A few questions regarding N4 - Nexus 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

First off, I don't want this to turn into a "best rom" "best phone" type thread.
My HTC One X recently bit the dust, and a nexus 4 is my only option. (besides sending it in for repairs at $200, and when I paid $100 for the HOX, why not just shell out another $50 for the N4?) I was planning on buying a Nexus 4 later down the road, or a Nexus device at the next generation. Unfortunately, the time has come, a little too soon for my liking. Nonetheless, I think I will be happy with the Nexus.
Anyways, the only phones I have used have hardware buttons.. I have tried the software (navigation keys) on AOKP.
I was wondering, what are they like? Will I have a hard time getting used to them.. or do they just feel right?
If any of you have ever held an HTC One X, it feels a little weird to operate with one hand.
How does the phone feel when holding it? Is it easy to grip, or a little bulky?
Again.. Just a few simple questions, hopefully you guys understand.. We are a little unforgiving in the HOX forums towards people that ask questions about best ROMs or talk about other phones, or ask something that has been stickied, etc.

You will absolutely love the software buttons^^ So much better than hardware buttons imo. You can configure them and do anything you want with them (if on a custom ROM of course)! And to me the Nexus feels great in the hand!

Ngo93 said:
You will absolutely love the software buttons^^ So much better than hardware buttons imo. You can configure them and do anything you want with them (if on a custom ROM of course)! And to me the Nexus feels great in the hand!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Of course on an HTC device I would naturally run aosp ROMs. But since nexus is already aosp... Might run that for a few weeks and then look at ROMs or dev my own
If I have any other questions I'll bump this thread

Ngo93 said:
You will absolutely love the software buttons^^ So much better than hardware buttons imo. You can configure them and do anything you want with them (if on a custom ROM of course)! And to me the Nexus feels great in the hand!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Its a matter of opinion. I personally dislike software keys, they take up valuable screen real estate. You can also set hardware keys to do whatever you want (much like the Viper rom for the One X). Why waste a portion of your screen on buttons?
That being said its still a great phone. Although it lacks the storage capacity, capacitive keys and LTE of my Optimus G...
I've also had the One X, and they're similar in terms of form factor and feel in the hand.

Mercath said:
Its a matter of opinion. I personally dislike software keys, they take up valuable screen real estate. You can also set hardware keys to do whatever you want (much like the Viper rom for the One X). Why waste a portion of your screen on buttons?
That being said its still a great phone. Although it lacks the storage capacity, capacitive keys and LTE of my Optimus G...
I've also had the One X, and they're similar in terms of form factor and feel in the hand.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Why aren't you using LTE on N4 when you're in Canada?

i too came from a HOX and dont regret it one bit. N4 definitely feels more hefty than the HOX but only because of the materials used as oppsed to the plastic used on the hox, also in my opinion n4 feels better in hand than the hox, theres not too much of a weight difference overall is just a wayyyy better more premium feel of the n4 comparing it to HOX, not to say HOX wasnt premium, N4 is just above it.
and to your question on onscreen vs soft keys question.To be honest i never wanted to turn on the on screen keys on roms i ran with HOX, defeated the whole purpose of having the soft keys. transitioning to on screen keys didnt take much effort at all in fact i actually love it and prefer it over the soft keys of the HOX. To me it just seems to flow better with the Jellybean OS and overall look of stock android.
All is just opinion though but id definitely buy the n4 again no regrets

I came from a One XL with no regrets.
I find the on screen buttons to be a lot more responsive than the capacitive buttons on any phone i've used before, including the One X. And i actually prefer that they take up screen real estate since they make the usable part of the screen more or less 4.5" which is far more comfortable than a full 4.7" screen. Also, the extra empty space below the on screen keys means the keys are higher up and easier to reach, as opposed to the One X keys which are waaay at the bottom of the phone and tough to get to with my thumb.
Maybe its just me, but i always felt the One X was really awkward to hold. It was never really mentioned much in reviews before i bought it. The screen bezel was really thick, and on top of the weird angled frame on the sides, it made it difficult, if not uncomfortable to hold, for me at least. The N4 is about the same width, but the grippy flat sides make it a lot easier to hold. Not the most comfortable phone i've held in my hand, but a big improvement over the One X.
The only thing i miss from the One X is the better screen. It had better viewing angles, and more vibrant colours. Pretty obvious when you hold them side by side, but you get accustomed to the N4 screen after a while. The One X camera also captured more detail and took less noisy photos, but i don't miss the camera much since it always seem to get the exposure wrong, faces always looked orange when taken indoors.
The performance difference is pretty huge, especially with multitasking, even compared to AOKP and CM10 on the HOX.
All in all, its a much easier phone to handle.

My last 2 phones where HTC and what I did to adjust was set my navbar much like my HTC devices.
Home. Menu. Back. Search
It made the change from my doubleshot really easy. At first I was SO lost using nav keys and everything but after an hour I don't think I could use anything other than full touch.
Sent From a Freaked out Nexus 4

andyondroid said:
I came from a One XL with no regrets.
I find the on screen buttons to be a lot more responsive than the capacitive buttons on any phone i've used before, including the One X. And i actually prefer that they take up screen real estate since they make the usable part of the screen more or less 4.5" which is far more comfortable than a full 4.7" screen. Also, the extra empty space below the on screen keys means the keys are higher up and easier to reach, as opposed to the One X keys which are waaay at the bottom of the phone and tough to get to with my thumb.
Maybe its just me, but i always felt the One X was really awkward to hold. It was never really mentioned much in reviews before i bought it. The screen bezel was really thick, and on top of the weird angled frame on the sides, it made it difficult, if not uncomfortable to hold, for me at least. The N4 is about the same width, but the grippy flat sides make it a lot easier to hold. Not the most comfortable phone i've held in my hand, but a big improvement over the One X.
The only thing i miss from the One X is the better screen. It had better viewing angles, and more vibrant colours. Pretty obvious when you hold them side by side, but you get accustomed to the N4 screen after a while. The One X camera also captured more detail and took less noisy photos, but i don't miss the camera much since it always seem to get the exposure wrong, faces always looked orange when taken indoors.
The performance difference is pretty huge, especially with multitasking, even compared to AOKP and CM10 on the HOX.
All in all, its a much easier phone to handle.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thats what worried me. I love the colors of the screen and the camera. (I use cm10.1, which apparently doesn't have the camera quality of sense, but I prefer it anyway.) If the camera on n4 compares to aosp ROMs for the hox, then I'm in the clear. I don't have any option though as my hox is in shambles really looking forward to the n4 though

Related

Am I the only one that thinks the Nexus One is the perfect size?

It seems everyone here, looking forward to their next android device, want something 4" or above.
I would've expected that 4" or above would be for a small percentage, like a niche, and most people would want another 3.7 inch screen.
If there ever is a Nexus 2, or whatever the next Google dev phone, I would prefer it to be the same size as the Nexus One, I think it's the perfect size for a phone.
Anyone with me?
*tumbleweed rolls by*
Just a tad too small for me. If it had a 4" screen it would be easier to surf the web, type emails, read word documents, etc.
I like phones one size and a tablet another. The Nexus is a good size. In the world of Android devices, it's old and it's still the best. Maybe it could use a front facing camera but, who uses those anyway?
N2:
Front facing camera
More internal memory
Faster processer
Same Vanilla goodness
Minor tweaks on a GREAT phone.
I love the form factor. Four inches is too much for me.
-Sent from my Nexus One Superphone.
Ebonwumon said:
I love the form factor. Four inches is too much for me.
-Sent from my Nexus One Superphone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
NSFW LOL
I agree, compared with the droid phone this thing is perfect width wise.....man I can see ppl googling me and finding this quote...*sigh*
Yep, i love the size of the Nexus One. Phones like the HTC EVO are just a little too big for my taste.
3.7" is too small.
4" is great and easy to pocket.
4.3" is even better from a usability standpoint, but obviously more difficult to pocket.
When I'm at the gym doing cardio, I place my N1 on the machine so I can watch videos hands-free. But some machines have the back panel just too far so that the 3.7" screen looks tiny. A tablet would be great, but I don't have the money for a phone AND a tablet, let alone the fact that there are no tablets anyway.
A 4.3" screen would be great for this.
I love the N1. Fits in my pocket well. The screen in landscape is great to type on and I'm a big guy with big hands. Typing in portrait mode is a little tight but thats why spell check and prediction are great. I've had a lot of phones and I know there are newer phones with all these great specs and whatnot, but I haven't seen one that has made me want to ditch my N1. Haven't looked back since I bought it in March.
I'm trying to think it's the perfect size, and it is as a phone and a pocketable device.
OTOH I'm thinking about a car mount and want a long gooseneck so it'll be within 2' of my face so I can see Trapster. Want this gooseneck to swivel down beside the console so I don't look like a dork on dates, but there is no such thing as a swivel with gooseneck. This makes me suspicious the screen is too small.
My N1 is the perfect width wise for my hand, pocket, car mount, and her tight azz jeans
Nexus One owner and I also think it is the perfect size. I bought the G2 thinking I was missing out on something, I found out very fast that the Nexus One is IMO the better looking, build quality is top notch and as far as the keyboard is concerned, don't really use it, I use Vlingo for just about everything on both phones. The Nexus One is a phone I just will never give up. No matter what device comes out in the future, will always keep the Nexus One.
PS. If all the app developers would allow their apps to be moved to the memory card the only down side to the Nexus would not be an issue.
glwinkler said:
I like phones one size and a tablet another. The Nexus is a good size. In the world of Android devices, it's old and it's still the best. Maybe it could use a front facing camera but, who uses those anyway?
N2:
Front facing camera
More internal memory
Faster processer
Same Vanilla goodness
Minor tweaks on a GREAT phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I dont thng internal memory is solution , i am using cm6 with i can put every app to my class 10 16gb sdcard
Agree. Nexus's size is perfect for me.
The N1's size is just right for me! I love using phones in one hand, and when I tried the Galaxy S for a couple of weeks, I always had problems accessing the top of the screen with my thumb. With the N1, I can just touch the top enough to dismiss notifications.
4" screens are only nice when you wanna watch videos, but watching videos is not really what I do on my N1 anyway.
Sometimes I wish it were a bit smaller for day-to-day use, at least for my taste.
Almost prefect as is. Trim the "fat" on the bottom, and then it's perfect. I want the 3.7 screen with about 1/8 of trim around it! When I need a bigger screen, I get my tablet out..
I really like the size of the N1. I've tried the Droid, Droid X, Evo, Incredible, Vibrant, Galaxy slider, and more but nothing so far is making me want to spend the money for a new device.
I wish it were just a hair wider. I notice the slight difference between iPhone and N1 when typing in portrait mode.
You know what I wish?
I wish they start making smartphones with no space between the screen and the end of the chassis...so a 4,3" screen phone would have the size of a nexus...and it would look awesome to me...imagine to have the only screen in your hands
Erase that useless boarders!
elmerendeiro said:
You know what I wish?
I wish they start making smartphones with no space between the screen and the end of the chassis...so a 4,3" screen phone would have the size of a nexus...and it would look awesome to me...imagine to have the only screen in your hands
Erase that useless boarders!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Only problem with that is, as I found out with the SGS, which is sort of quite close to how you described, is that when you pick it up, if say the screen is already on, the edges of your hands (i.e. the flabby bits of your palms) catch the incredibly sensitive touch screen resulting in you often running things you didnt mean to run (like the browser who's icon was in the bottom right of the screen).
The idea sounds good in theory but in reality I dont think it'd work, it would be a nightmare IMO

Omnia 7 or not?

At the moment I'm balancing between Omnia 7 and Optimus 7. I haven't been able to feel Omnia live yet (today's the day I hope), and I've only had a quick touch with Optimus 7. I have to test them thoroughly myself, buying either one blindfolded is not an option.
So far I'm attracted by Optimus 7's physical buttons and smaller size; Omnia just sounds so huge compared to several other phones (not really comparable with non-smartphones, I know) but then again Galaxy S didn't feel that big when I got hold of one. Remembering LG's display, it wasn't that poor either but then again, I have yet to see Omnia's and compare them properly (maybe not exactly next to each other, otherwise the choice could end up too obvious)
What worries me the most is LG's lock key, which has a really bad placement and poor ease-of-use compared to Omnia's equivalent. Other thing I'm worried about is LG's buttons' build quality, having read here how they make clicky noises and such. One other thing that's confusing me is that can you really unlock Omnia using the Windows key exactly the same way the actual lock key would function (as long as the proximity and/or light sensors are not blocked)? And is it so that the LG has no similiar function? Software wise, how much (if any) software there is - official or less official (by that I mean the file system explorers, registry editors, etc) - for the other model but maybe not for the other? I haven't had the time to familiarize myself with all the custom software available yet.
Please share your thoughts of these two models if you've had the experience of using both, aspects I may have overlooked and so on. The only thing I give close to zero value is the camera. As I said, I hope to have some "quality time" trying them both later today in a store and end up with the other one, but any tips what I should be mindful of or especially sceptical with are most welcome!
Regarding size, according to this infographic the Optimus 7 is both taller and thicker than the Omnia7 (although not as wide) http://thenextweb.com/microsoft/files/2010/12/windows-phone-7-comparison-spec.jpg
Well I haven't tried LG, but I had a Galaxy S before. And about the size, they are actually almost 100% same size, except Omnia7 is just 1mm thicker and it has a sharper edges. It fits very well in my pockets. Build quality is also great in Omnia7.
And SuperAMOLED just looks awesome, especially with this UI. So far I have been very happy with this.
I have used both the Optimus 7 and Omnia 7, and I'd go for the Omnia 7 without ANY doubt.
What you say about build quality is true: The LG feels cheap, and not very sturdy or solid. The omnia 7 feels strong and 'premium', especially because of the metal back. It's large, but definitely not too big. The size comparison with Galaxy S is pretty similar, which shouldn't be surprising because they use exactly the same screen.
Talking about screens: the difference between the LG and Samsung is like day and night. The S-AMOLED on the Omnia is a lot brighter, with much nicer colors. Also, blacks are really BLACK on the Omnia. It's just great to see the black background 'blend' with the black surround the screen. It's as if its a single surface, if you get what I mean.
In the end it has to be your decision, but I would definitely suggest the Omnia 7.
Omnia 7 looks really good and classy. Personally, I did not like the look of the LG phone. I am first-time smartphone user and find Omnia7 a bit big to handle. Perhaps the HTC trophy is another you could consider (except if you are an avid gamer -- any many reports about its slow loading, owing to SD card storage).
Another thing to consider: Omnia has touch-sensitive back and find buttons, which maybe an annoyance for some people -- I have no problems (mostly).
Good luck with getting a shiny new WP7 phone! WP7 rocks!!!
Thanks for all the replies! I managed to get a good hour trying both (not at the same time, the models were security-locked on the opposite sides of one, huge, display stand and couldn't be taken next to each other so I kept going round the stand, hah!) yesterday.
I was already mentally prepared to grab myself the Omnia, but the more I played around with Optimus, the more I became convinced it would be the choice for me. The wideness isn't that big of a difference between the two, but the 5mm is just enough for my palm not to be able to grab and handle the Omnia properly (one handed, that is). I ended up going through every button and corner of the Optimus' screen properly with one hand, which I couldn't do with Omnia (buttons I could do, reaching the 'Back' with my thumb with only a little trouble, but not the entire screen). To be honest, this was an ability I wasn't expecting any bigger smartphone to have.
Omnia's screen was way superior compared to Optimus, but Optimus still wasn't bad at all. After a while, I also noticed that the responsivity of Optimus was somehow more natural and swift, even though Omnia's wasn't bad in any way. I remember Engadget comparing Optimus with HTC phones' "glancing blow" -like capacitive responsiveness I'm a friend with physical buttons as well, so that way Optimus still felt better, though I could live with Omnia's one physical and two touch buttons, but not with any HTC device.
LG's lock button is the biggest issue for me and that's the only thing still holding me back; it's just so f***ing tiny and poorly placed compared to Omnia's perfect solution (including the opening with Start-button which of course LG is missing). At the moment I'm looking though a selection of rubber and silicone casings for Omnia (surprisingly many available, not so many for LG) which could help with the firm grip - which is now crippled by the wideness. Only other things I couldn't get a feeling at all were call quality and the display visibility in sunlight (Omnia would own that one, but how bad would LG be), hopefully I have to make the choice on monday and still have a weekend ahead to continue to play with both. I hope the store won't kick me out for hanging around before that
Now that I think of the Engadget article again, they were quite right saying "It's hard to quite crown it the finest WP7 launch device -- after all, Samsung's Omnia 7 has a bigger and significantly better display -- but the LG Optimus 7 might just be the one we most enjoyed using."
After a long, long, long weekend of thinking, I'm now a proud owner of Omnia 7 The lock key on LG was eventually the final deal breaker for me, let's see how I get comfortable with extra the 0.5cm of wideness, heh!
haha, also got an Omnia because I can turn it on by pressing the Windows key (seems to be the only WP7 device to offer that) because I find that to be 100% more convenient.
Too bad it has an AMOLED screen, I really don't like the readability of small text on these...
Love my Omnia 7, best buy since HD2 from HTC
Sent from my OMNIA7 using Board Express
lapingultah said:
After a long, long, long weekend of thinking, I'm now a proud owner of Omnia 7 The lock key on LG was eventually the final deal breaker for me, let's see how I get comfortable with extra the 0.5cm of wideness, heh!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Haha
I'm sure you won't regret it too much!
WP7 is nothing like WM6.5 where you really needed to hit those corners so accurately etc.
I find that WP7 is very well designed and most options and buttons are quite central rather than being on the edges of the screen so hopefully you won't have a problem with the extra width!
Look forward to interacting with you more on this board!
I'd recommend you get a case and a screen protector.
The case is really essential as the phone is randomly very very slippery...also it keeps the battery cover on when you do accidentally drop it!
and the screen is rather easy to scratch... I never put my phone with anything else in my pocket but still somehow managed to get 3 separate long scratches on the screen

The Galaxy Note confirms it: people want larger screens

A good article.
http://mobile.osnews.com/story.php/25750/The_Galaxy_Note_confirms_it_people_want_larger_screens
It jokes about the "optimal" iphone 3.5 incher.
YES. People like Galaxy Note.
Sent from the galaxy far far away.
This is so true. At first i thought "damit is that thing big, i should bring it back to store" but when i put it in my pocket it fits and i can walk run and jump with the note in my pocket. So for me its the best phone ever until now iv'e ever had. I love the scree size, if i compare it to the holy iphone i have to laugh everytime about the size..... Its so cute this little iphone thing. I could give it to childrens who can play with it in a sandbox.
Exactly. Those "tech bloggers" should be making fun of people trying to use their "revolutionary" smartphone's functions on a tiny, heavy and fragile 3.5 incher instead...
I hardly ever played any games on my EVO but thats all I do on my Note!!
It simply kicks ass!! Fun times!!
All the reviewers are Jabronis.....perfect size the note is ....especially if you have big hands like me ....cant stand anything else will never go back.....
On-screen controls in games always felt wrong on those small 3.5" phones.. on the S2 they felt better.. on the note they make sense..
sure smaller is sometimes better.. but when packing all this power into a device biggish is good
5.3" aint that big either, just a tad bigger then my wallet but alot thinner.
i followed some links in that blogg and came onto another planet where i was told the android UI makes us need larger screens cos else we wouldn't see anything if android got higher res.. font-size? bigger icons? felt like easy fixes...
kinda feels like iphonE lovers just digs deeper and deeper into something to hold on to.. to make them feel "i did the right choice, my phone is the best"
sad truth is my sister loves the Note but felt she couldn't buy it cos its to big.. she would feel looked at and laughed at.. so she settled with the S2.
i often tell ppl if they are not into computers, etc when they ask if they should buy an iphone or Note to buy an iphone, the safe no-one will laugh at your choice and no-one will question why. its kinda like putting on pants, no one will ask you why.
sorry for the rant..
Awesome. Hope the note 2 or 3 has a slightly bigger screen. 6 inches would be even more awesome
zas311 said:
people want larger screens
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
... or people want a stylus and Apple may have to eat SJ's words if they want to catch up.
Apparently a lot of Asian markets like the Note because it's easier to input characters than a keyboard based interface.
Personally, any larger form factor and it would be difficult to fit in my jeans pocket.
DPMAce said:
Awesome. Hope the note 2 or 3 has a slightly bigger screen. 6 inches would be even more awesome
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Agreed, but only if the kept the same form factor as they have now, but getting the screen bigger by stretching it all the way to the edges, in other words, almost no bezel.
i remember a point when I said 5" is the most any phone should go to. well, now I do believe the limit is 6" since anything bigger than that is a tablet fully at that point.
man i want a 6" phone or a SAMOLED+ HD tablet with telephony
I have to admit - i bought the Note without trying it first. When it arrived, i unboxed it and was terrified...
My first impression ? Oh my god, what have i done...but it took two days of using - and now i don't even notice the size. What's more - i don't really mind the size anymore, it feels normal, and is very useful.
iPhone's 3,5" was nice - 3-4 years ago. After that i moved to 4,3" HD7 and now to 5,3" Note. Bigger IS better here, especially with superior AMOLED screen.
Akiainavas said:
I have to admit - i bought the Note without trying it first. When it arrived, i unboxed it and was terrified...
My first impression ? Oh my god, what have i done...but it took two days of using - and now i don't even notice the size. What's more - i don't really mind the size anymore, it feels normal, and is very useful.
iPhone's 3,5" was nice - 3-4 years ago. After that i moved to 4,3" HD7 and now to 5,3" Note. Bigger IS better here, especially with superior AMOLED screen.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I can tottaly relate, I bought it blindly like you :-D
Sent from my GT-N7000 using Tapatalk
I also almost regret my Note but after 2 days ... I was just hooked
I think, it's not like people want large screen, it's just it fit some people needs (like watching movies, browsing etc)
Yeah there's still more room in my pocket for something bigger.
But not my jean pockets lol. I don't know how you guys can put this phone in your jean pockets. And I want a full usb port or 2 on it. The more things it can do like a netbook, the better.
zas311 said:
A good article.
http://mobile.osnews.com/story.php/25750/The_Galaxy_Note_confirms_it_people_want_larger_screens
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is more a rant than an article.
The note does not confirm that "people want larger screens". What it confirms is that some people want larger screens.
The claim that "Android phones go for the larger screen" is also not correct. There are many Android phone manufacturers and many models, of all shapes and sizes. Search using gsmarena finds 185 Android models with sceeen of size 3.2" or smaller.
I've got the largest hands in the whole town so the NOTE feels average to me.
Sometimes I even think, maybe this should be a little larger like 5.5inches. But now I've equipped the NOTE with the TPU case. Its quite protective, has a very grippy sides and it has a KICKSTAND!!!
But with the case on, I have some trouble slipping it into some pockets (jeans mainly).
So after pondering a bit, I think Samsung should make the NOTE with a kickstand, and shave off the bezel from the top and bottom portions.
OR
Make it smaller (from 147 x 83mm; 5.3inch) to 145mm x 79mm (shorter, little less wide, 5.1inch). It needs to shave off some of the bezel, for the premium aspects.
Though my biggest problems is that:
-Back and Menu buttons should be physical (its too damn easy to accidentally press them; frustrating when you accidentally exit an App and have to start from scratch)
-They should position the volume rocker on the right side and make it clickier (like the Nexus S)
-They should position the power button on the top and make it larger and clikier (like the Nexus S)
-Trade the position of Back and Menu button; and hitting the Menu button should bring the contexual menu's on the bottom and the search bar on the top.
If Samsung hired me for a prototype, my device would outsell any competitors!
I'm also for shaving off the Bezels but to have instead a larger screen by keeping the same overall size.
hagba said:
I'm also for shaving off the Bezels but to have instead a larger screen by keeping the same overall size.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
---What are your thoughts on the kickstand?
Should it be on the device, or on the case?
(If its on the case, it means you need to use a case, meaning the overall size is increased and its harder to draw/place into pockets.)
---What are your thoughts on the Navigational Buttons?
On-screen? all physical? all capacitive? or have the Home physical and the rest capacitive?
adelmundo said:
Agreed, but only if the kept the same form factor as they have now, but getting the screen bigger by stretching it all the way to the edges, in other words, almost no bezel.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think the idea of 6 inches with the same form factor is great all they would then need to do is increase the resolution as the pixel density will not compete with the likes of Sony Arc S or some of the other 4-4.5 HD screens.
If they did both of these and then made even better stylus apps and support. Then I think it would be game over even for some of the tablet market.
One a separate NOTE, does anyone know if the Note2 is confirmed?
Kangal said:
---What are your thoughts on the kickstand?
Should it be on the device, or on the case?
(If its on the case, it means you need to use a case, meaning the overall size is increased and its harder to draw/place into pockets.)
---What are your thoughts on the Navigational Buttons?
On-screen? all physical? all capacitive? or have the Home physical and the rest capacitive?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I had a kickstand on my HD7. Thought it was nice - at first. Later on...i never even used it. Phone would just fall down, and it was impossible to use it with any cable connected ( earphones ) cause it would - again - fall.
I like the idea of a kickstand, but i think it might be a bit hard to make it stable enough on such a large phone.

Opinion on the new Nexus 7 hardware design?

Looking at the best buy page and unboxing video that have leaked, it seems like it is a much more landscape-oriented device. The Nexus logo is meant to be read in landscape, and the speakers are placed to be left and right speakers in Landscape mode. Looks much better as a video viewing device. Both the front and rear facing cameras are on a corner, rather than centered, so it looks like regardless of orientation, won't be blocked by the users hands (as someone who hated when Skype went landscape-only on the original N7, a welcome change) and it seems to have a notification light, positioned not for landscape, but portrait - the mode you'll most likely use it in for social networking apps such as Facebook.
I loved my original N7 but not the hardware layout. Seemed pretty crappy. This new one seems to change that. Any opinions?
If this means the OS is going to become more landscape oriented that's cool I guess. Otherwise meh
Just from the looks of it, I was actually wondering if the back would be as secure as the v1 dimpled back
Doesn't wow me to warrant a upgrade..
But planning to get the next nexus for my old man, his phone is more than 4 years old..
Beamed from my Maguro.
I like it a lot. It's a clean and very understated device. The top/bottom bezels are a little large and I wish they'd embedded front-facing speakers into them, but I think it'll be fine in practice.
I still think its a portrait device....even with everything google did to make it landscape (demo'd in landscape, "nexus" in landscape)
the back is really nice...very grippy
its narrower by quite a bit which makes it easier to hole
top/bottom bezels are a little too big IMO, but i assume they are like that because of the speakers, LED, and camera...so I'm OK with that.
the device flies, the screen is fantastic, the speakers are better than previous gen, camera is meh. I'm just in awe with this thing right now. and build quality seems to have imporved greatly...its awesome looking/feeling.
Can you make Phone calls with the nexus 7 LTE?
Sent from my GT-N7100 using Tapatalk 2
not with a stock phone dialer, but yes you can make phone calls.i love the new design, its way lighter, thinner, skinnier, sleeker. it is beautiful and feels great in the palm of my hands. the back feels great and sits nice in one hand or two. so glad i sold my old n7 last week awaiting the release of this one. worked out great
If you use tablet talk you can make calls
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 4 Beta
turdbogls said:
top/bottom bezels are a little too big IMO, but i assume they are like that because of the speakers, LED, and camera...so I'm OK with that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Rirere said:
The top/bottom bezels are a little large and I wish they'd embedded front-facing speakers into them, but I think it'll be fine in practice.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree the top/bottom bezels look large, but actually they are exactly the same size relative the screen that they were on original Nexus 7. The only difference on the new one is the side bezels are smaller, making the device narrower overall and having a higher aspect ratio. The screen size and height are identical to first one (actually like 1% bigger).
The111 said:
I agree the top/bottom bezels look large, but actually they are exactly the same size relative the screen that they were on original Nexus 7. The only difference on the new one is the side bezels are smaller, making the device narrower overall and having a higher aspect ratio. The screen size and height are identical to first one (actually like 1% bigger).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm well aware-- it's not new news. But the thing is that as the device shrinks, previously "normal" components are easily capable of becoming "large". It's like saying that having the wheels from a real car on a toy model are the same size-- it doesn't preclude them from being "large." But it's definitely not enough of an issue to keep me from looking forward to my preorder coming in now.
The edge isn't quite flush on the screen, that bothered Me. It being more narrow sucks too, the buttons are more flush but harder to press. The back is nice and slick, they should have sent aluminum, the placement of front camera sucks! Screen is beautiful,
mrazndead said:
The edge isn't quite flush on the screen, that bothered Me. It being more narrow sucks too, the buttons are more flush but harder to press. The back is nice and slick, they should have sent aluminum, the placement of front camera sucks! Screen is beautiful,
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That would have increased the cost making it more expensive.
There are lot of subtle improvements over the older nexus that I'm really liking. The top one for me is that the width has slimmed down just enough for me to get a firm / non tiring grip of the on the short side. This makes for much easier one handed reading. Also like the lighter and thinner design. Dual speakers is much improved over the original where at times I could barely hear anything even with full volume. The only thing that is not so evident to me is the higher resolution screen. I really haven't found the right app to make the new screen shine. Of course everything is sharp due to the higher dpi.
sfsilicon said:
The top one for me is that the width has slimmed down just enough for me to get a firm / non tiring grip of the on the short side.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've never held or even seen a first gen Nexus 7, but I agree this one is just small enough to hold one handed. If I had smaller hands it might be a problem though. Still, it's perfect like this for me, and it's funny since so many people freaked out about the narrower side bezel being "ugly." Function > fashion. :laugh:

Some initial impressions coming from Galaxy S4 (both TMOUS)

First off, this is the first time I've not had a rooted phone (upon receiving my old HD2, GS2, & GS4 phones, root and custom ROMs were already available), so comparing the software between the G4 & S4 is sort of apples and oranges at this point. However, I think LG does deserve some criticism for releasing the phone with a locked bootloader. This looks like this will probably change, but is still a BIG negative to me at this time. When you're used to root, it's tough to go stock.
Physical size: while it's fairly compact for a 5.5" device, it's simply larger than what I'd like it to be. This is, of course, largely down to the size of my hands and personal preferences, so is not really a criticism. Had LG released a 5.2" version roughly sized like a G2, but with otherwise identical specs, I'd have definitely tried that over this phone. The variable thickness gives a phone that's very thin at the sides (reminiscent of the S6 Edge, although not as severe), while being beveled in a way that makes it far less stable in my hand than the S4. The G4 is also noticeably heavier, which I don't like.
Rear buttons: I understand LG's thinking, and it's cool seeing manufacturers trying different things, but I am not a fan of the power / volume button arrangement. Having to arch my hand to get my index finger where the buttons are while securing the phone with my other fingers, and then feeling around to press the right button is pretty clunky. The more conventional layout that Samsung uses is more intuitive and simply easier to use with one hand, IMHO. Tap to wake is pretty cool, though.
Softkeys: this is a terrible arrangement to me. Side by side with my S4, when subtracting the screen real estate devoted to the soft keys, the height of the viewable screen is almost identical - the G4 is merely a couple of millimeters taller. In my opinion, this makes the "screen-to-body ratio" figure misleading. With the soft keys hidden, the screen grows, but it then requires an extra gesture to bring them up. This is, to me, a completely unnecessary compromise, especially considering the complete waste of space of the bottom bezel, which is actually larger than the S4's, despite the S4 having a hard button and 2 capacitive buttons. I suppose it makes for a slightly cleaner look, but I value function over form every time, and the LG design is simply less functional than Samsung's.
Screen: I find the screens to be largely comparable. The G4 is brighter, but has less deep blacks. The LG screen is surprisingly reflective, making for difficult viewing in some conditions, but overall there's not much to complain about at all. It's very good.
Camera: the LG is the easy winner here, but I'm not a big photography guy and the two year old S4 still does quite well.
Performance: the G4 is quicker and snappier in general. The S4 is still quite capable, but the more current specs of the LG make it the better performer overall.
Headphone jack: I prefer the jack on top. While holding the phone in my left hand, the phone ends up resting somewhat on the headphone connector, which is physically uncomfortable, makes the phone harder to hold, and makes me worry about damaging the jack over time.
Speaker: this isn't of huge importance to me, but there's no doubt the G4 speaker is significantly louder than the S4. It's also got a bit more heft to the sound, although it's slightly more shrill sounding than the S4.
Most of my criticisms of the G4 are down to my personal preferences, so - for example - I won't say the phone is too big, it's just too big for me, so that's not to knock the device for everyone. I'm going to continue with it for now to see if I adapt to the G4, but in all likelihood I'll be returning it. The free 128GB SD + 32GB SD + extra battery + external charger are really great deals, but ultimately I don't think the tradeoffs of the phone will make it worth it to me.
Did you just compare the S4 to the G4? Ummmm ok
krazy_smokezalot said:
Did you just compare the S4 to the G4? Ummmm ok
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes. In every performance area, the G4 is obviously better than the 2 year old S4, but the physical design & size of the Samsung still make it the preferred device for me. For what it's worth, I felt the same about the Note 3 I had briefly, although that doesn't apply to the button layout, which is identical to the S4. I actually think very highly of the G4, it's just the wrong phone for me. Now I've gotta decide between the S5 & S6...
I can't believe I wasted time reading this.
deathknellx said:
I can't believe I wasted time reading this.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1
+1
Sent from my LG-H811 using XDA Free mobile app

Categories

Resources