Honeycomb 3.1 Initial Impressions

[jiwengang]

If Honeycomb gives every users a mind-blowing experience from Froyo and Gingerbread, Honeycomb 3.1 is quite a update in terms of user experiences.

It improves over quite a number of areas to fix the glitches from here and there due to a first generation OS release.

One phrase to describe it is

Smoothness and responsiveness.

I had a head-to-head comparison with iPad 2 (my friend's) and my Xoom last weekend.

While apps I can find almost what I need from both iOS and Android (tablet compatible), one observable issue is the screen and apps responsiveness. Even my Xoom at that time was overclocked to 1.5G thanks to Tiamat's kernel, it barely matched iPad 2's screen by screen browsing, web page browsing and speed of apps opening etc.

With this 3.1 update, I thought Google hit home run on this front.

Other improvements includes previous mentioned by other folks
1. Recovery boot option appears (from folks who updated "naturally")
2. Under system update , there is a button to hit "check now" , so that we don't need to change system time to force a check everytime.
3. Resizable widgets (Gmail widget tested) is very handy
4. other publicly announced improvements.

Still exploring features now, rooted with instructions from this link:

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1073884

Thanks stachre!

Will post a quick review with more screenshots on website. =)

Happy xooming folks!!!

 

[KerryG]

Along with your points, I like that the recent apps bar now scrolls as well.

 

[el_bori1]

The YouTube app looks awesome in HD.

Sent from my Xoom using Tapatalk

 

[Mandelbrot.Benoit]

Bluetooth sucks. My keyboard keeps dropping when the mouse is connected. Other than that this thing seems great. Just waiting for some new kernels to drop now!

 

[flippingout]

The new Quick Controls in the browser are fantastic. Overall the browser is much more responsive.

I've also noticed the keyboard lag seems to be gone.

Other differences are minor....
- the selection carrot when typing is more green
- the keyboard clicks as you type
- the Wi-Fi icon shows when you are uploading, downloading

I'm sure I will find more but its only been an hour since I flashed.

Sent from my Xoom using XDA Premium App

 

[Windstep]

I'm wondering if you guys could test and see if the portrait lag is still there?

When you are in portrait mode, does sliding left or right in the home screen still lag? Thanks!

 

[jiwengang]

I'm wondering if you guys could test and see if the portrait lag is still there?

When you are in portrait mode, does sliding left or right in the home screen still lag? Thanks!

1. yes. I think it is considered lag.

2. no, not at all.

 

[jiwengang]

The new Quick Controls in the browser are fantastic. Overall the browser is much more responsive.

I've also noticed the keyboard lag seems to be gone.

Other differences are minor....
- the selection carrot when typing is more green
- the keyboard clicks as you type
- the Wi-Fi icon shows when you are uploading, downloading

I'm sure I will find more but its only been an hour since I flashed.

Sent from my Xoom using XDA Premium App

Also in Market, you can choose "app content filter". Damn I can't select "High Maturity" alone.

 

[Windstep]

Thanks jiwengan for the quick reply. Not exactly sure how I should interpret your answer though? Are you saying that there is no lag when in portrait mode anymore? Thanks again!

 

[c0t0d0s2]

Can you actually rate apps in the market on Honeycomb yet?

 

[DroidHam]

What quick controls in the browser? Mine looks the exact same

 

[jblalock]

What quick controls in the browser? Mine looks the exact same

Quick controls look just like the ones that were already present in labs.

 

[timrock]

do you still have to be rooted to use a screenshot app?

 

[mwaychoff]

I'm liking the performance enhancements.

For the browser quick controls, just to go settings in the browser, advanced and google labs.

I don't see any addition to leave comments yet in the market though.

Sent from my Xoom using Tapatalk

 

[DroidHam]

Quick controls look just like the ones that were already present in labs.

in labs? So what exactly changed in 3.1? People keep saying they love the new browser but i dont see it any diff?

 

[deeotee]

Labs is a section in the browser options where you have a few options to alternate your UI for example. One of which are the quick controls.

And they changed a bit so they got even better. Just try them...

 

[RadDudeTommy]

Thanks jiwengan for the quick reply. Not exactly sure how I should interpret your answer though? Are you saying that there is no lag when in portrait mode anymore? Thanks again!

He got confused on your questions.

his answer number 1 which was no, meant that when you actually turn it from horizontal to portrait, it still lags slightly before changing the screen orientation..

and his number 2 was to answer your actual question, which according to him is yes, it runs smoother than before.....

I'd like to see this for myself, but I'M STILL WAITING!

 

[rdillz]

Thanks jiwengan for the quick reply. Not exactly sure how I should interpret your answer though? Are you saying that there is no lag when in portrait mode anymore? Thanks again!

Portrait is smoother, but still not as smooth as landscape on mine. The update is fantastic though. Overall performance is better. The quick controls redefine tabbed browsing to me. No complaints.

 

[KerryG]

The quick controls are two "rows" thick now instead of 1 and there are a few more controls. It is more definitely different from before as I used the quick controls heavily and noticed the change instantly. Overall a much nicer experience.

 

[logic88]

Has media playback improved? I'm mostly interested in how HC 3.1 does with scene HD TV show MKVs (720p with H264/AC3).

Thanks.