just read this

[mdram-omnia]

http://www.pcworld.com/article/204936/samsung_fascinate_crashes_verizons_droid_party.html?tk=hp_new


Unfortunately, not all is peachy when wireless carriers and handset makers start messing with the stock Android experience. Reviews of the Fascinate by Slashgear and Engadget note that the phone uses Bing as its default search engine, not Google - probably more fallout from the cozy Bing-Verizon relationship. That wouldn't be so egregious if you could switch search widgets at will, but alas, the only way to remove Bing is by hacking the phone.


Verizon also swapped in its own Navigator app for Google's free navigation as the default for providing directions, but at least this can be changed in the phone's settings.

 

[emplox]

http://www.pcworld.com/article/204936/samsung_fascinate_crashes_verizons_droid_party.html?tk=hp_new


Unfortunately, not all is peachy when wireless carriers and handset makers start messing with the stock Android experience. Reviews of the Fascinate by Slashgear and Engadget note that the phone uses Bing as its default search engine, not Google - probably more fallout from the cozy Bing-Verizon relationship. That wouldn't be so egregious if you could switch search widgets at will, but alas, the only way to remove Bing is by hacking the phone.


Verizon also swapped in its own Navigator app for Google's free navigation as the default for providing directions, but at least this can be changed in the phone's settings.

True...however i'm not worried. It has a better cpu/gpu/screen than any other android device on vzw right now. I will be rooting and using vanilla and loving it.

 

[mackeydesigns]

True...however i'm not worried. It has a better cpu/gpu/screen than any other android device on vzw right now. I will be rooting and using vanilla and loving it.

qft

+1 for me as well.

If you're on XDA complaining about Bing and all the other garbage that comes on the phone, you're preaching to the wrong people.

 

[a62gtypek]

qft

+1 for me as well.

If you're on XDA complaining about Bing and all the other garbage that comes on the phone, you're preaching to the wrong people.

word, hahahahaha

 

[minedune]

Ok, I've been wanting a Galaxy S variant for a long time now and of the versions available in the US I like the Fascinate the most (I am CERTAINLY wating for confrimation the GPS falw is fixable though before buying). However, this Bing **** is just too much. I don't want to have to root a phone that should aready be MINE, but it's looking like I will have no choice here. Problem is....I'm a super noob and have never rooted any phone ever and don't want to brick it.

So, I need to start reading. Can someone point me to what you think is a really good comprehensive overview of the methods and implications (warranty?, future updates?, reversion to stock os if rom is modded? etc. etc. etc.) involved in rooting a phone. The more exhaustive, detailed and authoritative the source, the better. Thx guise.

 

[mackeydesigns]

Ok, I've been wanting a Galaxy S variant for a long time now and of the versions available in the US I like the Fascinate the most (I am CERTAINLY wating for confrimation the GPS falw is fixable though before buying). However, this Bing **** is just too much. I don't want to have to root a phone that should aready be MINE, but it's looking like I will have no choice here. Problem is....I'm a super noob and have never rooted any phone ever and don't want to brick it.

So, I need to start reading. Can someone point me to what you think is a really good comprehensive overview of the methods and implications (warranty?, future updates?, reversion to stock os if rom is modded? etc. etc. etc.) involved in rooting a phone. The more exhaustive, detailed and authoritative the source, the better. Thx guise.

The current Galaxy S variants have a one click root application. You download it, run it, your phone is now rooted. Rooting it simply opens it to do whatever the hell you want. The norm is to find a stripped ROM (also known as vanilla aka plain) and run the phone at its maximum speeds with no frills or fancy eye candy widgets.

The other spectrum is, to root the phone and do what you want, paint the walls pink, add the latest moby song as your ring tones, install custom ROM's, it's up to you.

I'm not the least bit worried about Bing, even if google is locked out of the stock phone, it probably won't be very hard to fix. It's hard to deny the fact that outside of that issue, this is Verizon's best phone (obviously up for argument, but the screen, come on).

 

[ibegary]

qft

+1 for me as well.

If you're on XDA complaining about Bing and all the other garbage that comes on the phone, you're preaching to the wrong people.

hahaha +1. Also sig worthy.

 

[Jodiuh]

Actually the screen is the only think keeping me from this phone. I got a chance to play with one for awhile last night and compare it w/ my D2. The quality of text on the new SAMOLED display is not good. The best way to describe it is an old dot matrix printer. My eyes were actually fatigued from trying to focus and refocus on blurry text. The D2 on the other hand was quite sharp and very easy on the eyes.

Just something to be mindful of if you're one w/ sensitive eyes or don't like fuzzy text. Other than that, it feels very solid in the hand. And I experienced zero lag at any time. Even w/ touchwiz/bing, it made my D2 look like a go-bot.

 

[orateam]

Actually the screen is the only think keeping me from this phone. I got a chance to play with one for awhile last night and compare it w/ my D2. The quality of text on the new SAMOLED display is not good. The best way to describe it is an old dot matrix printer. My eyes were actually fatigued from trying to focus and refocus on blurry text. The D2 on the other hand was quite sharp and very easy on the eyes.

Just something to be mindful of if you're one w/ sensitive eyes or don't like fuzzy text. Other than that, it feels very solid in the hand. And I experienced zero lag at any time. Even w/ touchwiz/bing, it made my D2 look like a go-bot.

What?

I have a droid 2, been using it for about 3 weeks. Have you actually seen an AMOLED screen before side by side next to the droid 2? Text is 1000000 times superior on the AMOLED. Images and movies even more. It even has a higher resolution even thought the AMOLED doesn't need higher res.

 

[Jodiuh]

Yes, I've seen one. Yes, I've put the D2 side by side w/ my Zune HD, the Captivate, Vibrant, Epic, and Fascinate. Text on the (S)AMOLED's will never be as sharp as long as the current pentile matrix is being used. It's actually not even 800x400, but 653x392 because each pixel contains only 2 subpixels alternating b,g r,g vs a typical LCD w/ r,g,b r,g,b.

It's fast, responsive, and has inky blacks, but it doesn't do white, proper color, or sharp text. Side by side, text on the D2 IS sharper than any of the Galaxies.

It works for my Zune HD because I'm only watching movies or scrolling around tracks...in black menus. There's no reading going on there. For a phone you're going to do a lot of reading on, it's just not suitable.

IMO, the iPhone 4's display is the perfect match for a phone. It's very bright and extremely clear...like reading paper...from a laser, not a dot matrix like the Galaxy. It's just too small IMO.

 

[orateam]

I like my droid 2, but couldn't disagree more. The galaxy S is king of the screen quality and by a wide margin.

I think this droid2 has a good screen, but n o different than the EVO in my opinion.

Sent from my DROID2 using XDA App

 

[gemro311]

From ZD Net ...http://www.zdnet.com/reviews/produc...scinate-verizon-wireless/34129372?tag=nl.e550.

Is it possible to put google navigator on this phone , or does one need to root . Don't want to pay $9.95/month for navigation

 

[Jodiuh]

Yeah, this is getting out of hand. Check Phil's videos out over @ androidcentral. Some pretty nasty stuff. Even though you can get the google search widget, it reroutes through bing! Hitting the little magnifying glass pulls up bing, typing in the url box pulls up bing. And apparently gnav doesn't work...grain of salt there.

 

[ksizzle9]

Yes, u can put google maps on there as i installed it yesterday when i played with it at the store, GMapps also comes with navigation, we are good guys

Sent from my DROIDX using XDA App

 

[orateam]

You what i noticed on this forum (fascinate)? A lot of people ready to bash the hell out of it. I see good things in all phones. Yes the droids have bootloader locks, but they have been bypassed. Yes Samsung has GPS issues, but its probably software since they all use the same hardware. Sure the HTC phones are slow, but HTC has been supporting their phones the best.

In XDA forums, which i have been a part of since 2004, a solution to your problems will always be found. To attempt to create panic here is pointless let alone try and do it before the product is even out.

 

[Jodiuh]

Haha, thanks for the quick reality check. You know, I did have an incredible for a short time and wnet back through some older forum posts only ti find my reason for return did not have anything to do with the text being blurry. I wonder if I could just get used to that, and the overblown colors? I must admit, im very tempted to swap my D2 with the fascinate today. I would be stuck with it tho.