Review: Twitch.TV on Droid RAZR Mobile (Second Impression)

The amazing thing was how much Twitch has improved since the first time I used it more than a year ago. The first time I used it, it was extremely slow and laggy. The sound was not clear either. Now, the video is very clear, crisp, and vivid. The audio is clear too. This was on both my wifi and off 4G. I'm looking forward to watching DOTA, The International with a $10+ million prize pool.

Unfortunately, the mobile app is not one of the support apps for ChromeCast. I would have liked to compare it with the desktop cast to TV.

Buggish: Motorola Droid RAZR Google Maps not switching to Landscape Mode

Solution

Updated to latest version, forced stop the application, restarted phone. Forced stop may or may not be required but it was a step that I did before restarting. Since I cannot reproduce the issue, I cannot confirm any or all steps.

Story

For the last month, I have not been able to get Google Maps on my Droid RAZR (the first version) to switch to landscape mode. Other applications are able to switch between portrait and landscape normally. I've restarted my phone and forced stopped the application.

Nothing seems to fix this problem. This is quite a problem for me because I'm able to squeeze the phone in landscape position into the dashboard of my car only thus not requiring any type of docking station.

On the bright side, I've gotten better at judging turns even with my phone appearing sideways. I have my map on a locked north position.

So while writing this post, I restarted my phone just to verify my tests and, behold, Google Maps can now switch to landscape mode. I had restarted my phone a couple times before. The only thing I can think of was that I did just download an update. Then, I forced stop the application. At this point, the problem still exists. After I restarted, the problem has gone away.

This makes me question how applications are executed after an update. Why did the update not autocorrect the problem? Even if the update did not trigger the change, the forced stop should have ended the process. This seems to indicate to me that there is some cached memory, probably on the OS level. That hypothesis does not explain why my other applications do not have the same problem.

Buggish: Cannot turn off / hangup / end Switch Calls Option in Mid-Call (Google, Motorola DROID RAZR)

The issue is while I am on a call and someone else is calling in, I switch to that call. I keep it short so it ends before the first call. If I hit "end" on the second call, this hangs up both calls. If I do not hit "end" and wait a moment, it will automatically switch to the first call. At first, I thought this was the reason it hangs up both calls because I ended the first call while the second automatically ended. After a couple more occurrences, the second call does not go away thus the "SWITCH CALLS" option is always there. Even though the other person has already ended the call, I only get a dial-tone when I switch to that line. When I hear the dial-tone and hit the end-call button, both sessions will end.

Depending on when the second caller ends the call, the switch may take a while. Thus, I sometimes manually switch the call. There was one call where I hit it around the time I heard the other person end the call because I heard a click right before I hit the switch button. At this point, I am not sure which call I am on. A nice feature would be to display which number I am on.

Complaint: Scramble is Extremely Slow

In the latest update from Scramble (5.32) for the Droid Razr, the game is now extremely slow to start and upload a game. I noticed that there are much fewer ads, so I wonder if it has to do with it not finding the ads. Otherwise, I have no idea what may be causing it.

I wonder if there is a way to downgrade apps.

Complaint: Verizon Support

Complaint: Verizon Support

For my personal wireless phone plan, I use Verizon Wireless. I have the Motorola Droid Razr. I also purchased the insurance on the phone. Below is my story about learning that I need a cable that allows data transfer and not all cables has this ability. All the cables charged my phone, but not all cables allowed data transfer.

A few months ago, I had an issue with the USB to Micro USB cable that came with the phone. They replaced this cable with a generic cable that seemed to work for me. Much later, I wanted to transfer files to my computer a realized that my phone no longer connected which worked when I first bought the phone to the same computer. I researched online and found that the most common issue was the cable.

I decided to go back to the store to explain and try to get my cable replaced with the proper cable. They said that it was working by connecting to his blackberry. I tried to explain that I had read online that a different type of cable was needed, but they continued to say that the cable is fine and added that it was the only model they had.

I left without my problem fixed. I returned home and ordered a couple cables from Amazon that specifically had my phone model in the description. Once received, I plugged them all in and they all worked perfectly fine. When you plug in the cable to the computer, I immediately notice that my phone will notify that it is being connected. Finally seeing the options that the Motorola site has been stating.

So this leaves me with a wasted trip to the store, frustration that they did not even recognize my issue, a cable that I have to remember not to use for data transfer, a lot of wasted time online, and me wondering why I am still paying for their phone insurance.

Summary:

Use an Ecomoto cable. Below are the ones that I purchaed:
  http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005LFXBJG/ref=oh_details_o02_s00_i01
  http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007X6M386/ref=oh_details_o03_s00_i00

Related topics (ie variants of search terms I used in web search):

  Motorola USB cable not working
  PC / Computer not recognizing phone
  USB not connecting to PC
  Motorla Droid RAZR not detecting USB connection to PC