Discussion
I concur with that review (the bits I've tried, anyway); I would add:
- the digitiser is much more visible than on the iPhone when held at an angle, not dissimilar to my girlfriend's Nexus 4. Invisible otherwise.
- the edge is a little hard on the ear when using it as a phone.
Overall though, I'm really pleased. Have discovered a flaw in iOS's 'just works' nature because some of my contacts on the iPhone aren't keen to sync with Google... grrr. I also keep trying to press the iPhone's home button, but I guess you don't break the habit of 6 years in a few minutes. Probably going to spend the whole weekend customising the UI.
- the digitiser is much more visible than on the iPhone when held at an angle, not dissimilar to my girlfriend's Nexus 4. Invisible otherwise.
- the edge is a little hard on the ear when using it as a phone.
Overall though, I'm really pleased. Have discovered a flaw in iOS's 'just works' nature because some of my contacts on the iPhone aren't keen to sync with Google... grrr. I also keep trying to press the iPhone's home button, but I guess you don't break the habit of 6 years in a few minutes. Probably going to spend the whole weekend customising the UI.
I got mine this morning. Was trying to resist but needed new shiny toy.... Love the screen, so responsive and it feels great.
One thing I did notice was that my doubletwist alarm didn't go off until I turned the screen on. I think it is something to do with the stamina setting turning everything off when the screen is off. I got it to work when I added the alarm app to the exception list. Just a heads up if you rely on it for notifications.
Also, has anyone else installed Real Racing 3? Looks amazing on the XZ.
One thing I did notice was that my doubletwist alarm didn't go off until I turned the screen on. I think it is something to do with the stamina setting turning everything off when the screen is off. I got it to work when I added the alarm app to the exception list. Just a heads up if you rely on it for notifications.
Also, has anyone else installed Real Racing 3? Looks amazing on the XZ.
Stamina mode just stops things from running when the screen is switched off I believe, will do bugger all whilst it is in use.
You'll probably find because it is more powerful than your previous phone it is barely taxed by something like Angry Birds so power usage should be lower (although the screen will still eat power at an alarming rate)#
I've found my first issue with the phone, average wi-fi reception. It seems to have issues getting a decent signal in places around my home that my Desire HD and laptop have no problems with. I've had similar issues in the past with Apple kit (wifes iPhone, daughters iPod touch, friends iPad).
Also if you are thinking of getting the Z let your fingernails grow for a few days beforehand if you are a biter. Those port covers are fiddly buggers and getting an SD/SIM card in and out is a right PITA.
SWoll said:
I've found my first issue with the phone, average wi-fi reception. It seems to have issues getting a decent signal in places around my home that my Desire HD and laptop have no problems with. I've had similar issues in the past with Apple kit (wifes iPhone, daughters iPod touch, friends iPad).
Has anyone else found any issues with it yet?One thing i have found is that if you hold it with your right hand, your hand covers the speaker. Thankfully i'm left-handed.
Big Worm 1 said:
Has anyone else found any issues with it yet?
One thing i have found is that if you hold it with your right hand, your hand covers the speaker. Thankfully i'm left-handed.
One thing i have found is that if you hold it with your right hand, your hand covers the speaker. Thankfully i'm left-handed.
Only just noticed that. Not a problem for me as would only use the speaker if genuinely "hands free", but funny all the same. Moving your grip slightly gets around it anyway.
I'll say one thing, that speaker is nicely loud and clear though isn't it?
This is currently topping the list for my next phone purchase, got a couple of questions for you early adopters out there;
- I've read from reviews that there's a noticeable lag to starting up the camera, is this really as obvious as the reviews make out or has it been exagerated somewhat?
- Some reviews mention that the phone gets quite hot under heavy use, have any of experienced this?
Ta
- I've read from reviews that there's a noticeable lag to starting up the camera, is this really as obvious as the reviews make out or has it been exagerated somewhat?
- Some reviews mention that the phone gets quite hot under heavy use, have any of experienced this?
Ta
Had a play in the O2 shop, the screen looked great and interface was enjoyable to navigate coning from 3 years with an Iphone but dear god it's huge..... I'll need to go back in and have a second play but I'm bit unsure whether the flashiness can over come the fablet size. However I should get on board as all phones seem to be going 5"
CooperS said:
Had a play in the O2 shop, the screen looked great and interface was enjoyable to navigate coning from 3 years with an Iphone but dear god it's huge..... I'll need to go back in and have a second play but I'm bit unsure whether the flashiness can over come the fablet size. However I should get on board as all phones seem to be going 5"
5" too big?! Yeah right 
Seriously though, you quickly get used to it and then it's hard to go back. My Note 2 feels perfectly normal to me now despite me getting some strange looks when I, ahem, get it out. 5.5" works just fine for me (its what you do with it that counts)
TameRacingDriver said:
5" too big?! Yeah right
Seriously though, you quickly get used to it and then it's hard to go back. My Note 2 feels perfectly normal to me now despite me getting some strange looks when I, ahem, get it out. 5.5" works just fine for me (its what you do with it that counts)
My wife has just ordered a note II and has convinced herslef she will look like she is dainty and has tiny hands!!Seriously though, you quickly get used to it and then it's hard to go back. My Note 2 feels perfectly normal to me now despite me getting some strange looks when I, ahem, get it out. 5.5" works just fine for me (its what you do with it that counts)
Nothing but praise for mine.
It's going to need a bumper though, the glass back makes it a slippery customer, especially coming from my Desire S with a silicone case. I don't want to cover this phone up, so hopefully the official bumper will be a good compromise.
It's fast. The screen is beautiful. The Xperia bloatware is unobtrusive and doesn't try to take over anything. Call quality is crystal clear for me and the person I'm talking to - much, much better than the 2 year old HTC. The camera is superb - Sony's Cybershot phone cameras have always been good, and this is no exception. The 'Superior Intelligent Auto' setting has it all covered, pretty much.
Battery life is BETTER than my old Desire. Day 1: It came out of the packaging at 11am with 60% charge. Installing all my apps, setting it up and playing with it for most of the day off and on, and it still had battery to spare when I went to bed at 10pm. Day 2: Off charge at 8am when I woke up, used much as I would my old phone. WiFi on, checking emails, regular trips to FB and Google+, few texts and calls, eBay and Amazon shopping and some internet use, and it was on around 50% when I went to bed at 10pm. That's WITHOUT Stamina Mode!
Day 3: When I took it off charge at 5am, I went to turn Stamina Mode on, expecting it to struggle for 13 hours at work with no WiFi, but the phone predicted a smidge over 2 days standby! Stamina Mode has stayed off, and I've brought my charger just in case - but I don't expect a problem. And battery life generally improves over the first few charges
It's going to need a bumper though, the glass back makes it a slippery customer, especially coming from my Desire S with a silicone case. I don't want to cover this phone up, so hopefully the official bumper will be a good compromise.
It's fast. The screen is beautiful. The Xperia bloatware is unobtrusive and doesn't try to take over anything. Call quality is crystal clear for me and the person I'm talking to - much, much better than the 2 year old HTC. The camera is superb - Sony's Cybershot phone cameras have always been good, and this is no exception. The 'Superior Intelligent Auto' setting has it all covered, pretty much.
Battery life is BETTER than my old Desire. Day 1: It came out of the packaging at 11am with 60% charge. Installing all my apps, setting it up and playing with it for most of the day off and on, and it still had battery to spare when I went to bed at 10pm. Day 2: Off charge at 8am when I woke up, used much as I would my old phone. WiFi on, checking emails, regular trips to FB and Google+, few texts and calls, eBay and Amazon shopping and some internet use, and it was on around 50% when I went to bed at 10pm. That's WITHOUT Stamina Mode!
Day 3: When I took it off charge at 5am, I went to turn Stamina Mode on, expecting it to struggle for 13 hours at work with no WiFi, but the phone predicted a smidge over 2 days standby! Stamina Mode has stayed off, and I've brought my charger just in case - but I don't expect a problem. And battery life generally improves over the first few charges
I'm going to decide over this weekend whether I'm keeping mine or sending it back. Coming from an iPhone I was rather taken with the screen and no longer being tied into Apple, but I have some issues which I'm not sure I can live with:
- it doesn't sit very comfortably in my pocket
- the wi-if seems a bit flaky; whenever I turn on Facebook it says I have no Internet connection for a while
- not sure I can get used to the settings; it's all very well having easy access to wifi, Bluetooth etc but it seems you can get to the toggles in so many ways, yet logging on to a new wifi network was something I've only managed by chance so far. Still no idea where the option is to choose a network!
- I've found chrome to be very insensitive to touching small buttons, eg page numbers on forum threads. Max zoom is limited which doesn't help. Also, I'm used to touching the top of the screen to zoom to the top; that doesn't seem to happen
- not sure how I'm going to listen to podcasts; can android just auto download them like my iPhone can?
Is all of this (other than physical size) sufficiently customisable to make me happy with it? I'll try to find out for myself over the weekend because it is a lovely device. But then, so is an iPhone, and I know how to use that
- it doesn't sit very comfortably in my pocket
- the wi-if seems a bit flaky; whenever I turn on Facebook it says I have no Internet connection for a while
- not sure I can get used to the settings; it's all very well having easy access to wifi, Bluetooth etc but it seems you can get to the toggles in so many ways, yet logging on to a new wifi network was something I've only managed by chance so far. Still no idea where the option is to choose a network!
- I've found chrome to be very insensitive to touching small buttons, eg page numbers on forum threads. Max zoom is limited which doesn't help. Also, I'm used to touching the top of the screen to zoom to the top; that doesn't seem to happen
- not sure how I'm going to listen to podcasts; can android just auto download them like my iPhone can?
Is all of this (other than physical size) sufficiently customisable to make me happy with it? I'll try to find out for myself over the weekend because it is a lovely device. But then, so is an iPhone, and I know how to use that
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