Sony Xperia Z

[parapaul]

Jobbo said:

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

For WiFi:

Go to 'Settings' (either pull down the notification bar and the icon is top right, or from the app drawer).
Wi-Fi is the first option in the list. Touch it.
Firstly, touch the menu button (3 dots, bottom right) then 'Advanced' and make sure 'Keep Wifi on during sleep' is set to Always. If it already is, choose one of the other options, then choose Always again, just to make sure. This helps battery life and improves your wifi connection because it won't keep dropping out.

To add a new wifi network, go back one step (bottom left icon) to the WiFi settings again. You will see there a list of all the available networks. Touch one to connect to it, and enter the password if needed.

I don't listen to podcasts, but try an app called OneCast. It's free and has good reviews.

I'm still working with Chrome - haven't had much success with previous phones though. If you don't like it try Opera Mobile or Dolphin (both free) for an internet browser. All the features are pretty standard, but the UI is different, so see which you prefer.

It is quite big, but it's so thin that I don't think pockets are going to be too much of an issue. I see where you're coming from though. Probably just a case of adapting your thigh to feeling a slightly different shape against it? (oo-er )

[Tycho]

justin220 said:

Anyone know when these are available on Orange?

I moved to Orange via Phones 4 U which has the added bonus of no crapware from the carrier as they use unlocked phones.

[Tycho]

Jobbo said:

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

The wifi issue used to happen on my S2 with the Facebook app so I'd put it down to crap app rather than wifi. You can select a new network by going into the settings from the top right icon in the notification drawer and selecting wifi at the top.

[justin220]

Tycho said:

I moved to Orange via Phones 4 U which has the added bonus of no crapware from the carrier as they use unlocked phones.

Good idea. Are they in stock in the shops? Or like iPhones, and need ordered online?

[Tycho]

justin220 said:

Tycho said:

I moved to Orange via Phones 4 U which has the added bonus of no crapware from the carrier as they use unlocked phones.

Good idea. Are they in stock in the shops? Or like iPhones, and need ordered online?

I just walked in and got one. In Reading they had a choice of black or white. The purple one is an O2 exclusive.

[smileymikey]

I've been looking at this today, my Desire S is up for renewal in about four weeks.I work in central London and need to use walking navigation more than any other feature. However with my HTC its more like an app that tells you its waiting for gps while sucking all the life out of your battery in about twenty minutes, while chucking in vague clues about your location to keep you interested. Whats the feedback if any on how useful the latest generation phones are for battery life when using nav apps?

[justin220]

Tycho said:

I just walked in and got one. In Reading they had a choice of black or white. The purple one is an O2 exclusive.

Superb cheers

[CoolC]

Anyone tested the waterproof claims yet?

[Albert Bridge]

HowMuchLonger said:

Not Sony's fault that you are disabled.

[alan-87]

Just got mine today. Been waiting for a suitable upgrade from an iphone 4s for a while. Got to be honest, am struggling a bit with the switchover.

Has anyone got any good "idiot guides to android" they can recommend?
?

[Luke.]

alan-87 said:

Just got mine today. Been waiting for a suitable upgrade from an iphone 4s for a while. Got to be honest, am struggling a bit with the switchover.

Has anyone got any good "idiot guides to android" they can recommend?
?

Struggling how?

[xspencex]

Luke. said:

xspencex said:

I'm due not one but two Xperia-Z's this morning with accompanying headphones. . .due to a c**k up by Carphone Warehouse I now have a contract with O2 and Vodafone. . .should only be the latter.

Looking forward to it and after using an iPhone for a number of years it might take a bit of time to adjust to Android. . .not much work will be done today me thinks. . .

Looking forward to seeing how you find the transition from iPhone and what, if anything, you miss.

Going good, the iPhone 4 seems so sluggish now, not helped by the fact that the latest upgrades have had caused more problems that they have solved, so happy to have moved on. . .Dealing with Android takes a lot more poking about to figure it all out. IOS is much simpler to use but I'm liking the ability to customise and the smoothness of the operating system.. All of the apps I've used used in IOS I've been able to download for the Sony.

What do I miss. . .at the moment the solid feeling from the iPhone4 and the size. . . or rather, it will take time to get used to how huge the Sony is.

Just about to try and get buy iTunes downloaded. . .could be cause for complaint yet. I'm sure apple will not have made this easy to do.

[alan-87]

Luke in answer to your question above. It was mainly with a few of the settings. It's certainly not as simple as the iPhone in terms of 1 settings menu and only a few options.

Having said that I've had more time to play around today and have certainly been able to find my way round a bit easier.

A few frustrations so far, the main one being what's app automatically saving media sent to your conversations. Not great when you've got friends as wrong as mine!

Overall though it's so much quicker on everything, and the swift key keyboard app is amazing! Looking forward to starting to customize home screens etc.

At this moment in time two days in, I can't see myself going back to Apple!

[NomduJour]

Jobbo said:

I'm going to decide over this weekend whether I'm keeping mine or sending it back

I'd give it a few days to get used to - Apple's hardware is still a level above (my S3 is every bit as poorly constructed as I'd feared), but iOS really looks and feels old and restrictive now.

[BlueJazz]

I've been using my Experia Z since Thursday and its so much quicker than my S3. I would recommend it as a improvement over the Samsung.

[Jobbo]

NomduJour said:

Jobbo said:

I'm going to decide over this weekend whether I'm keeping mine or sending it back

I'd give it a few days to get used to - Apple's hardware is still a level above (my S3 is every bit as poorly constructed as I'd feared), but iOS really looks and feels old and restrictive now.

It's had a few days - during which I've kept returning to the iPhone. It's probably just habit now, but I don't want to change so the Sony's being returned tomorrow.

[rsv gone!]

After a weekend with mine, I reckon the battery life CAN be better than my SGS2 - in standby - but if you use the screen it is pretty greedy.

Wifi is less sensitive than my Samsung and my Nexus 7.

I like the 'Throw' option for sharing dnla and bluetooth media. Simpler than the Samsung. Youtube pairs up with my TV fine.

Only downside is the media player doesn't play all codecs. I need to have MX Player as a backup.

[BlueJazz]

CoolC said:

Anyone tested the waterproof claims yet?

I washed mine under the tap and it's still working!

[Tycho]

Hehehe
Liquid testing:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4SaRydpYAlA&fea...

Swimming pool video test:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5MlxybC3iIE

Edited by Tycho on Tuesday 5th March 05:34

[ZesPak]

The_Gza said:

I did wonder if it's going to be a bit too big, but this comparison with the Samsung Galaxy S3 indicates that despite the 5" screen, the overall dimensions are very similar:
http://www.gizmag.com/galaxy-s3-vs-sony-xperia-z/2...

Not to mention, the S4 is rumoured to have a 5" display as well.