Which one is better, Stock ROM or Custom ROM?
I agree with Krishnendu Mukherjee .It totally depends on what custom ROM you are talking about and of course your device model.There are both very good and very bad quality ROMs available to download , the range of selection varies with device models.I currently use Cyanogenmod 12.1 and the performance gains are quiet significant . Cyanogenmod is quite popular an has a great team of deveolpers behind it . Do some research over the net (XDA-Developers Android Forums is a good place to start) about your phone if some custom ROM exists for your device . Then read the reviews and most importantly bug reports.If they are positive , you are free to try it.The question does not clearly ask regarding any particular custom ROM for any particular device so i'm afraid that a targeted answer cannot be supplied.Some reasons in general why you would consider flashing a custom ROM: Less Bloatware then stock rom . Bloatware refers to unnecessary apps that are pre-installed by manufacturers. Better UI . Some people don't like the skins that manufacturers place on the stock ROMs.TouchWiz and Sense UI are some examples.People may opt for a more AOSP/Pure Android experience.Performance Gains.This is largely dependent on which ROM you are talking.Custom ROMs add their own tweaks and features.For example in Cyanogenmod you have a plethoria of settings not found in stock devices.From changing every element of the navigation and status bar , it own built in theme engine , changing boot-animations and even an option to enable root access it present in developer options.A newer Android Version.Better Update Cycles.This greatly applies to Cyanogenmod ROMsPotential Demerits of Custom ROMs:Risk Factor.Custom ROMs involve flashing a custom recovery and unlocking bootloader . There is significant risk of rendering your device unbootable if you don't follow steps properly.Bugs.Custom ROMs do not pass through the same quality checks and optimizations that manufacturers impose on stock ROMs . So a custom ROM is more likely to contain bugs than stock ROMs.Read reviews and bug reports before flahing ROMs.Hardware Issues.Custom ROMs may not properly support every bit of hardware in your phone, so you may run into bugs, non-functioning hardware, or just other issues.If you do flash a custom ROM , don't forget to take backups regularly.
Why won't my galaxy s3 send or receive texts?
I've had my gs3 for about 5 months now and it's always been perfectly fine! But now it is messing up like crazy! Weird things are happening like the screen won't turn off and small stuff like that. But most importantly, it won't let me send or receive texts! When I text someone, it always fails sending the first time. Then I hit retry and it sends this time but then I can never receive them! I tried restarting, taking the battery out, I have no clue what to do! And also, I never dropped it. It also has a very protective case on it so its very safe. If you know how to fix this problem, please help!
Which Android tablet would be best suited for someone switching from Apple?
An imaginary, non-existent one.The first thing that popped into my mind while reading this question was: “Who the hell would want to switch from an iPad to an Android tablet ?!”.The iPad is the king of tablets.The same can’t necessarily be said for Apple’s other products. The iPhone isn't the best phone for everyone. The Mac isn’t the best computer for everyone either (I’m looking at you enterprise folks). The Apple TV isn’t the best TV streaming device for everyone. All three products have pretty good competitors, even though I hate to admit it.The iPad, however, decimates absolutely everything in its path.Let’s ignore the iPad Pro for a moment and take a look at the regular iPad (2017) which most consumers who are interested in a tablet for its consumption capabilities (assuming they’re buying an iPad) would buy.It’s got a comfortably-sized and phenomenal 9.7″ displayIt has a really fast processor - Apple’s A9 chipThe camera is really sharp- 8MP rear iSight camera w/1080p videoTouch ID fingerprint recognition with Apple Pay- Apple’s Touch ID sensor is arguably the best in the industryAll-day battery lifeIt runs iOSThat’s a great spec sheet for a tablet. It may not be the best tablet screen in the world. It may not have the fastest tablet chip in the world. It may not even have the best tablet camera in the world. But the specs are so good that they’re “good enough” for 90% of people that want to purchase a tablet. In fact, anyone who wants a better camera, faster processor, or a better screen would likely gravitate towards the iPad Pro.And it all costs just $329 for the 32 gig model.In the Android world, you’d get many tablets at the same price or even lower that would be able to do basic stuff. But they can't touch the iPad. Why? Look at the last item in the bullet list.iOS.iOS is the iPad’s biggest strength. It has the most robust tablet app ecosystem in the world. It has insanely great tablet-first features (most of these are coming with iOS 11, like Drag & Drop, and the all-new Files app). But more than that, it has the best experience you’ll find on a tablet.Not to forget, the iPad has great longevity. My iPad 2 from 2011 is still chugging along to do the most basic of tasks. And with the advanced hardware that you can get in today’s iPads, you can expect it to last even longer.All starting at just $329.
Is the quality of Samsung smartphones better than other mainstream phones, like LG, Huawei, Nokia, Sony, and Xiaomi?
LG phones may look ugly as heck but they are often of better internal quality than Samsung. And phones like V10 and V20 are extremely rugged and they are one of the few manufacturers who still offer removable battery on their devices. Their designs are practical but they either look way too ugly or bit too bland. Seriously their flagship device V20 looks like a brick.About Huawei well their P series and Mate series phones are good and have excellent build and component quality, others are total waste. And most of their good phones like Honor Note 8 and Mate 8 have rather impractical sizes. Seriously 6 inch and 6.6 inch displays. Are you kidding me.Nokia belonged to a league of its own in terms of quality and their quality surpasses Samsung, LG and Sony by a long shot. They pay a lot of attention to even minor details. After the acquisition of Microsoft their design went downhill but their phones are extremely reliable and are built to last really long.In terms of internal component quality Sony is similar to Samsung but yeah their build quality is excellent and better than Samsung.Xiaomi looks good but the internal quality and the component quality is way inferior to Samsung, LG, Sony, Nokia, Motorola. They have weak chassis built of rather brittle Aluminum alloy. Just watch the bend test of Mi5 it broke like a Graham cracker in the test. They often switch gold conductors with aluminum conductors to keep the cost low but it leads to numerous problems like overheating.Then there’s Motorola, their designs look awkward but they are ruggedly built, they’re like the ThinkPad of mobile phones. They work great, they’re built to last but yeah don’t expect something stylish from them. They are rather too utilitarian in design.Blackberry, well their phones are problem free and durable but their designs look a bit too formal and doesn’t appeal the young crowd.HTC, well their phones are good and durable but they are priced rather ridiculously.Then there’s Apple, they use excellent components on their devices, although that does affect their price but their quality is excellent.Edit:-When it’s about quality I’ve to say the new HP Elite x3 has excellent quality and it is built like a tank. But yeah the price of that device is ridiculous.
Do phone cases really protect your phone from damage?
No matter how careful you are, gravity is just stronger than you. You'll probably drop your phone at least once or twice in the years that you own it. How much protection you need, though, depends on your phone: lots of Android phones are built a bit tougher, and are more likely to survive the occasional drop. The iPhone 4 or 4S, on the other hand, while blessed with gorgeous looks, are a lot more likely to break when you drop them, so the argument for using a case becomes much stronger.It's also worth mentioning that even cheap cases can give you drop protection by preventing you from dropping the phone in the first place. A lot of phones have particularly slippery backs, and a good case can add a bit of grip to keep it from sliding out of your hand and onto the concrete. It still isn't as good as getting a quality case, but it's better than going naked.While there's always an argument to make for "individuality", a phone case can also make you stand out in a practical way. Next time you're at a social gathering, count the number of people with the same phone as you in the room. Now imagine none of those people had cases on their phones, and left them on the table or counter (as so many people do). Have fun finding your phone in a sea of identical iPhones. To know more, visit here… Protect your phone from damage.
Why is everyone so obsessed with the Apple iPhone when good technology exists in competitors such as the Samsung Galaxy SIII?
Here's my take on it...The iPhone is more intuitive than many Android devices. It's easy to navigate and feels good to use. Compare this to the Samsung Galaxy. The Galaxy is a nice phone, but given the large screen size it's not particularly comfortable to use (especially if you have small hands). On the other hand, one could argue that the larger size creates a better viewing experience. It depends on how you want to use your device and what you value the most. Apple addresses what other manufacturers often overlook...how the device makes the user FEEL. This includes finding the perfect sounds, animations, phone dimensions to maximize comfort and ease of use (why do you think the screen dimensions have remained pretty much the same?), and material. In other words, a great user experience.Additionally, the interface guidelines for mobile apps on iOS devices are stricter, as well as the App Store approval process. This typically results in applications that function more smoothly than on Android devices (not to say there aren't some Android apps that are impressive). Also, as Mauricio mentioned owning an iPhone puts you in the "Apple Ecosystem". What advantages does the "Apple Ecosystem" have? Have you ever tried calling Apple for help? If so, you know you reach a REAL person within 1-2 rings. I can't remember the last time I called customer service at a large company and didn't have to navigate through pre-recorded menus, just to be shuffled around from person to person. Smartphone users that choose the iPhone do so because of the overall polished, and thought out experience (from design to customer service).Just my two cents.
How long are Samsung's smartphones' lifespans? Specifically, how long is it until it starts to have problems?
If you get a flagship phone, the hardware will most likely last for 3 to 4 years. The battery will need to be replaced within 1.5 years. Peripherals that usually die around 3 years are the charging port and headphone jack. The OS will be updated to new Android versions for 2 years, and additional security patches will be pushed out for another year (3 years software support total technically). The build quality on flagships Samsung Note 4 and before are far more durable, being made of high quality polycarbonate and having removable batteries and modular parts. Samsung S6 and onwards are made out of glass and are super fragile and hard to repair.I myself use a flagship Samsung Galaxy Note 3 since early 2014, its still fine in June 2017 after almost 3 1/2 years usage, except the charging port is getting a little loose and may need to be replaced soon. And I also bought another battery from Amazon in 2015.If you get a midrange or entry-level phone, the build quality, especially on phones before 2015, will be pretty bad. Should last about 2 years before something dies. The new 2016 and 2017 A-series and C-series are pretty good and should also last about 3 years, although the battery will need to be replaced after 2 years.