Just got the Photon -- here are some issues I have found

[HBtC]

Hey guys. So I just got the Photon and I honestly don't like it. I got it as a holdover til the Epic Touch 4G comes out and now I hope that falls within the 30 day window. Maybe I'm struggling because it's my first Android phone, but I learn this crap pretty quickly and don't think that's the issue.

Anyway:

1) The charger cable is short and thick, so it's not flexible.
2) When the charger cable is plugged in, you cannot properly use the kickstand. WHY??
3) Phone eats up battery, but I know that's not just this phone.
4) Keeps telling me to reconnect to my Wifi network and doesn't let me just save it...
5) The screen often will go either vertical or horizontal when I don't want it to and can be pretty delayed in getting on the right side.

Anyone else have these issues?

 

[Mikest]

1) buy another cable if you don't like the factory one. Monoprice has them incredibly cheap.
2) The kickstand works both ways in landscape, turn the phone so the USB port is facing up.
3) Do you have 4G on? If you're not in a 4G area turn it off. I'm only running 3G but I'm getting about 12 hours plus between charge which is insane for a smart phone, especially with a 4.3 inch screen.
4) Have not had this issue
5) Ditto.

 

[HBtC]

As far as the kickstand, it doesn't work the same way when the USB port is up. It's simply not as sturdy. Also, I don't have 4G on, however, I have been downloading a **** ton of apps so that could be doing it. Good suggestion with the cable though.

 

[mcp6530]

I usually turn off the auto change mode so that it doesn't go to landscape unless i tell it to...try that.

 

[Mike77]

As far as the kickstand, it doesn't work the same way when the USB port is up. It's simply not as sturdy. Also, I don't have 4G on, however, I have been downloading a **** ton of apps so that could be doing it. Good suggestion with the cable though.

Phones are doing this on purpose, I think the Thunderbolt was first and others are following. They want to push people to buy docks.

 

[fintablayze]

the kickstand is actually extremely sturdy either way you have it, even in portrait which is cool for video calls. The issue with battery.. This is android we're talking about. It needs to adapt to your uses. When I first had the photon I too was only getting about 12 hours, but after a couple weeks I've been regularly getting over 24 hours on a charge, and this is with normal to heavy usage with wifi/3g constantly on and GPS always on. Just give it some time.

 

[fintablayze]

Phones are doing this on purpose, I think the Thunderbolt was first and others are following. They want to push people to buy docks.

and that's exactly my thought.

 

[truckerj93455]

if ur using a Advanced Task Cleaner uninstall it i was only geting 6 hours with it on my phone now that i took it out i am geting 10 plus hours i use system panel user the task kill that comes with the phone

 

[anon(171363)]

For the WiFi issue where it keeps disconnecting I had this same problem. I found a fix for it though that works well now.

1. Go to Settings.
2. Wireless & Networks
3. Wi-Fi Settings
4. Press the Menu Button and select Advanced
5. Select Wi-Fi Sleep Policy and change it to Never.

This should fix the problem with the WiFi constantly dropping and taking forever to reconnect.

 

[sjamie]

For the WiFi issue where it keeps disconnecting I had this same problem. I found a fix for it though that works well now.

1. Go to Settings.
2. Wireless & Networks
3. Wi-Fi Settings
4. Press the Menu Button and select Advanced
5. Select Wi-Fi Sleep Policy and change it to Never.

This should fix the problem with the WiFi constantly dropping and taking forever to reconnect.

Would doing this drain the battery since Wifi would always be active the majority of the day even when the screen is off?

 

[mcp6530]

wifi depletes your battery much much slower than 3g or 4g does. of course if you have no wifi connection, don't just leave it on for no reason! but if you have wifi, leave it on all the time if you want data!

 

[anon(171363)]

Mcp6530 is right. Plus having it constantly search and try to connect to wifi will drain it. I haven't noticed much change in my battery life and know it hasn't become any worse.

 

[slag02]

Would doing this drain the battery since Wifi would always be active the majority of the day even when the screen is off?

It would depend on how good of wifi signal you had - if it was a weak signal / slower than 3g connection it could be detrimental but if it is a strong signal the entire time it can be very beneficial

 

[fintablayze]

Actually I've read that having WiFi sleep policy on "never" is actually better, since its not constantly going in out. Its never done me wrong.

 

[zeravla531]

Hey guys. So I just got the Photon and I honestly don't like it. I got it as a holdover til the Epic Touch 4G comes out and now I hope that falls within the 30 day window. Maybe I'm struggling because it's my first Android phone, but I learn this crap pretty quickly and don't think that's the issue.

Anyway:

1) The charger cable is short and thick, so it's not flexible.
2) When the charger cable is plugged in, you cannot properly use the kickstand. WHY??
3) Phone eats up battery, but I know that's not just this phone.
4) Keeps telling me to reconnect to my Wifi network and doesn't let me just save it...
5) The screen often will go either vertical or horizontal when I don't want it to and can be pretty delayed in getting on the right side.

Anyone else have these issues?

1) As someone else suggested, you can purchase a longer one. But yes, the stock one sucks.
2) I flip mine over without problems, i find the kickstand sturdy both ways.
3) My battery has been stellar, better than the 3D I had and MUCH better than the Epic. I'd check your settings and if there's a rogue app keeping your phone from sleeping.
4) As someone suggested, change the WiFi sleep policy to never. Then shut off WiFi when you're not using it.
5) Sometimes happens with me, you can change rotation to manual. I think there's a sensitivity setting, i could be wrong.

 

[coolqf]

Hey guys. So I just got the Photon and I honestly don't like it. I got it as a holdover til the Epic Touch 4G comes out and now I hope that falls within the 30 day window. Maybe I'm struggling because it's my first Android phone, but I learn this crap pretty quickly and don't think that's the issue.

Anyway:

1) The charger cable is short and thick, so it's not flexible.
2) When the charger cable is plugged in, you cannot properly use the kickstand. WHY??
3) Phone eats up battery, but I know that's not just this phone.
4) Keeps telling me to reconnect to my Wifi network and doesn't let me just save it...
5) The screen often will go either vertical or horizontal when I don't want it to and can be pretty delayed in getting on the right side.

Anyone else have these issues?

My impressions:
1) These are pros for me. I have a lot of long and thin cables. With this one, I can keep it by my laptop and use it to plug my phone. Less clutter!
2)Ditto.
3) I am coming from an EPIC 4G, and I think the battery on this phone rocks! Something to try, look at running apps, and consider uninstalling them.
4)Someone suggested a fix. Try it out and see if it works for you. Also, if your wifi security isn't already at WPA2, consider boosting it to that. Sometimes this helps.
5)I noticed this too, but it's less sensitive than my EPIC 4G, so I'm happy.

 

[junebug72]

i just bought the photon and was wondering if anyone has had this issue.... i tap app icons and phone does not respond.. i hit search does nothing. i can scroll through screens but apps dont respond. factory reset it and nothing. thx for any info

 

[aaron130]

For the screen rotation it's simple, that was bugging me too till I found the setting. Go to settings,display, and UNCHECK Auto-rotate screen.

 

[Puzzlegal]

1) The charger cable is short and thick, so it's not flexible.

I have never used the stock cable, as it's compatible with the cables I'd already set up for my last phone.

2) When the charger cable is plugged in, you cannot properly use the kickstand. WHY??

The kickstand works okay for me both ways.

3) Phone eats up battery, but I know that's not just this phone.

All smartphones do this. The bigger and brighter the screen, the worse it's likely to be. Drives me nuts. Mine lasts about 12 hours with moderate use and a mediocre data signal, and people seem to think that's good. Seidio plans to make an extended life battery. That may require a special back that makes the phone fatter and heavier.

4) Keeps telling me to reconnect to my Wifi network and doesn't let me just save it...

I sometimes get messages, but it reconnects okay on its own, so I ignore them. It is annoying, though.

5) The screen often will go either vertical or horizontal when I don't want it to and can be pretty delayed in getting on the right side.

I swapped phones on an attempt to fix the "no sound on phone" problem. (or to signal to motorola that it was a serious problem.) My second unit is much worse this way than the first was. It seems to have an overly sensitive kickstand. I don't use "kickstand mode", so I disabled it, and that has pretty much solved the problem.

 

[Citizen Coyote]

i just bought the photon and was wondering if anyone has had this issue.... i tap app icons and phone does not respond.. i hit search does nothing. i can scroll through screens but apps dont respond. factory reset it and nothing. thx for any info

If your screen isn't responding even after a factory reset, take it back! That is *not* how any touch smartphone should behave.

Also, if you have a screen protector, make sure it isn't some weird, super-thick off-brand job. That's the only non-hardware reason I can think of for the behavior you describe.