Need Honest feedback: is this Normal on android OS

[mayconvert]

Ok, I am new to android and need some honest answers here.
I basically use my LG OGP like I would an iPhone. One widget (stock time/weather) and the rest is just normal apps scattered over 3 screens.

Little things are annoying the crap out of me and I need to know if this is NORMAL behavior for android.
I am asking for honest answers up front because I only have 2 days to decide if I am going to keep this phone or trade it for something else, be it another android or go back to iPhone.
I see people all the time on here saying "My S4 doesn't lag AT ALL", "what? lag, Not on my S4"..... yet 7 out of 10 people says the phone lags.

I know its hard to admit that something isn't right when you are a "fan" of something. Android isn't perfect.

here is what's going on:
I use the starbucks app like a Alcoholic uses a bar, Every day. So far, the app crashes at least 1 time a day and in the week with my android device I have had to re log into this app at least 6 times. The app is SLOW as syrup in winter too.
Never once did I have to re log back into the iOS starbucks app, and the app ran fast as hell.
I have deleted the app and started over with logging in. I have signed out and back in on purpose. The app just seems to suck for android.

My Keyboard has 3 choice in settings: Android Keyboard ( AOSP ), Google Voice Typing, and LG Keyboard. All 3 are enabled in settings. (I use stock LG Messaging app)
1-4 times a day, notifications shows a keyboard at the top and it makes me re-chose my "default" keyboard.
It seems to happen when I switch back and forth between text, swipe text and voice text. No matter how many times I chose the default, its sure to ask me again, 1-24 hours later.

Chrome and LG stock browsers are slow when compared to Safari on iOS. And, it's the Only place I can find Any lag at all on the LG OGP.
(not in a horrible way) It would be like comparing desktop browsers; Windows I.E 9 vs Chrome.
Everyone knows Chrome smokes IE for speed. Also, at random, bookmarks default back the the "Partner Bookmarks" and I have to back up 3 paces to get back to MY browser favorites.
btw, I use Chrome 99.99999% of the time because I like it better than the default.

Visual Voicemail: I had to download AT&T app called simply Visual Voicemail. When I go into the app and tap on a voicemail, it takes like 5 seconds to start playing the message.
Drives me crazy because it was INSTANT on iOS. When you have 5 messages to listen to, that adds an extra 30 seconds just to get thru my voicemail.

Calendar: I use a Mac and Calendar on the Mac. I set my default calendar to GMAIL and it has been syncing to my phone calendar which uses the same default calendar GMAIL.
2 days ago, it quit syncing. Nothing has changed. I didn't log out of anything. I didn't change how I added my calendar. it just doesn't work anyone, for no reason at all. .....
I can't have stuf that works part time. I need it to work, every time. The schedule does sync to gmail calendar if I go to calendar tab in Chrome browser, It just simply doesn't go to the phone any more.

Email: I have 2 Gmail accts. One for junk. I don't sync anything to it. One that is a main email. I use the GMAIL email app and at random "sync" is down on ONE acct. "Your emails will appear shortly" umm... never happened on iOS.

G+ , if you have had the app open in the last couple hours and go back into it you have to manually refresh the app ? (hit the double arrows at the top) really? no auto refresh?

That's all the annoying stuff I can think of right of the top of my head. If I think of anything else in the next few minutes, I will edit and add them.

Please let me know if this is just the Norm for android in general. I have 2 days to trade the phone for a different android or head back to iOS. I use my phone for work and schedules and important things. Rooting and changing roms and doing a bunch of custom keyboard installs isn't something I do. I went android to get a bigger screen, but still need 100% reliable functions.

 

[Jennifer Stough]

Ok, I am new to android and need some honest answers here.
I basically use my LG OGP like I would an iPhone. One widget (stock time/weather) and the rest is just normal apps scattered over 3 screens.

Little things are annoying the crap out of me and I need to know if this is NORMAL behavior for android.
I am asking for honest answers up front because I only have 2 days to decide if I am going to keep this phone or trade it for something else, be it another android or go back to iPhone.
I see people all the time on here saying "My S4 doesn't lag AT ALL", "what? lag, Not on my S4"..... yet 7 out of 10 people says the phone lags.

I know its hard to admit that something isn't right when you are a "fan" of something. Android isn't perfect.

here is what's going on:
I use the starbucks app like a Alcoholic uses a bar, Every day. So far, the app crashes at least 1 time a day and in the week with my android device I have had to re log into this app at least 6 times. The app is SLOW as syrup in winter too.
Never once did I have to re log back into the iOS starbucks app, and the app ran fast as hell.
I have deleted the app and started over with logging in. I have signed out and back in on purpose. The app just seems to suck for android.

My Keyboard has 3 choice in settings: Android Keyboard ( AOSP ), Google Voice Typing, and LG Keyboard. All 3 are enabled in settings. (I use stock LG Messaging app)
1-4 times a day, notifications shows a keyboard at the top and it makes me re-chose my "default" keyboard.
It seems to happen when I switch back and forth between text, swipe text and voice text. No matter how many times I chose the default, its sure to ask me again, 1-24 hours later.

Chrome and LG stock browsers are slow when compared to Safari on iOS. And, it's the Only place I can find Any lag at all on the LG OGP.
(not in a horrible way) It would be like comparing desktop browsers; Windows I.E 9 vs Chrome.
Everyone knows Chrome smokes IE for speed. Also, at random, bookmarks default back the the "Partner Bookmarks" and I have to back up 3 paces to get back to MY browser favorites.
btw, I use Chrome 99.99999% of the time because I like it better than the default.

Visual Voicemail: I had to download AT&T app called simply Visual Voicemail. When I go into the app and tap on a voicemail, it takes like 5 seconds to start playing the message.
Drives me crazy because it was INSTANT on iOS. When you have 5 messages to listen to, that adds an extra 30 seconds just to get thru my voicemail.

Calendar: I use a Mac and Calendar on the Mac. I set my default calendar to GMAIL and it has been syncing to my phone calendar which uses the same default calendar GMAIL.
2 days ago, it quit syncing. Nothing has changed. I didn't log out of anything. I didn't change how I added my calendar. it just doesn't work anyone, for no reason at all. .....
I can't have stuf that works part time. I need it to work, every time.

Email: I have 2 Gmail accts. One for junk. I don't sync anything to it. One that is a main email. I use the GMAIL email app and at random "sync" is down on ONE acct. "Your emails will appear shortly" umm... never happened on iOS.

G+ , if you have had the app open in the last couple hours and go back into it you have to manually refresh the app ? (hit the double arrows at the top) really? no auto refresh?

That's all the annoying stuff I can think of right of the top of my head. If I think of anything else in the next few minutes, I will edit and add them.

Please let me know if this is just the Norm for android in general. I have 2 days to trade the phone for a different android or head back to iOS. I use my phone for work and schedules and important things. Rooting and changing roms and doing a bunch of custom keyboard installs isn't something I don't do. I went android to get a bigger screen, but still need 100% reliable functions.

Hello, welcome to android! Man, you have your work cut out for you. While many of those things are without a doubt driving you up a wall, I asure you it is not common on all android devices. I do not have any of the problems you are experiencing. I do not have any suggestions, as much as I wish I could help you. But I will say this, much of the lag you may be feeling can be attributed to the fact that android has a lot more background processes running than ios, and while it is no excuse with the processors and chips we have now a days, some lag may be unavoidable. I hope someone here can give you a little insite on what may be causing this.

Sent from my HTC6435LVW using Android Central Forums

 

[Golfdriver97]

Ok, I am new to android and need some honest answers here.
I basically use my LG OGP like I would an iPhone. One widget (stock time/weather) and the rest is just normal apps scattered over 3 screens.

Little things are annoying the crap out of me and I need to know if this is NORMAL behavior for android.
I am asking for honest answers up front because I only have 2 days to decide if I am going to keep this phone or trade it for something else, be it another android or go back to iPhone.
I see people all the time on here saying "My S4 doesn't lag AT ALL", "what? lag, Not on my S4"..... yet 7 out of 10 people says the phone lags.

I know its hard to admit that something isn't right when you are a "fan" of something. Android isn't perfect.

here is what's going on:
I use the starbucks app like a Alcoholic uses a bar, Every day. So far, the app crashes at least 1 time a day and in the week with my android device I have had to re log into this app at least 6 times. The app is SLOW as syrup in winter too.
Never once did I have to re log back into the iOS starbucks app, and the app ran fast as hell.
I have deleted the app and started over with logging in. I have signed out and back in on purpose. The app just seems to suck for android.

My Keyboard has 3 choice in settings: Android Keyboard ( AOSP ), Google Voice Typing, and LG Keyboard. All 3 are enabled in settings. (I use stock LG Messaging app)
1-4 times a day, notifications shows a keyboard at the top and it makes me re-chose my "default" keyboard.
It seems to happen when I switch back and forth between text, swipe text and voice text. No matter how many times I chose the default, its sure to ask me again, 1-24 hours later.

Chrome and LG stock browsers are slow when compared to Safari on iOS. And, it's the Only place I can find Any lag at all on the LG OGP.
(not in a horrible way) It would be like comparing desktop browsers; Windows I.E 9 vs Chrome.
Everyone knows Chrome smokes IE for speed. Also, at random, bookmarks default back the the "Partner Bookmarks" and I have to back up 3 paces to get back to MY browser favorites.
btw, I use Chrome 99.99999% of the time because I like it better than the default.

Visual Voicemail: I had to download AT&T app called simply Visual Voicemail. When I go into the app and tap on a voicemail, it takes like 5 seconds to start playing the message.
Drives me crazy because it was INSTANT on iOS. When you have 5 messages to listen to, that adds an extra 30 seconds just to get thru my voicemail.

Calendar: I use a Mac and Calendar on the Mac. I set my default calendar to GMAIL and it has been syncing to my phone calendar which uses the same default calendar GMAIL.
2 days ago, it quit syncing. Nothing has changed. I didn't log out of anything. I didn't change how I added my calendar. it just doesn't work anyone, for no reason at all. .....
I can't have stuf that works part time. I need it to work, every time.

Email: I have 2 Gmail accts. One for junk. I don't sync anything to it. One that is a main email. I use the GMAIL email app and at random "sync" is down on ONE acct. "Your emails will appear shortly" umm... never happened on iOS.

G+ , if you have had the app open in the last couple hours and go back into it you have to manually refresh the app ? (hit the double arrows at the top) really? no auto refresh?

That's all the annoying stuff I can think of right of the top of my head. If I think of anything else in the next few minutes, I will edit and add them.

Please let me know if this is just the Norm for android in general. I have 2 days to trade the phone for a different android or head back to iOS. I use my phone for work and schedules and important things. Rooting and changing roms and doing a bunch of custom keyboard installs isn't something I don't do. I went android to get a bigger screen, but still need 100% reliable functions.

Here are some possible explanations:

1. Starbucks: Probably just hasn't spent the time fully developing the app. Not the fault of Android.

2. You can disable your choice of keyboards in Settings>Language and input. The notification isn't the way you think it is. It is more a shortcut if you want to change your input method. Say, an app hates SwiftKey for whatever reason. You can pull the notification panel down and switch easily to another input method.

3. Chrome is probably a little slow because it is loading any flash file links in your search results. Also, every time you do something on Android, it is doing what you want it to, along with several other things, thus cutting into performance.

I can't say anything about the other points. I look at Sync as out of my control, and I don't use any of the rest.

Overall: Remember, it is a different OS. And different Operating Systems have perks and drawbacks. I don't think I could stand to have all my apps on my homescreens, along with no control over what I can do in my computer's file indices. But that is just me....

 

[mayconvert]

I am thinking about trying the S4 simply because if I try a 2nd android device and things don't just work like they should I would be able to sell it outright and buy an iPhone pretty easy.
Bad part is, all this stuff didn't really start showing itself until the last few days. So now I have 2 days to return it and then i'm stuck with it for 2 years if its just normal android behavior.

Would it be safe to say that a 1 month old 16GB AT&T S4 would sell for $500 fairly easy? I work at apple, so I can buy an iPhone 5 outright near that price.

 

[Cattails_r_Edible]

The Google+ plus app stopped auto sync with the last update! I have to manually do it on my one also! Sounds like Starbucks needs to fix their app! As stated above, the keyboard is a shortcut in case you need to change input methods, notice my notification bar as I typed this on my one!

Sent from my HTCONE using Tapatalk 2

 

[anon5664829]

Ok, I am new to android and need some honest answers here.
I basically use my LG OGP like I would an iPhone. One widget (stock time/weather) and the rest is just normal apps scattered over 3 screens.

Little things are annoying the crap out of me and I need to know if this is NORMAL behavior for android.
I am asking for honest answers up front because I only have 2 days to decide if I am going to keep this phone or trade it for something else, be it another android or go back to iPhone.
I see people all the time on here saying "My S4 doesn't lag AT ALL", "what? lag, Not on my S4"..... yet 7 out of 10 people says the phone lags.

I know its hard to admit that something isn't right when you are a "fan" of something. Android isn't perfect.

here is what's going on:
I use the starbucks app like a Alcoholic uses a bar, Every day. So far, the app crashes at least 1 time a day and in the week with my android device I have had to re log into this app at least 6 times. The app is SLOW as syrup in winter too.
Never once did I have to re log back into the iOS starbucks app, and the app ran fast as hell.
I have deleted the app and started over with logging in. I have signed out and back in on purpose. The app just seems to suck for android.

My Keyboard has 3 choice in settings: Android Keyboard ( AOSP ), Google Voice Typing, and LG Keyboard. All 3 are enabled in settings. (I use stock LG Messaging app)
1-4 times a day, notifications shows a keyboard at the top and it makes me re-chose my "default" keyboard.
It seems to happen when I switch back and forth between text, swipe text and voice text. No matter how many times I chose the default, its sure to ask me again, 1-24 hours later.

Chrome and LG stock browsers are slow when compared to Safari on iOS. And, it's the Only place I can find Any lag at all on the LG OGP.
(not in a horrible way) It would be like comparing desktop browsers; Windows I.E 9 vs Chrome.
Everyone knows Chrome smokes IE for speed. Also, at random, bookmarks default back the the "Partner Bookmarks" and I have to back up 3 paces to get back to MY browser favorites.
btw, I use Chrome 99.99999% of the time because I like it better than the default.

Visual Voicemail: I had to download AT&T app called simply Visual Voicemail. When I go into the app and tap on a voicemail, it takes like 5 seconds to start playing the message.
Drives me crazy because it was INSTANT on iOS. When you have 5 messages to listen to, that adds an extra 30 seconds just to get thru my voicemail.

Calendar: I use a Mac and Calendar on the Mac. I set my default calendar to GMAIL and it has been syncing to my phone calendar which uses the same default calendar GMAIL.
2 days ago, it quit syncing. Nothing has changed. I didn't log out of anything. I didn't change how I added my calendar. it just doesn't work anyone, for no reason at all. .....
I can't have stuf that works part time. I need it to work, every time. The schedule does sync to gmail calendar if I go to calendar tab in Chrome browser, It just simply doesn't go to the phone any more.

Email: I have 2 Gmail accts. One for junk. I don't sync anything to it. One that is a main email. I use the GMAIL email app and at random "sync" is down on ONE acct. "Your emails will appear shortly" umm... never happened on iOS.

G+ , if you have had the app open in the last couple hours and go back into it you have to manually refresh the app ? (hit the double arrows at the top) really? no auto refresh?

That's all the annoying stuff I can think of right of the top of my head. If I think of anything else in the next few minutes, I will edit and add them.

Please let me know if this is just the Norm for android in general. I have 2 days to trade the phone for a different android or head back to iOS. I use my phone for work and schedules and important things. Rooting and changing roms and doing a bunch of custom keyboard installs isn't something I do. I went android to get a bigger screen, but still need 100% reliable functions.

Not sure about other Android devices but my YT and AC app occasionally crash. OP if iOS is working the way it should, why switch?

 

[Aquila]

I have to agree with Chetan on this one. As much as we'd love to have you on this team, no Android device is going to be better at being an iPhone than an iPhone is.

The things you are describing are not issues I have but one thing you'll notice with Android, is that the experience on an LG device, a Samsung TouchWiz device or an HTC Sense device can be very different (better and worse for various reasons) from each other, even though they're all Android. I use stock Android (Nexus devices) and find it to be one of the smoothest and simplest versions, but many of the things you're describing seem to be issues rooted in the Apps that you want to use which are likely not going to change with a different device.

I agree with your idea that trying an S4 might be a wise idea to see how much of it is LG versus Android, but honestly, if you're happy with an iPhone and the way thing works in that environment, then that by itself is a pretty compelling argument to use those devices. If you do decide to remain with Android, we'd be happy to help you work through the keyboard, process optimization, etc. issues and get it working for you in the way that you want it as best we can.

 

[mayconvert]

Not sure about other Android devices but my YT and AC app occasionally crash. OP if iOS is working the way it should, why switch?

I switched because I see a billion post a day on apple sites talking about how much better the android is vs apple. I want a bigger screen.
I was just now digging into Accounts and Sync on my phone and it keeps saying "Sync is currently experiencing problems. It will be back shortly"
Last sync was 5/19/2013 so "the problem" is now 7 days old. I even tried force sync. rebooting phone. turning off sync and rebooting, re-enabling and syncing.
Still shows Calendar sync has been down for 7 days.
I like the swipe keyboard, big screen and a few other features. But, I need the phone to work. Not work part time. or parts of it work, parts of it might work later.

 

[anon5664829]

I have to agree with Chetan on this one. As much as we'd love to have you on this team, no Android device is going to be better at being an iPhone than an iPhone is.

The things you are describing are not issues I have but one thing you'll notice with Android, is that the experience on an LG device, a Samsung TouchWiz device or an HTC Sense device can be very different (better and worse for various reasons) from each other, even though they're all Android. I use stock Android (Nexus devices) and find it to be one of the smoothest and simplest versions, but many of the things you're describing seem to be issues rooted in the Apps that you want to use which are likely not going to change with a different device.

I agree with your idea that trying an S4 might be a wise idea to see how much of it is LG versus Android, but honestly, if you're happy with an iPhone and the way thing works in that environment, then that by itself is a pretty compelling argument to use those devices. If you do decide to remain with Android, we'd be happy to help you work through the keyboard, process optimization, etc. issues and get it working for you in the way that you want it as best we can.

I have an issue on my N4 relating to email clients and iOS just does certain things better. OP try an HTC One(that's an amazing phone) It could fix/solve some issues of yours.

 

[mayconvert]

I may trade for HTC. Wife said she would take the HTC if It didn't work for me.

 

[anon5664829]

I switched because I see a billion post a day on apple sites talking about how much better the android is vs apple. I want a bigger screen.
I was just now digging into Accounts and Sync on my phone and it keeps saying "Sync is currently experiencing problems. It will be back shortly"
Last sync was 5/19/2013 so "the problem" is now 7 days old. I even tried force sync. rebooting phone. turning off sync and rebooting, re-enabling and syncing.
Still shows Calendar sync has been down for 7 days.
I like the swipe keyboard, big screen and a few other features. But, I need the phone to work. Not work part time. or parts of it work, parts of it might work later.

Don't fall for all that. Android is not better, not even close to being better and neither is iOS.
Look,try the One and if that doesn't work well back to the iPhone I guess?

 

[_X_]

I use my Starbucks app a lot too, never had a problem with it. Before it felt like a crappy Apple port. But recently they updated it to use the Holo theme and it works even better. The only lag I see is when it's trying to get the card balance but it has always been slow.

The keyboard icon is just a shortcut, one it think is fantastic.

The sync issue I don't know what is going on. Look art accounts and syncs and make sure you have sync enabled. Check this both in a system level and a account level. Sometimes when you battery is low the sync is disabled. Also add a calendar entry manual from Google calendars and see if it syncs. A few years back I note I had a sync ado that creates a calendar item that causes my sync to fail.

As for browser Chrome sucks for performance it just renders well and has a great interface. If you want speed try opera or dolphin they are both great browsers....

based on your other problems it sounds like you have a general sync problem which leads me to believe you've been tinkering with system settings or you installed an app that is doing so

 

[gollum18]

Android devices are made in different factories and the processors usually ship in three or four ranks; slow, normal, fast, and fastest. The speed of your device has a lot to do with what factory it was made in and what batch it's from, as that is what determines what parts are inside if it.

Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk 2

 

[Cattails_r_Edible]

Try updating your profile, it might help with the sync problem! A factory reset can do wonders as a last resort! Also contact you carrier and have them do an over the air reprovisioning!

Sent from my HTCONE using Tapatalk 2

 

[Dark Penguin]

Here are some possible explanations:

1. Starbucks: Probably just hasn't spent the time fully developing the app. Not the fault of Android.

But at least Starbucks does have an app, unlike the Coffee Bean. I haven't had any issues with the Starbucks app except once, when I restored an old image of it from Titanium Backup. The solution was just to check the Play Store for an update -- in the Store, just tap the menu icon or button, then tap "My Apps"; update app as required. That fixed it for me.

BTW Starbucks has rolled out an update in the last day or two which may have fixed its configuration for your device as well.

Overall: Remember, it is a different OS. And different Operating Systems have perks and drawbacks. I don't think I could stand to have all my apps on my homescreens, along with no control over what I can do in my computer's file indices. But that is just me....

Besides that, the biggest difference between iOS and Android is that Android runs on many low-end devices that are limited in the amount of things they can do and the type of websites and other online material they can easily handle. An entry level LG Optimus S, by any objective standard, is going to be not nearly as good as any iOS product, because Apple does not make and sell "entry level" devices. I can't talk about the iPhone from personal experience, but I would expect that, when comparing it to middle- and high-end Android devices it is more a question a matter of personal requirements and preferences, e.g. whether the device you're considering will run the app that you really have to have, or whether you you love iTunes or hate it. And so on.

ETA: IMHO one of the really great things about Android is that you can tweak it to bring about tremendous improvements in the performance of cheaper/smaller/slower devices. It was in doing this that the members here were so helpful to me, in particular.

 

[Dark Penguin]

If you do decide to remain with Android, we'd be happy to help you work through the keyboard, process optimization, etc. issues and get it working for you in the way that you want it as best we can.

I'll second this. There are some incredibly knowledgeable and helpful people in this forum, and they certainly helped me with my first Android device. My second, and current, Android device is so much better than the first one, in every way, that it's a pretty good demonstration of how much better one Android device can be than another.

If you haven't already done so, be sure to check out the specific subforum for your particular phone--their organized by manufacturer then by model. With any luck you should find pages of threads specific to just that device, and probably some answers to your questions.

(Is this your phone?)

 

[friedtators]

It appears you are a apple fan and thats fine. i never owned an apple. i have owned many androids. reading your post one aspect made me curious are you using the same network you used with your apple? does your phone have the correct bands for that network?

 

[sting7k]

I switched because I see a billion post a day on apple sites talking about how much better the android is vs apple. I want a bigger screen.
I was just now digging into Accounts and Sync on my phone and it keeps saying "Sync is currently experiencing problems. It will be back shortly"
Last sync was 5/19/2013 so "the problem" is now 7 days old. I even tried force sync. rebooting phone. turning off sync and rebooting, re-enabling and syncing.
Still shows Calendar sync has been down for 7 days.
I like the swipe keyboard, big screen and a few other features. But, I need the phone to work. Not work part time. or parts of it work, parts of it might work later.

You should worry more about how a phone is going to serve you instead switching just because you see lots of posts that Android is "better". Both have their ups and downs. But no phone is going replicate the experience of an iPhone unless it is an iPhone. I tried to make both my Galaxy Nexus and Nexus 4 "like an iPhone". After some time I realized I really just wanted an iPhone, so that's what I got one again.

You do say you want the big screen. If that is the case I would say stick it out a little longer. Try to find new ways to do things. Instead of trying to replicate the experience on your iPhone setup your Android phone differently. See how the widgets work out or if you even like them. You can get really crazy with Android home screens. I would also say ditch the Optimus and get a Nexus 4. Or wait and get a Galaxy S4 or HTC One with stock Android in the near future.

 

[benhmadison]

The issues you are having are not normal for Android. It sounds like your device just may need a hard reset. Being someone who has used both Android and iOS for years I can tell you that if you just want several things to work perfectly it's hard to beat an iphone. That being said Android has come so far in catching up to the smoothness of iOS. In the end I went exclusively with Android because I just got bored sick with my iphone and got tired of carrying two devices. If you are interested in the customization and openness of Android I would stick it out. I would however recommend trying the Nexus 4/S4 or the HTC One.