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Help Color banding effect on the Nexus and other HD AMOLED Screens

Someone told me this screen effect is called "color banding". It's normal on an SAMOLED screen. So easy decision for me to return the nexus, despite all I love about it.

I wish I would have found this out BEFORE I bought the device or before I wasted my time trying to figure out if it was normal, etc. This is why I posted this thread, and it seems it was successful.

Haters are going to hate, so I'm not surprised there are people trolling this thread and others. I'm sorry if I annoyed anyone, but at least I have my answer now, and hopefully people thinking about buying a Galaxy Note and/or Galaxy Nexus know of this limitation of the current HD SAMOLED screens.

I'll ask the mods to change the name of the thread title to "color banding" and possibly include a blurb about it being normal for SAMOLED.

And this is what we are supposed to do, should do anyway: try to figure out what issues we are having, experiencing. With so many Android phones...this type of research is needed IMO. Even if most in this section dont agree, what you did is offer some insight to others that might have the same issues you have. Like I said before, I see blotches on my RAZR in specific situations. I dont be in that situation alot, but I can see it when I am and I can understand how it can be a problem to some ppl.

We gotta remember....we all dont have the same wants n needs with these phones, devices. Someone has a RAZR and is advising against anyone buying it cuz the Mobile hotspot has known issues. I have yet to use mobile hotspot....ever.....since its been available. So for me its not an issue...for others that do use it....his post is needed, necessary. Maybe more discussion can come from it and a solution or real problem can be found. Like this thread...
 
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And this is what we are supposed to do, should do anyway: try to figure out what issues we are having, experiencing. With so many Android phones...this type of research is needed IMO. Even if most in this section dont agree, what you did is offer some insight to others that might have the same issues you have. Like I said before, I see blotches on my RAZR in specific situations. I dont be in that situation alot, but I can see it when I am and I can understand how it can be a problem to some ppl.

We gotta remember....we all dont have the same wants n needs with these phones, devices. Someone has a RAZR and is advising against anyone buying it cuz the Mobile hotspot has known issues. I have yet to use mobile hotspot....ever.....since its been available. So for me its not an issue...for others that do use it....his post is needed, necessary. Maybe more discussion can come from it and a solution or real problem can be found. Like this thread...

Thanks, that is exactly my point. I may be 1 in 10000 that find this particular "drawback" of this generation of HD SAMOLED screens. I may be 1 in 1000, who knows. But if I save one person the $35 restock fee and/or pulling their hair out trying to figure out if it's just their phone or what, then I think this thread was worth it.

I know there are people who are annoyed by any post that doesn't praise their phone of choice as the best thing since sliced bread, but the fact of the matter is, there is no perfect phone. There is only the perfect phone for a particular person given a particular set of devices to choose from.

Anyway, I hope I helped or will help some others for which this "color banding" thing is a deal breaker. For others, signal or even speaker phone volume would be reasons to return it. Those happen to not be as important for me, but I don't dismiss their concerns so I don't appreciate people coming into the thread to dismiss my concerns.

Anyway, thanks for understanding jroc, at least I know there are a few people out there who understand why I was trying to get to the bottom of this. :)
 
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Are they similar to the artifacts around the flying colored boxes during the boot animation on the Nexus? This is my second phone and I remember the boot animation be crisp with bright colors and black black's, but with this replacement phone I see really bad artifacts around the flying boxes. Really makes the boot animation look crappy and amateurish.

Is anyone else seeing what I'm seeing in the boot animation though?
 
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Yes I saw that if I was in a dark room and the brightness was down. From what I've been told and from the feedback in this and the other thread, this is normal for this screen.

Well, for what its worth, I've seen the screen issue since day one. Now, after my 4th Nexus, the issue is gone. It was never anything I couldnt personally live with, but I'm thrilled to no longer see the issues in complete darkness.
 
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Well, for what its worth, I've seen the screen issue since day one. Now, after my 4th Nexus, the issue is gone. It was never anything I couldnt personally live with, but I'm thrilled to no longer see the issues in complete darkness.

Cool maybe Samsung is fixing this in new batches? Maybe the issues with the same technology screen on the Note have prompted them to fix that and also the Nexus since they both use HD samoled? Anyway hopefully they fix it if its possible. :)
 
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Well, when I go in for my exchange, I'll ask for one from their newest shipment, hoping it will be from a new batch. I've never had to exchange a phone even once, so this is becoming a headache for me. But considering the price of the hardware and the service, I will keep exchanging until I'm happy.

I just hope they don't just start refusing exchanges for this or screen banding. :/
 
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Actually, this is the 2nd, the first "two" were merged since they were the same topic. I wanted a new topic since the subject is different - I was hoping to collect examples to have people see if they could see what I am seeing, so I could determine if it was simply the norm for the screen or if I had an issue warranting a return of the phone.

You may not care, but if it is in fact c. (which I think is a long shot, now that more and more information is coming out), I would be thrilled if I were a potential customer and ran across this before I threw my hard-earned cash on the table, wouldn't you? Or am I only supposed to come to these forums to praise the device as if it were a deity? :rolleyes:


You're missing my point. Go ahead and complain about this issue all you want, but do it in 1 thread. There was no reason to create a 3rd thread (after your 2nd thread was already merged with the 1st). Posting examples of content that stresses this issue can easily go in your original thread.
 
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You're missing my point. Go ahead and complain about this issue all you want, but do it in 1 thread. There was no reason to create a 3rd thread (after your 2nd thread was already merged with the 1st). Posting examples of content that stresses this issue can easily go in your original thread.

I disagree. I didn't know the proper term for it, and also didn't think it was right to bump that thread just to post and ask for examples. I'm sorry if I've pissed you off, but I think this thread was important to establish a) whether certain sources caused it at all or more profoundly and b) see if there were examples people were viewing that did NOT show it (for them) so I (and others) could see if it was just our displays.

I'm hoping this thread will help future buyers make a more informed decision and at this point I'm only interested in possibly helping others since I decided to get a rezound anyway.

If this 2nd thread is so egregious that the mods think it should be merged, they are welcome to do so, but I'd ask that "color banding" be left in the topic and that the request for samples remain.
 
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Along with those who love to watch HD movies on their Galaxy Nexus/Note this issue is on all units and severity varies from screen to screen but no one is excepted, this issue happens to certain shades of grey to total darkness transition only something like from #000000 to #040404. I just skimmed through the whole thread and what the OP didnt mention on his post that watching some of the problematic clips streamed via other media providers might not show this issue since streaming only provides lit blacks and not full blacks.

I just find it rude for some people to brush off this issue and defend samsung by saying that this is not a 55" plasma and should not be used to view films. Dont expect everyone to have the same usage patters or just bought a 5.3" screen phone to only do calls.
 
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Along with those who love to watch HD movies on their Galaxy Nexus/Note this issue is on all units and severity varies from screen to screen but no one is excepted,

And I've agreed with the OP, but do I notice it at all in a way that detracts from viewing? NO

Do you have samples from each device that you mentioned?

Tell me why I should care? Should I revert back to a VZW IMAGIO?

I think the severity lies with EarlZ, unless he can provide proof of each example tied to his account (not just some internet random link)

Again, just IMHO!
 
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And I've agreed with the OP, but do I notice it at all in a way that detracts from viewing? NO

Do you have samples from each device that you mentioned?

Tell me why I should care? Should I revert back to a VZW IMAGIO?

I think the severity lies with EarlZ, unless he can provide proof of each example tied to his account (not just some internet random link)

Again, just IMHO!

You agree but you are very dismissive about the issue but still you cared enough to even post a reply.

I wont be providing any random links as you can find those on the XDA-Developer forums if your interested enough to know about the issue, either the Galaxy Note or Nexus forum should provide you with more information.

Since this clipping varies from screen to screen then yours may not be that affected, I had my screen replaced and definitely this new one has more black clipping even compared to the demo units and a friends unit.

If you want more samples download and watch:
Sample 1
Sample 2

Download the following with keepvid.com and choose 720p or 1080p which ever is available.

Moderat - Rusty Nails - YouTube
Swedish House Mafia - Save The World - YouTube
Katy Perry - E.T. ft. Kanye West - YouTube
Armin van Buuren feat. Laura V - Drowning - YouTube

I'll post up more sample clips from a different HD movie where it will detract the viewing experience from the black clipping.

But I understand its just your opinion and a difference in expectation, its just disappointing that I the previous generation screens didnt have this issue.
 
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So watching a video in a dark room is not a normal usage model? Are you frakking kidding me? If you're happy with your video viewing scenarios, more power to you. I watch videos in dark environments and videos that looked fine on my dinc and iPod touch look crappy on the nexus. Once again, just because YOUR usage model isn't a problem doesn't mean others don't have a problem.

Doesnt that apply to you as well ? cause it problem to you dont mean it is to other
 
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I see the issue on mine, thought something wrong with my screen, it does not do it on the Galaxy 1 - fascinate.

So I thought had to do with being Amoled and Pentile, but if i recall fascinate uses very similar screen.

No idea what is causing it, and not sure if worth exchanging until get one that works. It seems the quality control on these devices are horrible, between, banding, purple tint, you never know what you might get.
 
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Heres another sample, let me know if the black clipping is a non issue on this one. Inputs really appreciated.


Sample 3

I just watched this clip on my phone in a completely dark room. I noticed what appears to be either haze from the lights, or perhaps, smoke, arising into the sky from the city? Now, I am not sure if that is actually part of the movie, or an example of the amoled distortion. But I will tell you this....I do not see the artifacts in the blacks like I did on my prior Nexus' and that is highly encouraging. I didn't see an ounce of the 'boxiness'. Hard to explain. Almost looked like in the dark scenes, little boxes of lighter shades were moving around / coming and coming.

Anyone else?
 
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I just watched this clip on my phone in a completely dark room. I noticed what appears to be either haze from the lights, or perhaps, smoke, arising into the sky from the city? Now, I am not sure if that is actually part of the movie, or an example of the amoled distortion. But I will tell you this....I do not see the artifacts in the blacks like I did on my prior Nexus' and that is highly encouraging. I didn't see an ounce of the 'boxiness'. Hard to explain. Almost looked like in the dark scenes, little boxes of lighter shades were moving around / coming and coming.

Anyone else?

Yikes, I watched that then looked at a few HD trailers from Youtube. This one is pronouncedly worse than the last 2 I had. It's like they fixed some of the video issues in newer batches but managed to fubar the radios! I get that washed out stuff on the boot animation as well that the last 2 barely showed. What is the manufactured date of yours? You can find out by powering off, then holding power+volume_down at the same time. You'll get to the green android screen with a green start. On the bottom of the screen you'll see "Build Date : ...". This one is 11/16 and has the bad "purple splotchiness" in videos and the boot animation, but a working (no drops) radio. The last 2 I had were built on 12/23 and both had radios that dropped out randomly. Wish there was a way to catalog all the issues by build date.
 
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I just watched this clip on my phone in a completely dark room. I noticed what appears to be either haze from the lights, or perhaps, smoke, arising into the sky from the city? Now, I am not sure if that is actually part of the movie, or an example of the amoled distortion. But I will tell you this....I do not see the artifacts in the blacks like I did on my prior Nexus' and that is highly encouraging. I didn't see an ounce of the 'boxiness'. Hard to explain. Almost looked like in the dark scenes, little boxes of lighter shades were moving around / coming and coming.

Anyone else?

At least on your screen its only pure black clipping, others are experiencing color banding and extremely high gamma on dark scenes..

Heres what I posted on the other related thread.

The post ahead is contains lots of colorful pictures and really pushes the issue in your face, if you dont have such problems on your screen after doing the exact steps/test/scenario then by all means be happy and dont be a thread griever.
*** WARNING LONG POST AHEAD****


If you guys are using the web browser or youtube application or any other streaming app then you will never see this problem since the deepest black those applications can go is only and RGB value of 16 instead of a full 0, the issue happens between RGB 8 to 1.

To prove my point watch this video using your web browser or the built in youtube applications and use keepvid.com to download the said video and play it back on your Galaxy Nexus/Note and see the difference in black levels and blocks/banding.. So that we can have a very objective viewing experience it recommended you do this test in a dark room or in a place with minimal reflections.

Another sample to download:
Batman-Rises.rar

It contains the new batman (2012) trailer, both clips are identical but one is using a full color range of 0-255 while the other one is limited to 16-255. Take note this issue only happens with both Galaxy Nexus and Galaxy Note, playing this video on any other superamoled device will not show any issues.


Sample images on how it looks like on the Galaxy Note, 99% this is how it would look like on the Nexus as well.. to a certain extent

realsteel_1.png

realsteel_4.png

realsteel_5.png



Here is a sample clip of ironman2, Idk if i've posted his one here before

How it looks like on the Galaxy Note/Nexus then follow by how it looks like on ther non HD SAMOLED device like the Galaxy S2.

Scene1_clipping.jpg

IM2_1.png


Scene2_clipping.jpg

IM2_2.png


Scene3_clipping.jpg

IM2_3.png


Scene4_clipping.jpg

IM2_4.png


Do you want to contribute something to the discussion aside from saying I dont have such issues then by all means post a picture showing the test clips with the same scenario, your contribution can help those who have this issue and forward it to Samsung. In my case they've replied to me that they see the issue but with only a single report from my country the ticket is just pending away.

EDIT:
Real Steel clip test
http://www.mediafire.com/?039z1im6koqh5bn
 
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so i dont understand what is causing this exactly hardware or software?

Is it an ICS issue?

You said you got a reply how do I contact samsung to let them know it happening to me as well?

What should I say exactly? Did you call or email?


Probably a combination of both, since with each screen the results are not 1:1 some even vastly differ.

Explain to them the issue with great detail, use other SAMOLED devices as reference send them pictures just dont use the ones exactly on mine since I've already sent this in along with a few other pics.

Let them know your demand a fix or a refund or something.
 
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Probably a combination of both, since with each screen the results are not 1:1 some even vastly differ.

Explain to them the issue with great detail, use other SAMOLED devices as reference send them pictures just dont use the ones exactly on mine since I've already sent this in along with a few other pics.

Let them know your demand a fix or a refund or something.

So you contacted them via email or phone? If by phone how did you send the photos I am just afraid they are going to ask me to send it in for repair which is something I dont want to do.



EDIT: for the batman sample what timeframe does it happen? I saw it on that Moderat Rusty Nail, but unless it happened realy fast did not see it on either batman trailer
 
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So you contacted them via email or phone? If by phone how did you send the photos I am just afraid they are going to ask me to send it in for repair which is something I dont want to do.



EDIT: for the batman sample what timeframe does it happen? I saw it on that Moderat Rusty Nail, but unless it happened realy fast did not see it on either batman trailer

By email only.

There are 2 identical clips with the batman trailer, one close to flawless and one with severe issues. The only difference is one clip uses 16-255 color range while the other uses 0-255.

No need to point out the clipping+banding parts its quite obvious, does your Iron Man 2 playblack look like mine ?
 
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