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  1. #1
    DF Admin maltloaf's Avatar
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    Default My new adventure into Android land....

    Hi all,

    Have decided to take a spin in Android Land again and I have replaced my iPhone 7+ and Apple watch series 2 with a Galaxy S8+ and a Huawei Watch 2 (the 4G model).

    I have been in this position many times before and in the end something about Android (the o/s not the hardware) has always driven me away. Usually it not feeling polished enough.

    I have to say that, 3 weeks in, I'm really enjoying the s8+ so much so that the iP7 has now been sold and I have also invested in a 4G capable Huawei Watch 2.

    I've been out of Android for about 18 months. Is there anything I need to be checking out that I might have missed in that time ?

    Many thanks,

    malty
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    piggzy (6th October 2017)  


  2. #2
    DF VIP Member Fear345's Avatar
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    Default Re: My new adventure into Android land....

    As said before I ditched iPhone at number 4 and would never go back. I recently bought an S8 and at first loved it, but there are just too many things I'm not liking about it Bixby for example. I miss my Pixel XL so after last nights Google event I have ordered a Pixel 2 XL and can't wait to get back to normality.

    Thanks to Fear345

    maltloaf (6th October 2017)  


  3. #3
    DF Admin maltloaf's Avatar
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    Default Re: My new adventure into Android land....

    I've ditched Bixby completely. The app still exists but all of the things that can auto launch it have been remapped or disabled, including the button.

    I didn't know the Pixel 2 was imminent tbh. Might have a peek at that.
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  4. #4
    DF Super Moderator piggzy's Avatar
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    Default Re: My new adventure into Android land....

    Pixel 2 looks very nice indeed. Might be tempted..

  5. #5
    DF Admin maltloaf's Avatar
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    Default Re: My new adventure into Android land....

    Just had a bit of a look through the Pixel 2 XL specs and they seem to mirror that of my S8+ really closely. The only thing that has annoyed me so far is the location of the fingerprint sensor. I would have rathered it half way up the back but it's way up by the camera lens.

    The price is a bit hefty though. The S8+ can be had for £620 (that's what I got mine for) but as far as I can see the Pixel 2 XL is £799 - that's a bit of a jump for a similar spec. I can see how pure android might be a pull but I'm not sure it's £180 of pull.
    Facebook: http://facebook.com/maltloaf Garmin Connect: http://connect.garmin.com/profile/maltloaf_df
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  6. #6
    DF VIP Member darkstar's Avatar
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    Default Re: My new adventure into Android land....

    Bought the note 8 on release and love it. camera great fast interface would never go back to iPhone. Showbox and the like are deal breakers for me so much easier than downloading torents

  7. #7
    DF Admin maltloaf's Avatar
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    Default Re: My new adventure into Android land....

    What is showbox?
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  8. #8
    DF VIP Member Rhinoz's Avatar
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    Default Re: My new adventure into Android land....

    Quote Originally Posted by maltloaf View Post

    The price is a bit hefty though. The S8+ can be had for £620 (that's what I got mine for) but as far as I can see the Pixel 2 XL is £799 - that's a bit of a jump for a similar spec. I can see how pure android might be a pull but I'm not sure it's £180 of pull.
    Years ago rooting was done mainly to get the latest version of android, with the Pixel/Pixel2 you are guaranteed to always get the latest and unbloated version of Android first which many believe is worth the extra £££.

    Quote Originally Posted by maltloaf View Post
    What is showbox?
    An app not on the playstore thats been around a few years to watch and download movies/tv shows via torrent in a very simple way ie. hassle free.

    Thanks to Rhinoz

    piggzy (7th October 2017)  


  9. #9
    DF VIP Member BigBrand's Avatar
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    Default Re: My new adventure into Android land....

    Ensure you've got Swift Key keyboard installed, shits all over the standard one.

    2 Thanks given to BigBrand

    maltloaf (7th October 2017),  Rick Sanchez (18th October 2017)  


  10. #10
    DF Admin maltloaf's Avatar
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    Default Re: My new adventure into Android land....

    I've done my time with swift. I had it when it was in beta and there were different builds for different phones ! The predictive bit of the standard keyboard gets on my tits a bit but I don't mind the keyboard itself.
    The extra row with the numbers on is very welcome as an iPhone ditcher but I hate how the space bar gets shrunk now and then to make way for extra keys. When it does I keep hitting full stop instead of space!
    Facebook: http://facebook.com/maltloaf Garmin Connect: http://connect.garmin.com/profile/maltloaf_df
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    BigBrand (7th October 2017)  


  11. #11
    DF VIP Member BigBrand's Avatar
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    Default Re: My new adventure into Android land....

    I think it may have been you Malty who told me about when I bought an iPhone from you many years ago!

    I totally get the shrunken space bar, I'm always hitting the full stop over space, even on largest keyboard.

    Thanks to BigBrand

    maltloaf (7th October 2017)  


  12. #12
    DF VIP Member Over Carl's Avatar
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    Default Re: My new adventure into Android land....

    I remember a few years ago, the first thing I would do with a new android device was to install Cyanogen (custom ROM, I think the project is now called Lineage OS) as I found the user interface to be nicer, it meant I got the latest version of android (often before the official release from the device manufacturer), and got rid of any manufacturer/network bloatware.

    However these days I've been happy enough with stock ROMs so I haven't wanted to risk warranty and the chance of bricking my device.

  13. #13
    DF Admin maltloaf's Avatar
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    Default Re: My new adventure into Android land....

    I just picked up a gear vr yesterday. There's loads knocking about cheap because they are giving them away with new handsets. The one with the controller included cost me £68 from cex.

    Have only played with it for half an hour but I have to say I'm pretty impressed. The tracking is spot on and from what I can tell lag free.

    Bought some zombie shooter off the oculus store and it plays really well !

    Anyone else got one and got any tips ?
    Facebook: http://facebook.com/maltloaf Garmin Connect: http://connect.garmin.com/profile/maltloaf_df
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  14. #14
    DF VIP Member Bald Bouncer's Avatar
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    Default Re: My new adventure into Android land....

    Quote Originally Posted by maltloaf View Post
    I just picked up a gear vr yesterday. There's loads knocking about cheap because they are giving them away with new handsets. The one with the controller included cost me £68 from cex.

    Have only played with it for half an hour but I have to say I'm pretty impressed. The tracking is spot on and from what I can tell lag free.

    Bought some zombie shooter off the oculus store and it plays really well !

    Anyone else got one and got any tips ?
    I find the VR stuff impressive but after using it I don't feel drawn to use it again if that makes sense, no real hook to playing it again more of an experience the same with 3D tv, I personally think augmented reality will be the future not VR

    3 Thanks given to Bald Bouncer

    GTI (18th October 2017),  maltloaf (18th October 2017),  piggzy (18th October 2017)  


  15. #15
    DF Admin maltloaf's Avatar
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    Default Re: My new adventure into Android land....

    I think ar will properly take off if someone manages to engineer a Google glass type device that works as seamlessly as we all need and doesnt make you look like a borg.
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    Bald Bouncer (18th October 2017)  


  16. #16
    DF VIP Member akimba's Avatar
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    Default Re: My new adventure into Android land....

    I totally agree AR is going to be the future and VR is a FAD.

    Adding front facing cameras means that the whole experience can be overlayed over your real surrounding meaning you can move around without crashing into things as with current VR.
    https://www.onmsft.com/news/you-can-...icrosoft-store
    Microsoft have been wrong in the past but they are backing this and so are the hardware suppliers. And yeah these look bulky and ugly but the tech will improve and the product will be styled better.

    Thanks to akimba

    Bald Bouncer (18th October 2017)  


  17. #17
    DF VIP Member Over Carl's Avatar
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    Default Re: My new adventure into Android land....

    Purely my opinion, but I reckon the next big game changer will let you use full VR mode, or selectively allow transparency.

    I think AR will be amazing for stuff like using email/texts and internet, but say for example a driving game or something like Doom really needs to have objects and backgrounds as I can't imagine how these games would work for example with cars overlaid on real life roads.

    Also if say I was to play a driving game on a real life road, not only would it be incredibly dangerous, but it would make it difficult to repeatedly play the exact same race to improve on scores or compete with friends.

    Thanks to Over Carl

    Bald Bouncer (18th October 2017)  


  18. #18
    DF VIP Member Rhinoz's Avatar
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    Default Re: My new adventure into Android land....

    Carphone warehouse are selling the Samsung Gear VR headset with controller for £59.99 if anyone still looking to get one.

    Not sure myself as I don't feel it's quite there yet.

  19. #19
    DF Admin maltloaf's Avatar
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    Default Re: My new adventure into Android land....

    Quote Originally Posted by Rhinoz View Post
    Carphone warehouse are selling the Samsung Gear VR headset with controller for £59.99 if anyone still looking to get one.

    Not sure myself as I don't feel it's quite there yet.
    Wish I had seen that yesterday. I paid £68 Second hand !
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  20. #20
    DF VIP Member GTI's Avatar
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    Default Re: My new adventure into Android land....

    I have gone back and forth between Android and Apple for about 10 years now. My daily driver is an iPhone 7 and my back-up (London sim) phone is a Galaxy Note 5 so I can still keep tabs on the latest Android updates.

    Whats funny is that the older I get, the more I appreciate the simplicity of iOS versus the choice and freedom of Android. I just can't be arsed with nightly ROM updates, reading pages and pages of forum posts on how to fix some obscure issue etc.. The other thing I cannot get my head around is why people would pay £6-700 for flagship Android handsets when you can get an excellent Chinese alternative for half that.

    2 Thanks given to GTI

    Bald Bouncer (19th October 2017),  Sanj[UK] (19th October 2017)  


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