Starting to wish i had the iPhone back.....

[gadgetmann]

Hi all

I'm starting to wish I had my iPhone back now. The Desire is a great piece of hardware (mainly) but am starting to get annoyed now at some of the "features" of the software.

My main annoyances are:

• MP4 playback is jerky. Have used a couple of media players including Tunewiki and "Video Player"
• Facebook sync bug which means when Vodafone texts me, it comes up as a Facebook contact. I've tried to do the steps on this forum but to no avail.
• Apps which all look/feel different, many of which just look amateurish.
• Touchscreen less accurate than the iPhone.
• Sometimes when I rotate the screen, my app doesn't follow.

 

[SevenW]

I feel for you...........
Some apps don't rotate, think it's with the programming.
Tbh I haven't tried any MP4s on my Desire yet, cos I'd be worried for the battery life.
Facebook, I leave that for my laptop.
Touchscreen can be finiky, but most Iphone users say it's silky compared to their Iphones.
Apps being cheap, well change is always difficult.

I have never used a Iphone, so maybe not the best to comment.

One thing though The Desire is not an Iphone, and it shows a bit more individualism than the 50 trillion zombies with their Apples. Kidding!

 

[kboya]

hey,
just a note, as I think the iPhone is a great piece of kit also.
I dont have the Facebook sync bug on mine, never have, so assume this must be something thru set-up
My screen always auto rotates, apart from when it should not (i.e. menus etc)
Apps do all look/feel different, and some are far more slick than others, but I dont find this problematic
Cant comment on mp4 playback as it depends on the settings from the conversion software, and iPhone settings are different to Desire.
But, the touchscreen is in no way inferior to or less accurate than the iPhone. The clarity and resolution are excellent and, it has to be said, superior to the iPhone. I am regularly agog at the accuracy of the touchscreen, even when at full page focus. The iPhone screen is also excellent and accurate, but has never had the same pinpoint accuracy for me... maybe Sense UI helps as it seems to know which links I am heading for?!?!
best
k

 

[mcnob]

There ARE definitely some niggles with the Desire compared to iPhone but I wouldn't have my 3GS back. I love this phone and its individuality too much and I've only had it a week.

Could the jerky video be down to a slow memory card maybe? Just a thought.

 

[kboya]

Could the jerky video be down to a slow memory card maybe? Just a thought.

good point, I use a class6 and have no issues, hence why I thought it may be converter settings

 

[lekky]

The class should make it jerky, it may be if the OP is using videos encoded for the iPhone rather than the Desire possibly. There are many apps that look fantastic, I much prefer an app being able to look however it wants rather than being forced to look like every other app. Badly designed apps, well just don't use them..

The only real issue you mention is the facebook sms bug, but how often do we receive sms from our networks? Its something I can live with.

 

[gadgetmann]

OK, think i've sorted the MP4 issue by ditching my usual encoder and using Handbrake instead.

Think i'll try to keep an opn mind for a bit longer. One thing I do like is the calendar widget. So everytime I use my phone I can see my next thing. Important for someone as forgetful as me.

 

[sirlylos]

I'm starting to feel the same way...

I was in Manchester on Saturday and trying to navigate from the Print Works to Deansgate - a really simple trip but I could not get connected to any sort of GPS signal and unlike the iPhone the Desire just wont do anything. If the iPhone doesn't have a 3G connection then it uses the actual phone signal but it's just a bit slower.

I ended up having to use my wifes iPhone which was a shame as I want to love the Desire. Also when you pinch to zoom out on google maps it sends you miles and miles out so I know what you mean about the touchscreen...

Anyone else have issues with connections to the maps, web etc?

 

[nekromantik]

I'm starting to feel the same way...

I was in Manchester on Saturday and trying to navigate from the Print Works to Deansgate - a really simple trip but I could not get connected to any sort of GPS signal and unlike the iPhone the Desire just wont do anything. If the iPhone doesn't have a 3G connection then it uses the actual phone signal but it's just a bit slower.

I ended up having to use my wifes iPhone which was a shame as I want to love the Desire. Also when you pinch to zoom out on google maps it sends you miles and miles out so I know what you mean about the touchscreen...

Anyone else have issues with connections to the maps, web etc?

googlemaps will not work without a net connection as it downloads maps.
unless you been on that route before in which case it has downloaded it already. If you want to use GPS without a net connection you can use a stand alone navigation app such as Sygic which has maps stored on your SD card so you never need a net connection for GPS.

 

[DesireMe]

If you want to use GPS without a net connection you can use a stand alone navigation app such as Sygic which has maps stored on your SD card so you never need a net connection for GPS.

 

[uzetaab]

I'm feeling the same way because the primary use I have is listening to audiobooks and podcasts. This phone just doesn't handle them as well.
-Navigating to different files within music players (have tried several)
-knowing which files I've listened to and autodeleting them
-support for audible.com

Everything else I'm happy with. Today I had all my radios on (gps, wifi, etc) all day and listened to about 2 hours of music, as well as using apps for about 45 mins. sill had 54% when I got home. So I'm even happy with the battery life now.

Actually, one more little niggle, I used to play audio through a set of non-powered speakers at work, they were just loud enough without being too loud for the workplace. First time I've done that with the Desire today and I ended up having to switch to a powered speaker to get enough volume.

Interestingly, if I had the audio playing though the internal speaker & plugged in the unpowered one, I would get audio at a higher volume, but more tinny, for half a second before it switched to the lower volume with more bass. So there is definitely something that HTC can do with the audio though a software update to get more volume. Or someone else can do with a rooted unit.

 

[biscuitlad]

I used google navigate to go to Wales this weekend and was amazed by its accuracy and how well it worked. I plugged it into the car stereo and listened to my albums on the phone while we drove along. It even interrupts the music to tell you turn left in 400 yards...

Dunno how it works - but it got us there and back (even with a very dodgy phone signal starting our return) perfectly.

Top marks to google.

As for typing - it's way better than my wife's iPod Touch, which I guess uses the same typing app.

Maybe you need to get more familiar with the device?

 

[lekky]

I'm feeling the same way because the primary use I have is listening to audiobooks and podcasts. This phone just doesn't handle them as well.
-Navigating to different files within music players (have tried several)
-knowing which files I've listened to and autodeleting them
-support for audible.com

Everything else I'm happy with. Today I had all my radios on (gps, wifi, etc) all day and listened to about 2 hours of music, as well as using apps for about 45 mins. sill had 54% when I got home. So I'm even happy with the battery life now.

Actually, one more little niggle, I used to play audio through a set of non-powered speakers at work, they were just loud enough without being too loud for the workplace. First time I've done that with the Desire today and I ended up having to switch to a powered speaker to get enough volume.

Interestingly, if I had the audio playing though the internal speaker & plugged in the unpowered one, I would get audio at a higher volume, but more tinny, for half a second before it switched to the lower volume with more bass. So there is definitely something that HTC can do with the audio though a software update to get more volume. Or someone else can do with a rooted unit.

The phone handles podcasts brilliantly!! Have you tried an app called google listen?

 

[matttye]

The only real issue you mention is the facebook sms bug, but how often do we receive sms from our networks? Its something I can live with.

Yeah... but I've just requested a free trial at a gym and they've sent me an SMS which I have to show on arrival, but it's shown up as a facebook contact... Luckily if I go to "View Message Details" it shows up as "Fitspace" rather than the FB contact... I'm just going to have to pray they don't think I'm pulling a fast one

 

[nx1977]

To get quick locations, enable 'use networks' under settings>locate.

I get an AGPS lock in seconds.

 

[Sapa]

I wholeheartedly agree about the quality of apps available. Some I have tried for very basic functions like tv guide and unit converter have been very poor and amateurish in comparison to those available on itunes. This will no doubt change and when it does there will be no complaints from me.

 

[larbac]

Hi all,
not sure this is the correct forum for this, but wanted to share something...
Just got my Desire today and I notice when I reduce the brightness the screen does not actually goes low onthe grays but replace them with a purple colour. This is obvious when you reduce the rightness..
My colegue has the same phone, same firmware and on his phone I notice the level of brightnedd are lower and this "bug" if I can call it like that is not so obvious.. You can see the light dimm and not change into purple even if the purple is still there and visible a bit..

any thoughts

 

[nx1977]

Mine seeks to have got less pink as time's gone on (almost 2 months old now). So perhaps there is a burn in period? Or am I just used to it?

 

[franchise]

The phone handles podcasts brilliantly!! Have you tried an app called google listen?

Listen is the single best app i have used on either the iphone or android. It does help that I listen to a lot of podcasts though. It just takes a few minutes to set it up properly (set it up on google reader on a desktop rather than the phone, to make life easier).

For audio books - I agree there isn't anything amazing (that I've found) but using the default htc sense player seems to do an ok job.

 

[maxx001]

The only real issue you mention is the facebook sms bug, but how often do we receive sms from our networks? Its something I can live with.

This bug is not only for messages received from your network, but from ANY unknown number! It does not matter if that is your network, some person or what ever. The bug makes all numbers which you do not have in your phone book appear as being sent from someone on facebook.

 

[mcnob]

For sat-nav you really can't go wrong with CoPilot. I had it on the iPhone and I'm gonna have to get the Android version now cos it's so damn good. I assume the maps for the Android version are saved locally on that and Its only

 

[trick202]

I must say, I haven't seen much improvement in the Android Apps since I had my Hero last year.
It's all very well having loads of free apps, but that doesn't really entice quality devs to produce quality apps that cost. You also have the problem of people backing up apps then getting the refund.

At the moment, it's the community that polices the app store to a degree. Users in here recommend apps for reasons of quality or functionality - which adds kudos and give confidence to prospective users of the app.
I know 'open' is great for a huge amount of things - but for the app market, there needs to be some kind of quality control. To settle for the standard of apps currently available is not being a non-conformist, or shoving it to apple. It's just cutting off your nose to spite your face.

The latest Android handsets are MORE than capable of running some stunning apps - but it's the users who have to drive the devs to WANT to put the work in. I have seen mention of "android market is great because most of the apps are free" too many times. Can people see what that's doing to the standard of apps, and the standard of the devs being attracted here?

 

[AlastairH]

Can people see what that's doing to the standard of apps, and the standard of the devs being attracted here?

Whilst not wanting to get into the 'free as in speech not free as in beer' argument I tend to disagree, open source developers produce some fantastic software and there is no reason that shouldn't be reflected in the quality of the apps in the marketplace.

 

[trick202]

Yes, they do - I agree 100%

That will only take the app market so far though. Good quality, PAID for apps are what's required. Hopefully the debug feature in froyo will help devs to protect themselves against people wanting a refund due to "I don't really like it".

You can't have your cake AND eat it.

Alastair: you make an excellent point, and I don't mean to offend the many dedicated, hard-working devs out there that are willing to produce apps for free.

Put yourselves in the position of a developer who has to pay a mortgage. Where would you put your paid app?

Before the flames start, I have owned and used both iPhones and Android devices (as well as BB and Symbian). I am looking for my next android handset now - I just don't want the experience to feel as "bargain basement" as the last time.

 

[uzetaab]

The phone handles podcasts brilliantly!! Have you tried an app called google listen?

I have. I think I may have dumped it prematurely, but it was missing a feature I wanted.

I can't remember if that feature was lock screen controls or wired remote support.

If it was wired remote support, then I wont use it.

If it was lock screen support, then I will probably use it, but it's still a massive flaw for listening to podcasts while driving. crazy to expect ppl to actually unlock their phone-while driving-to do something like skip a boring podcast episode. Maybe I'll buy one of those remotes that has no headphones.

Listen is the single best app i have used on either the iphone or android. It does help that I listen to a lot of podcasts though. It just takes a few minutes to set it up properly (set it up on google reader on a desktop rather than the phone, to make life easier).

For audio books - I agree there isn't anything amazing (that I've found) but using the default htc sense player seems to do an ok job.

Really? You listen to audiobooks in the default app? I must be doing something wrong, when I tried it, it wouldn't bookmark. Unless you only use it for books, not music? I know it remembers your last played spot, but not if you change files.

Personally, I'm using Mort player audiobook version atm, even if I switch to google listen, my audiobooks will still be on mort player.

Hmm. just had a thought, maybe I should make my own feed for my books on feed burner. I seem to recall that it had some privacy options when I was messing with it. Or not. I think I have to upload the files somewhere too. something to investigate though.