Why oh why.. Moto G Lollipop

sillygoose

As someone who usually preaches against blind updating as its not always a gain..

Why did I update my better half's Moto G to Lollipop when it was perfect on Kitkat! someone hit me with a baseball bat. :wall:

Stupid new lock-screen now requires an extra swipe to get to the the lock pattern which is annoying, power toggles can no longer control mobile data (earlier Android versions were like this but they then let 3rd party apps control it, now they have removed it again Grr!) And my favourite SMS program EasySMS (Pansi) won't run (others confirmed it).

Having wasted a lot of time trying every SMS app on Play not one other does the same - unbelievable .. all I want is an Inbox, Outbox, sent, archive folders like a trillion phones before used to have. I don't want themes and integration with Facebook or Emoticon chats, just simple good old texts. I have emailed the author but not holding out much hope. Had paid for pro version too.

Sorry to vent, but Google do my head in, Icecream sandwich was great, Jelly Bean was a balls up, Kitkat reasonable. Seems Google are alternating Good-duff-good-duff...

If you have a Moto G my advice leave it alone!

forgotmyname

On my Galaxy S2 I stuck with Gingerbread because it worked. Everything made sense.

Then they delete stuff, add move apps to the SD, then remove it.

Why cant i access my phone logs from all the calls, texts or contacts screen like you used to?

Change for the sake of it?

wongataa

sillygoose wrote: »

And my favourite SMS program EasySMS (Pansi) won't run (others confirmed it).

Having wasted a lot of time trying every SMS app on Play not one other does the same - unbelievable .. all I want is an Inbox, Outbox, sent, archive folders like a trillion phones before used to have. I don't want themes and integration with Facebook or Emoticon chats, just simple good old texts. I have emailed the author but not holding out much hope. Had paid for pro version too.

It's not Google's fault that the autor of an app you like has not made sure it works with the latest version of Android. That is all down to the app author.

I use Google's SMS app: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.apps.messaging&hl=en_GB
It is simple and just does SMS and it works very well for me.

The mobile data toggle may take a little longer to reach but it is not far away. Swipe down from the top of the screen, tap the mobile network icon, and you are taken to the mobile data screen where you can toggle data on or off and set mobile data limits.

ballyblack

I use 'Messenger' as well

it works and overall I prefer Lollipop over Kit Kat

J_B

forgotmyname wrote: »

Change for the sake of it?

The word nowadays is .... upgrade!!!!!!!! :mad:

sillygoose

wongataa wrote: »

It's not Google's fault that the autor of an app you like has not made sure it works with the latest version of Android. That is all down to the app author.

Or perhaps they could make new Android versions backwardly compatible? I have useful programs from Windows 95 era that run happily on a Windows 7 PC and Windows is a lot bigger job than Android.

I use Google's SMS app: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.apps.messaging&hl=en_GB
It is simple and just does SMS and it works very well for me.

That's nice. But it doesn't work well for me. I find it laborious, ever since they took away directly browsing your contacts in the 'To' box

The mobile data toggle may take a little longer to reach but it is not far away. Swipe down from the top of the screen, tap the mobile network icon, and you are taken to the mobile data screen where you can toggle data on or off and set mobile data limits.

So how is that an 'upgrade' or improvement?

The most annoying thing about Google is the constant drive for minimalism, its like their religion but in doing so impose change without at least giving the option to opt out. For example when a phone is locked that is all I want it to be, so it cannot possibly do anything at all in my pocket without being deliberately unlocked. I don't need swipey cameras and emergency dialling or pull down controls. They were not on older versions of Android so why can't I be allowed to switch all that off?

To me Google have not got a clue on the line between making something more useful and unnecessarily complicated.

sillygoose

ballyblack wrote: »

I use 'Messenger' as well

it works and overall I prefer Lollipop over Kit Kat

I am interested to know what advantages Lollipop has for you?

One obvious one is apparently (although not tried it yet) 3rd party app access to the SD card is back. Hooray if I can finally delete photos from within Quickpic again!

ballyblack

just like the quick access to wifi, mobile data, Bluetooth etc by swiping down
also the ringer options None, Priorty, All .....by touching Vol button

Saying that, now that I am used to it they will probably change it again with the next update??

sillygoose

ballyblack wrote: »

just like the quick access to wifi, mobile data, Bluetooth etc by swiping down
also the ringer options None, Priorty, All .....by touching Vol button

Saying that, now that I am used to it they will probably change it again with the next update??

I am used to that sort of function on my Samsung Note so can appreciate that, but its better implemented than plain Android as its user configurable of what you want to see in the panel.

I read that the next version is not far away, as you say, probably all change again.

virgo17

sillygoose wrote: »

As someone who usually preaches against blind updating as its not always a gain..

Why did I update my better half's Moto G to Lollipop when it was perfect on Kitkat! someone hit me with a baseball bat. :wall:

I did the same shortly after Lollipop was released. I let the thing update on WiFi. After a week I decided I much preferred the Moto G on KitKat. I did my research and flashed it back to KitKat and have been using that quite happily for many months since. My Moto G is the twin SIM version without 4G (I live in the sticks) and I was able to find the UK non provider specific firmware after a bit of searching.

I now intend to stick with my Moto G for as long as it lasts. It the phone is still working OK then when the battery dies I will open it up and replace it.

Just my experiences. OMMV.

wongataa

sillygoose wrote: »

That's nice. But it doesn't work well for me. I find it laborious, ever since they took away directly browsing your contacts in the 'To' box

As a work around you can use the contacts app to browse your contacts and when you select a contact you can choose to text or call them. Choose the text option.

Of course after you have texted a contact that contact will be in a list in the SMS app so you just have to scroll through the list to find them to send them more messages.

I also suppose many people quite like the search field in SMS apps where you start typing a name to select a specific contact so the app makers don't choose to have the function you prefer.

sillygoose wrote: »

So how is that an 'upgrade' or improvement?

I never said it was an improvement. I was just pointing out the quickest way to get to the toggle.

sillygoose wrote: »

Or perhaps they could make new Android versions backwardly compatible? I have useful programs from Windows 95 era that run happily on a Windows 7 PC and Windows is a lot bigger job than Android.

When I have upgraded my phone to the latest version of Android I have never noticed any of the apps I use stop working. Backward compatibility is there with Android. Again you will have to ask the app author in question why this did not work with their app. There may be a good technical reason but pretty much most apps don't have any issues.

sillygoose wrote: »

The most annoying thing about Google is the constant drive for minimalism, its like their religion but in doing so impose change without at least giving the option to opt out. For example when a phone is locked that is all I want it to be, so it cannot possibly do anything at all in my pocket without being deliberately unlocked. I don't need swipey cameras and emergency dialling or pull down controls.

The emergency phone call access when locked is always there on phones. It has to be. I have never activated the camera etc when my phone is locked in my pocket though so it isn't an issue that affects all people.