Sigh, Android is still kind of goofy...

[Technarchy]

Just keep tweaking and digging into the OS and you'll increase the usability and stability through some combination of apps and settings.

I'm about 10 weeks into owning a GS4 and things have gotten better, but android still still does lots of funky stuff and not every so called feature is well baked or all that useful in day to day use.

Google Now is a prime example; it's no Siri alternative. Not even close.

 

[viskon]

Regarding the app drawer comment, I use an app called Swapps. I have set it up to open with a swipe from the right edge of the screen. I hardly ever use the app drawer anymore.

 

[Assault]

You know, a direct dial widget is one of those awesome awesome things about Android that I love. I do have direct dial widgets on my desktop and I use them frequently.

The issues I have with Bluetooth is when driving. I have my phone in a holder on the dash within arms reach, but it's still MUCH safer IMO to press the Bluetooth button on my ear and say "call xx..." than to try to find and press an icon on screen. Same thing with anything else, such as creating a reminder, checking appointments, etc etc.

You should be able to just click on your BT dialer button (I have mine on the steering wheel, I don't use the ear style) and say "dial so and so". I do this all the time. My phone is always in my cradle and the first thing I do upon getting in the car is turn BT on and connect to my car. You should def not have to touch your phone after that! (Your issue has got to be something related to whatever LG is doing with their UI. Which wouldn't surprise me. I hate these crap overlays the OEM's and carriers put on the phones.)

Additionally, I have Google Now running in the background and in always on mode, so I can draft emails, texts or set reminders while driving. Only issue is, you have to click the send button after you do each task. It is easy enough to do it, but I wish it was more automatic like Siri. With MotoX style always on coming, I hope this is the case in the Nexus 5 and KitKat.

If you have any specific questions about whether there is an app or widget available to do something you need, def ask. I'm sure someone will be able to offer something to fit your needs. And def check out the XDA forums. It is a treasure trove of info.

 

[blackhand1001]

So I'm back on the Android wagon...again. Every time I get on it I am amazed at how cool and customizable it is, then reality sinks in and I realize that the core features are not quite great, the things that make a phone a phone. Yeah it's a rant, but I'm also hoping some of these things can be solved and are just my lack of experience with Android.

My journey has been first thru a iphone 3g/s to a Samsung captivate, then back to the iphone for a couple of iterations. Last year I had a brief stint with the Note 2, but besides being too large I also found Android was not quite ready for business prime time so I figured I would wait a bit and went to an iphone 5. Well this year rolls around and Apple releases the ip5s with the same freakin screen size, and the atrocity that is iOS7. At that point I decided it was time to ditch iOS, at least until they released a larger screen and maybe fixed some of the ugly white on off white crap that was iOS7. I picked up a LG G2 off craigslist for SUPER cheap and off I went.

So what's my rant? It's just that certain things on iOS that worked right out of the box, things you didn't have to think about, things you didn't have to fiddle with, tweak, adjust, or even be aware of. These things don't seem to work well, are not integrated well, need questionable tweaks to approach usability, etc on Android. Here is a short list of things which are annoying currently, please let me know if there are fixes or what I am doing wrong:

Google Now. This is the biggest culprit, but it has improved a lot since last year. My biggest gripe is that it's basically an internet search, and treats commands as such. So if I ask it to "call Mario" half the time it does an internet search for super mario bros., why half the time it does this, and the other half it actually pulls up my contact I have no idea. If I do this with Siri I never would get anything other than my contact, straight and business forward.

I also can't seem to search for apps. If I search for calculator, it comes up with an internet calculator. Functional yes, but not what I was looking for. The app drawer is just basically icons sprawled everywhere, I wish we could do folders there to organize it.

Other issues are bluetooth integration. I can't listen to my google voice voicemails over bluetooth for some reason. It's probably an app issue, but it's the same company that makes the OS and the app. I don't even see an option to use my BT headset. On iOS it automatically routes everything to my bluetooth headset, even GV. I don't have to think about it, and there is a nice big button in case I want to change that to speaker phone or earpiece. And the big one... WHY CAN'T I FREAKIN MAKE GOOGLE NOW TURN ON WHEN I HIT MY BT BUTTON? Maybe this is LG's fault, but I seem to remember the same issue with Samsung. I don't want S-voice, I don't want LG's voice mate, I just freakin want Google Now. Can we at least have a baked in option for this from Google?

How about voicemail integration? Why doesn't Android have visual voicemail? No not that AT&T crap, but real visual voicemail as a tab right in the dialer application? I currently use google voice and it's voicemail service, but it just seems like an add on. Voicemail notifications are goofy, and sometimes put me in the phone app, which then sends me to GV, sometimes it just goes to the GV app. It's quite jarring.

Ok that's my wall of text, I have more gripes but they all boil down to the same thing. Android can be a bit unintuitive to use. Yeah it's probably ok if I'm sitting at my desk with free time, but careening down the highway at 80 and trying to get things to work isn't good. I was hoping Google would be working to change and improve these things. I'm also astounded that my LG has lag in it occasionally, but that's another thread I'm sure.

Yeah ok my flame suit is on, but I would hope some of the more civilized members might open up an interesting discussion. If iOS had a larger phone I'd probably go back. But I cannot for the life of me stand that tiny screen anymore and prefer my LG. I'm going to weather the storm and try to make Android work, if only for a year until hopefully Apple does something larger, or maybe Google will tighten up its ship.

Stock android has an option to show the google voicemails right in the dialer app. Not sure about the skinned versions. Its in the google voice app settings. Sorry about the weird tilt shift effect, wanted to blur out my phone number after uploading the photo and had to improvise.

 

[spinedoc77]

You should be able to just click on your BT dialer button (I have mine on the steering wheel, I don't use the ear style) and say "dial so and so". I do this all the time. My phone is always in my cradle and the first thing I do upon getting in the car is turn BT on and connect to my car. You should def not have to touch your phone after that! (Your issue has got to be something related to whatever LG is doing with their UI. Which wouldn't surprise me. I hate these crap overlays the OEM's and carriers put on the phones.)

Additionally, I have Google Now running in the background and in always on mode, so I can draft emails, texts or set reminders while driving. Only issue is, you have to click the send button after you do each task. It is easy enough to do it, but I wish it was more automatic like Siri. With MotoX style always on coming, I hope this is the case in the Nexus 5 and KitKat.

If you have any specific questions about whether there is an app or widget available to do something you need, def ask. I'm sure someone will be able to offer something to fit your needs. And def check out the XDA forums. It is a treasure trove of info.

Hmm, are you saying you can activate Google with your bluetooth headset button? I can't get it to do that, and I can't find the setting for it anywhere. I have disabled Voice Mate, which is LG's version of Siri but I don't find it accurate and prefer Google search.

If I could just get Google to come up with the headset button I'd be a much happy camper.

And yeah, XDA is awesome. I have rooted and applied a ton of mods, and also installed CleanROM without all the ATT stuff. I'm hoping soon we get a cyanogenmod rom, or a vanilla google rom.

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Stock android has an option to show the google voicemails right in the dialer app. Not sure about the skinned versions. Its in the google voice app settings. Sorry about the weird tilt shift effect, wanted to blur out my phone number after uploading the photo and had to improvise.

Image

That's awesome, I enabled it. It's not quite what I want, I'd rather have a tab just devoted to voicemail like iOS. But that's probably just me getting used to an OS. I'd rather go into GV and see a list of all my voicemails. Google really needs to take ownership of such an incredibly cool product like Google Voice, even if they charge for it.

Thanks much, that helps !!

 

[jrswizzle]

Hey Spinedoc - iOS does have a feature which shows you commute times to the next appointment or to your office or home.....its in the notification center in the "today" tab and I've found it much more accurate than Google Now. Today shows me the time on the route I take, while Google Now shows me the "fastest" route which isn't ever fastest.

At this point, I don't see anything Google Now has over Siri/Today. Siri is much more robust in the amount of tasks she can perform, and I've found her very responsive and accurate in iOS 7.

The whole "it can show me when my package is arriving" thing is idiotic.....for one, I don't use gmail as my primary email address, so there that goes. Even I did, all Google Now does is search my emails for the notification and presents the tracking info.....which I'll get in an email anyways.....same as the notification that its arrived....

Yet another case of "multiple ways to do the same task where the new ways don't add anything"......just change for the sake of change IMO.

 

[coldjeanzzz]

I can search for apps with pretty good accuracy (typed in Calc and all 3 of my calc apps showed up) using Now and I can use folders to organize apps in the drawer...

 

[kenknotts]

Just keep tweaking and digging into the OS and you'll increase the usability and stability through some combination of apps and settings.I'm about 10 weeks into owning a GS4 and things have gotten better

Most people don't have the time or patience to mess around with a phone for over 2 months to get it to function properly. Especially when other platforms work so well right out of the box.

 

[JC17]

Most people don't have the time or patience to mess around with a phone for over 2 months to get it to function properly. Especially when other platforms work so well right out of the box.

But Android does function very well out of the box.

 

[spinedoc77]

Hey Spinedoc - iOS does have a feature which shows you commute times to the next appointment or to your office or home.....its in the notification center in the "today" tab and I've found it much more accurate than Google Now. Today shows me the time on the route I take, while Google Now shows me the "fastest" route which isn't ever fastest.

At this point, I don't see anything Google Now has over Siri/Today. Siri is much more robust in the amount of tasks she can perform, and I've found her very responsive and accurate in iOS 7.

The whole "it can show me when my package is arriving" thing is idiotic.....for one, I don't use gmail as my primary email address, so there that goes. Even I did, all Google Now does is search my emails for the notification and presents the tracking info.....which I'll get in an email anyways.....same as the notification that its arrived....

Yet another case of "multiple ways to do the same task where the new ways don't add anything"......just change for the sake of change IMO.

I agree, Google Now is for the most part useless for me. The only functionality which might be useful is monitoring my route to work and home, but it doesn't do a good job of that as you point out.

Siri is something you don't really appreciate until it's gone.

 

[jrswizzle]

I agree, Google Now is for the most part useless for me. The only functionality which might be useful is monitoring my route to work and home, but it doesn't do a good job of that as you point out.

Siri is something you don't really appreciate until it's gone.

Ya - I'm really getting into all the productivity helps that iOS offers....cleaned up my contacts, calendars, and reminders and created some specific groups for things like my work travel in Calendar, Family To Dos in Reminders and shared them with my wife so we can both add things to the list for each other.

Also helps her see when I'm going to be on the road. All very neat and clean. I never actually used any of that, but am starting to clean it all up and build up some tools that'll make "Today" way more informative as well.

I have to say, I really do love iOS 7. There's something to be said for being in one ecosystem. As long as its robust, efficient and powerful of course.

 

[spinedoc77]

Ya - I'm really getting into all the productivity helps that iOS offers....cleaned up my contacts, calendars, and reminders and created some specific groups for things like my work travel in Calendar, Family To Dos in Reminders and shared them with my wife so we can both add things to the list for each other.

Also helps her see when I'm going to be on the road. All very neat and clean. I never actually used any of that, but am starting to clean it all up and build up some tools that'll make "Today" way more informative as well.

I have to say, I really do love iOS 7. There's something to be said for being in one ecosystem. As long as its robust, efficient and powerful of course.

I have to say with each passing day I am really considering going back to iOS. This is just very very basic stuff that Google should pay attention to. I've spent the last 2 weeks scouring the forums, XDA devs, etc and tweaking, tweaking and tweaking more and it still does not do basic stuff anywhere near as good as iOS out of the box. It's nice for customizing and tinkering with though.

 

[Technarchy]

But Android does function very well out of the box.

No it doesn't. Or at least my GS4 didn't.

And it just takes lots of time and effort and research to make things work.

 

[JC17]

No it doesn't. Or at least my GS4 didn't.

And it just takes lots of time and effort and research to make things work.

Touchwiz is probably to blame, lots of menus and whatnot.

 

[Technarchy]

Most people don't have the time or patience to mess around with a phone for over 2 months to get it to function properly. Especially when other platforms work so well right out of the box.

You preaching to the choir friend.

 

[cuzo]

I have to say with each passing day I am really considering going back to iOS. This is just very very basic stuff that Google should pay attention to. I've spent the last 2 weeks scouring the forums, XDA devs, etc and tweaking, tweaking and tweaking more and it still does not do basic stuff anywhere near as good as iOS out of the box. It's nice for customizing and tinkering with though.

Most people don't even use google now of all the other stuff you mentioned so I disagree.

Android sells well because it functions well for those casual users, text, call and email with a little Instagram and Facebook.

The advanced users will be a different story.

 

[Razeus]

Most people don't even use google now of all the other stuff you mentioned so I disagree.

Android sells well because it functions well for those casual users, text, call and email with a little Instagram and Facebook.

The advanced users will be a different story.

...it works even better for advanced users.

 

[cuzo]

...it works even better for advanced users.

Advanced users will be a different story since those are the hardest customers to please but for most people out there text, email, some phone calls, Facebook and Instagram is all they do.

You'd be surprised how many people never heard of Dropbox.

Most folks socializing is number 1.

 

[postpc]

I've been using Android on a Note 3 for a week now and I couldn't be happier. Siri rarely works for me, most the the time the app will just show a spinning wheel and then do nothing. The Android equivalent is fast and gets the job done most of the time. Handwriting recognition is ace and i don't think i could use a phone without widgets anymore. Icons are classy also.
Apple still has an edge when it comes to tablet apps, but Android is catching up fast.

 

[Stuntman06]

I'm curious. Let's say you are in your car or using a BT headset, if you click on BT in settings it won't allow you to use Google Now via voice command? Can you makes calls or open an app? What can you do? I can see if I have the same issues. I use BT every single day to and from work with Maps, BeyondPod podcasts and handsfree BT phone calling running. All simultaneously.

Since I got my new car last year, the BT system built into the car doesn't seem to want to pass through my voice to the phone. You have to give the voice command to the car and then the car translates it to the command to the phone. I haven't had a chance to figure out how to get my car's BT audio to act like a dumb BT headset.

Now that my car is in the shop for a little while, I've been using my BT headset again. I find I can make calls just fine with it. It's actually better because it can access my address book. I can just say, "Call John Doe," and it will call that person (instead of having to speak the number.

I don't do much while driving as I find that trying to use voice controls is a bit distracting. I tried texting messages before and although it was successful, I just felt it was jut too distracting to continue doing it.

 

[spinedoc77]

Most people don't even use google now of all the other stuff you mentioned so I disagree.

Android sells well because it functions well for those casual users, text, call and email with a little Instagram and Facebook.

The advanced users will be a different story.

Yeah I agree that Android can do most of what iOS can do, it's a really great OS. It's just that iOS is more polished and concrete, I never really knew what this meant until I had spent an appreciable time with Google. I won't rehash what this means to me as I've said it before, but Siri is a prime example of this. Some may have no need of Siri at all, but IMO it's a VERY powerful business tool and makes life quite a bit easier. Google has this same opportunity with google search/now, but it seems they are not going that route.

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Since I got my new car last year, the BT system built into the car doesn't seem to want to pass through my voice to the phone. You have to give the voice command to the car and then the car translates it to the command to the phone. I haven't had a chance to figure out how to get my car's BT audio to act like a dumb BT headset.

Now that my car is in the shop for a little while, I've been using my BT headset again. I find I can make calls just fine with it. It's actually better because it can access my address book. I can just say, "Call John Doe," and it will call that person (instead of having to speak the number.

I don't do much while driving as I find that trying to use voice controls is a bit distracting. I tried texting messages before and although it was successful, I just felt it was jut too distracting to continue doing it.

Does it make the calls thru Google search, or thru whatever built in voice dialing app your phone has? ie: Voice mate, S-voice, etc.

 

[TheRealCBONE]

Ahh, I didn't realize that, is that accurate? If that's the case then we cannot ever expect a personal assistant like Siri on Android? I don't know how everyone else uses their phone, but I found Siri incredibly powerful for mundane everyday tasks that I perform constantly during the day.

*snip*
I've been tinkering and playing with it. It's not that I mind having to tweak and stuff, it's just that I'm finding even with that desire Android doesn't function very well as a straight up business phone and no amount of tweaking or apps will fix that. There has to be an effort on Google's part to match things like Siri and other things. Just something as incredibly stupid as dialing someone can turn into a process on Android.

I use Dragon mobile assistant for commands and Google now for searching. Dragon comes up with a home button double tap.

What were your problems with calling? You can set up true 1touch call/email/text for any of your contacts. You can also give voice commands to call/email/text people. Like I said, I prefer dragon, but it also worked with Google now. Did you set up phonetic names and nicknames?

 

[Stuntman06]

Does it make the calls thru Google search, or thru whatever built in voice dialing app your phone has? ie: Voice mate, S-voice, etc.

It uses S-Voice.

 

[spinedoc77]

It uses S-Voice.

Ahh, yeah then that doesn't help me at all. Thanks though.

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I use Dragon mobile assistant for commands and Google now for searching. Dragon comes up with a home button double tap.

What were your problems with calling? You can set up true 1touch call/email/text for any of your contacts. You can also give voice commands to call/email/text people. Like I said, I prefer dragon, but it also worked with Google now. Did you set up phonetic names and nicknames?

I'll have to try Dragon mobile assistant, sounds pretty cool. I'll give it a shot today.

My problems with calling were I could not get the bluetooth headset to launch google search, I will bet I won't be able to get it to launch dragon mobile either. The way I use my phone, especially in the car, I need to have zero interaction with the phone/touchscreen and need everything I do to go thru the bluetooth headset. With iOS I could call contacts, set up calendar appointments, reminders, etc etc thru Siri and the bluetooth headset. The other issue I have is sometimes a "call Mario" command ends up being an internet search for super mario brothers, just one example though that shows the difference in functionality and how Apple and Google think about things. It wasn't an issue with voice recognition, Google is spot on, more accurate than Siri if anything. It was more of an issue with what Google did with that command.

But I'm committed to make it work. Every time I look at an iphone I just can't stand how tiny that screen is and how huge the bezels are. There has to be a solution to 1) getting my bluetooth headset button to launch what I want it to launch, and 2) getting a good personal assistant feel on Android. Those are really my 2 main issues.

 

[spinedoc77]

I gave Dragon mobile a shot, it's not very impressive. It can't search calendar, reminders, etc. It lags my phone a bit as well, but it's not terrible. I do like the wake up voice command which works even if the phone is off. I'll continue to play with Dragon Mobile as it seems like the only real viable solution.

I played around with google a bit more and realize that I am trying to do something which doesn't make much sense. Google search doesn't read back calendar appointments, texting, reminders, or allow me to make new ones either, it just does internet searches. As a personal assistant it's kind of useless, certainly nowhere near the level of Siri, not even remotely close. It's a shame that Google is wasting such an incredible opportunity.

So I'm going to try to see what else is out there and/or try to get LG Voice Mate to work. I still have the issue of bluetooth activation though.

Such a tough choice. I love the screen size and customization options on my G2, but Android is so counter intuitive at times. Siri is rock solid and pretty awesome for business use, but the iphone itself and iOS are crappy.