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Apache

Well-Known Member
Apr 29, 2010
106
2
Sugar Land, TX
This originally started with another thread but I have so many issues I deleted that thread and started this one instead.

Ok so I know going from on Android device to another, not everything will be better, but I would think most things would be. Yet I've found a LOT of deficiencies in going from my T-bolt to the GS3. Any help or suggestions (or empathy) would be appreciated:

1. When I plug my GS3 into my laptop via USB to charge, the pop-up window asking what I want to do (e.g. play, open, etc) opens up each time. How can I set it to not do anything i.e. charge only, so that that pop-up window doesn't come up each time? (For my old T-bolt, I just had to use the pulldown menu when it was plugged in and select "for charge only")

2. Mobile web pages do not autoadjust for the width of the screen, I have to pan around them. This is a real inconvenience. My old T-bolt did this flawlessly.

3. Extra clicks needed to do simple tasks. E.g. With my T-bolt, I could hit the phone icon, see recently called #'s, click on one and it would call. Now on the GS3 I have to hit phone icon>recent button>click on a recent call>then click on the phone icon when that contact opens up. That is 2 extra clicks for a simple and common task.

4. WiFi -- why am I seeing a Wifi notice? Surely there's gotta be a way to turn this off, keep it off, and not have to see it "Wi-Fi Off, Tap to turn Wi-Fi on" every time I pull down the task bar - ???

5. Taskbar - it does not show all my running programs or recent program. E.g. if I'm reading a kindle book and get a text message, I pull down the taskbar and click on it and check it, then I pull down taskbar again and Kindle is not showing there. So I have to go back Home and open up the Kindle app again.

6. Power on bottom. Cannot stand device up while charging.

I cede that there is a possibility that some of my settings are off, I certainly hope so.

Any assistance? I think I have some additional grievances that I'll add as they come to me. I'm not sure why such a new and supposedly cutting-edge device seems to have glaring deficiencies.
 
1. You need to change this option in Windows rather than on the phone. In the AutoPlay window that pops up, tick "Always do this for this" and then click on "Take no action." If take no action isn't there, click on "View more AutoPlay options in Control Panel." and you can find it there.

3. Phone app remembers the last active tab, so if the call log tab was last active, that's the tab that will be showing when you next open the phone app.

4. I don't get that notification; which network are you on?

5. That's not a task bar, it's the notification drawer. Notifications such as new text messages, emails, Facebook messages, tweets etc are shown there. It's not a taskbar. You can find your recent apps by pressing and holding the home button.

6. I'm not sure how you would stand it up anyway without some kind of stand? You can always buy a dock for it, that's what I did. Alternatively you could stand it up in landscape mode.

Hope this helps :)
 
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1. When I plug my GS3 into my laptop via USB to charge, the pop-up window asking what I want to do (e.g. play, open, etc) opens up each time. How can I set it to not do anything i.e. charge only, so that that pop-up window doesn't come up each time? (For my old T-bolt, I just had to use the pulldown menu when it was plugged in and select "for charge only")
this is not a mass storage device or blackberry so it doesnt have options for charge only etc on the device or windows (this is because it does both when connected)
basically that popup is with windows. (click remember action or something then click the one you want)

2. Mobile web pages do not autoadjust for the width of the screen, I have to pan around them. This is a real inconvenience. My old T-bolt did this flawlessly.
change browser to dolphin browser. i havent had the problem you mention with stock but i find dolphin browser is more compatible with web pages.

3. Extra clicks needed to do simple tasks. E.g. With my T-bolt, I could hit the phone icon, see recently called #'s, click on one and it would call. Now on the GS3 I have to hit phone icon>recent button>click on a recent call>then click on the phone icon when that contact opens up. That is 2 extra clicks for a simple and common task.
as the person above mentioned the dialer app remembers the last tab you are on. there is a big green handset button next to the callers name (on the right), click it and it dials direct

4. WiFi -- why am I seeing a Wifi notice? Surely there's gotta be a way to turn this off, keep it off, and not have to see it "Wi-Fi Off, Tap to turn Wi-Fi on" every time I pull down the task bar - ???
is there an option to clear notifications? if not then it might be an app youve installed requiring that as ive never seen it.
maybe a game that requires wifi to download the large content?

5. Taskbar - it does not show all my running programs or recent program. E.g. if I'm reading a kindle book and get a text message, I pull down the taskbar and click on it and check it, then I pull down taskbar again and Kindle is not showing there. So I have to go back Home and open up the Kindle app again.
ive never seen that on any of my android devices other than applications that are persistent and have an "enable notification icon" option in their menu. this is nothing to do with the phone but to do with the applications themselves
in android if you hold down the home key for 3 seconds it will bring up a recent apps menu and you can select the last app that was open.

6. Power on bottom. Cannot stand device up while charging.
i would get used to that, its a common design on nearly every smartphones for a couple of reasons.
vertical charging docs, peripherals like hdmi docs/cables usb docs/cables usually are vertical standing or lay flat.
most people who want to stand up they phone would do it on its side or for video use as its widescreen and has an hd screen.

htc does a few things differently however nearly all htc devices have the power at the bottom too (i used to have a desire)
 
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1. When I plug my GS3 into my laptop via USB to charge, the pop-up window asking what I want to do (e.g. play, open, etc) opens up each time. How can I set it to not do anything i.e. charge only, so that that pop-up window doesn't come up each time? (For my old T-bolt, I just had to use the pulldown menu when it was plugged in and select "for charge only")
Google has changed the way the phone handles file transfers, and the "charge only" mode went with it...you need to fix that setting in Windows...turn it off...

2. Mobile web pages do not autoadjust for the width of the screen, I have to pan around them. This is a real inconvenience. My old T-bolt did this flawlessly.
limitation of the stock browser...was a mistake (IMO) for Samsung to leave this out

3. Extra clicks needed to do simple tasks. E.g. With my T-bolt, I could hit the phone icon, see recently called #'s, click on one and it would call. Now on the GS3 I have to hit phone icon>recent button>click on a recent call>then click on the phone icon when that contact opens up. That is 2 extra clicks for a simple and common task.

1. as stated the phone remembers the last tab you were on
2. i think its already been explained to you that once you are on the contacts tab (works in recent as well) you swipe right to call the person or swipe left to send them a message...no need for extra clicks

4. WiFi -- why am I seeing a Wifi notice? Surely there's gotta be a way to turn this off, keep it off, and not have to see it "Wi-Fi Off, Tap to turn Wi-Fi on" every time I pull down the task bar - ???
Verizon added this to their version of the phone for some reason...it CAN be disabled if you root the device (if you root and want me to explain how to disable i will)...the only problem is that it is also the only way for the phone (VZW version) to notify you that you are near a wireless network..so if you disable it you have to manually check

5. Taskbar - it does not show all my running programs or recent program. E.g. if I'm reading a kindle book and get a text message, I pull down the taskbar and click on it and check it, then I pull down taskbar again and Kindle is not showing there. So I have to go back Home and open up the Kindle app again.
i have had that happen too, but the vast majority of the time all my recent apps are there

6. Power on bottom. Cannot stand device up while charging.
something you're going to have to get used to as more and more devices go for this...my suggestion is a portrait docking station that has a built in charger...
 
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matttye:
1. Excellent, it worked. Although it woulda been nice if I coulda done it from the device itself.
3. Just tried this, it keeps reverting back to Keypad ???
4. VZW
5. Money. Thank you very much for this.
6. Yes I got a case with stand contraption built in, but you are correct I can only stand it up in landscape like this. I'll tell you the built-in stand was an ingenious and unexpectedly useful feature on the T-bolt. I wish all smartphones came with that feature.

It did help, really appreciate your time
 
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Rastaman-FB:

1. Got it
2. Ok will try Dolphin, although the stock browser really should work properly for a device that's supposed to be the best in the world right now
3. It is not doing that for me
4. Nope. Just another way VZW is trying to shove wifi down our throats.
5. Got it thank you
6. Yeah I guess, but I'm telling you the built in kickstand was UNBEATABLE

thank you for your input I really appreciate it
 
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Rastaman-FB:

1. Got it
2. Ok will try Dolphin, although the stock browser really should work properly for a device that's supposed to be the best in the world right now
3. It is not doing that for me
4. Nope. Just another way VZW is trying to shove wifi down our throats.
5. Got it thank you
6. Yeah I guess, but I'm telling you the built in kickstand was UNBEATABLE

thank you for your input I really appreciate it

hey, i dont doubt the built in kickstand was awesome. its a "feature" of that phone. with a phone this thin you couldnt really do that without affecting its aesthetics and htc would probably sue

hmm with the dialler and that wifi thing, looks like VZW has messed about with it as they have messed with other things and ballsed up the device.
i can only go off my experience and i used an international model. vzw have locked down their devices and they seem to be pissing a few people off in the process
 
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Metfanant:

1. Ok
2. Totally
3. It does not open on the recent tab if that's how I leave it, it still opens on the Keypad tab. I did not know those swipe commands -- those are useful, thank you for them
4. "the only problem is that it is also the only way for the phone (VZW version) to notify you that you are near a wireless network..so if you disable it you have to manually check"; I do not understand -- can you explain that in another way?
5. Ok
6. Yeah I guess, but the more peripherals one has the more complicated life gets. Oh how I long for my kickstand ha
 
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If you are thinking of Bailing on the S3 for an Incredible I could understand having a discussion about form factor (phone too large), or connectivity (4G is horrible, 3G all the time), Maybe the HTC is better at Some Hardware Feature. Having difficulty holding the phone. Having difficulty working phone with one hand (there is a joke here somewhere ;)) To bail due to software? I find that a true step back especially if you are in favor of the size/res of this screen.

As with ANY Andy device you can find a way around "SOFTWARE". You can on nearly ALL aspects make this phone truly YOURS! Don't like current notifications find an app or ROM that changes it to your liking. Get a new dialer (they have them) "https://play.google.com/store/search?q=dialer". Find a ROM that has MotoBlurish features? Find a ROM that extends MotoBlur to other devices?

Motoblur on Samsung Galaxy S2, Really? Yes. A Theme it is.

Find a Launcher that you like.

I guess what I am saying is you have options. You even have options on the software side to fully save your config after you have it dialed in. Factory Reset no worries. Just restore from your backup.

PS you can change a LARGE number of things without even rooting/flashing a new ROM.
 
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Sorry I thought about this and it is almost like the iPhone to Android folks. My S3 doesn't look/act like my iPhone! Or the good ole one.. I don't like Vista/Win 7. I had to change them both back to "Classic View" just to get anything done :)!

Not razzing ya just kind of a statement. I almost think you could be better served by going back to your T-Bolt! There are some very new and very clever ways TouchWiz is handling some things.
 
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After reading this thread, given your gripes I'd forget the dinc and go back to your t-bolt (im not sure why anyone would get the dinc; HTC's own One Series is light years ahead in features and has a better camera and screen and offers a much better value IMO). From your post it really seems like you'd be much happier not straying from your comfort zone.
 
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A couple years ago when i was a blackberry user i remember that after i got a new device, the Bold i think it was, it required almost a whole day of me to setup out of the box, remove bloatware, employ various hacks to make it run faster and better, fix known bugs, replace stock apps with other ones that worked correctly, etc. That was the day i decided to leave BlackBerry for good. I agree that one of the next things about android, for example over iPhone, is how customizable it is. But that customization should be optional, to make the device run better. It should not be required from day 1 to simply make the device work properly. And that is what i feel i am encountering here with the S3.

I do understand that with any device upgrade there will be some features and functions that don't quite work as well as one's previous device. And yes some of these may just be different,, not necessarily worse, and may just need some getting used to. That said i do not think that many of my current qualms with the S3 fall into that category - e.g. wifi alert torture, the way the alarm setting automatically defaults to that same day next week, no spin wheels on alarm settings, stock browser doesn't work right, extra button clicks required for many functions. This is just poor design,, plain and simple, a la BlackBerry. Yet they added all kinds of silly bells and whistles that for three most part don't work well and/or are gimmicks and not really useful -e.g. S-voice, autoanswer when near face (c'mon, who really uses this?), face unlock, etc. To me it really seems like Samsung is going for the iPhone crowd with this device - they made it big and pretty with silly novelties, but real productivity and efficiency features are lacking or inadequate. And then you have brainwashing force feed gestapo tactics like the incessant WiFi alerts, intended solely for those with sheep-like iphone minds.

I'm sorry i know this is a bit of a rant. I appreciate y'all's help. I'm still on the fence. I am also unhappy with the phablet size of this device, makes using it while driving much more dangerous. Going to check out the DI today. Will report back soon.

Btw if there are a lot of typos here i am sorry, but i did enter this from my GS3, and the cursor kept bouncing around incessantly, apparently for no rhyme or reason. Try it and you'll see what i mean.
 
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