Tag: SGS

Battery life on Android? You haven’t seen Mugen Extended batteries then

Hope you all must not  have forgotten my posts related to non-touch phones, battery tips and Samsung Galaxy S impressions, while all of them seem unrelated, but there been an easy connection between all of them.

A story of a layman, who was first afraid of going full fledged touch screen and then was haunted by the generation of toothless tigers (what I like to call modern smartphones with inadequate battery).

Not one but many  of earlier Nokia fans turning towards Android nowadays and while there been not many complaints related to productivity but one complaint, you find very common among most of them "Battery life on Android". We talk about 1GHz processors, loads of RAM and flashing animations here and there, but all the talk ends when we end up with a dead junk plastic or metal piece before finishing the day by even half. I know the feeling as passed through the same journey so many times myself.

Android and Battery

There are obvious reasons that why touch screens are more demanding on battery and same goes for the higher frequency processors. I may share some of tips about the battery saving on Android by adding into some already known tips, but be prepared, nothing comes without some tradeoff like …

  • Under-clock your processor and have longer battery life with a little loss in performance.
  • Keep the brightness on minimum and have longer battery life with a little loss in sunlight visibility
  • Keep the push mails on longer period and have longer battery life with a loss of instantaneous delivery

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Question is why one needs to research on all this and why one can’t have everything working as its been on their earlier phones? Smartphone, superphone whatever, .. isn’t 10-12 hours run should be mandatory to be called as a phone? Shouldn’t manufacturers be making more capacity batteries, when they know how much demanding their products might be?

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Yes! there is one more option to use Mugen’s Extended Batteries that may really make your device running 100% more than they were running before that too without compromising the power of your device or your habits.

Continue reading “Battery life on Android? You haven’t seen Mugen Extended batteries then” →

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Layman’s take on Samsung Galaxy S (Part 1) – The Hardware – First impressions

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I know I know.. I been terribly late on this post and that’s been haunting me in all those moments whenever I was reading my daily mails. I myself was feeling the curiosity of you all, but its the office work and family life that kept me busy enough and also I wished to start the post after I get adjusted to new things comprehensively. It wasn’t easy at all.

To know the things on the other side of table that been luring you all, but still switching the boat makes you feel like leaving a job, you been working on since years. You sometimes hate it, but still not sure if how the things will workout when you go out. Something similar was the decision of purchasing an Android as the next device.

Android is pulling all the momentum behind it and everyone keeps on hearing the words around it, but how much worth it is to take the risk??

Many reviews on the web to know a thing or two about it, but still how to trust, when each second one happens to be a fanboy or those paid PRs? For sake of all such people and most importantly for myself, there was only one way out.. to take the bet myself, a bet of 25000 INR to know and tell the things on the other side. (Review unit?? Don’t even ask me about these Indian "Social Experts")

The teaser about the package stayed long on my blog and many of you friends kept on waiting that when I will officially open the box even if you knew that I started using it before posting thoughts about it (That’s why no official unboxing). But it was necessary for me to settle down my thoughts before I start writing about it. Pros and Cons… as entering into a new world was meant to be much for each one of us.

So here goes the first impression post about SGS as I felt about it…

Continue reading “Layman’s take on Samsung Galaxy S (Part 1) – The Hardware – First impressions” →

First Interview-Naveen with his Samsung Galaxy S

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As I promised last day, bringing in the first common man of our smart phone world with his set of opinions and answers to some of my queries and doubts about Android and Samsung Galaxy S.

I met Naveen via twitter only and when this idea of interviewing persons various platform stuck my mind, then from many of the names around Android, I thought to choose him for the purpose to bring some of the raw opinions and perspective of a user, who was with very much with Symbian a time.

So, let’s start with some plain questions …

Naveen, can you tell us something about you  ? like your profession,background etc..blogging\ social life
I’m a Engineering Student,I tweet a lot and follow all kind of tech news. Also maintain my personal blog.

How long do you use Android/ Samsung phones ? Which brand you were using before that (if any ?)
Samsung galaxy S is my First Android Phone, been using it since August (3 Months) ,Nokia E90 before and present.

So should I call you a fan of Samsung or Android or its just a coincidence to be with SGS only ?
I’m a big Android Fan and was not a big fan of Samsung till the SGS came up, not a ardent fan of SGS too.

can you list out the phones you have used for last few years ?
Nokia E61,SE M600, N95,Nokia E90

When did you plan to go for SGS, plan or accident ?
I followed SGS and samsung BEAM right from it’s announcement at February, knew each and every specs of it, chose SGS at last.

What’s your views on touch screens? Do you really feel that they are at par with Non-Touch ones about text entries?
Capacitive Touchscreen Phones are very much easy to use still can’t beat QWERTY phones like my E90.

Which of the device you find closest to SGS in terms of value for money and experience?
Nokia N95 and Nokia E90. Many of my friends use Nokia 5800, I personally find that a good value for money. I feel the same for iPhone4 in a price of 31k.

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You use SGS most for accomplishing which thing… calls, browsing, navigation, movies, twitter.. which one?
Twitter

How is the touch screen response of SGS? If you have experienced iPhone/iPod earlier and recent Symbian^3 devices, then what’s the difference?
Touch response is Amazing in SGS, among the best. I have used all the generations of iPod touch and iPhones and can say iphone 4 has a similar  touch response as SGS.

What you say about Android? Is it works in the way it should or as of now it has potential only and growing well. 
Android is best when it is used with the best, SGS with android is the most awesome combination,it has very much everything for now and it’s tremendous growth only adds to it’s success.

We heard some bad things about battery life of SGS. Is it correct? Have you compared it in terms of battery life of others?
SGS has a 1500mAH battery but it wont last not more than 15 hours. Phone Display will be On for the most of the time during the 15 hours. Mine is in stock ECLAIR(2.1) firmware , other’s with a custom firmware are surely getting over a day. Future updates would help, I think.

We hear some extra praises for the bigger size screen and though much better texting experience, what your say on it?
4′ inch Screen is just too good to use, doesn’t seem BIG at all, at least for me. Texting in SGS is very much easier like a QWERTY wit a single hand. I think 4′ is ideal for any Proper Smartphone.

Many think that 4" is a big size to hold in one hand and type while in some metro or other such public place with crowd. Is it right? How you carry it with yourself?

4" isn’t BIG but sure it looks large in comparison of others. Should admit that I hate to use it in public transports, because of the people trying to peek into the screen. It’s bit hard to use it in Public, specially crowdy places.

How is swype experience on it? Which mode you prefer while typing, portrait or landscape and why?
Swype is a revolution for Touch screen typing, too good. I prefer portrait since It’s easy to hold the phone in one hand. 

I hope Nokia is listening

What about connectivity? We have not seen lower priced Android at par with Nokia’s level on this, but where SGS stands on it?
SGS has all the Connectivity options available, I use Wireless Tethering and Wifi. It’s the Best in it’s Class of Super phone’s. No complaints.

I hear SGS faces some GPS problems, which is sad thing considering the fact that Google still has much better imagery than Nokia’s in satellite mode at least for India? What you say?
Google Maps and Services are very good for Android, but SGS has the problem of not capturing weak GPS signals. I don’t travel much, even My Nokia E90 doesn’t establish a GPS link at my place due to weak signal. Tried SGS’s GPS while travelling  found it good, tried co-ordinates and Speed check App’s, but SAD it lacks a Navigation option for India like MapmyIndia does for the Galaxy TAB.

Is voice navigation available with SGS? Have you tested it somewhere in some journey etc or in finding some place? What was that experience?
No I haven’t tried the Voice Navigation .

What about the build quality and what you think that could go more better? Like Anodized aluminum etc
Build Quality is very Good and I don’t agree with people saying about the back panel as cheap plastic. It’s a high quality Plastic and shock resistant too. Dropped mine a couple of time and the back panel came to rescue to keep it without dents.

Anodized Aluminum might be good, but I prefer lighter weight more.

Is it loud on calls? What about the music performance?
Call’s Volume is better than my E90, Music performance is very good , tried it against iphone4 ,found mine better than it.

Be honest, if your younger bro ask you for some phone, then considering the price of SGS, will you prefer the same again for him or you have some alternative to it in mind? Which one?
Three of my friend’s have already bought SGS after my feedbacks. I’ll gladly trade my SGS to my Bro to get myself a SGS-2  😉

Do you think SGS can act as a full time phone in your hands or you need some backup phone too .. considering touch screen and battery limitations in mind?
No way , While Travelling , I carry a alternate phone as a backup for Calls. I use Web a lot during travel so can’t risk ending with a dead phone.

What feature(s) are very new and attractive to you on SGS, which you find no where else?
The SAMOLED is one Best thing No other phone has, WIFI-Direct is cool Feature, like the touch screen and Performance 

What you dont like about SGS?
Current Battery Life and sometimes miss the FLASH.

What about Google Services? Obviously most of us love them, but are they data usages efficient? What’s your experience?
Google services are very useful with Android, Gtalk, GMail, Calendar, Maps integration is too good and yes it is data efficient.

Let’s say, you got a SIM with no GPRS and you have to start a fresh piece of SGS without internet, is this really cut then?
Such a world will save a lot of battery for me :). Still I can Use the Awesome Media Features, but that’s true that for SGS is much much more phone with internet, even if not essential.

Gaming Experience.?
Played NFS SHIFT, HAWX, ASPHALT, SANDSTROM. All the big titles are already there. Gaming is fantastic with the large SAMOLED screen and touch response.

Protective Cover..?
No, I don’t use a Screen guard or back panel, but planning to get a back panel to protect accidental scratches. Front screen in other hand is Scratch-Resistant.

Last question, what’s your score about SGS (rating if any..)
9/10

Loved talking to you Naveen. Answers were short and to the point. Some of the doubts got cleared and some get highlighted. Definitely the device in your hands is tempting one when one think of going Android, like you said Android is best when it is used with the best.

Readers, if any questions about SGS, then send them over @rkNaveen on twitter. He is always ready to talk over, when anything comes to Android.

 

So, this was the first taste of Android from a little distance on Layman’s take (unfortunately I haven’t real hands on SGS yet), a warm start for the interviews. Next coming interview would be a full fledged and insightful session with one on the Apple side (definitely a much longer one). So, keep tuned in. I really want to hear more from you. So, just don’t only visit, be a part of the conversation.

photo of Nitish KumarNitish Kumar