Help What factors about the the S3 should I know before buying?

[AeroSign]

My findings

 

[DougieCM]

* Not being able to switch off e-mail vibration on its own without losing notifications on the status bar or vibration when the phone isn't on silent. Can do it with GMail but not the e-mail app.

* Accuweather widget being tempremental in updating.

* Being able to edit vibration for calls by contact but not texts by contact.

* Only being able to concatenate up to 3 text messages at a time.

Solutions to any of the above would be appreciated.

 

[mihqke]

Phone is great and battery life is better than I thought. I have found two things:

1. You can't turn off camera shutter sound from camera settings. You can turn it off only by turning off your phone ring tone volume. Use mute or vibrant mode. It's the stupidest thing ever. Every other phone has it but not this one. Why the hell they take these things away?

2. THERE IS NO USB MASS STORAGE! For me it means no offline maps for navigation and can't backup some apps because I can't get backup files from phones folders.

 

[Android26]

wallpaper doesn't scroll

 

[chrisdude70]

2. THERE IS NO USB MASS STORAGE! For me it means no offline maps for navigation and can't backup some apps because I can't get backup files from phones folders.
wallpaper doesn't scroll

I've seen a fix for this on youtube somewhere.
Use a different gallery program for setting wallpapers.

Not sure if its a specific one or just any other.

2. THERE IS NO USB MASS STORAGE! For me it means no offline maps for navigation and can't backup some apps because I can't get backup files from phones folders.

I don't get what you mean by mass storage?

 

[davoid]

2. THERE IS NO USB MASS STORAGE! For me it means no offline maps for navigation and can't backup some apps because I can't get backup files from phones folders.

Yes, what do you mean? When I plug my S3 into my computer via USB, there is the additional drive in Computer for me to explore and copy files from.

 

[mihqke]

Yes, what do you mean? When I plug my S3 into my computer via USB, there is the additional drive in Computer for me to explore and copy files from.

I can copy (drag and drop) music and pictures (media files). but I can't copy folder with other files like maps and backup files. If someone know how to do it, share it with me.

 

[kobrax]

Had mine for about a week. Really happy with it. My issues are as follows ;

S Voice. Not only is it pointless but it doesn't work well at all. But who uses voice commands anyway

Touchwiz UI Isnt great. It's ok and works fine but isn't great. Go Launcher is miles better.

Quite a few games are not yet supported on Galaxy S3 at least not in UK, like Dead space, need for speed shift , shadow gun (works but freezes often) and some gameloft games. I assume this will be rectified before long.

Apart from these it is almost flawless

 

[rkkeller]

I have been reading this topic and we need to distinguish our problems with the S3 itself and gripes about the ICS 4 OS.

I see some problems related to ICS 4 and they would apply to any newer phone not just the S3.

 

[Stryker1297]

I can copy (drag and drop) music and pictures (media files). but I can't copy folder with other files like maps and backup files. If someone know how to do it, share it with me.

try rooting... it you should have super-administrative rights on your phone after that... unless there is no root out for the S3 then i cant help

 

[Crafty]

I dont know why you wouldn't be able to copy other sorts of files, there wouldn't be any intelligence about exactly what you are copying to the phone..

 

[sleedeane]

Problem with reviews is that generally their by people who have only used the phone for the review. Not for day to day usage.

Its very easy to point out whats good about the thing.
What sucks on the other hand needs a more personal touch.



Are there any performance issues?
Running something pretty intensive, say, Minecraft Pocket Edition, how does it handle?

Any freezing or lag?

Yes. I wasn't thinking.

 

[mihqke]

I dont know why you wouldn't be able to copy other sorts of files, there wouldn't be any intelligence about exactly what you are copying to the phone..

I have 2 options:
Media device (MTP) and Camera (PTP) modes to choose only. It's possible to do it with rooting but I need my warranty.

 

[busman11x]

You know whats sucks? They put out a phone with awesome specs,a spectacular screen ,a ton of already happy people using it,rave reviews,and and you dont support safe driving in the year 2012!!!!!!?????WTH samsung build a proper car dock for us! Charging ,auto car mode initiation.not to much to ask for. Safe driving......only onethat seems to recognize this problem and need is Motorola.Its the only thing that keeps me a moto customer,but its time to jump ship.. car dock or not that sucks

 

[chrisdude70]

It seems like all the faults with the phone are either things that don't bother me or have some form of fix.

Looks like I've got no reason not to buy it now.
Other than the stupid price tag. lol

 

[crazyvinoo]

Hi

Every phone has issues....some minor bugs...s 3 too has some minor issues..For me,as am moving from HTC sensation and galaxy s2,S3 is the best phone i have ever used.Its sleek,slim,but little big to hold..anyways am getting used to it..Multimedia wise,it just plays anything without a hiccup,where as my HTC used to struggle to play the file format and large file sizes...games..browsing etc etc,i am just squeezing the juice out of s3,but it still tops everything with flying colors...also one more thing...Its an ANDROID WORLD,which means customization to the fullest..and there are several applications to overcome almost all flaws.....Am enjoying the time which i spend with s3..its soooper awesome...

 

[milleniummanp7]

The phone itself is brilliant. The build quality is nowhere near as bad as I was expecting. It is still a very sturdy phone. Power wise....couldnt hope for much more. Battery is sublime (1 day 14 hours for me, fairly heavy use on last charge).

However, what is particularly annoying for me is waking the screen up. It is biblically slow sometimes! After pressing the button, the screen sometimes stays black for 1-3 seconds. I factory reset but it did not solve it. My mates S3 does the same, so I assume it is just slow for the time being (will probably be improved)

Also had an issue where I only played half a ringtone....factory reset resolved this

 

[crazyvinoo]

The phone itself is brilliant. The build quality is nowhere near as bad as I was expecting. It is still a very sturdy phone. Power wise....couldnt hope for much more. Battery is sublime (1 day 14 hours for me, fairly heavy use on last charge).

However, what is particularly annoying for me is waking the screen up. It is biblically slow sometimes! After pressing the button, the screen sometimes stays black for 1-3 seconds. I factory reset but it did not solve it. My mates S3 does the same, so I assume it is just slow for the time being (will probably be improved)

Also had an issue where I only played half a ringtone....factory reset resolved this

Yeah.....me too...i was little annoyed by that..but now i use "go locker" which is awesome..better...many themes to select from...and completely free also....so am going with that..!!!!!!

 

[TJA77]

I don't like the keyboard much with predictive text. Coming from iOS the keyboard and predictive text was much better. That's about it for me. I love the phone and am really enjoying the customisation with android.

Once I learn how to sync my music I'll be even happier. If anyone can point me in the easiest direction to sync my music from iTunes on a mac I'll be very appreciative

 

[Manse]

So far the only very small thing that annoys me is scrolling up and down, i dont know if its just me but it feels different from what i was used to, i feels a bit "jerky" at times, it might just be me focusing on something quite trivial, but that is pretty much one of the only things i have found a bit annoying.

 

[jerofld]

I don't like the keyboard much with predictive text. Coming from iOS the keyboard and predictive text was much better. That's about it for me. I love the phone and am really enjoying the customisation with android.

Once I learn how to sync my music I'll be even happier. If anyone can point me in the easiest direction to sync my music from iTunes on a mac I'll be very appreciative

We have a thread in the Android Media section that covers it

http://androidforums.com/android-media/139655-how-sync-itunes-android.html

 

[ylexot]

I don't like the keyboard much with predictive text. Coming from iOS the keyboard and predictive text was much better. That's about it for me. I love the phone and am really enjoying the customisation with android.

This is Android...get a different keyboard.

Personally, I like Swype.
Swype | Type Fast, Swype Faster
You'll have to sign up for the beta to get it (it's been "in beta" for 2+ years), but that's pretty easy.
Swype | Text Input for Screens

 

[jimdriver2]

I've read through this thread and I think almost every problem people mentioned could be solved.

Only thing i'm concerned (slightly) about is the battery life. If reception is poor (as it is in my workplace) then it does go down a little too quickly. Maybe an update will fix this, the one that's been released didn't for me. It's not terrible by any means, but with the bigger battery size I was hoping the BL would be fantastic. As it is it seems like it's just as good as my Desire one was.

Some of the inbuilt / default stuff is a bit lacking in terms of customization and obvious options. But once I'd installed Go Launcher, Light flow, FlexT9 and Handcent all of those issues were dealt with.

It handles anything you throw at it with ease. It runs GTA3 for example perfectly. The one shame is that quite a few EA games aren't compatible with it yet, for example NBA Jam and PvZ.

 

[rkkeller]

Once I learn how to sync my music I'll be even happier. If anyone can point me in the easiest direction to sync my music from iTunes on a mac I'll be very appreciative

Samsung phones come preinstalled with Kies software which does this and more, even over wifi. It also backsup almost everything. You only need to download the software to your computer and use it like you use iTunes.

Transfer, Sync & Manage Music, Movies, Photos, Contacts and Calendars with Kies

 

[mihqke]

So far the only very small thing that annoys me is scrolling up and down, i dont know if its just me but it feels different from what i was used to, i feels a bit "jerky" at times, it might just be me focusing on something quite trivial, but that is pretty much one of the only things i have found a bit annoying.

I have same feeling. Looks like it scrolls slower. Actually if you swipe your finger fast over screen to scroll, it stop soon after you release your finger from screen.