had it for two weeks now and it's by far and away the best phone, let alone media device, I've ever owned. There's no question of it going anywhere.

 

[FK1983]

After yet more freezing and not being able to answer or make calls without restarting the phone I am sending this back and getting an iphone 4 (with free bumper lol). my new 32gb iphone 4 is being delivered monday morning and I managed to get it for free for only

 

[FK1983]

Samsung is all boxed up now,
Thanks again for your help.

 

[big_mike]

6, gaming wise there is almost nothing to test my new phones hardware out, a couple of gameloft games but thats it!? where are all the big name developers like the appstore? same problem with apps.

asphalt5

amazingly good game! much like Need for seed most wanted!

check it out if you haven't already.

 

[versp]

Wow at all these complaints, I've had an iPhone since the beginning and bought this because I was so dissappointed in the new one and couldn't be happier!

 

[big_mike]

Wow at all these complaints, I've had an iPhone since the beginning and bought this because I was so dissappointed in the new one and couldn't be happier!

do you mean you bought a galaxy s as you were disappointed in the iphone 4?

 

[BlingSingh]

latest version in galaxy i9000 ? and is this a multi tasking or not?