No longer possible to auto rotate home screen, stamina mode gone?

[kevlar_heart]

Hi all: 

Need some clarification on some were they thinking" issues.

1. Home screen rotation - I can no longer select Home Screen to auto rotate. Screen rotation will only occur inside an application. Is this "new?" We could select this funtionality in Settings --> Home in earlier versions of Android
2. Stamina mode configuation. Is this gone? 
3. Moving Apps to SD card. Yes I get it....apps run faster from main memory, but for less frequently used apps, this is not an issue. Why did SONY decide to make the SD card storage only, and how the heck can we let the OS deveolpers know that it's OUR device...we should be able to configure the SD card to function as needed. After all, isn't the freedom of configuration the entire reason for using an Android device? If I wanted a closed system, I'd use Apple.
4. App Badge Nofifications. Since update to Android 6.01, none of my AppBadges show notifications. While Facebook is no big deal, my E-mail is a VERY big deal. I'd like to see the app badge show me unread messages at-a-aglance.

I have done the following to test issue: Booted in Safe Mode

Re-installed software using PCC and restored applications manually

Many thanks for your thoughts, suggestions, etc.

[_alexdon_]

Basically, all these are covered in Z5 section, without stamina which is only available on 6.0.1.

1. I think this might be the home app that can be found on Z5 generation, so auto rotation is removed. A workaround is to use another launcher.

2. You can now optimize apps if you need. Tap on the 3 dots and select battery optimization. There are apps that are or can be optimized.

3. If you are talking about the merging of the memories, it is discussed here and strong arguments are against that:

/t5/Xperia-Z5-Z5-Compact-Z5-Premium/SD-card-as-internal-storage-removed-from-Marshmallow/td-p/110150...

4. After upgrading to Android™ 6.0, you might experience that the WhatsApp Messenger application doesn't display the number of unread messages. This is because the API used by the application is obsolete. The new API will be communicated to third-party app developers and will require implementation on the their side.

[kevlar_heart]

---

@alexdon wrote:

Basically, all these are covered in Z5 section, without stamina which is only available on 6.0.1.

1. I think this might be the home app that can be found on Z5 generation, so auto rotation is removed. A workaround is to use another launcher.

2. You can now optimize apps if you need. Tap on the 3 dots and select battery optimization. There are apps that are or can be optimized.

3. If you are talking about the merging of the memories, it is discussed here and strong arguments are against that:

/t5/Xperia-Z5-Z5-Compact-Z5-Premium/SD-card-as-internal-storage-removed-from-Marshmallow/td-p/110150...

4. After upgrading to Android™ 6.0, you might experience that the WhatsApp Messenger application doesn't display the number of unread messages. This is because the API used by the application is obsolete. The new API will be communicated to third-party app developers and will require implementation on the their side.

---

Thanks for the reply

I'm just not getting my head around some of these decision. Why take functionality away from a device in an Upgrade?

1. With regard to Home Screen rotation, there is no earthly reason to take this functionality away from the user. The issue is CHOICE. To say "use a 3rd party launcher" is absurd -- especially since adding another application reduces available internal memory. User complaints of unintended screen rotation is solved by a simple answer in the device FAQ -- NOT taking away functionality from the device

2. Optimize apps -- looked at it and NONE of my applications are available, and those listed are greyed out....so what's to optimize?  I get it -- some folks would turn on Stamina then complain that certain applications (e.g., video) would not perform correctly. SONY specifically cited performance issues when initiating Stamina Mode -- pop screen -- so why dumb down the device because certain users choose to ignore warnings. Stamina Mode was a huge selling point for the Z3C, and now it's gone.

3. Internal Memory. This debare is cross-device and still boggles the mind. I read the entire cited thread and some on the xda site as well. Not everyone uses the extgernal SD for music and photos. Moving less frequently used applications to external storage simply makes sens. It makes even more sense to be able to store data there. If you take away the functionality of external storage why even offer an SD slot? That's the philosophy of Google's Nexus devices and Apple's iPhones. Sure -- games don't belong there, but most everything else does not require internal processing. If the SD card class is the issue, state specifically that only HD cards be used.

4. Badging -- spoke to the mail app developer on this and again the only solution is to install a PAID third pary launcher. At least the mail app developer offers a widget for unread mail because not all device launchers operate the same way.

I've taken my soapbox to the xda and Android Developer sites because the issue here is taking away functionality. I can now do less with my devices than I could under ICS and KitKat -- that makes absolutely no sense. Dumbing down a high-end device to placate the lowest common denominator user defeats the purpose of a "smart" phone. It's so bad that I use an old ICS phone for basic alarm functions bedside because the succeeding versions of Android took away many useful (to me) features.

Thanks for letting me rant. I hope that some of the issues described here can be brought to the attention of Sony's software team. The main takeaway (for me) is that high end phones require high end functionality. Offer a "basic" mode if you will, but PLEASE don't take away advanced functions form those of us who want them

[_alexdon_]

I am sorry but I do not know all the reasons behind the changes in MM.

Related to 1, to be honest, I don't use auto rotation of home screen but other people want it back.

For 2, there should be not optimized, apps, all others, so under the first category you will find the ones that are not optimized (not ticked under apps or all others). My guess is that everything is optimized unless you whitelist it.

About 3 and 4, really can't say more that has been already. Performance reduced in case of a low class microSD is a strong enough fact to make it not desirable by other manufacturers in their devices.

[kevlar_heart]

Greetings all:

In Lollipop the user could select Home Screen rotation from the settings menu. This is NOT available in the Android 6.01 upgrade.

PLEASE BRING THIS BACK

I am constantly amazed that functionality is being removed as the OS changes. I find home screen rotation very convenient when I know I am going to be typing. The device is oriented the way I will be using it before I open an application

BTW -- Facebook messenger chat heads will not rotate if the chat head is only open on a home screen. one needs to open messenger (or any other app that will rotate) in order to get the message window oriented for two handed typing. That's a bit awkward and quite inefficient.

As screen rotation was an OPTION, it would not affect users confused by constant screen rotation. Why take his capability away?

Thanks for your consideration.

[YR13]

I just update my z3 compact to marshmallow 6.0.1. I really satisfied with the new features such as 2x tap to sleep, new camera interface, etc.
There's one big thing I really don't like from the new update, I think they forgot to add rotating homescreen to this update. Anyone agree with me?

[Uliwooly]

@YR13

It has been posted before

[lmgb]

I just realized that the home screen doesn't rotate when docked to loading station as it used to after update to Mashmallow.

The unlock screen however still does.

Not good at all. Especially in the active car holder that is in landscape position.

Anyone found a solution or workaround to this issue?

Xperia Z3 Compact

[Uliwooly]

@lmgb

Not all Xperias support this, that's probably the reason it was removed, there's no info as if it will be add it in future updates, you could try rotating apps.

Don't forget to send your feedback to Sony >>> Local support

[kevlar_heart]

---

@uliwooly wrote:

@lmgb

Not all Xperias support this, that's probably the reason it was removed, there's no info as if it will be add it in future updates, you could try rotating apps.

Don't forget to send your feedback to Sony >>> Local support

---

I had a lengthy session with SONY technical support to provide feedback. At first the support technician said that home screen rotation never existed on the Z3C. After convincing support of its existence under Settings --> Home Screen, I was told "it was removed, sorry for the inconvenience."  Feedback supplied, maybe someone in OS development will receive the feedback I don't know.

My take away from all this is that OS updates rarely include a list of changes in advance. It would be nice to be able to opt out. I undertand the issue of Stamina Mode changes a little better after my support session. Other seemingly random changes still make me upset....but after all it's just a phone, and there are work arounds.