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Sevanw

Suspended
Original poster
Sep 13, 2014
1,361
2,086
As most of you already know, Samsung has been saying they will be concentrating on software more than ever going forward. No doubt because of the current mobile head who is a software guy first and foremost. So far we got Good Lock that has gotten so much better because of Samsung listening to the community and implementing functionality suggested directly from the user base. Now that's user feedback taken seriously. But now, Samsung has taken the next step. They just released a new beta program for a new UI. Can't wait to see what comes out of this and the next TW.

http://www.sammobile.com/2016/06/09/samsung-launches-beta-program-for-new-note-ux/
 
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jamezr

macrumors P6
Aug 7, 2011
16,079
19,072
US
As most of you already know, Samsung has been saying they will be concentrating on software more than ever going forward. No doubt because of the current mobile head who is a software guy first and foremost. So far we got Good Lock that had gotten so much better because of Samsung listening to the community and implementing functionality suggested directly from the user base. Now that's user feedback taken seriously. But now, Samsung has taken the next step. They just released a new beta program for a new UI. Can't wait to see what comes out of this and the next TW.

http://www.sammobile.com/2016/06/09/samsung-launches-beta-program-for-new-note-ux/
This looks promising indeed! I hope they follow through and listen to their user base.
I would get rid of duplicate apps first. Make all of the Samsung features like palm swipe and so forth an optional download. Cleanup the UI and streamline the processes running in the background. Promising first start for them!
 
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spinedoc77

macrumors G4
Jun 11, 2009
11,488
5,413
Good Lock is awesome, I have it on my phone and use it every day. Software first is definitely a good direction for Samsung to take. IN terms of UI I'm pretty glued to Nova Launcher as it allows me very fine control over how my screens look like. But TW really did a decent job and it wouldn't take much for me to back to TW launcher. My main thing is resizable widgets, and multiple docks.
 

epicrayban

macrumors 604
Nov 7, 2014
6,517
5,353
What exactly is the big fuss over Good Lock? I haven't looked into it that much. Is it just a replacement lock screen?

What makes it so good and how is it in terms of using resources? Battery drain? Etc.?
 

spinedoc77

macrumors G4
Jun 11, 2009
11,488
5,413
What exactly is the big fuss over Good Lock? I haven't looked into it that much. Is it just a replacement lock screen?

What makes it so good and how is it in terms of using resources? Battery drain? Etc.?

It's nothing incredible, really I don't want you to be underwhelmed if you try it out. It's mainly a lockscreen and notification shade replacement. It's interesting and possibly useful, it is to me. On the notification shade you have 2 tabs, the ALL tab and the KEEP tab. If you left swipe the notification gets deleted. If you right swipe the notification gets moved to the KEEP tab and you can address it later. Just this little functionality I love because it lets me organize my notifications based on if I can get to them there, or if I want to save them for later, and removes a lot of clutter.

One of my favorite "features" is no more swipe screen, hehe. Actually this is almost definitely a bug and I'm sure they will eventually fix it. Normally even if you don't have to enter in a security pin/pw/fp you still have to swipe, which is kind of stupid IMO and an annoying extra step to turn on your phone. For some reason Goodlock takes that away, and if you are in a trusted area/device, etc then when you turn on the screen there is no swipe screen, just whatever you were on when you last turned it off. Once your security period runs out then it goes back to whatever security lock you had on it, so it's still safe in case you lose it or someone else picks it up.

One thing that is mixed is the appearance, Samsung tried to really copy the stock Android look. Honestly I think Samsung's notification shade, icons, etc are much nicer looking that Googles and IMO they took a step backwards by making it appear like vanilla Google. You can change the color scheme, although it's a bit clunky to do so. You also get routines, which means you can setup your lockscreen and notifications certain ways, then only have those routines be true based on location or time. Definitely interesting.
 
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gotluck

macrumors 603
Dec 8, 2011
5,717
1,260
East Central Florida
Messing with the ui/ux is all fine and good

It's the under the hood processes and weight of their os that bothers me and most of the stock Android or die folks. The more they trim that the faster they will be able to push updates. I want them to hire some guy to head up their software that is obsessed with efficiency
 

epicrayban

macrumors 604
Nov 7, 2014
6,517
5,353
It's nothing incredible, really I don't want you to be underwhelmed if you try it out. It's mainly a lockscreen and notification shade replacement. It's interesting and possibly useful, it is to me. On the notification shade you have 2 tabs, the ALL tab and the KEEP tab. If you left swipe the notification gets deleted. If you right swipe the notification gets moved to the KEEP tab and you can address it later. Just this little functionality I love because it lets me organize my notifications based on if I can get to them there, or if I want to save them for later, and removes a lot of clutter.

One of my favorite "features" is no more swipe screen, hehe. Actually this is almost definitely a bug and I'm sure they will eventually fix it. Normally even if you don't have to enter in a security pin/pw/fp you still have to swipe, which is kind of stupid IMO and an annoying extra step to turn on your phone. For some reason Goodlock takes that away, and if you are in a trusted area/device, etc then when you turn on the screen there is no swipe screen, just whatever you were on when you last turned it off. Once your security period runs out then it goes back to whatever security lock you had on it, so it's still safe in case you lose it or someone else picks it up.

One thing that is mixed is the appearance, Samsung tried to really copy the stock Android look. Honestly I think Samsung's notification shade, icons, etc are much nicer looking that Googles and IMO they took a step backwards by making it appear like vanilla Google. You can change the color scheme, although it's a bit clunky to do so. You also get routines, which means you can setup your lockscreen and notifications certain ways, then only have those routines be true based on location or time. Definitely interesting.

Interesting. Thanks for the thorough account.

Agree about the TouchWiz aesthetic. I've said similar things before. I find TW style and colors more organized and easier to use.
 

spinedoc77

macrumors G4
Jun 11, 2009
11,488
5,413
That's why. It changes the TW app drawer into an unsightly list.

Eww. Yeah I have mixed feelings about the task manager as well. It makes them into a list, which I like because it's clearer than the stock overlapping card look. But it can be hard to click on or swipe an item. I like it more than I dislike it though.
 

Andres Cantu

macrumors 68040
May 31, 2015
3,328
8,003
Texas
Software is the only thing holding them back from making the perfect android device. I want the best of Samsung to go up against the best of Apple (which is lacking in hardware and software quality recently). That would bring more excitement and competition to a maturing market.
 
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