*** The Official Samsung Galaxy S4 Thread ***

[photoshop]

Your settings menu is still TW tabbed style. Hate it.

Its laid out in tabs yes but it is stock Android themed so doesn't look like TW.
I dont think that's any better or worse than stock android settings lay-out.

Sometimes its better to have things in tabs for easy navigation.
I believe AOSP roms have started doing this also so in the main settings menu you now click a header and it takes you to that section. Its exactly the same as tabbed layouts.

Your forgetting that the default Android Dialer is also tabbed style Do you hate that too?

 

[kona786]

Its laid out in tabs yes but it is stock Android themed so doesn't look like TW.
I dont think that's any better or worse than stock android settings lay-out.

Sometimes its better to have things in tabs for easy navigation.
I believe AOSP roms have started doing this also so in the main settings menu you now click a header and it takes you to that section. Its exactly the same as tabbed layouts.

Your forgetting that the default Android Dialer is also tabbed style Do you hate that too?

No because it's done properly with sliding panes

 

[Kanpai]

Fox Hound is leading the charge with lots of updates but Wanam is dragging its heals in recent months.

Doesn't neccessarily mean a bad thing though, Wanam updates when there are huge updates. After having tried both Wanam is the much better rom for me, it's more stable and I easily get 5h+ screen time, something that I've yet to achieve with any other rom as of yet.

 

[photoshop]

No because it's done properly with sliding panes

BUT, it is tabbed.....sliding or not doesn't change the UI. The app drawer is tabbed too.....

 

[photoshop]

Doesn't neccessarily mean a bad thing though, Wanam updates when there are huge updates. After having tried both Wanam is the much better rom for me, it's more stable and I easily get 5h+ screen time, something that I've yet to achieve with any other rom as of yet.

I've tried Wanam and also CM10.1 and both left me wanting. Wanam was a little boring and CM10.1 produces rubbish photos.

I get 5hrs+ screen time with FH using Faux Kernal. I've had 2 days with normal usage. Its generally around 5hrs screen time heavy usage.

 

[kona786]

BUT, it is tabbed.....sliding or not doesn't change the UI. The app drawer is tabbed too.....

But that's what l hate about it. I have to stretch to reach the tabs when it makes sense and is already in the UI guidelines to make them sliding panes.

How does it not change the UI lol.

It's all preference, are you forgetting that?

 

[scruffeh]

But that's what l hate about it. I have to stretch to reach the tabs when it makes sense and is already in the UI guidelines to make them sliding panes.

How does it not change the UI lol.

It's all preference, are you forgetting that?

A agree. Tabs can be great when you expect them and when you're used to them. Personally I don't like learning where a particular setting is and then having to learn again, but that's just me. If stock was tabbed, I'd prefer it tabbed, it's not and TW doesn't offer the option of changing it, because they've decided they know best and I don't like that.

 

[photoshop]

But that's what l hate about it. I have to stretch to reach the tabs when it makes sense and is already in the UI guidelines to make them sliding panes.

How does it not change the UI lol.

It's all preference, are you forgetting that?

It is all about preference yes but the reason it doesn't bother me is because i very rarely go into the settings panel when my phones setup to.

I use the toggles and Llama for automation of profiles.

If your the type of person who keeps changing settings then i can see sliding being an advantage but once you have your phone setup to your liking you are not going to go into the settings panel regularly to change things.

Tabbed settings layout is a small price to pay to retain the image camera quality.

 

[kona786]

That's it. I'm just thankful that there's roms to suit everyone.

And the AOSP cam is just fine in daylight, it's in low light where it's noticeably lacking. But then the TW cam isn't stunning either.

 

[photoshop]

And the AOSP cam is just fine in daylight, it's in low light where it's noticeably lacking. But then the TW cam isn't stunning either.

That's not my experience. Its why i stopped using CM10.1 and went over to a TW based rom.

Now i end up with stunning pictures like this:

 

[james.miller]

Foxhound. The Dev's lack of attention to detail put me off, sorry. Not testing the aroma install options properly. System ui crashes and the loss of the settings menu tab theme (I think that's finally fixed?). Consistent spelling mistakes on the website #'downlaod' aaarrggghh) - if he can't get that right.....? Almost impossible to download every other release because of hosting issues. His attitude to people on xda having issues.

Not for me.

 

[kona786]

That's great pics photoshop, though lacking camera data(forgot the proper term) . But then you are taking pics of beautiful scenery.

Is the GS4 your primary camera?

 

[photoshop]

That's great pics photoshop, though lacking camera data(forgot the proper term) . But then you are taking pics of beautiful scenery.

Is the GS4 your primary camera?

Camera Data? You mean Exif Data that's normally attached to the image?

Yep, its my primary and only camera.

You guys probably cant tell the difference between TW and AOSP camera quality but when you import them in Photoshop in Camera Raw for editing you will notice the difference. AOSP ones end up being blocky and noisier- something you can not miss when applying a gradient mask (to add a little more blue to the sky or add more vibrancy to a field for example).

AOSP pics are not as forgiving when editing where as TW ones you can do a little more with.

One thing to note is that the S4's shutter tend's to be open longer than say the One or the iP5 which is why sometimes you end up with blurry/out of focus pictures where as the One and the iP5 are more forgiving. You can combat this with apps but you cant eradicate it completely. When you add that fact into the slightly less image processing that goes on in AOSP (apart from the GE Rom) you can end up with less satisfactory pics.

For point and shoot you dont really notice the difference like i said but when you want to edit those pictures in a more "photography" sense its another story.

I use Instagram also which has a habit of compressing image quality down so you really need the best quality to start off with otherwise its a downward spiral.

 

[Gavin]

I used to have a HTC One S ......

I've got my S4 from EE on 4G and have rooted it but was thinking about flashing a custom rom.

I just wondered if all of the EE apps will still work like i get to use Deezer for music downloads for free and its amazing (as long as you have a signal lol)

Ive also just started to use tap to pay using the NFC technology.

Do any of these roms stop these things from working?

Cheers

 

[photoshop]

I used to have a HTC One S ......

I've got my S4 from EE on 4G and have rooted it but was thinking about flashing a custom rom.

I just wondered if all of the EE apps will still work like i get to use Deezer for music downloads for free and its amazing (as long as you have a signal lol)

Ive also just started to use tap to pay using the NFC technology.

Do any of these roms stop these things from working?

Cheers

NFC will work. The Rom will wipe all data so you would have to source the EE apps from the Internets [which shouldn't be a problem].

Some apps like Banking dont work when Rooted so research if they will work. XDA is a good place to start or Google.

Failing that you could use Ti to back up the EE apps and restore then after you have installed a new ROM [thats if they still work with root]...

 

[matt100]

Some banking apps stop, HSBC fast balance works just fine rooted on a custom rom.

 

[scruffeh]

Camera Data? You mean Exif Data that's normally attached to the image?

Yep, its my primary and only camera.

You guys probably cant tell the difference between TW and AOSP camera quality but when you import them in Photoshop in Camera Raw for editing you will notice the difference. AOSP ones end up being blocky and noisier- something you can not miss when applying a gradient mask (to add a little more blue to the sky or add more vibrancy to a field for example).

AOSP pics are not as forgiving when editing where as TW ones you can do a little more with.

One thing to note is that the S4's shutter tend's to be open longer than say the One or the iP5 which is why sometimes you end up with blurry/out of focus pictures where as the One and the iP5 are more forgiving. You can combat this with apps but you cant eradicate it completely. When you add that fact into the slightly less image processing that goes on in AOSP (apart from the GE Rom) you can end up with less satisfactory pics.

For point and shoot you dont really notice the difference like i said but when you want to edit those pictures in a more "photography" sense its another story.

I use Instagram also which has a habit of compressing image quality down so you really need the best quality to start off with otherwise its a downward spiral.

Genuine question as you seem to know your stuff: is there a particular reason why you don't own an SLR or high end point and shoot style? Is the SGS4 camera particularly good, or is a more of a pragmatic reason?

 

[Gavin]

NFC will work. The Rom will wipe all data so you would have to source the EE apps from the Internets [which shouldn't be a problem].

Some apps like Banking dont work when Rooted so research if they will work. XDA is a good place to start or Google.

Failing that you could use Ti to back up the EE apps and restore then after you have installed a new ROM [thats if they still work with root]...

cheers

 

[subbass]

I'm loving the S4 (fantastic screen!) but slightly disappointed with the battery. I could be looking at the BBC Sports app for about 10 minutes and I would lose about 3% of battery life already. Is this the norm?

As far as I'm aware I don't have any apps that are doing any background syncing apart from a weather widget (every 6 hours). I have only Air View and Smart Scroll on and brightness is relatively low (just a tad below the middle point).

Been thinking of flashing to Foxhound as I like to keep of the S4 features like Air Gestures, S Planner etc but remove all the rubbish like HP Print, ChatON etc. Will I see an improvement in battery life compared to stock?

 

[scruffeh]

I'm loving the S4 (fantastic screen!) but slightly disappointed with the battery. I could be looking at the BBC Sports app for about 10 minutes and I would lose about 3% of battery life already. Is this the norm?

As far as I'm aware I don't have any apps that are doing any background syncing apart from a weather widget (every 6 hours). I have only Air View and Smart Scroll on and brightness is relatively low (just a tad below the middle point).

Been thinking of flashing to Foxhound as I like to keep of the S4 features like Air Gestures, S Planner etc but remove all the rubbish like HP Print, ChatON etc. Will I see an improvement in battery life compared to stock?

It seems high to me, based on my experience, but I've not used that particular app and certain apps (video, games and various others really drain the battery). I suggest using Better Battery Stats (might require root, haven't used it for a while) so that you know for sure. It might be easiest to get get a spare battery or power pack thingy, if that's your only reason for switching to another ROM, but to answer your question, many of the custom ROMs have battery tweaks.