I am very frustrated. I've had the phone about a month, invested 40-50 hours of research, forum, download, install and uninstall time and I still have a device that can't do 50% of what I am asking (which is not that much). If I can't get any more success out of it, as much as I like the large screen, fonts and a few other features, I may have to switch back. It just isn't worth it for me to settle for something that SHOULD work but doesn't.
I can make and receive calls, text, email, and do SOME web surfing.
I want more.
I want all my music and pictures stored on my external 16 gb SD card. I want to be able to EASILY sync my playlists, podcasts and pictures. I want to be able to conveniently do a complete backup of my phone so that if the need arises, I can reset it to factory, and restore it with relative ease.
Complaints:
Aside from several minor issues: Finding an app that can notify me OVER a security lock screen. Getting auto-rotate to work reliably (it rotates when it feels like it. If lock the screen and reopen it rotated 90 degrees, the rotate will work fine... For a while. I can accept a FEW of these little nuisance things. But, really, shouldn't a device this advanced work reliably?
Doesn't open PDF files. I can't find a reader that works.
Doesn't run flash (isn't this the big deal with Apple devices too?)
I can't find a decent program that can do a true sync. I have tried Kies 2x (wired, don't want to use air). The first time, it worked OK, but was not a true sync. It was only one way. Nothing NEW on the phone would sync UP to the computer. Mostly I was interested in pictures. I gave up and just copied my pictures manually. I have a 10 GB itunes library that I use to sync with my ipad and my family uses as their music repository for their apple devices. While much of the repository comes over, it is hard to find when searching. Sometimes I have to search by artist rather than song. Other times by album. Sometimes the songs have no names, and shows the song name as the album name. sometimes there are songs missing from the album. I have tried importing playlists and it just says "no playlists to import." The second time I installed it, it wouldn't even connect.
Tried Double Twist. Different issues, but similar, I tried this program once.
I tried Winamp. 2 times. No luck. No playlists import, and other intermittent issues.
I uninstalled each app between each trial.
So for now I am using the built in PLAY program, and copying my music manually. Cumbersome but at least I have SOME music.
For both pictures and music this is a time consuming task that I just don't have the time to spend on every time I want to add or copy some pictures or music. It shouldn't be this difficult.
I've posted in and read the forums. I've read the reviews. Sometimes there is good info, other times it becomes a waste.
I posted a query regarding my Kies issue, and if I recall correctly, the only response I got was "Kies sucks". Hardly helpful.
My phone is stock. I don't use any widgets (that I know of). The only additional apps I run are Cerberus, Google Voice, GSAM battery, Chrome, Assistive light. The device is really not taxed hardly at all.
I will admit I am new to android, but I am by no means a technology newbie. I have been making my living as System/Network admin for 20+ years.
I don't want to get into an apple/android pissing contest. I have no loyalty to apple. But I have to say, I think I've given the S3 a fair shot. My main reason for switching was for a bigger screen, larger style fonts, and ease of customization.
Have I just not found the right app(s) to do what I want? I REALLY want to make the S3 work.
Thank you in advance for any constructive insight you may be able to provide..
P....
I can make and receive calls, text, email, and do SOME web surfing.
I want more.
I want all my music and pictures stored on my external 16 gb SD card. I want to be able to EASILY sync my playlists, podcasts and pictures. I want to be able to conveniently do a complete backup of my phone so that if the need arises, I can reset it to factory, and restore it with relative ease.
Complaints:
Aside from several minor issues: Finding an app that can notify me OVER a security lock screen. Getting auto-rotate to work reliably (it rotates when it feels like it. If lock the screen and reopen it rotated 90 degrees, the rotate will work fine... For a while. I can accept a FEW of these little nuisance things. But, really, shouldn't a device this advanced work reliably?
Doesn't open PDF files. I can't find a reader that works.
Doesn't run flash (isn't this the big deal with Apple devices too?)
I can't find a decent program that can do a true sync. I have tried Kies 2x (wired, don't want to use air). The first time, it worked OK, but was not a true sync. It was only one way. Nothing NEW on the phone would sync UP to the computer. Mostly I was interested in pictures. I gave up and just copied my pictures manually. I have a 10 GB itunes library that I use to sync with my ipad and my family uses as their music repository for their apple devices. While much of the repository comes over, it is hard to find when searching. Sometimes I have to search by artist rather than song. Other times by album. Sometimes the songs have no names, and shows the song name as the album name. sometimes there are songs missing from the album. I have tried importing playlists and it just says "no playlists to import." The second time I installed it, it wouldn't even connect.
Tried Double Twist. Different issues, but similar, I tried this program once.
I tried Winamp. 2 times. No luck. No playlists import, and other intermittent issues.
I uninstalled each app between each trial.
So for now I am using the built in PLAY program, and copying my music manually. Cumbersome but at least I have SOME music.
For both pictures and music this is a time consuming task that I just don't have the time to spend on every time I want to add or copy some pictures or music. It shouldn't be this difficult.
I've posted in and read the forums. I've read the reviews. Sometimes there is good info, other times it becomes a waste.
I posted a query regarding my Kies issue, and if I recall correctly, the only response I got was "Kies sucks". Hardly helpful.
My phone is stock. I don't use any widgets (that I know of). The only additional apps I run are Cerberus, Google Voice, GSAM battery, Chrome, Assistive light. The device is really not taxed hardly at all.
I will admit I am new to android, but I am by no means a technology newbie. I have been making my living as System/Network admin for 20+ years.
I don't want to get into an apple/android pissing contest. I have no loyalty to apple. But I have to say, I think I've given the S3 a fair shot. My main reason for switching was for a bigger screen, larger style fonts, and ease of customization.
Have I just not found the right app(s) to do what I want? I REALLY want to make the S3 work.
Thank you in advance for any constructive insight you may be able to provide..
P....