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jamezr

macrumors P6
Aug 7, 2011
16,074
19,069
US
Touchwiz isn't bad. I don't mind using it on my Tab S2 or Edge+, but I have also disabled a lot of Samsung apps that eat RAM for no apparent reason? If Samsung, left their core apps that are required for things like the S-Pen, Samsung Pay, and Samsung+ and then made the b.s. apps like Flipboard, Facebook, Milk, and S-Voice/Translate/etc optional, it would be a much better experience.
agreed....they should leave the rest as add ons that could be downloaded and leave it up to the users to decide
 

grkm3

macrumors 65816
Feb 12, 2013
1,049
568
I think Samsung should release its gs7 with the latest lollipop version and not be the first with marshmallow. It takes a few major updates to iron out the new operating systems and my gs6 just did another update and it made a huge difference.

I'm not even joking the phone can score 5200 geekbench back to back runs and is 100% stock with no disabled apps.the phone needs to be retested with the latest touchwiz builds.

The problem is the gs7 will have top dog hardware but will have issues on the software side because it will be one of the first flagship phones other than a nexus to run Android 6.0

Just like the gs5 and gs6 were the first to get kit kat and lollipop and most apps were bit at all optimised for those operating systems and phone hardware.

I remember installing tinder(not that I use it) just wanted to check it out and withing 5 min of using the app my phone got so hot and got a huge warning sign on the screen saying your phone needs to cool down and to stop using it.

That was because the app had no idea how to run on lollipop and the gs6s exynos hardware and was optimised for older versions and hardware.

The same will happen with the gs7 and I wish Samsung would just go live with the well baked lollipop on the gs7 and wait it out to release 6/0 when all the bugs get fixed.
 

epicrayban

macrumors 604
Nov 7, 2014
6,517
5,353
I think Samsung should release its gs7 with the latest lollipop version and not be the first with marshmallow. It takes a few major updates to iron out the new operating systems and my gs6 just did another update and it made a huge difference.

I'm not even joking the phone can score 5200 geekbench back to back runs and is 100% stock with no disabled apps.the phone needs to be retested with the latest touchwiz builds.

The problem is the gs7 will have top dog hardware but will have issues on the software side because it will be one of the first flagship phones other than a nexus to run Android 6.0

Just like the gs5 and gs6 were the first to get kit kat and lollipop and most apps were bit at all optimised for those operating systems and phone hardware.

I remember installing tinder(not that I use it) just wanted to check it out and withing 5 min of using the app my phone got so hot and got a huge warning sign on the screen saying your phone needs to cool down and to stop using it.

That was because the app had no idea how to run on lollipop and the gs6s exynos hardware and was optimised for older versions and hardware.

The same will happen with the gs7 and I wish Samsung would just go live with the well baked lollipop on the gs7 and wait it out to release 6/0 when all the bugs get fixed.

Not shipping with the latest software will never fly.
 

jamezr

macrumors P6
Aug 7, 2011
16,074
19,069
US
WSJ says pressure sensor coming to s7.

Also improved camera with no camera hump. Nice!

Along with possible microsd for the regular s7.

Some variants might even have iris scanner. Dunnos how i feel about that...

http://www.theverge.com/2015/12/14/10094872/galaxy-s7-specs-release-date-wsj
I am not sure I like the idea of the pressure sensor like 3DT on IOS or the iris scanner.
Keep it simple Samsung...improve the already great camera. Give us back SD card...improve battery life and i'm good!
I will jump to the S7 Plus in a heartbeat!
 

MRU

macrumors Penryn
Aug 23, 2005
25,370
8,952
a better place
WSJ says pressure sensor coming to s7.

Also improved camera with no camera hump. Nice!

Along with possible microsd for the regular s7.

Some variants might even have iris scanner. Dunnos how i feel about that...

http://www.theverge.com/2015/12/14/10094872/galaxy-s7-specs-release-date-wsj
The 3D scans that are supposed to be off the S7 still show the hump.

galaxy-s7-render-1.jpg


Likewise most are now saying no to microsd which should be no surprise. Essentially those fixed storage options give Samsung an extra profit margin that they would otherwise not have. Up-selling of storage will remain 100%
 
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jamesrick80

macrumors 68030
Sep 12, 2014
2,665
2,218
I think the note 6 will be differentiated again in 2016 with a different processor from the rest so I will be waiting for that. The S7 series will only make you mad that you will not have the latest and greatest by Fall.
 

epicrayban

macrumors 604
Nov 7, 2014
6,517
5,353
I really hope the rumor of the microSD card returning for the regular S7 doesn't mean that there are limited internal storage size options. Nowadays, I need/want 64GB minimum.

That's my only concern about the returning microSD. It's weird that it's rumored only for the regular S7... and not the Edge or Plus variants.
 

tbayrgs

macrumors 604
Jul 5, 2009
7,467
5,097
I really hope the rumor of the microSD card returning for the regular S7 doesn't mean that there are limited internal storage size options. Nowadays, I need/want 64GB minimum.

That's my only concern about the returning microSD. It's weird that it's rumored only for the regular S7... and not the Edge or Plus variants.

Why does it matter if as Lloydbm41 explained, Android 6.0 has support baked in for apps to be loaded onto external storage? Wouldn't it in all likelihood be cheaper to be able to up the storage yourself with a large microSD card?

Having no camera hump would be fantastic. The return of external storage would please a great many, most existing here on forums like these I'd wager ;) since most regular consumers likely don't really care. Adding an equivalent to 3D Touch just shows Samsung unabashedly doesn't care anymore if they are perceived as copying Apple and I doubt it would be a relevant feature. It still hasn't proven to be a breakaway hit on iOS and imagine what it'll be like trying to get 3rd party devs to support it. Support for Android apps all too often takes second fiddle to iOS, and that's for apps that'll work across ALL Android devices, not just a couple Samsung phones. And let's face it, software integration isn't exactly Samsung's forte.

I agree with jamezr--improve battery life and make a serious effort to optimize your software and you have a winner.
 
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geoff5093

macrumors 68020
Sep 16, 2014
2,251
2,564
I think Samsung should release its gs7 with the latest lollipop version and not be the first with marshmallow. It takes a few major updates to iron out the new operating systems and my gs6 just did another update and it made a huge difference.
No. First off, it's not the first phone with Marshmallow, the Nexus 5X, 6P, and HTC One A9 all shipped with it. Plus, many phones have already and are in the process of being upgraded to 6.0. It's worlds better than 5.1 in terms of stability, and they would get huge flak for releasing a flagship phone with a 1.5 year old OS.
 
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Michael Goff

Suspended
Jul 5, 2012
13,329
7,422
I really hope the rumor of the microSD card returning for the regular S7 doesn't mean that there are limited internal storage size options. Nowadays, I need/want 64GB minimum.

That's my only concern about the returning microSD. It's weird that it's rumored only for the regular S7... and not the Edge or Plus variants.

Agreed. I kind of liked having a decent amount of storage without "well, you can guy an SD card" being a thing.
 

jamesrick80

macrumors 68030
Sep 12, 2014
2,665
2,218
I really hope the rumor of the microSD card returning for the regular S7 doesn't mean that there are limited internal storage size options. Nowadays, I need/want 64GB minimum.

That's my only concern about the returning microSD. It's weird that it's rumored only for the regular S7... and not the Edge or Plus variants.

32 GB, 64 GB, 256 GB should be the new memory options if they don't want to add Microsd card support. I figure anyone who wants a lot of memory has the money to afford the 256 GB option otherwise the 64 GB is the best middle of the road memory option. Also, 4K support is necessary for Gear VR since most video is natively in 720p or less on that device. I would love all VR video to be at 1080p. Also, gear VR in my opinion requires you to have a large amount of storage so I would prefer a 256 GB because Gear VR videos play better and smoother when they are downloaded instead of streamed.
 

nj-morris

macrumors 68000
Nov 30, 2014
1,897
804
UK
I think that there will be 32/64/128GB models without SD cards, but then release 16/32/64GB models with an extra hybrid slot for microSD or second SIM at the same price points.
 

jamezr

macrumors P6
Aug 7, 2011
16,074
19,069
US
32 GB, 64 GB, 256 GB should be the new memory options if they don't want to add Microsd card support. I figure anyone who wants a lot of memory has the money to afford the 256 GB option otherwise the 64 GB is the best middle of the road memory option. Also, 4K support is necessary for Gear VR since most video is natively in 720p or less on that device. I would love all VR video to be at 1080p. Also, gear VR in my opinion requires you to have a large amount of storage so I would prefer a 256 GB because Gear VR videos play better and smoother when they are downloaded instead of streamed.
Whoa...what happen to 128GB? A 256GB option would be waaay to expensive. Agree though that in todays world smartphone storage should start at 32Gb and move up.
 
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jamezr

macrumors P6
Aug 7, 2011
16,074
19,069
US
Why does it matter if as Lloydbm41 explained, Android 6.0 has support baked in for apps to be loaded onto external storage? Wouldn't it in all likelihood be cheaper to be able to up the storage yourself with a large microSD card?

Having no camera hump would be fantastic. The return of external storage would please a great many, most existing here on forums like these I'd wager ;) since most regular consumers likely don't really care. Adding an equivalent to 3D Touch just shows Samsung unabashedly doesn't care anymore if they are perceived as copying Apple and I doubt it would be a relevant feature. It still hasn't proven to be a breakaway hit on iOS and imagine what it'll be like trying to get 3rd party devs to support it. Support for Android apps all to often takes second fiddle to iOS, and that's for apps that'll work across ALL Android devices, not just a couple Samsung phones. And let's face it, software integration isn't exactly Samsung's forte.

I agree with jamezr--improve battery life and make a serious effort to optimize your software and you have a winner.
yep...Samsung should take a step backward on hardware. They have great hardware already. They should focus on software and optimization. That has been the knock them and deservedly so.
Force touch on Android seems to be a nightmare in the making. As fragmented as Android is as a whole with every OEM adding a skin, Samsung can force touch optimize their own apps in TW. But then would have to rely on every app developer out there to update their apps for the new feature. I don't see that happening anytime soon. Now if Google were to announce it as part of stock Android handset....that's a different story but you need the hardware and software with any kind of force pressure touch feature.
 

tbayrgs

macrumors 604
Jul 5, 2009
7,467
5,097
yep...Samsung should take a step backward on hardware. They have great hardware already. They should focus on software and optimization. That has been the knock them and deservedly so.
Force touch on Android seems to be a nightmare in the making. As fragmented as Android is as a whole with every OEM adding a skin, Samsung can force touch optimize their own apps in TW. But then would have to rely on every app developer out there to update their apps for the new feature. I don't see that happening anytime soon. Now if Google were to announce it as part of stock Android handset....that's a different story but you need the hardware and software with any kind of force pressure touch feature.

And that's likely the crux of the quandary for Samsung---if they had to wait for Android to integrate it into the OS, it would be quite a while. And then every Android handset would have access to the functionality if they chose to add it so then Samsung loses the ability to differentiate themselves. And even then, getting devs on board will take an eternity due to the slow adoption rates of new versions of Android.

I believe I heard it on the All About Android podcast last week where they shared the latest breakdown of version of Android in use. Marshmallow had jumped all the way to 0.5% from 0.3%. The statistic that personifies the biggest problem, IMO, with Android--the version of Anrdroid with the greatest share is KitKat, a version announced/released 2 years ago! Hell, IIRC, Jellybean had nearly the same percentage as KitKat. Even Froyo was still on the board just below Marshmallow (0.2%). :eek: Where's the motivation for devs to code for new functionality (i.e. backing up app data now part of MM) when the user adoption rate is so damn slow? Alright, sorry, little bit of a tangent rant there. ;)

Back on point---so Samsung says screw it, we'll do it ourselves but too often it's a bit of a hamfisted implementation and 3rd party support, as expected, is lacking. Just work on polishing up the core functionality, ditch some of the gimmickry and give an exemplary user experience and you may find some more customer loyalty. Just my take on it, of course YMMV.
 

Lloydbm41

Suspended
Oct 17, 2013
4,019
1,456
Central California
Force touch is certainly not needed on android right now. Samsung should really just improve the software. The s pen is enough on the note series and there is really no need for force touch.
Exactly. Hell, devs don't do anything more than the bare minimum required to update their apps to utilize force touch on iOS as it is now. On Android it would be even worse. Force Touch is more of a gimmick with very few apps that would actually benefit from it. Kind of like what Samsung did with "hover" mode a few years back. Nearly identical application usage to force touch.

That said, it is a nice to have feature in some instances, but not a "must have" feature. I hope Samsung spends more time on optimizing Touchwiz, trimming the bloat fat and optimizing the fingerprint scanner software (I still have misreads on my fingerprint)).
 

nj-morris

macrumors 68000
Nov 30, 2014
1,897
804
UK
Force touch is certainly not needed on android right now. Samsung should really just improve the software. The s pen is enough on the note series and there is really no need for force touch.

It's going to be just like S Voice on the S III and the fingerprint scanner on the S5. S Voice was and still is awful, and the fingerprint scanner required a swipe gesture, making it tedious to use and inaccurate. With the S7 my bet would be that it will have the technology, but it will have lacklustre software optimisation.
 

JaySoul

macrumors 68030
Jan 30, 2008
2,629
2,865
More RAM, faster fingerprint reader, similar camera, similar design, slightly better battery, maybe SD returns in one of them, maybe USB-C.

As others have said, focus on stripping away the software (but keep Galaxy Gifts as I LOVE all the freebie stuff!).
 

epicrayban

macrumors 604
Nov 7, 2014
6,517
5,353
One thing I've learned is I'm going to wait for the S7 to price drop and/or for better promo deals before jumping onto the S7 train (if I decide I want it).
 

MRU

macrumors Penryn
Aug 23, 2005
25,370
8,952
a better place
One thing I've learned is I'm going to wait for the S7 to price drop and/or for better promo deals before jumping onto the S7 train (if I decide I want it).

Given how quickly Edge & Edge + pricing dropped on both retail and resale market that's likely a wise decision.

The problem is once the hype train grabs you - it's hard to resist even if you know you'd be better off doing so.
 

Aneres11

macrumors 601
Oct 2, 2011
4,353
9,551
Do we know if they intend to change the look of these devices from the S6/Edge.

Only reason I ask is because the hardware of both the current models (though more so the Edge) is absolutely gorgeous and if Apple can squeeze 2 years out of their models each time, then Samsung definitely can with these.

I absolutely love the S6 Edge + and I think it may be my next phone once it comes down in price when the S7 launches (which I'm hoping it will).
My problem though, is I don't like buying old tech when a newer model is out. Ha
 

MRU

macrumors Penryn
Aug 23, 2005
25,370
8,952
a better place
Do we know if they intend to change the look of these devices from the S6/Edge.

Only reason I ask is because the hardware of both the current models (though more so the Edge) is absolutely gorgeous and if Apple can squeeze 2 years out of their models each time, then Samsung definitely can with these.

I absolutely love the S6 Edge + and I think it may be my next phone once it comes down in price when the S7 launches (which I'm hoping it will).
My problem though, is I don't like buying old tech when a newer model is out. Ha

The current consensus is that they will be sticking with the design as is - which makes sense cost wise and recouperation of R&D
 
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epicrayban

macrumors 604
Nov 7, 2014
6,517
5,353
Given how quickly Edge & Edge + pricing dropped on both retail and resale market that's likely a wise decision.

The problem is once the hype train grabs you - it's hard to resist even if you know you'd be better off doing so.

Yeah, it can be hard to resist. Hopefully my S6 with Marshmallow ties me over... ;)
 
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