Ouch!

[adriandb]

Yep. I'm sure I'll be full-timing the GS4 for a while. Welcome to my world.

yeah, sounds terrible...

 

[madlaw1071]

Yep. I'm sure I'll be full-timing the GS4 for a while. Welcome to my world.

How about you come practice law in South Florida for awhile and I play with the latest and greatest Android products? Seems like a fair swap and I'll be you get paid better.

 

[SCjRqrQCnBQ19QoYCtdl]

I also saw an Assoc. Press reviewer yesterday with almost the same title as this blogger. Great hardware, crappy software. The AP guy then went on to complain about the phone having too many homescreens and the IR blaster being difficult to set up. Claimed the camera didn't match his iPhone. No discussion of the F2 lens, OIS, or Zoe. the AP reviewer Sounded like a iPhone user that doesn't understand android and looking for negative things to write, but didn't spend any time with the device.

 

[BigDinCA]

To complain about the menu bar while calling yourself the "gadget consumer" is disengenuous at best. The entire first paragraph is flat-out wrong. HTC removed the menu button last year, in accordance w/ ICS standards. Lots of apps still hadn't come around so they updated the software to allow a different button to perform the menu button function. That was nice. But how long do we have to hear people complain about hardware when the software developers are doing you wrong there? When he says things like "The problem is that you don't know how long it will take for developers to redesign their apps to conform with the new standards.", I realize that I'm reading a blog from someone who isn't well versed in his subject, but wants you to think he is. This isn't a new standard. It's been around for over a year and a half. Don't blame the device for adhering to the standard Google put in place that long ago. Paying short lip service to the responsibility of app developers at the end of the rant is bogus. The full responsibility is on them.

I do agree with the notification bar: I would love to see the power control toggles there. HTC has a nice power control widget, but that requires real estate on a home screen that some people don't want to use for something that really would be better as a permanent feature in the drop-down notifications. I haven't seen anyone else complain about responsiveness of the home key (including the staff here at AC, who I tend to trust a little more) and the physical home button he compares it to wasn't on the US versions of the GS2, so that comparison is moot for us here in the states.

I would like the ability to change the system font without root, but only Sammy and LG do that, that I am aware of. The other customizations that he complains about make no sense. It seems he's a guy who likes to play with his phone. Like all of us here. But he doesn't realize that the clock/weather widget (while annoying and unnecessary in the app drawer, I would agree) disappears as you scroll? And being the device-tinkerer he is, he doesn't mention the default layout of the drawer (that he doesn't like) is easily changed? And because he couldn't remove the app drawer from the dock he installs a new launcher, then complains that he couldn't use BlinkFeed because of the new launcher, then complains that he can't get rid of BlinkFeed... alrighty, then! As for the gallery, I've been using Sense for years and actually like their gallery app. It's gotten much better over the years, but I am probably just used to it. My wife has a GS3 and doesn't like to navigate through my pics because the gallery is different from hers. Not worse or better - just different.

It's not going to be perfect. No UI is. Not Sense or Motoblur or TouchWiz. Hell, even vanilla Android isn't great for lots of folks, myself included. It's all about opinions and choice and I don't begrudge this guy his opinions. But maybe the blog post should have been titled more accurately. Like "I took my HTC One out of the box and it didn't have TouchWiz on it so I'm taking it back."

 

[L1V3RB1RD]

thses are some lame points not to buy this phone, no phone is perfect and besides its only software, future update might fix these

 

[qnet]

The way I look at it, if you see a black menu bar in an app, the app isn't worth using. If you stick to well written apps built by developers who know what they're doing, not only will there be no black menu bar, but you'll probably have a more enjoyable experience all around. The only app on my phone with legacy menu button support is the Bank of America app.

As for the settings toggles, I have a strong suspicion the One will get something very similar to the stock Android toggles introduced in 4.2 when the One is updated to 4.2.

The more I read that review, the more I laugh. He complains about the app drawer button being on the dock. Hellooo, welcome to Android! He complains about there not being enough settings, but then conveniently doesn't mention the setting to change the app drawer grid to 4x5 after complaining that it's only 3x4.

I don't have any apps I can think of that uses that black bar and I have over 100 apps installed on most of my phones.

Yep. I'm sure I'll be full-timing the GS4 for a while. Welcome to my world.

Ha! Ha! I will be doing the same thing, the only difference is I don't get review units and have to pay for mine.

 

[L1V3RB1RD]

Florida ? most of America doesn't care what people from Florida have to say

 

[JHBThree]

Most people looking for an Android flagship will compare the One and S4/Note2. Thus, his comparisons are valid. Sure it may come down to personal preference but some of his complaints seem quite legit.

His complaints are all his personal preference and his own stupidity.

Sent from my HTC6435LVW using Tapatalk 2

 

[adriandb]

thses are some lame points not to buy this phone, no phone is perfect and besides its only software, future update might fix these

That was kinda what I was thinking. I mean, if these are the biggest complaints about the phone then I'm psyched to have preordered it.

 

[madlaw1071]

That was kinda what I was thinking. I mean, if these are the biggest complaints about the phone then I'm psyched to have preordered it.

It really boils down to the sub-par camera on the One for me. Everything else is not as big a deal. Virtually EVERY review points out that the camera, particularly in daylight, fails to keep up with last year's flagships, let alone the S4.

 

[adriandb]

It really boils down to the sub-par camera on the One for me. Everything else is not as big a deal. Virtually EVERY review points out that the camera, particularly in daylight, fails to keep up with last year's flagships, let alone the S4.

Meh, we're reading different reviews then. What I've read is either split or states that the camera is OK, but doesn't live up to the hype. One area that just about every review agrees on is that the digital zoom sucks on this thing, which is to be expected with a 4mp camera.

 

[madlaw1071]

Meh, we're reading different reviews then. What I've read is either split or states that the camera is OK, but doesn't live up to the hype. One area that just about every review agrees on is that the digital zoom sucks on this thing, which is to be expected with a 4mp camera.

Wait, what? We are reading the same reviews, obviously. The camera is a weak spot on the One vs. the competition. For me, the camera is more important than stereo speakers or a sexy case. Everyone is different.

 

[abstrak]

Anyone know what app adds the toggles?

Sent from my HTC One

I *think* I got them with Power Toggles, IIRC. I used app-based toggles for a few days, before I updated to a ROM that included the functionality. There are other apps that do this, if you prefer a different app.

 

[adriandb]

Wait, what? We are reading the same reviews, obviously.

What are you looking at my browsing history?

I'm not going to pass judgement on this camera yet because I've seen pics that look OK, pics that look not OK and pics that look amazing all supposedly taken with this camera. That tells me that it's possible to take great shots, so the camera is capable. It's just not clear to me what, if any, the weak points of this camera are. Aside from the digital zoom of course, but that whole concept is flawed; it's always sucked. The issue is more significant on a 4mp camera, but it's nothing new.

 

[madlaw1071]

What are you looking at my browsing history?

I'm not going to pass judgement on this camera yet because I've seen pics that look OK, pics that look not OK and pics that look amazing all supposedly taken with this camera. That tells me that it's possible to take great shots, so the camera is capable. It's just not clear to me what, if any, the weak points of this camera are. Aside from the digital zoom of course, but that whole concept is flawed; it's always sucked. The issue is more significant on a 4mp camera, but it's nothing new.

Uh no, just reading what you wrote where you acknowledge that the reviews say the camera is OK but doesnt live up to the hype. I read the same reviews.

 

[SCjRqrQCnBQ19QoYCtdl]

Wait, what? We are reading the same reviews, obviously. The camera is a weak spot on the One vs. the competition. For me, the camera is more important than stereo speakers or a sexy case. Everyone is different.

I think that is a terrible conclusion. We will have to wait and see, but there is no reason that the camera should be worse for typical uses. Typical uses are sharing online, by email or perhaps even some small prints if you get a snap you like.

There are, however, several reasons it should be better for these uses -

1) smaller file size which means a) less storage, b) faster processing by
the phone c) more frames per second d) zoe
2) Optical image stabilization
3) faster lens
4) larger pixels

There are plenty of great photos out there already taken with the One. There are also a bunch of crappy photos. This just means there are a lot of crappy photographers and people who don't know what they are doing.

Now, will the 13mp camera with a slower lens and no OIS take better shots with good light if viewed at full resolution (i.e. zoomed into)? They better because good light takes away all the advantages of the One. Then zooming plays to the strength of the 13mp camera. However, if I want a good picture that I can zoom into, crop, or for important occassions, I am not going to be using any cell phone camera, but instead a DSLR or my RX100 (maybe).

 

[Russ Smith]

What are you looking at my browsing history?

I'm not going to pass judgement on this camera yet because I've seen pics that look OK, pics that look not OK and pics that look amazing all supposedly taken with this camera. That tells me that it's possible to take great shots, so the camera is capable. It's just not clear to me what, if any, the weak points of this camera are. Aside from the digital zoom of course, but that whole concept is flawed; it's always sucked. The issue is more significant on a 4mp camera, but it's nothing new.

I like the canera, perfect for my needs, would have preferred a few more megapixels but it needs to be on the low side for the zoes, which most my shots now are

Sent from my HTC One

 

[madlaw1071]

I think that is a terrible conclusion. We will have to wait and see, but there is no reason that the camera should be worse for typical uses. Typical uses are sharing online, by email or perhaps even some small prints if you get a snap you like.

There are, however, several reasons it should be better for these uses -

1) smaller file size which means a) less storage, b) faster processing by
the phone c) more frames per second d) zoe
2) Optical image stabilization
3) faster lens
4) larger pixels

There are plenty of great photos out there already taken with the One. There are also a bunch of crappy photos. This just means there are a lot of crappy photographers and people who don't know what they are doing.

Now, will the 13mp camera with a slower lens and no OIS take better shots with good light if viewed at full resolution (i.e. zoomed into)? They better because good light takes away all the advantages of the One. Then zooming plays to the strength of the 13mp camera. However, if I want a good picture that I can zoom into, crop, or for important occassions, I am not going to be using any cell phone camera, but instead a DSLR or my RX100 (maybe).

This is nonsensical. First you assume most people will use the camera for the uses you listed. Second, you admit yet discount digital zooming. Many people zoom and crop cell phone pics and the One clearly falls short. Third, review after review, even the ones that call the One the best Android smartphone ever point out the the One's camera has issues.

 

[SCjRqrQCnBQ19QoYCtdl]

This is nonsensical. First you assume most people will use the camera for the uses you listed. Second, you admit yet discount digital zooming. Many people zoom and crop cell phone pics and the One clearly falls short. Third, review after review, even the ones that call the One the best Android smartphone ever point out the the One's camera has issues.

Whatever dude. If you don't want the phone that is fine. You already made up your mind so why are you posting here? If you want to post 100% crops of your cell phone pictures, and you only take pictures in good light, then you probably will be better off with a 13mp camera phone.

I really don't think that is typical use. Anyone making significant crops/zooms of a cell phone picture just doesn't care much about the quality of the outcome in the first place.

 

[madlaw1071]

Whatever dude. If you don't want the phone that is fine. You already made up your mind so why are you posting here? If you want to post 100% crops of your cell phone pictures, and you only take pictures in good light, then you probably will be better off with a 13mp camera phone.

I really don't think that is typical use. Anyone making significant crops/zooms of a cell phone picture just doesn't care much about the quality of the outcome in the first place.

Where did I say I made up my mind? Actually I want a phone with a well-rounded camera that takes good pics in all conditions, for all uses. Yes most of my pics are in good lighting so a phone that lags the competition in good lighting is not ideal.