F***** my Galaxy S5

[cbotved]

Okay, i know....

I have had an iPhone 3G, 4 and 5.... So I might be a little bit bias.

However, when my job put up a android-only policy I thought "how bad can it be?"

Ohh boy was I up for some nasty surprises!

Got the new Samsung Galaxy S5

- charger imploded after charging 10 min - needed a new charger
- earphones are so extremely bad in quality, you would not believe it!
- they hurt my ears, even with the smallest plastic molds on
- feel of the +/- buttons is really bad
- sound quality is really poor
- you need to download apps for everything, even fx podcast, and chances are that you get a crappy app
- finger scanner - ohh boy, don't get me started on that one.... Takes AT LEAST 5 swipes to lock up the phone.
- the water protector of the USB plugs is just in the way all the time, when you want to connect a cable

And now to the audi a3 part

I have just bought the correct AMI >> micro USB cable

- podcasts can not play over it, like it was easily possible with the iPhone
- if you manually get the podcast playback to work, then it is not possible to change podcast from the car, like it was easily possible with the iPhone
- phone still rings in the phonebox, although the car is also ringing - why?!


All in all, really not impressed - and I dearly miss my iPhone just 4 days in the land of android.....

 

[STERLING VOID]

I have used an s3 and an s4 mini via bluetooth in my car and both works like a charm!

 

[cbotved]

I have used an s3 and an s4 mini via bluetooth in my car and both works like a charm!

For "everything" ?

Or just for calls?

Which app do you use for podcasts?

 

[STERLING VOID]

For "everything" ?

Or just for calls?

Which app do you use for podcasts?

I don't use an app for podcasts but I do use the TuneIn radio app which is very clear throughout the sound system of the car. Its as if my car has internet radio. In fact any sound that can be played from the phone plays seamlessly through the car speakers when connected via Bluetooth.

 

[moffe]

For "everything" ?

Or just for calls?

Which app do you use for podcasts?

It's only Crapple stuff you can use with that cable... AMI usb cable is just for usb memorysticks or harddrives. You can control your phone with that as you can do on a iphone. You should use bluetooth instead...I guess that is the only way.

 

[Stevo985]

Sounds like most of your problems are Samsung problems, not Android problems. Havign had a Galaxy S3 for 2 years I wouldn't be in a rush to go back to Samsung. Nice looking phone, but Touchwiz (the "skin" they put over the vanilla android system) is pretty ****, and their hardware is quite unreliable from my experience

My new Nexus 5 (Android) plays podcasts through bluetooth perfectly. And the handsfree phone works perfectly too.

I do find it bizarre though, that car manufacturers continue to tailor their systems more to iOS when Android is a far FAR wider used system (and the proportion is heading even more in that direction).

 

[cemerson]

The thing with Android is that the software just doesn't matter. I have a Samsung but replaced Touchwiz with a custom launcher instead, and replaced most of the other Samsung apps too. They make good hardware and that's all that matters when choosing an Android phone - everything else can be changed.

 

[warren_S5]

All in all, really not impressed - and I dearly miss my iPhone just 4 days in the land of android.....

Interesting. My other half works at VF HQ and I've heard similar mixed reports of people being wowed over to Samsung and then finding it wasn't quite as good an experience as the Apple detractors had suggested.

I was on the verge of changing as I've specced MMI high on my new car and Apple phones don't support the system with the BT standard so I'm having to get a SIM for the dash. It was a wobble moment, but after garnering some feedback I decided to go for the iP 5s which is 'fine'. These days reviews are so polarized about products that are emotive purchases I don't think you can go with anything other than your own personal judgement.

 

[cuke2u]

Okay, i know....

I have had an iPhone 3G, 4 and 5.... So I might be a little bit bias.

However, when my job put up a android-only policy I thought "how bad can it be?"

Ohh boy was I up for some nasty surprises!

Got the new Samsung Galaxy S5

- charger imploded after charging 10 min - needed a new charger
- earphones are so extremely bad in quality, you would not believe it!
- they hurt my ears, even with the smallest plastic molds on
- feel of the +/- buttons is really bad
- sound quality is really poor
- you need to download apps for everything, even fx podcast, and chances are that you get a crappy app
- finger scanner - ohh boy, don't get me started on that one.... Takes AT LEAST 5 swipes to lock up the phone.
- the water protector of the USB plugs is just in the way all the time, when you want to connect a cable

And now to the audi a3 part

I have just bought the correct AMI >> micro USB cable

- podcasts can not play over it, like it was easily possible with the iPhone
- if you manually get the podcast playback to work, then it is not possible to change podcast from the car, like it was easily possible with the iPhone
- phone still rings in the phonebox, although the car is also ringing - why?!


All in all, really not impressed - and I dearly miss my iPhone just 4 days in the land of android.....

Yes you are biased as most people would be having owned one brand for a long time, so why did you get one?

 

[Stevo985]

Interesting. My other half works at VF HQ and I've heard similar mixed reports of people being wowed over to Samsung and then finding it wasn't quite as good an experience as the Apple detractors had suggested.

I was on the verge of changing as I've specced MMI high on my new car and Apple phones don't support the system with the BT standard so I'm having to get a SIM for the dash. It was a wobble moment, but after garnering some feedback I decided to go for the iP 5s which is 'fine'. These days reviews are so polarized about products that are emotive purchases I don't think you can go with anything other than your own personal judgement.

All I'd say is Samsung don't represent the best that Android phones have to offer. My experience wit them wasn't great.
Experiences with HTC and now the NExus 5 have been far far superior.

But I was an iPhone man for nearly 5 years.
But I'm in no hurry to go back. I've found Android to be superior in every way (apart from, it would appear, being compatible with an Audi A3 )

 

[M_D_O_London]

I have a Galaxy S5 - Not too sure about the charger issues you've experience (was it connected to a regular power supply?) as there isn't normally a lot to go wrong with a phone charger. Also - the flap at the bottom is there to keep the device waterproof should it be submerged - not too much of an issue taking it out / in when charging. OEM earphones bundled with phones are usually pants - (Apple ones are by far the worst - Samsung not far behind). If you're listening to music with headphones in, best to get a set of Sennheiser in-ear ear-phones or Bose.

Re the A3 MMI compatibility, I get access to all the functions you mention above via the regular Bluetooth connection. Just pair the phone up like normal and away you go! Don't bother about connecting the car via the MMI USB cable. Just connect it up to the charger socket / cigarette lighter if you need to charge the battery.

 

[Andy1608]

I was an apple user for years and then went to Samsung and wouldn't go back to apple, not the phones anyway.

 

[Stevo985]

I actually think hardware is where Apple is best. The iPhone as a phone is great.

The problem for them is Android's software (ie the operating system itself) is way ahead

 

[cbotved]

Now I feel like a complete idiot if the AMI (38£) cable does exactly the same (only charge) as a Micro USB (4£) cable....

 

[M_D_O_London]

Sorry bud - that might just be the case. Once you've got your phone all paired up via bluetooth, you should have everything you need working. Although sound quality via Bluetooth isn't quite up to CD standard, it's still pretty good.

 

[DanV8]

Just as a matter of interest why would a company make an Andriod only policy?
BTW I'm using the galaxy note 3 and wouldn't change it for my wife's Iphone5s for all the tea in china.

 

[Stevo985]

Might be to do with compatibility with their computer system.

Unless the company uses Macs then there's no real advantage to people using iPhones as their company phones.
If the company uses GMail then it's even more reason to choose Android.

I'd assume the company just decided it was easier if everybody was on one particular operating system on their phone, and decided on Android

 

[SockToy]

Generally you want one platform to support, so you dont have the overhead of staff being trained and having to test against 15 different things.

We support iOS, Android and Blackberry, which is a nightmare - however we generally prefer iOS and blackberry, as they have far fewer security problems than android.

Still no clue what lead I need for my iPhone 5 on the new s3 though. RedGreenACADAF.....

 

[kanecullen89]

I don't know why you're all moaning about iPhones and android phones. My company only provide us with blackberry phones.
Now they are real piles of sh*t!! I'd rather use a Nokia 3210!

 

[JohnM100]

Still no clue what lead I need for my iPhone 5 on the new s3 though. RedGreenACADAF.....

Red collar AMI cable plus GENUINE Apple 30-pin to lightning adapter - everything works including audio, track names, control from steering wheel and album artwork
OR
Green collar AMI Cable. I think the AC/AD/AF suffix revision debate will go on for a while. I have the green collar AD cable. Audio, track names & control from steering wheel works but album artwork does not (even for same track that works on red collar plus genuine 30-pin to lightning).

Hardware: iPhone 5S iOS 7.1
Audi Sound System; MMI non tech pack.

John.