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LG Spectrum on Verizon - Solid?

stef7

stef7

Android Expert
I'm considering a contract phone with Verizon. No interest really in rooting it. Just want to make sure calling / reception on 4G and 3G/2G where necessary is solid. I understand from what I have read people love or hate the SW layer ontop of Gingerbread. If I get this phone was planning on using ADW Launcher EX.

I can wait for ICS. I just want at least a solid Gingerbread experience. Other phone being considered is Samsung Galaxy Nexus. SGN seems to be a good contender but am worried about reports of dropped calls and data. Not sure if that is because of people in fringe areas.

Anyway, any comments on the reliability of calling and OS stability on the device appreciated. Some unfamiliarity with the USB/HDMI connector. So anything along those lines much appreciated.
 
Reception and calls are great for me. I've found the phone likes to reboot every so often, though I'm not sure why.
The LG skinned version of Android is not my thing, but it's not the worst looking thing ever. Other features, like rootless screenshot, 1% battery and HD screen far outweigh any glitches or cosmetic flaws I find.
 
I looked on AmazonWireless today and I did a comparison of the Rezound, the Samsung Galaxy Nexus, and the LG Spectrum. I'm almost positive the feature comparison for the LG Spectrum is flawed. For example, it says "No" for BT, when I know this isn't the case. Grrr.

Have you done anything to avoid using the LG layer on top of GB? The screen does seem to be a commonly remarked + for the phone.

What is meant by 1% battery?

Thanks again.
 
The battery increments are in 1%, which isn't the case on other phones. Motorola phones are 10%, unless you use a hack in custom roms to show 1%.

To get a good comparison, I use phonescoop.com. Choose the razr, nexus and spectrum.... You'll find the spectrum is superior in all but battery, but if/when it gets ics that will change because of the improved life in 4.0. The fact that the nexus, on ics, gets the battery life as 2 phones on gb should show you its a lower grade device (Imo at least).

Oh and yes, I tried changing icons and theming with no luck. I don't recommend it.

Sent from my VS920 4G using Tapatalk 2 Beta-3
 
MrB206 said:
The battery increments are in 1%, which isn't the case on other phones. Motorola phones are 10%, unless you use a hack in custom roms to show 1%.

To get a good comparison, I use phonescoop.com. Choose the razr, nexus and spectrum.... You'll find the spectrum is superior in all but battery, but if/when it gets ics that will change because of the improved life in 4.0. The fact that the nexus, on ics, gets the battery life as 2 phones on gb should show you its a lower grade device (Imo at least).

Oh and yes, I tried changing icons and theming with no luck. I don't recommend it.

Sent from my VS920 4G using Tapatalk 2 Beta-3
Click to expand...

Preface to this comment lol. This is in no means intended to be offensive or meant the wrong way. I know things on the interwebz can be meant one way and taken another. This is meant as an offer to help.

Just because you haven't had any luck doesn't mean it's not possible. I have offered and will continue to offer my assistance to anyone wanting to advance this phone. I have an excellent track record with oe stock roms, and getting the most out of what the manufacturer has offered us. I have done work with the LG Revolution, LG Esteem, and some with the Pantech Breakout (my daughters phone) and have some stuff in the works for the Spectrum. This is a great phone with excellent potential! I don't want to see any discouragement for such a great phone! A couple of screen shots of what I've got so far. Now admittedly some things are a little more difficult on this phone as opposed to the others (ie the power menu mood is kicking my butt lol) but nothing that can't be made through lol.

a6f8456e-ea24-ba78.jpg

a6f8456e-ea34-47ff.jpg
 
hmmm. What did you use to change the icons? I only have Rom Toolbox and the few battery icons I tried were far too large for the bar and some deleted the icon entirely. If you have an easier way or know which icons work, I'd really love to hear it, because the stock green icon is dreadful. The one you have is lovely, BTW. I'd love to alter the lockscreen (without using an extra app), but I don't know if that's possible.
 
what is the benefit of altering the lockscreen? I've changed it with apps from market but it's always messed with my head.

I'm testing out Go Launcher EX now after using Launcher Pro on my ally for 2 years.
 
mtmichaelson said:
Preface to this comment lol. This is in no means intended to be offensive or meant the wrong way. I know things on the interwebz can be meant one way and taken another. This is meant as an offer to help.

Just because you haven't had any luck doesn't mean it's not possible. I have offered and will continue to offer my assistance to anyone wanting to advance this phone. I have an excellent track record with oe stock roms, and getting the most out of what the manufacturer has offered us. I have done work with the LG Revolution, LG Esteem, and some with the Pantech Breakout (my daughters phone) and have some stuff in the works for the Spectrum. This is a great phone with excellent potential! I don't want to see any discouragement for such a great phone! A couple of screen shots of what I've got so far. Now admittedly some things are a little more difficult on this phone as opposed to the others (ie the power menu mood is kicking my butt lol) but nothing that can't be made through lol.

a6f8456e-ea24-ba78.jpg

a6f8456e-ea34-47ff.jpg
Click to expand...


I have to chime in... I know MT's work quite well from running his GingerVolt rom on my Revo. His rep in modifying the framework is epic (IMHO). I've been applying some of my own edits and his far surpass mine in terms of performance and quality.

Mr. B, the edits that MT is doing are in the apk and jar files. I have always stayed away from apps that claim to modify system apks as it is one of those things that shouldn't be done on the device itself (IMHO). RomToolbox is a great tool, but anything that can open and modify an apk or jar on the running system bothers me a bit.
 
Nice one. I'll hit him up in pms to talk more about it. But I should add If he's editing the settings and framework apks, that's not an easy fix/change for most people, so my previous statement is still pretty accurate. It's not recommended with apps like rtb and tread lightly if modifying system files.

Sent from my VS920 4G using Tapatalk 2 Beta-3
 
MrB206 said:
Reception and calls are great for me. I've found the phone likes to reboot every so often, though I'm not sure why.
Click to expand...

Mine likes to reboot around the same time of day each tine, for a few days, then it won't for a few, then it will do it again at some random time, then it won't for a few days. I have not been able to figure it out. Has to be one of those LG apps... If we could get a ROM without LG interference we would know.
 
MrB206 said:
hmmm. What did you use to change the icons? I only have Rom Toolbox and the few battery icons I tried were far too large for the bar and some deleted the icon entirely. If you have an easier way or know which icons work, I'd really love to hear it, because the stock green icon is dreadful. The one you have is lovely, BTW. I'd love to alter the lockscreen (without using an extra app), but I don't know if that's possible.
Click to expand...

Hey bro, sorry I'm just now getting back to you, I do everything myself using apk manager. Rom toolbox is probably not built for xhdpi devices and is probably what is messing it up.

On the up side got the power menu mod and aosp lockscreen working! Just need to iron out a couple of things and will release it!
 
finndo77 said:
Mine likes to reboot around the same time of day each tine, for a few days, then it won't for a few, then it will do it again at some random time, then it won't for a few days. I have not been able to figure it out. Has to be one of those LG apps... If we could get a ROM without LG interference we would know.
Click to expand...


I'm not getting any automatic or random rebooting at all. I will manually reboot once a week or so, just kind of a routine maintainance type situation.

Back to the original topic: Call quality is great and strong for me, Central FL area. 4g is nice and strong when i get into 4g area's. The stock LG UI doesnt really bug me, although i am using Go Launcher EX. I prefer the stock app drawer over the the go launcher drawer though. Battery life is managable, conistantly going over 24 hours on a charge ( rooted).
 
mtmichaelson said:
Hey bro, sorry I'm just now getting back to you, I do everything myself using apk manager. Rom toolbox is probably not built for xhdpi devices and is probably what is messing it up.

On the up side got the power menu mod and aosp lockscreen working! Just need to iron out a couple of things and will release it!
Click to expand...

VERY cool. Count me in. So are you just replacing the drawables in the framework apk? I guess that wouldn't be too hard as long as a copy of the original is kept.

Sent from my VS920 4G using Tapatalk 2 Beta-3
 
FWIW: I just ordered an LG Spectrum. I can wait for ICS. Until that time, I think I will be receiving a very good phone on a responsive network, and I believe I can bypass the aspects of the UI that detract from an otherwise excellent device based on the specs and what I have read on various forums and watched on YouTube.

I hope to contribute more to the discussions here on the LG Spectrum in the future.

Thank you for the thoughtful posts.
 
livemusicfan wrote:
For the money the HTC rezound or Droid razor is a much better buy....same price

FWIW: I paid $20 for the Spectrum :cool:

In comparison:
HTC Rezound $80
Razr $35
Razr Max $200
 
MrB206 said:
And both of those phones have 1.2 processors, we have a 1.5.

Sent from my VS920 4G using Tapatalk 2 Beta-3
Click to expand...

Well, the Rezound does have the same processor that the Spectrum does (I do have both) but honestly my Spectrum outruns my Rezound, and has a nicer screen (not to mention bigger). I can honestly say I am very pleased with my Spectrum so far!!!
 
Ahh so it does. I wonder why I thought it was a 1.2? I thought the spectrum was the only 1.5,but I guess not.

Sent from my VS920 4G using Tapatalk 2 Beta-3
 
MrB206 said:
Ahh so it does. I wonder why I thought it was a 1.2? I thought the spectrum was the only 1.5,but I guess not.

Sent from my VS920 4G using Tapatalk 2 Beta-3
Click to expand...


One thing I noticed when I got the Spectrum and rooted it was that the CPU was capped at 1.0 ghz. Did anyone else notice that?
 
I didn't check before I rooted it, but after I rooted, it was 1510 max.

Sent from my VS920 4G using Tapatalk 2 Beta-3
 
MrB206 said:
Reception and calls are great for me. I've found the phone likes to reboot every so often, though I'm not sure why.
The LG skinned version of Android is not my thing, but it's not the worst looking thing ever. Other features, like rootless screenshot, 1% battery and HD screen far outweigh any glitches or cosmetic flaws I find.
Click to expand...

What are you using to screenshot if you dont mind me asking. I didnt realize it was an included feature.
 
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