For a "multimedia" device this sure has some shortcomings!!

**French** · 09-28-2010, 07:39 AM

Am I the only one out there getting very frustrated at how a supposed multimedia-strong device has volume levels all over the map for different applications?

- Google Navigation is flat-out unusable due to the low volume

- To listen to podcasts or music through my cassette adapter in my car I have to have both the media and car volume up to nearly full

-Phone calls that come through while using the cassette adapter are very low in volume in comparison, requiring more manual volume changes.

Coming from a Storm 2 it just feels a bit clunky and unfinished having to constantly tweak volume depending on which output and setting I'm in. In general the output via cassette adapter is entirely too low even with both volumes turned up.

Also, unrelated to volume...I'm almost positive when I bought the original Droid I could have it plugged into my stereo via cassette adapter and if someone called me I could actually hold the handset to my ear and talk into the handset microphone while listening to the incoming call through speaker. In fact I know I could because I was on a trip with my family when some calls came in and I had to unplug the headset so that the converstation was private.

However on the Fascinate while using a cassette adapter, I can hear the person on the other end through my stereo but they can not hear me. The mic is apparently disabled completely.

Is this something that happened with the latest update, or was it like this from the beginning?

One last thing...has anyone noticed a degradation in video quality (playing converted movies) since installing the VZW update?

**storm6610** · 09-28-2010, 08:05 AM

Something tells me that plugging the device in to a Cassette player via an adapter was not in the scope of Samsung's design. Not trying to flame you, let me be clear on that. I just think it isn't a tested scenerio.

I think there have been a ton of forum posts in regards to volume issues and a bunch of apps free in the market to help adjust volumes to the user needs.

With that said, the Fascinate is what a month or so old...if you remember the S2 and how many software updates have come out for it to get it to useable, I would say hang tight as I am sure Samsung with their Galaxy line is planning on addressing these issues in some updates.

For better or worse, we, the user are beta testers of new devices on the market. The high percentage of people who don't know what rooting is, or what an android forum is, are the ones that use the phones without a hitch.

**French** · 09-28-2010, 08:13 AM

Originally Posted by storm6610

Something tells me that plugging the device in to a Cassette player via an adapter was not in the scope of Samsung's design. Not trying to flame you, let me be clear on that. I just think it isn't a tested scenerio.

I think there have been a ton of forum posts in regards to volume issues and a bunch of apps free in the market to help adjust volumes to the user needs.

With that said, the Fascinate is what a month or so old...if you remember the S2 and how many software updates have come out for it to get it to useable, I would say hang tight as I am sure Samsung with their Galaxy line is planning on addressing these issues in some updates.

For better or worse, we, the user are beta testers of new devices on the market. The high percentage of people who don't know what rooting is, or what an android forum is, are the ones that use the phones without a hitch.

I'm definitely in it for the "long haul". I'm frustrated by some of the "multimedia shortcomings", however I still love this phone. After using this for a couple of weeks and having to go to my Storm 2 to get some information off of it, I was ready to throw it across the room. It is SO clunky in comparison (navigating).

I hope Froyo brings some exciting improvements. The beauty of having started off with 2.1 is that Froyo will make it feel like a "new" device all over again. At least I think it will.

ETA: Is using a cassette adapter really that different than a headset? They both use the 3.5 jack.

**Droid2Fascinate** · 09-28-2010, 08:33 AM

Originally Posted by French

One last thing...has anyone noticed a degradation in video quality (playing converted movies) since installing the VZW update?

Coming from a D1 I have to agree with you on sound and video quality out of the box on this phone. I've seen considerable poor video quality in movies converted, but I think it's the software I'm using. I've tried Handbrake with little success. What software are you using?

**French** · 09-28-2010, 09:35 AM

Actually most of the movies I have I downloaded so I didn't have direct control over the original quality. But I feel like the same movies I played before the Verizon update played a bit better. I might just be imagining it though.

**Skyeclad** · 09-28-2010, 10:06 AM

I also feel that the volume for the phone is way too low, especially when listening through the speaker, such as in the navigation software. Is there a program that will allow us to adjust the max volume for the Fascinate?

**storm6610** · 09-28-2010, 12:25 PM

Ringleader, Phoneweaver, and about 40 more. Do a search in the market for "profiles" and a bunch will come up.

I don't know that they actually raise the level though. To me they seem louder, but then again I don't need it to blow me off my seat :P

**Kurolover35** · 09-28-2010, 12:30 PM

Ringleader seems to be a poorer version of Ringroids, I was actually wondering if there were apps that allowed the possible overall volume to be raised, thanks.(for quiet google nav mostly)

**ellisz** · 09-28-2010, 12:47 PM

Not to be a hater but did you say cassette adapter? Those are still around?

**Skyeclad** · 09-28-2010, 01:55 PM

Originally Posted by storm6610

Ringleader, Phoneweaver, and about 40 more. Do a search in the market for "profiles" and a bunch will come up.

I don't know that they actually raise the level though. To me they seem louder, but then again I don't need it to blow me off my seat :P

Thanks but do any of these programs actually raise the maximum volume of the speaker? I saw one program that claimed to raise the volume but required root access and a custom rom. All other seem to just allow you to create custom profiles.

**French** · 09-28-2010, 02:51 PM

Originally Posted by ellisz

Not to be a hater but did you say cassette adapter? Those are still around?

Haha...yes, they sure are. Believe it or not my vehicle has a 6 CD changer along with the cassette player.

**s2h2golf** · 09-28-2010, 03:50 PM

Coming from the Captivate forum. I found this for the Vibrant and it works for the Captivate - might work for the Fascinate too.

**Froalskiner#WN** · 09-28-2010, 04:09 PM

Originally Posted by French

ETA: Is using a cassette adapter really that different than a headset? They both use the 3.5 jack.

Yes, the headset has an extra section on the tip for the mic connection. This could be why it's messing up with the cassette adapter. I picked up a cheap A2DP bluetooth receiver from Dealextreme that I'm going to use instead of the aux cable that I'm currently using.

**rapideyemovement** · 09-28-2010, 04:15 PM

Im not experiencing any of these issues with sound. Then again, I have it connected in my car via bluetooth.

But even still, the volume is just fine with this device. Much better than my iPhone 3G is used to use

**Martian** · 09-28-2010, 07:14 PM

Originally Posted by Droid2Fascinate

Coming from a D1 I have to agree with you on sound and video quality out of the box on this phone. I've seen considerable poor video quality in movies converted, but I think it's the software I'm using. I've tried Handbrake with little success. What software are you using?

I have to respectfully disagree. Video and audio quality on the Fascinate are absolutely amazing. I suspect you are using one of the default presets in handbrake that is at a smaller resolution and lower quality rating than you should be using. Videos encoded with high resolution and high quality settings in handbrake look every bit as good as the DVD. Also the simulated 5.1 sound feature (which I assumed would be a gimik at best) actually sounds really good on the Fascinate.

Please don't blame your phone unless until you are certain you have a high quality source.

Martian

**fwdixon** · 09-28-2010, 07:33 PM

Originally Posted by Monkeysuncle

Yes, the headset has an extra section on the tip for the mic connection. This could be why it's messing up with the cassette adapter. I picked up a cheap A2DP bluetooth receiver from Dealextreme that I'm going to use instead of the aux cable that I'm currently using.

^this.

When you plug something into the headset jack, the phone looks for the mic feed from whatever you have plugged in. So, if you are using a normal stereo connection, then you won't be able to talk. You can probalby find an adapter to connect both a mic and the cassette adapter in to the jack on the phone.

**Skyeclad** · 09-28-2010, 07:36 PM

Originally Posted by s2h2golf

Coming from the Captivate forum. I found this for the Vibrant and it works for the Captivate - might work for the Fascinate too.

I keyed in this code into my dialer and nothing happened.

**French** · 09-28-2010, 07:52 PM

Originally Posted by fwdixon

^this.

When you plug something into the headset jack, the phone looks for the mic feed from whatever you have plugged in. So, if you are using a normal stereo connection, then you won't be able to talk. You can probalby find an adapter to connect both a mic and the cassette adapter in to the jack on the phone.

monkeysuncle and fwdixon...I think you are right. I've seen the adapter you are talking about. So looks like I either keep remembering to put the bluetooth headset in or get the adapter.

**Fyrmedic654** · 10-02-2010, 05:48 PM

Originally Posted by French

Am I the only one out there getting very frustrated at how a supposed multimedia-strong device has volume levels all over the map for different applications?

- Google Navigation is flat-out unusable due to the low volume

- To listen to podcasts or music through my cassette adapter in my car I have to have both the media and car volume up to nearly full

-Phone calls that come through while using the cassette adapter are very low in volume in comparison, requiring more manual volume changes.

Coming from a Storm 2 it just feels a bit clunky and unfinished having to constantly tweak volume depending on which output and setting I'm in. In general the output via cassette adapter is entirely too low even with both volumes turned up.

Also, unrelated to volume...I'm almost positive when I bought the original Droid I could have it plugged into my stereo via cassette adapter and if someone called me I could actually hold the handset to my ear and talk into the handset microphone while listening to the incoming call through speaker. In fact I know I could because I was on a trip with my family when some calls came in and I had to unplug the headset so that the converstation was private.

However on the Fascinate while using a cassette adapter, I can hear the person on the other end through my stereo but they can not hear me. The mic is apparently disabled completely.

Is this something that happened with the latest update, or was it like this from the beginning?

One last thing...has anyone noticed a degradation in video quality (playing converted movies) since installing the VZW update?

I noticed the issue on my first fascinate and also had beyond bad lag issues (coming from a storm2 that says a lot) took it into verizon and they replaced it with a new one. This one works like a champ. also, it might help if you called tech support and did some troubleshooting with them to show that things have bern tried to no avail. Not sure how your local store works, but the store here in Panama City can be difficult when it comes to stuff like this. Not every employee is difficult, some are very helpful. Others leave something to be desired. Hope I helped

**riggsmagic** · 10-02-2010, 08:03 PM

I guess a phone that supports 5.1 sound, doesn't compare enough to any multimedia standard in todays market.

**NickL1185** · 10-02-2010, 10:47 PM

Originally Posted by fwdixon

^this.

When you plug something into the headset jack, the phone looks for the mic feed from whatever you have plugged in. So, if you are using a normal stereo connection, then you won't be able to talk. You can probalby find an adapter to connect both a mic and the cassette adapter in to the jack on the phone.

It doesn't make sense though, because other phones (droid and iphone for example) don't have this issue. If the headphones don't have a mic, it doesn't disable the phone's mic. I don't understand why this particular phone can't tell the difference, or its software just isn't set up to differentiate.

**egg_head** · 10-02-2010, 10:56 PM

I've enjoyed my Fascinate's multimedia features very much.

The built-in equalizer is a great addition to the music player.
Videos on my SD Card play wonderfully on the SAMOLEDas well.

Moreover, I have had no issues with the volume whatsoever.

It's been loud and clear.

[tapatalk on android]

**jaekim717** · 10-04-2010, 10:43 AM

Originally Posted by Droid2Fascinate

Coming from a D1 I have to agree with you on sound and video quality out of the box on this phone. I've seen considerable poor video quality in movies converted, but I think it's the software I'm using. I've tried Handbrake with little success. What software are you using?

hey i am using handbrake as well to convert movies but have been really happy with the quality of the movies. are you selecting to option to have it optimized for an iphone/ipod touch?

**jackmei2** · 10-04-2010, 11:05 AM

I've been using WinFF to convert the movies, and it's been working out really well. Also, keep in mind that the phone does play divx files too...

**2005CTS** · 10-05-2010, 01:51 PM

What is a Cassette Tape? That is what my daughter asked me when it came up a few weeks back. Seriously. You are worried about the tech on your phone but still have a tape deck in your car? I don't use tapes or CDs in the car anymore. I currently either listen to music off my Storm2 or stream Pandora.

Holding out for the Incredible HD as my phone replacement. Hoping that it happens soon...my Storm2 is feeling really old right now.