Sony Xperia Z3 owners-tips/tricks/advice

toby2111

Picked up an Xperia Z3 yesterday, very impressed so far. So,hope the Mods dont mind me starting up a seperate thread for fellow Z3 owners. If anyone has any hints,tips,tricks, advice feel free to post here. Here's mine so far-

Stamina mode seems great. My phone had 100% battery at 7am this morning,made a few quick calls&texts,checked emails and bit of quick browsing on RTE News....batttery now at 89%! On my old S3 it would've been down to near 50%.

Stock launcher not great as there's a permanent Google search bar at top of every page( which can be removed I think but apps cant be placed in its place. So,I've tried Nova Launcher,impressed so far but I'm sure there's lots of other launchers out there.

Would like opinions on cases and magnetic chargers please?And any other hints and tips!

xerophyll

not really tips/tricks but more of like some cool stuffs u can do with it

z3: http youtu.be/qNgPv1NbH1s

z3 compact: http youtu.be/881mL-c69xM

cases & magnetic chargers: try checking out xda, heard the ringke, case-mate and orzly had quite a few mentions and feedbacks - http forum.xda-developers.com/z3-compact

lastly, i would interest you to rhino shield's crash guard bumper for z3 compact: http www evolutivelabs.com/pages/crashguard-sony-z3-compact

(sorry u have to edit the links as im still not allowed to post url)

Beefy78

I started using my Z3 this week. It's such a beautiful phone and a real premium piece of kit. I've not fallen for it quite as much as I did my HTC One but I'm glad I've got it.

Need to get a case though as I doubt this would survive any sort of blow or drop.

I'm not massively impressed with the battery so far. Bit of light usage, texting and downloading of apps and I'm down to 25% or so by the end of the day. Not a disaster but not the step up that I was expecting.

bidiots

Anybody use Themer? Just wondering the pro's and con's of it if any

toby2111

Beefy78 wrote: »

Need to get a case though as I doubt this would survive any sort of blow or drop.

I'm not massively impressed with the battery so far. Bit of light usage, texting and downloading of apps and I'm down to 25% or so by the end of the day. Not a disaster but not the step up that I was expecting.

I ordered this case earlier- http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/S-LINE-GRIP-TPU-RUBBER-SILICONE-GEL-SKIN-CASE-COVER-FOR-SONY-XPERIA-Z3-PHONE-/400779512018?pt=UK_MobilePhones_MobilePhonesCasesPouches&var=&hash=item5d505208d2
Its cheap,fits well and comes recommended by cormie(a Z3 compact owner and boardsie)

I'm well impressed by my battery,took it off yesterday at 7am on 100%,still at 43% today. Not heavy browsing or calling but been fiddling about with it a good bit. Should easily get until tonight with it,so roughly 2 days. I was getting about 15 hours on my old S3. Put it on STAMINA mode,great for saving battery.

toby2111

bidiots wrote: »

Anybody use Themer? Just wondering the pro's and con's of it if any

Using Nova launcher, nice and simple and well laid out. Might give Themer a go later and see if its good.

Mr. CooL ICE

Coming from an S3, Smart Connect is dead handy. I know there are alternatives out there, but this works the exact way I want it.

I stream music from google play to my car radio via bluetooth, so ever time I turn bluetooth on, it connects to the radio and opens goolge play, and closes everything again when I turn off the engine. Loads of other things such as turning off data after midnight so I don't get woken by emails, etc

3rdDegree

If you'e looking for a good screen protector, this is excellent. It is by far the best I've even tried on a phone or tablet - and much easier to apply than most: http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00NI2LHZE?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00

Daith

Does anyone know how to get Facebook birthdays imported to the calendar?

toby2111

3rdDegree wrote: »

If you'e looking for a good screen protector, this is excellent. It is by far the best I've even tried on a phone or tablet - and much easier to apply than most: http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00NI2LHZE?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00

I made an arse of trying to put on the screen protector supplied with the z3, couldn't figure out the front /back thing as they both looked to fit on the front! Anyway the one I put on had bubbles underneath. I'm getting one with the case I ordered above so will try again. But that one from Amazon looks top quality.

Beefy78

Daith wrote: »

Does anyone know how to get Facebook birthdays imported to the calendar?

I second this request. Can't work it out at all.

Daith

Beefy78 wrote: »

I second this request. Can't work it out at all.

And it looks so simple with the whole "show Birthdays too"!

jacksie66

This post has been deleted.

Daith

jacksie66 wrote: »

Got the roxfit made for Xperia gel shell plus case for my z3 the other day. Not impressed by it. Granted it'll protect the phone fine and dandy but it makes it huge. My biggest gripe though is the fact that it's nearly impossible to press the power button. Very annoying..

I never use the power button. Much prefer being able to double tap the screen.

Genghiz Cohen

Daith wrote: »

I never use the power button. Much prefer being able to double tap the screen.

How do you lock the screen?

Ionised

Genghiz Cohen wrote:

How do you lock the screen?

I use an app called Screen off and Lock. Always hated having to fumble for a side button. The double tap wake works very well on this phone.

jacksie66

This post has been deleted.

budhabob

Have any of you both the official Sony charging dock? read some so-so reviews of it, would like some real feedback.

flazio

budhabob wrote: »

Have any of you both the official Sony charging dock? read some so-so reviews of it, would like some real feedback.

I like it. Use it with my Z2 and I like how the home screen changes to landscape when the phone is docked. I use the dimmed Desk clock as my bedside clock anymore.

Daith

budhabob wrote: »

Have any of you both the official Sony charging dock? read some so-so reviews of it, would like some real feedback.

Yep I use one. Bit fiddly but once connected it charges fine.

xtal191

Can anyone recommend a decent case for the Z3? Are anyone of you using tempered glass?

Pangea

Here is a bunch of tips I had saved myself in a word document, might aswell post it here.

Pangea wrote: »

I came across this for anyone wanting to remove the 'whats new' section without rooting
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=53916026&postcount=20


Its says its for Z2 but Its confirmed working on Z3 by numerous commenter's on this http://www.androidcentral.com/sony-xperia-z3-z3-compact-review

timetogo wrote: »

Just tried it on my Z3. Works perfectly.

From that same thread you can block the small app launcher too. That's something I'll never use and just wastes space on my recent apps screen.

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2689155&page=3

pm block com.sony.smallapp.app.widget
pm block com.sony.smallapp.launcher

That worked fine for me too.

Apparently pm unblock will get the apps back if you need them. I haven't tried on mine as I'm happy with them gone.

Some other tips I have found from reviews online (Havent actually tried these)


Member Scottland of OcUK forums has given a great tip on how to get the Sony camera app to remember to launch in manual mode. Simply create a shortcut on your launcher or homescreen to the camera application and launch the camera via that. It seems that launching the camera from the hardware button or the lockscreen soft button results in it starting up in Superior Auto mode all the time. http://www.neowin.net/news/sony-xperia-z3-and-official-magnetic-dock-review


"but I did need to turn off the clear voice mode for the speaker under Call Settings because I felt it made the other end's voice sound a bit tinny." http://www.neowin.net/news/sony-xperia-z3-and-official-magnetic-dock-review

Disable microphone noise supression for calls http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ViUb7bQg6D8


"The only warning I would offer is that you should disable Sony’s X-Reality image processing"
http://www.theverge.com/2014/10/3/6887063/sony-xperia-z3-and-z3-compact-review

Pangea

I bought a Micro SD card for my z3c, Is there any way to make your phone save files by default to your sd card?
I downloaded Sandiscs memory zone app, very unimpressed by it. The videos I copied over to my card would not play from the video folder, it just said error. So I then ended up trying to copy back files to the phone and I intentionally wiped everything from my memory card, unfortunately I didn't realise that I didn't copy everything I wanted to from the memory card so lost a lot of wallpapers and some photos I had taken.
I am just going to do a factory reset now to start from new again.
What app would you guys recommend for transferring files to a sd card?

Daniel O Donnel

Hi all

Broke the screen on my xperia z last month and replaced it with the z3 compact.
O2 had no covers in the shop and what do you think happened? Without a case and with only 45% of the first charge gone I dropped it from about 2 feet and the screen shattered.
Has anybody any idea where to get a replacement? Lots of people telling me they don't have new screens in stock yet.
No phone at all now:(
Any advice appreciated.

toby2111

I'm missing the "apps active in stand by" option in STAMINA mode. I have STAMINA mode turned on but keep getting an information notification saying "RTÉ News Now is preventing stamina mode......" (can't read the rest of it). So I wanted to put the rte news now app on the whitelist but can't find the active apps in stand by option? Anyone else missing this? Strange...

Mazog

Daniel O Donnel wrote: »

Hi all

Broke the screen on my xperia z last month and replaced it with the z3 compact.
O2 had no covers in the shop and what do you think happened? Without a case and with only 45% of the first charge gone I dropped it from about 2 feet and the screen shattered.
Has anybody any idea where to get a replacement? Lots of people telling me they don't have new screens in stock yet.
No phone at all now:(
Any advice appreciated.

Have you managed to get this sorted yet? I dropped my sony xperia z3 compact and the screen is completely cracked. Can't seem to get my hands of a replacement screen as it's so new. Thinking I may have to send it to sony themselves to fix it but worried it could cost a bomb.

barneyrub

Mazog wrote: »

Have you managed to get this sorted yet? I dropped my sony xperia z3 compact and the screen is completely cracked. Can't seem to get my hands of a replacement screen as it's so new. Thinking I may have to send it to sony themselves to fix it but worried it could cost a bomb.

Just wondering if any of you got your screens fixed? Just smashed mine to bits! Doesn't work at all

laraghrider

Being a three customer, which means you pay for voicemail, a really great feature is the inbuilt answer machine. Have it set to kick in 2 seconds before three meaning no more paying for VM

Chuck_Norris

laraghrider wrote: »

Being a three customer, which means you pay for voicemail, a really great feature is the inbuilt answer machine. Have it set to kick in 2 seconds before three meaning no more paying for VM

Interesting. How'd you go about doing this?

laraghrider

Settings -> Call -> Answering Machine

Enable it, set how long to let your phone ring before picking up, record your greeting and that's it.

Couple of things with it. Obviously if your phone is off or out of coverage the operator VM kicks in and if you have the roaming part enabled essentially your phone is answering the call while abroad so you will get charged for accepting a call.

Chuck_Norris

laraghrider wrote: »

Settings -> Call -> Answering Machine

Enable it, set how long to let your phone ring before picking up, record your greeting and that's it.

Couple of things with it. Obviously if your phone is off or out of coverage the operator VM kicks in and if you have the roaming part enabled essentially your phone is answering the call while abroad so you will get charged for accepting a call.

Nice one. Thanks for that. Real pain in the ass having to pay three for it.