The Epic Android Thread - Page 308 - maemo.org

noal | # 3071 | 2011-05-03, 17:16 | Report

What does everybody think of the HTC Sensation?

To be honest, with me owning a tab and my partner having a galaxy s, I really want to try a different company for once!

I have never owned an HTC product, had little plays here and there, and frankly the Sensation looks, er, Sensational!

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Bratag | # 3072 | 2011-05-03, 18:00 | Report

Originally Posted by noal View Post

What does everybody think of the HTC Sensation?

To be honest, with me owning a tab and my partner having a galaxy s, I really want to try a different company for once!

I have never owned an HTC product, had little plays here and there, and frankly the Sensation looks, er, Sensational!

I have owned HTC products before (windows phones) and the tilt was a great product for its time. There are a lot of HTC haters there that say the quality is crap and I will admit there was a time when the quality did suffer. Who can forget the trend of using the mini usb port as the headphone jack as well? Good times. However the last few phones that trend seems to be reversing.

The main problem I have with the HTC phones is the sense UI. I don't need all that damn eye candy despite how pretty it makes things. Give me a basic Android install any day.

Now that being said I am considering the Sensation. Purely for the phone specs. The screen + cpu will make it a powerhouse and if history is any indicator I will be able to flash a basic Cyanogen ROM over it and will be all set. Add to that the fact that its being released on Tmobile shortly and I am due for a contract upgrade - makes it attractive.

If you do like eye candy then it doesnt get more candied than the sense UI. Just keep in mind however that when new android releases come out it will be a while before the sensation gets them (if ever) as they have to be candified before HTC releases them to the phone.

Last edited by Bratag; 2011-05-03 at 18:05.

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noal | # 3073 | 2011-05-03, 18:47 | Report

Originally Posted by Bratag View Post

I have owned HTC products before (windows phones) and the tilt was a great product for its time. There are a lot of HTC haters there that say the quality is crap and I will admit there was a time when the quality did suffer. Who can forget the trend of using the mini usb port as the headphone jack as well? Good times. However the last few phones that trend seems to be reversing.

The main problem I have with the HTC phones is the sense UI. I don't need all that damn eye candy despite how pretty it makes things. Give me a basic Android install any day.

Now that being said I am considering the Sensation. Purely for the phone specs. The screen + cpu will make it a powerhouse and if history is any indicator I will be able to flash a basic Cyanogen ROM over it and will be all set. Add to that the fact that its being released on Tmobile shortly and I am due for a contract upgrade - makes it attractive.

If you do like eye candy then it doesnt get more candied than the sense UI. Just keep in mind however that when new android releases come out it will be a while before the sensation gets them (if ever) as they have to be candified before HTC releases them to the phone.

Thanks Bratag, some interesting points.

I have honestly not used the sense UI enough to pass comment but I feel now is the right time to try HTC. The Sensation looks like my kind of device and, like yourself, my contract is due for renewal and I'm with vodafone UK who should be one of the first to get it around mid-May.

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Bratag | # 3074 | 2011-05-03, 19:26 | Report

Originally Posted by noal View Post

Thanks Bratag, some interesting points.

I have honestly not used the sense UI enough to pass comment but I feel now is the right time to try HTC. The Sensation looks like my kind of device and, like yourself, my contract is due for renewal and I'm with vodafone UK who should be one of the first to get it around mid-May.

Yeah. If I had te money to pony up 750 bucks for the samsung I would. But thats just a tad too much for a phone I wouldnt even be able to use with 3g on tmobile.

If you do switch to android be prepared to be annoyed for the first few months. The constant need to hit a goddamn back button instead of the far easier (and more intuitive) maemo system of simply touching something outside the alert etc, drives me crazy on my rooted nook.

Just as a side - I will also be keeping my N900 as a laptop replacement and for the emulators (gotta have a freaking keyboard) and a bunch of other things. Just looking for a android phone I can develop on and use as a main line

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Capt'n Corrupt | # 3075 | 2011-05-03, 20:07 | Report

Get ready. Another major player is about to throw their hat into the ring:

Amazon is purportedly preparing a palatable and precious pallet:

http://www.droiddog.com/android-blog...-of-their-own/

I suspect Google won't benefit directly from this device, as it's likely to have the Amazon Market place pre-loaded, which makes this a *very* interesting device indeed, and a major competitor. Additionally, Amazon has a tremendous audience which should help them sell through very large numbers.

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Capt'n Corrupt | # 3076 | 2011-05-03, 20:09 | Report

Looking forward to Google IO? Have an Android device?

Get the official Google IO app for Android:

http://www.droiddog.com/android-blog...l-io-2011-app/
MARKET LINK:https://market.android.com/details?i...d.apps.iosched

The app allows you to:

Look at the schedule
Look through detailed session and speaker info
Look through info about companies in the Developer Sandbox
Star sessions and Sandbox companies
Get the current buzz on I/O via real time search stream
Guide yourself using the conference map
Create and manage notes using Catch

Google IO is just 6 days away... Are you ready?
http://www.google.com/events/io/2011/

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geneven | # 3077 | 2011-05-03, 20:33 | Report

Originally Posted by Capt'n Corrupt View Post

Get ready. Another major player is about to throw their hat into the ring:

Amazon is purportedly preparing a palatable and precious pallet:

http://www.droiddog.com/android-blog...-of-their-own/

I suspect Google won't benefit directly from this device, as it's likely to have the Amazon Market place pre-loaded, which makes this a *very* interesting device indeed, and a major competitor. Additionally, Amazon has a tremendous audience which should help them sell through very large numbers.

Yes, I saw this and will be interested. One thing I definitely noticed with my EEE Pad Transformer is that there is definitely eyestrain when using it as a reader. I previously considered that an urban legend, since I never experienced it in my years as a reader of books on PCs and on my N800, N810 and N900, but the glossiness of the Transformer screen affected me, or it's my age, even when I changed the background color to the dimmer one provided.

I was hoping, among other things, that the Transformer would replace my Kindle, but no such luck. Besides, many reader features remain to be developed, and I imagine Amazon will be the one to pioneer them with the new device.

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Capt'n Corrupt | # 3078 | 2011-05-03, 20:45 | Report

Originally Posted by geneven View Post

Yes, I saw this and will be interested. One thing I definitely noticed with my EEE Pad Transformer is that there is definitely eyestrain when using it as a reader. I previously considered that an urban legend, since I never experienced it in my years as a reader of books on PCs and on my N800, N810 and N900, but the glossiness of the Transformer screen affected me, or it's my age, even when I changed the background color to the dimmer one provided.

I was hoping, among other things, that the Transformer would replace my Kindle, but no such luck. Besides, many reader features remain to be developed, and I imagine Amazon will be the one to pioneer them with the new device.

It will be very interesting if Amazon uses a screen tech that makes it easier for reading books, but doesn't sacrifice the usability of modern tablets.

The only contender I can see is Pixel Qi at this point, though Mirasol displays (by qualcomm) also promise this functionality.

Will this device be a kindle replacement, a companion, or just another tablet? Who knows, but I'm interested to find out.

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Bratag | # 3079 | 2011-05-03, 20:53 | Report

Originally Posted by geneven View Post

Yes, I saw this and will be interested. One thing I definitely noticed with my EEE Pad Transformer is that there is definitely eyestrain when using it as a reader. I previously considered that an urban legend, since I never experienced it in my years as a reader of books on PCs and on my N800, N810 and N900, but the glossiness of the Transformer screen affected me, or it's my age, even when I changed the background color to the dimmer one provided.

I was hoping, among other things, that the Transformer would replace my Kindle, but no such luck. Besides, many reader features remain to be developed, and I imagine Amazon will be the one to pioneer them with the new device.

You can minimize that strain by changing the backing color of the page. Ideally the least eye strain is yellow text on a blue background (according to studies) Personally I go for a creamish text on a dull gray/brown with my nook and it makes all the difference in the world.

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danramos | # 3080 | 2011-05-03, 21:09 | Report

Originally Posted by Bratag View Post

You can minimize that strain by changing the backing color of the page. Ideally the least eye strain is yellow text on a blue background (according to studies) Personally I go for a creamish text on a dull gray/brown with my nook and it makes all the difference in the world.

As I recall, this was PRECISELY the reason why the Amiga computers used yellow text on blue background almost universally all over the system. I remember those studies came out to influence the design at the time.

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