Give your Honor 7 a Pixel makeover!

My Honor 7 is running Android 6 with the Huawei EMUI 4 skin. I never really liked the skin, the borders around the icons looks very ugly. I didn't want to install a launcher so I looked for a theme that could give my Honor 7 a more Google Pixel look and feel. I once tried Roundexicons but I didn't like that one. I was giving up hope and then I found Pixel EMi...


Pixel EMi theme by Vobiscum on XDA
I've been using Pixel EMi for a few weeks now and I really like it. It's easy to install, just a theme, but it changes the icons completely into round ones. Here's my home screen with Pixel EMi installed:

Notice the icons and folders are round. In the above the text of the clock and icons in the notification bar are white. This colour changes depending on the wallpaper you use. The following is with a different wallpaper:

In the above screen shot, with a different wallpaper the colour of the notification bar and text changed to black. This happens automatically, this picture is a little lighter than the previous one.

It isn't just the icons that change, the look of the Settings menu also changes significantly:

 

I really like this, I find it much clearer than the original from Huawei. It's subjective of course :-)

Download

Here's where you can download it: https://forum.xda-developers.com/honor-7/themes-apps/theme-pixel-emi-t3476351

Look for 'Download Theme', click the link, it'll download a file called Pixel EMi_20.hwt. Save this in your theme folder (HWThemes) on your phone. Then from the Themes app select Mine and the Pixel EMi theme (it'll be the last one in the list). 

Conclusion

If you have an Honor 7 and you'd like to give it a fresh look without installing a launcher, this is an easy option. As the phone was released in 2015, giving it any sort of makeover is a good thing. The best thing is that this is quick and easy to install. I've been using it for a while and I recommend it. Thanks to the creator of this theme; vobiscum

I have an Honor 7 and on the XDA website this theme says it is specifically for the Honor 7. However, it may work on other EMUI 4 phones. I do not know but it is likely. Maybe search on XDA for more information.

https://forum.xda-developers.com

Disclaimer

In my opinion it's harmless and I've not experienced any bugs with this theme and that's why I recommend it. But I take no responsibility for anything that might happen when you download and install this theme or anything else. Install it at your own risk!

Smart thinking about your next smartphone

These days (2017) there are so many smartphones and contracts to choose from that deciding on your next mobile can be a confusing and even a stressful experience. I am sure this is why so many just buy the latest Samsung or Apple flagship phone and extend their existing contracts. It`s easier, you get a great phone and you don't have to think. But is it the right choice? Probably not if you`d like to save some money! In this article I am going to explore some alternatives.

My experience
In the past I always signed a 24 month mobile phone contract and paid a small (or not!) fee up front for a new mobile. I started doing that with my first Nokia back in the 90s and I just continued like that up until 2016. I often used my phone on the existing contract for longer than the contract duration, I effectively gave away money to my service provider! I wasn't too smart, was I!?!

Last year I found a monthly contract that didn't require me to buy a new mobile and was half the cost of the contract I had been tied to for the past two years. I bought a new smarphone (mid-range) too but full price and not on contract. I saved and I feel free now I am no longer tied to a contract as if it were a ball and chain.

Sums
Start off by doing some calculations. If you are on a 12 or 24 month contract including a phone, divide the cost of a new phone by 12 or 24. Minus that figure from the monthly fee you pay and that's what the service is costing you. This is approximate but it is a good way to compare.

For example, say a new top of the range smartphone will cost CHF 700 (about USD 730), over 24 months that is about 29 every month. If you pay 89 a month as your contract for phone and service, the service is costing 60 a month. 

Comparison
Check what other contracts can offer. Do those contracts include the same service you are getting now? If not, do you need everything in the package?

The best is if you find a contract just for the service and it provides a similar package of features to what you are used to. Most importantly the cost should be lower than what you are paying for just the service part of your existing contract. Look for contracts that do not tie you down. For example, I changed to a monthly contract, it means that if I wanted I could switch again later. If coverage is an issue then this is the best idea because at least there's a option to move to a better service provider if that cheap price turns out to be a cheap service!


Smartphone choice
You should make a saving on the service contract but where there is a real possibility of saving a lot, is on the new smartphone you buy. If you buy off-contract you pay upfront for your new smartphone. If you can afford to do this, you save in the long run. Which phone? Here are some options:


Flagship?
The latest and greatest smartphones such as the Samsung S8 or iPhone 7 will cost you maybe 700 (or more!), that's a lot. If you are an avid gamer who needs lots of performance or you buy a phone as others buy jewelry, maybe a flagship is a good idea, for the rest of us, there are cheaper alternatives.


Last year's flagship?
Something to consider, often last year's model can be a bargain. The downside might be having older software, something to consider. When the latest S8 came out all the shops immediately discounted the Samsung Galaxy S7, a very capable phone.


Mid-range smartphones?
What about a brand new phone, latest software and hardware but at almost half the price of a flagship? Yes it is possible! You will have to pay around the 250-450 mark. Mid-range phones don't have the fastest processor but these days very few of us will notice unless you are a serious gamer perhaps. For the average user a mid-range phone will be more than fast enough. In addition, often mid-range phones can surprise you with their features.

Many mid-range phones have features you don't find on higher end models. Most have a microSD card slot for more storage. Some models allow two SIM cards, great for those who travel abroad a lot. Even a headphone port! There are often also the features you would expect these days such as a fingerprint reader, large battery, sometimes dual cameras and look carefully for models with quick charging technology, that's a real boon.

The build quality of most phones in this category can be just as good as any flagship, often metal or glass designs. For example, Samsung's mid-range Galaxy A models have a similar build quality to their flagship S models.

The other good thing about mid-range phones is that there are so many manufacturers making great models. Samsung of course, their Galaxy A range. The Huawei Honor range, the Moto G range, Sony's XA models, Blackberry DTEK, OnePlus, Wileyfox or even the new Nokia Android phones - yes Nokia lives! All are worth considering as the phones they make are just as good as any other manufacturer. 

I've heard some people implying Chinese made phones are somehow inferior, this is nonsense, after all, all Apple iPhones are made in China! I'd also like to add that I feel the newer Chinese companies like Huawei try extra hard as they know they are up against the giants like Apple and Samsung. There are some great benefits to competition for us consumers.

To give you a real-world idea, I have the Honor 7, a model that dates from 2015. I bought it in 2016 for about CHF 300. It has 32GB storage, an octa-core processor, 3GB RAM, fingerprint scanner, quick charge, full metal body, 5.2 inch screen, etc, etc. After one year of use it is still going strong, I am happy with it. My previous smartphone cost more than twice the price and had a much lower specification.

Entry level?
Models that are priced below 200 are typically known as entry-level. The Moto E  and Samsung Galaxy J3 are good examples. Don't get one of the really cheap models with just 8GB of storage because you will soon fill that. Even if it has a microSD card slot, you will still need at least 16GB of main storage otherwise it is likely you will face frustration. The processors used in these phones will be of the slower variety so don't expect too much. If you only use your phone for messaging then perhaps an entry-level phone might be a good idea. Otherwise, I feel the mid-range phones are a better balance of features and price.


Shopping

To choose your new phone, look at the reviews and information online. There is so much! Youtube videos are the best, I recommend Mr Mobile and Android Authority. 

A good site to compare specifications is GSM Arena 

If you'd like to visually compare different phone sizes, there's a great site here:

http://www.phonearena.com/phones/size

For anyone living in Switzerland, the shops here often do not provide all the latest makes and models. Amazon isn't based in Switzerland for example, so the shipping and import duties can be a barrier. I recommend Digitec as they are based in Switzerland and they have a wide range of makes and models you don't typically see in, say Interdiscount or Fnac.

Next
Imagine you have your new contract that is separate from the phone. You have purchased a new phone outright. You can spend the next one or two years with that phone and whenever you feel like it, change the phone! You can always sell the phone second-hand even. You are free!


Conclusion
Please do not blindly buy your next smartphone. Check what is available, be smart about your next smartphone. You could save a lot and end up with something that stands out from the crowd.

Disclaimer

I hope this article can help you but at the end of the day it's your choice, I cannot be held responsible for any trouble you get yourself into. My article is just my opinion, maybe I am wrong! Please just take this as a guide only. All links on this page were valid at the time of writing. My article is purely my own work, I don't work in the smartphone industry, I have no affiliation to any smartphone company.

Huawei Honor software to transfer files between your smartphone and Windows PC

Huawei and Honor phones can be connected to a Windows PC to charge and for you to transfer files. The Windows software is called HiSuite and it's available here:
http://consumer.huawei.com/minisite/HiSuite_en/index.html  [last accessed 23/07/2017]

You can also use this software to backup your phone, edit contacts, or even to view the phone on your computer screen.

Samsung Gear S3 and Honor 7, compatibility and my experience so far

The Samsung Gear S3 smartwatch (Classic and Frontier) is probably the best one the market at the time of writing, January 2017. But before you buy one, is it compatible with your smartphone? The following is a link to Samsung's official compatible phones list:
http://www.samsung.com/global/galaxy/gear-s3/device-compatibility/

The Huawei Honor 7 is not listed (January 2017) in the above Samsung compatibility list but don't worry, it does work*. I have the Honor 7 and I am using it with the Gear S3 for a couple of weeks without any serious issue. You must install the Samsung Gear app and pair it with your S3. Two other background apps are installed during this process; SamsungAccessoryService and Gear S Plugin. Optionally you can install S Health too.

I haven't explored all the features of the S3 yet but so far so good. For example, I have Viber and other notifications on my S3. I have installed many new watch faces, the calculator and timer apps. I'm happy, the S3 is great!


One minor issue
On the odd occasion I've found that the Bluetooth disconnects from the phone to the watch. I believe this is because of the power management software on the Honor 7 closing the SamsungAccessoryService app or at least prompting me to close it and because I don't pay enough attention, I just press Close.

To fix this I have changed the following settings:
Honor Phone Manager 
- Battery manager (press the battery icon) 
-- Consumption Level 
--- Background

You should see the SamsungAccessoryService app in the list. It's possible to close it, if you do you'll see your S3 is disconnected. Instead, press the SamsungAccessoryService, you'll see the following screen:

As shown above, I disabled Power-intensive prompt and I enabled Keep running after screen off.
This will keep it running and it will stop bothering me with messages saying it is using power. I think this will do the trick. I'll update this article in a few days with news.

Update 13/01/2017
It works, the above was the solution. Since making that change and allowing the SamsungAccessoryService to keep on running, my bluetooth connection has not dropped at all.

There was one occasion when my Honor 7 informed me that the Gear S Plugin was using a lot of battery power:

It is the same issue as I had seen before with the SamsungAccessoryService app previously. In this case I pressed Don't remind me again, it has the same effect as going into the Phone Manager Battery Manager and disabling the Power-intensive prompt.


*DISCLAIMER
I make no guarantees about anything. The S3 works with my Honor 7, I do not guarantee yours will. My views are unofficial and purely my own. I'm just writing my experience in case it can be useful to others.