6 problems with the OnePlus 2 and how to fix them
The latest “flagship killer” from OnePlus arrived with much fanfare, but entered a market that was far more competitive in the affordable segment, far beyond anything its predecessor had to face. While the refinements to design, certain aspects of the hardware, new software experience, and fantastic price point are all great, the OnePlus 2 is certainly not without its flaws. That is why we’ve rounded up some of the common problems that OnePlus 2 owners face, and offer potential solutions on how to fix them!
Disclaimer: Not every OnePlus 2 owner will face these issues, and it is actually more than likely that you won’t come across any of the problems listed below.
Problem #1 – Capacitive home button and fingerprint sensor unresponsive
While its predecessor faced grounding issues that resulted in problems with the touchscreen, a similar problem in the OnePlus 2 has caused the capacitive home button of the OnePlus 2 to become unresponsive in certain situations. The problem seems to occur when holding the device along the metal frame with one hand, and then trying to press the home button with the other, but not when using the device in one hand, or when it is kept on a table. Since the home button comes with an embedded fingerprint sensor, the fingerprint scanner faces the same issue as well.
Potential solutions:
- A permanent solution for this problem is something that can hopefully be fixed via an OTA software update, so that is something you will have to wait for. If it does turn out to be a hardware problem, we’ll have to wait to see what OnePlus’ response will be.
- Using a case with the phone may help. You can check out our roundup of some of the best OnePlus 2 cases that are currently available here.
- Some users have found that turning off the built-in gesture controls seems to alleviate this issue as well.
- Finally, you may have to resort to using the on-screen navigation keys instead, which will take some display real estate, but will do away with having to use the capacitive home button altogether. When using on-screen navigation keys, the fingerprint scanner also seems to work completely normally.
Problem #2 – Dual-SIM selection issues
The OnePlus 2 comes with dual-SIM capabilities regardless of which region you are picking the phone up in, and that is a good feature, especially for those who travel. But users have been facing some problems with selecting which SIM should be used when, or with switching between the two SIM cards easily. Plus, the phone sometimes doesn’t show which carrier network is the primary pick in the notification bar.
Potential solutions:
- While the phone, for some users, doesn’t show which is the primary carrier network, or sticking with one even when switching to the network of the second SIM, these seems to only be a cosmetic issue, as the right network is used when making calls or using data. A future software issue should fix this issue.
- As far as switching between the two SIMs is concerned, it does seem to take some time, as noted in our comprehensive review, and some users have found a restart of the device to do the trick, if you don’t want to wait. Once again, this is a software bug, which will hopefully be resolved soon.
- When setting up the dual-SIM settings for making calls, you have the option to select which is the primary SIM to be used, and also the option to be asked every time. Even when the ask every time option is selected, the phone seems to select SIM 1 as the default. This will again require a software update to be fixed.
Problem #3 – Clear All button from Recent Apps screen has disappeared
Many users have found that the Clear All option, in the form a large X at the right corner, in the Recent Apps menu to have disappeared. While some users have found that this occurred after updating their device to Oxygen OS 2.1, others are facing this even on the older 2.0.2 version as well.
Potential solutions:
- This is again a software bug, and something that will hopefully be taken care of in a future update. Until then, there are a few temporary fixes that you can try.
- This might be related to the Google app for some users. Make sure the Google app is updated to the latest version by checking the Google Play Store. If it is, find the app in the Applications section of the Settings menu, tap on Force Stop, then Clear Cache, and finally, disable the app. Enable it again, and this seems to have worked for some.
- Boot the device into Safe Mode (you can find out how to do so from the guide below). You will likely find the issue to not exist when in Safe Mode. Reboot the device to the normal mode again, and this should fix the problem. However, while this solution has worked long term for some, a few users have found the Clear All button to disappear once again after 2 or 3 days, requiring a repeat of the process.
Problem #4 – Camera issues
Following an update to the latest version of the Oxygen OS, some users have found that the camera doesn’t work when the flash is on. The screen goes blank and a photo isn’t taken sometimes, and if a shot is taken, the device locks right after, requiring you to unlock the device again and few the image in the Gallery.
Potential solutions:
- This issue seems to occur only with the stock camera application, so you may be better off installing a third-party camera app, such as Google Camera, from the Google Play Store.
- For others, wiping the cache partition seems to do the trick. You can find the instructions on how to do so in the guides below.
- If the issue still persists, your last resort may be to perform a factory reset. You can find how to do so in the guides below.
Problem #5 – Phonebook sync issues when connecting phone to the car via Bluetooth
Some users have had some difficulty connecting their OnePlus 2’s to their car, but the more prevalent issue has been the fact that, while the device does connect and audio calls and music (albeit without any music controls) do work, the phonebook does not sync with the car. This problem isn’t limited to a particular car manufacturer or model.
Potential solutions:
- The update to Oxygen OS 2.1 has fixed the Bluetooth connectivity issue for most users, and the phonebook sync problem will also likely be taken care of in a future update.
- Until then, download the Bluetooth Phonebook app from the Google Play Store, which seems to fix the issue for most users. There is a trial version available for you to check compatibility first, which you can find here, and only after you make sure that it works, you will have to go for the paid version. Keep in mind that the trial version only shows whether sync is working.
Problem #6 – Connectivity issues
Connectivity issues are quite common when getting a new device, and below are the general steps you can follow when facing problems with connecting to Wi-Fi or Bluetooth devices.
Potential solutions:
Wi-Fi Issues
- Turn off the router that you’re using and the phone, and wait for a while before turning them back on.
- Go to the Wi-Fi settings on the device and forget the preferred network, before entering the details again from scratch.
- Check the level of activity on your current channel with the Wi-Fi Analyzer application. If necessary, simply switch to a different channel.
- Disable Power Saving Mode through Settings.
- Find the MAC address for the phone by going into Settings – About Phone and ensure it is recognized by your router.
Bluetooth Issues
- Make sure that no power saving mode is enabled.
- Start by turning the Bluetooth on your device off and back on again.
- If the problem continues, clear the cache for Bluetooth by going to the Bluetooth Settings.
- Restart the phone after clearing the data and cache.
- If the Bluetooth device saves multiple profiles, you might have reached the limit for the number of profiles it can save. Delete old and unused profiles, and try setting up the connection once again from scratch.
Guides – Soft reset, hard reset, wipe cache partition, and booting into Safe Mode
Soft reset
- If your display is off, turn it back on using the power key.
- Open the “Settings” application.
- Scroll down until you find “Backup & Reset.”
- Tap on “Factory data reset.”
- Select “Reset phone.”
- Tap on the box “Erase everything.”
- The device should automatically reboot
Hard reset
- Turn your phone off by pressing down the power key for five seconds.
- Turn the phone back on while keeping the volume down button pressed in.
- When the phone vibrates, release the volume down button.
- Your phone should enter a mode called Simple Recovery.
- Choose the option that reads “Wipe Cache Partition” using the power button.
- You should get a message that says “Cache wipe complete.”
- Continue to choose the option “Wipe Data/ Factory reset.”
- The phone should automatically reboot.
Wipe cache partition
- Turn your phone off by pressing down the power key for five seconds
- Turn the phone back on while keeping the volume down button pressed in
- When the phone vibrates, release the volume down button
- Your phone should enter a mode called “Simple Recovery.”
- Choose the option that reads “Wipe Cache Partition” using the power button
- You should get a message that says “Cache wipe complete.”
Booting into Safe Mode
- Turn off the device.
- Once off, press and hold the power button until the device starts booting up.
- As soon as it starts loading, press and hold the volume up and volume down keys simultaneously.
- Continue holding these buttons until the boot up is complete.
- Unlocking the device, you should see it having booted up into Safe Mode.
So, there you have it for this roundup of some of the common problems that plague OnePlus 2 owners, and some potential solutions on how to fix them. Do let us know if these solutions have worked for you, or if you’ve had any other problems come up, and we will update the list above. If you need more help with troubleshooting your OnePlus 2, or have any questions related to the device, you’ll also want to be sure to check out our official forums!
OnePlus 2 videos to watch
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For those on the fence about getting the OnePlus 2, don’t let any of the above problems deter you. Most of these issues are quite rare, and have their roots in the software side of things, which means that future OTA updates will take care of them. It’s also worth noting that you may run into similar scenarios with just about every new device you get, as these kinds of issues are often common, especially shortly after a device first launches.
Watch Virgin Galactic test fire its satellite launching rocket
On top of doing space tourism, Virgin Galactic aims to launch small satellites under 200 kilograms (440 pounds) into standard orbit via its LauncherOne program by the end of 2016. To achieve that (and hit the $10 mllion target price) Branson’s outfit will not launch rockets from terra firma, but via a carrier plane at a height of around 50,000 feet. So far nary a rocket has flown, but Virgin says it’s making “great progress” after a test this month. It managed to “hotfire” its NewtonThree first-stage rocket for nearly 90 seconds, or about half its projected mission burn time (below).
Considering that Virgin Galactic already has a huge contract to launch WebOne internet satellites in orbit, it still has a lot of work to do. Its manned space project was seriously set back when the suborbital SpaceshipTwo vehicle crashed in the Mojave desert, killing the co-pilot. In addition, the BBC reported last month that the LauncherOne program will need a larger carrier plane than the current WhiteKnightTwo, and Virgin Galactic hasn’t unveiled any new aircraft yet.
However, it’s now doing hotfire tests nearly every month, so the NewtonThree rocket should be ready to fly soon. If successful, the relatively cheap flights will open up satellite launches to a lot more companies and will make internet access more universal. But Richard Branson’s also been known to be a tad too optimistic about the challenges of getting into space.
Source: Virgin Galactic (Twitter)
ICYMI: Latest grenade launcher, modular smart watch and more
Today on In Case You Missed It: The U.S. Army is more interested than ever in blowing things up with precision, and that’s why it’s beginning acceptance testing on a smart grenade launcher that can detonate explosives mid-air. The rest of us can get our geek on with the Kickstarter for Blocks modular watch, which has different modules for all kinds of things: Advanced fitness tracking, mobile payments or GPS. And a Kickstarter to house jellyfish in the fanciest way possible is up for a hefty $1,500.
We’d also like to share this mesmerizing video of a hummingbird sculpture.
And if any of you saw the previous episode where we talked about Skarp, the razor laser that was new to Kickstarter, you should know about the latest development: Kickstarter suspended the project after seeing a video of the prototype that left something to be desired. Or a lot of hairs behind. In any event, Skarp is now up on Indiegogo.
If you come across any interesting videos, we’d love to see them. Just tweet us with the #ICYMI hashtag @engadget or @mskerryd.
YouTuber creates a magnetic Mjolnir not even Thor can pick up
If the Mjolnir were real, most of us would probably never be able to lift it. We’ll bet Allen Pan wouldn’t care one bit, though: not when he can easily make his own. The electrical engineer who likes making “pretend things into real things,” according to his YouTube channel Sufficiently Advanced, has recreated Thor’s hammer. It can’t exactly summon lightning and spin like a boomerang, but you can say that it “works,” because only he can pick it up… so long as it’s lying on a metallic surface. See, since Pan isn’t Odin’s son, he had to rely on existing technology to make his own version. In order to make it stick to, say, manhole lids, he had to equip it with a powerful microwave oven transformer electromagnet that uses electric current to generate a magnetic field.
He also fitted batteries inside, which are connected to an Arduino Pro Mini board, a solid state relay and a capacitive touch sensor at the base. When someone holds the Mjolnir’s handle, the magnet activates and attaches it to the metallic surface. Pan can lift it up thanks to his secret weapon: a fingerprint scanner near the base programmed to recognize his thumb. All he needs to do is place his finger on it, and the magnet will deactivate. You can watch a video of what Pan’s Mjolnir looks like inside below, along with a parade of clueless passersby attempting to hoist it off the ground it in vain.
Via: CNET
October 29 is confirmed as the launch date for OnePlus X
OnePlus India has confirmed October 29 as the launch date for its rumoured OnePlus X handset via Twitter. It was previously speculated to be October 12, but that turned out to be the day the handset maker made the OnePlus 2 available to order without an invite during its Open Sale event.
See you on October 29, India. #PowerfullyBeautiful pic.twitter.com/MoC7qvnRLQ
— OnePlus India (@OnePlus_IN) October 14, 2015
http://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
Other than the date of October 29, there isn’t too much to go on other than the previous leaks that suggest the OnePlus X may or may not sport either the Snapdragon 801 processor or MediaTek’s Helio X10 MT6795 chip. It’s believed that the OnePlus X will feature a Full HD display around the 5-inch mark, 2GB of RAM, a 13MP main snapper, as well as a 2.450mAh battery. Oh, and a price tag of around $249 keeps getting thrown about as well.
With two weeks to go until the big reveal, what are your thoughts on the OnePlus X? Will this be third time lucky for OnePlus, in that the launch will go as planned, with invites and stock in plentiful supply? Only time will tell.
Come comment on this article: October 29 is confirmed as the launch date for OnePlus X
LifeCable is a power-sharing cable that shifts power between devices
We’re living in a world where mobile devices are split between different ports for data transfers and charging. Android manufacturers use micro-USB (and sometimes USB Type-C) while Apple designs its own proprietary technology. What does this mean? At any given time, you can be without a compatible charger for your device. Life Mobile Accessories, a company headed by Daniel Kuntz, has launched the LifeCable on Indiegogo to solve the problem. It is a power-sharing cable that shifts energy between devices.
Both ends of the LifeCable include micro-USB and Apple’s Lightning connectors so that any combination of Android and iOS devices can charge one another. All you have to do is connect one end of the LifeCable to an appropriate port and do the same on the other end. You’re not drawing upon energy from a wall outlet or a power bank. You’re getting it from someone else’s device.
Oh, worried that you’ll be buying a device with a USB Type-C like the Nexus 5X or Nexus 6P (or maybe the OnePlus 2) in the near future? A version of the LifeCable with a USB Type-C connector is on the way.
Here is how the LifeCable works, as described by its maker:
Using our patent pending power sharing technology, power flows from one side of the cable to the other, allowing you to transfer power to other mobile devices directly from your own. This technology is able to quickly and safely take power from almost any smartphone, so there’s no need to worry about potential damage to your device or your neighbor’s device. Power flows at a rate that is about the same as a standard charging cable plugged into a computer USB port, allowing for fast and hassle-free charging.
The retail price of the LifeCable is going to be $35; however, contributing to the Indiegogo campaign brings home this little handy accessory for less. The SUPER Early Bird Special for $17 is gone, but you can still go for the Early Bird Special that sends you home with a single LifeCable for $27. Want two LifeCables? Go for the Double Trouble that costs $60 rather than $70.
You can expect to see the LifeCable arrive in April 2016.
Come comment on this article: LifeCable is a power-sharing cable that shifts power between devices
iPhone 6S camera outpaced by many Android flagships
In testing done by camera image quality experts, the Apple iPhone 6S sits behind many of today’s Android flagship phones. DxOMark, the website in question, conducts tests to determine photo and video quality and gives an overall score on a scale of 1 – 100. The iPhone 6S scored an 82, which puts it on par with the iPhone 6 and 6Plus and the Sony Xperia Z3+.
Leading the iPhone are the Moto X Style, last year’s Samsung Galaxy Note 4 and the LG G4 who all scored an 83, the Nexus 6P who scored an 84, the Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge who scored 86 and the reigning champion, the Sony Xperia Z5, who comes in with a whopping 87.
The iPhone gets high marks overall exposure, fast auto-focus, white balance, and good detail in bright light, but falls flat due to noise in low light, color shading in indoor situations, yellow shading in outdoor conditions, and ghosting and other artifacts.
More than once I’ve heard friends say they stick with iPhones because of the camera. Tests like these prove that not only have Android OEMs caught up to Apple in categories like speed and camera quality, but they’re starting to eat their lunch too. No doubt Apple will dismiss these results and continue on in their reality distortion field, but if you want amazing pictures from a phone, you’re no longer stuck with just one option.
Source: DxOMark
The post iPhone 6S camera outpaced by many Android flagships appeared first on AndroidGuys.
OnePlus X teased for Oct 29 launch, specs leaked briefly
OnePlus has begun teasing the launch of a new product for October 29th, with the tag line #PowerfullyBeautiful. Going by the teaser image, the company is preparing to announce its OnePlus X smartphone.
According to the company’s Twitter account, OnePlus will be heading to London for its next launch event. A similar X shape was used in the teaser for an Indian focused event that took place earlier this week, so we could be looking at a global release for this upcoming handset.
See you October 29, London. #PowerfullyBeautiful pic.twitter.com/JxS5YQviPX
— OnePlus (@oneplus) October 14, 2015
http://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
Shortly after the teaser popped up, a phone known as the OnePlus Mini was accidently posted on the Amazon India website, complete with a pretty much full list of specifications.
The next OnePlus smartphone looks to be a mid-ranger. The handset features a 5-inch 1080p display with Corning Gorilla Glass 3 and Synaptics’ ClearForce Technology. The listing also includes an octa-core MediaTek MT6795 SoC, 2GB of RAM, 32GB of internal memory, and a 2,450mAh battery. The phone is said to be powered by the Oxygen 3.0 OS, which is based on Android 6.0 Marshmallow.
Other rumors pin the smartphone’s camera on a 13 megapixel pixel sensor powered by a Sony IMX258, which features phase detection auto focus technology but will lack optical image stabilization. IP67 certification, NFC, FM radio, an IR blaster, front facing speakers, and removable StyleSwap covered are also expected to feature with the OnePlus X, giving it plenty of extras to boast about.
There are still a couple of weeks to wait until the official unveiling, so these specifications may not be completely accurate. Still, what do you think about the OnePlus X / Mini?
TrendForce anticipates first annual decline in Samsung smartphone shipments
Samsung may still be the biggest player in the smartphone market, but after years of annual growth, increasing competition and swings in market preferences are beginning to take their toll on the company’s sales figures. Market researcher TrendForce is now anticipating that Samsung will see its first year-over-year decline in handset shipments in 2015.
However, analysts are only expecting a decline of 1 percent year on year, leaving the company with a still substantial 323.5 million handsets expected to ship this year. According to TrendForce, it is not Samsung’s high-end smartphones that are seeing a major dip in sales, but rather the company’s mid and low-range efforts that losing market share to cost effective Chinese competitors.
“Samsung has lost much of its shares in the low-end to mid-range markets to Chinese competitors,” – TrendForce
Samsung doesn’t make it into the top 5 brands in China and fast growing markets, such as India, have become increasingly competitive and price sensitive, full of cost effective handsets produced either locally or in China. However, efforts like the Samsung Z1 have apparently seen some success.
This report is somewhat at odds with recently analysis from IBK Securities Co. in Seoul, which suggests that sub $200 devices have contributed to a smartphone shipment increase for the company in the third quarter. Perhaps Samsung is in the midst of refining its inexpensive smartphone strategy, which is only now beginning to pay off later in the year.
See also: Samsung’s Q3 2015 guidance report: big money maker
A negative sales trend is reflected in Samsung’s quarterly financial statements, which have seen falling revenues from the company’s mobile division. It is not all bad news for Samsung this year though. The company is expected to post an operating profit of 7.3 trillion won ($6.3 billion) for Q3 2015, an 80 percent increase over the previous year. This is partly due to a large increase in semiconductor sales and favorable exchange rates.
Samsung verses:
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Looking at the broader industry, Samsung is still expected to remain the dominant manufacturer in the industry, with a 24.6 percent share of the market in the third quarter. Apple remains in second on 13.7 percent, down from 15.4 percent, while Chinese company’s Huawei, Xiaomi and Lenovo fill up the rest of the top 5.
Xiaomi continues to make gains this year, somewhere in the 15 percent region, but will apparently miss out on its target to sell 100 million devices in 2015. Huawei appears to be this year’s big success story, with a 40 percent growth in sales YoY securing the company third place in global market share table.
Overall, smartphone shipments are up a healthy 9 percent from the second quarter, due in part to the early introduction of some new flagship smartphones. However, worries about market saturation, downwards price pressure and a generally weak global economy are leaving some to doubt the market’s true strength, which may not pick up again until the mid-point of 2016.
Alphabet to expand its language: Eric Schmidt sees dozens of companies in the future
Mountain View surprised the world when it announced the creation of and restructuring into Alphabet, a holdings company of which Google is now just a part of. Indeed the name seemed both amusing and surprisingly logical. In addition to being official, Google even registered its full-alphabet domain. The company is still in it’s very early stages however, and Eric Schmidt is now promising it’s about to get bigger. A lot bigger.
Earlier today, at the Virtuous Circle conference held in Menlo Park, California, Mr. Schmidt offered a rather candid take on the whole situation: “I wake up, and I’m the chairman of Alphabet…We sort of announced it without actually knowing which companies it would be. So we’re still working the details.” The idea, of course, is that the company is going to be expanding.
To give an idea of just how many holdings that might entail, the Chairman suggested that, “After 26, we’re going to probably transcendental numbers” (like π) which prompted laughter and his follow-up: “You think I’m kidding?” Schmidt continued by indicating “I’ve been meeting with the current CEOs of the Alphabet companies and the proposed ones. So you’ll see a lot coming.”
Alphabet as it currently exists.
For the love of letters
Given that the alphabet literally is 26 letters, it would logically make sense for the Company to hold as many subsidiaries. It would be even more incredible if each could actually have a unique letter thus truly embodying the namesake. At the very least, Mr. Schmidt’s remarks indicate that we are likely to see more announcements in the near future. Whether these may be new ventures started by Alphabet itself or else the results of external acquisitions – like Nest was – it will likely mean that Mountain View will begin to enter other industries.
Some may have reservations about what this could entail, especially amid ongoing allegations that Google has created not only a search monopoly, but an Android-related one as well. That the company could now venture into wholly independent or unchallenged territory means there is both ample room for growth and for domination, the latter of which becomes easier given the fact that Google-related services are already deeply integrated into many aspects of our digital lives.
At the same time, Alphabet seems to be focused on not just changing the future, but improving it as well. Calico for example, is related to healthcare and could theoretically produce treatments or cures for conditions that even existing big name players like Pfizer of GSK have yet to. And as always, the presence of a major new player shakes things up for all those involved, often resulting in improvements that benefit society, the general public, or at the very least consumers.
Some Nexus 6 users have already noticed the positive changes Google has brought to the “carrier relationship” situation with its Project Fi initiative, something that looks to be expanding in a major way later this month. Why wouldn’t the company be eager to try this approach on a much larger scale
And Android?
What this whole situation means for Android is somewhat of a mystery. The mobile OS has now been reduced to a segment of Google which is, itself, now a segment of Alphabet. Ultimately what Google does is Google’s business, and that may – or may not – mean that Alphabet inadvertently winds up doing something counterproductive via another subsidiary or acquisition. While it would logically follow that Mr. Schmidt and the various Alphabet CEOs would want to keep things organized and compartmentalized, Google has for years been charged with becoming more of a slow moving entity given its growing size instead of the once agile player it was in the early days.
This could mean that Android might indirectly benefit from another sibling company’s work or IP, but it could also mean something much less productive. At the very least, it will be of interest to see how Alphabet can manage its various subsidiaries in the long term, as even established players like Sony have been saddled with fiscal problems and been forced to sell off or spin off key parts of their corporate empire.
Clearly there is more to be “unveiled” about Alphabet as time progresses.
Today’s news serves to strengthen the confidence people like Eric Schmidt have in his organization’s future, and offers a glimpse into just what kind of ongoing plans are being discussed. The future will be, shall we say, “M’m! M’m! Good.”
AIVAnet 