New Guy - have a few questions & thoughts

[rjtmac]

I have had my HTC Droid Eris for a little over a month. I have had some love / hate relationships with devices before but this has turned into a hate/hate and more hate one. I find no redeeming value with this ......thing.....

I have my service through Verizon. ( mistake I know but I have no choice where I live )

I have come to despise this phone in so many ways. It has so many flaws. My cheap LG was a much more responsive and usable device.

It has been back to the Verizon tech at least three times ( this is a very generous term for this person ) and he of course says there is nothing wrong. He says the unit freezing up is not a crash just an anomole. His diagnostics show nothing wrong. He was so condescending and belittling until he was told I had been working with technology and OS's longer than he had probably been alive. I was not imagining all of these problems and I know of two other Droid users with similar problems.

I got this phone because of work. I am an IT Director at a hospital and the Droid seemed an answer to a small prayer for some network access functions I was desperately in need of.

I can't even consistently make a call on this piece of junk. The touch screen is AWFUL. Say Again AWFUL. I have calibrated and tweaked so many times it is insufferable. It has crashed in excess of 10 times in just over 30 days. The thing just starts dialing the last number called or received or numbers at random. Not only phone numbers but just generated random number strings and tries to dial them.

Excuse me but people who compare this favorably to the iPhone are just out there. I am used to using devices that just work and I don't have to fight.

It has no Bluetooth voice dialing capability. What is that for a phone that cost this much?

Not be able to lock the screen on hang up from a call makes the thing totally unusable usable as a pocket carried phone using a hands free device. You end the call and the dam_ thing will begin dialing numbers in the peoples list because of pressure from being in your pocket or some other function it finds it's way to by the screen being grazed by clothing or pressing against your person.

Using this phone to bridge to the internet is ahhhhhhhhh oh well forget that thought.

Is there an app that will just lock the screen. I need something that the system can call when I end a phone call that will lock the screen while the phone is in my pocket, briefcase, or in a windshield bag on the motorcycle.

Surely with the thousands of apps out there - one will just lock the screen. Nothing else, just lock the screen.​

HELP !!​

 

[dtartini]

If you are within 30 days of purchasing it, take it back and get a droid. As far as locking the screen goes, just press the end button (reg press, not a long press)

 

[Sam]

sounds like yours is defective.. I've not heard of anyone having as many problems as you. i believe you, I'm just saying that if it were me, i would take it back and exchange for another one or a motorola droid.

 

[Happystranger]

I agree with dtartini, you should of done some research first and got the Droid. I'm pretty sure with Verizon, if they have to send you replacements more than 3 times you are eligible to get a new phone instead of refurbished.

 

[jsh1120]

Gotta say that if you're an IT Director who is "used to devices that just work and don't have to fight," you've lived a charmed life. :icon_ devil:

But having said that, I think you have both a bad phone and the wrong phone. When I got my Droid my wife "upgraded" to the Droid Eris from an LG/ENV (first gen). She valiantly tried to work with it for about 10 days and gave up. The virtual keyboard was literally unusable as a result of inconsistencies in response. When she returned it, the Verizon rep agreed the unit was faulty and agreed to exchange it. But phones, like people, seldom get a second chance at a good first impression and my wife went back to her "dumb phone."

Since then I've been grateful she returned the Eris as I've heard more complaints about it. Frankly, I don't think it's a very good phone, especially in comparison to the Droid.

As for your question, if you're determined (or have) to keep the Eris, I'd suggest you download the "Not Call Log" app from the Market. (I believe it works on the Eris.) It will allow you to select the application you would like to have presented when you end a call. That should solve your immediate problem.

 

[rjtmac]

Gotta say that if you're an IT Director who is "used to devices that just work and don't have to fight," you've lived a charmed life. :icon_ devil:

But having said that, I think you have both a bad phone and the wrong phone. When I got my Droid my wife "upgraded" to the Droid Eris from an LG/ENV (first gen). She valiantly tried to work with it for about 10 days and gave up. The virtual keyboard was literally unusable as a result of inconsistencies in response. When she returned it, the Verizon rep agreed the unit was faulty and agreed to exchange it. But phones, like people, seldom get a second chance at a good first impression and my wife went back to her "dumb phone."

Since then I've been grateful she returned the Eris as I've heard more complaints about it. Frankly, I don't think it's a very good phone, especially in comparison to the Droid.

As for your question, if you're determined (or have) to keep the Eris, I'd suggest you download the "Not Call Log" app from the Market. (I believe it works on the Eris.) It will allow you to select the application you would like to have presented when you end a call. That should solve your immediate problem.

I guess I should have been more specific. I live with the shortcomings of Microsoft Windoze and PC equipment daily at work. I also deal with Apple and their products ( not a Mac / Apple fanatic - just a realist that uses both platforms ) and I am used to devices that just work (a great percentage of the time) in the Apple world. This Droid has just been a huge disappointment. I don't care what the brand or OS I just need it to work for me and not against me......

Thanks for everyones help. Not Call will not help because I cannot find an app that just locks the screen.....and I need the lock to happen hands free...

 

[joshnichols189]

the droid eris doesn't auto lock and go into sleep?

 

[rjtmac]

the droid eris doesn't auto lock and go into sleep?

It seems to me in my experience if you are on the phone and end a call - it reverts to the phone screen with buttons or keyboard live. It may go to sleep eventually but it reacts to the touch when in the pocket way to much. Tooooooooooo Mannnnnnnnny Pocket dials or proceeding to other functions......

 

[joshnichols189]

Have you tried setting the screen timeout to the lowest amount of time? That could help.. or even Screebl which has a free version might help. Just set it so that the screen times out when it's at whatever angle (I'm assuming 90 degrees when in your pocket unless sitting down) .. that could work

 

[LtKen]

Not to OP bash, but with all the things that aren't working for him, it's either the user or the phone.

If it's the phone, it needs to be replaced....

EDIT: Nevermind.