Biggest Annoyance with S5

[ckali7]

Or maybe not:
http://forums.androidcentral.com/samsung-galaxy-s5/389723-galaxy-s5-screen-unlocking-my-pocket.html

 

[rushmore]

Two biguns' for me:

1. No 32GB model. My S4 32GB trumps for this reason.
2. No root to enable external writes. Again, my S4 trumps for this reason.

I doubt we will see a 32GB version. We would have seen it in the US by now, or at least seen SKU information.


Added: Who is kidding who? Samsung locks the S5 down for VZW, and Kitkat has no card writes for third party apps, plus no 32GB option. Seems they are all colluding against the Play market, since no room for those bigger and more expensive apps

Now THAT is a cannibalistic relationship Google is eating itself and stunting app/game sales. It is proven the heaviest app users/spenders are us 32GB owners. I have spent close to $800 on apps since the G1 launch. The motherload being with the S3 and S4 32GB.

 

[dgrobe2112]

i been trying multiple different launcher options.. and.. the KK launcher is very good. you get google now, by swiping left to right from the far left home screen.. and you get the "ok google" option back.

also, using contacts instead of dialer to call by swiping left, is a great option as well. i like that.

getting more and more used to the phone.. i am liking it more and more.

 

[jack58]

getting more and more used to the phone.. i am liking it more and more.

Exactly!!!

That is the thing... most of the issues listed in these threads are fixable. Once you get those fixed and get use to the phone, it is fantastic. People expect the phones to be perfect, but there is NO perfect phone, just as people are not all the same. Knowing that, I was fine with the S5 from day one.

One of the common complaints is the cover for the micro usb port. They say it is a hassle to put it on or off all the time. Well, in the beginning maybe, but after a couple weeks it is a habit and takes all of one second to attach or detach it. So that complaint is now moot.

 

[MackDaddy]

That is the Standard method of Android systems since I first used them years ago.... I have never seen one of my Android phones dial a contact just by tapping the name out of the list as you bring it up. I also bring up a list of users.

I type "MIK" and a whole slew of Mike contacts come up, I tap one of those names and the dialer screen comes up.... but to dial that contact you must initiate the Dialing function.... this is exactly where I also Send a Message from.
...

Nope. HTC has a smart dial-er function which he is referring to. Similar to what you're describing, but if it is initiated within the actual PHONE dialer, there is no second tap to choose to dial or text...simply tap the contact that comes up after dialing "MIK" and it will dial immediately. (There is a "messaging" icon within the results located on each contact that appears and you can tap on that icon to send a text to that contact, but tapping on the contact initiates the call.)

 

[VentureForth]

My biggest peeve is that I have to update defaults every few days. Like today, I went to make a call and it asked if I wanted to use phone or Skype. Not just these apps, but lots of them.

 

[jack58]

My biggest peeve is that I have to update defaults every few days. Like today, I went to make a call and it asked if I wanted to use phone or Skype. Not just these apps, but lots of them.

Gotta live with it or do auto updates or shut off the notifications.
It is kinda like what I get everytime I post here:

There may also be other replies, but you will not receive any more notifications until you visit the forum again.

 

[Bambii68]

What's your biggest annoyance with the S5
I've read all that has been written about the good for both the M8 and S5 and I'm undecided.
I'm hoping since I can't decide base on the good features perhaps the bad will help....

I can't stand that the power button is opposite the volume up/down toggle! I always end up shutting down the phone! Also, the charge port should NOT be on the bottom, it should be on the side so it can be propped up both portrait and landscape. My HTC had this right...

 

[jack58]

I can't stand that the power button is opposite the volume up/down toggle! I always end up shutting down the phone! Also, the charge port should NOT be on the bottom, it should be on the side so it can be propped up both portrait and landscape. My HTC had this right...

How is it that it always shut down your phone by pushing that button???
First if you push it once, it either shuts off your screen or turns it on. You have to press a few seconds AND then select what you want to do on the Device Options screen and only then will it shut down. So no, that button don't shut down the phone if you accidentally push it.

Maybe your talking about another phone....

 

[AZgl1500]

Also, the charge port should NOT be on the bottom, it should be on the side so it can be propped up both portrait and landscape. My HTC had this right...

I would prefer it on the side also, but I can understand the mechanical requirements for putting it on the bottom.

 

[jdsingle76]

The fact that you can't connect to the internet while on a call pretty much blows, but the phone is smooth...

 

[monicakm]

The fact that you can't connect to the internet while on a call pretty much blows, but the phone is smooth...

this is the 2nd time I've read this. I CAN browse the Internet and use the phone at the same time. Not understanding why some can't.

 

[monicakm]

On the calling, you can select the function to call the current contact when lifting the phone to your ear. I use it, it works.

I was just fixin' to ask where I can select this function but tried it first and it worked! Cool

 

[Bambii68]

I would like to play with KK launcher a lot more, but it is going to have to be on a phone that I do not use everyday. My S5 is tuned perfectly and it is going to stay that way.

In re to your S5 being tuned in exactly how you like it, by all means - share your secrets!!! Is there any way to change the font COLOR for the apps & folders? Since the fonts are white, I can't see them unless I have a super-dark wallpaper.

Thanks for any tips & secrets!

 

[Bambii68]

Gotta live with it or do auto updates or shut off the notifications.
It is kinda like what I get everytime I post here:

Oh sorry, I wasn't clear on that. What I meant is the combination of the volume & power button bringing up that screen to power off & whatnot.

 

[Bambii68]

How is it that it always shut down your phone by pushing that button???
First if you push it once, it either shuts off your screen or turns it on. You have to press a few seconds AND then select what you want to do on the Device Options screen and only then will it shut down. So no, that button don't shut down the phone if you accidentally push it.

Maybe your talking about another phone....

Oh sorry, I wasn't clear on that. What I meant is the combination of the volume & power button bringing up that screen to power off & whatnot.

 

[AZgl1500]

In re to your S5 being tuned in exactly how you like it, by all means - share your secrets!!! Is there any way to change the font COLOR for the apps & folders? Since the fonts are white, I can't see them unless I have a super-dark wallpaper.

Thanks for any tips & secrets!

Well, secret #1 is to use a Totally Black background/wallpaper. This helps improve Battery Life as all of those garish colors require a lot of power to display. They also make it hard to distinguish important things like text fonts and icons.

Secret #2 is to study all of the Battery Life improvement threads on this forum. Even here, I don't go as deep as some, I stay with TouchWiz and not Nova Launcher or other launcher.
* Battery Life Want To Improve it? -- PsychDoc
* Battery Doctor (Battery Saver) - Android Apps on Google Play
* Battery Doctor, setting it up


I use the Battery Doctor Widget every time I open the phone IF it involves needing access to the internet or using my BT headset. I turn off DATA, SYNC, WIFI, GPS, BLUETOOTH every single time before I put the phone to sleep (press Power Key). Why? Because doing this is the Major Trick to making the Battery Life so long. You are stopping apps from Reaching Out to Call Home and Report inane stuff you don't need or want. I don't want email on the go. I do want Text Messages on the go, so I make sure that in Battery Doctor that my SMS app is Whitelisted....

Battery Doctor is maligned by some, but they have not taken the time to learn what it can do. Does it emulate some other task killer apps? Of course it does, but the interface it has with that small popup window is not matched with others I have tried. I use the KISS principle. Battery Doctor works perfectly and I have Master Clean installed. Made by the same folks as Battery Doctor. I disabled the Verizon anti-virus program. It is a huge battery hog.




I keep a log that I can refer to: This allows me to keep track of when I did something so that I can back out of it when I discover that I just royally bricked up my phone (means it won't work the way I want it to, not Broken as in can't use it)

Here is part of my log. I have Culled out secret things like pincodes, passwords, etc..... it is just to show you how I track my fumbling footsteps on the way to Education Hall.

If it is something that might go badly wrong, I increase the font size and BOLD it. That way I can find it faster in my search for 'how to repair it'.
The bottom of the list is First IN, the top of the List is LAST thing I did. I also go back and make comments after the item is turned off if I think it will help me next month/year remember why I did something.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Samsung Link: used for TV remote, etc... turned it off 5/20/2014
also Picasa uploader (don't like Google snooping on me)

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Turned ON Google Partners Setup .... argh! did not make SideSync work
Sync ON did not do it, but think it should
Wish I had tested this each time I turned something off...
Turned off Debugging Mode.......


5 PM 5/12/2014 Set the "do not keep activities box. Supposed to close out all apps when they are shut down.

In Developer Options.... 5/18/2014 cleared this because I am trying to get SideSync to work again.... Damn it!!!! I should have tested Each and Every thing I turned off..... stupid I am...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
9:30 PM 5/11/2014
More tweaking
Turned OFF: Audible, Kindle,
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Lock Screen is set to Pattern, pin code backup is xyz%
WiFi at home pswd is 12345



Developer section . goto the about phone tap the build til u see the pop up say developer section activated this can be 7-17 times tapping the build number

• 9:30 PM, 5/9/2014 turned ON "Show all ANRs. Apps Not Responding dialog... turn this off if it gets to be annoying.

• 10:40 PM, 5/9/2014 turn OFF Flipboard.... so far today, since the Factory Reset the battery use has been so trifling it is scary. I have used the phone a lot adding stuff, configuration of settings, the display has been on a lot, I surfed the Forum, and Battery is still 77%. If after turning off Flipboard the battery gets worse instead of better..... need to think about this thing....
• 10:50 PM, disabled VZ Navigator

.Turned on Mono Audio in Settings/Hearing


Turned on Single Tap mode in Settings/Accessibility/Dexterity/Assistant Menu


Changed Touchpad size to Large in Settings/Accessibility/Dexterity/Assistant Menu




Developer: Window all Animations turned OFF. Power savings was pretty good... Wallah!



installed Samsung Printer option: Printer turned ON


Phone Answering: Turn ON Home Key press


Call Connect & Call End tones are ON by default... Settings/Call settings/Call Alerts


Turned OFF Swipe to call or send, it does NOT work reliably enough. The Home Key press resolves the whole issue.



Call Sound: /Sound/Call Settings/Call/Settings/Phone app UP and tickle 3 dots. reverse order here


Pictures needed for contacts: need to find photos or take their picture



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

And there you have it, most of my "Secrets". Those that I recorded anyway. Some of the things I do don't get recorded because I am not home to write them down. Or, they are so simple and mundane its' not necessary.

Secret #Last:
The Settings Menu has a little magnifier glass icon at the top of the screen.
I use that a lot... and I mean a lot.... Type in the first 2 or 3 letters of what you are looking for and it will display in the scrolling list. Takes you right to the place in the flurry of Application Manager's menus "right now" so you can do what you want, when you want.

Hope that helps you some.... it is all an Education Process as we learn what our phones can do.


.

 

[AZgl1500]

Oh, one more "Secret"

I keep an Extensive set of Bookmarks relating to the phone. I have those in two sections.

1st Section is all of the Reviews I have found and tutorials by the Master Gurus of the Publishing World..... or at least they think they are. some of them are Klutz's

A sub-section of that Major Bookmark is labeled "Technical"
In this section I place an '*' mark as the first character of the Bookmark Name. I also rename the Bookmark to specifically tell me what that thread or "single post" is about.

why? Because you find some of the Neatest Tips as a single post in a thread that has some of the dumbest names you ever found on the internet. Some folks have no clue as to why they bricked their phone... But, it is that single Post that I want to go back to.... so I rename it to be pertinent to the topic.

Firefox's bookmark system is the most powerful of any browser. it will allow you to create about anything you want, and most importantly, it will Alphabetize your bookmarks. I rename my bookmarks by Topic, then description of what that topic is doing.

ie, all things referring to Battery Life start out as Battery ........


.
.

 

[jdsingle76]

this is the 2nd time I've read this. I CAN browse the Internet and use the phone at the same time. Not understanding why some can't.

Are you in one of the areas with spark, because I believe that allows for volte(voice over lte)?

 

[monicakm]

Are you in one of the areas with spark, because I believe that allows for volte(voice over lte)?

I don't know what spark is so I don't know if I live in one of those areas or not. I live in the country in North East Texas. I have a 4G LTE signal.

 

[bhageman]

i think your misunderstanding..

when i go to the dialer, i am calling someone.. not texting.. on my HTC, i would start by typing the persons name, lets say.. bobby.. i would type 262, and a list of names would show up.. i could then click his name.. and it dialed him.

on this phone.. i do the same.. his name pops up.. i have to click his name.. his number populates in the really huge number screen.. then click the green call button on the bottom to make the call..

i will give KK launcher a try.. i am really happy with how touchwiz works with launcher seamlessly..

I use NovaLauncher (highly recommend it) and I have created a folder that has direct dial short cuts for my frequent numbers. Click the folder, click the short cut. Phone dials. Two taps.

 

[jack58]

I use NovaLauncher (highly recommend it).

Explain why? If it was better that touchwiz, Samsung would be using it.
I like most of what Samsung offers, I just tweak it some.

 

[bhageman]

Explain why? If it was better that touchwiz, Samsung would be using it.
I like most of what Samsung offers, I just tweak it some.

I've never used the standard launcher on any phone, so I can't compare it to TouchWiz but Samsung's in-house apps are not known for the quality. One of the best features of NovaLauncher is the ability to back-up my settings and launcher screens. I got a new phone, installed my apps, and then imported by NovaLauncher settings and my launcher was perfect, right from the start. No twiddling with settings, no organizing screens.

Also, I have a Nexus 7 and I use NovaLauncher on that with the exact same launcher screen layout, so I know where everything is when I switch between devices.

My wife also has a S5. I don't want to train her on anything, so she uses TouchWiz and has no complaints, although I would not describe her as a power user.

 

[jack58]

I've never used the standard launcher on any phone, so I can't compare it to TouchWiz but Samsung's in-house apps are not known for the quality. One of the best features of NovaLauncher is the ability to back-up my settings and launcher screens. I got a new phone, installed my apps, and then imported by NovaLauncher settings and my launcher was perfect, right from the start. No twiddling with settings, no organizing screens.

Also, I have a Nexus 7 and I use NovaLauncher on that with the exact same launcher screen layout, so I know where everything is when I switch between devices.

My wife also has a S5. I don't want to train her on anything, so she uses TouchWiz and has no complaints, although I would not describe her as a power user.

Well, I AM a power user every day and had many smartphones over the years, see sig. I have no problem with touchwiz and am perfectly happy with it.
I don't like it when people say touchwiz is no good and launcher or that launcher is much better than touchwiz etc. It is up to the individual.

Sounds like you've used NovaLauncher before and are happy with it... more power to you. But to say you've never used touchwiz and judge it in a negative light is not correct.

 

[Firewill10]

this is the 2nd time I've read this. I CAN browse the Internet and use the phone at the same time. Not understanding why some can't.

Are you on wifi? Cause sprint removed that feature